IMAGE CAPTURE DEVICE AND METHOD

• US 20070064977A1
• Filed: 09/19/2006
• Published: 03/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Nagata, Masaharu
• Granted Patent: US 8,072,499 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/107
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/631 Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/634 Warning indications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/68 for stable pick-up of the scene, e.g. compensating for camera body vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/6811 based on the image signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/682 Vibration or motion blur correction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/145 Movement estimation for video coding H04N19/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums

Abstract

An image capture device, including: a motion vector detection unit that detects a motion vector of a plurality of successive images; a determination unit that determines whether the motion vector detected by the motion vector detection unit is of a predetermined amount or more in a fixed direction; and a warning unit that issues a warning when the determination unit determines that the motion vector is of the predetermined amount or more in the fixed direction.

Claims

1. An image capture device, comprising:

motion vector detection means for detecting a motion vector of a plurality of successive images;

determination means for determining whether the motion vector detected by the motion vector detection means is of a predetermined amount or more in a fixed direction; and

warning means for issuing a warning when the determination means determines that the motion vector is of the predetermined amount or more in the fixed direction.

2. The image capture device according to claim 1, wherein

the motion vector detection means detects the motion vector for all of the images.

3. The image capture device according to claim 1, wherein

the warning means issues the warning at least by one means of light, sound, and vibration.

4. The image capture device according to claim 1, comprising:

display means for displaying the successive images in a sequential manner; and

region designation means capable of designating a specific region of any of the images displayed on the display means;

wherein

the motion vector detection means detects the motion vector for only the specific region designated by the region designation means.

5. The image capture device according to claim 4, further comprising:

imaging means for imaging a first image of the successive images;

wherein

when the specific region is not included in the first image captured by the imaging means, the determination means determines a movement amount of the specific region with respect to the image based on the motion vector detected by the motion vector detection means for a second image immediately before the first image, and

based on a determination result of the determination means, the display means displays a display element indicating a direction and an amount that the specific region is moved from the second image.

6. The image capture device according to claim 1, wherein

the warning means performs wireless communications with the image capture device.

7. The image capture device according to claim 1, wherein

the warning means has a setting not to issue the warning irrespective of the determination result of the determination means.

8. The image capture device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a camera shake correction section that finds, from the motion vectors detected by the motion vector detection section for all of the images, first and second motion vectors being the first and second largest, determines the second motion vector as a motion cause by camera shake, and applies a camera shake correction based on the successive images and the second motion vector corresponding thereto.

9. An image capture device, comprising:

imaging means for imaging a plurality of successive images;

motion detection means for detecting a motion of the imaging means;

determination means for determining, based on the motion of the imaging means detected by the motion detection means, whether or not the imaging means is moved by a predetermined amount; and

warning means for issuing a warning when the determination means determines that the imaging means is moved by the predetermined amount.

10. The image capture device according to claim 9, wherein

the motion detection means detects the motion of the imaging means by an angular velocity sensor.

11. The image capture device according to claim 9, wherein

the warning means has a setting not to issue the warning irrespective of a determination result of the determination means.

12. An image capture method, comprising the steps of:

detecting a motion vector of a plurality of successive images;

determining whether the motion vector detected in the detecting step is of a predetermined amount or more in a fixed direction; and

issuing a warning when the motion vector is determined in the determining step as being of the predetermined amount or more in the fixed direction.

13. An image capture method, comprising the steps of:

detecting a motion of imaging means for imaging a plurality of successive images;

determining, based on the motion of the imaging means detected in the detecting step, whether or not an image capture device including the imaging means is moved in its entirety by a predetermined amount; and

issuing a warning when the imaging device is determined in the determining step as being moved by the predetermined amount.

14. An image capture device, comprising:

a motion vector detection unit that detects a motion vector of a plurality of successive images;

a determination unit that determines whether or not the motion vector detected by the motion vector detection unit is of a predetermined amount or more in a fixed direction; and

a warning unit that issues a warning when the determination unit determines that the motion vector is of the predetermined amount or more in the fixed direction.

15. An image capture device, comprising:

an image capture unit that captures a plurality of successive images;

a motion detection unit that detects a motion of the image capture unit;

a determination unit that determines, based on the motion of the image capture unit detected by the motion detection unit, whether or not the image capture unit is moved by a predetermined amount; and

a warning unit that issues a warning when the determination unit determines that the image capture unit is moved by the predetermined amount.