Image capture device, image capture device control method and program

Abstract

To make it possible to bring an imaging apparatus from a standby state to a state capable of immediately taking pictures, and suppress power consumption.SOLUTION: When an imaging apparatus is on standby for a series of imaging, the imaging apparatus operates in a fast recoverable state in which it can immediately image. After a certain period of time has elapsed, the imaging apparatus shifts from the fast recoverable state to a power saving state in which power consumption is reduced compared to the fast recoverable state. Then, in the fast recoverable state, adjustment items are set to auto, and in the power saving state, the adjustment operation of the adjustment items is suspended. Also, when returning to a state in which a series of imaging is capable, if it is in the fast recoverable state, the adjustment item is kept auto, and if it is in the power saving state, the adjustment items are returned to values before the standby state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an imaging device, a control method for an imaging device, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, surveillance camera systems using a network have become widespread. Surveillance camera systems are used in a wide range of fields, including large public institutions and small stores, and there are various ways of operating them. In particular, surveillance cameras that use a network are called network cameras. Network cameras come in a variety of functional features to suit different operating modes. For example, there are network cameras that can freely change the shooting direction, such as panning and tilting, and box-type network cameras that cannot change the shooting direction but can take high-magnification zoom shots. As a new use case for network cameras, there is an increasing number of cases where network cameras are used for filming in television studios rather than for surveillance. If network cameras are to be used in such a use case, they must also have the same functions as existing television cameras. For example, a typical unique function of existing television cameras is the standby state. In the standby state, the camera is waiting to shoot, and a lamp called a tally lamp is used to notify the user that the television camera is not shooting, to inform the TV program performers and producers. In the standby state, the camera usually does not capture images, from the viewpoint of power saving. For this reason, when the camera is released from the standby state, new settings related to the image capture are required to start capturing images again, and it takes a long time before the camera can capture a series of images. In view of this, several techniques have been proposed to quickly start shooting when an imaging device returns from a standby state to a shooting state, and to reduce power consumption in the standby state. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for shortening the time until an image of a subject is formed by increasing the amount of exposure to an image sensor when an imaging device transitions to a standby state and is released from the standby state, thereby shortening the time until shooting can begin. Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for recording settings such as focus and aperture when a lens is attached to an interchangeable lens imaging device when the lens is attached or detached, and reflecting the settings in the imaging device when the lens is attached again. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2007-336117 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2019-24259 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the technology disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, the time until an image is formed is shortened by increasing the amount of exposure to the image sensor, but the time until an actual series of shooting can be started is not sufficiently shortened because the aperture and focus must be adjusted after that. Also, in the technology disclosed in Patent Document 2, when the lens is reattached, if environmental information such as the subject and lighting environment has changed, the focus and aperture of the imaging device must be adjusted again. In such a case, it takes a long time before a series of shooting can be started.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to enable an imaging apparatus to quickly switch from a standby state to a state in which it is capable of capturing images, while suppressing power consumption. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An imaging device according to the present invention is an imaging device having an imaging means for imaging an object, the imaging device including a first setting means for transitioning the imaging device from a standby state before a predetermined process related to an image captured by the imaging means is started to a state in which the predetermined process is performed, and a second setting means for setting the imaging device in the standby state in accordance with an environment of the object. Then, the imaging means captures an image. a second setting means for setting the imaging device to a first state; and in the standby state, Stopping the imaging by the imaging means and a third setting means for switching the imaging device to a second state which has reduced power consumption compared to the first state, wherein the third setting means transitions the imaging device to the second state when a certain time has elapsed since the imaging device entered the first state. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to quickly switch an imaging device from a standby state to a state where it is ready to capture images, and to reduce power consumption. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of an imaging apparatus according to an embodiment; [Diagram 2] 1 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure of an imaging apparatus according to an embodiment. [Diagram 3] 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of an imaging apparatus according to an embodiment; [Figure 4] FIG. 13 illustrates an example of a high speed recovery enabling state setting unit according to the embodiment; [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a power saving state setting unit according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process for returning from a standby state according to an embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of setting values ​​when returning from a standby state in the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of an image capture device 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the image capture device 100. The image capture device 100 has a CPU 11, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, a HDD 14, an input unit 15, a display unit 16, a communication unit 17, an image capture unit 18, and a bus 19. The CPU 11 reads out a control program stored in the ROM 12 and executes various processes. The RAM 13 is used as a temporary storage area such as the main memory and work area of ​​the CPU 11. The HDD 14 stores various data and programs. The input unit 15 has a keyboard and a mouse, and accepts various operations by the user. The display unit 16 displays various information. The communication unit 17 performs communication processing with an external device via a network. As another example, the communication unit 17 may perform communication with an external device wirelessly. The functions and processes of the imaging device 100 described below are realized by the CPU 11 reading and executing a program stored in the ROM 12 or the HDD 14. As another example, the CPU 11 may read a program stored in a recording medium such as an SD card instead of the ROM 12. In this embodiment, the imaging device 100 is configured such that one processor (CPU 11) executes each process shown in the flowcharts described later using one memory (ROM 12), but other configurations are also possible. For example, each process shown in the flowcharts described later can be executed by using multiple processors, multiple RAMs, ROMs, and storages in cooperation with each other. Also, some of the processes can be executed using hardware circuits. Also, functions and processes of the imaging device 100 described later can be realized using a processor other than a CPU. (For example, a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) can be used instead of a CPU.) The imaging unit 18 has an image sensor and converts the light obtained from the lens unit 110 into an electrical signal to generate an image.

[0010] Next, the functional configuration of the imaging device 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 1. The imaging device 100 can be equipped with a lens unit 110, and has an imaging unit 101, an imaging adjustment unit 102, a standby state setting unit 103, a return setting unit 104, and a power saving setting unit 105. The imaging unit 101 develops an image formed on an image sensor by the imaging device 100 through the lens unit 110. Then, a video is generated and recorded on the HDD 14, or distributed to an external device such as a personal computer (PC) 300. The imaging adjustment unit 102 adjusts the video developed by the imaging unit 101. The types of adjustment items will be described later. The standby state setting unit 103 receives an instruction to transition the imaging device 100 to a standby state. Here, the standby state is a standby state before the imaging device 100 is in a state where imaging of a subject is performed but the image is not distributed. The state where imaging is performed is a state where a series of processes from imaging of a subject to generating an image and distributing (or recording) the generated image are possible. When the imaging device 100 is placed in a standby state by the standby state setting unit 103, the return setting unit 104 places the imaging device 100 in a state where rapid return is possible. Here, the rapid return state is a state where imaging can be started quickly when the imaging device 100 returns from the standby state to a state where imaging is performed during the standby state. A detailed explanation will be given later. The power saving setting unit 105 puts the imaging device 100 into a power saving state when the imaging device 100 is put into a standby state by the standby state setting unit 103. Here, the power saving state is a standby state in which the functions of the imaging device are put into a halt state as much as possible, and the power consumption of the entire imaging device 100 is reduced. A detailed description will be given later. The above is a description of the configuration of this embodiment, and in explaining the contents below, this embodiment will be described according to the functional configuration of FIG.

[0011] Next, a processing procedure of the imaging device 100 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, in step S200, in response to a command from the user to cause the imaging device 100 to transition to a standby state, the standby state setting unit 103 transitions the imaging device 100 to a standby state. Here, the command method will be described with reference to FIG. A method for instructing the imaging device 100 to enter a standby state from the user side includes, for example, a method of instructing using a PC 300. When using the PC 300, instructions are generally given via an application compatible with the imaging device or an Internet browser, and instructions can also be given using a remote controller (remote control) 301. If the remote control 301 has a button for transitioning to a standby state, the user can instruct the standby state by pressing the transition button. The remote control 301 may be in the form of, for example, a television remote control that does not have an LCD screen and can be operated only with buttons, or it may be a terminal that can be operated while checking an LCD screen, such as a tablet PC or a smartphone. When the imaging device 100 transitions to the standby state, the imaging unit 101 stops only the distribution of the video and continues only the imaging. Note that the image may be displayed as a real-time video on the display unit 16 of the imaging device 100 in a state where the distribution of the video is stopped.

[0012] Next, in step 201, the standby state setting unit 103 notifies the return setting unit 104 of the transition to a standby state. After that, in step S202, the return setting unit 104 accepts the notification from the standby state setting unit 103 and controls the imaging adjustment unit 102 to transition the imaging device 100 to a high-speed returnable state. Here, the notification and control method will be described with reference to FIG.

[0013] First, a notification is sent from the standby state setting unit 103 to the return setting unit 104. Upon receiving the notification, the return setting unit 104 instructs the imaging adjustment unit 102 to make adjustments related to imaging. The adjustment items will be described with reference to table 403 in FIG. In table 403, "focus", "aperture", and "saturation" are given as examples of adjustment items, but the types of adjustment items are not limited to these. Also, the setting value before adjustment indicates the setting value of the imaging device 100 before an instruction is given from the restoration setting unit 104 to the imaging adjustment unit 102. The setting value after adjustment indicates the setting value of the imaging device 100 after an instruction is given from the restoration setting unit 104 to the imaging adjustment unit 102. In this embodiment, in order to start shooting quickly after the standby state is released, the adjusted setting value is set to "auto" in which the imaging device 100 automatically sets the value according to the subject, and adjustments are made so that the setting value always matches the environment of the subject. Here, the setting value that was "auto" before adjustment, such as "focus" in table 403, is carried over as is. In contrast, the settings that were manual settings or fixed values, such as aperture and saturation, are changed to "auto." The setting value after adjustment may not be set to "Auto". For example, if the setting value of "Aperture" is adjusted "Manual" and you do not want to change the setting value, you may leave the setting value after adjustment as "Manual". Also, if "Auto" does not exist as a setting value after adjustment, the setting value before adjustment may be used. In principle, imaging by the imaging unit 101 is continued in the high-speed recovery state in order to start imaging quickly, but imaging by the imaging unit 101 may be stopped in the high-speed recovery state in order to reduce power consumption.

[0014] Next, in step S203, the return setting unit 104 determines whether or not a certain time has elapsed since the imaging device 100 transitioned to a high-speed returnable state in step S202. This certain time may be a value previously specified by the manufacturer of the imaging device 100, or a set value input from the PC 300 or the remote control 301 when the user instructs the imaging device 100 to transition to a standby state. Alternatively, it may be a value previously set by the user via the input unit 15 of the imaging device. If the return setting unit 104 determines that the certain time has elapsed, it advances the process to step S204. On the other hand, if the return setting unit 104 determines that the certain time has not elapsed, it returns the process to step S202.

[0015] Next, in step S204, the standby state setting unit 103 notifies the power saving setting unit 105 of transition to a power saving state. After that, in step S205, the power saving setting unit 105 accepts the notification from the standby state setting unit 103 and controls the imaging adjustment unit 102 to transition the imaging device 100 from the high speed recovery possible state to the power saving state. Here, a notification and control method will be described with reference to FIG. 5. First, a notification is sent from the standby state setting unit 103 to the power saving setting unit 105. Upon receiving the notification, the power saving setting unit 105 instructs the imaging adjustment unit 102 to make adjustments related to imaging. The adjustment items will be described with reference to table 503 in FIG. In table 503, "focus", "aperture", and "saturation" are given as examples of adjustment items, but the types of adjustment items are not limited to these. Also, the setting value before adjustment indicates the setting value of the imaging device 100 before an instruction is given from the power saving setting unit 105 to the imaging adjustment unit 102. The setting value after adjustment indicates the setting value of the imaging device 100 after an instruction is given from the power saving setting unit 105 to the imaging adjustment unit 102. Here, in order to achieve the power saving state, the functions of the imaging device 100 are put into a pause state as much as possible, and the power consumption of the entire imaging device 100 is reduced. For this reason, after the adjustment, the automatic adjustment of the setting value is set to pause, and the power consumption is set to be reduced as much as possible. In other words, the automatic adjustment operations of "focus", "aperture", and "saturation" are suspended. Note that adjustment items other than those controllable by the imaging adjustment unit 102 may be set to a power saving state. For example, in an imaging device equipped with a tripod head, the operation of a tripod head adjustment unit (not shown) that adjusts the operation of the tripod head may be restricted to set the imaging device to a power saving state. Also, for example, in an imaging device equipped with a function of projecting infrared lighting, the projection of infrared lighting may be restricted to an infrared lighting adjustment unit (not shown) that adjusts the light intensity of the infrared lighting to set the imaging device to a power saving state. If there are any other setting items that can reduce power consumption compared to when the imaging device is operating normally, the settings are set to reduce power consumption. In principle, image capture is stopped in the power saving state in order to reduce power consumption, but if it is desired to start image capture as soon as possible, image capture may be continued in the power saving state. The above is the processing procedure of the imaging device according to this embodiment shown in FIG.

[0016] Next, a process performed when the imaging device 100 returns from a standby state to a state in which imaging is performed will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, in step S600, the standby state setting unit 103 receives an instruction from the user to cancel the standby state of the imaging device 100. The method of issuing the instruction to cancel is the same as the method described in the process in step S200 of FIG. 2 in which the user instructs the imaging device to transition to the standby state. Next, in step S601, the standby state setting unit 103 instructs a return from the currently set state. The procedure of the instruction will be described with reference to FIG. 7. The standby state setting unit 103 issues an instruction according to the currently set state. For example, if the imaging device is in a high speed possible state, an instruction is issued to the return setting unit 104. Also, for example, if the imaging device is in a power saving state, an instruction is issued to the power saving setting unit 105. Each instruction will be described.

[0017] When the imaging device is in a state where a rapid recovery is possible, the recovery setting unit 104, which has received an instruction from the standby state setting unit 103, instructs the imaging adjustment unit 102 on the setting value of the imaging device after the standby state is released. For example, in table 703 in Fig. 7, the setting value of the rapid recovery state of each adjustment item is "auto", and since the adjustment value is suitable for the shooting environment and subject at the time of release, the setting value after the standby state is released is to be maintained as "auto". On the other hand, when the imaging device is in a power saving state, the power saving setting unit 105, which has received an instruction from the standby state setting unit 103, instructs the imaging adjustment unit 102 on the setting values ​​of the imaging device after the standby state is released. For example, in table 704 in FIG. 7, the setting values ​​of the power saving state of each adjustment item are set to "pause", so it is necessary to return from pause to start imaging. FIG. 7 illustrates an example in which the setting values ​​before the imaging device 100 goes into standby state are set as the setting values ​​after standby is released. The setting values ​​before the standby state reflect the user's intention as the shooting conditions most. For this reason, when returning from the power saving state, it is better to use the setting values ​​before the standby state that were originally set by the user, rather than the setting values ​​for quickly starting shooting. However, in some cases, the setting values ​​of all adjustment items may be set to "auto", as in the case of release from a state where high-speed recovery is possible. These setting values ​​are set through the imaging adjustment unit 102. Finally, in step S602, the standby state setting unit 103 releases the imaging device 100 from the standby state. Specifically, if imaging has been stopped, the imaging unit 101 resumes imaging and video distribution, etc. Also, if only imaging has been continued, video distribution, etc. is resumed. Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

[0018] As described above, according to this embodiment, the imaging device is in a high-speed recovery state until a certain time has passed since the imaging device transitioned to the standby state, so that imaging can be started quickly when the imaging device returns from the standby state to a state where imaging is performed. Before the certain time has passed, there are many situations where imaging is desired to be started immediately, so for example, by setting all adjustment items to "auto", imaging can be immediately started under conditions suitable for the environment even when imaging is resumed. In addition, since there are fewer situations where imaging is desired to be started immediately after the certain time has passed, the imaging device is set to a power-saving state in which power consumption is reduced as much as possible, such as by setting all adjustment items to "pause", so that the power consumption of the imaging device can be reduced. As described above, it is possible to achieve both power saving and improved responsiveness of the imaging device, improving user convenience.

[0019] (Other embodiments) The present invention can also be realized by a process in which a program for implementing one or more of the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or device read and execute the program. The present invention can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that implements one or more of the functions. [Explanation of symbols]

[0020] 103 standby state setting section, 104 return setting section, 105 power saving setting section

Claims

1. An imaging device having an imaging means for imaging a subject, a first setting means for shifting the imaging device from a standby state before a predetermined process related to an image captured by the imaging means is started to a state in which the predetermined process is performed; a second setting means for setting the imaging device in the standby state in accordance with an environment of the subject to a first state in which imaging is performed by the imaging means; a third setting means for setting the imaging device to a second state in which power consumption is reduced as compared to the first state by stopping imaging by the imaging means in the standby state, The third setting means transitions the imaging device to the second state when a certain time has elapsed since the imaging device was in the first state.

1. An imaging device comprising:

2. The certain period of time is set by the user.

2. The imaging device according to claim 1 .

3. The second setting means continuously adjusts, in the first state, a setting value related to the imaging means to match a condition according to an environment of the subject.

3. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second lenses are arranged in a first direction.

4. When the imaging device is shifted to the second state, adjustment of the setting value related to the imaging means is interrupted.

4. The imaging device according to claim 3.

5. In the first state, when the first setting means returns the predetermined processing state from the standby state, the second setting means sets a setting value related to the imaging means to a setting value in the first state.

5. The imaging device according to claim 3, wherein the first and second lenses are arranged in a first direction.

6. In the second state, when the imaging device returns from the standby state to a state in which the predetermined process is performed, the first setting means sets a setting value related to the imaging device to a setting value before the imaging device was shifted to the standby state.

6. The imaging device according to claim 3, wherein the imaging device is a first imaging device.

7. The predetermined process includes at least one of distributing the video captured by the imaging means and recording the video captured by the imaging means.

7. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the imaging device is a single-portion imaging device.

8. 1. A control method for controlling an imaging device having an imaging means for imaging a subject, comprising: a first setting step of shifting the imaging device from a standby state before starting a predetermined process related to an image captured by the imaging means to a state in which the predetermined process is performed; a second setting step of setting the imaging device in the standby state in accordance with an environment of the subject to a first state in which imaging is performed by the imaging means; a third setting step of stopping imaging by the imaging means in the standby state and setting the imaging device to a second state in which power consumption is reduced as compared to the first state, In the third setting step, when a certain time has elapsed since the imaging device was in the first state, the imaging device is shifted to the second state. A control method comprising:

9. A program for controlling an imaging device having an imaging means for imaging a subject, a first setting step of shifting the imaging device from a standby state before starting a predetermined process related to an image captured by the imaging means to a state in which the predetermined process is performed; a second setting step of setting the imaging device in the standby state in accordance with an environment of the subject to a first state in which imaging is performed by the imaging means; a third setting step of stopping image capture by the image capture means in the standby state and setting the imaging device to a second state in which power consumption is reduced as compared to the first state; on the computer, In the third setting step, when a certain time has elapsed since the imaging device was in the first state, the imaging device is shifted to the second state. A program characterized by:

Images