Image taking system and lens apparatus

• US 8,405,718 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2009
• Issued: 03/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Isobe, Shingo, Kikuchi, Takayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Walsh, John B.
• Application Number:
  US12/613,332
• Publication Number:
  US 20100110178A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,237 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 348/135
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/36 using image sharpness techniques , e.g. image processing techniques for generating autofocus signals image data processing per se G06T; in cameras having a solid state image sensor H04N23/67
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/633 for displaying additional information relating to control or operation of the camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/663 for controlling interchangeable camera parts based on electronic image sensor signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/672 based on the phase difference signals

Abstract

An image taking system comprises a distance calculator 114 which calculates an object distance in each of a plurality of ranging areas 1 to 16, a velocity calculator 116 which calculates an object velocity in each of the ranging areas, an information generator 114, 116 which generates object information indicating at least one of the object distance, a difference between the object distances, the object velocity, and a difference between the object velocities, an extractor 117 which extracts a ranging area where the object velocity calculated by the velocity calculator is in a first range SA out of the plurality of ranging areas, and an output image generator 203 which generates an output image including a shot image generated by the camera and the object information corresponding to the ranging area extracted by the extractor.

Claims

1. An image taking system including a lens apparatus and a camera configured to take an image using the lens apparatus, the image taking system further comprising a controller configured to provide:

a distance calculator task that calculates an object distance from the lens apparatus in each of a plurality of ranging areas provided in an image taking range;

a velocity calculator task that calculates an object velocity based on the object distance calculated by the distance calculator task in each of the plurality of ranging areas, the object velocity being a relative velocity between the lens apparatus and an object;

an information generator task that generates object information indicating at least one of the object distance calculated by the distance calculator task, a difference between two object distances among a plurality of object distances calculated by the distance calculator task, the object velocity calculated by the velocity calculator task, or a difference between the object velocities;

an extractor task that extracts a ranging area where the object velocity calculated by the velocity calculator task is in a first range out of the plurality of ranging areas, the first range including a state where the object velocity is zero; and

an output image generator task that generates an output image including a shot image generated by the camera and the object information corresponding to the ranging area extracted by the extractor task.

2. An image taking system according to claim 1, wherein:

the controller is further configured to provide a ranging position output task that outputs position information that indicates a position of each of the ranging areas, and

the output image generator task generates the output image by superimposing the object information corresponding to the ranging area extracted by the extractor task at a position depending on the position information in the shot image.

3. An image taking system according to claim 1, wherein when the object velocity calculated by the velocity calculator task is in the first range and the difference between the object velocities in at least two ranging areas is in a second range, the extractor task extracts one ranging area out of the at least two ranging areas.

4. An image taking system according to claim 1, wherein when the object velocity calculated by the velocity calculator task is in the first range and the difference between the two object distances calculated by the distance calculator task in at least two ranging areas is in a third range, the extractor task extracts one ranging area out of the at least two ranging areas.

5. An image taking system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a selector configured to select at least one exclusion ranging area out of the plurality of ranging areas,

wherein the extractor task excludes the exclusion ranging area out of the ranging areas as extracting targets where the object velocity calculated by the velocity calculator task is in the first range.

6. A lens apparatus comprising a controller configured to provide:

a distance calculator task that calculates an object distance from the lens apparatus in each of a plurality of ranging areas provided in an image taking range;

a velocity calculator that calculates an object velocity based on the object distance calculated by the distance calculator task in each of the plurality of ranging areas, the object velocity being a relative velocity between the lens apparatus and an object;

an information generator task that generates object information indicating at least one of the object distance calculated by the distance calculator task, a difference between two object distances among a plurality of object distances calculated by the distance calculator task, the object velocity calculated by the velocity calculator task, or a difference between the object velocities; and

an extractor task that extracts a ranging area where the object velocity calculated by the velocity calculator task is in a first range out of the plurality of ranging areas, the first range including a state where the object velocity is zero.

7. A lens apparatus according to claim 6, wherein:

the controller is further configured to provide a ranging position output task that outputs position information that indicates a position of each of the ranging areas, and

the output image generator task outputs the output image by superimposing the object information corresponding to the ranging area extracted by the extractor task at a position depending on the position information in the shot image to an outside of the lens apparatus.

8. A lens apparatus according to claim 6, wherein when the object velocity calculated by the velocity calculator task is in the first range and the difference between the object velocities in at least two ranging areas is in a second range, the extractor task extracts one ranging area out of the at least two ranging areas.

9. A lens apparatus according to claim 6, wherein when the object velocity calculated by the velocity calculator task is in the first range and the difference between the two object distances calculated by the distance calculator task in at least two ranging areas is in a third range, the extractor task extracts one ranging area out of the at least two ranging areas.

10. A lens apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising:

a selector configured to select at least one exclusion ranging area out of the plurality of ranging areas,

wherein the extractor task excludes the exclusion ranging area out of the ranging areas as extracting targets where the object velocity calculated by the velocity calculator task is in the first range.

11. A lens apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising:

a phase difference sensor configured to detect a phase difference between object images formed by light entering the lens apparatus,

wherein the distance calculator task calculates the object distance based on an output from the phase difference sensor.

12. A lens apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to provide a focus control task that performs a focus control based on the output from the phase difference sensor.

13. A lens apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising:

an external measuring sensor configured to detect a phase difference between object images by using an optical system other than an image taking optical system of the lens apparatus,

wherein the distance calculator task calculates the object distance based on an output from the external measuring sensor.

14. A lens apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to provide a focus control task that performs a focus control based on the output from the external measuring sensor.

15. A lens apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the extractor task sets the first range based on the object velocity in a ranging area used for the focus control.