Image Pickup Apparatus Adaptive Light Control Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image pickup apparatuses face delays in main light emission due to time-consuming face area detection during preliminary light emission, especially in low-luminance conditions, leading to reduced detection accuracy.
Innovation Solution
An image pickup apparatus that selectively obtains images of different resolutions for photometry, allowing for switching between high-resolution and low-resolution based light control processing to reduce the time required for main light emission, while improving face detection accuracy by performing face detection on preliminary light emission images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If face area detection is performed during preliminary light emission, then light control accuracy is improved, but time required before main light emission increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the light control processing adaptive based on detected conditions. When a face area is detected during preliminary light emission, the system dynamically switches to face-centered light control mode; otherwise, it uses general light control mode. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by only performing time-consuming face detection when it actually improves accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the processing parameters based on detection results. If face area detection succeeds during preliminary light emission, the system changes the light control parameters to center on the detected face area. If detection fails or time is insufficient, it maintains general light control parameters. This parameter switching resolves the contradiction between detection accuracy and time consumption.
2Measurement precision
If high-resolution images are used for photometry, then photometry accuracy is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by performing face area detection selectively rather than always. Face detection is performed only when conditions during preliminary light emission indicate it will improve the result. Otherwise, the system uses partial processing (general light control without detailed face detection), reducing time while maintaining sufficient accuracy for the situation.
Data Source
AI summary
An image pickup apparatus that performs, when photographing an object, photographing by causing a light emission device to emit light to the object. A photometry sensor selectively obtains a first image having a first resolution and a second image having a second resolution lower than the first resolution, as a photometric image, and performs photometry using the obtained photometric image to thereby obtain a result of photometry. When performing light control processing for determining a main light emission amount for causing the light emission device to perform main light emission for photographing the object, the light control is switched between first control for performing light control processing based on the first image and second control for performing light control processing based on the second image, according to a result of determination of whether or not a predetermined condition is satisfied.