Imaging device and imaging method

• US 20090047010A1
• Filed: 07/30/2008
• Published: 02/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Shiraishi, Kenji, Yoshida, Akihiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,813,633 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 396/127
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/36 using image sharpness techniques , e.g. image processing techniques for generating autofocus signals image data processing per se G06T; in cameras having a solid state image sensor H04N23/67
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 13/30 indicating depth of field
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2217/18 Signals indicating condition of a camera member or suitability of light
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/633 for displaying additional information relating to control or operation of the camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/672 based on the phase difference signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/673 based on contrast or high frequency components of image signals, e.g. hill climbing method
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/676 Bracketing for image capture at varying focusing conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/743 Bracketing, i.e. taking a series of images with varying exposure conditions

Abstract

An imaging device includes an autofocusing section, which moves at least a part of an imaging lens as a focusing lens, and focuses the imaging device on a subject, a photographing distance range setting section, which sets a predetermined distance range including a subject distance to the subject obtained by the autofocusing section as a photographing distance range for photographing, a continuous shooting section, which continuously photographs at a plurality of focused positions in the photographing distance range while moving and stopping the focusing lens according to input of a photographing instruction, and a display section, which displays an image of the subject focused by the autofocusing section and the photographing distance range set by the photographing distance range setting section.

Claims

1. An imaging device, comprising:

an autofocusing section, which moves at least a part of an imaging lens as a focusing lens, and focuses the imaging device on a subject;

a photographing distance range setting section, which sets a predetermined distance range including a subject distance to the subject obtained by the autofocusing section as a photographing distance range for photographing;

a continuous shooting section, which continuously photographs at a plurality of focused positions in the photographing distance range while moving and stopping the focusing lens according to input of a photographing instruction; and

a display section, which displays an image of the subject focused by the autofocusing section and the photographing distance range set by the photographing distance range setting section.

2. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein

the photographing distance range is displayed on the display section when a first predetermined operation is conducted, and

the photographing is conducted by the continuous shooting section in the photographing distance range displayed on the display section and photographing data is recorded when a second predetermined operation is conducted.

3. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein

the photographing distance range setting section sets a plurality of photographing distance ranges according to a maximum value of the focal point evaluation value, and

the plurality of photographing distance ranges is sequentially displayed on the display section for every first predetermined operation, and the photographing is conducted by the continuous shooting section in the photographing distance range displayed on the display section and photographing data is stored when a second predetermined operation is conducted.

4. The imaging device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a depth of field obtaining section, which obtains information of a depth of field in the focused position, wherein

the photographing distance range setting section sets a plurality of photographing distance ranges according to at least 2 maximum values of the focal point evaluation values which are included in the depth of field obtained by the depth of field obtaining section and are adjacent to each other, and

the plurality of photographing distance ranges is sequentially displayed on the display section for every first predetermined operation, and the photographing is conducted by the continuous shooting section in the photographing distance range displayed on the display section and photographing data is recorded when a second predetermined operation is conducted.

5. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the display section displays the photographing distance range on which the focused position by the autofocusing section is overlapped.

6. The imaging device according to claim 1, further comprising a photographing distance range changing section, which changes the photographing distance range.

7. The imaging device according to claim 6, wherein the display section displays the photographing distance range according to change in the photographing distance range by the photographing distance range changing section.

8. The imaging device according to claim 6, wherein the photographing distance range changing section changes the photographing distance range according to a third predetermined operation.

9. The imaging device according to claim 6, wherein

the photographing distance range setting section selects a plurality of the photographing distance ranges relative to a plurality of the subject distances, and

the photographing distance range changing section sequentially changes the plurality of photographing distance ranges according to the first predetermined operation.

10. The imaging device according to claim 9, wherein the photographing distance range changing section changes the photographing distance range based on change in a condition of the subject according to the first predetermined operation.

11. The imaging device according to claim 9, wherein the photographing distance range changing section changes the photographing distance range according to a time interval of the first predetermined operation.

12. The imaging device according to claim 1, further comprising a warning section, which warns that the photographing distance range is not set when a predetermined photographing start instruction is detected before setting the photographing distance range by the photographing distance range setting section.

13. An imaging method, comprising:

an autofocusing step, which moves at least a part of an imaging lens as a focusing lens, and focuses the imaging device on a subject;

a photographing distance range setting step, which sets a predetermined distance range including a subject distance to the subject obtained by the autofocusing step as a photographing distance range for photographing;

a continuous shooting step, which continuously photographs at a plurality of focused positions in the photographing distance range while moving and stopping the focusing lens; and

a display step, which displays an image of the subject focused by the autofocusing step and the photographing distance range set by the photographing distance range setting step.

14. The imaging method according to claim 13, wherein

the photographing distance range is displayed by the display step when a first predetermined operation is conducted, and

the photographing is conducted by the continuous shooting photographing step in the photographing distance range displayed by the display step and the photographing data is recorded when a second predetermined operation is conducted.

15. The imaging method according to claim 13, wherein

the photographing distance range setting step sets a plurality of photographing distance ranges according to a maximum value of the focal point evaluation value, and

the display step sequentially displays the plurality of photographing distance ranges for every first predetermined operation, and the photographing is conducted by the continuous shooting step in the photographing distance range displayed by the display step and photographing data is recorded when a second predetermined operation is conducted.

16. She imaging method according to claim 13, further comprising a depth of field obtaining step, which obtains information of a depth of field in the focused position, wherein

the photographing distance range setting step sets a plurality of photographing distance ranges according to at least 2 maximum values of the focal point evaluation values which are included in the depth of field obtained by the depth of field obtaining step and are close to each other, and

the display step sequentially displays the plurality of photographing distance ranges for every first predetermined operation, and the photographing is conducted by the continuous shooting step in the photographing distance range displayed by the display step and the photographing data is recorded when a second predetermined operation is conducted.

17. The imaging method according to claim 13, wherein the display step images the photographing distance range on which the focused position by the autofocusing step is overlapped.

18. The imaging method according to claim 13, further comprising a photographing distance range changing step, which changes the photographing distance range.

19. The imaging method according to claim 18, wherein the display step changes the photographing distance range according to change in the photographing distance range by the photographing distance range changing step.

20. The imaging method according to claim 18, wherein the photographing distance range changing step changes the photographing distance range according to a third predetermined operation.