IP Library Patent Application 13463297
Patent Application
App. No. 13/463,297

ELECTRONIC CAMERA

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
13/463,297
Abstract

An electronic camera includes an imager. An imager captures a scene through an optical system. A distance adjuster adjusts an object distance to a designated distance. A depth adjuster adjusts a depth of field to a predetermined depth, corresponding to completion of an adjustment of the distance adjuster. An acceptor accepts a changing operation for changing a length of the designated distance. A changer changes the depth of field to an enlarged depth greater than the predetermined depth, in response to the changing operation.

Claims (22)

1 . An electronic camera comprising:

an imager which captures a scene through an optical system;

a distance adjuster which adjusts an object distance to a designated distance;

a depth adjuster which adjusts a depth of field to a predetermined depth, corresponding to completion of an adjustment of said distance adjuster;

an acceptor which accepts a changing operation for changing a length of the designated distance; and

a changer which changes the depth of field to an enlarged depth greater than the predetermined depth, in response to the changing operation.

2 . The electronic camera according to claim 1 , further comprising a setter which sets a magnitude of the enlarged depth so as to be different depending on a difference between the object distance at a time point at which the changing operation is accepted and the distance designated by the changing operation.

3 . The electronic camera according to claim 1 , wherein said distance adjuster includes a first distance adjuster which adjusts, in response to the changing operation, the object distance to a distance between a current distance and the designated distance and a second distance adjuster which adjusts the object distance to the designated distance after the adjustment of said first distance adjuster, and said changer adjusts the magnitude of the enlarged depth so as to be different depending on a length of the object distance adjusted by said first distance adjuster.

4 . The electronic camera according to claim 3 , wherein said depth adjuster includes a predetermined depth adjuster which adjusts the depth of field to the predetermined depth in association with an adjusting process of said second distance adjuster.

5 . The electronic camera according to claim 3 , wherein said distance adjuster further includes a distance designator which designates each of a plurality of distances existing between the current distance and the designated distance as a distance noticed by said first distance adjuster, and said changer adjusts the magnitude of the enlarged depth at each designation of said distance designator.

6 . The electronic camera according to claim 1 , wherein the changing operation is equivalent to an operation designating a desired object existing in the scene, said electronic camera, further comprising a calculator which calculates a distance to the object designated by the changing operation, as the designated distance.

7 . The electronic camera according to claim 6 , wherein the object designated by the changing operation is equivalent to a face of a person, and said calculator executes a calculating process based on a size of an image representing the object designated by the changing operation.

8 . The imaging control program recorded on a non-transitory recording medium in order to control an electronic camera provided with an imager which captures a scene through an optical system, the program causing a processor of the electronic camera to perform the steps comprising:

a distance adjusting step of adjusting an object distance to a designated distance;

a depth adjusting step of adjusting a depth of field to a predetermined depth, corresponding to completion of an adjustment of said distance adjusting step;

an accepting step of accepting a changing operation for changing a length of the designated distance; and

a changing step of changing the depth of field to an enlarged depth greater than the predetermined depth, in response to the changing operation.

9 . The imaging control method executed by an electronic camera provided with an imager which captures a scene through an optical system, comprising:

a distance adjusting step of adjusting an object distance to a designated distance;

a depth adjusting step of adjusting a depth of field to a predetermined depth, corresponding to completion of an adjustment of said distance adjusting step;

an accepting step of accepting a changing operation for changing a length of the designated distance; and

a changing step of changing the depth of field to an enlarged depth greater than the predetermined depth, in response to the changing operation.

Assignments (3)
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 4, 2012
From: OKAMOTO, MASAYOSHI
To: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 028155/0327 →