Imaging apparatus, imaging display control method, and program

• US 9,538,084 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2011
• Issued: 01/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Goto, Junichiro, Arai, Takuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Philippe, Gims
• Assistant Examiner(s): BECKER, JOSEPH W
• Application Number:
  US13/269,130
• Publication Number:
  US 20120120187A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,915 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 37/02 with scanning movement of lens or cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 37/04 with cameras or projectors providing touching or overlapping fields of view
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/632 for displaying or modifying preview images prior to image capturing, e.g. variety of image resolutions or capturing parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/634 Warning indications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/635 Region indicators; Field of view indicators
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/698 for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture

Abstract

An image processing apparatus including an interface that receives an input identifying a subject, and a processor that controls a display to display information indicating a position of the subject in a graphic representation corresponding to a panoramic image based on an orientation of a device capturing image data for generating the panoramic image.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus for controlling an image capturing apparatus that captures images to be used for generating a panoramic image, comprising:

a memory; and

a processor configured to

control a display of an area indication corresponding to a direction of an area of the panoramic image to be captured and a direction indication of a moving direction for the image capturing apparatus with respect to the area indication, the moving direction indicating a direction toward a starting capture position with the area indication of the panoramic image, and

control a display, with the displayed area indication of the panoramic image, of a reference position indication indicating a position within the panoramic image of an identified subject identified by user operation.

2. The image processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the area of the panoramic image to be captured matches a range of movement of the image capturing apparatus in a direction of movement while capturing the images for generating the panoramic image.

3. The image processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reference position indication includes an icon representing the position of the identified subject within the panoramic image.

4. The image processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to control the display of an icon representing the identified subject in a start position of the panoramic image.

5. The image processing apparatus of claim 4, wherein the processor is configured to control the display to move the icon from the start position based on a detected change of orientation of the image capturing apparatus.

6. The image processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to receive an input selecting a reference position at which the identified subject is positioned in the panoramic image.

7. The image processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to control the display of a marker representing a reference position at which the identified subject is positioned in the panoramic image.

8. The image processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to receive, when the image capturing apparatus is at a first position, the user operation identifying the subject.

9. The image processing apparatus of claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to control the display to dynamically move an icon representing the identified subject in the panoramic image based on a detected change in orientation of the image capturing apparatus.

10. The image processing apparatus of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to receive a user input instructing the image capturing apparatus to start capturing the images for generating the panoramic image.

11. The image processing apparatus of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to control the display of a marker representing a reference position at which the identified subject is positioned in the panoramic image.

12. The image processing apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to modify the marker when the icon is situated at the marker.

13. The image processing apparatus of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to determine whether a correct swing operation is performed based on a detected change in orientation of the image capturing apparatus.

14. The image processing apparatus of claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to control the display of an error notification when it is determined that a correct swing operation has not been performed.

15. The image processing apparatus of claim 13, wherein when it is determined that a correct swing operation has been performed, the processor is configured to determine an end position for capturing the images for generating the panoramic image.

16. The image processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor captures the images for generating the panoramic image as the image capturing apparatus is rotated in a horizontal direction.

17. The image processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor captures the images for generating the panoramic image as the image capturing apparatus is moved on a straight line substantially parallel with the subject.

18. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to display a swing instruction indicating to a user an instructed direction of movement of the image capturing apparatus based on the position of the subject.

19. An image capturing method for controlling an image capturing apparatus that captures images to be used for generating a panoramic image, the method comprising:

controlling, by a processor, a display of an area indication corresponding to a direction of an area of the panoramic image to be captured and a direction indication of a moving direction for the image capturing apparatus with respect to the area indication, the moving direction indicating a direction toward a starting capture position with the area indication of the panoramic image;

controlling, by a processor, a display, with the displayed area indication of the panoramic image, of a reference position indication indicating a position within the panoramic image of an identified subject identified by user operation.

20. The image capturing method according to claim 19, further comprising displaying a swing instruction indicating to a user an instructed direction of movement of the image capturing apparatus based on the position of the subject.

21. The image processing method of claim 19, wherein the reference position indication includes an icon representing the position of the identified subject within the panoramic image.

22. The image processing method of claim 19, further comprising receiving an input selecting a reference position at which the identified subject is positioned in the panoramic image.

23. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-readable instructions thereon, which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer perform a method for controlling an image capturing apparatus that captures images to be used for generating a panoramic image, the method comprising:

controlling, by a processor, a display of an area indication corresponding to a direction of an area of the panoramic image to be captured and a direction indication of a moving direction for the image capturing apparatus with respect to the area indication, the moving direction indicating a direction toward a starting capture position with the area indication of the panoramic image;

controlling a display, with the displayed area indication of the panoramic image, of a reference position indication indicating a position within the panoramic image of an identified subject identified by user operation.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 23, wherein the method further includes displaying a swing instruction indicating to a user an instructed direction of movement of the image capturing apparatus based on the position of the subject.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 23, wherein the reference position indication includes an icon representing the position of the identified subject within the panoramic image.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 23, further comprising receiving an input selecting a reference position at which the identified subject is positioned in the panoramic image.