Imaging device, image display device, and program with intruding object detection

• US 8,587,658 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2008
• Issued: 11/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Inventors: Nitta, Keiichi, Hattori, Yuko, Watanabe, Go, Tomita, Hiroyuki, Suzuki, Kenji, Samejima, Saeko, Tanaka, Mikiya, Mitsuhashi, Setsu, Nishi, Takeshi, Hoshuyama, Hideo
• Primary Examiner(s): CHEN, CHIA WEI A
• Application Number:
  US12/451,727
• Publication Number:
  US 20100128138A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,993 Days
• Field of Search: 348152-156, 348169-172, 348 25- 30, 348208-20899, 348143-160, 382/103, 382115-118
• US Class Current: 348/152
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00458 Sequential viewing of a plurality of images, e.g. browsing or scrolling
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32101 Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3252 Image capture parameters, e.g. resolution, illumination conditions, orientation of the image capture device H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3277 The additional information being stored in the same storage device as the image data
• 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 23/667 Camera operation mode switching, e.g. between still and video, sport and normal or high- and low-resolution modes

Abstract

An imaging device includes a main photography means for photographing a photographic subject and acquires a photographic image, a preparatory image acquisition means for performing preparatory photography before or after the main photography means acquires the photographic image and acquiring preparatory images, a photographic information acquisition means for acquiring photographic information related to a circumstance of photography when the preparatory images are acquired by the preparatory image acquisition means, and a recording means for recording the photographic information and the photographic image upon a recording medium in mutual correlation.

Claims

1. An imaging device, comprising:

a main photography unit that photographs a photographic subject and acquires a photographic image;

a preparatory image acquisition unit that performs preparatory photography before and/or after the main photography unit acquires the photographic image, and acquires preparatory images;

a photographic information acquisition unit that acquires photographic information related to a circumstance of photography when the preparatory images are acquired by the preparatory image acquisition unit;

a recording unit that records the photographic information and the photographic image upon a recording medium in mutual correlation;

an intruding object detection unit that, when preparatory images have been acquired by the preparatory image acquisition unit before acquisition of the photographic image by the main photography unit, detects an intruding object into a photographic field on the basis of the photographic information that is acquired by the photographic information acquisition unit and specifies movement of the photographic subject; and

a control unit that permits or prohibits photography by the main photographic unit, according to the result of intruding object detection by the intruding object detection unit.

2. An imaging device according to claim 1, wherein

the control unit permits or prohibits photography by the main photographic unit, on the basis of an intrusion direction into the photographic field and/or a size of the intruding object.

3. An imaging device according to claim 2, further comprising

a movement detection unit that detects movement of the imaging device;

and wherein

the control unit permits photography by the main photographic unit, for an intrusion direction of the intruding object into the photographic field due to the movement of the imaging device detected by the movement detection unit.

4. An imaging device according to claim 1, wherein

the recording unit further records the result of detection of the intruding object by the intruding object detection unit upon the recording medium in correlation with the photographic image.

6. An imaging device according to claim 4, wherein

the recording unit eliminates the result of detection of the intruding object from a subject to be recorded, if the intruding object has shifted out of the photographic field before the main photography unit performs photography.

7. An imaging device according to claim 6, further comprising:

an extraction and replay unit that, from among the photographic images recorded upon the recording medium, extracts and replays a photographic image in which the intruding object into the photographic field is present; and

a deletion image confirmation screen display unit that displays a screen for confirmation as to whether or not the photographic image replayed by the extraction and replay unit is to be deleted from the recording medium.

8. An image display device that extracts and replays, from among the photographic images recorded upon the recording medium by an imaging device according to claim 6, a photographic image in which the intruding object into the photographic field is present, and displays a screen for confirmation as to whether or not the replayed photographic image is to be deleted from the recording medium.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium configured to store a program that causes a computer to execute:

a step of extracting and replaying, from among the photographic images recorded upon the recording medium by an imaging device according to claim 1, a photographic image in which the intruding object into the photographic field is present; and

a step of displaying a screen for confirmation as to whether or not the replayed photographic image is to be deleted from the recording medium.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium configured to store a program that causes a computer to execute:

a step of extracting and replaying, from among the photographic images recorded upon the recording medium by an imaging device according to claim 6, a photographic image in which the intruding object into the photographic field is present; and

a step of displaying a screen for confirmation as to whether or not the replayed photographic image is to be deleted from the recording medium.

5. An imaging device, comprising:

a main photography unit that photographs a photographic subject and acquires a photographic image;

a preparatory image acquisition unit that performs preparatory photography before and/or after the main photography unit acquires the photographic image, and acquires preparatory images;

a photographic information acquisition unit that acquires photographic information related to a circumstance of photography when the preparatory images are acquired by the preparatory image acquisition unit;

a recording unit that records the photographic information and the photographic image upon a recording medium in mutual correlation; and

an intruding object detection unit that, when preparatory images have been acquired by the preparatory image acquisition unit, detects an intruding object into a photographic field on the basis of the photographic information that is acquired by the photographic information acquisition unit and specifies movement of the photographic subject; and

wherein

the recording unit records the result of detection of the intruding object by the intruding object detection unit upon the recording medium in correlation with the photographic image.