IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,126,899
Granted Patent B2
US 12,126,899 · App. 17/311,170 · Granted Oct 22, 2024

Imaging device, imaging control device, and imaging method

Inventors: Yu Kimishima (Tokyo, JP); Yohei Takada (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
H04N23/67G03B17/12H04N23/633H04N23/73
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,126,899
App. No.
17/311,170
Granted
Oct 22, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

An imaging device includes an autofocus control unit that performs autofocus control in response to detection of a first operation using a first operator, and a tracking processing unit that performs tracking processing for a subject to be focused in response to detection of a second operation using a second operator different from the first operator in a state where autofocus control is performed in response to the first operation.

Claims (57)

1. An imaging device, comprising:

a plurality of assignable buttons; and

circuitry configured to:

perform autofocus control of a subject, wherein the autofocus control of the subject starts based on detection of a first operation associated with a first operator;

select a second operator, to which a second operation is assigned, from the plurality of assignable buttons based on user input, wherein the second operator is different from the first operator; and

perform a tracking operation for the subject, wherein

the tracking operation for the subject starts based on detection of the second operation associated with the second operator in a state where the autofocus control is performed.

2. The imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to perform the autofocus control on the subject to be tracked based on the tracking operation by the second operation in the state where the autofocus control is performed.

3. The imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to perform control to change a display on a display device indicating an operating state, based on:

a first state where the autofocus control is performed based on the first operation and the tracking operation is not performed, or

a second state where the tracking operation and the autofocus control on the subject are performed based on the first operation and the second operation.

4. The imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to control a display operation of a display device so that:

a focus frame indicating a focus area is displayed at a determined position in a first state, wherein the first state corresponds to a state where the autofocus control is performed based on the first operation and the tracking operation is not performed, and

a tracking frame is displayed at a position of a subject image to be tracked in a second state, wherein the second state corresponds to a state where the tracking operation and the autofocus control on the subject are performed based on the first operation and the second operation.

5. The imaging device according to claim 4 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to control the display operation of the display device so that in the second state, the tracking frame is displayed while display of the focus frame in the first state is maintained.

6. The imaging device according to claim 4 , wherein based on a transition from the second state to the first state, the circuitry is further configured to:

start the autofocus control before start of the tracking operation in the second state; and

end the display of the tracking frame and cause the focus frame to be displayed in a state before the start of the tracking operation.

7. The imaging device according to claim 4 , wherein based on a transition from the second state to the first state, the circuitry is further configured to:

start the autofocus control for an area based on a position of the tracking frame at an end of the tracking operation; and

end the display of the tracking frame and cause the focus frame to be displayed at the position of the tracking frame at the end of the tracking operation.

8. The imaging device according to claim 4 , wherein based on a transition from the second state to the first state, the circuitry is further configured to:

start the autofocus control that targets a fixed area of a captured image; and

end the display of the tracking frame and cause the focus frame to be displayed in the fixed area of the captured image.

9. The imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein based on the detection of the second operation with no detection of the first operation, the circuitry is further configured to set a focus area setting in the autofocus control to target the subject to be tracked.

10. The imaging device according to claim 9 , wherein

the circuitry is configured to cause a display device to present a display based on the detection of the second operation with no detection of the first operation, and

the display indicates that the focus area setting in the autofocus control is set to target the subject to be tracked.

11. The imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein based on the detection of the second operation with no detection of the first operation and the detection of the first operation after the second operation, the circuitry is further configured to:

perform the tracking operation on the subject to be focused; and

perform the autofocus control on the subject to be tracked.

12. The imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein based on detection of cancellation of the first operation in a state where the tracking operation on the subject to be focused and the autofocus control on the subject to be tracked are performed,

the tracking operation and the autofocus control are ended, and

a focus area setting in the autofocus control is maintained at a setting that targets the subject to be tracked.

13. The imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein

the second operation is a first single operation of the second operator, and

the second operation is canceled by a second single operation of the second operator.

14. The imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein the second operator is on a lens barrel that is mountable on an imaging device main body.

15. The imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein

the first operator is a shutter operator, and

the first operation is a half-press of the shutter operator.

16. The imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein the second operator is at a position operable during operation of the first operator.

17. The imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein

the second operation to start the tracking operation is a continuous pressing operation of the second operator, and

the second operation is canceled with an end of the continuous pressing operation.

18. An imaging control device, comprising:

circuitry configured to:

perform autofocus control of a subject, wherein the autofocus control of the subject starts based on detection of a first operation associated with a first operator;

select a second operator, to which a second operation is assigned, from a plurality of assignable buttons based on user input, wherein the second operator is different from the first operator; and

perform a tracking operation for the subject, wherein

the tracking operation for the subject starts based on detection of the second operation associated with the second operator in a state where the autofocus control is performed.

19. An imaging method, comprising:

in an imaging device that includes a plurality of assignable buttons:

performing autofocus control of a subject, wherein the autofocus control of the subject starts based on detection of a first operation associated with a first operator;

selecting a second operator, to which a second operation is assigned, from the plurality of assignable buttons based on user input, wherein the second operator is different from the first operator; and

performing a tracking operation for the subject, wherein

the tracking operation starts based on detection of the second operation associated with the second operator in a state where the autofocus control is performed by the imaging device.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 4, 2021
From: KIMISHIMA, YU; TAKADA, YOHEI
To: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 056444/0216 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2018-234123 · Dec 14, 2018 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210360146A1 · Nov 18, 2021