JP2014207580A - Photographing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To protect privacy or the like while maintaining naturalness by controlling photographing parameters.SOLUTION: A photographing apparatus comprises: an imaging unit that outputs a captured image obtained by photographing a subject through a photographing optical system; a parameter control unit that controls one or more photographing parameters of at least one of the photographing optical system and the imaging unit; and a disclosure control unit that converts at least an undisclosed area in the captured image into a blurred image by controlling the one or more photographing parameters in a disclosed mode.

Description

  The present invention relates to a photographing apparatus suitable for photographing a photographed image for public use.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, portable devices (photographing devices) with a photographing function such as digital cameras have various photographing functions by making full use of image processing. Some photographing devices have a communication function, and an image obtained by photographing can be transmitted to another device or a network.

  For example, it is possible to upload a photographed image obtained by photographing the daily life that occurred around you to a network such as the Internet and share it with a third party for enjoyment. However, when photographing a city landscape or the like, a human face or the like may be included in the photographed image unintentionally. If such a photographed image is shared, it is not preferable from the viewpoint of portrait rights and privacy.

  Therefore, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for protecting privacy by applying a mosaic to a face portion in an image.

JP 2009-284235 A

  However, the technique of Patent Document 1 has a problem that an unnatural image is generated because a subject is mosaiced.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a photographing apparatus that can protect privacy and the like while maintaining naturalness by controlling photographing parameters.

  An imaging apparatus according to the present invention controls an imaging unit that outputs a captured image obtained by imaging a subject via an imaging optical system, and one or more imaging parameters of at least one of the imaging optical system and the imaging unit. A parameter control unit, and a disclosure control unit that controls the one or more shooting parameters to make at least a non-public region in the captured image unclear in the disclosure mode.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to protect privacy and the like while maintaining naturalness by controlling shooting parameters.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of a photographing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Explanatory drawing for demonstrating an example of imaging | photography in open mode. Explanatory drawing which shows the example which uses the image image | photographed by the synthetic | combination control part 12e by overexposure as an image of a non-public area | region. Explanatory drawing which shows the change of the image data by such an image composition, taking the position of a screen horizontal direction on a horizontal axis, and taking the level of image data on a vertical axis | shaft. Explanatory drawing for demonstrating an example of the focus control in open mode. Explanatory drawing for demonstrating an example of camera shake control in open mode. Explanatory drawing for demonstrating an example of exposure time control in open mode. The flowchart which shows an example in the case of utilizing each method mentioned above which makes a non-public area | region unclear at least.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a photographing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, for an image to be shown to others, shooting is performed by setting shooting parameters so that an object is relatively difficult to distinguish at the time of shooting from the viewpoint of portrait rights and privacy protection. This makes it possible to easily shoot without paying attention to the shooting target or composition, etc., even when releasing the captured image, by automatically shooting the subject unclearly. It is. Note that only a part of the area in the image may be set as a non-public area, and only the non-public area may be imaged so as to obtain a blurred image that is relatively difficult to discriminate. Further, such a public image may be generated by combining a plurality of captured images captured by changing the imaging parameters.

  In FIG. 1, an imaging device body 10 has an imaging unit 11 constituted by an imaging element such as a CCD or a CMOS sensor. The imaging unit 11 photoelectrically converts a subject image from the interchangeable lens 20 provided on the front surface of the photographing apparatus main body 10 to obtain a captured image signal.

  The interchangeable lens 20 has a photographic optical system 21 that guides a subject image to the imaging unit 11 of the photographic device body 10. The imaging optical system 21 is configured by arranging a plurality of lenses (not shown) on the optical axis from the object side to the imaging surface (image plane) of the imaging unit 11. That is, the photographic optical system 21 includes a focus lens that is moved to set a focus (in-focus) state by focusing and a zoom lens that changes magnification in the focus state. The zoom control unit 21a and the focus control unit 21b are driven and controlled by the drive unit 27 to control the drive of the focus lens and the zoom lens.

  The photographing optical system 21 is also provided with a diaphragm (not shown), and the diaphragm control unit 21c is driven and controlled by the driving unit 27 so as to drive and control the diaphragm.

  The interchangeable lens 20 is provided with an operation unit 22 for driving the zoom and focus lenses. For example, the operation unit 22 is configured by a zoom ring, a focus ring, or the like. The operation unit 22 can also adjust the focus, zoom position, and aperture. The rotation operation determination unit 23 is configured by, for example, a photocoupler or an encoder, and outputs an operation signal based on the rotation operation of the operation unit 22 to the control unit 24.

  The control unit 24 is configured by a microcomputer or the like. The operation signal from the rotation operation determination unit 23 corresponds to the rotation position of the operation unit 22, and the control unit 24 generates a focus signal and a zoom signal corresponding to the rotation position of the operation unit 22 to control the drive unit 27. To do. The drive unit 27 includes a motor or the like, drives each lens to change the lens position, performs zoom control and focus control, and adjusts the aperture.

  The zoom control unit 21 a of the photographing optical system 21 outputs a signal corresponding to the position of the zoom lens (zoom position) to the zoom position determination unit 25. The focus control unit 21 b outputs a signal corresponding to the position of the focus lens to the focus position determination unit 26.

  The zoom position determination unit 25 determines the zoom position based on the output of the zoom control unit 21 a and outputs the determination result to the control unit 24. The focus position determination unit 26 determines the focus position based on the output of the focus control unit 21 b and outputs the determination result to the control unit 24. The control unit 24 receives the determination result of the zoom position and the focus position, and controls the drive unit 27 so that the zoom position and the focus position corresponding to the operation of the operation unit 22 are obtained.

  The interchangeable lens 20 is provided with a communication unit 28. The photographing device main body 10 is provided with a communication unit 13. The communication unit 28 transmits and receives information to and from the communication unit 13 of the photographing apparatus main body 10 via a predetermined transmission path. When communication with the communication unit 13 of the photographing apparatus main body 10 is established, the control unit 24 transmits the lens information stored in the recording unit (not shown), zoom information related to the zoom operation, and the like to the photographing apparatus main body 10 by the communication units 28 and 13. Can be sent.

  Based on these pieces of information, the photographing apparatus body 10 recognizes information about the interchangeable lens 20, for example, what zoom function it has, the focal length range (magnification), focal length, brightness number, etc. of the zoom lens. In addition, the zoom position, the focus position, the aperture state, and the like based on the user's operation can be recognized.

  The control unit 24 is configured to be controlled by the signal processing and control unit 12 by receiving a control signal from the signal processing and control unit 12 of the photographing apparatus main body 10 via the communication units 13 and 28.

  In the present embodiment, various interchangeable lenses can be employed. FIG. 1 shows an example in which an interchangeable lens that can perform zoom control or the like by operating the operation unit 22 is shown. However, zoom control or the like may be performed by an operation on the photographing apparatus body 10 side, or is not replaceable. A lens may be adopted.

  The imaging unit 11 of the imaging apparatus main body 10 is driven and controlled by the signal processing and control unit 12, images a subject via the interchangeable lens 20, and outputs a captured image. The signal processing and control unit 12 outputs a drive signal for the imaging element to the imaging unit 11 and reads a captured image from the imaging unit 11. The signal processing and control unit 12 performs predetermined signal processing, for example, color adjustment processing, matrix conversion processing, noise removal processing, and other various signal processing on the read captured image.

  The signal processing and control unit 12 can compress the captured image after the signal processing and give the compressed image to the recording unit 17 for recording. As the recording unit 17, for example, a card interface can be adopted, and the recording unit 17 can record image information, audio information, and the like on a recording medium such as a memory card.

  Further, the signal processing and control unit 12 can provide the captured image after the signal processing to the display unit 19. The display unit 19 is configured by an LCD (liquid crystal display panel) or the like, and displays an image given from the signal processing and control unit 12.

  In addition, the photographing apparatus main body 10 is provided with a touch panel 19a. For example, by providing the touch panel 19a on the display screen of the display unit 19, an operation signal corresponding to the position on the display screen pointed by the user with a finger can be generated. As a result, the user can also set the subject of interest or the like by a touch operation on an arbitrary point on the captured image displayed on the display screen of the display unit 19. The signal processing and control unit 12 realizes a shooting function based on a user's touch operation by controlling each unit.

  The photographing device body 10 is also provided with an operation determination unit 18. The operation determination unit 18 has a release button (not shown), various switches for setting a shooting mode, and the like, and generates an operation signal based on a user operation and supplies the operation signal to the signal processing and control unit 12. The signal processing and control unit 12 controls each unit based on the operation signal. For example, when the operation signal based on the operation of a switch (not shown) for instructing the disclosure mode is input from the operation determination unit 18, the signal processing and control unit 12 can set the disclosure mode. . Note that, in the disclosure mode of the present embodiment, shooting is controlled so that at least the non-disclosure area is an unclear image.

  Further, the signal processing and control unit 12 may automatically set the public mode when the pan focus mode is set. Further, the signal processing and control unit 12 may set the public mode when the autofocus mode is set or when the release button is completely pressed within a predetermined time (pressed at a stroke).

  In the public mode, the signal processing and control unit 12 performs shooting parameter setting processing for performing unclear imaging. Further, in the public mode, a non-public area determination process, an image composition process, and the like may be performed.

  In order to enable the public mode as described above, the photographing apparatus main body 10 is provided with a temporary storage unit 14 and a non-public area determination unit 16. The temporary storage unit 14 can temporarily store a captured image after signal processing by the signal processing and control unit 12. The temporary storage unit 14 is provided with a composite image storage unit 14a, and a composite image described later is stored in the composite image storage unit 14a.

  The captured image from the signal processing and control unit 12 is also given to the non-public area determination unit 16. The non-public area determination unit 16 detects an unclear image portion (non-public area) from the picked-up image so that a person or the like is shot unclearly in preparation for the release of the picked-up image. ing. For example, the private area determination unit 16 includes a face detection circuit, a character recognition circuit, and the like. The non-public area determination unit 16 can detect the face of a person in the captured image by a known face detection method. For example, the non-public area determination unit 16 may employ a technique of detecting a human face by sequentially comparing a plurality of grayscale images that model facial brightness characteristics with captured images. Note that the range that the private area determination unit 16 detects as the private area is not limited to a human face. For example, the non-public area determination unit 16 may detect not only a person's face but also the entire person as a non-public area, or may detect characters such as a signboard or an address from a captured image, The area may be detected as a non-public area. Furthermore, when a specific area or subject in the image is designated by the user's touch operation on the touch panel 19a, the secret area determination unit 16 may set the area or the area including the subject as a secret area.

  The signal processing and control unit 12 is given the detection result of the private area determination unit 16. The focus control unit 12a, the exposure control unit 12b, and the camera shake control unit 12c of the signal processing and control unit 12 set shooting parameters so that at least a non-public area has a blurred image.

  The focus control unit 12a performs focus control so that at least a hidden area is out of focus. The exposure control unit 12b performs exposure control so that at least the non-public area is overexposed or underexposed. Further, the camera shake control unit 12c performs camera shake control so that camera shake occurs at least in a non-public area.

  Further, the signal processing and control unit 12 may control the shutter speed so that a moving person or the like is imaged unclearly. The signal processing and control unit 12 stores the captured image in the temporary storage unit 14 in the public mode.

  Further, the synthesis control unit 12e of the signal processing and control unit 12 may combine at least a plurality of captured images with the shooting parameters changed so that at least the non-public area becomes an unclear image. Further, the combination control unit 12e may combine a plurality of captured images in which the shooting parameters are changed for the non-public area so that only the non-public area becomes an unclear image. The composite image generated by the composite control of the composite control unit 12e is stored in the composite image storage unit 14a.

  The signal processing and control unit 12 is provided with a contrast determination unit 12d and a reduction control unit 12f. The contrast determination unit 12d is provided with a captured image from the imaging unit 11 or the temporary storage unit 14 or a composite image from the composite image storage unit 14a, and determines a non-public area in these images and the surrounding contrast. The reduction control unit 12f can reduce the image. Based on the contrast determination result of the contrast determination unit 12d, it can be determined whether or not the non-public area is an unclear image. If the reduction control unit 12f determines that the non-public area is not an unclear image based on the contrast determination result, the reduction control unit 12f converts the image into a reduced image.

  The signal processing and control unit 12 provides the recording unit 17 with an image determined to be unclear in the non-public area based on the contrast determination result as an image in the public mode (hereinafter referred to as a public image). . Further, the signal processing and control unit 12 is configured to provide the recording unit 17 with the image reduced by the reduction control unit 12f as a public image in the public mode for recording.

  The photographing device main body 10 is provided with a communication unit 31, which is controlled by the signal processing and control unit 12 so that a public image recorded in the recording unit 17 is transmitted through a transmission path (not shown) such as the Internet. It can be transmitted to other devices via the network. For example, the signal processing and control unit 12 can set a mode in which the communication unit 31 automatically transmits a public image recorded in the recording unit 17.

  Next, the operation of the embodiment configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of shooting in the public mode. FIG. 2A shows a state of shooting a subject with a shooting device, and FIGS. The photographing result is schematically shown.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the photographer 41 supports the interchangeable lens 20 with his left hand 42L, and lightly touches the photographing device body 10 with the right hand 42R while lightly touching the index finger 43a with a release switch (not shown) on the top surface of the photographing device body 10. Hold and hold for shooting. FIG. 2A shows an example in which a person 44 against a background of a building 45 and a mountain 46 is photographed as a subject.

  In this prepared state, when the public mode is set, the private area determination unit 16 detects the private area. In the example of FIG. 2A, for example, the entire person 44 is detected as a private area. FIG. 2B schematically shows a captured image taken at the optimum exposure. In the captured image of FIG. 2B, a building image 45a and a mountain image 46a corresponding to the building 45 and the mountain 46 are copied as a background, and a person image 44a corresponding to the person 44 is copied in front of these images. Has been.

  On the other hand, FIG. 2C schematically shows a captured image taken underexposed. FIG. 2C shows that dark images 45b, 46b, and 44b that are underexposed corresponding to the building 45, the mountain 46, and the person 44 are captured due to the narrow hatching interval.

  In the present embodiment, for example, under the control of the exposure control unit 12b, the photographing with the optimum exposure shown in FIG. 2A and the under-exposure photographing shown in FIG. 2B are performed. The composition control unit 12e synthesizes the captured images of FIGS. 2A and 2B so that only the non-public area is underexposed. FIG. 2D shows this combined image, in which images 45 a and 46 a that are appropriately exposed for the building 45 and the mountain 46 and an underexposed image 44 b that corresponds to the person 44 are combined. In this way, the non-public area becomes an unclear image that is difficult to determine a person because of underexposure.

  Note that the composition control unit 12e can generate such a composite image by a method similar to a known HDR image composition method. In HDR image synthesis, a plurality of captured images taken while changing the exposure value are synthesized to generate an image with a wide dynamic range with little overexposure and underexposure. At the time of composition, the composition control unit 12e uses an image that is captured underexposed or overexposed for the undisclosed area, so that the undisclosed area becomes an unclear image.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example in which the composition control unit 12e uses an image captured with overexposure as an image of a non-public area. FIG. 3A shows a synthesized image obtained by synthesizing a captured image similar to that in FIG. 2B and an image taken with overexposure by the synthesis control unit 12e. FIG. 3B shows image data at a predetermined horizontal position in FIG. 3A, with the horizontal axis representing the horizontal image position and the vertical axis representing the image data level.

  The portion of the image 44c corresponding to the person 44 is taken with overexposure, and the level is extremely high as shown in FIG. 3B, indicating that the image 44c is in a whiteout state. FIG. 3A shows such a composite image, and the broken line portion shows an overexposed image 44 c corresponding to the person 44. In this way, the non-public area becomes an unclear image in which it is difficult to determine a person due to overexposure.

  In the example of FIGS. 2 and 3, the example in which the image synthesis is performed so that only the non-public area becomes an unclear image by extracting and synthesizing the non-public area has been described. Instead, a plurality of captured images may be combined. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing changes in image data by such image composition, with the horizontal axis representing the horizontal position of the screen and the vertical axis representing the image data level. The example of FIG. 4 shows an example in which a composite image C is obtained by combining two images A and B obtained by photographing while changing the exposure. Depending on the exposure setting or the like, even in the composite image C, the undisclosed area may be an unclear image.

  In this way, by combining a plurality of images taken while changing the exposure, it is possible to make the undisclosed area an unclear image. In this case, by performing imaging with appropriate exposure, not only a public image but also a clear captured image can be recorded in a non-public area.

  Furthermore, when it is not necessary to store a clear image for the non-public area, a captured image in which at least the non-public area is unclear is obtained by only controlling exposure without performing image synthesis. Is also possible.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of focus control in the open mode. In the present embodiment, the undisclosed area can be made an unclear image even by focus control. FIG. 5A shows, by a broken line display, that the image portion corresponding to the person 44 is in an out-of-focus state for the same captured image as FIG. 2B. FIG. 5B illustrates the in-focus state with the horizontal axis on the horizontal axis and the distance to the subject on the vertical axis.

  As shown in FIG. 5B, the person 44 is positioned at the forefront, and the distance to the background building 45 and the mountain 46 is long. The depth of field A indicates the depth of field in the normal aperture state with the person 44 set at the in-focus position. In this case, for example, the captured image of FIG. 2B is obtained. On the other hand, the depth of field B indicates the depth of field when the background is set to the in-focus position and the aperture is open. FIG. 5A shows a captured image in such a case. The images 45a and 46a corresponding to the background building 45 and the mountain 46 are in focus, but the image 44d corresponding to the person 44 is in focus. Does not match and the image is unclear.

  The focus control unit 12a obtains the distance to the non-public area detected by the non-public area determination unit 16, and sets the focus position and the depth of field according to the obtained distance, so that at least the private area An image out of focus is obtained.

  In this way, the undisclosed area can be made a blurred image by the focus control. In this case, it is not necessary to synthesize a plurality of captured images, and it is possible to obtain an image in which a non-public area is unclear by only one imaging.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of camera shake control in the open mode. In the present embodiment, the undisclosed area can be made an unclear image also by the camera shake control by the camera shake control unit 12c. FIG. 6 shows, by a broken line display, that the image portion corresponding to the person 44 is an unclear image 44e due to camera shake in the same captured image as FIG.

  FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of exposure time control in the open mode. In the present embodiment, the undisclosed area can be made an unclear image by controlling the exposure time by the exposure control unit 12b. FIG. 7 shows, by a broken line display, that the image 44 corresponding to the person 44 becomes an unclear image 44f due to the movement of the captured image similar to FIG. When the exposure control unit 12b sets the exposure time to be relatively long, there is no blur in the stationary background, but the image 44f of the person 44 with movement is blurred, resulting in a blurred image.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example in which each of the above-described methods for blurring at least a non-public area is used comprehensively.

  In step S1 of FIG. 8, the signal processing and control unit 12 determines whether or not the shooting mode is set. Assume that the shooting mode is instructed. In this case, the signal processing and control unit 12 displays a through image and detects a non-public area such as a face in steps S2 to S4. That is, the signal processing and control unit 12 takes a captured image from the imaging unit 11 and performs predetermined signal processing. The signal processing and control unit 12 outputs the captured image after the signal processing to the non-disclosure area determination unit 16, and gives the captured image after the signal processing to the display unit 19 to display a through image (step S2).

  In step S3, the non-public area determination unit 16 determines whether, for example, a face in the captured image can be determined. If it can be determined, the non-public area analysis unit 16 analyzes the captured image and determines the area of the person portion. A public area is obtained (step S4).

  Here, it is assumed that the photographer performs photographing by operating the release button or the like. In this case, the signal processing and control unit 12 shifts the processing from step S6 to step S7, and determines whether or not public setting is performed. If the public setting is not set, the signal processing and control unit 12 sets the normal mode and performs shooting and compression recording. That is, the signal processing and control unit 12 determines the setting related to shooting (step S8), and controls the interchangeable lens 20 and the imaging unit 11 based on the set setting (step S9). The signal processing and control unit 12 captures a captured image from the imaging unit 11 and performs predetermined signal processing by pressing the release button. The signal processing and control unit 12 compresses the captured image after the signal processing, gives it to the recording unit 17, and records it. In addition, the signal processing and control unit 12 gives the recorded captured image to the display unit 19 for confirmation (step S10).

  The signal processing and control unit 12 determines whether or not the image being confirmed and displayed is a public image (step S11). If it is not a public image, the process proceeds to step S13 to determine whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the confirmation display. When the predetermined time has elapsed, the confirmation display is terminated (step S14).

  Here, it is assumed that the photographer has set the public mode. In this case, the signal processing and control unit 12 shifts the processing from step S7 to step S15, and performs processing for photographing and recording for image disclosure. That is, first, in step S15, the signal processing and control unit 12 determines whether or not there is a distance difference of a predetermined distance or more between the subject in the non-public area and another subject. When there is a distance difference, the focus control unit 12a and the exposure control unit 12b focus on, for example, the background other than the non-public area, and perform shooting with the aperture opened (step S16). As a result, the same photographing as in FIG. 5A is performed.

  If there is no distance difference equal to or greater than the predetermined distance, the signal processing and control unit 12 proceeds to step S17 to determine whether there is a predetermined exposure difference between the subject in the non-public area and the other subject. Determine whether. If there is an exposure difference, the signal processing and control unit 12 determines the darkness of the non-public area, for example, the darkness of the face by comparing it with a predetermined threshold (step S18). If the face is darker than the predetermined threshold, the exposure control unit 12b controls the exposure so that the face is underexposed (step S19). Thereby, a captured image as shown in FIG. 2C is obtained. If the face is brighter than the predetermined threshold, the exposure control unit 12b controls the exposure so that the face is overexposed (step S20). Thereby, a captured image as shown in FIG. 3A is obtained by image synthesis.

  If the signal processing and control unit 12 determines in steps S15 and S17 that there is no predetermined distance difference and exposure difference between the subject in the non-public area and another subject, the exposure in step S21. Take a long time to increase the time. When the image of the person in the non-public area moves, the image in the non-public area is blurred by the long-time shooting, resulting in a blurred image. Thereby, a captured image as shown in FIG. 7 is obtained.

  In step S <b> 25, the signal processing and control unit 12 determines the effect of various processes for blurring the hidden area. The contrast determination unit 12d detects the non-public area and the surrounding contrast, and when the contrast is good, the non-public area is relatively clear, and the effects of the processes of steps S16, S19, S20, and S21 are effective. It is determined that the image is not enough, and the captured image is reduced by the reduction control unit 12f (step S26).

  The signal processing and control unit 12 gives the captured image to the display unit 19 for display (step S27), and allows the user to determine whether the captured image is suitable as a public image. If the user determines that the displayed captured image is suitable as a public image, the process proceeds to step S30 based on a user operation indicating that, and the captured image is recorded as a public captured image. Recorded in part 17.

  On the other hand, if the user determines that the displayed captured image is inappropriate as a public image, the process proceeds to step S29 based on a user operation indicating that effect, and the composition process with the normal captured image is performed. Done. In other words, the composition control unit 12e obtains a composite image of a plurality of captured images obtained by changing the shooting parameters, or an image portion of the unclear area obtained by changing the shooting parameters, and a normal image. Obtained composite images. In this way, for example, a captured image (synthesized image) as shown in FIG. This synthesized image is also given to the recording unit 17 and recorded as a public image.

  The recorded image for publication is confirmed and displayed in step S10, and transmitted to the network in step S12. As described above, when the disclosure mode is set, the image is captured as the undisclosed area becomes unclear by adjusting the imaging parameter during imaging. Therefore, when the public mode is set, the user can take a portrait of the subject even if he / she took a picture without being particularly aware of the composition of the subject and what kind of subject is in the shooting range. It is possible to protect rights and privacy. Moreover, such a blurred image is obtained by controlling the shooting parameters, and privacy and the like can be protected while maintaining the naturalness of the captured image.

  If the shooting mode is not designated, the signal processing and control unit 12 determines whether or not the reproduction mode is designated in step S41. When the reproduction mode is designated, the signal processing and control unit 12 reads out the image recorded in the recording unit 17, performs predetermined signal processing such as expansion processing, and then provides it to the display unit 19 for reproduction. It is displayed (step S42). The signal processing and control unit 12 determines whether or not a reproduction image change operation has been performed in step S43, and if there is a change operation for specifying another image, reads the specified other image. Then, after performing predetermined signal processing such as expansion processing, it is given to the display unit 19 to be reproduced and displayed (step S44).

  If the signal processing and control unit 12 determines in step S41 that the reproduction mode is not designated, it determines whether or not a communicable and untransmitted image is recorded in the recording unit 17 in step S45. When there is an untransmitted image that can be communicated, that is, an untransmitted public image, the signal processing and control unit 12 reads the untransmitted image and transmits it on the network by the communication unit 31 in step S46. Let

  As described above, in the present embodiment, at the time of shooting, shooting parameters are automatically set or the shooting parameters are changed so that a non-public area such as a human face in a captured image becomes a blurred image. Combine multiple shot images. As a result, even when a captured image recorded immediately after shooting is uploaded to the network, personal information of the shot person can be protected, and an image with a natural finish can be obtained as a public image. .

  In the above-described embodiment, the disclosure mode has been described on the assumption that a captured image is transmitted over the network immediately after imaging. However, the disclosure mode can be set even during reproduction. For example, when both a public image and a normal image are recorded at the time of shooting, it is possible to set so that only the public image is reproduced when the public mode is set. When only a normal image is recorded and no public image is recorded, it may be set not to perform reproduction.

  In addition, by performing image processing for performing the same processing as the above-described various processing for obtaining a blurred image on the reproduced image that has been reproduced, the image for release is created from the normal image and then reproduced. Also good.

  Furthermore, in each embodiment of the present invention, a digital camera has been described as an apparatus for photographing. However, the camera may be a digital single lens reflex camera or a compact digital camera, such as a video camera or a movie camera. A camera for moving images may be used, and a camera built in a personal digital assistant (PDA) such as a mobile phone or a smartphone may of course be used. Also, industrial and medical optical instruments such as endoscopes and microscopes may be used. Needless to say, it can be applied to observation devices, telescopes, and surveillance cameras with tracking.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments as they are, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. Moreover, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the above embodiments. For example, you may delete some components of all the components shown by embodiment. Furthermore, constituent elements over different embodiments may be appropriately combined.

  It should be noted that even if the operation flow in the claims, the description, and the drawings is described using “first,” “next,” etc. for convenience, it is essential to carry out in this order. It doesn't mean. In addition, it goes without saying that the steps constituting these operation flows can be omitted as appropriate for portions that do not affect the essence of the invention.

  Of the technologies described here, many of the controls and functions mainly described in the flowcharts can be set by a program, and the above-described controls and functions can be realized by a computer reading and executing the program. it can. As a computer program product, the program may be recorded or stored in whole or in part on a portable medium such as a non-volatile memory such as a flexible disk or a CD-ROM, or a storage medium such as a hard disk or a volatile memory. It can be distributed or provided at the time of product shipment or via a portable medium or communication line. The user can easily realize the photographing apparatus of the present embodiment by downloading the program via a communication network and installing the program in a computer or installing the program from a recording medium into the computer.

    DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Imaging device main body, 11 ... Imaging part, 12 ... Signal processing and control part, 12a ... Focus control part, 12b ... Exposure control part, 12c ... Camera shake control part, 12d ... Contrast determination part, 12e ... Composition control part, 12f: Reduction control unit, 13, 28, 31 ... Communication unit, 14 ... Temporary storage unit, 14a ... Composite image storage unit, 16 ... Private area determination unit, 17 ... Recording unit, 19 ... Display unit, 19a ... Touch panel, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 21 ... Shooting optical system, 22 ... Operation part, 23 ... Rotation operation determination part, 24 ... Control part, 25 ... Zoom position determination part, 26 ... Focus position determination part, 27 ... Drive part.

Claims (6)

An imaging unit that outputs a captured image obtained by photographing a subject via a photographing optical system;
A parameter control unit that controls one or more imaging parameters of at least one of the imaging optical system and the imaging unit;
An imaging apparatus, comprising: a disclosure control unit configured to control at least one imaging parameter in the disclosure mode so that at least a non-disclosure area in the captured image is a blurred image. A non-public area determination unit for determining a specific area in the captured image as a non-public area;
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, comprising: Comprising a synthesis control unit for synthesizing captured images;
The photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the public control unit causes the composite control unit to combine a plurality of captured images obtained by changing the one or more photographing parameters. 4. The composition control unit according to claim 1, wherein the composition control unit is controlled by the disclosure control unit to compose the image of the non-public area and the image of another area obtained from different captured images. The imaging device according to any one of the above. The parameter control unit is controlled by the public control unit to control a shooting parameter related to at least one of exposure, focus, and camera shake as the one or more shooting parameters. The photographing apparatus according to any one of 1 to 4. The photographing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the non-public area determination unit determines the non-public area by face detection or character detection.

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