Imaging apparatus and recording medium

• US 7,949,189 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2009
• Issued: 05/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Inventors: Nara, Kazuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Ahmed; Samir A
• Assistant Examiner(s): RASHIDIAN, MOHAMMAD M
• Application Number:
  US12/392,285
• Publication Number:
  US 20090220160A1
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• Field of Search: 382/18, 382/190, 382/209, 358/400, 352/39, 375/240.16, 725/9, 902 1- 3, 713/182, 714/789, 386/353, 386/326, 386/714, 348/335, 348/E5.024, 348/581, 348/715, 348/E9.37, 348/E9.055, 396/14
• US Class Current: 382/189
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/61 based on recognised objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/611 where the recognised objects include parts of the human body
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/634 Warning indications

Abstract

In a digital camera 1, when the shutter button is half-depressed (Y at S2), face detection processing is performed on periodically imaged frame images until it is fully depressed (N at S6), and face detection results are cyclically stored in a detection result storage area. When it is fully depressed (Y at S6), a still-image imaging operation is performed, and the face detection processing is performed on an imaged still-image (S7 and S8). Then, after a high priority face detection result is selected from among the face detection results currently stored in the detection result storing area (S9), the selected face detection result and the face detection result of the still-image are compared and judged whether or not they are in agreement (S10 and S11). When judged not to be in agreement, the still-image is displayed as a preview and the warning display of this disagreement is performed (S13).

Claims

1. An imaging apparatus comprising:

first imaging control means for performing periodic imaging;

first detection means for detecting a predetermined photographic subject from image data imaged by the first imaging control means;

instruction means for instructing imaging a still-image during the periodic imaging by the first imaging control means;

second imaging control means for imaging a still-image when instructed by the instruction means;

second detection means for detecting a predetermined photographic subject from still-image data imaged by the second imaging control means;

comparison means for comparing a result of the photographic subject detection by the first detection means with a result of the photographic subject detection by the second detection means; and

informing means for informing of a comparison result by the comparison means.

2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the informing means accordingly informs by an indication when the comparison result by the comparison means indicates that the result of the photographic subject detection by the first detection means is not in agreement with the result of the photographic subject detection by the second detection means.

3. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a display;

wherein the informing means accordingly informs by controlling the display to display the still-image data imaged by the second imaging control means when the comparison result by the comparison means indicates that the result of the photographic subject detection by the first detection means is in agreement with the result of the photographic subject detection by the second detection means, and accordingly informs by restarting imaging by the first imaging control means without controlling the display to display the still-image data imaged by the second imaging control means when the comparison result by the comparison means indicates that the result of the photographic subject detection by the first detection means is not in agreement with the result of the photographic subject detection by the second detection means.

4. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a display;

wherein the informing means accordingly informs by controlling the display to display an indication when the comparison result by the comparison means indicates that the result of the photographic subject detection by the first detection means is not in agreement with the result of the photographic subject detection by the second detection means.

5. The imaging apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising:

display control means for controlling the display to display the image data imaged by the first imaging control means and the still-image data imaged by the second imaging control means;

wherein the informing means informs by controlling the display to perform identification display of a photographic subject area detected by the first detection means or the second detection means which is not in agreement in the still-image data displayed on the display by the display control means when the comparison results by the comparison means indicates that the result of the photographic subject detection by the first detection means is not in agreement with the result of the photographic subject detection by the second detection means.

6. The imaging apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the informing means controls the display to perform identification display by enlarging image data of a photographic subject area detected by the first detection means or the second detection means which is not in agreement in the still-image data displayed on the display by the display control means when the comparison result by the comparison means indicates that the result of the photographic subject detection by the first detection means is not in agreement with the result of the photographic subject detection by the second detection means.

7. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the comparison means performs the comparison by determining at least one of whether or not numbers of detected photographic subjects are in agreement within a predetermined range, whether or not positions of detected photographic subjects are in agreement within a predetermined range, and whether or not sizes of detected photographic subjects are in agreement within a predetermined range, when comparing the result of the photographic subject detection performed by the first detection means and the result of the photographic subject detection performed by the second detection means.

8. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the first detection means and the second detection means comprises smile detection means for detecting a smile evaluation value indicating a degree of smile of a photographic subject, and wherein the comparison means compares smile evaluation values detected by the first detection means and the second detection means.

9. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the comparison means compares whether or not a result of the photographic subject detection performed by the first detection means and a result of the photographic subject detection performed by the second detection means are in agreement.

10. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

further instruction means for instructing to prepare for imaging a still-image during the periodic imaging by the first imaging control means;

wherein the comparison means compares a result of the detection by the first detection means from the image data imaged by the first imaging control means with a result of the detection by the second detection means when preparation for imaging is instructed by the further instruction means.

11. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first detection means detects a predetermined photographic subject from the image data imaged by the first imaging control means immediately before imaging is instructed by the instruction means.

12. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first detection means sequentially detects a predetermined photographic subject from the image data periodically imaged by the first imaging control means, and the comparison means compares, with a result of the photographic subject detection by the second detection means, any one of (i) a detection result detected a predetermined number of times before a detection result by the first detection means when imaging is instructed by the instruction means, (ii) a detection result detected a predetermined amount of time before imaging is instructed by the imaging instruction means, and (iii) a highest priority photographic subject detection result among detection results detected by the first detection means.

13. The imaging apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the priority of a photographic subject detection result is determined based on at least one of proximity of each detected photographic subject to a center of a field angle, a size of each detected photographic subject in the image data, and a number of detected photographic subjects in the image data.

14. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second detection means detects a predetermined photographic subject from an area in the still-image data imaged by the second imaging control means which is the same area as an area of a photographic subject in a detection result by the first detection means.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having a program stored thereon that is executable by a computer included in an imaging apparatus to cause the computer to perform a process comprising:

a first imaging control processing for performing periodic imaging;

a first detection processing for detecting a predetermined photographic subject from image data imaged by the first imaging control processing;

an instruction processing for instructing imaging of a still-image during the periodic imaging by the first imaging control processing;

a second imaging control processing for imaging a still-image when instructed by the instruction processing;

a second detection processing for detecting a predetermined photographic subject from still-image data imaged by the second imaging control processing;

a comparison processing for comparing a result of the photographic subject detection by the first detection processing with a result of the photographic subject detection by the second detection processing; and

an informing processing for informing of a comparison result by the comparison processing.