Image capturing apparatus, control method thereof and storage medium storing control program therefor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016261784-A1
Application number	US-201615056779-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 29, 2016
Priority date	Mar 3, 2015
Publication date	Sep 8, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

In the image capturing apparatus, the controller controls an optical element, when a motion of the image capturing apparatus follows a motion of the object, by using first motion information obtained from a first detector to detect the motion of the image capturing apparatus and second motion information obtained from a second detector to detect the motion of the object. The calculator calculates prediction information on the motion of the object during an exposure time, by using the second information detected at multiple times before the exposure time. The controller uses the prediction information to control the optical element during the exposure time.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An image capturing apparatus configured to perform image capturing of an object, the apparatus comprising:
a controller configured to control an optical element, when a motion of the image capturing apparatus follows a motion of the object, by using (a) first motion information obtained from a first detector to detect the motion of the image capturing apparatus and (b) second motion information obtained from a second detector to detect the motion of the object; and a calculator configured to calculate prediction information on the motion of the object during an exposure time, by using the second information detected at multiple times before the exposure time, wherein the controller is configured to use the prediction information to control the optical element during the exposure time.

2 . An image capturing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the calculator is configured to calculate the prediction information by using:
angular velocity information of the object before the exposure time; angular acceleration information of the object before the exposure time; a calculation time at which the angular velocity information and the angular acceleration information are calculated; and a start time at which the exposure time is started.

3 . An image capturing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the calculator is configured to calculate the prediction information by using a change of an angular acceleration depending on a position of the object relative to a position of the image capturing apparatus.

4 . An image capturing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the calculator is configured to calculate the position of the object relative to the position of the image capturing apparatus, by using distance information based on a distance from the image capturing apparatus to the object.

5 . An image capturing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the calculator is configured to increase a number of times to calculate the prediction information used to control the optical element when the exposure time is longer than a predetermined time.

6 . An image capturing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to use (a) the prediction information and (b) the first motion information obtained during the exposure time to control the optical element during the exposure time.

7 . A method of controlling an image capturing apparatus configured to perform image capturing of an object, the method comprising:
controlling an optical element, when a motion of the image capturing apparatus follows a motion of the object, by using (a) first motion information obtained from a first detector to detect the motion of the image capturing apparatus and (b) second motion information obtained from a second detector to detect the motion of the object; and calculating prediction information on the motion of the object during an exposure time, by using the second information detected at multiple times before the exposure time, wherein the method controls the optical element during the exposure time, by using the prediction information.

8 . A method according to claim 7 , wherein the method controls the optical element during the exposure time, by using (a) the prediction information and (b) the first motion information obtained during the exposure time.

9 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a control program as a computer program to cause a computer of an image capturing apparatus to operate, the image capturing apparatus being configured to perform image capturing of an object, the control program causing the computer to:
control an optical element, when a motion of the image capturing apparatus follows a motion of the object, by using (a) first motion information obtained from a first detector to detect the motion of the image capturing apparatus and (b) second motion information obtained from a second detector to detect the motion of the object; and calculate prediction information on the motion of the object during an exposure time, by using the second information detected at multiple times before the exposure time, wherein the control program causes the computer to control the optical element during the exposure time, by using the prediction information.

10 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 9 , wherein the control program causes the computer to control the optical element during the exposure time, by using (a) the prediction information and (b) the first motion information obtained during the exposure time.

Assignees

• Canon Kk

Inventors

• Mukunashi Masayuki

Classifications

• H04N23/6812

  based on additional sensors, e.g. acceleration sensors · CPC title

• H04N23/687

  by shifting the lens or sensor position · CPC title

• H04N23/6811 Primary

  based on the image signal · CPC title

• H04N23/73 Primary

  by influencing the exposure time · CPC title

• H04N23/682

  Vibration or motion blur correction · CPC title