Image-capturing apparatus and image-capturing control method

• US 8,243,156 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2008
• Issued: 08/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Sako, Yoichiro
• Primary Examiner(s): SELBY, GEVELL V
• Application Number:
  US12/218,471
• Publication Number:
  US 20090027513A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,491 Days
• Field of Search: 348/222.1, 348/208.1, 348/208.2, 34820814-20816
• US Class Current: 348/222.1
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/40 with delayed or timed action

Abstract

An image-capturing apparatus includes an image-capturing unit configured to capture an image of a subject in order to obtain captured image data; a storage processor configured to perform a process for storing the captured image data obtained by the image-capturing unit; an operation unit configured to perform a self-timer image-capturing operation; a motion detector; and a controller configured to, when the self-timer image-capturing operation is performed using the operation unit, controlling, on the basis of detection information obtained by the motion detector, a shutter operation in which the captured image data obtained by the image-capturing unit is stored by the storage processor after a self-timer set time period passes.

Claims

1. An image-capturing apparatus comprising:

image-capturing means for capturing an image of a subject in order to obtain captured image data;

storage processing means for performing a process for storing the captured image data obtained by the image-capturing means;

operation means for performing a self-timer image-capturing operation;

motion detection means for detecting motion of the subject;

control means for, when the self-timer image-capturing operation is performed using the operation means, controlling, on the basis of detection information obtained by the motion detection means, a shutter operation in which the captured image data obtained by the image-capturing means is stored by the storage processing means after a self-timer set time period passes;

wherein;

the motion detection means detects the motion of the subject by performing image analysis of the captured image data obtained by the image-capturing means, the motion detection means detecting the motion of a person as the subject,

the control means controls the shutter operation on the basis of the detection information on the motion of the person by the motion detection means, and

on the basis of the detection information obtained by the motion detection means, the control means performs a process for extending the self-timer set time period when the person is moving when the self-timer set time period passes.

2. The image-capturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the motion detection means further detects the motion of the image-capturing apparatus.

3. The image-capturing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, in the motion detection means, the motion of the image-capturing apparatus is detected by using a sensor for detecting the motion of the image-capturing apparatus.

4. The image-capturing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, in the motion detection means, the motion of the image-capturing apparatus is detected by performing image analysis of the captured image data obtained by the image-capturing means.

5. The image-capturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, on the basis of the detection information obtained by the motion detection means, the control means further performs control for stopping the shutter operation when the subject is moving when an extension time period of the self-timer set time period passes.

6. The image-capturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, on the basis of the detection information obtained by the motion detection means, the control means performs control for stopping the shutter operation when the person is moving after an extension time period of the self-timer set time period passes.

7. The image-capturing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising message output means,

wherein, on the basis of the detection information obtained by the motion detection means, the control means performs control for causing the message output means to output a message when the subject is moving when an extension time period of the self-timer set time period passes.

8. The image-capturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, on the basis of the detection information obtained by the motion detection means, the control means performs control so that the shutter operation is performed when detection information indicating that the subject is stationary is obtained before the self-timer set time period passes.

9. The image-capturing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, on the basis of the detection information obtained by the motion detection means, the control means performs control for stopping the shutter operation when detection information indicating that the image-capturing apparatus has moved during the self-timer set time period is obtained.

10. An image-capturing apparatus comprising:

image-capturing means for capturing an image of a subject in order to obtain captured image data;

storage processing means for performing a process for storing the captured image data obtained by the image-capturing means;

operation means for performing a self-timer image-capturing operation;

motion detection means for detecting motion;

control means for, when the self-timer image-capturing operation is performed using the operation means, controlling, on the basis of detection information obtained by the motion detection means, a shutter operation in which the captured image data obtained by the image-capturing means is stored by the storage processing means after a self-timer set time period passes;

wherein;

the motion detection means detects the motion of the subject by performing image analysis of the captured image data obtained by the image-capturing means, the motion detection means detecting the motion of a person as the subject,

the control means controls the shutter operation on the basis of the detection information on the motion of the person by the motion detection means, and

on the basis of the detection information obtained by the motion detection means, the control means performs a process for extending the self-timer set time period when the person is moving when the self-timer set time period passes, and

on the basis of the detection information obtained by the motion detection means, the control means performs control so that the shutter operation is performed when detection information indicating that the person is stationary is obtained before an extension time period of the self-timer set time period passes.

11. An image-capturing apparatus comprising:

image-capturing means for capturing an image of a subject in order to obtain captured image data;

storage processing means for performing a process for storing the captured image data obtained by the image-capturing means;

operation means for performing a self-timer image-capturing operation;

motion detection means for detecting motion;

control means for, when the self-timer image-capturing operation is performed using the operation means, controlling, on the basis of detection information obtained by the motion detection means, a shutter operation in which the captured image data obtained by the image-capturing means is stored by the storage processing means after a self-timer set time period passes;

wherein;

the motion detection means detects the motion of the subject by performing image analysis of the captured image data obtained by the image-capturing means,

the control means controls the shutter operation on the basis of the detection information on the motion of the subject by the motion detection means;

on the basis of the detection information obtained by the motion detection means, the control means performs a process for extending the self-timer set time period when the subject is moving when the self-timer set time period passes;

the motion detection means detects the motion of the image-capturing apparatus;

the image-capturing means has an exposure correction function, and

on the basis of the detection information obtained by the motion detection means, the control means controls the image-capturing means so that exposure correction is performed when the amount of incident light from the subject is changed during the self-timer set time period.

12. An image-capturing apparatus comprising:

image-capturing means for capturing an image of a subject in order to obtain captured image data;

storage processing means for performing a process for storing the captured image data obtained by the image-capturing means;

operation means for performing a self-timer image-capturing operation;

motion detection means for detecting motion;

control means for, when the self-timer image-capturing operation is performed using the operation means, controlling, on the basis of detection information obtained by the motion detection means, a shutter operation in which the captured image data obtained by the image-capturing means is stored by the storage processing means after a self-timer set time period passes;

wherein;

the motion detection means detects the motion of the subject by performing image analysis of the captured image data obtained by the image-capturing means,

the control means controls the shutter operation on the basis of the detection information on the motion of the subject by the motion detection means; and

on the basis of the detection information obtained by the motion detection means, the control means performs a process for extending the self-timer set time period when the subject is moving when the self-timer set time period passes;

further comprising message output means;

wherein, on the basis of the detection information obtained by the motion detection means, the control means performs control for causing the message output means to output a message when detection information indicating that the image-capturing apparatus has moved during the self-timer set time period is obtained.

13. A method for performing image capturing using an image-capturing apparatus, the method comprising:

capturing an image of a subject as captured image data;

storing the captured image data;

performing a self-timer image-capturing operation;

detecting motion of the subject or of the image-capturing apparatus during the capturing;

controlling a shutter operation on a basis of a detection result of the detecting; and

performing an exposure correction function when an amount of incident light from the subject is changed during self-timing.

14. An image-capturing apparatus comprising:

an image-capturing unit that captures an image of a subject as captured image data;

a storage processor that stores the captured image data;

an operation unit that performs a self-timer image-capturing operation;

a motion detector that detects motion of the subject or of the image-capturing apparatus during the capturing; and

a controller that controls a shutter operation on the basis of a detection result, and an exposure correction function when an amount of incident light from the subject is changed during self-timing.