JP2021051259A - Image capturing device and control method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

To allow for changing settings of an image capturing device during shooting while suppressing the effect thereof on framing.SOLUTION: An image capturing device is provided, comprising voice recognition means for recognizing voice instructions, control means configured to change settings of the image capturing device according to voice instructions recognized by the voice recognition means, and image capturing means configured to shoot at a given time interval according to the settings of the image capturing device changed by the control means.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus and a control method for the image pickup apparatus.

Patent Document 1 discloses an information terminal device having a communication unit that communicates with an image pickup device that captures an image of a subject at predetermined time intervals to obtain an captured image. The signal processing unit generates a simulation image by image processing on the captured image transmitted from the image pickup apparatus via the communication unit. The control unit transmits image processing parameters for reflecting the generation result of the simulation image by the signal processing unit to the captured image to the imaging device via the communication unit.

JP-A-2017-118427

However, in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to prepare an information terminal device in addition to the image pickup device. Further, when the subject is imaged at a predetermined time interval, it is common to fix the framing or change the framing with a predetermined behavior. Therefore, there is a problem that it is not preferable to perform a connection operation between the information terminal device and the image pickup device during shooting because it may adversely affect framing.

An object of the present invention is to suppress the influence on framing at the time of photographing and to be able to change the setting of the image pickup apparatus.

The image pickup apparatus of the present invention is an image pickup apparatus, and includes a voice recognition means for recognizing a voice command, a control means for changing the setting of the image pickup device based on the voice command recognized by the voice recognition means, and the control. It has an imaging unit that performs imaging at predetermined time intervals based on the setting of the imaging device changed by the means.

According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress the influence on framing during shooting and change the setting of the imaging device.

It is a figure which shows the configuration example of the image pickup apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the control method at the time of interval shooting. It is a flowchart which shows the control method at the time of interval shooting.

(First Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the image pickup apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment. The imaging device 100 includes a control unit 101, an imaging unit 102, a display unit 103, a voice input unit 104, and a voice recognition unit 105.

The control unit 101 controls the operation of the image pickup apparatus 100. When a shutter button (not shown) is pressed, the imaging unit 102 generates an image signal by photographing the subject. The control unit 101 performs image processing on the image signal generated by the image pickup unit 102, and displays the image processed image signal on the display unit 103.

The control unit 101 controls such as metering and autofocus as necessary. In addition, the control unit 101 controls the imaging unit 102 for interval shooting that automatically performs imaging at predetermined time intervals. The control unit 101 can set the shooting interval and interval shooting end conditions such as the number of shots in advance for the imaging unit 102. The shooting end condition may be a time or the like as long as the timing of the shooting end can be determined. Further, the control unit 101 stores various settings of the image pickup apparatus 100.

The image pickup unit 102 converts the image signal of the light receiving amount distribution in the image pickup surface from analog to digital and outputs it. The display unit 103 displays an image signal image-processed by the control unit 101. The captured image can be saved in a recording medium (not shown).

The voice input unit 104 is a microphone, inputs the voice around the image pickup device 100, and outputs the voice signal to the voice recognition unit 105. The voice recognition unit 105 has a library, a communication function, and a calculation function capable of executing various voice recognition algorithms. The voice recognition unit 105 recognizes a voice command intended by the user from the voice signals input from the voice input unit 104 by using a voice recognition algorithm using them, and transmits the recognition result to the control unit 101. Output.

The voice recognition unit 105 may not accept any other command unless it recognizes the voice of a specific keyword. The voice recognition unit 105 recognizes a voice command after recognizing the voice of a specific keyword. By doing so, the voice recognition unit 105 can prevent the voice recognition unit 105 from being recognized as a voice command even though the voice input is not intended as a voice command.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a control method of the image pickup apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment. In step S200, the control unit 101 starts interval shooting. The imaging unit 102 repeats imaging at preset imaging intervals until the imaging end condition is satisfied. The details will be described below.

In step S201, the voice recognition unit 105 starts recognizing the voice around the image pickup device 100 input from the voice input unit 104. The voice recognition unit 105 automatically starts voice recognition with the start of interval shooting, so that the voice recognition unit 105 can operate by voice without affecting the framing of the image pickup apparatus 100.

In step S202, the voice recognition unit 105 waits for the voice input unit 104 to input the voice. The voice recognition unit 105 determines whether or not the voice command is recognized as a result of the voice recognition process of the voice input from the voice input unit 104. If it is determined that the voice recognition unit 105 has recognized the voice command, the process proceeds to step S211. If it is determined that the voice recognition unit 105 does not recognize the voice command, the process proceeds to step S203.

In step S203, the control unit 101 determines whether or not the shooting interval of a predetermined time interval set in advance has elapsed. If the control unit 101 determines that the shooting interval has not elapsed, the process returns to step S202. If the control unit 101 determines that the shooting interval has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S204.

In step S204, the imaging unit 102 takes a picture based on various settings stored in the control unit 101 and generates an image signal. At this time, the control unit 101 saves the image signal generated by the imaging unit 102 in a recording medium (not shown).

In step S205, the control unit 101 determines whether or not the preset interval shooting end condition is satisfied. The interval shooting end condition is, for example, the number of shots taken in the interval shooting. If the control unit 101 determines that the interval shooting end condition is not satisfied, the process returns to step S202. If the control unit 101 determines that the interval shooting end condition is satisfied, the process proceeds to step S206.

In step S206, the voice recognition unit 105 ends voice recognition. After that, the image pickup apparatus 100 ends the interval shooting.

In step S211 when the voice recognition unit 105 recognizes the voice command in step S202, the control unit 101 changes the setting of the imaging device 100 based on the voice command recognized by the voice recognition unit 105. After that, the process returns to step S202.

After that, in step S204, the imaging unit 102 takes an image based on the setting of the imaging device 100 changed in step S211 and generates an image signal. That is, the image pickup unit 102 shoots at a predetermined time interval (shooting interval) based on the setting of the image pickup device 100 changed in step S211. The setting to be changed may be the number of shots taken for interval shooting, the shooting end condition, or the like.

When the photographer changes the setting of the imaging device 100 during the interval shooting period, if the photographer directly touches the photographing device as usual, the framing is inevitably affected. However, in the present embodiment, the photographer changes the setting of the image pickup apparatus 100 by voice, so that the framing is not affected.

According to the present embodiment, the image pickup apparatus 100 can automatically start accepting commands by voice in interval shooting and change various settings without affecting framing.

(Second embodiment)
The image pickup device 100 of the second embodiment has the same configuration as the image pickup device 100 of the first embodiment, and further has a function of performing test shooting based on the recognized voice command. The control unit 101 of the second embodiment can set in advance whether or not to perform test shooting during the interval shooting with respect to the control unit 101 of the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment will be described.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a control method of the image pickup apparatus 100 according to the second embodiment. FIG. 3 shows that steps S202 and S211 are deleted and steps S302, S311 to S313, S321 to S322, and S331 to S332 are added to FIG. Hereinafter, the difference between FIG. 3 and FIG. 2 will be described.

Steps S200 and S201 are the same processes as in FIG. Next, in step S302, the voice recognition unit 105 waits for the voice input unit 104 to input a voice command. The voice recognition unit 105 determines whether or not the voice recognition unit 105 recognizes the voice command or the control unit 101 stores the voice command as a result of the voice recognition process of the voice input from the voice input unit 104. .. When the voice recognition unit 105 determines that the voice recognition unit 105 recognizes the voice command or the control unit 101 stores the voice command, the process proceeds to step S311. When the voice recognition unit 105 determines that the voice recognition unit 105 does not recognize the voice command and the control unit 101 does not store the voice command, the process proceeds to step S203.

Steps S203 to S206 are the same processes as in FIG. In step S203, if the control unit 101 determines that the shooting interval has not elapsed, the process returns to step S302. In step S205, if the control unit 101 determines that the interval shooting end condition is not satisfied, the process returns to step S302.

In step S311, when the voice recognition unit 105 recognizes the voice command in step S302, the control unit 101 stores the command recognized by the voice recognition unit 105. If the control unit 101 has already stored the command, the control unit 101 holds the memory of the command. After that, the process proceeds to step S312.

In step S312, the control unit 101 determines whether or not the test shooting setting is effectively set in the control unit 101. If the control unit 101 determines that the test shooting setting is valid, the process proceeds to step S313. If the control unit 101 determines that the test shooting setting is invalid, the process proceeds to step S331.

If the command stored in the control unit 101 is a command that does not affect the shooting result, such as an interval shooting end condition, the process is performed even if the test shooting setting is enabled. You may proceed to S331.

In step S313, when the process proceeds to step S313, the control unit 101 determines whether or not the remaining time until the next shooting is equal to or longer than a predetermined time. When the control unit 101 determines that the remaining time is equal to or longer than the predetermined time, the process proceeds to step S321. If the control unit 101 determines that the remaining time is not equal to or longer than the predetermined time, the process proceeds to step S204, and the imaging unit 102 takes a picture. At this time, the control unit 101 cannot change the setting based on the command recognized by the voice recognition unit 105, but since the control unit 101 stores the command in step S311, it is not necessary to input the same command again. ..

In step S321, the control unit 101 temporarily changes the setting of the image pickup apparatus 100 based on the command stored in the control unit 101. The imaging unit 102 performs a test shooting and generates an image signal according to the temporarily changed setting of the imaging device 100. The control unit 101 previews the image signal generated by the image pickup unit 102 on the display unit 103. The display unit 103 previews and displays an image based on the test shooting. By displaying the preview on the display unit 103, the user can confirm that the settings are as intended. At this time, since the generated image signal is not an image signal obtained by interval shooting, it is not stored in the recording medium.

In step S322, the control unit 101 determines whether or not to reflect the setting of the image pickup apparatus 100 based on the command stored in the control unit 101 according to the instruction of the user. If the control unit 101 determines that the setting is reflected, the process proceeds to step S331. If the control unit 101 determines that the setting is not reflected, the process proceeds to step S332.

In step S331, when the voice recognition unit 105 recognizes a voice command in step S302, the control unit 101 changes the setting of the imaging device 100 based on the voice command recognized by the voice recognition unit 105. After that, the process proceeds to step S332.

After that, in step S204, the imaging unit 102 takes a picture based on the setting changed in step S331. The setting to be changed may be the number of shots taken for interval shooting, the shooting end condition, or the like.

In step S332, the control unit 101 erases the instruction stored in the control unit 101. After that, the process returns to step S302.

As described above, the image pickup apparatus 100 can automatically start accepting commands by voice in the interval shooting and change various settings without affecting the framing.

Further, the image pickup apparatus 100 performs a test shooting with settings based on the voice command recognized by the voice recognition unit 105. As a result, the photographer can determine whether or not to reflect the setting after confirming whether or not the intended shooting result can be obtained by the input voice command. Therefore, the image pickup apparatus 100 can prevent the image pickup device 100 from taking a picture with an unexpected setting in the interval shooting.

Further, the image pickup apparatus 100 changes the setting based on the voice command and performs test shooting only when the remaining time until the next shooting is longer than a predetermined time in the interval shooting, but the test shooting is not limited to this. For example, even if the remaining time until the next shooting is less than a predetermined time, the imaging device 100 may have a mode of changing to a setting based on a voice command, performing a test shooting, and displaying the test shooting result. Good. When the remaining time until the next shooting is less than a predetermined time, the imaging device 100 may perform test shooting and display to delay the start timing of the next shooting.

As described above, the image pickup apparatus 100 can automatically start accepting commands by voice in the interval shooting and change the setting of the image pickup apparatus 100 without affecting the framing.

The image pickup device 100 is applicable to smartphones, tablets, industrial cameras, medical cameras, in-vehicle cameras, and the like, in addition to digital cameras and video cameras.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention supplies a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiment to a system or device via a network or storage medium, and one or more processors in the computer of the system or device reads and executes the program. It can also be realized by the processing to be performed. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

It should be noted that all of the above embodiments merely show examples of embodiment in carrying out the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention should not be construed in a limited manner by these. That is, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the technical idea or its main features.

100 Imaging device, 101 Control unit, 102 Imaging unit, 103 Display unit, 104 Voice recognition unit, 105 Voice input unit

Claims (5)

It is an image pickup device
A voice recognition means that recognizes voice commands and
A control means for changing the setting of the image pickup apparatus based on the voice command recognized by the voice recognition means, and
An image pickup apparatus comprising: an imaging means for taking a picture at a predetermined time interval based on the setting of the image pickup apparatus changed by the control means. When the voice recognition means recognizes a voice command, the image pickup means performs a test shooting based on the setting of the image pickup device temporarily changed based on the voice command recognized by the voice recognition means.
The imaging device has a display means for displaying an image based on the test shooting.
The control means is characterized in that, after displaying an image based on the test shooting, the setting of the image pickup apparatus is changed based on a voice command recognized by the voice recognition means according to a user's instruction. The imaging apparatus according to. When the voice recognition means recognizes a voice command, the imaging means is temporarily changed based on the voice command recognized by the voice recognition means when the remaining time until the next shooting is a predetermined time or more. The imaging device according to claim 2, wherein a test shooting is performed based on the setting of the imaging device. The imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the voice recognition means recognizes a voice command after recognizing a voice of a specific keyword. It is a control method of the image pickup device.
A voice recognition step that recognizes voice commands and
A control step for changing the setting of the imaging device based on the voice command recognized in the voice recognition step, and
A control method for an imaging device, which comprises an imaging step in which imaging is performed at predetermined time intervals based on the settings of the imaging device changed in the control step.

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