Imaging apparatus with roll angle correction and method of angle correction of object

• US 8,599,272 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2010
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Yasuda, Takuroh
• Primary Examiner(s): VILLECCO, JOHN M
• Application Number:
  US12/824,333
• Publication Number:
  US 20110007169A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,254 Days
• Field of Search: 348/208.2, 702/94, 702/141, 702/150, 702/151, 702/152, 702/153, 702/154, 702/191, 700/62, 701/505, 701/508, 333/56
• US Class Current: 348/208.2
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 9/00 Measuring inclination, e.g. by clinometers, by levels
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/18 Signals indicating condition of a camera member or suitability of light indicating depth of field G03B13/30
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2217/005 Blur detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/633 for displaying additional information relating to control or operation of the camera

Abstract

An information device includes: an angle detector which outputs data for obtaining a roll angle and a pitch angle of an object; and a corrector which corrects the roll angle based on the pitch angle obtained from the data outputted by the angle detector.

Claims

1. An imaging apparatus, comprising:

an image sensor which photoelectrically converts an optical image;

an imaging processor which obtains image data via the image sensor;

an angle detector which outputs data to obtain a roll angle of the imaging apparatus as an object and a pitch angle of the imaging apparatus as an object;

a calculator which calculates the roll angle of the imaging apparatus and the pitch angle of the imaging apparatus; and

a corrector which corrects the calculated roll angle of the imaging apparatus based on (1) the calculated pitch angle of the imaging apparatus and (2) measurements made on the imaging apparatus while the angle detector is located within the imaging apparatus, and

wherein the imaging apparatus is a digital camera, and wherein the digital camera includes a front surface, a back surface, a lens barrel unit in the vicinity of the front surface, a display on the back surface, and switches for operating components of the imaging processor, and

wherein the angle detector is a 2-axis acceleration sensor or a 3-axis acceleration sensor, and wherein the 2-axis acceleration sensor or the 3-axis acceleration sensor is located within the digital camera.

2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, comprising:

a correction table based on measurements made on the digital camera while the 2-axis acceleration sensor or the 3-axis acceleration sensor is located within the digital camera, in which a reference roll angle used for a correction of the roll angle is set per range of a pitch angle, wherein the corrector automatically selects the reference roll angle based on the pitch angle by use of the correction table.

3. The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein values in the correction table are symmetrical to a pitch angle of 0°

.

4. The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the corrector calculates a correction roll angle by a correction formula expressed by a linear shape which is derived by pitch angles obtained from the data outputted by the angle detector, and corrects the roll angle by use of the calculated correction roll angle.

5. An imaging apparatus, comprising:

an image sensor which photoelectrically converts an optical image;

an imaging processor which obtains image data via the image sensor;

an angle detector which outputs data to obtain a roll angle of the imaging apparatus as an object and a pitch angle of the imaging apparatus as an object;

a calculator which calculates the roll angle of the imaging apparatus and the pitch angle of the imaging apparatus; and

a corrector which corrects the calculated roll angle of the imaging apparatus based on (1) the calculated pitch angle of the imaging apparatus and (2) measurements made on the imaging apparatus while the angle detector is located within the imaging apparatus, and

wherein the imaging apparatus is a digital camera, and wherein the digital camera includes a front surface, a back surface, a lens barrel unit in the vicinity of the front surface, a display on the back surface, and switches for operating components of the imaging processor, and

wherein the display is capable of displaying a corrected roll angle of the digital camera, and wherein the angle detector is located within the digital camera.

6. A method of an angle correction of an object, comprising:

a step of providing a digital camera;

a step of imaging which photoelectrically converts an optical image;

a step of imaging processing which obtains image data via the step of imaging;

a step of an angle detection which outputs data to obtain a roll angle of the digital camera as the object and a pitch angle of the digital camera as the object;

a step of calculating which calculates the roll angle of the digital camera and the pitch angle of the digital camera; and

a step of a correction which corrects the calculated roll angle of the digital camera based on (1) the calculated pitch angle of the digital camera and (2) measurements made on the digital camera while an angle detector is located within the imaging apparatus, and

wherein the imaging step and the imaging processing step are performed by the digital camera, and wherein the digital camera includes a front surface, a back surface, a lens barrel unit in the vicinity of the front surface, a display on the back surface, and switches for controlling components of the imaging processing step, and

wherein the method of angle correction further comprises a step of displaying a corrected roll angle of the digital camera in the display of the digital camera, and wherein the angle detection step is performed by the angle detector while the angle detector is located within the digital camera.

7. The method of the angle correction according to claim 6, wherein in the step of the correction, a correction table based on measurements made on the digital camera while the angle detector is located within the digital camera, in which a reference roll angle used for a correction of the roll angle is set per range of a pitch angle is used, and a reference roll angle is selected based on the pitch angle.

8. The method of the angle correction according to claim 7, wherein values in the correction table are symmetrical to a pitch angle of 0°

.

9. The method of the angle correction according to claim 6, wherein the step of the correction calculates a correction roll angle by a correction formula expressed by a linear shape which is derived by pitch angles obtained from the data outputted in the step of the angle detection, and corrects the roll angle by use of the calculated correction roll angle.

10. The method of the angle correction according to claim 6, wherein in the step of the angle detection, a 2-axis acceleration sensor or a 3-axis acceleration sensor is used.