Patent US8294813B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US8294813B2
Active / In Force
US
⏱️ 1.4 years remaining
Imaging device with a scene discriminator
Assignee: Panasonic Corp
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Filing: 2008-04-11
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Granted: 2012-10-23
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Expires: 2028-04-11
Abstract
Abstract The imaging device of the present invention includes an image generator that generates an electric image from optical information inputted thereto; an operation portion that receives an instruction for a shooting preparation operation or a shooting operation from a user; a scene discriminator that discriminates a shooting scene on the basis of the image generated by the image generator and a picture quality adjuster that adjusts the picture quality of the image generated by the image generator on the basis of a result of discrimination performed by the scene discriminator. Due to this configuration, it is possible to discriminate an optimum shooting scene on the basis of an image to be captured, and consequently the operability can be improved.
Inventors
- 👤 Hirofumi Kawaguchi
- 👤 Yasutoshi Yamamoto
- 👤 Yuki Miura
- 👤 Akihiro Okamoto
- 👤 Shoichi Yokoi
- 👤 Hidetsugu Ichino
- 👤 Ikuhiro Sakurai
- 👤 Masanori Kouyama
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 11:01
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/60; H04N23/64; H04N23/61; H04N23/611; H04N23/62
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
An imaging device comprising: an image generator that generates an electric image of a subject; an operation portion that receives an instruction for a shooting preparation operation or a shooting operation; and a scene discriminator that discriminates a specific shooting scene from a plurality of shooting scenes on the basis of information on the image generated by the image generator and/or information on the subject, wherein the scene discriminator discriminates the specific shooting scene to select a shooting mode when the operation portion is in a non-operated state, and after the operation portion receives an instruction for at least one of the shooting preparation operation or the shooting operation, the scene discriminator obtains the information on the image generated by the image generator and/or the information on the subject afresh to discriminate the specific shooting scene again to select the shooting mode.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
142 words
An imaging device comprising: an image generator that generates an electric image of a subject; an operation portion that receives an instruction for a shooting preparation operation or a shooting operation; and a scene discriminator that discriminates a specific shooting scene from a plurality of shooting scenes on the basis of information on the image generated by the image generator and/or information on the subject, wherein the scene discriminator discriminates the specific shooting scene to select a shooting mode when the operation portion is in a non-operated state, and after the operation portion receives an instruction for at least one of the shooting preparation operation or the shooting operation, the scene discriminator obtains the information on the image generated by the image generator and/or the information on the subject afresh to discriminate the specific shooting scene again to select the shooting mode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
The imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein the scene discriminator switches between the plurality of shooting scenes to be discriminated when the operation portion is in the non-operated state and the plurality of shooting scenes to be discriminated afresh after the operation portion receives the instruction for at least one of the shooting preparation operation or the shooting operation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
89 words
The imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein the image generator includes: an image pickup that converts an optical image of the subject entering thereinto to an electric image; a zoom controller that drives and controls a zoom lens for scaling up or down the optical image; and a focus controller that drives and controls a focus lens capable of bringing the optical image into focus on an imaging surface of the image pickup, and the imaging device further comprises a strobe light emitter that outputs strobe light.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
The imaging device according to claim 3 , wherein at least when the operation portion is in the non-operated state, the scene discriminator discriminates a scenery image on the basis of a distance to the subject on which the focus controller focuses and brightness information on the subject.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
The imaging device according to claim 3 , wherein at least when the operation portion is in a non-operated state, the scene discriminator discriminates a macro image on the basis of information on whether or not a distance to the subject on which the focus controller focuses is smaller than a predetermined distance.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
76 words
The imaging device according to claim 3 , wherein after the operation portion receives the instruction for the shooting preparation operation or the shooting operation, the scene discriminator discriminates a portrait including night scenery on the basis of at least information on whether or not a person is included in the image generated by the image generator, brightness information on the subject, and information on whether or not the strobe light emitter is enabled to flash.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
134 words
The imaging device according to claim 6 , wherein the strobe light emitter is enabled to pre flash before a main flash after the operation portion receives an instruction for the shooting operation, and after discriminating the portrait including night scenery, the scene discriminator causes, when the operation portion receives the instruction for the shooting operation, the strobe light emitter to pre flash so as to calculate a brightness difference between a background of the image before the pre flash and the background of the image after the pre flash, when the brightness difference is a predetermined value or more, the scene discriminator determines that the image is a portrait, and when the brightness difference is less than the predetermined value, the scene discriminator determines that the image is a portrait including night scenery.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
The imaging device according to claim 6 , wherein when the scene discriminator discriminates the portrait including night scenery and the strobe light emitter is enabled to flash at that time, the strobe light emitter is set to flash in a red-eye reduction/slow sync mode.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
The imaging device according to claim 3 , further comprising a vibration detector that detects vibrations of the imaging device, wherein the scene discriminator determines whether or not the imaging device is fixed on the basis of a result of detection performed by the vibration detector.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The imaging device according to claim 3 , wherein the image generator further comprises an auxiliary light emitter capable of outputting auxiliary light when the focus controller performs focus control.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
90 words
The imaging device according to claim 10 , wherein the auxiliary light emitter is enabled to output auxiliary light after the operation portion receives the instruction for the shooting preparation operation or the shooting operation, and after the operation portion receives the instruction for the shooting preparation operation or the shooting operation, the scene discriminator discriminates a night scenery image on the basis of at least brightness information on the subject and an amount of auxiliary light that is outputted from the auxiliary light emitter and reflected by the subject.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
62 words
The imaging device according to claim 11 , wherein when the scene discriminator discriminates the night scenery image and the strobe light emitter is enabled to flash at that time, the strobe light emitter is set to flash in a slow sync mode on the basis of information that a person is not included in the image generated by the image generator.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
103 words
The imaging device according to claim 10 , wherein the auxiliary light emitter is enabled to output auxiliary light after the operation portion receives the instruction for the shooting preparation operation or the shooting operation, and after the operation portion receives the instruction for the shooting preparation operation or the shooting operation, the scene discriminator discriminates a night scenery image on the basis of at least brightness information on the subject, an amount of auxiliary light that is outputted from the auxiliary light emitter and reflected by the subject, and information on whether or not the strobe light emitter is enabled to flash.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
48 words
The imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein at least when the operation portion is not in the non-operated state, the scene discriminator discriminates a portrait on the basis of information on whether or not a person is included in the image generated by the image generator.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
54 words
The imaging device according to claim 1 , further comprising a display portion capable of displaying the image generated by the image generator or an image obtained by subjecting the image to a predetermined process, wherein the display portion is capable of displaying information on a result of discrimination performed by the scene discriminator.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
The imaging device according to claim 15 , wherein when the scene discriminator discriminates the specific shooting scene, the display portion temporarily changes a display form of the information on the discrimination result.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
163 words
An imaging device comprising: an image generator that generates an electric image of a subject; an operation portion that receives an instruction for a shooting preparation operation or a shooting operation; an area selector capable of selecting a given area in the image generated by the image generator; and a scene discriminator that discriminates a specific shooting scene from a plurality of shooting scenes on the basis of information on an image in the area selected by the area selector and/or information on the subject, wherein the scene discriminator discriminates the specific shooting scene to select a shooting mode when the operation portion is in a non-operated state, and after the operation portion receives an instruction for at least one of the shooting preparation operation or the shooting operation, the scene discriminator obtains information on the image in the area selected by the area selector and/or information on the subject afresh to discriminate the specific shooting scene again to select the shooting mode.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
163 words
An imaging device comprising: an image generator that generates an electric image of a subject; an operation portion that receives an instruction for a shooting preparation operation or a shooting operation; an area selector capable of selecting a given area in the image generated by the image generator; and a scene discriminator that discriminates a specific shooting scene from a plurality of shooting scenes on the basis of information on an image in the area selected by the area selector and/or information on the subject, wherein the scene discriminator discriminates the specific shooting scene to select a shooting mode when the operation portion is in a non-operated state, and after the operation portion receives an instruction for at least one of the shooting preparation operation or the shooting operation, the scene discriminator obtains information on the image in the area selected by the area selector and/or information on the subject afresh to discriminate the specific shooting scene again to select the shooting mode.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
The imaging device according to claim 17 , wherein the area selector is composed of a touch panel capable of detecting a position of a portion on an operation surface where a contact object comes into contact.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
49 words
The imaging device according to claim 17 , wherein the scene discriminator causes the area selected by the area selector to track a movement of the image, and discriminates the specific shooting scene on the basis of information based on information on the image included in the tracked area.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
61 words
The imaging device according to claim 17 , wherein the scene discriminator switches between the plurality of shooting scenes to be discriminated when the operation portion is in a non-operated state and the plurality of shooting scenes to be discriminated afresh after the operation portion receives the instruction for at least one of the shooting preparation operation or the shooting operation.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2015-10-23 | 2016-04-23 | 2016-10-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2019-10-23 | 2020-04-23 | 2020-10-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2023-10-23 | 2024-04-23 | 2024-10-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |