Imaging controller, imaging control method, and program

Abstract

To enable appropriate cancellation of flicker countermeasure processing when a photographic environment changes to an environment without a flicker after the start of the flicker countermeasure processing.SOLUTION: An imaging controller acquires a photographing direction, and on the basis of the photographing direction, sets a control mode to one of a first control mode for performing predetermined flicker countermeasure processing and a second control mode for not performing the flicker countermeasure processing.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an imaging control technique. [Background technology]

[0002] When flicker occurs in a shooting environment, anti-flicker processing is often performed to remove or reduce the effects of flicker. For example, anti-flicker processing involves adjusting a shutter speed that is less susceptible to flicker and adjusting aperture, gain, etc. to keep brightness fluctuations caused by flicker within an appropriate range. On the other hand, conventional cameras (imaging devices) cannot detect that flicker has stopped occurring even if the shooting environment changes to a flicker-free environment after starting anti-flicker processing. In other words, conventional cameras may continue anti-flicker processing even when the environment changes to a flicker-free environment after starting anti-flicker processing, maintaining a shutter speed that is less susceptible to flicker and continuing to adjust aperture, gain, etc. Images captured while anti-flicker processing is ongoing in a flicker-free environment will have degraded image quality compared to images captured without flicker and without anti-flicker processing.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a technology in which a shutter speed is set slightly different from the shutter speed at which flicker can be canceled out, so that a small amount of flicker component remains in the captured image, making it possible to quickly detect the flicker-free environment when it is reached. Furthermore, Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for canceling anti-flicker processing based on the result of determining the brightness of the shooting environment. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-227893 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-219899 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The technology of Patent Document 1 can detect a change from a shooting environment with flicker to a shooting environment without flicker. However, with the technology of Patent Document 1, slight flicker components remain in the image even when anti-flicker processing is performed, so a configuration and processing for correcting the flicker components is required. In other words, even when shutter speed adjustment is performed as anti-flicker processing, correction processing for the flicker components is required, and a complex configuration and control that can handle the combination of shutter speed adjustment and flicker component correction processing is required. Furthermore, in the case of the technology of Patent Document 2, the flicker countermeasure processing is cancelled based on the result of determining the brightness of the shooting environment, but the flicker countermeasure processing may be cancelled incorrectly.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to make it possible to appropriately cancel flicker countermeasure processing when the shooting environment changes to a flicker-free environment after the start of flicker countermeasure processing. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The imaging control device of the present invention is characterized by having an acquisition means for acquiring the shooting direction, and a setting means for setting a control mode based on the shooting direction to either a first control mode in which a predetermined flicker countermeasure processing is performed or a second control mode in which the flicker countermeasure processing is not performed. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, if the shooting environment changes to a flicker-free environment after the start of flicker countermeasure processing, the flicker countermeasure processing can be appropriately canceled. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a system including an imaging control device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] 4 is a flowchart of a control mode switching process according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] 10 is a flowchart of a control mode switching process according to Modification 1 of the first embodiment. [Figure 4] 10 is a flowchart of a control mode switching process according to a second embodiment. [Figure 5] 10 is a flowchart of a control mode switching process according to a third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments do not limit the present invention, and not all of the combinations of features described in each embodiment are necessarily essential to the solution of the present invention. The configuration of each embodiment may be modified or changed as appropriate depending on the specifications of the device to which the present invention is applied and various conditions (such as usage conditions and usage environment). Furthermore, in the following embodiments, the same or similar configurations and processing steps are designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations will be omitted.

[0011] First Embodiment FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an imaging system 100 including an imaging control device according to the first embodiment. In the imaging system 100 shown in FIG. 1, an imaging optical system 101 is made up of an optical system including a group of lenses such as a zoom lens, a focus lens, and a shift lens, as well as an aperture and the like. The image sensor 102 is composed of a CCD, CMOS element, or the like that converts an optical image formed on a light receiving surface via the image sensor 101 into an electrical signal. The image sensor 102 is a pixel array in which a plurality of pixels are arranged two-dimensionally, and reads out an optical image of a subject or the like formed by the image sensor 101 as an electrical signal. The A / D converter 103 converts the analog signal output from the image sensor 102 into digital data. The signal processing unit 104 performs resizing processing, such as predetermined pixel interpolation and reduction, as well as other processing such as color conversion, on the data output from the A / D converter 103. The data after these signal processes is output as image data from the signal processing unit 104. The signal processing unit 104 can also directly write image data (RAW data) that has not been subjected to signal processing on the data output from the A / D converter 103 into the memory 105.

[0012] A DSP (Digital Signal Processor) 106 performs various types of image processing on image data that has undergone signal processing by the signal processing unit 104 or image data that has been directly written to the memory 105 and then read out. The DSP 106 then stores the image data that has undergone image processing in the memory 105 or outputs the image data to an output unit 107. The DSP 106 also has a function of detecting flicker based on image data input from the signal processing unit 104, as part of the functions included in the imaging control device of this embodiment. Details of the flicker detection processing in the DSP 106 will be described later.

[0013] The memory 105 stores image data after image processing by the DSP 106 and various other data. The memory 105 has a storage capacity sufficient to store each of these data. The memory 105 also functions as a non-volatile memory. The non-volatile memory is an electrically erasable and recordable memory, such as an EEPROM. The non-volatile memory stores constants, programs, and the like for the operation of the DSP 106 and CPU 108. These programs include, for example, a control program according to this embodiment, which is used by the CPU 108 to execute various processes, such as switching settings for the control mode according to this embodiment, as described below. The memory 105 also functions as a system memory, and RAM is used as the system memory, on which constants, variables, programs read from the non-volatile memory, and the like for the operation of the CPU 108 are loaded.

[0014] The panning and tilting of the camera platform 109 changes the shooting direction in which an image is captured by the image sensor 102 via the imaging optical system 101. The panning and tilting of the camera platform 109 are controlled by a CPU 108, which will be described later. For example, the CPU 108 controls the panning and tilting based on preset panning and tilting position information or instructions input from an external device via the input unit 110. In the following description, for simplicity, the term PT is used to collectively refer to panning and tilting. Furthermore, the term PTZ is also used to collectively refer to PT and zooming.

[0015] The input unit 110 passes operation information and the like input from an external device (not shown) to the CPU 108 as external instructions. At this time, the CPU 108 drives and controls the camera platform 109 of the imaging system 100 to change the shooting direction or changes settings such as parameters during imaging (camera settings) based on the externally input instructions. The external device may be a client terminal such as a PC, or a remote control device such as a remote controller. Communication with the external device may be IP communication via a network or serial communication. The output unit 107 outputs the image data that has been subjected to image processing by the DSP 106 to the outside.

[0016] A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 108 controls the entire imaging system 100. In this embodiment, the CPU 108 executes a control program recorded in the memory 105 described above, thereby realizing the main functions of the imaging control device according to this embodiment, as will be described later. As will be described in detail later, the CPU 108 acquires the shooting direction based on position information of the PT of the camera platform 109, and sets the control mode of the imaging system 100 to either a first control mode or a second control mode based on the shooting direction.

[0017] In this embodiment, the first control mode is a control mode in which flicker countermeasure processing is performed, and the second control mode is a normal control mode in which image quality is prioritized and flicker countermeasure processing is not performed. Hereinafter, the first control mode in which flicker countermeasure processing is performed will be referred to as the flicker countermeasure mode, and the second control mode in which image quality is prioritized and flicker countermeasure processing is not performed will be referred to as the normal mode. In particular, when the control mode is the flicker countermeasure mode, CPU 108 switches to the normal mode based on a change in the shooting direction obtained from the position information of the PT of camera platform 109. Details of the control mode switching process by CPU 108 will be described later.

[0018] 2 is a flowchart showing the flow of control mode switching processing performed by the CPU 108 of the imaging system 100 based on the results of flicker detection processing by the DSP 106 and the shooting direction obtained from position information of the PT of the camera platform 109. The processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 2 is realized by the CPU 108 expanding a control program according to this embodiment, which is stored in the nonvolatile memory of the memory 105, into RAM and executing it. Note that the control mode switching processing may also be realized by a hardware configuration such as a circuit. The processing of the flowchart of FIG. 2 starts, for example, when the automatic control mode switching function is turned on in the imaging system 100, and the initial setting of the control mode at the start of the flowchart is assumed to be normal mode.

[0019] First, in the process of step S100, the CPU 108 controls the imaging optical system 101 and the image sensor 102 to capture an image, and further controls the signal processing unit 104 to input image data to the DSP 106. The CPU 108 then controls the DSP 106 to perform processing to detect flicker from the image data. At this time, the DSP 106 performs a fast Fourier transform on the input image data in the time direction to detect the blinking cycle of the image. That is, the DSP 106 detects the blinking cycle of the image as the blinking cycle of the flicker. For example, if the image sensor 102 is a rolling shutter type image sensor, the DSP 106 samples the image data sequentially read from the image sensor 102 and performs a fast Fourier transform on the sampled data to detect the blinking cycle of the flicker occurring within the frame.

[0020] Next, in the process of step S101, CPU 108 determines whether or not flicker has been detected by DSP 106. If CPU 108 determines that flicker has been detected, the process proceeds to step S102, but if CPU 108 determines that flicker has not been detected, the process returns to step S100.

[0021] In step S102, the CPU 108 changes the control mode of the image capture system 100 from a normal mode in which no flicker countermeasure processing is performed to a flicker countermeasure mode in which flicker countermeasure processing is performed. Here, possible flicker countermeasures include countermeasures such as changing the settings of parameters during image capture (camera settings such as AE (Auto Exposure) settings) and countermeasures for correcting flicker caused by flicker through signal processing of the captured image. In this embodiment, either of these flicker countermeasures may be used. In the case of flicker countermeasures based on changing the settings of parameters during image capture, the CPU 108 sets the settings to reduce or eliminate the effects of flicker caused by a flickering light source. For example, the CPU 108 sets the shutter speed to an integer multiple of the flicker blinking cycle. To give a specific example, if flicker with a blinking cycle of 100 Hz (1 / 100 second cycle) is detected, the CPU 108 sets the shutter speed to 2 / 100 seconds, 3 / 100 seconds, 4 / 100 seconds, etc. Furthermore, when the shutter speed is changed as flicker countermeasure processing, the CPU 108 may automatically control the brightness to an appropriate level by setting other exposure parameters such as aperture and gain to compensate for the effects of the change in shutter speed. The appropriate brightness may be, for example, a brightness that is set to a brightness that complies with standards such as BT.709 when a standard subject of 18% gray is displayed on a display as an image. In addition, for example, in the case of anti-flicker processing that corrects blinking due to flicker by signal processing, the CPU 108 controls the signal processing unit 104 to perform signal processing that applies a digital gain in the opposite direction to the blinking of brightness in the image for each captured frame.

[0022] Next, in the process of step S103, CPU 108 acquires the shooting direction according to the PT of camera platform 109 based on the position information of the PT of camera platform 109. Then, CPU 108 determines from the shooting direction information whether the shooting direction has been changed by the PT of camera platform 109, that is, whether the shooting direction has moved. If CPU 108 determines that the shooting direction has been changed (the shooting direction has moved) by the PT of camera platform 109, it proceeds to the process of step S104, but on the other hand, if it determines that the shooting direction has not been changed, it returns to step S102. Note that the shooting direction may be acquired not only from the position information of the PT of camera platform 109, but also from position information of a PT that has been preset and registered in advance. The position information of the PT that has been preset and registered may be information stored in memory 105 or information input from the outside via input unit 110.

[0023] In step S104, CPU 108 determines whether the amount of movement in the shooting direction (hereinafter referred to as PT movement amount) acquired from the PT position information of camera platform 109 is equal to or greater than a predetermined movement amount threshold. If CPU 108 determines that the PT movement amount is equal to or greater than the predetermined movement amount threshold, it proceeds to step S105, and if the PT movement amount is less than the movement amount threshold, it returns to step S102.

[0024] In step S105, the CPU 108 cancels the flicker reduction mode and switches the control mode to the normal mode. In the normal mode, there is no need to prioritize the flicker reduction process, so the parameters for capturing images can be set to exposure parameters that prioritize image quality. Note that, in the normal mode, as in the flicker reduction mode, the exposure parameters (aperture, gain, shutter speed, etc.) may be automatically controlled to achieve appropriate brightness.

[0025] Then, in the process of step S106, the CPU 108 determines whether the automatic control mode switching function has been turned off, and if it has not been turned off, returns to the process of step S100, whereas if it has been turned off, ends the process of this flowchart.

[0026] As described above, in the first embodiment, the CPU 108 determines whether the shooting direction of the imaging system 100 has changed to a direction toward a shooting environment where flicker countermeasure processing is unnecessary, based on the shooting direction acquired from the PT position information of the camera platform. Then, when the shooting direction is changed to a direction toward a shooting environment where flicker countermeasure processing is unnecessary while the CPU 108 is in the flicker countermeasure mode, the CPU 108 switches to the normal mode. Thus, according to the imaging system 100 of the first embodiment, if the control mode is set to the flicker countermeasure mode and the shooting direction is changed to a direction toward a shooting environment where flicker does not occur, the flicker countermeasure mode can be canceled. The imaging system 100 of this embodiment is particularly effective in a camera capable of panning, tilting, and zooming (PTZ camera) where the power is always on (the automatic switching function is always on) and the shooting environment is set to be fixed.

[0027] In the above-described embodiment, an example was given in which the flicker reduction mode was switched to the normal mode when the amount of movement in the shooting direction was equal to or greater than the movement amount threshold, but the shooting direction may also be combined with a change in the angle of view due to zooming. That is, the shooting direction may include the angle of view, and the mode may be switched from the flicker reduction mode to the normal mode when the amount of movement in the shooting direction including the angle of view is equal to or greater than a predetermined movement amount threshold.

[0028] <Modification of the first embodiment> In the first embodiment, an example was given in which the flicker prevention mode and the normal mode were switched based on a change in the shooting direction, but in this modified example 1 of the first embodiment, it is also possible to switch the control mode using information on the brightness and color temperature of the captured image. That is, modified example 1 of the first embodiment is an example in which the accuracy of determining that the shooting environment has changed to an environment with a flicker-free light source is increased by using information on the brightness and color temperature of the image.

[0029] Fig. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of a control mode switching process according to Modification 1 of the first embodiment. In the flowchart of Fig. 3, the same processing steps as those in the flowchart of Fig. 2 are given the same reference numerals as those in Fig. 2, and their description will be omitted. The flowchart of Fig. 3 differs from the flowchart of Fig. 2 in that it includes step S200 as processing by CPU 108.

[0030] In the first modification of the first embodiment, if it is determined in step S104 that the PT movement amount is equal to or greater than the movement amount threshold, the processing of the CPU 108 proceeds to step S200. In step S200, CPU 108 calculates the amount of change in image brightness or color temperature from image data captured by image sensor 102 and passed through signal processing unit 104, and determines whether the amount of change is equal to or greater than a predetermined change threshold. If CPU 108 determines that the amount of change is equal to or greater than the predetermined change threshold, it proceeds to step S105, and if it determines that the amount of change is less than the predetermined change threshold, it returns to step S102.

[0031] As a result, in the first modification of the first embodiment, not only changes in the shooting direction but also changes in brightness and color temperature are used to increase the accuracy of determining that the shooting environment has changed to one with a light source that does not flicker. Note that the brightness or color temperature of an image may fluctuate due to temporary changes in the subject. Therefore, in step S200, CPU 108 may switch the control mode when the amount of change in the brightness or color temperature of the image exceeds a predetermined threshold and this state continues for a predetermined time. That is, CPU 108 maintains the flicker reduction mode until a predetermined time has passed since the amount of change in the brightness or color temperature of the captured image exceeds the predetermined threshold. This prevents the switching of the control mode from being affected by temporary changes in the subject.

[0032] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, an example was given in which, after the flicker reduction mode was entered, a change in the shooting direction was determined from the position information of the PT and the control mode was switched to the normal mode. Alternatively, as a second modification of the first embodiment, the position information of the PT of the camera head 109 may be linked to the flicker reduction mode or the normal mode. In this case, based on the position information of the PT of the camera head 109, the CPU 108 switches to the flicker reduction mode or the normal mode linked to the position information of the PT.

[0033] <Second embodiment> Next, a description will be given of an imaging system 100 according to a second embodiment. The configuration of the imaging system 100 according to the second embodiment is the same as the configuration shown in Fig. 1, and therefore illustration and description thereof will be omitted. In the second embodiment, CPU 108 associates the detection result when flicker was detected by DSP 106 in the past with the shooting direction based on the PT position information of camera platform 109, and stores the association results in memory 105, for example. CPU 108 then maintains the control mode in the flicker countermeasure mode for the shooting direction in which flicker was detected in the past. That is, in the second embodiment, for example, in the case of an imaging device (PTZ camera, etc.) installed in a fixed location, there is a high possibility that the same light source will be captured in the same shooting direction, so the shooting direction in which flicker was detected in the past is associated with the flicker countermeasure mode. This makes it possible to increase the accuracy of switching the control mode in this embodiment.

[0034] Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of control mode switching processing executed by CPU 108 in the second embodiment. In the flowchart of Fig. 4, the same processing steps as in the flowchart of Fig. 2 are given the same reference numerals as in Fig. 2, and their explanations will be omitted. The flowchart of Fig. 4 differs from the flowchart of Fig. 2 in that it includes step S300 as processing by CPU 108.

[0035] In the second embodiment, if flicker is detected by DSP 106 in step S101, CPU 108 associates the flicker detection result with the shooting direction based on the position information of the PT of the camera platform at that time and stores them in memory 105. Then, if CPU 108 determines in step S104 that the PT movement amount is equal to or greater than the movement amount threshold, CPU 108 advances the process to step S300.

[0036] In step S300, CPU 108 determines whether the current shooting direction based on the position information of the PT of camera platform 109 is the shooting direction stored in memory 105 in association with a flicker detection result in which flicker was previously detected. If CPU 108 determines that the current shooting direction is the shooting direction in which flicker was previously detected, CPU 108 returns the process to step S102. That is, even if the PT movement amount becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined movement amount threshold, CPU 108 maintains the flicker countermeasure mode without switching the control mode to the normal mode if the current shooting direction is the shooting direction in which flicker was previously detected. On the other hand, if CPU 108 determines in step S300 that the current shooting direction is not the shooting direction in which flicker was previously detected, CPU 108 proceeds to step S105 and operates imaging system 100 in the normal mode.

[0037] In this way, in the second embodiment, even if the PT movement amount becomes equal to or greater than the movement amount threshold, if the shooting direction at that time is the same as the shooting direction in which flicker was previously detected, the flicker reduction or removal can be continued by maintaining the flicker reduction mode. As a result, according to the second embodiment, it is possible to more appropriately switch between the flicker reduction mode and the normal mode.

[0038] <Modification of the second embodiment> As a first modification of the second embodiment, CPU 108 may further take time information into account when determining in step S300 whether the shooting direction has previously detected flicker. Even when maintaining the flicker reduction mode as in the second embodiment, the light source may change over time. For example, the light source may change when night turns to day. For this reason, as a first modification of the second embodiment, CPU 108 temporarily switches the control mode to the normal mode when, for example, a predetermined time threshold or more has elapsed while maintaining the flicker reduction mode. In this way, by also taking time information into account, the accuracy of determining whether the light source has changed to one that does not cause flicker can be increased.

[0039] Furthermore, as a second modification of the second embodiment, if flicker is detected again after switching to normal mode as described above, CPU 108 may change the predetermined time threshold based on the time from when the mode was switched to normal until the flicker was redetected. For example, if the time until flicker is redetected after switching to normal mode is longer than before, CPU 108 may increase the predetermined time threshold in accordance with the increased time. Conversely, if the time until flicker is redetected after switching to normal mode is shorter than before, CPU 108 may decrease the predetermined time threshold in accordance with the increased time. This makes it possible to set the time threshold in accordance with the length of time until the light source changes. For example, it is possible to accommodate cases where the light source switching time changes due to changes in the nighttime hours caused by the seasons.

[0040] Furthermore, there are cases where the time during which a light source such as a fluorescent lamp is turned on is determined depending on the time period. Taking such a case into consideration, as a third modification of the second embodiment, CPU 108 may store information on the time period in which flicker was previously detected in memory 105 as a determination condition for maintaining the flicker reduction mode. For example, CPU 108 may maintain the flicker reduction mode in a shooting direction in which flicker was previously detected and for a predetermined time period (e.g., ±1 hour) before and after the time when the flicker was detected. Furthermore, for example, CPU 108 may maintain the flicker reduction mode only during nighttime hours in a shooting direction in which flicker was previously detected and for a time period during which the flicker was detected, for example. This further improves the accuracy of determining whether the light source has been changed to one that does not generate flicker in the shooting environment.

[0041] <Third embodiment> Next, a description will be given of an imaging system 100 according to a third embodiment. The configuration of the imaging system 100 according to the third embodiment is the same as the configuration shown in Fig. 1, and therefore illustration and description thereof will be omitted. In the third embodiment, an example will be described in which the flicker reduction mode is maintained when the imaging system 100 is tracking a specific subject, for example. When tracking a specific subject, it is highly likely that the imaging system 100 is capturing an image of the specific subject that the user is focusing on. Furthermore, for example, while tracking the specific subject, it is highly likely that PT drive of the camera platform 109 will be performed to continue tracking the subject. In the case of the first embodiment described above, if the PT movement amount exceeds a predetermined movement amount while tracking the specific subject, the control mode is switched from the flicker reduction mode to the normal mode. However, the shooting environment of the specific subject may still be one in which flicker occurs. In this case, there is a concern that switching to the normal mode may be affected by flicker, reducing the visibility of the specific subject and making it impossible to track the subject (leading to tracking loss). For this reason, the CPU 108 of the third embodiment prioritizes and maintains the flicker reduction mode when tracking a specific subject, even if the PT movement amount exceeds a predetermined movement amount. The example of the third embodiment is applicable not only to the example of the first embodiment described above, but also to each modified example of the first embodiment, the second embodiment, and each modified example of the second embodiment.

[0042] Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of control mode switching processing executed by CPU 108 in the third embodiment. In the flowchart of Fig. 5, the same processing steps as in the flowchart of Fig. 2 are given the same reference numerals as in Fig. 2, and their explanations will be omitted. The flowchart of Fig. 5 differs from the flowchart of Fig. 2 in that it includes step S400 as processing by CPU 108.

[0043] In the third embodiment, if it is determined in step S104 that the PT movement amount is equal to or greater than the movement amount threshold, the processing of the CPU 108 proceeds to step S400. In step S400, CPU 108 determines whether or not a specific subject is being tracked. If CPU 108 determines that a specific subject is not being tracked, it proceeds to step S105, whereas if it determines that a subject is being tracked, it returns to step S102. As a result, if a specific subject is being tracked, the flicker reduction mode is maintained.

[0044] According to the third embodiment, by maintaining the flicker reduction mode while tracking a subject, it is possible to avoid a decrease in visibility or a loss of tracking due to the influence of flicker while tracking a subject. That is, according to the third embodiment, when a specific subject is being tracked, it is possible to more appropriately switch between the flicker reduction mode and the normal mode.

[0045] The present invention can also be realized by providing a program that implements one or more of the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and having one or more processors in the computer of the system or device read and execute the program. It can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., an ASIC) that implements one or more functions. The above-described embodiments are merely examples of specific embodiments for implementing the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited by them. In other words, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from its technical concept or main features.

[0046] The disclosure of each embodiment includes the following configurations, methods, and programs. (Configuration 1) an acquisition means for acquiring a shooting direction; a setting means for setting the control mode to either a first control mode in which a predetermined flicker countermeasure process is performed or a second control mode in which the flicker countermeasure process is not performed based on the shooting direction; An imaging control device comprising: (Configuration 2) 2. The imaging control device according to configuration 1, wherein the acquisition means acquires a shooting direction determined by at least one of panning and tilting, or a shooting direction that is registered as a preset. (Configuration 3) 3. The imaging control device according to configuration 2, wherein the acquisition means further acquires the imaging direction including an angle of view determined by zooming. (Configuration 4) 4. The imaging control device according to any one of configurations 1 to 3, wherein the second control mode is a control mode in which signal processing is performed that prioritizes the image quality of the captured image. (Configuration 5) 5. The imaging control device according to any one of configurations 1 to 4, wherein the setting means switches the control mode to the second control mode when the amount of movement when the shooting direction changes becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined movement amount threshold value, when the control mode is the first control mode. (Configuration 6) The imaging control device according to configuration 5, wherein the setting means switches the control mode to the second control mode when the control mode is the first control mode, and when the amount of movement when the shooting direction changes becomes equal to or greater than the movement amount threshold, and when the amount of change in brightness or color temperature of the captured image becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined change amount threshold. (Configuration 7) The imaging control device according to configuration 6, wherein the setting means maintains the first control mode until a predetermined time has elapsed since the amount of change in the brightness or the amount of change in the color temperature of the captured image became equal to or greater than the change amount threshold. (Configuration 8) The imaging control device according to any one of configurations 1 to 7, wherein the setting means maintains the first control mode when a subject is being tracked based on the captured image in the first control mode. (Configuration 9) 9. The imaging control device according to any one of configurations 1 to 8, wherein the setting means changes the imaging direction or parameter settings for image capture based on an external instruction. (Configuration 10) a detecting means for detecting flicker contained in the photographing environment in the photographing direction; 10. The imaging control device according to any one of configurations 1 to 9, wherein the setting means sets the control mode to the first control mode when flicker is detected in the imaging environment in the imaging direction. (Configuration 11) the detecting means acquires a blinking cycle of the detected flicker, The imaging control device according to configuration 10, characterized in that the flicker countermeasure processing performed in the first control mode is a countermeasure processing of setting the shutter speed during imaging to an integer multiple of the blinking cycle of the flicker, or a countermeasure processing of performing signal processing on the captured image data in accordance with the blinking cycle of the flicker. (Configuration 12) 12. The imaging control device according to claim 10, wherein the setting means maintains the control mode in the first control mode in the imaging direction in which the flicker was previously detected by the detection means. (Configuration 13) The imaging control device according to configuration 12, characterized in that the setting means switches to the second control mode when the time during which the first control mode is maintained in the shooting direction in which the flicker was previously detected by the detection means becomes equal to or longer than a predetermined time threshold. (Configuration 14) The imaging control device according to configuration 13, characterized in that, when the flicker is detected again by the detection means after switching from the first control mode to the second control mode, the setting means sets the time threshold based on the time from switching to the second control mode to the re-detection of the flicker. (Configuration 15) The imaging control device according to any one of configurations 12 to 14, characterized in that the setting means switches the control mode to the second control mode even in the shooting direction in which the flicker was previously detected by the detection means, during a time period different from the time in which the flicker was previously detected. (Method 1) an acquisition step of acquiring a shooting direction; a setting step of setting a control mode to either a first control mode in which a predetermined flicker countermeasure process is performed or a second control mode in which the flicker countermeasure process is not performed based on the shooting direction; An imaging control method comprising: (Program 1) A program that causes a computer to function as the imaging control device according to any one of configurations 1 to 15. [Explanation of symbols]

[0047] 100: Imaging system, 101: Imaging optical system, 102: Imaging element, 105: Memory, 106: DSP, 107: Output unit, 108: CPU, 109: Platform, 110: Input unit

Claims

1. an acquisition means for acquiring a shooting direction; a setting means for setting a control mode to either a first control mode in which a predetermined flicker countermeasure process is performed or a second control mode in which the flicker countermeasure process is not performed, based on the shooting direction; An imaging control device comprising:

2. 2. The imaging control device according to claim 1, wherein the acquisition means acquires a shooting direction determined by at least one of panning and tilting, or a preset shooting direction.

3. 3. The imaging control device according to claim 2, wherein the acquisition means further acquires the imaging direction including an angle of view determined by zooming.

4. 2. The imaging control device according to claim 1, wherein the second control mode is a control mode in which signal processing is performed that prioritizes the image quality of the captured image.

5. 2. The imaging control device according to claim 1, wherein, when the control mode is the first control mode, the setting means switches the control mode to the second control mode when a movement amount when the shooting direction is changed becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined movement amount threshold.

6. 6. The imaging control device according to claim 5, wherein the setting means switches the control mode to the second control mode when, in the first control mode, the amount of movement when the shooting direction changes becomes equal to or greater than the movement amount threshold and the amount of change in brightness or color temperature of the captured image becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined change amount threshold.

7. 7. The imaging control device according to claim 6, wherein the setting means maintains the first control mode until a predetermined time has elapsed since the amount of change in the brightness or the amount of change in the color temperature of the captured image became equal to or greater than the change amount threshold.

8. 2. The imaging control device according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit maintains the first control mode when a subject is being tracked based on the image captured in the first control mode.

9. 2. The imaging control device according to claim 1, wherein the setting means changes the imaging direction or the parameter settings for imaging an image based on an external instruction.

10. a detecting means for detecting flicker contained in the photographing environment in the photographing direction; 10. The imaging control device according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit sets the control mode to the first control mode when flicker is detected in the imaging environment in the imaging direction.

11. the detecting means acquires a blinking cycle of the detected flicker, The imaging control device according to claim 10, characterized in that the flicker countermeasure processing performed in the first control mode is a countermeasure processing that sets the shutter speed during imaging to an integer multiple of the blinking period of the flicker, or a countermeasure processing that performs signal processing on the captured image data in accordance with the blinking period of the flicker.

12. 11. The imaging control device according to claim 10, wherein the setting means maintains the control mode in the first control mode in the imaging direction in which the flicker was previously detected by the detection means.

13. 13. The imaging control device according to claim 12, wherein the setting unit switches to the second control mode when the time during which the first control mode is maintained in the imaging direction in which the flicker was previously detected by the detection unit becomes equal to or exceeds a predetermined time threshold.

14. 14. The imaging control device according to claim 13, wherein, when the flicker is detected again by the detection means after switching from the first control mode to the second control mode, the setting means sets the time threshold based on the time from switching to the second control mode to the re-detection of the flicker.

15. 13. The imaging control device according to claim 12, wherein the setting means switches the control mode to the second control mode even in the shooting direction in which the flicker was previously detected by the detection means, during a time period different from the time in which the flicker was previously detected.

16. an acquisition step of acquiring a shooting direction; a setting step of setting a control mode to either a first control mode in which a predetermined flicker countermeasure process is performed or a second control mode in which the flicker countermeasure process is not performed based on the shooting direction; An imaging control method comprising:

17. Computer, an acquisition means for acquiring a shooting direction; a setting means for setting a control mode to either a first control mode in which a predetermined flicker countermeasure process is performed or a second control mode in which the flicker countermeasure process is not performed, based on the shooting direction; A program that causes the imaging control device to function as an imaging control device having the above.

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