IMAGING APPARATUS HAVING A SYNCHRONOUS SHOOTING FUNCTION
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A camera comprising:
- an imaging element for taking a picture to obtain an image;
a detecting unit which detects a timing of blinking of light based on a timing of variation in luminance of an image obtained by the imaging element, wherein the light blinks periodically at a reference timing and the image is taken by the imaging element under a condition that the light blinks periodically at the reference timing; and
an adjusting unit which adjusts a timing of exposure of the imaging element, based on the timing of blinking of light detected by the detecting unit.
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Abstract
A camera is provided with an imaging element, and detects a timing of blinking of light which blinks periodically at a reference timing, based on a timing of variation in luminance of an image obtained by the imaging element, wherein the image is taken by the imaging element under a condition that the light blinks periodically at the reference timing. Further, the timing of exposure of the imaging element is adjusted based on the detected timing of the blinking light, thereby synchronizing shooting operations of plural cameras with each other.
20 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A camera comprising:
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an imaging element for taking a picture to obtain an image; a detecting unit which detects a timing of blinking of light based on a timing of variation in luminance of an image obtained by the imaging element, wherein the light blinks periodically at a reference timing and the image is taken by the imaging element under a condition that the light blinks periodically at the reference timing; and an adjusting unit which adjusts a timing of exposure of the imaging element, based on the timing of blinking of light detected by the detecting unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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4. The camera according to claim 4, wherein
the detecting unit detects the timing of blinking of light which blinks at the reference timing, based on a timing of variation in luminance of plural images successively obtained by the imaging element, which variation is caused by an inconsistent amount between one emitting period of the blinking light and one exposure period of the imaging element, which inconsistent amount is caused due to inconsistency between an emitting cycle of the emitting light and an exposure cycle of the imaging element and varies every frame shooting operation.
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23. A method of controlling a shooting operation in a camera, which has an imaging element for taking a picture to obtain an image, the method comprising:
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a step of detecting a timing of blinking of light based on timing of variation in luminance of an image obtained by the imaging element, wherein the light blinks periodically at a reference timing and the image is taken by the imaging element under a condition that the light blinks periodically at the reference timing; and a step of adjusting a timing of exposure of the imaging element based on the timing of blinking of light detected at the detecting step.
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24. A camera system including plural cameras, each having an imaging element for taking a picture to obtain an image, wherein
a particular camera among the plural cameras is provided with a light emitting unit for emitting light blinking periodically at a reference timing; - and
the plural cameras except the particular camera comprise; a detecting unit which detects a blinking timing of light based on a timing of variation in luminance of an image obtained by the imaging element, wherein the light blinks periodically at reference timing and the image is taken by the imaging element under a condition of the light blinking periodically at the reference timing; and an adjusting unit which adjusts a timing of exposure of the imaging element, based on the timing of blinking of light detected by the detecting unit. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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27. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium with an executable program stored thereon, wherein the program is for instructing a computer mounted on a camera, the camera has an imaging element for taking a picture to obtain an image, and when instructed by the program, the computer functions as
a detecting unit which detects a timing of blinking of light based on a timing of variation in luminance of an image obtained by the imaging element, wherein the light blinks periodically at a reference timing and the image is taken by the imaging element under a condition that the light blinks periodically at the reference timing; - and
an adjusting unit which adjusts a timing of exposure of the imaging element, based on the timing of blinking of light detected by the detecting unit.
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Specification