Nikon Corporation

Keiko Muramatsu

Hiroshi Takeuchi

A subject tracking apparatus includes a light detector, a focus detector, and a tracking controller. The focus detector is configured to detect focus information at a plurality of focus detection regions in a view of an image. The focus information includes at least focus information detected at a subject region of a subject in the view. The tracking controller is configured to determine at least one first region having substantially same light information as light information detected at the subject region from among a plurality of light measurement regions, to determine at least one second region having substantially same focus information as the focus information detected at the subject region from among the plurality of focus detection regions, and to determine reference information for tracking the subject in the view based on the at least one first region and the at least one second region.

Subject tracking apparatus, camera having the subject tracking apparatus, and method for tracking subject

An image recognition device includes: an image sensor that captures an image via an image forming optical system and outputs image information repeatedly; a detector that detects differences between reference image information related to a reference image and a plurality of sets of partial information included in the image information; a recognition circuit that includes a microprocessor and recognizes a set of partial information, for which a smallest difference value among a plurality of differences detected in correspondence to the plurality of sets of partial information is calculated, as information matching the reference image information if the smallest value is smaller than a threshold value; and a controller that includes a microprocessor and sets the threshold value in correspondence to a color indicated in the reference image information.

Image recognition device, focus adjustment device, image-capturing  device, and image recognition method

An imaging apparatus includes a first imaging unit, a second imaging unit, a light measurement calculator, a holding unit, a detection unit, a recognition unit, a selection unit, and a focus adjustment controller. The second imaging unit is configured to acquire first image information, second image information, and third image information. The selection unit is configured to select the at least one of focus detection areas using a recognition result of the recognition unit. The focus adjustment controller is connected to the selection unit and is configured to perform a focus adjustment control using a focus adjustment state in a focus detection area selected by the selection unit. The changing unit is connected to the recognition unit and is configured to change the predetermined range based on the first determination and the second determination.

Imaging apparatus having selection unit to select focus detection areas

A camera includes: a first image sensor that captures an image of a subject and outputs a first imaging signal; a second image sensor that is separately arranged from the first image sensor, captures an image of the subject and outputs a second imaging signal; a driving unit that drives the first image sensor and the second image sensor; an image processing unit that processes the first imaging signal and the second imaging signal by time sharing; and a control unit that controls the driving unit and the image processing unit.

Camera including a plurality of image sensors

An image tracking apparatus includes: an imaging unit that repeatedly captures an image formed through an imaging optical system to generate a photographing image; a calculation unit that sets a first search region and a second search region other than the first search region in the photographing image, calculates a first calculation result indicating correlation between image information on the first search region and reference information based on a target image, and calculates a second calculation result indicating correlation between image information on the second search region and the reference information; and a detection unit that detects a position of the target image in the photographing image based on either one of the first calculation result and the second calculation result.

Image tracking apparatus and image tracking method

A subject tracking device includes: a tracking zone setting unit that sets an area where a main subject is present within a captured image as a tracking zone; a tracking unit that tracks the main subject based upon an image output corresponding to the tracking zone; and an arithmetic operation unit that determines through arithmetic operation image-capturing conditions based upon an image output corresponding to a central area within the tracking zone.

Subject tracking device, subject tracking method, subject tracking program product and optical device

An image recognition device includes a detection unit which is configured to detect a first difference between at least a part of the first image information and the reference information, a second difference between at least a part of the second image information and the reference information, and a third difference between at least a part of the third image information and the reference information. A recognition unit is configured to make a first determination whether the first difference is within a predetermined range, and to make a second determination whether the second difference is within the predetermined range. A changing unit is configured to change the predetermined range based on the first and second determinations. The recognition unit is configured to recognize an area corresponding to the reference image in the third image information based on the third difference and the predetermined range which has been changed.

Autofocus using object tracking based on adaptive template matching range

A tracking device includes: an image sensor that obtains image information of an image present within an image plane formed via an optical system; a tracking unit that tracks a target within the image plane based upon the image information; a focus detection unit that detects a focus adjustment state of the optical system over at least one focus detection area set in the image plane; a focus adjustment unit that executes focus adjustment for the optical system based upon the focus adjustment state detected in the focus detection area corresponding to a position of the target; a decision-making unit that makes a decision as to whether or not the target is being tracked based upon results of tracking operation executed by the tracking unit; and a control unit that bans the focus adjustment based upon results of the decision made by the decision-making unit.

Tracking device and image-capturing apparatus

An image recognition device includes a detection unit which is configured to detect a first difference between partial information of at least a part of the first image information and the reference information and to detect a second difference between partial information of at least a part of the second image information and the reference information. A recognition unit is configured to recognize a first area corresponding to the reference image in the first image information. A calculation unit is configured to calculate a determination value based on a reference area in the second image information corresponding to the first area by weighting the second difference. The recognition unit is configured to recognize a second area corresponding to the reference image in the second image information based on at least one of the second difference and the determination value.

Image recognition and focus adjustment using weighted image difference information

An image apparatus includes a screen, a detecting unit, a determining unit, an acquiring unit and a control unit. The screen is configured to display an image formed by an optical system and at least one detection position superimposed onto the image. The detecting unit is configured to detect information regarding focus of the optical system at the detection position. The determining unit is connected to the detecting unit and configured to determine whether the information regarding the focus is within a predetermined range. The acquiring unit is connected to the determining unit and configured to acquire first image information at the detection position when the determining unit determines that the information regarding the focus is within the predetermined range. The control unit is connected to the acquiring unit and configured to evaluate arbitrary second image information in the screen using the first image information.

Image tracking apparatus and tracking evaluation method

A tracking device includes: a light measurement device for light measuring an object; a focus detection device for performing focus detection of the object by an optical system; and a tracking control device for tracking the object based on light measurement information from the light measurement device and focus detection information from the focus detection device corresponding to the light measurement information.

Tracking device, automatic focusing device, and camera

An image recognition device includes; an image sensor that captures an image via an image forming optical system and outputs image information repeatedly; a detector that detects differences between reference image information related to a reference image and a plurality of sets of partial information included in the image information; a recognition circuit that includes a microprocessor and recognizes a set of partial information, for which a smallest difference value among a plurality of differences detected in correspondence to the plurality of sets of partial information is calculated, as information matching the reference image information if the smallest value is smaller than a threshold value; and a controller that includes a microprocessor and sets the threshold value in correspondence to a color indicated in the reference image information.

Image recognition device, focus adjustment device, image-capturing device, and image recognition method

An image tracking apparatus includes: an imaging device that generates image information by capturing an image formed through an image forming optical system; a setting unit that sets, based upon the image information, first reference image information that includes image information corresponding to a part of an image to be designated as a target in the image information and also sets second reference image information based upon information related to an image assuming a position close to an image corresponding to the first reference image information; and a recognition unit that recognizes the target based upon the first reference image information and the second reference image information.

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Tachikawa, Japan

Keiko Muramatsu