Imaging control apparatus, imaging control method, and program

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9716831-B2
Application number	US-201113161638-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 16, 2011
Priority date	Jul 5, 2010
Publication date	Jul 25, 2017
Grant date	Jul 25, 2017

Abstract

An imaging apparatus including a mode sequence control unit configured to select a control scheme for a still image recording operation in accordance with an imaging operation setting, wherein the mode sequence control unit is configured to select a first control scheme when the imaging operation setting is a normal imaging setting and a second, different control scheme when the imaging operation setting is an unconscious imaging setting.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An imaging apparatus, comprising:
an attachment assembly configured to attach the imaging apparatus to a movable-mechanical-section controlling device; and
a Central Processing Unit (CPU) configured to set one of
a first image capturing mode for the imaging apparatus, or
a second image capturing mode for the imaging apparatus,
wherein the second image capturing mode is dedicated for automatic image capture based on a lack of an input for an imaging instruction by a user,
wherein a shutter speed is changed based on a range of light intensity in the first image capturing mode and International Standards Organization (ISO) sensitivity is changed based on a level of the light intensity in the second image capturing mode,
wherein the range of the light intensity is a range between a first level of the light intensity and a second level of the light intensity,
wherein the shutter speed is lowered from a first speed to a second speed in the first image capturing mode based on the light intensity that is changed from the first level of the light intensity to the second level of the light intensity,
wherein the ISO sensitivity is increased to a threshold level in the second image capturing mode based on the shutter speed that is at a third speed,
wherein the third speed corresponds to a third level of the light intensity,
wherein the third level of the light intensity is lower than the first level of the light intensity and higher than the second level of the light intensity,
wherein the third speed is lower than the first speed and higher than the second speed,
wherein the threshold level of the ISO sensitivity corresponds to a fourth level of the light intensity,
wherein the fourth level of the light intensity is lower than the second level of the light intensity, and
wherein, based on the ISO sensitivity that is at the threshold level, the shutter speed is lowered from the third speed based on a decrease in the light intensity from the fourth level of the light intensity.

2. The imaging apparatus of claim 1 ,
wherein the CPU is further configured to select a control scheme based on the imaging apparatus that is configured in the second image capturing mode in which at least one image subject is unaware of image capture.

3. The imaging apparatus of claim 1 ,
wherein the CPU is further configured to control an image recording operation based on an exposure adjustment operation,
wherein the exposure adjustment operation in the first image capturing mode raises the ISO sensitivity, at a stage in which the shutter speed is lowered to the second speed, based on a decrease in the light intensity from the second level of the light intensity, and
wherein the exposure adjustment operation in the second image capturing mode raises the ISO sensitivity, at a stage in which the shutter speed is lowered to the third speed, based on a decrease in the light intensity from the third level of the light intensity.

4. The imaging apparatus of claim 3 ,
wherein the CPU is further configured to control the image recording operation based on the ISO sensitivity, and
wherein the ISO sensitivity is higher for the light intensity beyond the second level of the light intensity in the second image capturing mode than in the first image capturing mode.

5. The imaging apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the CPU is further configured to control an image recording operation in the second image capturing mode so that image data corresponding to a plurality of frames is superimposed to reduce noise.

6. The imaging apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the CPU is further configured to control an image recording operation in the second image capturing mode so that image data corresponding to a plurality of frames is analyzed based on at least one selection criteria to select desired image data.

7. The imaging apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the at least one selection criteria is based at least in part on an aspect of a face.

8. The imaging apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first image capturing mode is a setting operation in which a sound is generated at or around an imaging time, and wherein the second image capturing mode is a setting operation with a lack of generation of the sound at or around the imaging time.

9. The imaging apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first image capturing mode is a setting operation in which light is emitted at or around an imaging time, and wherein second image capturing mode is a setting operation with a lack of emission of the light at or around the imaging time.

10. The imaging apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the CPU is further configured to detect a trigger input, wherein the trigger input is indicative of a change from an automatic imaging mode to a correspondence imaging mode.

11. The imaging apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the CPU is further configured to execute the first image capturing mode based on the detection of the trigger input.

12. The imaging apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a camera housing; and
a camera platform comprising at least one mating feature configured to engage with the camera housing,
wherein the camera platform is configured to control an orientation of the camera housing.

13. The imaging apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the camera housing encases the CPU.

14. The imaging apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the camera platform houses a panning and tilting control unit configured to at least one of pan or tilt the camera housing for object detection in an automatic imaging mode corresponding to the second image capturing mode.

15. The imaging apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the camera housing encases a trigger receiving unit configured to receive a trigger input, wherein the trigger input is indicative of a change from an automatic imaging mode to a correspondence imaging mode, and
wherein the camera platform comprises a trigger detection unit configured to detect the trigger input and send a trigger detection signal to the trigger receiving unit based on the detected trigger input.

16. The imaging apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the trigger detection unit is further configured to determine a trigger input direction of the detected trigger input.

17. An imaging method, comprising:
setting an image capturing mode for an imaging apparatus attached to a movable-mechanical-section controlling device,
wherein one of a first image capturing mode or a second image capturing mode dedicated for automatic image capturing based on a lack of an input for an imaging instruction by a user is set,
wherein a shutter speed is changed based on a range of light intensity in the first image capturing mode and International Standards Organization (ISO) sensitivity is changed based on a level of the light intensity in the second image capturing mode,
wherein the range of the light intensity is a range between a first level of the light intensity and a second level of the light intensity,
wherein the shutter speed is lowered from a first speed to a second speed in the first image capturing mode based on the light intensity that is changed from the first level of the light intensity to the second level of the light intensity,
wherein the ISO sensitivity is increased to a threshold level in the second image capturing mode based on the shutter speed that is at a third speed,
wherein the third speed corresponds to a third level of the light intensity,
wherein the third level of the light intensity is lower than the first level of the light intensity and higher than the second level of the light intensity,
wherein the third sp

Assignees

• Yoshizumi Shingo
• Shiga Akira
• Kirisawa Tsukasa
• Sony Corp

Inventors

• Yoshizumi Shingo
• Shiga Akira
• Kirisawa Tsukasa

Classifications

• H04N23/667 Primary

  Camera operation mode switching, e.g. between still and video, sport and normal or high- and low-resolution modes · CPC title

• H04N23/50 Primary

  Constructional details · CPC title

• H04N23/695

  Control of camera direction for changing a field of view, e.g. pan, tilt or based on tracking of objects · CPC title

• H04N23/72

  Combination of two or more compensation controls · CPC title

• H04N5/23245 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic