Image capturing system and image capturing method

• US 9,215,362 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2013
• Issued: 12/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Mizuta, Kazumasa
• Primary Examiner(s): Atala, Jamie
• Assistant Examiner(s): Boylan, James
• Application Number:
  US13/857,368
• Publication Number:
  US 20130265440A1
• Time in Patent Office: 984 Days
• Field of Search: 348/169
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices

Abstract

An image capturing system includes a sensor unit that is worn on an user and includes a first motion sensor that detects motion of the user and a subject tracking apparatus that is integrated with a camera platform on which an imaging apparatus is mounted, includes a second motion sensor that detects motion of the camera platform, and controls the motion of the camera platform by using the second motion sensor based on the motion of the user detected by the first motion sensor to allow the imaging apparatus to track a subject.

Claims

1. An image capturing system that is configured to execute processes by a sensor unit processor and a subject tracking processor, the image capturing system comprising:

a sensor unit that is worn on an user and includes a first motion sensor that detects motion of the user, the sensor unit including;

a command receiver that receives a command from outside;

a first calculator configured to calculate the motion of the user by the first motion sensor to obtain first motion data; and

a first transmitter that transmits the first motion data; and

a subject tracking apparatus that is provided in a camera platform on which an imaging apparatus is mounted, includes a second motion sensor that detects motion of the camera platform to obtain second motion data, the subject tracking apparatus including;

a motion data receiver that receives the first motion data from the sensor unit;

a drive signal generator configured to generate a drive signal for driving the camera platform based on the first motion data and a relative position of the subject tracking apparatus with respect to a target subject;

a comparator configured to compare the drive signal with the second motion data; and

a corrector configured to correct the drive signal to a corrected drive signal for driving the camera platform, wherein

when the comparator decides that the drive signal correspond to the second motion data, the subject tracking apparatus controls motion of the camera platform based on the drive signal, and

when the comparator decides that the drive signal does not correspond to the second motion data, the subject tracking apparatus controls the motion of the camera platform based on the corrected drive signal.

2. The image capturing system according to claim 1,

wherein the sensor unit is worn on the head of the user.

3. The image capturing system according to claim 1,

wherein the first motion sensor and the second motion sensor is at least one of an acceleration sensor, an angular velocity sensor, and a magnetic sensor.

4. The image capturing system according to claim 1,

wherein the subject tracking apparatus performs

first calibration in which an adjustment is so made that in a state in which the user and the imaging apparatus look at a reference point that is a still subject from the same position, the imaging apparatus captures an image of the reference point, and

second calibration in which an adjustment is so made that in a state in which the user looks at the reference point from a position away from the imaging apparatus, the imaging apparatus captures an image of the reference point.

5. The image capturing system according to claim 1,

wherein the sensor unit

include a display section, and

the sensor unit produces a display control signal that instructs the display section to display information according to at least one of an image capturing direction and an image capturing range of the imaging apparatus.

6. The image capturing system according to claim 5,

wherein the sensor unit is attached to glasses worn by the user.

7. An image capturing method for causing a sensor unit processor and a subject tracking processor to execute processes, the method comprising executing on the sensor unit processor and the subject tracking processor the steps of:

using a sensor unit that is worn on an user and includes a first motion sensor that detects motion of the user and, the sensor unit including;

a command receiver that receives a command from outside;

a first calculator configured to calculate the motion of the user by the first motion sensor to obtain first motion data; and

a first transmitter that transmits the first motion data;

a subject tracking apparatus that is provided in a camera platform on which an imaging apparatus is mounted, includes a second motion sensor that detects motion of the camera platform to obtain second motion data, the subject tracking apparatus including;

a motion data receiver that receives the first motion data from the sensor unit;

a drive signal generator configured to generate a drive signal for driving the camera platform based on the first motion data and a relative position of the subject tracking apparatus with respect to a target subject;

a comparator configured to compare the drive signal with the second motion data; and

a corrector configured to correct the drive signal to a corrected drive signal for driving the camera platform;

making an adjustment in such a way that in a state in which the user and the imaging apparatus look at a reference point that is a still subject from the same position, the imaging apparatus captures an image of the reference point; and

making an adjustment in such a way that in a state in which the user looks at the reference point from a position away from the imaging apparatus, the imaging apparatus captures an image of the reference point, wherein

when the comparator decides that the drive signal correspond to the second motion data, the subject tracking apparatus controls motion of the camera platform based on the drive signal, and

when the comparator decides that the drive signal does not correspond to the second motion data, the subject tracking apparatus controls the motion of the camera platform based on the corrected drive signal.