Electronic image-capturing apparatus having function for verifying user

• US 20050036656A1
• Filed: 09/24/2004
• Published: 02/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Inventors: Takahashi, Akihiko
• Granted Patent: US 7,215,793 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/100
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4406 Restricting access, e.g. according to user identity mechanisms actuated y cards, PIN or the like in apparatus for dispensing G07F7/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4433 to an apparatus, part of an apparatus or an apparatus function
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras

Abstract

An electronic image-capturing apparatus includes: an image-capturing element that captures an image of a subject and generates electronic image information; a recording device that records the electronic image information that has been generated in a recording medium; a registration device that registers inherent information with respect to a registrant; an information detection device that detects inherent information with respect to a user of the electronic image-capturing apparatus; an information verification device that references the inherent information with respect to the user detected by the information detection device with the inherent information registered in the registration device; and a control device that allows an image-capturing operation to be performed on the electronic image-capturing apparatus if it is decided by the information verification device that the two sets of inherent information match.

Claims

1. An electronic image-capturing apparatus, comprising:

an image-capturing element that captures an image of a subject and generates electronic image information;

a recording device that records the electronic image information that has been generated in a recording medium;

a registration device that registers inherent information with respect to a registrant;

an information detection device that detects inherent information with respect to a user of the electronic image-capturing apparatus;

an information verification device that references the inherent information with respect to the user detected by the information detection device with the inherent information registered in the registration device;

a control device that allows an image-capturing operation to be performed on the electronic image-capturing apparatus if it is decided by the information verification device that the two sets of inherent information match; and

a digital watermarking device that adds information related to the inherent information detected by said information detection device to the electronic image information that has been generated as a digital watermark.

3. An electronic image-capturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the inherent information is a registrant'"'"'s fingerprint information; and

said information detection device includes a sensor that detects fingerprint information.

4. An electronic image-capturing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:

a grip used by the user to hold the electronic image-capturing apparatus while capturing an image of a subject, wherein

said sensor is provided at a position at which a finger of the user is naturally placed when the user holds said grip.

5. An electronic image-capturing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a registration control device that prohibits updating of contents of information registered in said registration device if it is decided that there is inherent information registered in said registration device when said information verification device does not decide that two sets of inherent information match.

2. An electronic image-capturing apparatus, comprising:

an image-capturing element that captures an image of a subject and generates electronic image information;

a recording device that records the electronic image information that has been generated in a recording medium;

a registration device that registers inherent information with respect to a registrant;

an information detection device that detects inherent information with respect to a user of the electronic image-capturing apparatus;

an information verification device that references the inherent information with respect to the user detected by the information detection device with the inherent information registered in the registration device;

a control device that allows an image-capturing operation to be performed on the electronic image-capturing apparatus if it is decided by the information verification device that the two sets of inherent information match; and

a power control device having a switch to be set at a recording position, a reproduction position or an OFF position, that controls power ON/OFF, wherein;

said control device allows an image-capturing operation to be performed on the electronic image-capturing apparatus without requiring said information verification device to operate when said switch remains at said recording position after said information verification device decides that the two sets of inherent information match when said switch is at said recording position.

6. An electronic image-capturing apparatus, comprising:

an image-capturing element that captures an image of a subject and generates electronic image information;

a recording device that records the electronic image information that has been generated in a recording medium;

a registration device that registers inherent information with respect to a registrant;

an information detection device that detects inherent information with respect to a user of the electronic image-capturing apparatus;

an information verification device that references the inherent information with respect to the user detected by the information detection device with the inherent information registered in said registration device;

a control device that allows an image-capturing operation to be performed on the electronic image-capturing apparatus if it is decided by said information verification device that the two sets of inherent information match; and

wherein said control device allows a reproduction operation regardless of results of verification performed by said information verification device when the electronic image information recorded in said recording medium is reproduced.