Imaging apparatus and capture assist mark usage control method

• US 20090225179A1
• Filed: 10/06/2005
• Published: 09/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Sakai, Kuniaki, Sasaki, Isao, Ohashi, Hisashi
• Granted Patent: US 8,314,861 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/222.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/631 Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/633 for displaying additional information relating to control or operation of the camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/635 Region indicators; Field of view indicators
• 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

Abstract

Multiple capture assist marks (markers for capture assistance) to be synthesized with video captured by a camera unit 10 is generated by an OSD unit 20 through the control of a control unit 100. These capture assist marks are synthesized with the video from the camera unit 10 by synthesis means and displayed. In this case, an operation unit 110 is used to accept input of an instruction about the capture assist mark from a user. Based on this instruction input, the control unit 100 controls the OSD unit 20 and a baseband processing unit 30 to synthesize the capture assist mark corresponding to the instruction with a video signal from the camera unit 10.

Claims

1. An imaging apparatus comprising:

imaging means for imaging an object and outputting a video signal;

generation means for generating a plurality of types of capture assist marks to be synthesized with a video signal output from the imaging means;

synthesis means for synthesizing a capture assist mark generated by the generation means with the video signal from the imaging means;

acceptance means for accepting instruction input about the capture assist mark; and

control means for controlling the generation means and the synthesis means based on the instruction input accepted through the acceptance means and controlling a capture assist mark corresponding to the instruction input so as to be synthesized with the video signal.

2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1 comprising:

selection input acceptance means for accepting selection input of a plurality of capture modes to generate differently formatted video signals; and

capture mode change means for controlling the imaging means in accordance with the selection input accepted through the selection input acceptance means and enabling a selected capture mode,

wherein the control means controls the generation means so as to generate the capture assist mark in accordance with a selected capture mode.

3. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1 comprising:

selection input acceptance means for accepting selection input of a plurality of capture modes to generate differently formatted video signals; and

capture mode change means for controlling the imaging means in accordance with the selection input accepted through the selection input acceptance means and enabling a selected capture mode,

wherein the control means controls whether or not to synthesize a capture assist mark generated by the generation means in accordance with a selected capture mode.

4. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1 comprising:

a plurality of output terminal unit which use different formats to output video signals output from the imaging means,

wherein the generation means generates the capture assist marker in accordance with a format of the video signal to be supplied to each of the plurality of output terminal units; and

wherein the synthesis means synthesizes the corresponding capture assist mark with the video signal to be supplied to each of the plurality of output terminal units.

5. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the acceptance means can accept selection input of a capture assist mark generated at least from the plurality of types of capture assist marks.

6. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1 comprising:

change input acceptance means for directly accepting input for a change between displaying and hiding the plurality of capture assist marks as a whole generated by the generation means; and

change control means for changing between displaying and hiding the plurality of capture assist marks as a whole in accordance with the change input accepted through the change input acceptance means.

7. A capture assist mark usage control method for an imaging apparatus having imaging means for imaging an object image and capturing the same as a video signal, wherein the method is used for synthesizing a capture assist mark with a video signal captured by the imaging means and comprises the steps of:

accepting instruction input about the capture assist mark;

generating N (N is 0 or larger integer) types of capture assist markers in accordance with the instruction input accepted through the acceptance step; and

synthesizing N types of capture assist marks generated at the generation step with the video signal from the imaging means.

8. The capture assist mark usage control method according to claim 7 comprising the steps of:

accepting selection input of a plurality of capture modes to generate differently formatted video signals; and

controlling the imaging means in accordance with the selection input accepted through the selection input acceptance means and enabling a selected capture mode,

wherein the generation step controls generation of the capture assist mark in accordance with a selected capture mode.

9. The capture assist mark usage control method according to claim 7 comprising the steps of:

accepting selection input of a plurality of capture modes to generate differently formatted video signals; and

controlling the imaging means in accordance with the selection input accepted through the selection input acceptance means and enabling a selected capture mode,

wherein the synthesis step controls synthesis of the capture assist mark in accordance with a selected capture mode.

10. The capture assist mark usage control method according to claim 7,

wherein there is provided a plurality of output terminal units to output a video signal corresponding to the video signal captured by the imaging means;

wherein the generation step generates a capture assist mark in accordance with a format of the video signal supplied to each of the plurality of output terminal units; and

wherein the synthesis step synthesizes the corresponding capture assist mark with the video signal to be supplied to each of the plurality of output terminal units.

11. The capture assist mark usage control method according to claim 7,

wherein the acceptance step accepts input for selecting a capture assist mark to be generated at least from a plurality of types of capture assist marks.

12. The capture assist mark usage control method according to claim 7 comprising the steps of:

accepting input for a change between displaying and hiding the plurality of capture assist marks as a whole generated at the generation step; and

changing between displaying and hiding the plurality of capture assist marks as a whole in accordance with the change input accepted at the change input acceptance step.