JP2014027588A - Imaging device, method for displaying mask area, and method for controlling imaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a mask target from being seen due to an unstable stop position factor such as a stop position error or a backlash.SOLUTION: An imaging device comprises: imaging means moved by a movement mechanism; control means for controlling movement mechanism for moving the imaging means to a determined stop position; mask area setting means 202 for setting a mask area specified for a mask target on an imaging screen; calculation means 204 for calculating a mask correction amount equivalent to an amount of misregistration at a stop position caused by an unstable stop position factor; and mask correction means 205 for correcting the set mask area according to the mask correction amount.

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus, a mask area display method, and an imaging apparatus control method for setting a mask area designated for a mask target on an imaging screen.

  In recent years, surveillance cameras have become widespread due to increasing security awareness.

  There are various types of surveillance cameras, such as those that shoot only a limited range as subjects to be photographed, and subjects that photograph a wide range by panning and tilting (hereinafter referred to as pan / tilt, PT) functions of the camera. The camera is on the market.

  The installation of these cameras increases the crime prevention effect and captures scenes that are important evidence in the event of a crime, which is indispensable for security today.

  Major camera installation locations include public institutions, financial institutions, and convenience stores.

  In addition to security, it is also used for product management and store management, and is used in a wide range of fields, not only for crime prevention but also for management.

  As described above, since the surveillance camera is installed in various applications and places, viewpoints such as privacy and protection of secrets are regarded as important today.

  For example, if you shoot a nearby private house at the same time as the shooting location and infringe on the privacy, or the bank ATM, etc., the password will be reflected by showing the operation position where the password is entered, privacy, It becomes a state that violates security.

  Furthermore, in the case of use in management, a use situation that considers information management such as not wanting to show only a certain place in the store can be considered.

In this way, from the viewpoint of protecting security and privacy, in order to prevent the portion that you do not want to show in the captured image, the technology that hides the area that you do not want to see, private masking (hereinafter masking, masking) is devised. (Patent Document 1). )
What is important in the masking process as described above is to firmly hide what is desired to be hidden. Conventionally, the following has been considered.

  For example, in Patent Document 2, in order to interpolate a mask in pan / tilt driving, a correction mask is added to the current mask position in consideration of temporal changes from the difference in display position between the previous and current mask positions. It is.

  This is a technique for preventing the mask display from being shifted from the target position of the subject during the pan / tilt operation and the subject to be hidden being reflected.

  Further, Patent Document 3 performs masking in consideration of an error caused by the rotation center of the pan head and the mounting position of the image sensor, and there is a method of preventing the subject from being unintentionally shifted and the subject being seen. Various things are considered.

JP 2001-69494 A JP 2004-146890 A JP 2004-15362 A

  However, in the above-described conventional example, the stop accuracy error of the motor that actually drives the camera to pan / tilt is not taken into consideration.

  Due to the stop accuracy error of this motor, even if the desired masking area is set at a certain pan / tilt position, the camera is not necessarily set to the same pan / tilt position even if the camera is driven to the same pan / tilt position next time. It is not done.

  The same is true for motor backlash.

  For this reason, there is a case in which a mask object that cannot be seen at the time of setting may be visible after the setting.

  This phenomenon is particularly noticeable when photographing at a high magnification, and has become a serious problem as a masking function.

  For example, assume that the shooting scene is as shown in FIG.

  In this scene, when an attempt is made to mask and hide a human-type image at the center of the screen, the normal user designates the mask area 2001 on the screen and sets the mask area (FIG. 20).

  After that, since the mask area 2001 is stored corresponding to the PT position, even if the camera is moved by performing PT driving from the set position in FIG. 20, when the mask area is set again, the set mask is set. The human figure hidden by is hidden.

  However, in reality, if the PT driving is performed to return to the same position again after the driving shown in FIG. 20 due to the stopping accuracy of the motor, the same position is not always reflected even at the same position in terms of control.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 21, when the camera is panned rightward from the shooting position of FIG. 20 and the camera is returned to the PT position where the mask area is set again, the location where the PT position on the same control is projected is also shown. This is actually different due to the influence of the motor stop accuracy, and the mask area 2001 is shifted, and a humanoid image originally intended to be hidden is displayed.

(Object of invention)
An object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus and a control method thereof that can prevent a mask target from being seen due to a stop position instability factor such as a stop accuracy error or backlash.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a mask area display method capable of confirming whether a mask target can be hidden as intended.

  In order to achieve the above object, an imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes an imaging unit that is moved by a moving mechanism, a control unit that controls the moving mechanism to move the imaging unit to a predetermined stop position, and a mask. A calculation unit that calculates a mask correction amount corresponding to a stop position deviation amount due to a stop position instability factor in an imaging apparatus including a mask area setting unit that sets a mask area designated for an object on an imaging screen; The mask area set by the mask area setting means has mask correction means for performing correction according to the mask correction amount.

  Further, the mask area display method of the present invention is a mask area display method for displaying a mask area set for a mask target on an imaging screen when moving the imaging means to a predetermined stop position by a moving mechanism. When the mask correction amount corresponding to the stop position deviation amount due to the stop position instability factor is calculated, and the correction according to the mask correction amount is performed on the set mask area, the mask correction amount is set. It is characterized by displaying in a color, pattern, or transmittance different from the mask area.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the mask object from being seen due to stop position instability factors such as stop accuracy error and backlash.

  It is also possible to confirm whether the mask target can be hidden as intended.

It is a functional block block diagram of the surveillance camera as an imaging device which is Example 1 of the present invention. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the first embodiment. It is a figure which shows the mask area designated by the user. It is a figure explaining the calculation method of the mask correction width | variety with respect to the motor stop precision error. It is a figure which shows the correction mask area with respect to a setting mask area. It is a figure which shows an example of the setting scene of a mask area. It is a figure explaining the mask correction | amendment of the pan / tilt direction by Example 2 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of Example 3 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the mask area before and behind the mask correction by Example 3. FIG. It is a figure which shows the effect of the mask correction by Example 3. It is a figure explaining the mask correction | amendment of the pan / tilt direction by Example 4 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the mask area before and behind mask correction by Example 4. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the display method which is Example 5 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the mask area by Example 5. FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a display example according to the fifth embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the display method which is Example 6 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the mask area by Example 6. FIG. FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating a display example according to the sixth embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the conventional captured image. It is a figure which shows the image at the time of the conventional mask area setting. It is a figure which shows the example of the conventional mask shift.

  The mode for carrying out the present invention is as described in Examples 1 to 6 below.

  FIG. 1 is a functional block configuration diagram of a surveillance camera as an image pickup apparatus that is Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 101 is a surveillance camera, 102 is an imaging unit, 103 is an image processing unit, and 104 is a system control unit. Reference numeral 105 denotes a pan mechanism for moving the imaging unit 102 left and right, and 106 denotes a pan control unit. Reference numeral 107 denotes a tilt mechanism that moves the imaging unit 102 up and down, and reference numeral 108 denotes a tilt control unit. At least one of the pan mechanism 105 and the tilt mechanism 107 constitutes a moving mechanism.

  The monitoring camera 101 is connected to a network such as a LAN, and is configured to be able to communicate with a plurality or a single monitoring device (not shown) via the network. The monitoring device can display and record the video captured by the monitoring camera 101 via the network. In addition, the monitoring apparatus can perform camera setting, pan operation, tilt operation, and the like by transmitting a camera control command to the monitoring camera 101.

  The imaging unit 102 includes an imaging lens and an imaging element, and performs imaging of a subject and conversion into an electrical signal. The signal imaged and photoelectrically converted by the imaging unit 102 is subjected to predetermined image processing by the image processing unit 103 to generate a captured image. In addition, an image of the set mask area is generated. The captured image is transmitted to the system control unit 104. The system control unit 104 distributes the image signal transmitted from the image processing unit 103 to the monitoring apparatus via the network.

  In addition, the system control unit 104 receives a camera control command transmitted from the monitoring device via the network. Then, in accordance with the received camera control command, the imaging condition setting, the operation command such as PT operation, and the mask area setting are transmitted to the PT control units 106 and 108 and the image processing unit 103. Each control unit controls each mechanism based on the transmitted operation command.

  The pan mechanism 105 includes a mechanical drive system that performs a pan operation and a stepping motor as a drive source, and the operation is controlled by the pan control unit 106.

  The tilt mechanism 107 includes a mechanical drive system that performs a tilt operation and a stepping motor as a drive source, and the operation is controlled by a tilt control unit 108.

  A moving mechanism including at least one of the pan mechanism 105 and the tilt mechanism 107 is for causing the imaging unit 102 to perform a pan operation and a tilt operation. The whole surveillance camera 101 as well as the imaging unit 102 may be panned and tilted.

  The pan mechanism 105 and the tilt mechanism 107 are built in the monitoring camera 101 in FIG. 1, but may be externally attached to the monitoring camera 101.

  As described with reference to FIGS. 19 to 21, even if the camera is driven to the same position in terms of control due to the stop accuracy error of the motor, which is one of the stop position instability factors, the actual stop position is shifted, A phenomenon occurs in which the mask is not applied correctly.

  Therefore, the first embodiment performs mask area setting in consideration of the stopping accuracy of the motor.

  Processing performed by the system control unit 104 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, the camera is driven to the designated position of the mask area (201), and the mask area is set on the imaging screen for the target to be masked (202).

  In general, as a mask area setting method, a mask area is designated on the imaging screen using an instruction tool such as a mouse.

  The specified mask area position, camera PT position, and mask setting conditions such as the zoom position and focus position are stored as subject distance information (203).

  In the first embodiment, a mask correction amount which is an amount deviated by the PT stop accuracy is calculated from the stored PT position and the subject distance information from the PT stop accuracy of the camera stored in advance (204). It adds to the masked area (205).

  More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, a mask area 301 is set by the user on the image plane (X, Y coordinates).

  For example, if the mask area 301 is set to be rectangular, the mask area 301 is stored by storing two target points (X1, Y1) and (X2, Y2) out of four points in the mask area 301. Can be set.

  Then, the set mask area 301 may be enlarged or reduced according to the subject distance, and masking according to the size of the mask target may be performed.

  On the other hand, the stop position accuracy of the motor is stored in advance for the mask correction amount, and when the stop accuracy is ± a °, the area corresponding to the stop accuracy ± a ° is indicated by XY coordinates, and the set mask area Add to 301.

  The mask correction amount at this time is calculated from the subject distance information.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the image position deviation amount W (= mask correction amount) caused by the stop accuracy error can be obtained from the motor stop accuracy ± a ° and the subject distance D by the following equation.
W = 2 × Dtan (a)
Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the mask area 301 (X1, Y1), (X2, Y2) set and stored by the user is stored in the correction mask area 302 (X1-W, Y1) including the mask correction amount W. Add 303 (X2 + W, Y2). This added area (301 + 302 + 303) is set and stored as a new mask area 304 (FIG. 6).

  Further, a conventional mask area 304 enlargement / reduction process may be performed on the mask area 304 in consideration of the mask correction amount W in accordance with the change in the subject distance.

  In this way, by taking into account the image position deviation amount W caused by the stop accuracy error (FIG. 5), the imaging area is shifted as shown in FIG. 21 due to the conventional motor stop accuracy and the mask object is reflected. The reflection of the mask object can be prevented in the form as shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 6, the mask area 301 and the correction mask areas 302 and 303 are divided for easy identification, but in actual operation, the mask area 301 and the correction mask areas 302 and 303 are not distinguished from each other. It is also possible to handle it as one mask area 304.

  In the first embodiment, only the operation in the pan direction has been described in detail for the sake of explanation. However, the same effect can be obtained if the same idea is applied to camera driving other than the pan direction.

  Further, by using the first embodiment, for example, when the camera is driven in the pan direction, each panning position that passes during the driving until the camera stops at the target position is also related to each panning position. Since the deviation due to the stop accuracy of the camera occurs, the mask object is corrected by taking this deviation into account in the same way, and the mask object is visible due to the positional deviation of the mask area that occurs during panning in this example while driving the camera. Of course you can also prevent.

  With the above processing, it is possible to solve the problem that the mask object is reflected due to the PT position accuracy.

  Next, in the second embodiment, mask correction in a plurality of directions (pan direction and tilt direction), which are omitted for the sake of simplicity in the first embodiment, will be described.

  The mask area is calculated separately for each of the pan direction and the tilt direction by the processing described in the first embodiment, and correction in a plurality of directions can be performed by displaying the two mask areas together.

  However, this process has a problem that the number of mask areas to be managed becomes plural, the process becomes longer for mask drawing, and the memory capacity corresponding to the mask display area is used up.

  Therefore, the second embodiment shows a process for handling a single mask area when performing mask correction in a plurality of directions.

  The basic mask area setting process in each of the pan direction and the tilt direction is the same as described in the first embodiment, and thus the description thereof will be omitted. Here, a process of combining mask correction amounts in the pan direction and the tilt direction will be described.

  As described above, compare the position of the memory target point of each mask correction amount against the position of the mask area taking into account the stop position accuracy in each direction of pan and tilt, and reset the mask area to satisfy both mask areas And remember.

  By doing so, the mask area setting considering both the pan direction and the tilt direction can be expressed by one mask area setting.

  A specific example of the mask area composition processing will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, the user sets a mask area, and (X1, Y1) and (X2, Y2) are stored as the set mask area 301.

  Then, correction mask areas 302 (X1-W, Y1) and 303 (X2 + W, Y2) including a mask correction amount (W) in the pan direction are calculated with respect to the set mask area 301. Also, correction mask areas 305 (X1, Y1-H) and 306 (X2, Y2 + H) including the mask correction amount (H) in the tilt direction are calculated.

  From the position of each of the four correction mask areas 302, 303, 305, and 3061 including the mask correction amount in the pan direction and the tilt direction, the position of the mask area 307 including both mask areas in the pan direction and the tilt direction (X1 -W, Y1-H), (X2 + W, Y2 + H) are stored.

  With the above processing, mask correction in a plurality of directions with motor stop accuracy can be performed, and the mask area can be set efficiently.

  In the third embodiment, mask correction processing that considers the backlash of the motor, which is another factor of stop position instability, will be described in addition to the mask correction described so far.

  Possible causes of mask displacement include backlash that depends on the rotational direction of the motor, in addition to the stop accuracy error of the motor.

  Mask displacement caused by backlash is the same as that caused by the motor stop accuracy error described with reference to FIGS.

  If the camera is panned from the left to the right and the mask area is set as shown in FIG. 20, the camera is further driven in the right direction, and then the camera is driven in the left direction to return to the original panning position.

  Then, even if the motor stop accuracy is good, a backlash occurs because the camera drive direction is opposite to the direction when the mask area is set, and the mask area is displaced as shown in FIG. Can be considered.

  In the third embodiment, a process for preventing the mask area from being shifted due to backlash will be described.

  Specifically, description will be made according to the flow shown in FIG.

  First, the camera is driven to the designated position of the mask area (801), and the mask area is set for the target to be masked (802).

  The mask area setting method may be either the conventional method described in the first embodiment or the method described in the first and second embodiments, and does not specifically ask the mask setting method.

  Then, the PT drive direction of the camera immediately before the mask area setting is stored (803). The RAM or the like in the system control unit 104 that executes this step constitutes a drive direction storage unit.

  This is the end of the camera mask area setting operation.

  After the mask area setting operation is completed, it is determined whether the camera has performed a PT operation (804). If there is no PT operation (YES in 804), the current mask area setting is maintained.

  Conversely, if a PT operation is performed (NO in 804), the PT driving direction of the camera is detected (805) and compared with the stored PT driving direction of the camera immediately before the mask area setting (806). When the camera is moved in the same direction as the PT driving direction of the camera immediately before the mask setting stored in step 803, the mask area at the time of setting the mask area is maintained.

  On the other hand, if the two drive directions are not the same direction (reverse directions), the mask correction amount Wb corresponding to the backlash of the motor known in advance with respect to the already set mask area (FIG. 9). ) Is calculated (807).

  As a method for obtaining the mask correction amount Wb, the angle of backlash is stored in advance, and the mask correction amount Wb is calculated from the value.

  Since the calculation method of the mask correction amount Wb is obtained in the same manner as the calculation method of the mask correction amount W in the motor stop accuracy obtained in the first embodiment (see FIG. 4), description thereof is omitted.

  The mask correction amount Wb thus obtained is shifted to the driving direction side with respect to the mask area 301 in the direction reversely driven in the PT direction at the time of setting the stored mask area as shown in FIG.

  With this process, as shown in FIG. 10, not only the mask area 301 is unnecessarily enlarged, but also the mask object can be prevented from being reflected by adjusting the position of the mask area 301.

  Here, an example in which the display position of the mask area is shifted in accordance with backlash has been shown. However, a shift due to backlash may be added to the user-set mask area as a correction mask area based on the same idea as in the first embodiment. .

  Since this process is the same as that of the first embodiment, a description thereof will be omitted.

  In the fourth embodiment, the third embodiment is further applied. As shown in the third embodiment, the camera PT driving direction when the mask area is set and the camera PT driving direction when the camera PT is operated after the mask area is set are as follows. A mask area interpolation process considering backlash when both directions are different will be described.

  The basic mask area setting in each direction, for example, both directions of PT, and the correction processing considering backlash are the same as those in the third embodiment.

  Here, when setting the mask area, the pan direction is set after moving the right direction and the tilt direction after moving downward, and then the camera is driven by PT to move the pan direction to the left and the tilt direction to move upward as an example in FIG. The mask correction processing according to the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, the user sets a mask area, and sets (X1, Y1) and (X2, Y2) as the setting mask area.

  Then, the position (X1-Wb, Y1) and (X2-Wb, Y2) of the mask area including the mask correction amount Wb in the pan direction with respect to the set mask area and the mask area including the mask correction amount Hb in the tilt direction The positions (X1, Y1-Hb) and (X2, Y2-Hb) are calculated.

  The positions (X1-Wb, Y1-Hb) and (X2-Wb, Y2-Hb) including both mask areas are stored from the respective positions of the two mask areas including the mask correction amount in the pan direction and the tilt direction. To do.

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 12, the mask area 301 indicated by the dotted lines originally set at (X1, Y1), (X2, Y2) If the direction is opposite to the tilt direction, the mask areas 301a (X1-Wb, Y1-Hb) and (X2-Wb, Y2-Hb) indicated by diagonal lines are changed.

  By doing so, it is possible to prevent the intended subject from being viewed due to mask displacement due to the backlash of the motor, and it is not necessary to set the mask area 301 unnecessarily large, so that better imaging can be performed.

  Here, the camera drive direction at the time of mask area setting is different in both PT directions, but it was different when only one of the mask area setting direction and the camera PT drive direction was different. As is estimated from the third and fourth embodiments, the mask area only needs to be corrected in the direction.

  The fifth embodiment has a problem that a subject to be masked can be seen unintentionally by making the user know in advance the problem that the subject will be visible due to mask misalignment that is not intended by the user when setting the mask area. A mask area display method for preventing the above will be described.

  Since the mask area setting process does not particularly ask a conventional mask area setting process or the processes of the first to fourth embodiments described above, the description thereof is omitted here.

  In the present embodiment, the processing corresponding to the phenomenon that the subject can be seen due to the mask displacement due to the change of the photographing range caused by the motor has been described by correcting the mask area.

  Since the corrected mask area corrects the mask area with respect to the setting mask area intended by the user, there is a risk of misunderstanding that the mask area cannot be set according to the mask area intended by the user at the time of setting. .

  Therefore, in the fifth embodiment, the mask area to be corrected is clearly shown to the user by performing a process such as changing the color, pattern, or transmittance different from the mask area set by the user to make it translucent. In other words, the mask area after correction is displayed.

  The flowchart of FIG. 13 is shown as a specific example.

  First, the camera is driven to the designated position of the mask area to be masked (1301), and the mask area is set for the target to be masked (1302).

  In general, as a mask area setting method, a mask area is designated on the screen by using an instruction tool such as a mouse.

  The specified mask area position, camera PT position, and mask setting conditions such as a zoom position and a focus position are stored as subject distance information (1303).

  In the fifth embodiment, an amount (mask correction amount) deviated by the PT stop accuracy is calculated from the stored PT position and the subject distance information from the PT stop accuracy stored in advance (1304). The calculated mask correction amount is added to the set mask area, and the added area is displayed as a correction mask area (1305).

  The correction mask area displayed at this time can be subjected to processing such as making it translucent by changing the color, pattern, or transmittance different from the mask area set by the user.

  If the user accepts the mask area setting including the correction mask area (1306), the mask area is stored as the set mask area with the mask area size including the correction mask area. Then, the color, pattern, etc. that are different from the mask area set by the user and changed to translucent by changing the transmittance, etc. applied to the correction mask area are stopped, and the same color, pattern, etc. as the user set area mask (1307).

  FIG. 14 shows a mask area setting display in consideration of the correction mask area.

  In FIG. 14, a mask area 1401 surrounded by (X1, Y1) and (X2, Y2) is a mask area set by the user.

  A correction mask area indicating the mask correction amount W is indicated by hatched lines 1402 (X1-W, Y1), (X1, Y2) and 1403 (X2, Y1), (X2 + W, Y2).

  Since the calculation method of the correction mask area has been described so far, it is omitted here.

  For the three mask areas thus determined, when setting the mask area, the correction mask areas 1402 and 1403 are made translucent by changing the color, pattern, or transmittance different from those of the set mask area 1401. To explicitly display the mask area after correction (FIG. 15).

  When the mask area setting is completed, the display of the correction mask areas 1402 and 1403 is matched with the color and pattern of the mask area 1401 set by the user.

  Furthermore, the mask area display process can be reduced by treating the mask area including the correction mask area as one mask area.

  Here, the mask color and pattern set by the user are set as an example, but this is not necessarily the case.

  However, when the transmittance has changed and the photographed image is visible, it is desirable to process the correction mask area so as not to transmit.

  Further, here, in order to simply explain the basic mechanism of the display method of the correction mask area, correction in only the pan direction has been described as an example. However, the present embodiment is not limited to this, and the tilt direction is not limited thereto. This also applies to correction in both pan and tilt directions, and the mask area to be corrected is different from the mask area set by the user, changing the color, pattern, or transmittance to make it translucent. This can be realized by processing.

  By the above method, the phenomenon that the subject can be seen due to the mask shift due to the change of the shooting range caused by the motor is prevented, and the misunderstanding that the setting is wrong because the mask area after mask correction is different from the user setting is prevented. At the same time, it is possible to confirm how much the mask area will be before setting, which is convenient for the user.

  In the sixth embodiment, when the mask area is set, the subject that the subject can be seen due to the mask deviation that is not intended by the user can be known in advance so that the subject can be prevented from being seen. 5 shows another mask displacement area display method different from 5.

  The mask area setting process is not particularly limited to the conventional mask area setting process and the processes of the first to fourth embodiments described so far, and thus the description thereof is omitted here.

  In the sixth embodiment, the correction mask area is not added to the mask area set by the user in consideration of the stopping accuracy of the motor that has been shown so far, but the mask area that may be shifted depending on the stopping accuracy of the motor. The color, pattern, and transmittance are different from the mask area set by the user.

  In this way, the mask area setting can be set to the mask area intended by the user. At the same time, the phenomenon that the subject to be masked is reflected due to mask displacement as in the conventional case is expressed by a color, pattern, and transmittance different from the mask area at the time of setting the area that may be reflected in advance. This can prevent unintentional exposure of the mask target due to mask displacement.

  The flowchart of FIG. 16 is shown as a specific example.

  First, the camera is driven to the designated position of the mask area to be masked (1601), and the mask area is set for the target to be masked (1602).

  In general, as a mask area setting process, the mask area is designated on the screen by using an instruction tool such as a mouse.

  Mask setting conditions such as a zoom position and a focus position are stored as the position of the designated mask area, the PT position of the camera, and subject distance information (1603).

  In the sixth embodiment, an amount (mask shift amount) that may cause a mask shift with the PT stop accuracy is calculated from the stored PT position accuracy and the subject distance information from the PT stop accuracy stored in advance. (1604), a mask displacement area is displayed in the set mask area (1605).

  The mask displacement area displayed at this time can be subjected to processing such as making it translucent by changing the color, pattern, or transmittance different from the mask area set by the user.

  If the user approves the mask area setting including the mask displacement area (1606), the displaced mask area is stored. Then, the processing that was applied to the mask displacement area, such as changing the color, pattern, or transmissivity of the mask area that does not cause the displacement within the mask area set by the user to be translucent, is stopped. Return to the same color and pattern as the mask area (1607).

  FIG. 17 shows a mask setting display in which a mask area in which a mask target may be visible due to mask displacement is displayed.

  In FIG. 17, a mask area 1701 surrounded by (X1, Y1) and (X2, Y2) is a mask area set by the user.

  The mask misalignment area where the mask may be shifted is the portion indicated by the diagonal lines 1702 (X1, Y1), (X1 + W, Y2) and 1703 (X2-W, Y1), (X2, Y2), and the motor The mask area that does not deviate due to the stop accuracy is an area displayed by 1704 (X1 + W, Y1), (X2-W, Y2).

  The method for calculating the mask displacement area is the same as the method for calculating the correction mask area described so far, and is omitted here.

  With respect to the three mask areas 1702 to 1704 thus obtained, when the mask area is set, the mask displacement areas 1702 and 1703 have colors different from those of the area 1704 in the mask area 1704 where the motor stop accuracy does not shift. FIG. 18 shows how the mask area explicitly set by the user is changed by performing processing such as changing the pattern or translucency to make it translucent (FIG. 18).

  When the mask area setting is completed, the display of the mask displacement area is matched with the mask color and pattern set by the user.

  Furthermore, it is possible to reduce mask area display processing by treating a mask area including a mask displacement area as one mask area.

  Here, the color and pattern of the mask area set by the user are set as an example, but this is not necessarily the case.

  However, when the transmittance has changed and the photographed image is visible, it is desirable to process the mask displacement area so as not to transmit.

  Further, here, in order to briefly explain the basic mechanism of the display method of the mask displacement area, the display method only in the pan direction has been described as an example. However, the sixth embodiment is not limited to this, This also applies to tilt direction and pan / tilt misalignment, and the mask misalignment area is different from the mask area set by the user by changing color, pattern, or translucency, etc. This can be realized by processing.

  As described above, the mask area setting can be set to the area intended by the user. At the same time, to express the phenomenon that the subject to be masked due to mask displacement as in the past, to express the area that may appear in advance with a color, pattern, and transmittance different from the mask area at the time of setting Thus, it is possible to prevent unintentional exposure of the mask target due to mask displacement, which is convenient for the user.

  As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to these Examples, A various deformation | transformation and change are possible within the range of the summary.

301 Mask area (before correction)
302, 303 Correction mask area 304 Mask area after correction W Mask correction amount (for stop accuracy error)
Wb Mask correction amount (backlash)

Claims (9)

Imaging means moved by a moving mechanism;
Control means for controlling the moving mechanism to move the imaging means to a predetermined stop position;
In an imaging apparatus comprising mask area setting means for setting a mask area designated for a mask target on an imaging screen,
A calculating means for calculating a mask correction amount corresponding to a stop position deviation amount due to a stop position instability factor;
An image pickup apparatus comprising: a mask correction unit that performs correction according to the mask correction amount in the mask area set by the mask area setting unit.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the calculation unit calculates the mask correction amount based on a stop accuracy error of the moving mechanism.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the mask correction unit adds a correction mask area corresponding to a mask correction amount due to a stop accuracy error of the moving mechanism to the set mask area.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the calculation unit calculates a mask correction amount due to backlash of the moving mechanism. Furthermore, it has a drive direction storage means for storing the drive direction of the imaging means by the moving mechanism when setting a mask area,
The mask correction means compares the drive direction stored in the drive direction storage means with the drive direction of the imaging means by the moving mechanism thereafter, and if the compared both drive directions are the same The correction according to the mask correction amount due to the backlash is not performed, and the correction according to the mask correction amount due to the backlash is performed when the compared both driving directions are opposite directions. The imaging device according to claim 4.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the mask correction unit shifts the set mask area according to a mask correction amount due to backlash of the moving mechanism. In the mask area display method for displaying the mask area set for the mask target on the imaging screen,
A mask correction amount corresponding to a stop position shift amount due to a stop position instability factor when the image pickup means is moved to a predetermined stop position by the moving mechanism is calculated, and the mask correction amount is set in the set mask area. A mask area display method characterized by displaying the mask correction amount in a color, pattern, or transmissivity different from that of the set mask area when performing a corresponding correction. In the mask area display method for displaying the mask area set for the mask target on the imaging screen,
When the moving mechanism moves the image pickup means to a predetermined stop position, a mask shift amount corresponding to the stop position shift amount due to the stop position instability factor is calculated, and a mask shift area corresponding to the mask shift amount is displayed. And displaying the mask displacement area in a color, pattern, or transmittance different from that of the set mask area. Imaging means moved by a moving mechanism;
Control means for controlling the moving mechanism to move the imaging means to a predetermined stop position;
An imaging apparatus control method comprising: a mask area setting unit that sets a mask area designated for a mask target on an imaging screen;
A calculation step for calculating a mask correction amount corresponding to a stop position deviation amount due to a stop position instability factor;
A control method for an imaging apparatus, comprising: a mask correction step for performing correction according to the mask correction amount on the mask area set by the mask area setting means.

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