IP Library Granted Patent US 9,241,112
Granted Patent B2
US 9,241,112 · App. 14/330,679 · Granted Jan 19, 2016

Imaging apparatus, imaging method and computer-readable recording medium

Inventors: Osamu Nonaka (Sagamihara, JP); Kunio Yamamiya (Sagamihara, JP)
Assignee: Olympus Corporation
H04N5/2621H04N5/23222H04N5/23245H04N5/23293H04N5/262H04N5/272
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,241,112
App. No.
14/330,679
Granted
Jan 19, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

An imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit that captures a subject to generate image data of the subject; a display unit that displays the image; an image separating unit that separates a subject image and a background image from the image displayed; a special effect input unit that receives information related to special effects respectively applied to the subject image and the background image; a special effect image generating unit that generates a special effect image of each of the subject and background images by applying special effects corresponding to information received by the special effect input unit; a storing unit that stores special effect information for assigning an advisability corresponding to a combination of special effects which the special effect image generating unit applies to the subject image and the background image; and a synthetic image generating unit that generates a synthetic image using the generated special effect image.

Claims (47)

1. An imaging apparatus comprising:

an imaging unit that captures an image of a subject to continuously generate electronic image data of the subject;

an image data storing unit that stores the image data generated by the imaging unit;

a display unit that displays the image corresponding to the image data generated by the imaging unit;

a shooting mode setting unit that sets a shooting mode to either one of a normal shooting mode and a slow motion shooting mode whose frame rate is higher than that of the normal shooting mode;

a display control unit that controls the display unit to sequentially display, at a frame rate of the shooting mode set by the shooting mode setting unit, the images corresponding to the image data generated by the imaging unit in time sequence and display information related to a special effect which can be combined with the shooting mode set by the shooting mode setting unit;

a special effect image generating unit that generates a special effect image by applying the special effect to the image; and

an advisability information storing unit that stores advisability information for assigning an advisability corresponding to a combination of the special effect which the special effect image generating unit applies to the image and the shooting mode;

wherein the display control unit controls the display unit to display information related to the special effect which the special effect image generating unit needs to apply to the image in accordance with the advisability information stored in the advisability information storing unit.

2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the shooting mode setting unit can set the shooting mode further to a 3D shooting mode, and

the display control unit controls the display unit to display the image sequentially generated in the shooting mode set by the shooting mode setting unit and controls the display unit to display the information related to the special effect by superimposing on the image.

3. The imaging apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising:

a touch panel that is provided on a display screen of the display unit and which receives a signal corresponding to a position of a contacting object from an outside, wherein

the display control unit controls the display unit to display information related to the special effect by means of an icon, and

the special effect image generating unit generates the special effect image by applying to the image, the special effect corresponding to the icon which the touch panel receives as input in a contact area positioned on a display area of the icon.

4. An imaging apparatus comprising:

an imaging unit that captures an image of a subject to continuously generate electronic image data of the subject;

an image data storing unit that stores the image data generated by the imaging unit;

a display unit that displays the image corresponding to the image data generated by the imaging unit;

a shooting mode setting unit that sets a shooting mode to either one of a normal shooting mode and a slow motion shooting mode whose frame rate is higher than that of the normal shooting mode;

a display control unit that controls the display unit to sequentially display, at a frame rate of the shooting mode set by the shooting mode setting unit, the images corresponding to the image data generated by the imaging unit in time sequence and display information related to a special effect which can be combined with the shooting mode set by the shooting mode setting unit;

a special effect image generating unit that generates a special effect image by applying the special effect to the image; and

an advisability information storing unit that stores advisability information for assigning an advisability corresponding to a combination of the special effect which the special effect image generating unit applies to the image, and the shooting mode, wherein

the display control unit controls the display unit to display information related to the special effect which the special effect image generating unit needs to apply to the image, in order from the highest advisability corresponding to a combination with the shooting mode set by the shooting mode setting unit, referring to the advisability information stored in the advisability information storing unit.

5. The imaging apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the display control unit controls the display unit to display a plurality of icons in one vertical line or one horizontal line.

6. An imaging method executed by an imaging apparatus including an imaging unit that captures an image of a subject to continuously generate electronic image data of the subject, an image data storing unit that stores the image data generated by the imaging unit, and a display unit that displays the image corresponding to the image data generated by the imaging unit, the imaging method comprising:

setting a shooting mode to either one of a normal shooting mode and slow motion shooting mode whose frame rate is higher than that of the normal shooting mode;

controlling the display unit to sequentially display, at a frame rate of the set shooting mode, the images corresponding to the image data generated by the imaging unit in time sequence and display information related to a special effect which can be combined with the set shooting mode;

generating a special effect image by applying the special effect to the image;

storing advisability information for assigning an advisability corresponding to a combination of the special effect applied to the image and the shooting mode; and

controlling the display unit to display information related to the special effect applied to the image in accordance with the advisability information.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium with an executable program stored thereon, wherein the program instructs a processor of an imaging apparatus including an imaging unit that captures an image of a subject to continuously generate electronic image data of the subject, an image data storing unit that stores the image data generated by the imaging unit, and a display unit that displays the image corresponding to the image data generated by the imaging unit, to perform:

setting a shooting mode to either one of a normal shooting mode and a slow motion shooting mode whose frame rate is higher than that of the normal shooting mode;

controlling the display unit to sequentially display, at a frame rate of the set shooting mode, the images corresponding to the image data generated by the imaging unit in time sequence and display information related to a special effect which can be combined with the set shooting mode;

generating a special effect image by applying the special effect to the image;

storing advisability information for assigning an advisability corresponding to a combination of the special effect applied to the image and the shooting mode; and

controlling the display unit to display information related to the special effect applied to the image in accordance with the advisability information.

8. An imaging apparatus comprising:

an imaging unit that captures an image of a subject to continuously generate electronic image data of the subject;

an image data storing unit that stores the image data generated by the imaging unit;

a display unit that displays the image corresponding to the image data generated by the imaging unit;

a shooting mode setting unit that sets a shooting mode to either one of a normal shooting mode and a slow motion shooting mode whose frame rate is higher than that of the normal shooting mode; and

a display control unit that controls the display unit to display information related only to a special effect which can be combined with the shooting mode set by the shooting mode setting unit;

a special effect image generating unit that generates a special effect image by applying the special effect to the image; and

an advisability information storing unit that stores advisability information for assigning an advisability corresponding to a combination of the special effect, which the special effect image generating unit applies to the image, and the shooting mode;

wherein the display control unit controls the display unit to display information related to the special effect which the special effect image generating unit needs to apply to the image, in order from the highest advisability corresponding to a combination with the shooting mode set by the shooting mode setting unit, referring to the advisability information stored in the advisability information storing unit.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 18, 2021
From: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
To: OM DIGITAL SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 058901/0912 →
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Jun 27, 2016
From: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
To: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 039344/0502 →
MERGER Recorded Aug 5, 2015
From: OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP.
To: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 036279/0239 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 14, 2014
From: NONAKA, OSAMU; YAMAMIYA, KUNIO
To: OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP.
Reel/Frame 033307/0287 →
Priority Claims (4)
JP 2010-198310 · Sep 3, 2010 · national
JP 2010-241321 · Oct 27, 2010 · national
JP 2010-241322 · Oct 27, 2010 · national
JP 2010-286513 · Dec 22, 2010 · national
Continuity (2)
Division 13222485 · Aug 31, 2011
Related Publication 20140320701A1 · Oct 30, 2014