Imaging apparatus, imaging method, and program

• US 9,674,434 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2016
• Issued: 06/06/2017
• 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:
  US15/099,151
• Publication Number:
  US 20160234439A1
• Time in Patent Office: 418 Days
• Field of Search: 348 36
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/12 with means for supporting objectives, supplementary lenses, filters, masks, or turrets
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/20 visible in viewfinder
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/4038 Image mosaicing, e.g. composing plane images from plane sub-images
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/70 Determining position or orientation of objects or cameras camera calibration G06T7/80
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/45 for generating image signals from two or more image sensors being of different type or operating in different modes, e.g. with a CMOS sensor for moving images in combination with a charge-coupled device [CCD] for still images
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/62 Control of parameters via user interfaces
• 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 23/667 Camera operation mode switching, e.g. between still and video, sport and normal or high- and low-resolution modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/698 for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2628 Alteration of picture size, shape, position or orientation, e.g. zooming, rotation, rolling, perspective, translation

Abstract

An image processing apparatus including an interface that receives an input identifying a subject, and a processor that generates a panoramic image based on captured image data so that the subject is positioned in a reference position in the panoramic image.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus, comprising:

a touch panel configured to output a signal for determining a center position of an orientation change operation of the image processing apparatus according to a user input, prior to a determination of a first end position of the orientation change operation; and

circuitry configured to;

determine the first end position based on the center position determined according to the signal, an orientation of the image processing apparatus at the first end position being different from an orientation of the image processing apparatus at which the center position is determined;

control a display of an instruction instructing a user to move the image processing apparatus toward a second end position which is substantially opposite to the first end position with respect to the center position in a case where the image processing apparatus reaches the first end position, the instruction being continuously displayed until the image processing apparatus reaches the second position;

determine whether the image processing apparatus has reached the second end position, after the image processing apparatus has reached the first end position; and

generate a synthesized image using a plurality of images including images captured at the first end position and the second end position, after the image processing apparatus has reached the second end position, the synthesized image being wider in size than each of the plurality of images.

2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an imager configured to capture the plurality of images processed by the circuitry to generate the synthesized image.

3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the circuitry is configured to control a display to display a swing direction of the image processing apparatus to arrive at the first end position.

4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the circuitry is configured to control a display to display a swing direction of the image processing apparatus to arrive at the second end position.

5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the touch panel is configured to receive an input instructing the imager to capture the plurality of images.

6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the captured plurality of images are recorded in a memory.

7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the circuitry is configured to control a display of a notification indicating that the image capturing apparatus has started recording the plurality of images.

8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the circuitry is configured to control a display to display a status bar indicating progress of movement to the first end position.

9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the circuitry is configured to control a display to display a status bar indicating progress of movement to the second end position.

10. The image processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the status bar is rectangular in shape.

11. A method for controlling an image processing apparatus including circuitry, the method comprising:

outputting a signal for determining a center position of an orientation change operation of the image processing apparatus according to a user input, prior to a determination of a first end position of the orientation change operation;

determining the first end position based on the center position determined according to the signal, an orientation of the image processing apparatus at the first end position being different from an orientation of the image processing apparatus at which the center position is determined;

controlling a display of an instruction instructing a user to move the image processing apparatus toward a second end position which is substantially opposite to the first end position with respect to the center position in a case where the image processing apparatus reaches the first end position, the instruction being continuously displayed until the image processing apparatus reaches the second position;

determining whether the image processing apparatus has reached the second end position, after the image processing apparatus has reached the first end position; and

generating a synthesized image using a plurality of images including images captured at the first end position and the second end position, after the image processing apparatus has reached the second end position, the synthesized image being wider in size than each of the plurality of images.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

capturing, by an imager, the plurality of images that are used to generate the synthesized image.

13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

controlling a display to display a swing direction of the image processing apparatus to arrive at the first end position.

14. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

controlling a display to display a swing direction of the image processing apparatus to arrive at the second end position.

15. The method according to claim 12, further comprising:

receiving an input instructing the imager to capture the plurality of images.

16. The method according to claim 12, wherein the captured plurality of images are recorded in a memory.

17. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

controlling a display of a notification indicating that the image capturing apparatus has started recording the plurality of images.

18. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

controlling a display to display a status bar indicating progress of movement to the first end position.

19. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

controlling a display to display a status bar indicating progress of movement to the second end position.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the status bar is rectangular in shape.

21. A non-transitory computer readable medium having a computer program recorded thereon, the computer program configured to perform a method when executed on an image processing apparatus, the method comprising:

outputting a signal for determining a center position of an orientation change operation of the image processing apparatus according to a user input, prior to a determination of a first end position of the orientation change operation;

determining the first end position based on the center position determined according to the signal, an orientation of the image processing apparatus at the first end position being different from an orientation of the image processing apparatus at which the center position is determined;

controlling a display of an instruction instructing a user to move the image processing apparatus toward a second end position which is substantially opposite to the first end position with respect to the center position in a case where the image processing apparatus reaches the first end position, the instruction being continuously displayed until the image processing apparatus reaches the second position;

determining whether the image processing apparatus has reached the second end position, after the image processing apparatus has reached the first end position; and

generating a synthesized image using a plurality of images including images captured at the first end position and the second end position, after the image processing apparatus has reached the second end position, the synthesized image being wider in size than each of the plurality of images.

22. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 21, wherein the method further comprises:

capturing, by an imager, the plurality of images that are used to generate the synthesized image.

23. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 21, wherein the method further comprises:

controlling a display to display a swing direction of the image processing apparatus to arrive at the first end position.

24. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 21, wherein the method further comprises:

controlling a display to display a swing direction of the image processing apparatus to arrive at the second end position.

25. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 22, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving an input instructing the imager to capture the plurality of images.

26. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 21, wherein the captured plurality of images are recorded in a memory.

27. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 21, wherein the method further comprises:

controlling a display of a notification indicating that the image capturing apparatus has started recording the plurality of images.

28. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 21, wherein the method further comprises:

controlling a display to display a status bar indicating progress of movement to the first end position.

29. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 21, wherein the method further comprises:

controlling a display to display a status bar indicating progress of movement to the second end position.

30. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 29, wherein the status bar is rectangular in shape.