IP Library Granted Patent US 7,872,670
Granted Patent B2
US 7,872,670 · App. 10/420,064 · Granted Jan 18, 2011

Camera performing photographing in accordance with photographing mode depending on object scene

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,872,670
App. No.
10/420,064
Granted
Jan 18, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A camera includes a CPU. The CPU individually detects a ratio of an object which exceeds a threshold value in a moving amount to a center area of an object scene and a ratio of an object which exceeds the threshold value in the moving amount to a peripheral area of the object scene. If differences between the respective detected ratios are large, the CPU sets a photographing mode to a sports mode. When a shutter button is operated, the object scene is photographed in accordance with a set photographing mode.

Claims (22)

1. A camera performing photographing in accordance with a photographing mode corresponding to an object scene when a photographing operation is performed, comprising:

a first ratio detector which detects a first ratio of movement of an object exceeding a first threshold value in a moving amount in a center area of said object scene;

a second ratio detector which detects a second ratio of movement of an object exceeding a second threshold value in the moving amount in a peripheral area of said object scene;

a determiner which determines the highest probability that the object scene is one of a plurality of object scene types based on the first ratio of movement and the second ratio of movement respectively detected by said first ratio detector and said second ratio detector; and

a selector which selects the photographing mode based on the highest probability that the object scene is one of the plurality of object scene types determined by said determiner.

2. A camera according to claim 1 , wherein said selector selects a sports mode as the photographing mode when a difference between the first ratio of movement and the second ratio of movement is large.

3. A camera according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a first fetcher which fetches a first image signal of said object scene photographed just before the photographing operation is performed;

a second fetcher which fetches a second image signal of said object scene photographed immediately after the photographing operation is performed; and

a difference detector which detects a difference between the first image signal and the second image signal as the moving amount.

4. A camera according to claim 1 , further comprising an outputter which outputs a message corresponding to a photographing mode selected by said selector.

5. A photographing mode determining method of a camera which performs photographing when the photographing operation is performed, comprising steps of:

(a) detecting a first ratio of movement of an object exceeding a first threshold value in a moving amount in a center area of an object scene;

(b) detecting a second ratio of movement of an object exceeding a second threshold value in the moving amount in a peripheral area of said object scene;

(c) determining highest probability that the object scene is one of a plurality of object scene types based on the first ratio of movement and the second ratio of movement respectively detected by said step (a) and said step (b); and

(d) selecting the photographing mode based on the highest probability that the object scene is one of the plurality of object scene types determined by said step (c).

6. A camera performing photographing in accordance with a photographing mode corresponding to an object scene when a photographing operation is performed, comprising:

a first ratio detector which detects a first ratio of movement of an object exceeding a first threshold value in a moving amount in a center area of said object scene;

a second ratio detector which detects a second ratio of movement of an object exceeding a second threshold value in the moving amount in a peripheral area of said object scene;

a determiner which determines the highest probability that the object scene is one of a plurality of object scene types based on first ratio of movement and the second ratio of movement respectively detected by said first ratio detector and said second ratio detector; and

a selector which selects the photographing mode based on the highest probability that the object scene is one of the plurality of object scene types determined by said determiner;

wherein the first ratio and the second ratio correspond to a ratio of movement change between a first time period and a second time period.

Assignments (2)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT PATENT NUMBER 13/446,454, AND REPLACE WITH 13/466,454 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 032467 FRAME 0095. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Recorded Apr 3, 2014
From: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
To: XACTI CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 032601/0646 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 18, 2014
From: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
To: XACTI CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 032467/0095 →