JP2015106843A - Imaging device, imaging control method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mechanism for allowing an image including the possible smallest number of captured persons to be captured within a predetermined time, by repeating to store the captured image when the number of subjects in a shooting range changes within the predetermined time.SOLUTION: In an imaging device for repeatedly photographing a subject inputted via an imaging optical system, the number of subjects contained in a shooting range is specified, by analyzing the captured image obtained by shooting, and a determination is made whether or not the number of subjects thus specified changed. When a determination is made that the number of subjects changed, the captured image is stored.

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for determining whether to capture an image according to the number of people captured by an imaging apparatus.

  In recent years, when taking a picture with a digital camera, it has become possible to detect a face part of a subject in an image to be shot and detect a pre-registered subject, so that it can be used for various shootings. became.

  As an example, the number of subjects registered in advance is set for a part of the display area of the image data, and the image data is determined when it is determined that the set number of subjects matches the number of specified subjects. There is a system for recording on a recording medium.

  In the system of Patent Document 1, the number of subjects registered in advance is detected at a position specified by a user in a photo frame, and image data obtained by shooting is analyzed and included in a partial display area. Specify the number of subjects to be captured. When it is determined that the set number of subjects matches the number of specified subjects, the image is taken and the image data is recorded on the recording medium.

JP2012-100193A

  In the system of Patent Document 1, it is possible to easily take a photograph in which a predetermined number of persons are captured by performing photographing on condition that the number of registered subjects is detected. However, when the photographer wants to take a landscape photograph at a tourist spot, the more famous tourist spots, the more difficult it is to have a moment when no one else is left. Problems such as inability to shoot.

  An object of the present invention is to capture a photograph with as few persons as possible within a certain time by repeatedly storing a photographed image when the number of subjects within the photographing range changes within a certain time. It is to provide a mechanism that makes it possible.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides an imaging apparatus having an imaging unit that repeatedly shoots a subject input via an imaging optical system, wherein a captured image obtained by imaging by the imaging unit is obtained. By analyzing, a number specifying means for specifying the number of subjects included in the shooting range to be shot, a number change determining means for determining whether or not the number specified by the number specifying means has changed, and the number change determination Storage means for storing a captured image taken by the imaging means when it is determined by the means that the number of people has changed.

  According to the present invention, when taking a landscape photograph or the like, when the number of people decreases within a certain time, the photographing is repeated, thereby taking a photograph with as few people as possible within a certain time. It has the effect of making it possible.

It is a block diagram which shows the software structure of the imaging device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the imaging device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a flow of processing for performing imaging in the reduced number of persons imaging mode of the first embodiment in the imaging apparatus 100 of the present invention. It is a flowchart explaining the flow of the process which performs imaging | photography of the number-of-person reduction imaging mode of 2nd Embodiment in the imaging device 100 of this invention. 5 is an example of a screen image of a reduced-person shooting mode selection screen displayed on the display 217 at the time of activation in the imaging apparatus 100 of the present invention. It is an example of the screen image at the time of imaging | photography displayed on the display 217 of the imaging device 100 of this invention. It is an example of the screen image at the time of imaging | photography displayed on the display 217 of the imaging device 100 of this invention. It is an example of the screen image of the screen which is displayed on the display 217 of the imaging device 100 of this invention, and makes a user select the image preserve | saved from the picked-up image which was image | photographed and memorize | stored. It is an example of the screen image of the screen which confirms the selected image displayed on the display 217 of the imaging device 100 of this invention. It is the screen image of the screen from which all the images displayed on the display 217 of the imaging device 100 of this invention were selected. It is an example of the screen image of the screen which displayed on the display 217 of the imaging device 100 of this invention that the imaging | photography was not able to be performed.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
<First Embodiment>

  First, with reference to FIG. 1, the software configuration of the imaging apparatus 100 that implements the present invention will be described. Note that the imaging apparatus 100 is not necessarily dedicated to imaging, and a mobile terminal or a mobile phone may have the following functions.

  An imaging apparatus 100 in FIG. 1 includes an imaging unit 100 that performs imaging and an image analysis unit 102 that analyzes the captured image. The image analysis unit 102 of the present invention analyzes how many people are included in a captured image. . In addition, the imaging apparatus 100 includes a photographic number specifying unit 103, and specifies the number of people included in a photographic image analyzed by the image analysis unit 102.

  In addition, the imaging apparatus 100 includes an imaging number change determination unit 104 and determines whether the number of people specified by the imaging number specification unit 103 has changed. The image storage unit 105 stores an image in which the number of photographed people has changed when the number of photographed people is changed by the photographed number change determining unit.

  The timer set time accepting unit 106 is an input unit that accepts the time for carrying out the present invention, and waits for the timing when the number of photographers decreases during the time set by the timer set time accepting unit 106. Therefore, the user usually performs shooting while fixing the camera for a certain time such as a tripod.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the imaging apparatus 100 illustrated in FIG.

  The imaging apparatus 100 includes a so-called digital camera, a photographing lens 201, an imaging element (hereinafter referred to as “CCD”) 202, a camera signal processing unit (hereinafter referred to as “ADC”) 203, an image processing unit 204, A system controller 210, a buffer memory 211, a flash ROM 212, an interface circuit (hereinafter referred to as “I / F circuit”) 213, a card holder 214, a memory card 215, a display driver 216, and an operation unit 220 are provided.

  The lens 201 is a lens or the like, and includes an objective lens, a zoom lens, a focus lens, and the like. The zoom lens and the focus lens are driven in the optical axis direction by a driving mechanism (not shown). The image sensor 202 is configured by a CCD image sensor that forms an image of the imaging light incident from the lens 201, converts it into an electrical signal (analog signal), and outputs the electrical signal.

  The camera signal processing unit (ADC) 203 has a function of performing signal processing such as digital conversion and white balance adjustment on the electric signal received from the image sensor 202 and converting it into a digital signal. The system controller 210 is connected to the image processing unit 204, buffer memory 211, flash ROM 212, I / F circuit 213, display driver 216, sound driver 218, LED driver 228, and operation unit 220.

  The image processing unit 204 includes a preprocessing unit 205, a YC processing unit 206, an electronic zoom processing unit 207, a compression unit 208, and an expansion unit 209, and generates image data from the digital signal output from the camera signal processing unit 203. Have a function of performing various image processing.

  The preprocessing unit 205 has a function of performing white balance processing for adjusting the white balance of an image based on input image data and gamma correction processing for the image. The white balance process is a process of adjusting the color of an image so as to be close to the actual color, or adjusting the color to an appropriate color that matches a light source (such as a fluorescent lamp or sunlight). The gamma correction process is a process for adjusting the contrast of an image. Note that the preprocessing unit 205 can also perform image processing other than white balance processing and gamma correction processing.

  The YC processing unit 206 has a function of separating an image based on input image data into luminance information “Y”, luminance signal and blue color difference information “Cb”, and luminance signal and red color difference information “Cr”. Have The electronic zoom processing unit 207 has a function of trimming a part of an image (for example, the center) with a predetermined size and enlarging the trimmed image to the size of the original image by signal processing.

  For example, the electronic zoom processing unit 207 can extract a center image of 1024 × 768 dots from a captured image of 1600 × 1200 dots and enlarge the image to a size of 1600 × 1200 dots while performing data interpolation.

  The compression unit 208 has a function of compressing image data by a compression format such as a JPEG (Joint Photographic Expert Group) method. The decompression unit 209 has a function of decompressing compressed image data. For example, when compressing image data using the JPEG method, first, a discrete cosine transform process is performed (DCT process) that digitizes the ratio of high-frequency components and low-frequency components of image data. Next, a quantization process is performed for expressing the gradation or gradation of the image by a numerical value (quantization bit number). Finally, the image data is compressed by the Huffman encoding process.

  Specifically, the signal character string of the image data is segmented every certain bit, and a shorter code is given to a character string having a high appearance frequency. Note that in the case of a method of recording image data without performing compression processing, the compression unit 208 and the expansion unit 209 can be omitted. Further, the image data compression format is not limited to the JPEG format, and the same processing can be performed even in a GIF (Graphical Interchange Format) format.

  The buffer memory 211 temporarily stores image data when the image processing unit 204 performs image processing. The flash ROM 212 stores various setting information of the imaging apparatus 100 and user authentication information described later. The I / F circuit 213 converts the image data output from the system controller 210 into a data format that can be recorded in the memory card 215. The I / F circuit 213 converts image data read from the memory card 215 into a data format that can be processed by the system controller 210.

  The card holder 214 includes a mechanism that allows the memory card 215 that is a recording medium to be attached to and detached from the imaging apparatus 100, and includes an electrical contact that enables data communication with the memory card 215. In addition, the card holder 214 has a structure corresponding to the type of recording medium used in the imaging apparatus 100. The memory card 215 is a card-type recording medium that incorporates a semiconductor storage element such as a flash memory and is detachable from the card holder 214. The memory card 215 can record image data captured by the imaging apparatus 100.

  The display driver 216 converts the image data output from the system controller 210 into a signal that can be displayed on the liquid crystal display 217. Specifically, the display driver 216 performs processing for converting digital image data output from the system controller 210 into an analog image signal, and then sets the image size to a size suitable for the size of the displayable area of the liquid crystal display 217. Process to convert to.

  The sound driver 218 performs processing for converting the audio data output from the system controller 210 into a signal that can be sounded by the speaker 219. An LED (Light Emitting Diode) driver 228 controls the lamp 229 in accordance with a command output from the system controller 210.

  The operation unit 220 includes a power switch 221, a mode dial 222, a shooting button 223, a cursor key 224, a zoom button 225, and a browse (playback) button 226. The operation unit 220 receives an operation input from the user and receives a signal corresponding to the operation content. Is output to the system controller 210. Note that the operation unit 220 includes operation buttons other than the illustrated operation buttons, but a description thereof will be omitted.

  A mode dial (select button) 222 is a rotatable dial for switching the mode of the photographing operation. The user can select a plurality of shooting operation modes by operating the mode dial 222. In the embodiment of the present invention, the mode dial is described as a dial type mechanism. However, for example, a slide type button may be used instead of the dial. In other words, the mechanism of the mode dial 222 is not limited to the dial, and it is essential to have a mechanism for switching the camera mode.

  The browse button 226 is a button for switching to a browse mode (playback mode) for browsing captured image data. When the browse button 226 is pressed, the shooting mode is changed to the browsing mode. Note that the method for switching to the viewing mode is not limited to pressing the viewing button 226, and may be a transition method using a touch panel (not shown) on the liquid crystal display 217.

  In the browsing mode, the system controller 210 reads setting information and image data from the memory card 215 mounted on the card holder 214 via the I / F circuit 213. The setting information includes the number of images recorded on the currently installed memory card 215 and the capacity of the recorded image data. The read image data is, for example, image data or thumbnail data for one image. Note that the image data read from the memory card 215 is compressed in a predetermined compression format as described above.

  The image data read from the memory card 215 is input to the display driver 216 via the I / F circuit 213 and the system controller 210. The display driver 216 displays the input image data on the liquid crystal display 217.

  The cursor key 224 is a key for the user to perform a predetermined instruction or function selection for the imaging apparatus 100. The user can perform operation inputs such as various setting information and user authentication information for the imaging apparatus 100 with the cursor keys 224.

  Further, the cursor key 224 can display a menu screen or a screen for setting various setting information for the imaging apparatus 100 on the liquid crystal display 217, or can select a predetermined function of the imaging apparatus 100.

  Further, the cursor key 224 can display a preview of the image data captured by the imaging apparatus 100 on the liquid crystal display 217. The preview display is a function of causing the liquid crystal display 217 to display an image captured by the imaging apparatus 100 immediately after that.

  Note that the preview display is not limited to a configuration in which only one image taken on the liquid crystal display 217 is displayed, and a plurality of images including thumbnail images may be displayed. Further, the switching of the preview display is not limited to the pressing of the cursor key 224, but may be configured to be switched using a general method such as pressing of another button. Further, the preview display screen may be configured such that the preview display image can be deleted or edited.

  The lens control unit 227 controls zoom, focus, aperture, and the like for the lens of the lens 201. The imaging apparatus 100 also includes a shooting mode in which a subject is imaged to obtain image data, and a browsing (reproduction) mode in which image data obtained in the shooting mode is displayed.

  Note that audio can be recorded and reproduced in the same manner as the imaging apparatus 100 by using a microphone or a speaker. Further, when recording video (moving image), normal audio recording is also performed at the same time, and video and audio are multiplexed by the compression unit 208 and the expansion unit 209.

  In addition, a photographing operation in the imaging apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIG. First, the user operates the power switch 221 to turn on the imaging apparatus 100. Then, power is supplied to each circuit from a battery (not shown) built in the imaging apparatus 100, and activation processing of the imaging apparatus 100 (operation control for opening the lens barrier, reset processing of the microcomputer, etc.) is performed.

  The imaging apparatus 100 is configured to be turned on when the power switch 221 is pressed when the power is turned off, and to automatically enter the shooting mode. Further, when the viewing button is pressed when the power is turned off, the power is turned on and the viewing mode is automatically set.

  When the image capturing apparatus 100 shifts to the image capturing mode, an optical image enters the image capturing apparatus 100 through the lens 201 and forms an image on the image capturing element (CCD) 202. The CCD 202 converts the incident optical image into an electrical signal and outputs it to the camera signal processing unit (ADC) 203. The ADC 203 converts an input electric signal (analog signal) into a digital signal. A digital signal output from the ADC 203 is input to the image processing unit 204.

  A preprocessing unit 205 in the image processing unit 204 generates image data based on an input digital signal, and performs white balance processing, gamma correction processing, and the like. In the YC processing unit 206 in the image processing unit 204, the image data is separated into the luminance signal Y and the color difference signals Cr and Cb, and processing for reducing the information amount of the color difference signals Cr and Cb is performed.

  The information amount reduction processing for the color difference signals Cr and Cb is, for example, “4: 2: 2 downsampling processing” for thinning out color information in the main scanning direction of an image, or “4: 1” for thinning out color information in the vertical and horizontal directions of an image. : 1 downsampling process ". When image processing is performed by the preprocessing unit 205 and the YC processing unit 206, image data is temporarily stored in the buffer memory 211, and image processing is performed while reading the image data stored in the buffer memory 211 as needed. Is called.

  Image data (uncompressed) output from the image processing unit 204 is input to the system controller 210. The system controller 210 outputs the image data output from the image processing unit 204 to the display driver 216.

  The display driver 216 converts input image data (digital signal) into an analog image signal, and adjusts the size of the image based on the analog image signal to a size that can be displayed on the liquid crystal display 217.

  The display driver 216 controls the liquid crystal display 217 to display an image. At this time, the image displayed on the liquid crystal display 217 is an image (through image) generated by signal processing continuously performed by the CCD 202, the ADC 203, and the image processing unit 204.

  When the user operates the shooting button 223 at a desired timing while the through image is displayed on the liquid crystal display 217, the system controller 210 outputs a control signal to the image processing unit 204. When a control signal is input to the image processing unit 204, the compression unit 208 stores the image data image-processed by the preprocessing unit 205 and the YC processing unit 206 in the buffer memory 211, and performs compression processing.

  Specifically, discrete cosine transform processing (DCT processing) that digitizes the ratio of high-frequency components and low-frequency components of image data, and quantization that expresses the gradation and gradation of an image with the number of quantization bits Processing, Huffman coding processing for dividing a signal character string of image data into fixed bits and giving a shorter code to a character string having a high appearance frequency is performed. The compressed image data is displayed on the liquid crystal display 217 via the system controller 210 and the display driver 216. The compressed image data is recorded on the memory card 215 via the card holder 214.

  When the zoom button 225 is operated before the shooting button 223 is operated, the system controller 210 can execute an optical zoom process or an electronic zoom process to enlarge or reduce the size of the image. When the shooting button 223 is operated after the zoom button 225 is operated, the image data of the enlarged or reduced image is recorded in the memory card 215.

  The writing unit 230 writes the image data using the setting information input by the cursor key 224. For example, writing editing is performed on an Exif (Exchangeable Image File Format) in which a model name of the digital camera, shooting date, exposure information, shooting position, and the like are input.

  Next, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 3, the process sequence which the imaging device of this invention image | photographs is demonstrated.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of processing for performing shooting in the reduced-capacity shooting mode of the first embodiment in the imaging apparatus 100 of the present invention, and control of the system controller (210 in FIG. 1) of the imaging apparatus 100. The process is executed under Note that S301 to S311 indicate each processing step.

  The flowchart in FIG. 3 starts when the imaging device is activated by the user.

  First, in step S301, the system controller 210 of the imaging apparatus 100 accepts whether or not the user has selected the reduced number of people shooting mode of the present invention. At this time, a screen for designating the time to wait for the timing of shooting in the reduced-person shooting mode may be displayed. With reference to FIG. 5, a screen image of a screen for switching to the reduced number of people shooting mode will be described.

  FIG. 5 is an example of a screen image of the reduced-person shooting mode selection screen displayed on the display 217 at the start-up in the imaging apparatus 100 of the present invention.

  In the screen image of FIG. 5, when the user desires normal shooting, the radio button of “normal shooting mode” 501 on the touch panel 500 is pressed, and shooting in the normal shooting mode is performed by pressing the shooting button 504. . On the other hand, when the user desires the reduced number of people shooting mode, when the radio button of the “number of people reduced shooting mode” 502 on the touch panel 500 is pressed and the shooting button 504 is pressed, the number of people who take a picture whenever the number of subjects decreases. The shooting in the reduced shooting mode is started and the flow of the following flowchart is performed.

  Note that the screen image of FIG. 5 may be provided with a field 503 for inputting a time to wait for the shooting timing, and it is determined whether or not to shoot for this number of seconds and store the shot image. Returning to the flowchart of FIG.

  Next, when the user points the imaging apparatus 100 toward the subject area while checking the viewfinder, the display 217, or the like, in step S302, the system controller 210 of the imaging apparatus 100 acquires an image of the shooting range in the subject area.

  Next, when the user confirms the shooting range and presses a button for starting shooting, specifically, a shutter button or the like, in step S303, the system controller 210 of the imaging apparatus 100 starts shooting and the shooting timer (Timer that waits for timing of shooting: 503 in FIG. 5 and the like) is started.

  Next, in step S304, the system controller 210 of the imaging apparatus 100 acquires a captured image, and acquires the number of people who are captured. Regarding the acquisition of the number of people, there are a method by face detection, a method of extracting human contours, a method of detection by pattern matching, etc., but any method can be used as long as the number of people in the shooting range can be confirmed.

  Next, in step S305, the system controller 210 of the imaging apparatus 100 stores the number of people acquired in step S304 in the RAM 203 or the like, and detects a difference from the number of people information stored when this process was passed in the past. If the number of people who have passed this process is less than the number of people stored when passing this process in the past, or if the number of people is zero, the process proceeds to the next step S306, and this time If the number of people who have passed through this process is the same as or increased from the number of people stored in the past when passing this process, step S306 is skipped and the process proceeds to step S307. If the number of people stored in the past is set to a large value, the process goes through step S306 when this process is first passed.

  When the process proceeds to step S306, the system controller 210 of the imaging apparatus 100 stores the captured image in the memory card 215 or the like, and stores the number information stored in the past through this process. Change to the number of people who passed.

  Next, in step S307, the system controller 210 of the imaging apparatus 100 determines whether the time of the shooting timer (timer waiting for shooting timing: 503 in FIG. 5) received in step S301 has passed. If the time of the photographing timer has passed, the process proceeds to step S308, and if within the time of the photographing timer, the process returns to step S304. When the process proceeds to step S304, the system controller 210 of the imaging apparatus 100 again obtains a captured image and repeats the process from acquiring the number of people being photographed. With reference to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the processing screen image of the number detection and number determination of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 6 is an example of a screen image at the time of shooting displayed on the display 217 of the imaging apparatus 100 of the present invention.

  The example of the display 217 in FIG. 6 is an example in which the number of people to be photographed is determined by face detection. Three screens 602 to 604 are detected on the screen 600 on the display, and “3 people have been detected at the top of the display. I will shoot when there are fewer or no people.” The comment 601 is displayed. In this situation, if the number of photographers does not decrease from three, the photographed image is not stored, the process proceeds to step S307, and the process from step S304 is repeated until the timer expires.

  On the other hand, when the number of photographed people decreases from the situation of FIG. 6, the process proceeds to step S306, the photographed image is stored, and the stored number of people is updated. A screen image in which the number of people decreases and no one is in the shooting area will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 7 is an example of a screen image at the time of shooting displayed on the display 217 of the imaging apparatus 100 of the present invention.

  The example of the display 217 in FIG. 7 is a screen image taken in a situation where no one is in the shooting area. Since no face is detected on the screen 700 on the display, the number of stored persons is updated to zero. The In the comment column 701, “0 people. Shooting continues when the number of people does not increase.” As shown, the shooting is repeated if the number of shooting people is 0 until the shooting timer expires. If the photographed images of zero persons can be photographed, the photographing may be terminated without waiting for the photographing timer to end, and the process may proceed to the next step S308. Returning to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S307, when the time of the imaging timer has passed and the process proceeds to step S308, the system controller 210 of the imaging apparatus 100 determines whether or not a captured image has been stored by this timer imaging. If a captured image is stored, the process proceeds to step S309. If a captured image is not stored, the process proceeds to step S311.

  When the process proceeds to step S309, the system controller 210 of the imaging apparatus 100 displays a screen that allows the user to select an image to be saved from the captured images that have been captured and stored. A screen image that allows the user to select an image to be saved from the images stored in step S309 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 8 is an example of a screen image of a screen that is displayed on the display 217 of the imaging apparatus 100 of the present invention and that allows the user to select an image to be stored from a plurality of captured images stored.

  A display screen / touch panel 800 of FIG. 8 displays a plurality of photographed images 801 to 806. When an image selected by the user is touched on the touch panel among these images and the selection end button 807 is pressed, only the selected image is selected as a saved image, and the next step S310 is performed. Move on to processing. In the example of FIG. 8, only the captured image 802 painted with the lower left oblique line is selected.

  When the image confirmation button 808 is pressed in a state where 802 as shown in FIG. 8 is selected, the screen image shown in FIG. 9 is displayed.

  FIG. 9 is an example of a screen image of a screen for confirming the selected image displayed on the display 217 of the imaging apparatus 100 of the present invention.

  When the image confirmation button 808 in FIG. 8 is pressed, the selected image (802 in the case of FIG. 8) is displayed on the display 900 in FIG. 9, and a confirmation screen asking whether to save this image is displayed. To do. When the save button 901 on the touch panel 900 is pressed, the image is selected as a saved image, and the screen returns to the screen of FIG. When the cancel button 902 is pressed, the screen in FIG. 9 is terminated and the processing returns to FIG. 8, but the selection of the selected image (802 in FIG. 8) is canceled. Returning to the description of the screen image of FIG.

  In FIG. 8, when the select all button 809 is pressed, the screen image transitions to the screen image of FIG.

  FIG. 10 is a screen image of a screen on which all images are displayed, which are displayed on the display 217 of the imaging apparatus 100 of the present invention.

  In FIG. 10, all the captured images displayed on the screen (a group of captured images 1001 in 1000) are in a selected state (painted with a lower left oblique line), and therefore when the save button 1002 is pressed on the 1000 touch panel, All the images are selected as saved images, and the process proceeds to the next step S310. On the other hand, when the cancel button 1003 is pressed, the screen returns to the screen of FIG. 8 in which nothing is selected. Returning to the description of the screen image of FIG.

  When the cancel button 810 in FIG. 8 is pressed, it means that there is no image that the user likes in the captured image, and the stored images 801 to 806 are erased, and the processing of the present invention is performed. Finish. If the cancel button is pressed, the process may return to step S302 or step S303 and redo the shooting. Returning to the flowchart of FIG.

  When a saved image is selected in step S309, next, in step S310, the system controller 210 of the imaging apparatus 100 saves the selected saved image in the memory card 215 or the like, and deletes the unselected photographed image. Perform the process. Thereafter, a series of processes of the present invention is finished.

  On the other hand, if there is no captured image in step S308, that is, if the number of people in the shooting area has not decreased during the shooting timer in step S305, the process proceeds to step S311. In step S311, the imaging apparatus The system controller 210 of 100 displays a message indicating that the image could not be taken and ends a series of processing. A screen image in which a message indicating that photographing could not be performed in step S311 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 11 is an example of a screen image of a screen displayed on the display 217 of the imaging apparatus 100 according to the present invention on which a message indicating that photographing has not been possible is displayed.

  A message 1101 indicating that the image could not be taken is displayed on the display screen / touch panel 1100 of FIG. When the OK button 1102 is pressed, a series of processing is finished. Note that the configuration may be such that the process returns to step S302 or step S303 and the imaging is performed again.

Through the above processing, the imaging apparatus of the present invention can capture and store a photograph in which a person photographed within a certain time is as small as possible.
<Second Embodiment>

  In the first embodiment, the shooting data is not stored unless the number of people in the shooting area falls below a certain number, but in the second embodiment, by photographing and storing one image in advance, At least one image has an image to be stored, and imaging is repeated when the number of people in the one imaging area is smaller. With reference to the flowchart of FIG. 3, the process sequence which the imaging device of this invention image | photographs is demonstrated.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of processing for performing shooting in the reduced number of people shooting mode of the second embodiment in the imaging apparatus 100 of the present invention, and control of the system controller (210 in FIG. 1) of the imaging apparatus 100. The process is executed under S302 to S402 indicate processing steps. In addition, the step which performs the same process as FIG. 3 gives the same step number, and abbreviate | omits description.

  The flowchart in FIG. 4 starts when the imaging device is activated by the user, and performs the same processing as that in FIG. 3 up to step S302.

  In step S302, when the image of the shooting range in the subject area is acquired, the system controller 210 of the imaging apparatus 100 stores the shot image acquired in step S302 in the memory card 215 or the like in step S401.

  Next, in step S402, the number of people photographed in the photographed image obtained in step S302 is obtained. The acquired number of persons is set as an initial value for determining the number of persons in the following step S305. Thereafter, in step S303, the number of people shooting timer is started, and the processing from step S304 to step S307 is repeated until the number of people shooting timer ends.

  Next, in the process of the flowchart of FIG. 4, since at least one captured image is stored in step S401, the process of step S308 of FIG. 3 is skipped and the process proceeds to step S309.

  The processes after step S309 are the same as those in the flowchart of FIG. 3, and the screen of FIG. 8 is displayed and the captured image is saved.

  Through the above processing, at least one photographed image with as few people as possible can be stored.

  In the above-described two embodiments, an example has been described in which the user desires an image in which a person does not enter the photographed image, but conversely, a configuration may be adopted in which photographing is performed whenever the number of people increases. In this case, when the number of people to be photographed during the photographing timer increases, a photographed image with the increased number of people is stored, and the increased number of people is used as the stored number of people. When this process is repeated for the photographing timer and the timer is finished, the processes after step S308 in FIG. 3 are executed and the photographed image is saved. With this configuration, the present invention is useful when the user wants to take a photograph with as many people as possible.

  Further, in FIG. 5, by providing an unillustrated number of people input field, when the number of people photographed in the photographed image is larger than the number of people in the number of people entry field and the number of photographed people decreases, the photographed image is stored. May be. With this configuration, for example, if you really want to shoot with 3 people but there are many people and there are few moments when only 3 people, etc., at least 3 people are taken by taking a picture whenever the number of people decreases, In addition, there is an effect that surrounding people can take pictures at a reduced timing.

  With the above processing, it is possible to take a photograph as close as possible to the number of photographers desired by the user within a certain time by repeatedly storing the photographed image when the number of subjects within the photographing range changes within a certain time. Has the effect of enabling.

  Although the case where the present invention is applied to an imaging apparatus has been described in the above-described embodiment, the present invention can also be implemented in a mobile terminal as long as the apparatus has an imaging unit.

  Although not specifically illustrated, information for managing a program group stored in the recording medium, for example, version information, creator, etc. is also stored, and information depending on the OS on the program reading side, for example, a program is identified. An icon to be displayed may also be stored.

  Further, data belonging to various programs is also managed in the same directory. In addition, when a program or data to be installed is compressed, a program to be decompressed may be stored.

  The functions shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 in the present embodiment may be performed by an information processing apparatus having an imaging function by a program installed from the outside. In this case, the present invention is applied even when an information group including a program is supplied to the output device from a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a flash memory, or an FD, or from an external recording medium via a network. Is.

  As described above, a recording medium that records a program code of software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus records the recording medium. It goes without saying that the object of the present invention can also be achieved by reading and executing the program code stored in the medium.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the recording medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the recording medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

  Examples of the recording medium for supplying the program code include a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a DVD-ROM, a magnetic tape, and a non-volatile memory card. ROM, EEPROM, silicon disk, etc. can be used.

  Further, by executing the program code read out by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also the computer is operated on the basis of the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the OS (operating system) or the like performs part or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

  Furthermore, after the program code read from the recording medium is written to the memory provided in the function expansion board inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the program code is read out. -A case where the CPU of the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing based on the instruction of the function and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing. Needless to say.

  Further, the present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or apparatus. In this case, by reading a recording medium storing a program represented by software for achieving the present invention into the system or apparatus, the system or apparatus can enjoy the effects of the present invention.

  Furthermore, by downloading and reading a program represented by software for achieving the present invention from a server, database, etc. on a network using a communication program, the system or apparatus can enjoy the effects of the present invention. Is possible.

  In addition, all the structures which combined each embodiment mentioned above and its modification are also included in this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Image pick-up apparatus 101 Image pick-up part 102 Image analysis part 103 Number-of-photographing person specification part 104 Number-of-photographing person change judgment part 105 Image storage part 106 Timer setting time reception part

Claims (6)

An imaging apparatus having imaging means for repeatedly photographing a subject input via an imaging optical system,
A person number specifying means for specifying the number of subjects included in the shooting range to be shot by analyzing a captured image obtained by being shot by the imaging means;
A number change judging means for judging whether or not the number of persons specified by the number of person specifying means has changed, and a memory for storing captured images taken by the imaging means when the number of people change judging means judges that the number of people has changed. And an imaging device.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the number change determination unit determines that the number of people has changed when the number of people specified by the number of people specification unit decreases.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imaging unit repeats imaging while a timer is set.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a timer setting time receiving unit that receives an input of a timer time set in the imaging unit. An imaging control method in an imaging apparatus having imaging means for repeatedly photographing a subject input via an imaging optical system,
Analyzing the captured image obtained by being photographed by the imaging means to identify the number of subjects included in the photographing range to be photographed;
A number change determination step for determining whether the number of persons specified by the number of persons specifying means has changed;
A captured image registration step of registering a captured image captured by the imaging unit in a storage unit when it is determined by the number-of-people change determining unit that the number of people has changed;
An imaging control method comprising:   A program for executing the imaging control method according to claim 6.

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