IP Library Granted Patent US 10,250,807
Granted Patent B2
US 10,250,807 · App. 15/860,640 · Granted Apr 2, 2019

Imaging device, imaging method, and recording medium

Inventor: Kazuhiro Ozawa (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: Olympus Corporation
H04N5/23254G06K9/00369G06K9/3216H04N5/23216H04N5/23219H04N5/23245H04N5/23293H04N5/23296
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,250,807
App. No.
15/860,640
Granted
Apr 2, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

An imaging device includes: an area setting unit which sets a first area and a second area other than the first area on the captured image acquired by an imaging unit; a main subject setting unit which sets a main subject based on the captured image acquired by the imaging unit or another image; a subject tracking unit which periodically detects the position of the main subject on the captured image acquired by the imaging unit; a variable power unit which zooms on a zoom-up side or a wide angle side; and a control unit which directs the variable power unit to zoom on a wide angle side when a zoom state of the variable power unit is on a zoom-up side and the main subject exists in the second area, wherein the variable power unit zooms according to the direction of the control unit.

Claims (27)

1. An imaging device, comprising:

an imaging unit which captures a subject and acquires a captured image;

an area setting circuit which sets a first area and a second area other than the first area on the captured image acquired by the imaging unit;

a main subject setting circuit which sets a main subject based on the captured image acquired by the imaging unit or another image;

a subject tracking circuit which periodically detects a position of the main subject on the captured image acquired by the imaging unit;

a variable power circuit which zooms on a tele-angle side or a wide angle side; and

a control circuit which directs the variable power circuit to zoom on a wide angle side when a zoom state of the variable power circuit is on a tele-angle side and the main subject exists in the second area, wherein

the variable power circuit zooms according to the direction of the control circuit;

depending on a detection result of the subject tracking circuit, the control circuit directs the subject tracking circuit to detect the position of the main subject in a first period when the main subject does not exist in the second area, and to detect the position of the main subject in a second period shorter than the first period when the main subject exists in the second area; and

the subject tracking circuit detects the position of the main subject in a period according to the direction of the control circuit.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first area is an area including a center of the captured image acquired by the imaging unit.

3. The device according to claim 2 , wherein

the variable power circuit zooms by optical variable power.

4. The device according to claim 2 , wherein

the variable power circuit zooms by electronic variable power by a variation of a segmented area of the captured image acquired by the imaging unit.

5. An imaging method used by a computer, comprising:

setting a first area and a second area other than the first area in a captured image by shooting and acquiring a subject;

setting a main subject based on the captured image acquired by shooting the subject or another image;

periodically detecting a position of the main subject on the captured image acquired by shooting the subject; and

zooming on a wide angle side when a zoom state is on a tele-angle side and the main subject exists in the second area,

wherein the position of the main subject is detected at a first period when the main subject does not exist in the second area, and is detected at a second period shorter than the first period when the main subject exists in the second area.

6. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a program used to direct a computer to perform the processes comprising:

setting a first area and a second area other than the first area in a captured image by shooting and acquiring a subject;

setting a main subject based on the captured image acquired by shooting the subject or another image;

periodically detecting a position of the main subject on the captured image acquired by shooting the subject; and

zooming on a wide angle side when a zoom state is on a tele-angle side and the main subject exists in the second area,

wherein the position of the main subject is detected at a first period when the main subject does not exist in the second area, and is detected at a second period shorter than the first period when the main subject exists in the second area.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 1, 2021
From: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
To: OM DIGITAL SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 058294/0274 →
MERGER Recorded Jan 7, 2019
From: OLYMPUS IMAGING CORPORATION
To: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 048025/0393 →
CHANGE OF ADDRESS OF ASSIGNEE Recorded Jan 3, 2018
From: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
To: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 044986/0338 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 2, 2018
From: OZAWA, KAZUHIRO
To: OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP.
Reel/Frame 044519/0875 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2012-275024 · Dec 17, 2012 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation 14092374 · Nov 27, 2013
Related Publication 20180146140A1 · May 24, 2018