JP2009182880A - Imaging apparatus and its program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attain an imaging apparatus and its program capable of automatically performing photography and recording by deciding a smiling person as a smiling face. <P>SOLUTION: When a smiling face automatic photography mode is set, through image display is started (S1), and a threshold is set to a predetermined value (S2). Then, a shutter button is half-depressed, face detection processing is performed (S6), and a smiling face evaluation value indicating the degree of the smiling face of a detected face is calculated (S7). Then, when it is decided that the calculated smiling face evaluation value does not become equal to or more than the threshold (N in S8), whether or not fixed time has elapsed is decided (S9), and when the fixed time elapses, and the threshold is not the lowest value (N in S10), the threshold is lowered (S11). Thus, the threshold is lowered with lapse of time until the smiling face evaluation value becomes equal to or more than the threshold, and when the smiling face evaluation value becomes equal to or more than the threshold, automatic photography recording is performed (S12). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus and a program thereof, and more particularly to an imaging apparatus having a function of automatically capturing and recording and a program thereof.

  In recent years, there is a technique of performing automatic shooting when a smile is detected (Patent Document 1).

JP Patent Publication No. 2006-237803

The technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 performs automatic shooting when a smile detection level (smile evaluation value) is equal to or greater than a threshold value. However, there are individual differences in smiles. There is a problem that the automatic detection is not performed because the smile detection level does not exceed the threshold value, but such a problem can be solved by lowering the threshold value.
However, if the threshold value is simply lowered, a new problem arises for people other than the above-mentioned person who are not laughing but have a smile detection level that exceeds the threshold value and will automatically shoot. Resulting in.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such conventional problems, and provides an imaging apparatus and a program thereof that can automatically shoot and record a person who is smiling as a smile. With the goal.

In order to achieve the above object, an image pickup apparatus according to claim 1 includes an image pickup element,
Imaging control means for periodically imaging a subject using the imaging element;
First threshold value changing means for changing the threshold value according to an elapsed time from a predetermined timing;
A calculating unit that calculates an image evaluation value based on image data captured by the imaging control unit;
Automatic recording control means for automatically recording image data picked up by the image pickup device when the image evaluation value calculated by the calculating means is equal to or higher than the threshold value or lower than the threshold value;
It is provided with.

For example, as described in claim 2, the image evaluation value is:
You may make it be a smile evaluation value.

Further, for example, as described in claim 3, the first threshold value changing means includes:
The threshold value may be changed according to the elapsed time from when the automatic shooting mode is set or when the shutter is half pressed.

For example, as described in claim 4, the first threshold value changing unit includes:
You may make it change the said threshold value according to the elapsed time of the state in which the image evaluation value calculated by the said calculation means exists in the predetermined range with respect to the present threshold value.

For example, as described in claim 5, the first threshold value changing unit includes:
The threshold value may be lowered or raised according to the elapsed time from a predetermined timing.

  Further, for example, as described in claim 6, a second threshold value changing unit that changes the threshold value in response to recording by the automatic recording control unit may be provided.

For example, as described in claim 7, the second threshold value changing unit includes:
In response to recording by the automatic recording control means, the threshold value may be changed to an initial value which is a threshold value before being changed by the first threshold value changing means.

Further, for example, as described in claim 8, the second threshold value changing means includes:
In response to the recording by the automatic recording control means, the threshold value may be changed by a certain value.

Further, for example, as described in claim 9, the automatic recording control means includes:
When the image evaluation value calculated by the calculation unit is equal to or greater than the threshold value or less than the threshold value, the image sensor includes a unit that captures a still image using the imaging element, and records the image data that has been captured. You may do it.

In order to achieve the above object, a program according to a tenth aspect of the present invention provides a computer including an image sensor.
Imaging control means for periodically imaging a subject using the imaging element;
First threshold value changing means for changing the threshold value according to an elapsed time from a predetermined timing;
A calculating unit that calculates an image evaluation value based on image data captured by the imaging control unit;
Automatic recording control means for automatically recording image data picked up by the image pickup device when the image evaluation value calculated by the calculating means is equal to or higher than the threshold value or lower than the threshold value;
It is made to function as.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to automatically shoot and record a person who is smiling as a smile.

Hereinafter, an imaging apparatus of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as an example of application to a digital camera.
[Embodiment]
A. Configuration of Digital Camera FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic electrical configuration of a digital camera 1 that implements the imaging apparatus of the present invention.
The digital camera 1 includes a photographing lens 2, a lens driving block 3, an aperture 4, a CCD 5, a driver 6, a TG (timing generator) 7, a unit circuit 8, an image generation unit 9, a CPU 10, a key input unit 11, a memory 12, a DRAM 13, A flash memory 14, an image display unit 15, and a bus 16 are provided.

  The photographic lens 2 includes a focus lens and a zoom lens that are composed of a plurality of lens groups (not shown). A lens driving block 3 is connected to the photographing lens 2. The lens driving block 3 moves the focus lens and the zoom lens in the optical axis direction in accordance with a focus motor and a zoom motor (not shown) that move the focus lens and the zoom lens in the optical axis direction and a control signal sent from the CPU 10, respectively. A focus motor, a focus motor driver for driving the zoom motor, and a zoom motor driver (not shown) for moving the zoom motor are included.

  The diaphragm 4 includes a drive circuit (not shown), and the drive circuit operates the diaphragm 4 in accordance with a control signal sent from the CPU 10. The diaphragm is a mechanism that controls the amount of light incident on the CCD 5. The exposure amount is determined by the degree of aperture (aperture value) by the aperture 4 and the shutter speed.

  The CCD 5 is scanned and driven by the driver 6, photoelectrically converts the intensity of light of each color of the RGB value of the subject image at a constant period, and outputs it to the unit circuit 8 as an imaging signal. The operation timing of the driver 6 and the unit circuit 8 is controlled by the CPU 10 via the TG 7. Further, the CCD 5 has a function as an electronic shutter, and this electronic shutter is controlled by the CPU 10 via a driver 6 and a TG 7. The exposure time varies depending on the shutter speed of the electronic shutter.

  A TG 7 is connected to the unit circuit 8, a CDS (Correlated Double Sampling) circuit that holds the imaging signal output from the CCD 5 by correlated double sampling, and an AGC (Automatic Gain Adjustment of the imaging signal after the sampling) An automatic gain control) circuit, and an A / D converter that converts the analog image pickup signal after the automatic gain adjustment into a digital signal. The image pickup signal of the CCD 5 passes through the unit circuit 8 and becomes an image generation unit as a digital signal. Sent to 9.

  The image generation unit 9 performs processing such as γ correction processing and white balance processing on the image data sent from the unit circuit 8, generates a luminance color difference signal (YUV data), and generates the generated luminance color difference. The image data of the signal is stored in the DRAM 13 (buffer memory). That is, the image generation unit 9 performs image processing on the image data output from the CCD 5.

  The CPU 10 has functions of performing imaging control on the CCD 5, recording processing for compressing image data stored in the buffer memory and recording it in the flash memory 14, and display processing for the image data stored in the buffer memory. 1 is a one-chip microcomputer for controlling each part of 1. The CPU 10 includes a clock circuit and has a function of measuring time.

  In particular, in the present embodiment, the CPU 10 sets the threshold value changing unit 101 that changes the threshold value, the face detecting unit 102 that performs face detection processing for detecting a face in the image data, and the degree of smile of the detected face. A smile evaluation value calculation unit 103 that calculates a smile evaluation value to be shown, and an automatic shooting recording unit 104 that performs automatic shooting recording when the calculated smile evaluation value exceeds a threshold value.

  The face detection processing performed by the face detection unit 102 is a well-known technique and will not be described in detail. For example, general human face feature data (such as eyes, eyebrows, nose, mouth, ears) recorded in the memory 12 in advance is not described. (Feature data) and captured image data may be compared and collated to detect whether there is human face image data in the captured image data. It may be a method.

  The smile evaluation value calculation unit 103 compares and collates the face detected by the face detection unit 102 with feature data such as a plurality of eyes, a plurality of eyebrows, and a plurality of mouths recorded in advance in the memory 12, It is determined which of the plurality of recorded eyes, eyebrows, and mouths the detected face matches with each eye, eyebrow, and mouth that are determined to match. A smile evaluation value of the detected face is calculated based on the evaluation point.

  Here, the memory 12 stores a smile table in which a plurality of feature data and evaluation points corresponding thereto are set for each face component such as eyes, eyebrows, and mouth. That is, a plurality of eye feature data, an evaluation point corresponding to each eye feature data, a plurality of eyebrow feature data, an evaluation point corresponding to each eyebrow feature data, a plurality of mouth feature data, and A plurality of feature data and corresponding evaluation points are recorded for each facial component such as eyes, eyebrows, and mouths, such as evaluation points corresponding to the feature data of each mouth.

Here, a plurality of feature data is recorded for each component (for each eye, eyebrow, and mouth). The features of the face when laughing (the face when the degree of laughter is high), eyes, eyebrows, This is because a plurality of feature data such as the feature data of the mouth and the like, the feature data of the face not laughing (the face when the degree of laughter is the lowest), eyes, eyebrows, and mouth are recorded.
Then, the evaluation point corresponding to the feature data of the face, such as eyes, eyebrows, and mouths when the face laughs is the highest, and the evaluation point corresponding to the feature data of eyes, eyebrows, mouth, etc., as the degree of laughter decreases. The evaluation point corresponding to the feature data such as the eyes, eyebrows, and mouth of the face when not falling and laughing is the lowest.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a smile table recorded in the memory 12. Here, the eyebrow (left eyebrow) and the mouth in the smile table are shown, but it goes without saying that other components (for example, eyes) are also set in the smile table.
Referring to FIG. 2, a plurality of eyebrow feature data and evaluation points are recorded in the left eyebrow component, and a plurality of mouth feature data and evaluation points are recorded in the mouth component. I can see that Needless to say, the higher the evaluation point, the higher the degree of smile.

  Then, the image data of the detected face area is compared with a plurality of feature data of each component such as eyes, eyebrows, and mouths set in the smile table, and each component of the detected face is compared. Judgment is made as to which feature data of which eye, eyebrow, which mouth, etc., among the feature data of each set component requirement, and the eye, eyebrow, mouth, etc. judged to match A smile evaluation value is calculated based on the evaluation points corresponding to the feature data.

  The smile evaluation value may be calculated by simply adding the evaluation points corresponding to the feature data of each component such as eyes, eyebrows, and mouth that are determined to match, or for each component Is provided with a coefficient, and the evaluation point corresponding to the feature data of each component requirement determined to be matched is multiplied by the coefficient of each component requirement, and the evaluation point corresponding to the feature data of each component requirement after multiplication is added. You may make it calculate by. Accordingly, the smile evaluation value increases as the degree of laughter increases (the laughter increases), and decreases as the degree of laughter decreases (the laughter decreases).

  In addition, the automatic photographing / recording unit 104 compares the smile evaluation value calculated by the smile evaluation value calculation unit 103 with the currently set threshold value, and when the smile evaluation value is equal to or greater than the threshold value, it is a smile. The still image shooting process is performed, and the obtained still image data is compressed and recorded in the flash memory 14.

  The key input unit 11 includes a plurality of operation keys such as a shutter button that can be operated in two steps, a half-press operation and a full-press operation, and a mode switching key, and outputs an operation signal corresponding to the user's key operation to the CPU 10.

  The memory 12 stores a control program necessary for controlling each part of the CPU 10 and necessary data (face feature data necessary for face detection processing, a smile table), and the CPU 10 operates according to the program.

The DRAM 13 is used as a buffer memory for temporarily storing image data sent to the CPU 10 after being imaged by the CCD 5 and also as a working memory for the CPU 10.
The flash memory 14 is a recording medium that stores image data captured by the CCD 5.
The image display unit 15 includes a color LCD and its driving circuit, and displays the subject imaged by the CCD 5 as a through image when in a shooting standby state, and is read out from the flash memory 14 and decompressed when a recorded image is reproduced. The recorded image is displayed.

B. Operation of Digital Camera 1 The operation of the digital camera 1 in the embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
When the smiling face automatic shooting mode is set by operating the mode switching key of the user's key input unit 11, the CPU 10 starts the process of causing the CCD 5 to take an image at a predetermined frame rate. The frame image data of the luminance / color difference signals generated by the image generation unit 9 sequentially stored in () is displayed on the image display unit 15 so-called through image display is started (step S1).

Next, the threshold value changing unit 101 of the CPU 10 sets a predetermined value as an initial threshold value (step S2). This predetermined value (initial value) is a value higher than a smile evaluation value calculated when a general, average person, or most people laugh.
Next, the CPU 10 determines whether or not the shutter button is half-pressed by the user (step S3). This determination is made based on whether or not an operation signal corresponding to a half-press operation of the shutter button is sent from the key input unit 11.

  If it is determined in step 3 that the shutter button is not half-pressed, it remains in step S3 until it is half-pressed. If it is determined that the shutter button is half-pressed, the CPU 10 determines whether the user has released the shutter button half-press. It is determined whether or not (step S4). This determination is made based on whether or not an operation signal corresponding to the operation of the shutter button is not sent from the key input unit 11.

If it is determined in step S4 that the half-press has been released, the CPU 10 determines whether or not the currently set threshold value is an initial value (step S5).
If it is determined in step S5 that the currently set threshold is an initial value, the process returns to step S3. If it is determined in step S5 that the currently set threshold is not an initial value, the process returns to step S2.
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S4 that the half-press of the shutter button has not been released, the face detection unit 102 of the CPU 10 performs face detection processing for detecting a face in the most recently captured frame image data (step S4). S6).

Next, the smile evaluation value calculation unit 103 of the CPU 10 calculates the smile evaluation value of the detected face by using the image data of the face area detected by the face detection process and the smile table (step S7). .
Next, the CPU 10 compares the calculated smile evaluation value with the currently set threshold value, and determines whether or not the smile evaluation value is equal to or greater than the threshold value (step S8). When this smile evaluation value is equal to or greater than the threshold value, it is determined that the face is a smile.

  If it is determined in step S8 that the smile evaluation value is not equal to or greater than the threshold value, the CPU 10 determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed (step S9). When the automatic shooting described later is not performed, this fixed time has elapsed since the most recent halfway pressing of the shutter button, and when the automatic shooting described later is performed, This is the elapsed time from the end of automatic shooting recording.

If it is determined in step S9 that the predetermined time has not elapsed, the process returns to step S4. If it is determined in step S9 that the predetermined time has elapsed, the CPU 10 determines whether or not the currently set threshold value is the minimum value. Is determined (step S10).
If it is determined in step S10 that the currently set threshold value is the lowest value, the process returns to step S4. If it is determined in step S10 that the currently set threshold value is not the lowest value, the threshold value changing unit 101 of the CPU 10 The threshold value that has been set is lowered (step S11), and the process returns to step S4.
As described above, the set threshold value gradually decreases according to the elapsed time after the shutter button has been half-pressed for a certain period of time, and finally the threshold value decreases to the lowest value.

FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating an example of a state of a threshold that is changed according to elapsed time.
As shown in FIG. 4A, the threshold value is a predetermined value (initial value) until a predetermined time elapses after the automatic shooting / recording ends (when the shutter button is half-pressed when automatic shooting / recording is not performed). The threshold value decreases after a certain period of time, and finally the threshold value becomes the lowest value. The predetermined value and the minimum value may be predetermined values or may be arbitrarily set by the user.

In this way, the threshold value is lowered until automatic shooting is performed (until it is determined to be a smile), so even if a person has a low smile evaluation value, no matter how much they laugh, it is determined that they are smiling It can be performed. In addition, since the automatic smile shooting mode is set, it is possible to correct the problem that the subject is usually trying to laugh, but it is difficult to determine that the subject is smiling and automatic shooting is not performed.
In addition, even if you try hard and laugh, you can determine that a person with a low level of laughter is also smiling, and that person can rest assured of her smile and laugh in the automatic smile shooting mode. There is no target.

Also, no matter how much you laugh, people who are low in laughter do not set a value that can be judged as laughing, so even if the average, average, or the majority of people do not laugh It is not judged to be.
Also, some people have a laughing face when they are normal, but initially the threshold is set to a predetermined value (a higher value), so the person with the laughing face is not laughing. It is possible to prevent the adverse effect of automatic photographing, and it is possible to automatically photograph the face when the person with the laughing face laughs.

  The operations in steps S4 to S11 are performed until the next frame image data is captured and stored in the buffer memory. In other words, face detection and smile evaluation values are calculated for each captured frame image data, and it is determined whether or not automatic shooting is performed, a threshold value is changed, and the like.

  Returning to the flowchart of FIG. 3, if it is determined in step S8 that the calculated smile evaluation value is greater than or equal to the currently set threshold value, the automatic shooting / recording unit 104 of the CPU 10 stops displaying the through image and displays a still image. A shooting process is performed, and still image data obtained by the shooting process is compressed and recorded in the flash memory 14 (step S12).

Next, the CPU 10 starts (restarts) the through image display (step S13), and the CPU 10 determines whether or not the currently set threshold value is an initial value (step S14).
If it is determined in step S14 that the currently set threshold is the initial value, the process directly returns to step S4. If it is determined in step S14 that the currently set threshold is not the initial value, the threshold changing unit 101 of the CPU 10 The threshold value currently set is changed to the initial value (predetermined value) (step S15), and the process returns to step S4. Of course, if it is determined in step S8 that the smile evaluation value is greater than or equal to the currently set threshold value before it is determined in step S9 that the predetermined time has elapsed, the process returns to step S4.
In this way, when automatic shooting is performed, the threshold value is changed to the initial value, so that once the automatic shooting is performed, it is possible to correct a problem that the shot face is automatically shot one after another. it can.

  As described above, in the embodiment, the threshold value is lowered until automatic shooting is performed (until it is determined that a smile is made). Therefore, it is possible to perform automatic shooting and to shoot an image with a smiling face. Further, since the automatic smile shooting mode is set, it is possible to correct a problem that the subject is usually trying to laugh, but it is difficult to determine that the subject is smiling and automatic shooting is not performed.

In addition, since the threshold value (predetermined value) that can be judged that even a person with a low laughter level is laughing is not set as the initial threshold (predetermined value), the average person or the majority of people laugh It is not judged that it is laughing though it is not.
Also, some people have a laughing face when they are normal, but initially the threshold is set to a predetermined value (a higher value), so the person with the laughing face is not laughing. It is possible to prevent the adverse effect of automatic photographing, and it is possible to automatically photograph the face when the person with the laughing face laughs.
In addition, since the threshold value is lowered according to the elapsed time from the state where the auto shutter button is pressed halfway (when automatic shooting recording is performed, at the end of automatic shooting recording), preparations for automatic shooting from now on are made. After entering the state, it is possible to correct such a problem that it is difficult to determine that it is a smile and automatic shooting is not performed.

[Modification]
C. The above-described embodiment can be modified as follows.
(01) In the above embodiment, a plurality of feature data and evaluation points associated with each component such as eyes, eyebrows, and mouth are set in the smile table, and the set feature data is detected. The smile evaluation value is calculated by comparing with the image data of the face area, but only the feature data of each component such as the eyes, eyebrows, and mouth of the face when laughing is set and detected. Compare each component such as eyes and eyebrows with the feature data of each configured component, and calculate the smile evaluation value by calculating the degree of coincidence for each component The smile evaluation value may be simply increased as more white teeth are visible, or the smile evaluation value may be calculated by another method.

  (02) In the above embodiment, the fact that the fixed time has elapsed in step S9 in FIG. 3 indicates the elapsed time from when the shutter button is half-pressed when automatic shooting is not performed. However, when automatic shooting is not performed, the elapsed time from the setting of the smile automatic shooting mode may be used.

  (03) In the above embodiment, it is determined in step S9 in FIG. 3 whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed. However, the operation in step S9 may be eliminated. That is, if it is determined in step S8 that the smile evaluation value is not equal to or greater than the threshold value, the process proceeds directly to step S10. In this case, the threshold value decreases with the passage of time regardless of the passage of a fixed time.

  (04) In the above embodiment, the time until the threshold value is lowered from the predetermined value to the minimum value is not particularly mentioned. However, the user may arbitrarily change this time.

(05) In the above embodiment, the threshold value is lowered from the predetermined value to the predetermined value at a constant angle (decrease rate). That is, the two values of the predetermined value and the minimum value and the elapsed time are used. Accordingly, the threshold value is lowered, but may be lowered step by step.
FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating an example of the state of the threshold value that is changed according to the elapsed time in the present modification.
As can be seen from the figure, the threshold value is changed step by step so that the threshold value decreases by a certain value when a certain time elapses, and decreases by a certain value after a predetermined time has elapsed. You may do it.
Note that the method for lowering the threshold value is not limited to these, and it is sufficient that the threshold value decreases with time.

(06) In the above embodiment, the predetermined value is set to be higher than the smile evaluation value when a general, average person, or most people laugh. It may be set to a value equal to or lower than the smile evaluation value when a general, average person, or most people laugh. As a result, it is possible to reduce the time lag for performing automatic shooting based on a smile.
In this case, there is a possibility that a person with a laughing face does not laugh but an automatic shooting that is determined to be a smile may be performed, but there are few such people, so a general, average person Or, when the majority of people laugh, it can be immediately determined that they are smiling, and automatic shooting can be performed. In addition, it goes without saying that even if a person laughs, a person with a small smile level can determine that the face is a laughed face with a small time lag and perform automatic shooting.

  (07) In the above embodiment, the threshold value is set to a predetermined value (returned to the initial value) in step S15 of FIG. 3, but the currently set threshold value is increased by a certain value. The setting may be changed to the threshold value. Also by this, once automatic photographing is performed, it is possible to correct a problem that the photographed face is continuously automatically photographed one after another. This modification is particularly effective in the case of the modification (6).

(08) In the above embodiment, the predetermined value is higher than the smile evaluation value when a general, average person, or most people laugh, but the predetermined value is A smile evaluation value when a general, average person, or a majority of people laugh, and the calculated smile evaluation value is smaller than the predetermined value but within a predetermined range with the predetermined value If the threshold value continues for a certain period of time, the threshold value may be lowered once by a certain amount. In other words, the threshold value is not lowered as time passes, but the threshold value is lowered once by a certain amount.
Here, the fixed amount that lowers the threshold value at a stroke is an amount such that the smile evaluation value determined to be within a predetermined range from the predetermined value is equal to or greater than the threshold value. That is, a smile evaluation value within a certain range with a predetermined value is determined to be a smile by lowering the threshold value.
In this way, even if a person laughs no matter how much he / she laughs, he / she can determine that he / she is smiling and perform automatic shooting. Further, since the automatic smile shooting mode is set, it is possible to correct a problem that the subject is usually trying to laugh, but it is difficult to determine that the subject is smiling and automatic shooting is not performed.

  Note that when the calculated smile evaluation value is within a certain range with the predetermined value, the threshold value may be lowered along with the elapsed time. In this way, even if a person laughs no matter how much he / she laughs, he / she can determine that he / she is smiling and perform automatic shooting. Further, since the automatic smile shooting mode is set, it is possible to correct a problem that the subject is usually trying to laugh, but it is difficult to determine that the subject is smiling and automatic shooting is not performed.

(09) In the above embodiment, when it is determined in step S8 in FIG. 3 that the smile evaluation value is greater than or equal to the threshold value, still image shooting and recording processing is performed in step S12. If it is determined that the value is greater than or equal to the threshold value, the most recently captured frame image data may be recorded as still image data.
This also makes it possible to automatically record a person who is smiling as a smile, and to record image data with a smiling face.

(10) In the above embodiment, the case where automatic shooting recording is performed when the smile evaluation value is equal to or greater than the threshold value has been described as an example. However, the present invention is also applicable to the case where automatic shooting recording is performed under other conditions. .
For example, when automatic shooting and recording is performed under other conditions, automatic shooting and recording is performed when blurring of an image is detected and the blur evaluation value indicating the blurring of the image or the blurring of the image is equal to or greater than a threshold value. In some cases, a face is detected, and when a face evaluation value exceeds a threshold value, automatic shooting and recording are performed. Here, the blur evaluation value indicating the blur of the image is higher as the blur is smaller, and the blur evaluation value indicating the magnitude of the blur of the image is higher as the blur of the image is higher, and the face evaluation value is higher. The probability of being a face increases.
If the evaluation value does not exceed the threshold value even after a certain period of time has elapsed, the threshold value is lowered.
In short, automatic shooting recording is performed when the evaluation value such as smile evaluation value, blur evaluation value, face evaluation value, etc., which is the condition for whether or not to perform automatic shooting, exceeds the threshold, and the threshold is changed over time Anything to do.
As a result, it is possible to correct the problem that automatic shooting / recording is not performed easily even when the image blurring is reduced, or when the blurring is increased, or when automatic shooting / recording is performed when a face is detected. .

(11) In the above embodiment, the threshold value is set to an initial value, and the threshold value is lowered as time passes while the smile evaluation value is not equal to or greater than the threshold value. You may make it raise. In this case, automatic shooting is performed when the smile evaluation value is less than or equal to the threshold value. In other words, the threshold value is raised with the lapse of time until the smile evaluation value becomes equal to or less than the threshold value, and automatic shooting and recording is performed when the smile evaluation value becomes equal to or less than the threshold value.
In addition, when the calculated smile evaluation value is larger than the predetermined value but stays within the predetermined range with the predetermined value for a certain period of time, the threshold value may be increased only once by a certain amount. Good. That is, the threshold value is not increased as time passes, but the threshold value is increased only once by a certain amount. Here, the certain amount that raises the threshold value at a stroke is an amount such that the smile evaluation value determined to be within a certain range from the predetermined value is equal to or less than the threshold value. That is, a smile evaluation value within a certain range with a predetermined value is determined not to be a smile by raising the threshold value.
Thus, raising the threshold value is particularly effective when photographing a face that is not laughing, such as an ID photo.
In the case of this modification, the predetermined value needs to be a low value in advance.

  (12) Moreover, you may make it change into embodiment which combined said (01)-(11) arbitrarily.

(13) The above embodiments of the present invention are merely examples as the best embodiments, and are described in order to better understand the principle and structure of the present invention. And is not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims.
Therefore, it should be understood that all the various variations and modifications that can be made to the above-described embodiments of the present invention are included in the scope of the present invention and protected by the appended claims.

  Finally, in the above embodiment, the case where the imaging apparatus of the present invention is applied to the digital camera 1 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and in short, automatic imaging can be performed. Any device can be applied.

1 is a block diagram of a digital camera 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the mode of the smile table recorded on the memory. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the digital camera 1 of embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the mode of the threshold value changed according to elapsed time.

Explanation of symbols

1 Digital Camera 2 Photo Lens 3 Lens Drive Block 5 CCD
6 Driver 7 TG
8 Unit circuit 9 Image generator 10 CPU
11 Key input section 12 Memory 13 DRAM
14 Flash memory 15 Image display unit 16 Bus

Claims (10)

An image sensor;
Imaging control means for periodically imaging a subject using the imaging element;
First threshold value changing means for changing the threshold value according to an elapsed time from a predetermined timing;
A calculating unit that calculates an image evaluation value based on image data captured by the imaging control unit;
Automatic recording control means for automatically recording image data picked up by the image pickup device when the image evaluation value calculated by the calculating means is equal to or higher than the threshold value or lower than the threshold value;
An imaging apparatus comprising: The image evaluation value is
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imaging apparatus is a smile evaluation value. The first threshold value changing means includes
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the threshold value is changed according to an elapsed time from when the automatic photographing mode is set or when the shutter is half-pressed. The first threshold value changing means includes
3. The imaging according to claim 1, wherein the threshold value is changed according to an elapsed time of a state in which the image evaluation value calculated by the calculation unit is within a predetermined range with respect to a current threshold value. apparatus. The first threshold value changing means includes
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the threshold value is lowered or raised according to an elapsed time from a predetermined timing. 6. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising second threshold value changing means for changing the threshold value in response to recording by the automatic recording control means. The second threshold value changing means includes
The imaging apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the threshold value is changed to an initial value that is a threshold value before being changed by the first threshold value changing unit in response to recording by the automatic recording control unit. The second threshold value changing means includes
The imaging apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the threshold value is changed by a predetermined value in response to recording by the automatic recording control unit. The automatic recording control means includes
When the image evaluation value calculated by the calculation unit is equal to or greater than the threshold value or less than the threshold value, the image sensor includes a unit that captures a still image using the imaging element, and records the image data that has been captured. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imaging apparatus is characterized in that A computer equipped with an image sensor
Imaging control means for periodically imaging a subject using the imaging element;
First threshold value changing means for changing the threshold value according to an elapsed time from a predetermined timing;
A calculating unit that calculates an image evaluation value based on image data captured by the imaging control unit;
Automatic recording control means for automatically recording image data picked up by the image pickup device when the image evaluation value calculated by the calculating means is equal to or higher than the threshold value or lower than the threshold value;
A program characterized by functioning as

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