WEARABLE DEVICE, CONTROL APPARATUS, PHOTOGRAPHING CONTROL METHOD AND AUTOMATIC IMAGING APPARATUS

• US 20170048438A1
• Filed: 01/19/2015
• Published: 02/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: IWATSU, TAKESHI, ISHIKAWA, HIROTAKA
• Granted Patent: US 10,356,322 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0187 slaved to motion of at least a part of the body of the user, e.g. head, eye
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/10 Electronic devices other than hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/62 Control of parameters via user interfaces
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/6812 based on additional sensors, e.g. acceleration sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/684 performed by controlling the image sensor readout, e.g. by controlling the integration time

Abstract

There is provided a wearable device including an attachment unit, a motion sensor and a control unit. The attachment unit has a display and an imaging unit. The attachment unit is configured to be attachable to the user. The motion sensor is configured to be capable of detecting a spatial movement of the imaging unit. The control unit is configured to determine whether or not the imaging unit is in a predetermined resting state, based on an output of the motion sensor, and when the imaging unit is not in the predetermined resting state, limit a photographing operation of the imaging unit.

Claims

1. A wearable device comprising:

an attachment unit having a display and an imaging unit, the attachment unit being configured to be attachable to the user;

a motion sensor configured to be capable of detecting a spatial movement of the imaging unit; and

a control unit configured to determine whether or not the imaging unit is in a predetermined resting state, based on an output of the motion sensor, and when the imaging unit is not in the predetermined resting state, limit a photographing operation of the imaging unit.

2. The wearable device according to claim 1, wherein

the control unit has

a signal generator configured to generate a starting signal for starting the imaging unit, every time a predetermined time passes, and

a determination unit configured to determine whether or not the imaging unit is in the predetermined resting state, when the starting signal is generated,

the determination unit being configured to permit acquisition of an image when the imaging unit is in the predetermined resting state, and inhibit the acquisition of an image when the imaging unit is not in the predetermined resting state.

3. The wearable device according to claim 2, wherein

the determination unit is configured to determine whether or not the imaging unit is in the predetermined resting state, after the starting signal is generated and before the photographing operation of the imaging unit is performed.

4. The wearable device according to claim 2, wherein

determination unit is configured to determine whether or not the imaging unit is in the predetermined resting state, after the photographing operation of the imaging unit is performed.

5. The wearable device according to claim 4, wherein

the determination unit is configured to determine the predetermined resting state, according to whether or not the imaging unit has been in the predetermined resting state during an exposure period of the imaging unit.

6. The wearable device according to claim 2, wherein

the determination unit is configured to, when determined that the imaging unit is not in the predetermined resting state, inhibit starting of the imaging unit until the imaging unit becomes in the predetermined resting state.

7. The wearable device according to claim 2, wherein

the determination unit is configured to, when determined that the imaging unit is not in the predetermined resting state, invalidate a photographing operation of the imaging unit until the imaging unit becomes in the predetermined resting state.

8. The wearable device according to claim 1, further comprising

an operation unit to be operated by an input operation by a user;

the control unit having a determination unit to detect an input of the operation unit,

the determination unit being configured to determine whether or not the imaging unit is in the predetermined resting state, when the operation unit is operated,

the determination unit being further configured to permit acquisition of an image by the imaging unit when the imaging unit is in the predetermined resting state, and inhibit the acquisition of an image when the imaging unit is not in the predetermined resting state.

9. The wearable device according to claim 8, wherein

the determination unit is configured to determine whether or not the imaging unit is in the predetermined resting state, after detecting the input of the operation unit and before the photographing operation of the imaging unit is performed.

10. The wearable device according to claim 8, wherein

the determination unit is configured to determine whether or not the imaging unit is in the predetermined resting state, after the photographing operation of the imaging unit is performed.

11. The wearable device according to claim 10, wherein

the determination unit is configured to determine the predetermined resting state, according to whether or not the imaging unit has been in the predetermined resting state during an exposure period of the imaging unit.

12. The wearable device according to claim 8, wherein

the determination unit is configured to, when determined that the imaging unit is not in the predetermined resting state, inhibit starting of the imaging unit until the imaging unit becomes in the predetermined resting state.

13. The wearable device according to claim 8, wherein

the determination unit is configured to, when determined that the imaging unit is not in the predetermined resting state, invalidate a photographing operation of the imaging unit;

and after a predetermined time has passed, determine again whether or not the imaging unit is in the predetermined resting state.

14. The wearable device according to claim 1, wherein

the control unit further has an image transmitting unit configured to send the image photographed by the imaging unit to an external apparatus.

15. The wearable device according to claim 1, wherein

the motion sensor includes an angular velocity sensor.

16. The wearable device according to claim 1, wherein

the motion sensor includes an acceleration sensor.

17. A wearable device comprising:

an attachment unit having a display and an imaging unit, the attachment being configured to be attachable to the user;

a motion sensor configured to detect a spatial movement of the imaging unit; and

a control unit configured to allow the imaging unit to perform a photographing operation at a predetermined timing regardless of absence of any input operation by the user,

the control unit being further configured to determine whether or not the imaging unit is in a predetermined resting state, based on an output of the motion sensor, and when the imaging unit is not in the predetermined resting state, make a correction on a photographing operation of the imaging unit.

18. A control apparatus comprising:

a receiver configured to be capable of receiving, from a wearable device having an imaging unit and a motion sensor to detect a spatial movement of the imaging unit, an image photographed by the imaging unit and an output of the motion sensor; and

a determination unit configured to determine whether or not the imaging unit is in a predetermined resting state, based on an output of the motion sensor,

the determination unit being further configured to permit acquisition of an image by the imaging unit when the imaging unit is in the predetermined resting state, and inhibit the acquisition of an image when the imaging unit is not in the predetermined resting state.

19. A photographing control method comprising:

detecting an input of a starting signal for starting an imaging unit installed in a wearable device;

detecting a spatial movement of the imaging unit by a motion sensor installed in the wearable device;

determining whether or not the imaging unit is in a predetermined resting state;

if the imaging unit is in the predetermined resting state, permitting acquisition of an image by the imaging unit; and

if the imaging unit is not in the predetermined resting state, inhibiting the acquisition of an image.

20. An automatic imaging apparatus comprising:

an imaging unit;

a motion sensor configured to detect a spatial movement of the imaging unit;

a signal generator configured to generate a starting signal for starting the imaging unit, every time a predetermined time passes; and

a determination unit configured to determine whether or not the imaging unit is in a predetermined resting state, based on an output of the motion sensor, when the starting signal is generated,

the determination unit being further configured to permit acquisition of an image when the imaging unit is in the predetermined resting state, and inhibit the acquisition of an image when

the imaging unit is not in the predetermined resting state.