Imaging apparatus using an input zoom change speed

• US 9,204,053 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 12/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OM Digital Solutions Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Matsuzawa, Yoshinori, Nonaka, Osamu
• Primary Examiner(s): CHEN, CHIA WEI A
• Application Number:
  US13/828,716
• Publication Number:
  US 20130265467A1
• Time in Patent Office: 992 Days
• Field of Search: 3482401-24099, 348/208.4, 348/208.5, 348/208.6, 348/222.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/61 based on recognised objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/62 Control of parameters via user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/631 Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/635 Region indicators; Field of view indicators
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/69 Control of means for changing angle of the field of view, e.g. optical zoom objectives or electronic zooming

Abstract

An imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit, a display unit, an interested-position obtaining unit, a zoom operation obtaining unit and an image-processing unit. The imaging unit is configured to image an image of an object through a lens. The display unit is configured to display the image imaged by the imaging unit. The interested-position obtaining unit is configured to obtain specification of an interested position in the image displayed on the display unit. The zoom operation obtaining unit is provided for the lens and is configured to obtain a zoom operation. The image-processing unit is configured to perform, on the image, an electronic zoom processing of enlarging the interested position, in accordance with the zoom operation.

Claims

1. An imaging apparatus comprising:

an imaging unit configured to image an image of an object through a lens;

a display unit configured to display the image imaged by the imaging unit;

an interested-position obtaining unit configured to obtain specification of an interested position in the image displayed on the display unit;

a face detector configured to detect a face near the interested position;

a zoom operation obtaining unit provided for the lens and configured to obtain a zoom operation and to determine a cutout range change per time; and

an image-processing unit configured to perform, on the image, a first electronic zoom processing and a second electronic zoom processing of enlarging the interested position, in accordance with the zoom operation, the first electronic zoom processing being a zoom-in processing from a current area to an area determined based on a size of the face, and the second electronic zoom processing being a zoom-in processing from the area determined based on the size of the face to a center of the face.

2. The imaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the image-processing unit makes a storage medium store the image and a cutout image that is a part of the image and has been cut out by the electronic zoom.

3. The imaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein an instruction to cut out an image at the interested position from the image is assigned to the zoom operation.

4. The imaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the interested-position obtaining unit includes a touch panel provided on the display unit.

5. The imaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein a relationship between the zoom operation and the zoom speed is changed based on a signal that the interested-position obtaining unit obtains.

6. The imaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lens is detachable.

7. The imaging apparatus of claim 6, wherein the zoom operation obtaining unit includes a switch for switching between telescopic side and wide-angle side.

8. The imaging apparatus of claim 6, wherein the zoom operation obtaining unit includes a ring-shaped rotary member.

9. The imaging apparatus of claim 6, wherein the cutout range change is performed by using optical zoom and electronic zoom in combination with each other.

10. The imaging apparatus of claim 6, further comprising an input unit configured to be inputted with a change rate of the cutout range change per time.

11. A method for controlling an imaging apparatus, the method comprising:

imaging an image of an object through a lens;

displaying the imaged image;

obtaining specification of an interested position in the image displayed;

detecting a face near the interested position;

obtaining a zoom user input operation;

performing, on the image, a first electronic zoom processing of enlarging the interested position in accordance with the zoom user input operation, the first electronic zoom processing being a zoom-in processing from a current area to an area determined based on a size of the face;

performing, on the image, a second electronic zoom processing of enlarging the interested position in accordance with the zoom user input operation, the second electronic zoom processing being a zoom-in processing from the area determined based on the size of the face to a center of the face; and

determining a cutout range change per time.