IMAGE APPARATUS WITH MOTION CONTROL

• US 20120075487A1
• Filed: 06/25/2009
• Published: 03/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Inventors: Takita, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 9,106,822 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/208.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/67 Focus control based on electronic image sensor signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/68 for stable pick-up of the scene, e.g. compensating for camera body vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/6845 by combination of a plurality of images sequentially taken
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/88 for colour balance, e.g. white-balance circuits or colour temperature control

Abstract

An image apparatus (10) for capturing an image (212) of a scene (16) includes an apparatus frame (224), a capturing system (228), a control feature, an inertial sensor assembly (218), and a control system (216) The capturing system captures the captured image (258) The control feature influences the image captured by the capturing system The inertial sensor assembly senses motion of the image apparatus The control system adjusts the control feature based on the sensed motion from the sensor assembly With this design, the control feature can be easily controlled by the controlled movement of the image apparatus For example, the inertial sensor assembly includes one or more angular inertial sensors that monitor pitching and/or yawing of the image apparatus, one or more gyroscopes that monitor rotation of the image apparatus, and/or one or more accelerometers that monitor acceleration of the image apparatus in one or more directions.

Claims

1. An image apparatus for capturing an image of a scene, the image apparatus comprising:

a capturing system that captures an image;

an image display that displays the captured image;

a control feature that influences the image captured by the capturing system or the image displayed on the image display;

a sensor assembly that senses motion; and

a control system that adjusts the control feature based on the sensed motion from the sensor assembly.

2. The image apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sensor assembly includes an inertia sensor.

3. The image apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sensor assembly includes a gyroscope.

4. The image apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sensor assembly monitors acceleration.

5. The image apparatus of claim 1 wherein the control feature is selected from a group that includes white balance adjustment, playback of the captured image, flash, vibration reduction, zoom, and focus.

6. The image apparatus of claim 1 wherein a first controlled movement of the sensor assembly is used to control a first control feature, and a second controlled movement of the sensor assembly is used to control a second control feature.

7. An image apparatus for capturing an image of a scene, the image apparatus comprising:

a capturing system that captures an image and a plurality of through images;

an image display that displays the captured image;

a control feature that influences the image captured by the capturing system or the image displayed on the image display; and

a control system that evaluates at least one of the images to determine if there is motion, and the control system adjusts the control feature based on the motion.

8. The image apparatus of claim 7 wherein the control feature is selected from a group that includes white balance adjustment, playback of the captured image, flash, vibration reduction, zoom, and focus.

9. A method for controlling an image apparatus, the method comprising the step of:

moving an inertial sensor assembly to generate a sensor signal that is used to control a control feature of the image apparatus.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of coupling the inertial sensor assembly to the image apparatus.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of transferring the sensor signal to a control system that controls the control feature.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the sensor assembly includes an inertial sensor.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the sensor assembly includes a gyroscope.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the sensor assembly monitors acceleration.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein the control feature is selected from a group that includes white balance adjustment, playback of the captured image, flash, vibration reduction, zoom, and focus.

16. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of moving the sensor assembly in a first controlled movement to control a first control feature, and moving the sensor assembly in a second controlled movement to control a second control feature.

17. A method for controlling an image apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:

capturing a through image with a capturing system;

evaluating the through image to determine if there is motion of the image apparatus with a control system; and

controlling a control feature that influences the image captured by the capturing system or the image displayed on the image display based on the motion detected in the through image with the control system.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the control feature is selected from a group that includes white balance adjustment, playback of the captured image, flash, vibration reduction, zoom, and focus.