Image processing device and image processing method

An image processing method for use in an image processing device including an imaging unit which includes a plurality of pixels each converting light into an electrical signal, and which has a first mode in which a low-resolution image signal is outputted and a second mode in which a high-resolution image signal is outputted, the low-resolution image signal including electrical signals converted by pixels of a first number of pixels among the plurality of pixels, the high-resolution image signal including electrical signals converted by pixels of a second number of pixels among the plurality of pixels, and the second number of pixels being greater than the first number of pixels, said method comprising:

• obtaining a shooting period;
• causing the imaging unit to operate in the first mode during the shooting period obtained in said obtaining, and to operate in the second mode during a period other than the shooting period;
• and
• generating a super-resolution image signal by performing a resolution up-converting process on the low-resolution image signal outputted by the imaging unit during the shooting period using the high-resolution image signal outputted by the imaging unit during the period other than the shooting period,
• wherein said causing includes causing the imaging unit to operate in the second mode before a start of the shooting period or after an end of the shooting period, and
• wherein said generating includes performing the resolution up-converting process on the low-resolution image signal outputted by the imaging unit during the shooting period using
• (i) the high-resolution image signal outputted by the imaging unit before the start of the shooting period when said causing causes the imaging unit to operate in the second mode before the start of the shooting period or
• (ii) the high-resolution image signal outputted by the imaging unit after the end of the shooting period when said causing causes the imaging unit to operate in the second mode after the end of the shooting period.

A non-transitory computer readable recording medium having stored thereon a program for use in an image processing device including an imaging unit which includes a plurality of pixels each converting light into an electrical signal, and which has a first mode in which a low-resolution image signal is outputted and a second mode in which a high-resolution image signal is outputted, the low-resolution image signal including electrical signals converted by pixels of a first number of pixels among the plurality of pixels, the high-resolution image signal including electrical signals converted by pixels of a second number of pixels, and the second number of pixels being greater than the first number of pixels, wherein, when executed, said program causes the image processing device to execute a method comprising:

• obtaining a shooting period;
• causing the imaging unit to operate in the first mode during the shooting period obtained in said obtaining, and to operate in the second mode during a period other than the shooting period;
• and
• generating a super-resolution image signal by performing a resolution up-converting process on the low-resolution image signal outputted by the imaging unit during the shooting period using the high-resolution image signal outputted by the imaging unit during the period other than the shooting period,
• wherein said causing includes causing the imaging unit to operate in the second mode before a start of the shooting period or after an end of the shooting period, and
• wherein said generating includes performing the resolution up-converting process on the low-resolution image signal outputted by the imaging unit during the shooting period using (i) the high-resolution image signal outputted by the imaging unit before the start of the shooting period when said causing causes the imaging unit to operate in the second mode before the start of the shooting period or (ii) the high-resolution image signal outputted by the imaging unit after the end of the shooting period when said causing causes the imaging unit to operate in the second mode after the end of the shooting period.