IP Library Granted Patent US 12681690
Granted Patent B2
US 12681690 · App. 18/624,420 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Image capture apparatus and control method

Inventor: Osamu Harada (Kanagawa, JP)
Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
G06F3/167G03B29/00G06F3/162
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12681690
App. No.
18/624,420
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An image capture apparatus comprises a detection unit that detects a radio signal, an extraction unit that extracts feature information of a subject from image data, a selection unit that selects a sound reception device that receives sound data from at least one sound transmission device from which the radio signal can be received, and a reception unit that receives, by a wireless communication unit, sound data from the selected sound transmission device selected by the selection unit. Based on a result of comparing feature information of a subject as a shooting target with comparison information for selecting the sound transmission device, the selection unit selects the sound transmission device that transmits sound data corresponding to the subject as the shooting target from at least one sound transmission device from which the radio signal can be received.

Claims (58)

1 . An image capture apparatus comprising:

a detection unit that detects a radio signal transmitted from a sound transmission device;

an extraction unit that extracts feature information of a subject from image data obtained by an image capturing unit;

a selection unit that selects a sound reception device that receives sound data from at least one sound transmission device from which the radio signal can be received; and

a reception unit that receives, by a wireless communication unit, sound data from the sound transmission device selected by the selection unit,

wherein based on a result of comparing feature information of a subject as a shooting target with comparison information for selecting the sound transmission device, the selection unit selects the sound transmission device that transmits sound data corresponding to the subject as the shooting target from at least one sound transmission device from which the radio signal can be received; and

wherein each sound transmission device that transmits sound data is associated with at least one subject.

2 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

when it is unable to select, based on the result of comparison, one sound transmission device that transmits the sound data corresponding to the subject as the shooting target from the at least one sound transmission device from which the radio signal can be received, the selection unit selects not less than one sound transmission device serving as a candidate from the sound transmission device from which the radio signal can be received.

3 . The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein

the selection unit selectably displays the not less than one sound transmission device serving as the candidate.

4 . The apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising a reception strength detection unit that detects a radio wave strength when the radio signal is received,

wherein the selection unit displays the not less than one sound transmission device serving as the candidate in an order based on the radio wave strength.

5 . The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein

as the radio wave strength of the radio signal is higher, a distance from the image capture apparatus to the sound transmission device is shorter.

6 . The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein

when it is unable to select the not less than one sound transmission device serving as the candidate, the selection unit selectably displays all sound transmission devices from which the radio signal can be received.

7 . The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein

the selection unit displays all the sound transmission devices from which the radio signal can be received in an order based on a radio wave strength of the radio signal.

8 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the selection unit selects the sound transmission device in a mode of shooting a moving image, and

the image capture apparatus includes a recording unit that records moving image data and the sound data received from the sound transmission device in association with each other.

9 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the selection unit does not select the sound transmission device in a mode of shooting a still image.

10 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

in a state in which one sound transmission device that transmits the sound data corresponding to the subject as the shooting target is selected, when the subject as the shooting target is out of a shooting range because of movement of the subject as the shooting target, the selection unit maintains a selection state of the sound transmission device.

11 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

in a state in which one sound transmission device that transmits the sound data corresponding to the subject as the shooting target is selected, when the subject as the shooting target is out of a shooting range because of movement of the image capture apparatus, and the subject as the shooting target does not return into the shooting range within a predetermined time, the selection unit cancels a selection state of the sound transmission device.

12 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a communication unit that communicates with an external apparatus different from the sound transmission device,

wherein the selection unit obtains the comparison information from the external apparatus by the communication unit.

13 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the radio signal includes the comparison information.

14 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the comparison information includes, for each identification information of the sound transmission device, a comparison item representing a feature of a sound source of sound data transmitted from the sound transmission device, and

the selection unit selects a sound transmission device corresponding to identification information for which the feature information of the subject as the shooting target and the comparison item of the comparison information match.

15 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the comparison information includes, for each identification information of the sound transmission device, a comparison item representing a feature of a sound source of sound data transmitted from the sound transmission device,

a weight is added to the feature information of the subject in accordance with a degree of matching to the comparison item of the comparison information, and

the selection unit selects a candidate of the sound transmission device based on the weight added to the feature information of the subject.

16 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the detection unit and the wireless communication unit each include a communication interface complying with Bluetooth® or Bluetooth®-Low-Energy, and

the sound transmission device, the detection unit, and the reception unit are a transmitter, an assistant, and a receiver in AURACAST® broadcast audio, respectively.

17 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the comparison information includes feature information corresponding to at least one subject.

18 . The apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the selection unit selects the sound transmission device based on the result of comparing the feature information extracted from the image data and the feature information included in the comparison information.

19 . A control method for an image capture apparatus, comprising:

detecting a radio signal transmitted from a sound transmission device;

extracting feature information of a subject from image data obtained by an image capturing unit;

selecting a sound reception device that receives sound data from at least one sound transmission device from which the radio signal can be received; and

receiving, by a wireless communication unit, sound data from the selected sound transmission device,

wherein in the selecting, based on a result of comparing feature information of a subject as a shooting target with comparison information for selecting the sound transmission device, the sound transmission device that transmits sound data corresponding to the subject as the shooting target is selected from at least one sound transmission device from which the radio signal can be received; and

wherein each sound transmission device that transmits sound data is associated with at least one subject.

20 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to function as an image capture apparatus comprising:

a detection unit that detects a radio signal transmitted from a sound transmission device;

an extraction unit that extracts feature information of a subject from image data obtained by an image capturing unit;

a selection unit that selects a sound reception device that receives sound data from at least one sound transmission device from which the radio signal can be received; and

a reception unit that receives, by a wireless communication unit, sound data from the sound transmission device selected by the selection unit,

wherein based on a result of comparing feature information of a subject as a shooting target with comparison information for selecting the sound transmission device, the selection unit selects the sound transmission device that transmits sound data corresponding to the subject as the shooting target from at least one sound transmission device from which the radio signal can be received; and

wherein each sound transmission device that transmits sound data is associated with at least one subject.