IP Library Granted Patent US 8,120,664
Granted Patent B2
US 8,120,664 · App. 11/050,909 · Granted Feb 21, 2012

Digital camera

Assignee: Nikon Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,120,664
App. No.
11/050,909
Granted
Feb 21, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

This invention includes an imaging device that photographs a subject, a display device that has a display screen displaying image data photographed by the imaging device, a zoom device that varies the display screen, an extraction device that extracts a predetermined feature portion from image data photographed by the imaging device, a directive device that directs the display device so as to display a predetermined feature portion extracted by the extraction device in a predetermined form, and a controller that controls the directive device so as not to direct a display on the display device in accordance with the varying magnification of the zoom device. Namely, an icon of the extraction result is not displayed while the zoom is in action, so that it can avoid an inappropriate display in which the icon display does not correspond to a photographed subject due to the subject's quick movement or a sudden change in its size within a picture frame.

Claims (8)

1. A digital camera comprising:

an imaging device that photographs a subject;

an extraction device that extracts a predetermined feature portion within image data output from the imaging device;

a judging device that judges brightness of the subject; and

a selecting device that selects a first extraction area of an image when the brightness of the subject is above a threshold value, and selects a second extraction area of the image when the brightness of the subject is below the threshold value, the second extraction area being smaller than the first extraction area wherein the extraction device extracts the predetermined feature portion from the selected extraction area of the image of the image data in accordance with the brightness of the subject judged by the judging device.

2. The digital camera as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising:

a focus device that performs a focusing operation with respect to the subject, using the image data output from the imaging device; and

a focus control device that determines a position of an AF area, based on the predetermined feature portion extracted by the extraction device, and controls the focus device so as to perform the focusing operation.

Assignments (4)
RE-RECORD TO CORRECT ASSIGNEE'S ADDRESS ON A DOCUMENT PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL 016834, FRAME 0658. (ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST) Recorded Jul 17, 2008
From: NOZAKI, HIROTAKE; MOTOKI, YASUYUKI; HIBINO, HIDEO; OHTA, TADASHI
To: NIKON CORPORATION; NIKON TECHNOLOGIES INC.
Reel/Frame 021264/0361 →
CO. TO CO. ASSIGNMENT Recorded May 16, 2006
From: NIKON TECHNOLOGIES INC.
To: NIKON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 017626/0875 →
RECORD TO CORRECT ASSIGNOR NAME ON AN ASSIGNMENT DOCUMENT PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL/FRAME 016257/0348 Recorded Sep 21, 2005
From: NOZAKI, HIROTAKE; MOTOKI, YASUYUKI; HIBINO, HIDEO; OHTA, TADASHI
To: NIKON CORPORATION; NIKON TECHNOLOGIES INC.
Reel/Frame 016834/0658 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 7, 2005
From: NOZAKI, HIROTAKA; MOTOKI, YASUYUKI; HIBINO, HIDEO; OHTA, TADASHI
To: NIKON CORPORATION; NIKON TECHNOLOGIES INC.
Reel/Frame 016257/0348 →
Priority Claims (4)
JP 2004-030061 · Feb 6, 2004 · national
JP 2004-030062 · Feb 6, 2004 · national
JP 2004-030063 · Feb 6, 2004 · national
JP 2004-030064 · Feb 6, 2004 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20050174451A1 · Aug 11, 2005