Imaging apparatus and imaging system

• US 9,094,597 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2012
• Issued: 07/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Yumiki, Naoto, Sugino, Yoichi, Inata, Masahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Velez, Roberto
• Assistant Examiner(s): COLEMAN, STEPHEN P
• Application Number:
  US13/484,424
• Publication Number:
  US 20120307079A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,153 Days
• Field of Search: 455/556.1, 455/557, 348/211.13
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/611 where the recognised objects include parts of the human body
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/62 Control of parameters via user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices

Abstract

An imaging apparatus includes: an image sensor configured to capture an image of a subject; an identification information storage unit configured to store a particular subject and a terminal device corresponding to the particular subject; a face detection unit and a face recognition unit configured to detect the particular subject stored in the identification information storage unit in the image captured by the image sensor; and a microcomputer configured to notify, when the face detection unit and the face recognition unit detect the particular subject, the terminal device which is stored in the identification information storage unit and corresponds to the detected particular subject that the particular subject is detected.

Claims

1. An imaging apparatus, the imaging apparatus comprising:

an imaging unit configured to capture an image of a subject;

a storage unit configured to store one or multiple particular subjects, and one or multiple terminal devices corresponding to the one or multiple particular subjects;

a detection unit configured to detect the particular subject stored in the storage unit in the image captured by the imaging unit; and

a control unit configured to, when the detection unit detects the particular subject in the image captured by the imaging unit,

notify a corresponding one of the terminal devices which is stored in the storage unit and corresponds to the detected particular subject that the particular subject is detected, and

send a real time image captured by the imaging unit to the corresponding one of the terminal devices,

wherein the imaging apparatus is configured to be remote-controlled by the one or multiple terminal devices receiving the real time image from the imaging apparatus,

wherein when the detection unit detects the multiple particular subjects, including a first particular subject and a second particular subject having a higher priority than the first particular subject, in the image captured by the imaging unit, the control unit is configured to accept remote control only by the terminal device which is stored in the storage unit and corresponds to at least the second particular subject.

2. The imaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the control unit adds a frame surrounding the particular subject to the real time image sent to the terminal device.

3. The imaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein when the detection unit detects the first particular subject and the second particular subject in the image captured by the imaging unit, the control unit is configured to prohibit remote control by the terminal device which is stored in the storage unit and corresponds to at least the first particular subject.

4. The imaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein

when the detection unit detects the first particular subject and the second particular subject in the image captured by the imaging unit, the control unit is configured to send a real time image with emphasis on the first particular subject to the terminal device corresponding to at least the first particular subject and send a real time image with emphasis on the second particular subject to the terminal device corresponding to at least the second particular subject.

5. The imaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein

when the detection unit detects the first particular subject and the second particular subject in the image captured by the imaging unit, the control unit is configured to operate to obtain a shot image from the real time image based on one of shooting conditions corresponding to the second particular subject.

6. The imaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the control unit is configured to give a right to perform a plurality of operations of the imaging apparatus to the terminal device corresponding to at least the second particular subject.

7. The imaging apparatus of claim 6, wherein

the control unit is configured to notify that the terminal corresponding to at least the second particular subject is given the right.

8. The imaging apparatus of claim 6, wherein

the control unit is configured to handle a command received from the terminal device corresponding to at least the first particular subject as an invalid command.

9. An imaging system comprising:

a terminal device; and

an imaging apparatus, wherein

the imaging apparatus includes;

an imaging unit configured to capture an image of a subject;

a storage unit configured to store one or multiple particular subjects, and one or multiple terminal devices corresponding to the one or multiple particular subjects;

a detection unit configured to detect the particular subject stored in the storage unit in the image captured by the imaging unit; and

a control unit configured to, when the detection unit detects the particular subject in the image captured by the imaging unit,

notify a corresponding one of the terminal devices which is stored in the storage unit and corresponds to the detected particular subject that the particular subject is detected, and

send a real time image captured by the imaging unit to the corresponding one of the terminal devices,

wherein the imaging apparatus is configured to be remote-controlled by the one or multiple terminal devices receiving the real time image from the imaging apparatus,

wherein when the detection unit detects the multiple particular subjects, including a first particular subject and a second particular subject having a higher priority than the first particular subject, in the image captured by the imaging unit, the control unit is configured to accept remote control only by the terminal device which is stored in the storage unit and corresponds at least the second particular subject.

10. The imaging system of claim 9, wherein

the terminal device includes a display configured to display the real time image, and displays the real time image on the display upon receiving the notice and the real time image from the imaging apparatus.

11. The imaging system of claim 9, wherein

the control unit adds a frame surrounding the particular subject to the real time image sent to the terminal device.

12. The imaging system of claim 9, wherein

when the detection unit detects the first particular subject and the second particular subject in the image captured by the imaging unit, the control unit is configured to not accept remote control by the terminal device which is stored in the storage unit and corresponds to at least the first particular subject.

13. The imaging system of claim 9, wherein

when the detection unit detects the first particular subject and the second particular subject in the image captured by the imaging unit, the control unit is configured to send a real time image with emphasis on the first particular subject to the terminal device corresponding to at least the first particular subject and send a real time image with emphasis on the second particular subject to the terminal device corresponding to at least the second particular subject.

14. The imaging apparatus of claim 9, wherein

when the detection unit detects the first particular subject and the second particular subject in the image captured by the imaging unit, the control unit is configured to operate to obtain a shot image from the real time image based on one of shooting conditions corresponding to the second particular subject.

15. The imaging system of claim 9, wherein

the control unit is configured to give a right to perform a plurality of operations of the imaging apparatus to the terminal device corresponding to at least the second particular subject.

16. The imaging system of claim 15, wherein

the control unit is configured to notify that the terminal corresponding to at least the second particular subject is given the right.

17. The imaging system of claim 15, wherein

the control unit is configured to handle a command received from the terminal device corresponding to at least the first particular subject as an invalid command.

18. An imaging apparatus, the imaging apparatus comprising:

an imaging unit configured to capture an image of a subject;

a storage unit configured to store one or multiple particular subjects, and one or multiple terminal devices corresponding to the one or multiple particular subjects;

a detection unit configured to detect the particular subject stored in the storage unit in the image captured by the imaging unit; and

a control unit configured to, when the detection unit detects the particular subject in the image captured by the imaging unit,

notify a corresponding one of the terminal devices which is stored in the storage unit and corresponds to the detected particular subject that the particular subject is detected, and

send a real time image captured by the imaging unit to the corresponding one of the terminal devices,

wherein the imaging apparatus is configured to be remote-controlled by the one or multiple terminal devices receiving the real time image from the imaging apparatus,

wherein when the detection unit detects the multiple particular subjects, including a first particular subject and a second particular subject having an higher priority than the first particular subject, in the image captured by the imaging unit, the control unit is configured to prohibit remote control by the terminal device which is stored in the storage unit and corresponds to at least the first particular subject.