Television – Object tracking
Reexamination Certificate
1996-04-05
2001-01-09
Garber, Wendy (Department: 2712)
Television
Object tracking
C348S347000, C348S352000, C382S118000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06172706
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a video camera which stores moving images into a storage medium, image processing apparatus and image control apparatus.
Recently, along with the development of image processing technologies and the diffusion of video cameras, automation of various adjustment mechanisms for the video cameras has progressed. Actually, video cameras having automated mechanisms such as white-balance adjustment, exposure adjustment and auto-focus function are manufactured. However, in zoom adjustment, i.e., control of the subject image size within an image-sensing screen, an operator's intention should be the first priority, therefore, a video camera capable of automatic zoom adjustment has not appeared on the market.
Considering a case where a video camera is most likely used for taking portraits, e.g., a presentation or a teleconference, as one of the purposes of video cameras, the image-sensing screen usually displays the upper part of a body (bust shot). In such case, it is preferable that a subject image displayed on the image-sensing screen always has approximately the same size. For this reason, a video camera that automatically performs zoom adjustment upon image sensing the upper part of a body is desired.
Also, a video camera that has a pan head with automatic homing function so as to locate the upper parts of the bodies to approximately the same position, e.g., the center of the image-sensing screen is desired. However, to provide these video cameras, problems such as complexity in recognition of a subject person, low recognition efficiency and costs must be solved.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above situation, and has its object to provide a video camera, image processing apparatus and image control apparatus which can easily obtain a portrait of a subject.
According to the present invention, the foregoing object is attained by providing a video camera having:
a zoom lens capable of varying its focal distance; image sensing means for image-sensing a subject via the zoom lens and outputting a video signal of the subject;
and signal processing means for converting the video signal into a display signal, comprising:
light projection means for projecting light on the subject at fixed time intervals;
memory means for storing the video signal outputted by the image sensing means;
calculation means for calculating a feature of the subject based on the video signal stored in the memory means and the video signal outputted by the image sensing means; and
zoom driving means for driving the zoom lens such that the feature of the subject is a pre-stored first predetermined value.
In accordance with the present invention as described above, the focal distance of the zoom lens is controlled such that a feature of the subject is the first predetermined value, and the image-sensing screen always displays a subject image in approximately the same size.
Further, the foregoing object is attained by providing a video camera having:
image sensing means for image-sensing a subject and outputting a video signal of the subject; and
signal processing means for converting the video signal into a display signal, comprising:
light projection means for projecting light on the subject at fixed intervals;
memory means for storing the video signal outputted by the image sensing means;
calculation means for calculating a value of a feature of the subject based on the video signal stored in the memory means and the video signal outputted by the image sensing means; and
pan head control means for controlling an external pan head or pan head of the video camera for changing a direction of the video camera such that the feature of the subject is a pre-stored second predetermined value.
In accordance with the present invention as described above, the pan head is controlled such that the feature of the subject is the second predetermined value, and the image-sensing screen always displays a subject image approximately at the same position.
Further, the foregoing object is attained by providing a video camera having:
a zoom lens capable of varying its focal distance;
image sensing means for image-sensing a subject via the zoom lens and outputting a video signal of the subject; and
signal processing means for converting the video signal into a display signal, comprising:
light projection means for projecting light on the subject at fixed intervals;
memory means for storing the video signal outputted by the image sensing means;
calculation means for calculating a value of a feature of the subject based on the video signal stored in the memory means and the video signal outputted by the image sensing means;
zoom driving means for driving the zoom lens such that the feature of the subject is a pre-stored third predetermined value; and
pan head control means for controlling an external pan head or pan head of the video camera for changing a direction of the video camera such that the feature of the subject is a pre-stored fourth predetermined value.
In accordance with the present invention as described above, the focal distance of the zoom lens is controlled such that the feature of the subject is the third predetermined value, and the pan head is controlled such that the feature of the subject is the fourth predetermined value, then the image-sensing screen always displays a subject image in approximately the same size, and always displays a subject image approximately at the same position.
Preferably, in the video camera, the subject is a human being, and wherein the feature of the subject is an interval between the subject's eyes.
Preferably, in the video camera, the calculation means extracts light reflected from retinas of the subject's eyes when the light projection means projects light on the subject, and calculates the interval between the subject's eyes based on the extracted light.
Preferably, in the video camera, the calculation means calculates the interval between the subject's eyes based on a reference clock from the image sensing means and horizontal and vertical scanning signals of the video camera.
Preferably, in the video camera, the light projection means projects light having a wavelength within a spectral sensitivity range of the image sensing means.
Preferably, in the video camera, the light projection means projects light having a wavelength within a range of red light signal of the image sensing means.
Preferably, in the video camera, wherein the light is infrared light.
Preferably, in the image processing apparatus, wherein the calculation means calculates an interval between eyes of the subject image.
Further, the foregoing object is attained by providing an image processing apparatus comprising:
detection means for processing an image signal, indicative of an image of a subject, inputted from outside of the apparatus, and detecting an image of an eye of the subject;
calculation means for calculating a change amount of a position and that of a size of the subject in the image of the subject, based on output from the detection means; and
control means for controlling the position and the size of the subject in the image of the subject in accordance with the change amounts calculated by the calculation means.
Preferably, in the image processing apparatus, the calculation means calculates an interval between eyes of the subject image.
Preferably, in the image processing apparatus, the detection means has irradiation means for emitting infrared light, and the detection means detects infrared light reflected from retinas of the subject in the subject image.
Preferably, in the image processing apparatus, the calculation means calculates an interval between eyes of the subject and a change amount of position of the eyes.
Preferably, the image processing apparatus further comprises a camera for image-sensing the subject, and the control means controls a direction of the camera to correct the change amounts.
Preferably, the image processing apparatus further comprises a camera fo
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Garber Wendy
Harrington Alicia M.
Morgan & Finnegan L.L.P.
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