Automatic photographing system

• US 20040239776A1
• Filed: 05/21/2004
• Published: 12/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamaguchi, Hiroshi, Enomoto, Jun, Nakamura, Yoichi, Shinohara, Mamoru
• Application Number:
  US10/850,368
• Publication Number:
  US 20040239776A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/239
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/61 based on recognised objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/695 Control of camera direction for changing a field of view, e.g. pan, tilt or based on tracking of objects

Abstract

A photographing control device controls an imaging device so that the imaging device obtains a still image of a subject when a movement analyzing device judges that the subject has become still.

Claims

1. An automatic photographing system comprising:

an imaging device;

a subject identifying device for identifying a subject who should be photographed by the imaging device;

a movement analyzing device for analyzing a movement of the subject identified by the subject identifying device; and

a photographing control device for controlling the imaging device, wherein the photographing control device controls the imaging device so that the imaging device obtains a still image of the subject when the movement analyzing device judges that the subject has become still.

2. An automatic photographing system as defined in claim 1, wherein the photographing control device controls the imaging device so that the imaging device photographs the subject after the movement analyzing device judges that a predetermined waiting time has passed after the subject has become still.

3. An automatic photographing system as defined in claim 1, wherein the photographing control device further includes a passage time notifying means for notifying the subject of passage of a waiting time by a countdown.

4. An automatic photographing system as defined in claim 1, wherein the imaging device includes a camera and a swing means for swinging the camera, wherein the photographing control device includes a subject following means for controlling the swing means so that the camera follows the subject when the movement analyzing device judges that the subject is moving.

5. An automatic photographing system as defined in claim 4, wherein the swing means is a two-axis actuator.

6. An automatic photographing system as defined in claim 4, wherein the camera includes a follow camera for obtaining a dynamic image by following the subject and a photographing camera for obtaining the still image of the subject.