Imaging device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016142618-A1
Application number	US-201414900772-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 21, 2014
Priority date	Jul 5, 2013
Publication date	May 19, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

First image information whose depth of field includes a subject in a focus position set by a control section before photo shooting and second image information captured in a position focus different from that of the first image information are included. The focus position of the second image information is determined on the basis of the focus position of the first image information. The first image information is stored together with an image with an extended depth of field. This makes it possible to provide an imaging device which, when obtaining an extended depth of field from a plurality of images of different focus positions, can reduce failures in photo shooting due to a movement of a subject or camera shake.

First claim

1 - 6 . (canceled)

7 . An imaging device comprising:
an imaging element that obtains image information with varied focus positions; a control section that controls the focus positions; and an image processing section that performs image processing on the image information, wherein the image processing section includes a depth-of-field adjusting section that performs a process for generating, from plural pieces of image information obtained by the imaging element, an image whose depth of field has been adjusted, the plural pieces of image information include first image information whose depth of field includes a subject in a focus position set by the control section when the plural pieces of image information were obtained and second image information captured in a focus position different from that of the first image information, the focus position of the second image information is set on a basis of the focus position of the first image information, and only the image whose depth of field has been adjusted and the first image information are stored.

8 . The imaging device according to claim 7 , wherein the image processing section further includes an adjustment judging section that judges a result of an adjustment made by the depth-of-field adjusting section, and
the first image information is stored on a basis of a result of a judgment made by the adjustment judging section.

9 . The imaging device according to claim 7 , wherein the focus position of the second image information is set so that the depth of field of the first image information and the depth of field of the second image information are adjacent to each other or partially overlap each other.

10 . The imaging device according to claim 7 , wherein the number of plural pieces of image information to be obtained in focus positions different from that of the first image information is set on the basis of the focus position of the first image information.

11 . The imaging device according to claim 7 , wherein the number of plural pieces of image information to be obtained in focus positions different from that of the first image information is determined on a basis of the focus position of the first image information and a range of depth-of-field adjustments, and the image processing section adjusts the depth of field of the first image information.

12 . The imaging device according to claim 7 , further comprising a range-of-adjustment setting section that determines a range of adjustments of the depth of field of the first image information, wherein, depending on a setting by the range-of-adjustment setting section, the image processing section performs a process for extending the depth of field of the first image information or a process for reducing the depth of field of the first image information.

Assignees

• Sharp Kk

Inventors

• Tokui Kei

Classifications

• H04N23/635

  Region indicators; Field of view indicators · CPC title

• H04N23/61

  based on recognised objects · CPC title

• H04N23/632

  for displaying or modifying preview images prior to image capturing, e.g. variety of image resolutions or capturing parameters · CPC title

• H04N23/959 Primary

  by adjusting depth of field during image capture, e.g. maximising or setting range based on scene characteristics · CPC title

• G06T7/0051

  Physics · mapped topic