JP5267645B2 - Imaging apparatus, imaging control method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging apparatus, an automatic imaging method and a program by which a user freely defines/controls an operation such as performing imaging or on the contrary, not performing imaging only in the case of coincidence with a specific condition when automatic photography is performed by recognizing a face. <P>SOLUTION: When contrast of a person recognized as an imaging object is selected as a control condition, propriety of imaging is judged by strength of the contrast of the person recognized as the imaging object in imaging. First, when the face of the person in a frame is recognized by operations to a step S13, a control part detects the contrast of the face (step S14-1) and when a detected contrast value exceeds a fixed value (predetermined value), the imaging proceeds to a step S15 to perform the automatic imaging. In addition, when the contrast value is below the fixed value, the imaging proceeds to a step S16 to terminate the imaging (step S14-2). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2012,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a photography control technique for controlling photography recording of a recognized individual.

  Conventionally, there is a technique for automatically picking up an image by recognizing an individual. For example, the following Patent Document 1 discloses a means for displaying an entire area image of an effective pixel area on a finder, a means for designating a desired part of the entire area image displayed on the finder as a lock image, Means for searching for an area of an image whose characteristics match the lock image in the lock image memory from the effective pixel area to be processed; and storing the specified lock image in the lock image memory; Storage control means for updating the lock image of the lock image memory with the image of the image, and defining the recording area so that the found feature matching area occupies a predetermined area ratio in a predetermined part of the recording area, and the effective pixel area And when the lock image in the lock image memory is an unupdated lock image, the image in the cut recording area is set as the first saved image. Te is recorded in a predetermined storage image memory, if a lock image the updated image recording apparatus having a means for recording is disclosed as saving the image following the stored image recorded immediately before.

JP 2005-269121 A

  However, since the conventional automatic imaging method automatically captures and records when an individual is recognized, (1) automatically even if the contrast of a person recognized as an imaging target is poor (that is, blurred) (2) Since an image is automatically recorded when an individual is recognized as an object to be imaged, the composition is not necessarily what the user intended, such as face up / bust up / whole body image. (3) Since the same individual is recognized many times, the frequency of automatic imaging increases, and the same person is captured and recorded redundantly. (4) Many images Even when shooting and recording is desired, there are cases in which a number of images with the same angle or close-up can be taken, resulting in useless shooting and recording. In addition to the still image capturing, there are problems as described in the above (1) to (4) when performing automatic imaging in the case of moving image capturing.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problem, and when performing automatic imaging while recognizing a face, an operation is performed only when a specific condition is met or not. It is an object of the present invention to provide an imaging apparatus, a photographing control method, and a program that allow a user to freely define / control the above.

In order to solve the above-described problem, in the invention described in claim 1, an imaging unit that captures an image of a subject in a shooting frame and obtains an image; and an individual from a person's face in the shooting frame acquired by the imaging unit. A recognizing unit for recognizing, a recording control unit for controlling recording and storing of an image corresponding to the photographing frame according to an elapsed time from a previous photographing to a current photographing regarding the individual recognized by the recognizing unit, and a previous photographing Interval time setting means for setting the interval time from when the re-photographing becomes possible to a different value for each individual recognized by the recognition means, and the recording control means is recognized by the recognition means The elapsed time from the last shooting for the individual to the current shooting is the interface set by the interval time setting means corresponding to the individual. To provide an imaging apparatus characterized by limiting the Archives of the image corresponding to the captured frame when less than the interval time.

Further, in the invention according to claim 2, further, when a plurality of persons are recognized by the recognizing means, the recording control means performs a process from the previous photographing to the current photographing of all the recognized persons. When the elapsed time is less than the interval time set by the interval time setting unit corresponding to each person, recording and saving of the image corresponding to the shooting frame is limited.

The invention according to claim 3 further includes means for displaying the photographing frequency of the individual recognized by the recognition means.

In the invention according to claim 4, an imaging step of capturing an image of a subject in a shooting frame to obtain an image, a recognition step of recognizing an individual from a person's face in the shooting frame acquired by the imaging step, A recording control step for controlling the recording and storage of the image corresponding to the shooting frame according to the elapsed time from the previous shooting to the current shooting for the individual recognized by the recognition step, and re-shooting from the previous shooting is possible. An interval time setting step for setting a different interval time for each individual recognized by the recognition step, and the recording control step is a previous shooting related to the individual recognized by the recognition step. The elapsed time from the current imaging to the current imaging is less than the interval time set by the interval time setting process corresponding to the individual It provides automatic imaging method characterized by limiting the Archives of the image corresponding to the captured frame to focus.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a computer of an imaging apparatus including an imaging unit that captures an image of a subject in a shooting frame and obtains an image is used to identify an individual from a person's face in the shooting frame acquired by the imaging unit. A recognizing unit for recognizing, a recording control unit for controlling recording and storing of an image corresponding to the photographing frame according to an elapsed time from a previous photographing to a current photographing regarding the individual recognized by the recognizing unit, and a previous photographing The recording control means is recognized by the recognition means. The interval control means functions as an interval time setting means for setting an interval time from when the re-photographing becomes possible to a different value for each individual recognized by the recognition means. The elapsed time from the previous shooting to the current shooting for the individual who has been made is determined by the interval time setting means corresponding to the individual. Providing a program and limits the image recording saving corresponding to the captured frame when less than the constant has been interval time.

  According to the present invention, when performing automatic imaging while recognizing a face, it is possible to control whether or not to perform imaging only when a predetermined condition is met, or vice versa.

1 is a diagram illustrating an external appearance of a digital camera as an embodiment of an imaging apparatus according to the present invention. It is a figure which shows one Example of the electronic circuit structure of the digital camera shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows one Example of the structure of a database. It is a figure which shows one Example of the structure of a face recognition table. It is a flowchart which shows the example of control operation by the control part at the time of the automatic imaging based on this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the person recognized as an imaging target within a flame | frame. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a detailed operation example of determination processing according to the first embodiment. It is a figure which shows one Example of a composition pattern. It is a figure which shows the example of the to-be-photographed object image in the flame | frame similar to a composition pattern. It is a figure which shows one Example of the structure of the face recognition table concerning Embodiment 2. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a detailed operation example of determination processing according to the second embodiment. It is a figure which shows one Example of a face angle pattern. It is a figure which shows one Example of the structure of the face recognition table concerning the modification 1 of Embodiment 2. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a detailed operation example of determination processing according to Modification 1 of Embodiment 2. It is a figure which shows one Example of the pattern selection screen concerning the modification 2 of Embodiment 2. FIG. It is a figure which shows one Example of the structure of the face recognition table concerning Embodiment 3. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a detailed operation example of determination processing according to the third embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example by which the some imaging subject person was recognized in the flame | frame. It is a figure which shows one Example of the structure of the face recognition table concerning the modification of Embodiment 3. FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a detailed operation example of determination processing according to a modification of the third embodiment. It is a figure which shows one Example of the structure of the past imaging information data stored in the database linked | related with the face recognition record.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an appearance of a digital camera as an embodiment of an imaging apparatus according to the present invention. Here, the appearance of mainly a front surface (FIG. 1A) and a rear surface (FIG. 1B) is shown. . As shown in FIG. 1A, the digital camera 100 includes a strobe light emitting unit 1 and an imaging lens (lens group) 2 on the front side. Further, as shown in FIG. 1B, the back of the digital camera 100 has a mode dial 3, a liquid crystal monitor screen 4, a cursor key 5, a SET key 6, a zoom button 7 (W button 7-1, T button 7- 2) etc. are provided. A shutter key 8, a power button 9, and a menu key 10 are provided on the upper surface. Although not shown in the figure, a USB terminal connection portion used when connecting to an external device such as a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a personal computer) or a modem and a USB cable is provided on the side portion.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the electronic circuit configuration of the digital camera shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, the digital camera 100 is in focus by moving the zoom lens 12-1 and moving the zoom lens 12-1 and performing the optical zoom operation in the imaging mode which is the basic mode. An AF driving unit 11-2 that performs the operation, a lens optical system 12 that constitutes the imaging lens 2 including the zoom lens 12-1 and the focus lens 12-2, a CCD 13 that is an imaging device, a timing generator (TG) 14, and a vertical Driver 15, sample hold circuit (S / H) 16, A / D converter 17, color process circuit 18, DMA (Direct Memory Access) controller 19, DRAM interface (I / F) 20, DRAM 21, control unit 22, VRAM Controller 23, VRAM 24, digital video encoder 25, display unit 26, JPEG times 27, storage memory 28, the face detection unit 29-1, the face recognition unit 29-2, and a database 29-3, a time output unit 29-4 and the key input unit 30.

In the monitoring state in the imaging mode, when there is an optical zoom instruction, the zoom drive unit 11-1 drives a zoom lens drive motor (not shown) based on a control signal from the control unit 22 to light the zoom lens 12-1. By moving back and forth along the axis, the magnification itself of the image formed on the CCD 13 is changed.
The AF drive unit 11-2 drives a focus lens drive motor (not shown) to move the focus lens 12-2.
Then, a CCD 13 which is an image pickup element disposed behind the image pickup optical axis of the optical system 12 constituting the image pickup lens 2 is scanned and driven by a timing generator (TG) 14 and a vertical driver 15 to form an image at regular intervals. A photoelectric conversion output corresponding to the optical image is output for one frame.

  The CCD 13 is a solid-state imaging device that captures a two-dimensional image of a subject, and typically captures an image of several tens of frames per second. The imaging element is not limited to a CCD, and may be a solid-state imaging device such as a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor). The photoelectric conversion output is appropriately gain-adjusted for each primary color component of RGB in the state of an analog value signal, sampled and held by a sample hold circuit (S / H) 16, and digital data by an A / D converter 17. Color process processing including image interpolation processing and γ correction processing is performed in the color processing circuit 18 to generate a luminance signal Y and color difference signals Cb and Cr, and the DMA (Direct Memory Access). ) Is output to the controller 19.

  The DMA controller 19 uses the luminance signal Y and the color difference signals Cb and Cr output from the color process circuit 18 by using the composite synchronization signal, the memory write enable signal, and the clock signal from the color process circuit 18 as well as a DRAM interface. DMA transfer is performed via the (I / F) 20 to the DRAM 21 used as a buffer memory.

  The control unit 22 is responsible for the overall control operation of the digital camera 100, and is an operation program executed by the CPU or MPU (hereinafter referred to as CPU) and a CPU for face recognition automatic imaging as described later. Are stored in a program storage memory such as a flash memory, and a RAM used as a work memory. After the DMA transfer of the luminance and color difference signals to the DRAM 21, the luminance and color difference signals are transmitted via the DRAM interface 20. The data is read from the DRAM 21 and written to the VRAM 24 via the VRAM controller 23.

  The control unit 22 also extracts a processing program and menu data corresponding to each mode stored in a program storage memory such as a flash memory in response to the status signal from the key input unit 30, and Execution control of each function, for example, automatic imaging operation by face recognition based on the present invention, operation control of the zoom lens at the time of optical zoom, electronic zoom, through display, automatic focusing, imaging, recording, and recorded image Execution control such as playback / display, display control of a function selection menu when a function is selected, display control of a setting screen, and the like.

  The digital video encoder 25 periodically reads the luminance and color difference signals from the VRAM 24 via the VRAM controller 23, generates a video signal based on these data, and outputs the video signal to the display unit 26.

  As described above, the display unit 26 functions as a monitor display unit (electronic finder) in the imaging mode, and performs display based on the video signal from the digital video encoder 25. An image based on the stored image information is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor screen 4 in real time.

  In response to the focus instruction, the controller 22 immediately stops the path from the CCD 13 to the DRAM 21 after the completion of the DMA transfer of the luminance and color difference signals for one frame that are being fetched from the CCD 13 to the DRAM 21 at that time. Transition to saved state.

  In this stored recording state, the control unit 22 transmits the luminance and color difference signals for one frame written in the DRAM 21 through the DRAM interface 20 to each of Y, Cb, and Cr components of 8 pixels × 8 pixels horizontally. Are read in units called basic blocks and written into a JPEG (Joint Photograph Cording Experts Group) circuit 27. The JPEG circuit 27 uses ADCT (Adaptive Discrete Cosine Transform), a Huffman code which is an entropy coding system. Data compression is performed by processing such as conversion. The obtained code data is read out from the JPEG circuit 27 as a data file of one image, and is recorded and stored in the storage memory 28. In addition, the controller 22 activates the path from the CCD 13 to the DRAM 21 again with the completion of the compression processing of the luminance and color difference signals for one frame and the writing of all the compressed data to the storage memory 28.

  Further, in the playback mode which is the basic mode, the control unit 22 selectively reads out the image data recorded in the storage memory 28, and is compressed by a procedure completely opposite to the procedure of data compression in the image capturing mode by the JPEG circuit 27. The expanded image data is decompressed, the decompressed image data is expanded and stored in the VRAM 24 via the VRAM controller 23, and then periodically read out from the VRAM 24 to generate a video signal based on the image data. The display unit 26 reproduces and outputs.

  The JPEG circuit 27 supports a plurality of compression ratios, and a mode for storing data corresponding to the compression ratio includes a mode corresponding to a high resolution (generally called high definition, fine, normal, etc.) with a low compression ratio. There is a low-resolution (commonly called economy) mode with a high compression rate. It also supports high to low pixel counts. For example, there are recording pixel sizes called SXGA (1600 × 1200), XGA (1024 × 786), SVGA (800 × 600), VGA (640 × 480), QVGA (320 × 240) and the like.

  The storage memory 28 includes a recording medium such as a built-in memory (flash memory), a hard disk, or a removable memory card, and stores and records image data, imaging information, and the like.

  The face detection unit 29-1 detects a face (face area) from an image for one frame, and extracts face feature data (see FIG. 4B). When there are a plurality of faces, that is, when a plurality of faces are captured in the frame, the faces of a plurality of persons are detected, and feature data of each face is extracted. A known method can be appropriately used as the face detection method. A dedicated circuit may be provided for the face detection process, or the control unit 22 may execute a face detection program.

  The face recognition unit 29-2 determines the similarity by comparing the face feature data extracted by the face detection unit 29-1 with the feature data stored in the face recognition record of the face recognition table of the database 29-3. Recognize which individual face the detected face is (i.e., recognize an individual in the frame). For the determination of the similarity, for example, a distance (root mean square) is obtained from the difference between the detected facial feature data and the registered human facial feature data, and the similarity is high when the distance is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold ( Alternatively, it can be determined that they match. As a face recognition method, a known method such as the technique disclosed in the above-described patent document (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-269121) can be appropriately used. A dedicated circuit may be provided for the face recognition process, or the control unit 22 may execute a face recognition program.

  The database 29-3 stores a face recognition table in which a plurality of face recognition records including personal face recognition data and image quality parameters are stored, and collation image data, and is referred to by the face recognition unit 29-2 ( For example, see FIG. 3 and FIG. The database 29-3 can also be updated such as new registration, adjustment, or deletion by a user key input operation.

  The time output unit 29-4 outputs the current date (current date, time, and date. The current date and time can be obtained by a known method.

  The key input unit 30 includes the mode dial 3, the cursor key 5, the SET key 6, the zoom button 7 (W button 7-1, T button 7-2), the shutter key 8, the power button 9, and those keys. The key processing unit (not shown) that generates an operation signal of the operated key and sends it to the control unit 22 is operated.

  The mode dial 3 is used to select an imaging mode and a playback mode. The user can operate the mode dial 3 to select an imaging mode such as (still image) normal imaging mode, macro imaging mode, continuous shooting mode, rapid shooting mode,..., Moving image imaging mode,.

  The cursor key 5 is a key operated when pointing (designating) a menu or icon displayed on the liquid crystal monitor screen 4 with the cursor when setting a mode or selecting a menu. Can be moved to. The SET key 6 is a key that is pressed when the item displayed by the cursor key 5 is selected and set. The SET key 6 can also be used as a confirmation key.

  The zoom button 7 is used for a zoom operation. In the case of optical zoom, the zoom lens (variable focal length lens) 12-1 corresponds to the operation of the zoom button 7 (W button 7-1 or T button 7-2). The zoom value is determined in response to the operation of the zoom button 7 by moving to the wide side or the tele side, the angle of view actually changes following the change of the zoom value, and a wide (wide angle) image is displayed on the LCD monitor screen 4. Alternatively, a tele (telephoto) image is displayed.

  The shutter key 8 performs a release operation at the time of imaging, has a stroke of two steps, and performs auto focus (AF) and automatic exposure (AE) by the first step operation (half-pressed state). And an imaging instruction signal for performing imaging processing by the second stage operation (fully pressed state). Further, in the present embodiment, it is assumed that the face recognition automatic imaging mode is started by pressing the shutter key 8 halfway. The menu key 10 is a key operated when displaying a menu or an icon that can be processed at that time.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of the database 29-3. The database 29-3 registers personal names, facial feature data, pointers for extracting collation face images, image quality parameters, and the like. A table such as a face recognition table 40 that stores a plurality of face recognition records, and collation image data 50 in which face images (compressed image data) of the best shot scene of the person to be imaged are stored. Although the database 29-3 is stored in a predetermined area of the storage memory in the embodiment, a dedicated memory for the database 29-3 may be provided. The collation image data 50 is not essential. The database 29-3 includes a face recognition table having a structure different from the face recognition table 40, composition data storing a plurality of composition pattern information, face angle data storing face angle pattern information, and the face recognition table 40. It is also possible to store past imaging information data associated with each face recognition record.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of the face recognition table 40. As shown in FIG. 4A, the face recognition table 40 stores a personal ID field for storing a personal ID for identifying a face recognition record. 41, a name field 42 for recording a name, an imaging target field 43 for writing a predetermined mark when corresponding to a recognized image, a feature data field 44 for recording facial feature data, and a verification image for storing a verification image data address A plurality of face recognition records 49 including a data address column 45 and the like are stored.

  The feature data column 44 further includes a position column 44-1 for storing the position of each part of the face (eyes, nose, mouth, ear, forehead,...) As shown in FIG. A size field 44-2 for storing the size of the part, an angle field 44-3 for storing the angle of each part, a relative relationship between each part of the face, for example, the spacing between the left and right eyes, the ratio to the horizontal size of the face, etc. ) Is stored and is compared with each feature data extracted by the face recognition unit 29-2 to determine similarity.

  The collation image data address field 45 is the head address of the collation image data storage destination storing the personal face image, and the face feature data and feature data fields extracted by the face detection unit 29-1 by the face recognition unit 29-2. When the user confirms the face of the person recognized by the comparison result with the feature data stored in 44, the face is used as a face image showing the person recognized together with the name stored in the name field 42, or automatically displayed. Can be used as an image to be displayed for confirmation. The collation image data address field 45 is not essential. Further, when the user confirms the recognized personal face, the user can confirm the correctness by looking at the displayed personal face and the collation image displayed as a result of the face recognition.

  When the face detection unit 29-1 detects the face of the person in the image in the frame and extracts the facial feature data during imaging, the face recognition unit 29-2 recognizes the extracted feature data in the database 29-3. Compared with the feature data stored in the feature data column 44 of each face recognition record 49 constituting the table 40, the individual registered in the face recognition record having the largest similarity is recognized as a detected face person. . Then, the digital camera 100 determines whether or not automatic imaging is performed by an automatic imaging determination unit described later, and automatically images a person recognized as an imaging target.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a control operation example by the control unit 22 at the time of automatic imaging according to the present invention. This flowchart is for explaining a program for causing the digital camera 100 to realize the automatic imaging function of the present invention.
The processing shown below is basically explained by an example in which the control unit 22 executes in accordance with a program stored in advance in a program memory such as a flash memory, but it is not necessary to store all functions in the program memory. Alternatively, a part or all of them may be received via a network. Hereinafter, a description will be given with reference to FIGS. Step S14 corresponds to the automatic imaging determination unit of the present invention. An operation example of the automatic determination means, that is, a detailed operation example of step S14 will be described with reference to FIG. 7, FIG. 11, FIG. 14, FIG.

  In FIG. 5, when the face recognition face recognition automatic imaging mode is selected by the operation of the mode dial 3 by the user (step S <b> 1), the control unit 22 clears the imaging target column 43 of each face recognition record of the face recognition table 40. (Step S2), AE processing is executed at a focal length corresponding to the zoom value at that time, and image data is passed through the CCD 13 to the color process circuit 18 based on the subject image from the optical system 12. The color process circuit 18 adjusts the white balance corresponding to the color of the light source by automatic white balance (AWB) processing, and then adjusts the DRAM 21 via the DMA controller 19 and the DRAM interface (I / F) 20. A video through with the number of pixels thinned out from image data transferred to the DRAM 21 and transferred to the DRAM 21. It starts through image display to the through display on the liquid crystal monitor screen 4 of the display unit 26 rewrites the VRAM27 the image data (step S3).

  Since the user attempts to frame an image with a suitable composition within the screen by displaying the through-displayed image, the control unit 22 uses the sampling image (a still image for one frame) from the image being framed. Is detected in the DRAM 21 (step S4), the face detection unit 29-1 is controlled to detect the face from the sampled image, the feature data of the detected face is extracted (step S5), and the number of detected faces ( = Number of people) is acquired and set as the value of the counter n (step S6). Note that a person whose face cannot be detected by the face detection unit 29-1 even if a person is captured is not counted as the number of persons.

  The control unit 22 controls the face recognition unit 29-2 to execute face recognition processing, and sequentially compares the feature data extracted in step S5 with the feature data stored in the feature data column 44 of the face recognition record. Then, the face recognition record storing the feature data with the highest similarity is set as the face recognition record of the nth face (nth person) of the faces (= persons) detected in step S5, and the imaging A predetermined mark (“*” in the example of FIG. 4) is written in the target field 43 (step S7), and the value obtained by adding 1 to the value of the counter n is compared with the number of people acquired in step S6. If the value exceeds the number of persons, it is determined that face recognition processing has been completed for all detected faces, and the process proceeds to step S9. Otherwise, the process returns to step S7 to execute the face recognition process for the next face (step S7). 8).

  When the face recognition processing is completed for all the detected faces, the control unit 22 sets 1 to the counter n (step S9), and then checks the imaging target field 43 of the face recognition record in the face recognition table 40 to determine a predetermined mark. Is written (step S10), otherwise, a message indicating that there is no registered person, for example, “Imaging person is not a person registered in the database” is output. The face recognition automatic imaging mode is terminated (step S11).

  When a predetermined mark is written in the imaging target field 43, the control unit 22 takes out the name stored in the name field 42 and the verification image data address stored in the verification image data address field 45, and A collation image (compressed file) corresponding to the collation image data address is taken out from the database 29-3, decompressed by the JPEG circuit 27, fitted with a name in a predetermined format, displayed on the LCD monitor screen 4, and displayed to the user. Confirmation is prompted (step S12).

  When the user wants to automatically image the displayed person, he / she issues an automatic imaging instruction (in the embodiment, full press of the shutter key 8), otherwise the cursor operation is performed and a search instruction for the next face recognition record is issued. Therefore, the control unit 22 checks the signal from the key input unit 30, and proceeds to step S14 when the shutter key 8 is fully pressed, and proceeds to step S17 when the cursor is operated (step S13). In the embodiment, the automatic imaging instruction is performed by fully pressing the shutter key 8. However, another key may be used for the automatic imaging instruction or a key dedicated to the automatic imaging instruction may be provided.

  When the shutter key 8 is fully pressed, the control unit 22 determines whether or not the state of the imaging target matches a predetermined condition (see FIG. 7, FIG. 11, FIG. 14, FIG. 17, or FIG. 20). Is executed (step S14). If it matches the predetermined condition, the process proceeds to step S15 to perform automatic imaging, and if it does not match, end determination is performed. Note that if the determination process matches a predetermined condition, the process may proceed to step S16 to perform end determination, and if not, the process may proceed to step S15 to perform automatic imaging. Further, a step in which the user selects a determination process between step S13 and step S14 of the determination process, for example, a determination process selection menu may be displayed in a predetermined area of the screen so that the user can select and specify. .

  When the determination result that the automatic imaging is performed is obtained in the determination process in step S14, the control unit 22 performs automatic imaging for the person to be imaged (step S15), and checks whether there is an end operation, and if there is an end operation. The automatic imaging process is terminated. If not, the process returns to step S14 to determine the condition for the next frame (step S16). In the automatic imaging process of step S15, for example, in the case of still image imaging, the control unit 22 immediately stops the path from the CCD 13 to the DRAM 21 at that time, and the CCD driving method during main imaging is different from the through image acquisition. The JPEG circuit 26 performs image compression processing, records an image file composed of the compressed data in the storage memory 28, and finishes imaging for one frame. In the case of moving image capturing, moving image data for one frame is generated from image data taken into the DRAM 21 via the CCD 13 and stored in the image buffer. When the image buffer is full, the control unit 22 controls the data compression / decompression circuit 27 to perform compression processing of the moving image data, and also controls the media controller 20 to store the compressed moving image data on the recording medium. 29. In addition, when the user performs a moving image capturing end operation, the moving image capturing is ended, and otherwise, the moving image capturing is continued.

  If there is a cursor operation in step S13, the control unit 22 adds the value obtained by adding 1 to the counter n and the number of face recognition records in which a predetermined mark is written in the imaging target field 43 of the face recognition record (that is, recognized). If the counter value exceeds the number of face recognition records in which a predetermined mark is written (= recognized number of people), the process proceeds to step S18. If not, 1 is added to the counter and then step S10. (Step S17).

  The control unit 22 outputs a message indicating that the person cannot be recognized, for example, “cannot recognize the person to be imaged”, and ends the face recognition automatic imaging mode (step S18).

  According to the flowchart shown in FIG. 5, when automatic imaging is performed by recognizing a face, imaging is performed only when a predetermined condition is met (or not conversely). Wasteful imaging can be suppressed as compared with the conventional automatic imaging technology that performs imaging under conditions.

(Embodiment 1)
In the present embodiment, a person shown in a frame is recognized based on face recognition information registered in a database at the time of imaging, and whether or not imaging is possible is determined based on the contrast strength of the person. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a person recognized as an imaging target in a frame. The human face 61 in the sampling image 60 acquired in step S5 in the flowchart of FIG. In this example, a person is recognized (in the illustrated example, recognized as “Makiko”).

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a control operation by the control unit 22 during automatic imaging according to the present embodiment, and is a flowchart illustrating a detailed operation example of the determination process in step S14 in the flowchart of FIG.
In FIG. 7, when steps S <b> 2 to S <b> 13 of the flowchart of FIG. 5 recognize a human face (for example, the face of “Makiko” in FIG. 6) in the sampling image, and there is confirmation by the user (automatic imaging instruction). The control unit 22 detects the contrast of the face 61 (step S14-1). If the detected contrast value exceeds a certain value (predetermined value), the process proceeds to step S15 to perform automatic imaging. Advances to step S16 to determine termination (step S14-2). The contrast value of a certain area in the frame can be obtained by a known method. Further, the above “constant value = predetermined value” may be different depending on the image quality or the like.

  According to the determination processing operation shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7, in the face recognition automatic imaging mode, when a contrast of a certain value or more is obtained in the face portion image, automatic imaging is performed and sharp focus is obtained. If there is no image, it can be controlled not to automatically capture (prohibit imaging), so even if the subject is in the frame, the subject is moving and the image is blurred or blurred No image is taken. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress waste such as automatically capturing failed photos.

(Embodiment 2)
In the present embodiment, it is assumed that composition data (not shown) storing composition information for displaying composition patterns (plural) is stored in the database 29-3. Then, a composition to be imaged is selected from the composition data stored in the database 29-3 before imaging, and a person in the frame is recognized based on the face recognition data table 50 registered in the database. Then, the composition of a person recognized as an imaging target is detected (feature extraction), and whether or not imaging is possible is determined based on the similarity between the detected composition and a preselected composition. The composition ratio determination can be performed based on composition feature data (composition feature) such as the ratio of the subject's face to the body, the ratio of the face area to the frame area, or the height ratio.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a composition pattern displayed based on composition information registered in the database. Reference numeral 81 is a “face-up” composition pattern, and reference numeral 82 is a “bust-up” composition pattern. Reference numeral 83 denotes a “upper body” composition pattern, and reference numeral 84 denotes a “whole body” composition pattern. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a subject image in a frame similar to the composition pattern, and shows an example in which “bust up” 83 is previously selected as the composition pattern. 9A shows an example in which the similarity between the subject image 91 and the composition pattern “bust up” is high, and FIG. 9B shows an example in which the similarity between the subject image 92 and the composition pattern “whole body” is high. . Therefore, when “bust up” 83 is selected in advance as the composition pattern, the subject image 91 is captured and the subject image 92 is not captured. When “whole body” 84 is previously selected as the composition pattern, the subject image 92 is captured and the subject image 91 is not captured.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of the face recognition table according to the present embodiment. The face recognition table 50 stores a plurality of face recognition records 59, and the face recognition record is the face recognition record shown in FIG. The face recognition record 49 constituting the table 40 has a structure provided with a composition column 46 for storing feature data (composition feature) of the selected composition.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a control operation by the control unit 22 during automatic imaging according to the present embodiment, and is a flowchart illustrating a detailed operation example of the determination process in step S14 of the flowchart of FIG. In step S14, if there is an automatic imaging instruction in step S13, a determination process for determining whether or not imaging is possible is performed. In the present embodiment, the return destination when the end determination result in step S16 of the flowchart of FIG. 5 is NO is step S14-4.

  In FIG. 11, in steps S2 to S13 in the flowchart of FIG. 5, a human face (for example, “Yuta” face in FIG. 9) in the sampling image is recognized and there is a confirmation (automatic imaging instruction) by the user. Then, the control unit 22 reads the composition information from the database 29-3, sends it to the display unit 26, displays a plurality of composition patterns as shown in FIG. 8, and prompts the user to select (step S14-1).

  Since the user selects the composition by operating the cursor, the control unit 22 examines the signal from the key input unit 30, and when the composition is selected (step S14-2), feature data (composition feature) that composes the composition from the composition information. ) Is extracted and stored in the composition column 46 of the face recognition record of the person recognized as the imaging target (for example, “Yuta” in FIG. 9) (step S14-2), and the time T is stored in the time counter. Set (step S14-4). Although the time T is 1 second in the embodiment, the time T is not limited to this, and may be 2 seconds or more, or 1 second or less (for example, 1/10 second).

  When the value obtained by subtracting the elapsed time t from the time T set in the time counter reaches 0, the control unit 22 proceeds to step S14-5, and when not reaching 0, waits for the passage of time until it reaches 0. (Step S14-5). Thereby, the operation | movement after step S14-6 will be performed for every time T. FIG.

  Next, the composition feature of the person recognized as the imaging target is extracted (step S14-6), and the similarity is compared with the composition feature stored in the composition column 46 of the person's face recognition record. If it is higher, the process proceeds to step S15 to perform automatic imaging, and if not, the process proceeds to step S16 to determine the end (step S14-7). In the similarity determination, for example, a distance (root mean square) is obtained from the difference between the extracted composition feature and the composition feature stored in the composition column 46 of the face recognition record, and the similarity is obtained when the distance is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold. It can be determined to be high (or matched).

  With the determination processing operation shown in the flowchart of FIG. 11, in face recognition automatic imaging mode, automatic imaging is performed when the selected pattern is similar, and automatic imaging is not performed when the pattern is not similar (imaging is prohibited). You can). Therefore, even if a human image to be captured exists in the frame, automatic imaging is not performed unless the desired composition is obtained, so that redundant imaging can be avoided.

<Modification 1>
In the second embodiment, the similarity / non-similarity of the composition is set as the condition for determining whether or not automatic imaging is possible. However, the orientation of the face, that is, the face angle as shown in FIG.
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a face angle pattern displayed based on the face angle data registered in the database 29-3. Reference numeral 121 is “front”, reference numeral 122 is “aori”, reference numeral 123. Indicates a face angle pattern of “overhead view”, and reference numeral 124 indicates a face angle pattern of “side profile”. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of the face recognition table according to this embodiment. The face recognition table 60 stores a plurality of face recognition records 69, and the face recognition record 69 is shown in FIG. The face recognition record 59 constituting the face recognition table 50 has a structure provided with an angle column 47 for storing the feature data (face angle feature) of the selected face angle.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a control operation by the control unit 22 during automatic imaging according to the first modification, and is a flowchart illustrating a detailed operation example of the determination process in step S14 of the flowchart of FIG. In step S14, if there is an automatic imaging instruction in step S13, a process for determining whether or not imaging is possible using a face angle is performed. In this embodiment, the return destination when the result of the end determination in step S16 in the flowchart of FIG. 5 is NO is step S14-4.

  In FIG. 14, when steps S2 to S13 in the flowchart of FIG. 5 recognize a person's face (for example, the face of “Yuta” in FIG. 9) in the sampling image and there is a confirmation (automatic imaging instruction) by the user. The control unit 22 reads the face angle information from the database 29-3 and sends it to the display unit 26 to display a plurality of face angle patterns as shown in FIG. 12 to prompt the user to select (step S14-1).

  Since the user selects a face angle (for example, “front”) by a cursor operation, the control unit 22 examines a signal from the key input unit 30 and when a face angle is selected (step S14-2), the face angle information Among them, the feature data (face angle feature) constituting the face angle is extracted and stored in the face angle column 47 of the face recognition record of the person recognized as the imaging target (for example, 'Yuta' in FIG. 13) ( Step S14-2), the time T is set in the time counter (Step S14-4). Although the time T is 1 second in the embodiment, the time T is not limited to this, and may be 2 seconds or more, or 1 second or less (for example, 1/10 second).

  When the value obtained by subtracting the elapsed time t from the time T set in the time counter reaches 0, the control unit 22 proceeds to step S14-5, and when not reaching 0, waits for the passage of time until it reaches 0. (Step S14-5). Thereby, the operation | movement after step S14-6 will be performed for every time T. FIG.

  Next, the face angle feature of the person recognized as the imaging target is extracted (step S14-6), and the degree of similarity with the face angle feature stored in the face angle column 47 of the person's face recognition record is compared. If the degree of similarity is high, the process proceeds to step S15 to perform automatic imaging, and if not, the process proceeds to step S16 to make an end determination (step S14-7). For the similarity determination, for example, the distance (root mean square) is obtained from the difference between the extracted face angle feature and the composition feature stored in the face angle column 47 of the face recognition record, and similar when the distance is equal to or smaller than a predetermined threshold. It can be determined that the degree is high (or matches).

  Further, according to the determination processing operation shown in the flowchart of FIG. 14, in the face recognition automatic imaging mode, automatic imaging is performed when the selected pattern is similar, and automatic imaging is not performed when the pattern is not similar (imaging). Can be prohibited). Therefore, even if a human image to be captured exists in the frame, automatic imaging is not performed unless the face angle is the desired face angle, so that redundant imaging can be avoided.

<Modification 2>
In the second embodiment, the composition is used, and in the first modification, the face angle is used as a condition for determining whether or not automatic imaging is possible. However, the composition and the face angle may be used as conditions for determining whether or not automatic imaging is possible. Specifically, in step S14-1 of FIG. 11 (or FIG. 14), a pattern selection screen as shown in FIG. 15 is displayed to select a composition pattern and face angle, and the composition pattern and face angle selected in step S14. Are extracted from the composition pattern information and the face angle information stored in the database 29-3, respectively, and stored in the composition column 46 and the face angle column 47 of the face recognition table shown in FIG. In step 14-6, the composition feature and the face angle feature of the recognized person (for example, 'Yuta') are extracted, and the composition features stored in the composition column 46 and the face angle column 47 of the face recognition table in step S14-7. The similarity between the face angle feature and the composition feature extracted from the person image and the face angle feature may be determined. In FIG. 15, P1 to P3 mean composition patterns, and A1 to A4 mean face angle patterns.

(Embodiment 3)
In the first and second embodiments, whether or not automatic imaging is possible is determined based on whether or not the state of the subject satisfies a predetermined condition, but in this embodiment, the same person is not imaged many times within a short period. Control imaging frequency.
FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of the face recognition table 70. The face recognition table 70 stores a plurality of face recognition records 79, and the face recognition record 7 stores the face recognition table 40 shown in FIG. The structure is provided with a past imaging log column 48-1 for recording the latest imaging time and an allowable interval time column 48-2 for storing the imaging allowable interval time in the face recognition record 49 that constitutes the face recognition record 49. Note that when the camera is used for the first time, the past imaging log column 48-2 is cleared to 0, and the allowable interval time column 48-2 is set to 60 seconds. The time set in the interval time column 48 can be changed.

  FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a control operation by the control unit 22 during automatic imaging according to the present embodiment, and is a flowchart illustrating a detailed operation example of the determination process in step S14 of the flowchart of FIG. When there is an instruction, a determination process for determining whether or not imaging is possible based on the face angle is performed.

  In FIG. 17, when steps S2 to S13 in the flowchart of FIG. 5 recognize a person's face (for example, “Yuta” face in FIG. 9) in the sampling image and there is a confirmation (automatic imaging instruction) by the user. The control unit 22 opens a window for changing the allowable interval time in a predetermined area on the screen on which the sample image is displayed so that the user can change the allowable interval time (step S14-1). It is checked whether or not an input has been made (step S14-2), and when the user makes a change input, it is changed to the allowable interval time field 48-2 of the face recognition record of the person ('Yuta') recognized as the imaging target. The allowable interval time is updated by overwriting the previous time, and the process proceeds to step S14-4. If there is no change input, the process proceeds to step S14-. Proceed to (step S14-3).

  After acquiring the current time (date and time) from the time output unit 29-4 (step S14-4), the control unit 22 stores the past face recognition record of the person ('Yuta') recognized as the imaging target. Is calculated (step S14-5), and the acquired time difference and the allowable interval time field of the face recognition record of the person recognized as the imaging target are calculated. Compared with the content of 48-2 (allowable interval time (60 seconds in the case of 'Yuta')), if the time difference is greater than or equal to the allowable interval time, the process proceeds to step S14-7, and if the time difference is less than the allowable interval time, step It progresses to S16 and an end determination is performed (step S14-6).

  If the time difference is equal to or greater than the allowable interval time, the control unit 22 overwrites the current imaging time column 48-1 of the face recognition record of the person recognized as the imaging target with the current time acquired from the time output unit 29-4. After updating the past log, the process proceeds to step S15 (step S14-7). In addition, you may make it provide the step which updates a past log instead of this step S14-7 between step S15 and S16 of FIG. That is, it may be performed after automatic imaging for one frame is completed.

  The operation shown in the flowchart of FIG. 17 can prevent the same person from being automatically imaged continuously more than necessary when holding the camera.

<Modification>
When a plurality of persons in a frame are recognized as shown in FIG. 18 in the third embodiment, that is, a mark (“*” in the embodiment) is displayed in the imaging target column 43 of the plurality of face recognition records of the face recognition data. If it is written, if the first person does not meet the automatic imaging conditions (that is, if the time difference from the previous imaging time to the current time does not exceed the allowable interval time), the previous person's past imaging The log can be examined to determine whether automatic imaging is possible.

  FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example in which a plurality of persons to be imaged are recognized in a frame. Reference numeral 181 is an infant (“Yuta”), reference numeral 182 is a woman who is not recognized as an imaging object, reference numeral 183 is a grandmother ( It is the face of 'Kiyo Grandma').

  FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an example of an imaging recognition record in the imaging target table 70 in which a mark is written in the imaging target column. The structure of the imaging target table 70 is the same as that in FIG. In FIG. 13, “*” marks are written in the imaging target fields 43 of “Yuta” and “Kiyo Grandma” in step S <b> 7 (see FIG. 5).

  FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating a detailed operation example of the determination process according to the first modification. 20, in step S14-6 in FIG. 17, if the acquired time difference is equal to or greater than the allowable interval time of the person recognized as the imaging target, the process proceeds to step S14-7, but if it is less than the allowable interval time, step S14- In step S14-8, the control unit 22 examines the imaging target field 43 of the face recognition data 70. If a predetermined mark (“*”) is written, the person in the recognition record is imaged. The process returns to S14-5 as the target person, and if no mark is written, the process proceeds to step S16.

  The operation shown in the flowchart of FIG. 20 suppresses continuous imaging of the same person more than necessary at the time of automatic imaging, and automatic imaging is preferentially performed for persons who have not yet been imaged among persons to be imaged. can do. Moreover, automatic imaging can be performed so as to cover not only two people but also many people.

  Further, in the third embodiment and the modification thereof, as shown in FIG. 17, the imaging allowable interval time can be changed in steps S14-1 to S14-3, so that the imaging frequency can be controlled. Further, when the imaging frequency is too low as a result of changing the imaging frequency, the imaging allowable interval time can be changed to increase the imaging frequency. In the determination processing block in step S14, a step of displaying the imaging frequency in a predetermined area of the screen may be provided so that the user can know the imaging frequency. By doing this, it is possible to prevent the inconvenience that the imaging frequency restriction condition is too strict and the automatic shutter is not easily cut off.

  In the third embodiment, whether or not automatic imaging is possible is determined based on an interval with a past imaging log. However, whether or not automatic imaging is possible may be determined based on the composition and angle of the person to be imaged in the past.

  FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of the past imaging information data 210 stored in the database 29-3 in association with the face recognition record 49 (see FIG. 4) of the face recognition table 40. The past imaging information data 210 and the face recognition record 49 are associated with each other in the illustrated example.

  The past imaging information data 210 stores a personal ID column 211 that stores the same ID as the personal ID stored in the personal ID column 41 of the face recognition record 49, and a log (imaging date and time) of the latest past imaging. A past imaging log column 212, a past composition column 213 and a past face angle column 214 for storing identification information of the composition pattern and face angle captured at the date and time are provided. The past imaging log column 212 to the past face angle column 214 are composition patterns registered in the database 29-3 at the maximum for each person registered in the face recognition table 40 (that is, for each face recognition record). X It is desirable to ensure the number of face angle patterns.

  The past imaging information data 210 as described above is stored in the database 29-3 in association with each face recognition record of the face recognition table 70, and shown in FIG. 15 in step S14-1 of FIG. 11 (or FIG. 14). Such a pattern selection screen is displayed to select a composition pattern and a face angle, and the composition pattern and the face angle selected in step S14 are respectively composed from the composition pattern information and the face angle information stored in the database 29-3. The face angle feature is extracted and stored in the composition column 46 and the face angle column 47 of the face recognition table shown in FIG. 13, and the composition of the person (for example, “Yuta”) recognized as the imaging target in step 14-6. The feature and the face angle feature are extracted and stored in the composition column 46 and the face angle column 47 of the face recognition table in step S14-7. The composition feature and face angle feature and the similarity between the composition and face angle features extracted from the person image are judged. If the similarity is high, the selected composition pattern and face angle identification information is recognized as a key. If the same combination is stored by searching the past composition column 213 and the past face angle column 214 of the past imaging information data of the person (for example, “Yuta”), the step is assumed that automatic imaging is not performed. If the same combination is not stored, the current time (year / month / day and time) is set as the past imaging log column 212, the past imaging information data as the past composition column 213, and the past. In order to perform automatic imaging after being stored in the face angle field 214, the process proceeds to step S15 to perform automatic imaging.

By doing in this way, it is possible to comprehensively image the person to be imaged without overlapping various compositions and face angles.
<Modification>
In the first to third embodiments, when one or more faces detected during monitor display are recognized as a pre-registered person, the recognized faces are displayed on the monitor screen. Therefore, when the photographer determines whether or not to perform shooting and recording, and when shooting and recording are instructed, conditions such as contrast are further determined and shooting and recording is performed. Alternatively, shooting and recording may be automatically performed. That is, the display operation of step S11 and step S12 after executing step S9 in the flowchart of FIG. 5 is skipped, and the confirmation operation of step S13 is skipped, and the determination process of step S14 is immediately executed. If the condition is satisfied, shooting and recording is performed in step S15. If the determination condition is not satisfied, the process proceeds to step S17 to process the next record. By transforming into such a flow, when a person who satisfies the determination condition is detected in the shooting frame being displayed on the monitor, shooting and recording can be automatically performed. In this case, power consumption may be reduced without performing monitor display.
In the first to third embodiments, the process is performed on all persons registered in the face recognition table 40 as the shooting target. A plurality of persons are designated and stored in the face recognition table 40, and only when the person detected in the shooting frame is the designated person, the determination process of step S14 is further performed and the person is not the designated person. The next record may be processed without performing the determination process.

  As mentioned above, although several Example of this invention was described, it cannot be overemphasized that this invention is not limited to said each Example, A various deformation | transformation implementation is possible. For example, the term imaging device includes not only an electronic camera such as a digital camera, but also a device having a function of recording image data captured via an optical system and an imaging device, such as a mobile phone with a camera and an imaging function. It can also be applied to electronic devices.

5 cursor 6 SET key 8 shutter key 22 control unit 23 VRAM controller 26 display unit 28 storage memory 29-1 face detection unit 29-2 face recognition unit 29-3 database 29-4 time output unit 30 key input units 40, 60, 70 Face recognition table 81, 82, 83, 84 Composition pattern 121, 122, 123, 124 Face angle pattern 100 Digital camera 150 Pattern selection screen 210 Past imaging information data 2

Claims (5)

Imaging means for capturing an image of a subject in a shooting frame and obtaining an image;
Recognizing means for recognizing an individual from the face of a person in a shooting frame acquired by the imaging means;
Recording control means for controlling the recording and storage of the image corresponding to the shooting frame according to the elapsed time from the previous shooting to the current shooting for the individual recognized by the recognition means;
Interval time setting means for setting an interval time from the previous shooting until re-shooting becomes possible, to a different value for each individual recognized by the recognition means;
With
When the elapsed time from the previous shooting to the current shooting for the individual recognized by the recognition unit is less than the interval time set by the interval time setting unit corresponding to the individual, the recording control unit An image pickup apparatus that restricts recording and storage of an image corresponding to the shooting frame . When a plurality of persons are recognized by the recognizing means, the recording control means determines that the elapsed time from the previous shooting to the current shooting of all the recognized persons is the interval time corresponding to each person. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein recording and saving of an image corresponding to the shooting frame is limited when the interval time set by the setting unit is not satisfied.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for displaying a photographing frequency of the individual recognized by the recognition means. An imaging step of capturing an image of a subject in a shooting frame and obtaining an image;
A recognition step of recognizing an individual from the face of a person in the shooting frame acquired by the imaging step;
A recording control step for controlling the recording and storage of the image corresponding to the photographing frame according to the elapsed time from the previous photographing to the current photographing regarding the individual recognized by the recognition step;
An interval time setting step for setting an interval time from the previous shooting until re-shooting is possible, to a different value for each individual recognized by the recognition step;
Have
The recording control step is performed when the elapsed time from the previous shooting to the current shooting regarding the individual recognized by the recognition step is less than the interval time set by the interval time setting step corresponding to the individual. An automatic imaging method, wherein recording and storage of an image corresponding to the imaging frame is restricted . A computer of an imaging apparatus provided with imaging means for capturing an image of a subject in a shooting frame and obtaining an image,
Recognizing means for recognizing an individual from the face of a person in a shooting frame acquired by the imaging means;
Recording control means for controlling the recording and storage of the image corresponding to the shooting frame according to the elapsed time from the previous shooting to the current shooting for the individual recognized by the recognition means;
Interval time setting means for setting an interval time from the previous shooting until re-shooting becomes possible, to a different value for each individual recognized by the recognition means;
To function,
When the elapsed time from the previous shooting to the current shooting for the individual recognized by the recognition unit is less than the interval time set by the interval time setting unit corresponding to the individual, the recording control unit A program for restricting recording and storage of an image corresponding to the photographing frame .

Images