Imaging apparatus controller and control method thereof, image processing apparatus and method thereof, and program code and storage medium

• US 20050200717A1
• Filed: 05/05/2005
• Published: 09/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Katayama, Akihiro, Endo, Takaaki
• Application Number:
  US11/122,084
• Publication Number:
  US 20050200717A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/211.990
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/64 Computer-aided capture of images, e.g. transfer from script file into camera, check of taken image quality, advice or proposal for image composition or decision on when to take image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/698 for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/70 Circuitry for compensating brightness variation in the scene

Abstract

Settings (sample settings) are obtained from each CCD camera. A PC. calculates an average of the settings sent from all CCD cameras via a distributor. The calculated average is used as new settings for setting up all the CCD cameras again. And the obtained average is sent to each CCD camera through the distributor to set up each CCD camera again.

Claims

1. A controller for controlling settings of a plurality of imaging apparatuses, comprising:

detection means for detecting an imaging state of each of said imaging apparatuses;

calculation means for calculating first settings of control parameters for each of said imaging apparatuses based on a detection result from said detection means; and

set-up means for setting up each of said imaging apparatuses to said first settings calculated by said calculation means.

2. The controller according to claim 1, wherein said detection result is second settings properly adjusted to each of said imaging apparatuses.

3. The controller according to claim 1, wherein said detection result is obtained from a sensor provided in proximity of each of said imaging apparatuses and said detection result is used as second settings for each of said imaging apparatuses.

4. The controller according to claim 1, wherein said detection result is a distribution of brightness calculated from an image taken by an imaging apparatus which is capable of imaging a wider field view and said detection result is used as second settings for each of said imaging apparatuses based on said distribution.

5. The controller according to claim 2, wherein said calculation means calculates an average of said second settings for said plurality of imaging apparatuses and said average is used as said first settings.

6. The controller according to claim 3, wherein said calculation means calculates an average of said second settings for said plurality of imaging apparatuses and said average is used as said first settings.

7. The controller according to claim 4, wherein said calculation means calculates an average of said second settings for said plurality of imaging apparatuses and said average is used as said first settings.

8. The controller according to claim 2, wherein said calculation means sets said first settings by using said second settings for a representative imaging apparatus among said plurality of imaging apparatuses.

9. The controller according to claim 3, wherein said calculation means sets said first settings by using said second settings for a representative imaging apparatus among said plurality of imaging apparatuses.

10. The controller according to claim 4, wherein said calculation means sets said first settings by using said second settings for a representative imaging apparatus among said plurality of imaging apparatuses.

14. The controller according to claim 2, wherein said first and second settings include shutter speed, focal length, and diaphragm of an imaging apparatus.

15. The controller according to claim 3, wherein said first and second settings include shutter speed, focal length, and diaphragm of an imaging apparatus.

16. The controller according to claim 4, wherein said first and second settings include shutter speed, focal length, and diaphragm of an imaging apparatus.

19. The controller according to claim 1, wherein said imaging apparatus includes a CCD camera.

11-13. -13. (canceled)

17. A controller for controlling the settings of a plurality of imaging apparatuses, comprising:

image generation means for generating an image with an average luminance value from the respective images taken by said plurality of imaging apparatuses; and

means for determining the settings of the imaging apparatuses based on the image generated by said image generation means,

wherein said plurality of imaging apparatuses are set up to the determined settings.

18. The controller according to claim 17, wherein said plurality of imaging apparatuses automatically adjust their diaphragms based on the determined settings.

20. The controller according to claim 17, wherein said imaging apparatus includes a CCD camera.

21-23. -23. (canceled)

24. A control method for controlling settings of a plurality of imaging apparatuses, comprising:

a detection step of detecting the imaging state of each of said imaging apparatuses;

a calculation step of calculating first settings of control parameters for each of said imaging apparatuses based on the detection result from said detection step; and

a set-up step of setting up each of said imaging apparatuses to said first settings calculated by said calculation step.

27. A program code for executing the control method according to claim 24.

30. A computer-readable storage medium storing the program code according to claim 27.

25. A control method for controlling settings of a plurality of imaging apparatuses, comprising:

an image generation step of generating an image with an average luminance value from the respective images taken by said plurality of imaging apparatuses; and

a step of determining the settings of the imaging apparatuses based on the image generated by said image generation step,

wherein said plurality of imaging apparatuses are set up to the determined settings.

28. A program code for executing the control method according to claim 25.

31. A computer-readable storage medium storing the program code according to claim 28.

26. (canceled)

29. (canceled)

32. (canceled)