Imaging device and imaging method including predictive composition

• US 9,049,368 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2013
• Issued: 06/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OM Digital Solutions Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Imaging Corporation (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Arai, Hirozumi
• Primary Examiner(s): SELBY, GEVELL V
• Application Number:
  US14/031,766
• Publication Number:
  US 20140085490A1
• Time in Patent Office: 621 Days
• Field of Search: 348/119, 348/208.14, 348/222.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/58 Means for changing the camera field of view without moving the camera body, e.g. nutating or panning of optics or image sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/62 Control of parameters via user interfaces
• 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

Abstract

An imaging device includes an imaging unit, a display unit, a position acquisition unit, a map information acquisition unit, a composition prediction unit, and a display control unit. The imaging unit acquires a subject image within an imaging range. The display unit displays an image. The position acquisition unit acquires a present location. The map information acquisition unit acquires map information including the present location. The composition prediction unit calculates a predictive composition based on the present location and the map information. The display control unit causes the display unit to display the predictive composition.

Claims

1. An imaging device comprising:

an imaging unit configured to acquire an image including a subject of interest within an imaging range, wherein the subject of interest is a train;

a display unit configured to display the image;

a position acquisition unit configured to acquire a present location of the imaging device;

a map information acquisition unit configured to acquire map information including the present location;

a composition prediction unit configured to calculate a predictive composition based on the present location, the map information, and track information included in the map information; and

a display control unit configured to cause the display unit to display the predictive composition.

2. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the composition prediction unit acquires the track information from a map image based on the map information.

3. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the composition prediction unit calculates a distance to the train and an angle formed by the train with a photography direction based on the track information, and calculates the predictive composition based on the distance and the angle.

4. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein

the composition prediction unit includes a predictive image generation unit configured to generate a predictive image showing the subject of interest based on the predictive composition, and

the display control unit causes the display unit to display an image in which the predictive image is superimposed on the image obtained by the imaging unit.

5. An imaging device comprising:

an imaging unit configured to acquire an image including a subject of interest within an imaging range, wherein the subject of interest is an automobile;

a display unit configured to display the image;

a position acquisition unit configured to acquire a present location of the imaging device;

a map information acquisition unit configured to acquire map information including the present location;

a composition prediction unit configured to (1) calculate a distance to the automobile and an angle formed by the automobile with a photography direction based on road information included in the map information, and (2) calculate a predictive composition based on the present location, the distance and the angle; and

a display control unit configured to cause the display unit to display the predictive composition.

6. The imaging device according to claim 5, wherein the composition prediction unit acquires the road information from a map image based on the map information.

7. An imaging device comprising:

an imaging unit configured to acquire an image including a subject of interest within an imaging range;

a display unit configured to display the image;

a position acquisition unit configured to acquire a present location of the imaging device;

a map information acquisition unit configured to acquire map information including the present location;

a composition prediction unit configured to calculate a predictive composition based on the present location and the map information;

a display control unit configured to cause the display unit to display the predictive composition; and

a field angle calculation unit configured to calculate the imaging range in accordance with a setting of the imaging unit,

wherein the composition prediction unit calculates the predictive composition by using the imaging range calculated by the field angle calculation unit.

8. A method for use in an imaging device, the method comprising:

acquiring, with the imaging device, an image including a subject of interest within an imaging range, wherein the subject of interest is a train;

acquiring, with the imaging device, a present location of the imaging device;

acquiring, with the imaging device, map information including the present location;

calculating, with the imaging device, a predictive composition based on the present location, the map information, and track information included in the map information; and

displaying, on a display unit of the imaging device, the predictive composition.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the track information is acquired from a map image based on the map information.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the act of calculating a predictive composition includes (1) calculating a distance to the train and an angle formed by the train with a photography direction based on the track information, and (2) calculating the predictive composition based on the distance and the angle.

11. The method according to claim 8 further comprising:

generating, with the imaging device, a predictive image showing the subject of interest based on the predictive composition; and

displaying, on the display unit of the imaging device, an image in which the predictive image is superimposed on the image obtained by the imaging unit.

12. A method for use in an imaging device, the method comprising:

acquiring, with the imaging device, an image including a subject of interest within an imaging range, wherein the subject of interest is an automobile;

displaying, on a display unit of the imaging device, the image;

acquiring, with the imaging device, a present location of the imaging device;

acquiring, with the imaging device, map information including the present location;

calculating, with the imaging device, a distance to the automobile and an angle formed by the automobile with a photography direction based on road information included in the map information;

calculating, with the imaging device, a predictive composition based on the present location, the distance to the automobile and the angle formed by the automobile with the photography direction; and

displaying, on a display unit of the imaging device, the predictive composition.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the act of calculating the composition prediction unit acquires the road information from a map image based on the map information.

14. A method for use in an imaging device, the method comprising:

acquiring, with the imaging device, an image including a subject of interest within an imaging range;

displaying, on a display unit of the imaging device, the image;

acquiring, with the imaging device, a present location of the imaging device;

acquiring, with the imaging device, map information including the present location;

calculating, with the imaging device, an imaging range in accordance with a setting of the imaging unit;

calculating, with the imaging device, a predictive composition based on the imaging range, the present location, and the map information; and

displaying, on the display unit of the imaging device, the predictive composition.