Automatic image-capturing apparatus, automatic image-capturing control method, image display system, image display method, display control apparatus, and display control method

• US 9,497,371 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2014
• Issued: 11/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kamada, Yasunori, Kon, Takayasu, Sako, Yoichiro, Hayashi, Kazunori, Kawakami, Itaru
• Primary Examiner(s): SPINKS, ANTOINETTE T
• Application Number:
  US14/505,959
• Publication Number:
  US 20150022681A1
• Time in Patent Office: 774 Days
• Field of Search: 348/211.9, 348/211.99, 348/222.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices

Abstract

An automatic image-capturing apparatus including an image-capturing unit configured to capture an image of a subject so as to obtain captured image data; an automatic captured-image obtaining unit configured to automatically obtain the captured image data obtained by the image-capturing unit without being based on an operation of a user; an inclination detection unit configured to detect an inclination in at least one of a pan direction and a tilt direction; and a control unit configured to control the obtaining operation performed by the automatic captured-image obtaining unit on the basis of information on the inclination in the pan direction or in the tilt direction, the inclination being detected by the inclination detection unit.

Claims

1. A life-log camera comprising:

a capturing device configured to obtain image data; and

circuitry configured to;

estimate a traveling direction based on past positions of the life-log camera, and

control the capturing device based on the traveling direction.

2. The life-log camera according to claim 1, further comprising a position detector configured to detect a current position of the life-log camera.

3. The life-log camera according to claim 2, wherein the circuitry is configured to estimate the traveling direction based on the past positions of the life-log camera and the current position of the life-log camera.

4. The life-log camera according to claim 2, wherein the circuitry is configured to estimate the traveling direction by:

determining whether the current position of the life-log camera is updated, and

in response to determining that the current position of the life-log camera is updated;

detecting a direction of movement from a previous position of the life-log camera to the current position of the life-log camera, and

updating the traveling direction.

5. The life-log camera according to claim 2, wherein the position detector comprises a satellite positioning system receiver.

6. The life-log camera according to claim 1, further comprising a direction sensor configured to detect an inclination of the life-log camera in a pan direction.

7. The life-log camera according to claim 6, wherein the circuitry is further configured to:

determine whether the inclination of the life-log camera in the pan direction is within an angle range by using the traveling direction as a reference, and

in response to determining that the inclination of the life-log camera in the pan direction is within the angle range, control the capturing device to obtain the image data.

8. The life-log camera according to claim 6, further comprising a tilt sensor configured to detect an inclination of the life-log camera in a tilt direction.

9. The life-log camera according to claim 8, wherein the circuitry is further configured to:

determine whether the inclination of the life-log camera in the pan direction is within an angle range by using the traveling direction as a first reference,

determine whether the inclination of the life-log camera in the tilt direction is within the angle range by using an average value of inclinations in the tilt direction as a second reference, and

in response to determining that at least one of the inclination of the life-log camera in the pan direction or the inclination of the life-log camera in the tilt direction is within the angle range, control the capturing device to obtain the image data.

10. A method of controlling a life-log camera including a capturing device, the method comprising:

estimating a traveling direction based on past positions of the life-log camera; and

controlling whether the capturing device obtains image data based on the traveling direction.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising detecting a current position of the life-log camera.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein estimating the traveling direction comprises estimating the traveling direction based on the past positions of the life-log camera and the current position of the life-log camera.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein estimating the traveling direction comprises:

determining whether the current position of the life-log camera is updated, and

in response to determining that the current position of the life-log camera is updated;

detecting a direction of movement from a previous position of the life-log camera to the current position of the life-log camera, and

updating the traveling direction.

14. The method according to claim 10, further comprising detecting an inclination of the life-log camera in a pan direction.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:

determining whether the inclination of the life-log camera in the pan direction is within an angle range by using the traveling direction as a reference; and

in response to determining that the inclination of the life-log camera in the pan direction is within the angle range, controlling the capturing device to obtain the image data.

16. The method according to claim 14, further comprising detecting an inclination of the life-log camera in a tilt direction.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:

determining whether the inclination of the life-log camera in the pan direction is within an angle range by using the traveling direction as a first reference;

determining whether the inclination of the life-log camera in the tilt direction is within the angle range by using an average value of inclinations in the tilt direction as a second reference; and

in response to determining that at least one of the inclination of the life-log camera in the pan direction or the inclination of the life-log camera in the tilt direction is within the angle range, controlling the capturing device to obtain the image data.

18. A computer-readable storage device having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by a processor, perform a method of controlling a life-log camera including a capturing device, the method comprising:

estimating a traveling direction based on past positions of the life-log camera; and

controlling whether the capturing device obtains image data based on the traveling direction.

19. The computer-readable device according to claim 18, wherein the method further comprises:

detecting an inclination of the life-log camera in a pan direction;

determining whether the inclination of the life-log camera in the pan direction is within an angle range by using the traveling direction as a reference; and

in response to determining that the inclination of the life-log camera in the pan direction is within the angle range, controlling the capturing device to obtain the image data.

20. The computer-readable device according to claim 18, wherein the method further comprises:

detecting an inclination of the life-log camera in a pan direction;

detecting an inclination of the life-log camera in a tilt direction;

determining whether the inclination of the life-log camera in the pan direction is within an angle range by using the traveling direction as a first reference;

determining whether the inclination of the life-log camera in the tilt direction is within the angle range by using an average value of inclinations in the tilt direction as a second reference; and

in response to determining that at least one of the inclination of the life-log camera in the pan direction or the inclination of the life-log camera in the tilt direction is within the angle range, controlling the capturing device to obtain the image data.