US 6,982,755 B1
Image sensing apparatus having variable noise reduction control based on zoom operation mode
Masahiko Kikuzawa, Soka (Japan)
Assigned to Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo (Japan)
Filed on Jan. 20, 2000, as Appl. No. 9/487,868.
Claims priority of application No. 11-013945 (JP), filed on Jan. 22, 1999.
Int. Cl. H04N 5/262 (2006.01); H04N 5/217 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 348—241 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
6. An image sensing method for an image sensing apparatus, comprising the steps of:
reducing noise added to a sensed image, utilizing time correlation of sensed images;
controlling a zoom magnification factor of the image sensing apparatus;
optically zooming an image of an object, wherein said controlling step controls optically zooming the image of the object;
electronically zooming an image of the object, wherein said controlling step controls electronically processing the image of the object in said electronically zooming step;
determining whether a zoom operation is being executed in said controlling step; and
setting a control value for time correlation in said noise reduction step in accordance with a determination in said determining step,
wherein said electronically zooming step executes the zoom operation for an image in which noise has been reduced in said noise reducing step, and said setting step sets the control value to a control value providing a lower noise reduction amount than a noise reduction amount to be used when said electronically zooming step executes a zoom operation, when it is determined that an optical zoom operation is being executed.