JP2009020163A5

JP2009020163A5 -

Info

Publication number: JP2009020163A5
Application number: JP2007180842A
Authority: JP
Filing date: 2007-07-10
Publication date: 2010-08-12
Anticipated expiration: 2027-07-10

Claims

Imaging means;
Imaging control means for performing continuous imaging by the imaging means;
Face detection means for detecting a face in the image data imaged by the imaging control means;
An auto focus control means for performing auto-focus for a greater detected face to said face detecting means,
If a face is detected by the face detection means after a predetermined timing after autofocusing is performed by the autofocus control means, the imaging means immediately does not perform autofocusing by the autofocus control means. Still image shooting control means for executing still image shooting of a subject;
An imaging apparatus comprising:

A determination means for determining whether or not a face is no longer detected by the face detection means after the autofocus by the autofocus control means;
The predetermined timing is
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the timing at which the determination unit determines that the face is no longer detected by the face detection unit.

The predetermined timing is
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a timing when a predetermined time elapses after the autofocus is performed by the autofocus control unit.

The autofocus control means includes
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when a plurality of faces are detected by the face detection unit, autofocus is performed on one or a plurality of faces.

The autofocus control means includes
When a plurality of faces are detected by the face detection means, a face manually selected by the user, a face automatically selected based on the priority order of each face, or all detected faces The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein autofocus is performed.

The automatic selection is
Based on at least one of the following requirements: the size of each face detected by the face detection means, the proximity from the center of the angle of view of each face, and whether the face is registered in advance. 6. The imaging apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a priority order of each face detected by the face detection means is determined, and a face with a higher priority order is automatically selected.

The face detection means includes
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a face in a central area or a predetermined area of image data captured by the imaging control unit is detected.

8. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein face detection is subsequently performed on a face area autofocused by the autofocus control means.

The determination means includes
Determine whether the face autofocused by the autofocus control means is no longer detected,
The still image shooting control means includes:
After the determination means determines that the face is no longer detected, when the face detection means detects a face that has been autofocused by the autofocus control means, autofocusing is performed by the autofocus control means. 3. The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a still image shooting of a subject is immediately executed by the imaging unit without any problem.

Based on image data picked up by the image pickup control means, comprising motion detection means for detecting the movement of the subject,
The still image shooting control means includes:
When it is determined that the face is no longer detected by the determination unit, the face is detected again by the face detection unit, and the motion of the subject detected again by the motion detection unit is determined to be equal to or less than a predetermined value. 3. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image pickup unit immediately performs still image shooting of the subject without performing autofocus by the autofocus control unit.

Has a shutter button that can be operated in two steps, half-press and full-press,
The face detection means includes
When the shutter button is half-pressed, a face in the image data imaged by the imaging control means is detected,
The autofocus control means includes
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the shutter button is half-pressed, autofocus is performed on the face detected by the face detection unit.

Has a shutter button that can be operated in two steps, half-press and full-press,
The determination means includes
When the shutter button is fully pressed, it is determined whether or not a face is no longer detected by the face detection means,
The still image shooting control means includes:
When it is determined that the face is no longer detected by the determining means when the shutter button is fully pressed, if the face is detected again by the face detecting means, autofocusing by the autofocus control means is performed. 3. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a still image photographing of a subject is executed by the image pickup means without performing the operation.

In the computer of the imaging apparatus provided with the imaging means,
Imaging control means for performing continuous imaging by the imaging means;
Face detecting means for detecting a face in the image data imaged by the imaging control means;
Autofocus control means for performing autofocus on the face detected by the face detection means;
If a face is detected by the face detection means after a predetermined timing after autofocus is performed by the autofocus control means, the imaging means immediately does not perform autofocus by the autofocus control means. Still image shooting control means for executing still image shooting of a subject
A program characterized by causing a function to be executed.