Digital camera with attitude and shake detection

• US 6,924,837 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2001
• Issued: 08/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: PENTAX RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD.
• Original Assignee: Pentax Corporation (Hoya Corporation)
• Inventors: Wakui, Yoshio
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Tuan
• Assistant Examiner(s): SELBY, GEVELL V
• Application Number:
  US09/774,607
• Publication Number:
  US 20010010544A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,643 Days
• Field of Search: 348/208.1, 348/208.12, 348/208.16, 348/208.2, 348/208.4, 348/208.99, 348/296, 348/362, 348/363, 348/364
• US Class Current: 348/208.99
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/68 for stable pick-up of the scene, e.g. compensating for camera body vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/6812 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

A digital camera with an anti-blur function is provided with simple structures. The digital camera comprises an automatic exposure control mechanism for an automatic exposure mode and inclinometer. As sub-modes, the automatic exposure mode comprises a normal program mode and a high-shutter-speed priority program mode. Output of the inclinometer is repeatedly checked at a predetermined period to detect camera-shake. Camera-shake is determined by stable or unstable output from the inclinometer. When the output is unstable, it is determined that camera-shake exists, and the high-shutter-speed priority program mode is selected. Contrarily, when it is stable, it is determined that no camera-shake exists, and the normal program mode is selected. Attitude of the camera, which is sensed by the inclinometer, is recorded to a detachable PC card with the image data when camera-shake is not detected. If camera-shake is detected, the sensed attitude data is invalidated.

Claims

1. A digital camera comprising:

an automatic exposure control mechanism that operates in an automatic exposure mode which comprises at least two sub-modes including a normal program mode and a high-shutter-speed priority program mode, wherein said high-shutter-speed priority program mode selects a higher shutter speed in comparison with said normal program mode under a same photographing condition;

a camera attitude sensing processor that senses an attitude of said camera with respect to the vertical;

a camera-shake detecting processor that detects a camera-shake in accordance with a stability of said attitude, sensed by said camera attitude sensing processor;

a selecting control processor that selects said high-shutter-speed priority program mode as said sub-mode, when said attitude, sensed by said camera attitude sensing processor, is unstable and said camera-shake is detected by said camera-shake detecting processor while said automatic exposure mode is performed;

wherein said camera attitude sensing processor comprises an inclinometer, and said selecting control processor repeatedly checks output from said inclinometer at a predetermined period and invalidates attitude information about said attitude detected while photographing if said output corresponding to said attitude is unstable while said automatic exposure mode is performed.

2. A camera according to claim 1 that comprises a recording processor which records in a recording medium, said attitude information about said attitude detected while photographing, together with image data corresponding to an image taken during said photographing and wherein said selecting control processor invalidates said attitude information when said attitude, sensed by said camera attitude sensing processor, is unstable and said camera-shake is detected by said camera-shake detecting processor while said automatic exposure mode is performed.

3. A camera according to claim 1, wherein said selecting control processor selects said normal program mode as said sub-mode, when said attitude sensed by said camera attitude sensing processor is stable and said camera-shake is not detected, while said automatic exposure mode is performed.

4. A camera according to claim 1, wherein said selecting control processor switches selection of said sub-mode from said high-shutter-speed priority program mode to said normal program mode when status of said attitude sensed by said camera attitude sensing processor changes from unstable to stable and said camera-shake is no longer detected, while said automatic exposure mode is performed.

5. A digital camera comprising:

an automatic exposure control mechanism that operates in an automatic exposure mode which comprises at least two sub-modes including a normal program mode and a high-shutter-speed priority program mode, wherein said high-shutter-speed priority program mode selects a higher shutter speed in comparison with said normal program mode under a same photographing condition;

a camera attitude sensing processor that senses an attitude of said camera with respect to the vertical;

a camera-shake detecting processor that detects a camera-shake in accordance with a stability of said attitude, sensed by said camera attitude sensing processor;

a selecting control processor that selects said high-shutter-speed priority program mode as said sub-mode, when said attitude, sensed by said camera attitude sensing processor, is unstable and said camera-shake is detected by said camera-shake detecting processor while said automatic exposure mode is performed; and

a recording processor which records in a recording medium, attitude information about said attitude detected while photographing, together with image data corresponding to an image taken during said photographing and wherein said selecting control processor invalidates said attitude information when said attitude, sensed by said camera attitude sensing processor, is unstable and said camera-shake is detected by said camera-shake detecting processor while said automatic exposure mode is performed.