Imaging apparatus and control method therefor

• US 20070188608A1
• Filed: 02/08/2007
• Published: 08/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Konno, Georgero
• Granted Patent: US 8,368,756 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/143
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19663 Surveillance related processing done local to the camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19695 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors start video recording or forwarding but do not generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

An imaging apparatus includes: an image creating section imaging a predetermined surveillance range and creating image data; an image processing section in which computing processing means having a predetermined processing ability performs first image processing of detecting an abnormality in the surveillance range in accordance with the image data and generating a first detection signal and second image processing of converting the image data to a predetermined data format in parallel; and a determination processing section determining whether a predetermined subject under surveillance exists in the surveillance range or not based on the first detection signal, generating and supplying a first control signal to the image processing section if it is determined that the subject under surveillance does not exist, and generating and supplying a second control signal to the image processing section if it is determined that the subject under surveillance exists.

Claims

1. An imaging apparatus comprising:

an image creating section imaging a predetermined surveillance range and creating image data;

an image processing section in which computing processing means having a predetermined processing ability performs first image processing of detecting an abnormality in the surveillance range in accordance with the image data and generating a first detection signal and second image processing of converting the image data to a predetermined data format in parallel; and

a determination processing section determining whether a predetermined subject under surveillance exists in the surveillance range or not based on the first detection signal, generating and supplying a first control signal to the image processing section if it is determined that the subject under surveillance does not exist, and generating and supplying a second control signal to the image processing section if it is determined that the subject under surveillance exists,

wherein the image processing section allocates a larger proportion of the processing ability of the computing processing means to the first image processing than that to the second image processing if the first control signal is supplied thereto and allocates a larger proportion of the processing ability of the computing processing means to the second image processing than that to the first image processing if the second control signal is supplied thereto.

2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination processing section determines whether the subject under surveillance exists in the surveillance range or not based on the first detection signal and an abnormality detection signal supplied from a predetermined detecting means for detecting an abnormality in the surveillance range.

3. A control method for an imaging apparatus that images a predetermined surveillance range and detects a subject under surveillance, the method comprising the steps of:

imaging the surveillance range and creating image data;

performing first image processing of detecting an abnormality in the surveillance range in accordance with the image data and generating a first detection signal and second image processing of converting the image data to a predetermined data format in parallel by computing processing means having a predetermined processing ability;

determining whether the subject under surveillance exists in the surveillance range or not based on the first detection signal;

allocating a larger proportion of the processing ability of the computing processing means to the first image processing than that to the second image processing if it is determined that the subject under surveillance does not exist in the surveillance range; and

allocating a larger proportion of the processing ability of the computing processing means to the second image processing than that to the first image processing if it is determined that the subject under surveillance exists in the surveillance range.

4. The control method for an imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein whether the subject under surveillance exists in the surveillance range or not is determined based on the first detection signal and an abnormality detection signal supplied from a predetermined detecting means for detecting an abnormality in the surveillance range.

5. An imaging apparatus comprising:

an image creating section imaging a predetermined surveillance range and creating image data;

an image processing section in which a computing processing unit having a predetermined processing ability performs first image processing of detecting an abnormality in the surveillance range in accordance with the image data and generating a first detection signal and second image processing of converting the image data to a predetermined data format in parallel; and

a determination processing section determining whether a predetermined subject under surveillance exists in the surveillance range or not based on the first detection signal, generating and supplying a first control signal to the image processing section if it is determined that the subject under surveillance does not exist, and generating and supplying a second control signal to the image processing section if it is determined that the subject under surveillance exists,

wherein the image processing section allocates a larger proportion of the processing ability of the computing processing unit to the first image processing than that to the second image processing if the first control signal is supplied thereto and allocates a larger proportion of the processing ability of the computing processing unit to the second image processing than that to the first image processing if the second control signal is supplied thereto.