JP2015119323A - Imaging apparatus, image acquisition method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To store a desired image.SOLUTION: An imaging apparatus 1 includes: an environmental information acquisition section 52; a photographing parameter setting section 54; an image acquisition section 55; and an image selection section 57. The environmental information acquisition section 52 acquires a photographed environment including a moving state of the apparatus at photographing timing of interval photographing. The photographing parameter setting section 54 sets the number of images when the images are acquired in response to the photographed environment acquired by the environmental information acquisition section 52. The image acquisition section 55 images the image whenever the photographing timing is detected and acquires the number of images, which is set by the photographing parameter setting section 54. The image selection section 57 selects the image which is to be stored from the plurality of acquired images in response to the moving state of the apparatus when the number of images, which is set, is acquired.

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus, an image acquisition method, and a program.

  Conventionally, a system has been devised in which a camera is attached to the photographer's head and the image is recorded and recorded automatically. Then, as described in Patent Document 1, a technique is considered in which the periodicity of head blurring during walking is determined and photographing is performed at a timing when there is little blurring.

JP 2010-93451 A

  However, in the case of Patent Document 1 described above, since recording is performed at the shutter timing depending on the walking mode of the photographer, the photographing interval originally desired by the photographer may be ignored.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object thereof is to enable a desired image to be stored.

In order to achieve the above object, an imaging device of one embodiment of the present invention includes:
A shooting environment acquisition means for acquiring a shooting environment including the state of movement of the device at the shooting timing of interval shooting;
First setting means for setting the number of images to be acquired based on the shooting environment acquired by the shooting environment acquiring means;
An acquisition unit that captures an image every time the imaging timing is detected and acquires the number of images set by the first setting unit;
It is provided with.

  According to the present invention, a desired image can be stored.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the hardware of the imaging device which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a functional block diagram which shows the functional structure for performing a suitable image selection process among the functional structures of the imaging device of FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating a sensor sampling table. It is the schematic diagram which showed the program diagram in this embodiment. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a flow of a preferred image selection process executed by the imaging apparatus of FIG. 1 having the functional configuration of FIG. 2.

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

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of an imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The imaging device 1 is configured as a wearable camera including a digital camera, for example. The wearable camera is attached, for example, near the photographer's head, and shoots with the line-of-sight direction (horizontal direction) as the angle of view during exercise such as walking and running.

  The imaging device 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, a bus 14, an input / output interface 15, a sensor unit 16, and an imaging unit 17. An input unit 18, an output unit 19, a storage unit 20, a communication unit 21, and a drive 22.

  The CPU 11 executes various processes according to a program recorded in the ROM 12 or a program loaded from the storage unit 20 to the RAM 13.

  The RAM 13 appropriately stores data necessary for the CPU 11 to execute various processes.

  The CPU 11, ROM 12, and RAM 13 are connected to each other via a bus 14. An input / output interface 15 is also connected to the bus 14. Connected to the input / output interface 15 are a sensor unit 16, an imaging unit 17, an input unit 18, an output unit 19, a storage unit 20, a communication unit 21, and a drive 22.

  The sensor unit 16 includes a triaxial acceleration sensor that measures acceleration including a gravitational acceleration component of the apparatus and outputs a sensor value that can detect the movement and direction of the apparatus. The sensor value output from the sensor unit 16 is used for estimation of a shake with respect to the movement cycle of the apparatus and an attitude of the apparatus.

  Although not shown, the imaging unit 17 includes an optical lens unit and an image sensor.

The optical lens unit is configured by a lens that collects light, for example, a focus lens or a zoom lens, in order to photograph a subject.
The focus lens is a lens that forms a subject image on the light receiving surface of the image sensor. The zoom lens is a lens that freely changes the focal length within a certain range.
The optical lens unit is also provided with a peripheral circuit for adjusting setting parameters such as focus, exposure, and white balance as necessary.

The image sensor includes a photoelectric conversion element, AFE (Analog Front End), and the like.
The photoelectric conversion element is composed of, for example, a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) type photoelectric conversion element or the like. A subject image is incident on the photoelectric conversion element from the optical lens unit. Therefore, the photoelectric conversion element photoelectrically converts (captures) the subject image, accumulates the image signal for a predetermined time, and sequentially supplies the accumulated image signal as an analog signal to the AFE.
The AFE performs various signal processing such as A / D (Analog / Digital) conversion processing on the analog image signal. A digital signal is generated by various signal processing and output as an output signal of the imaging unit 17.
Such an output signal of the imaging unit 17 is hereinafter referred to as “captured image data”. Data of the captured image is appropriately supplied to the CPU 11 or an image processing unit (not shown).

The input unit 18 includes various buttons and the like, and inputs various types of information according to user instruction operations.
The output unit 19 includes a display, a speaker, and the like, and outputs images and sounds.
The storage unit 20 is configured by a hard disk, a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory), or the like, and stores various image data.
The communication unit 21 controls communication with other devices (not shown) via a network including the Internet.

  A removable medium 31 composed of a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a semiconductor memory, or the like is appropriately attached to the drive 22. The program read from the removable medium 31 by the drive 22 is installed in the storage unit 20 as necessary. The removable medium 31 can also store various data such as image data stored in the storage unit 20 in the same manner as the storage unit 20.

In the imaging apparatus 1 configured as described above, when a plurality of images are captured, the apparatus at the time of environmental imaging is estimated from information related to the imaging environment such as sensor values (hereinafter referred to as “environment information”). And a function of selecting a suitable image without blurring or tilting from among the plurality of captured images.
In addition, the imaging apparatus 1 has an interval shooting function of shooting a predetermined number of images at a predetermined interval, and has a function of performing continuous shooting during shooting in one cycle of the interval shooting. In such an imaging device 1, when shooting, the behavior of the photographer wearing the imaging device 1 is estimated from the movement cycle of the device at the time of shooting, and shooting parameters corresponding to the estimated behavior (for example, continuous shooting). The number of copies, exposure, shutter speed, etc.). Here, the estimated photographer's behavior is, for example, a motion state such as a stationary state, a walking state, and a running state.
By having the above-described function, the imaging apparatus 1 can select and save a suitable image at a desired shooting timing.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a functional configuration for executing a preferred image selection process among the functional configurations of the imaging apparatus 1.
In the preferred image selection process, in shooting within one cycle during interval shooting, an action at the time of shooting is estimated, shooting parameters suitable for the estimated action are set, and a plurality of images are shot by continuous shooting. A series of processes for selecting and storing a suitable image free from blurring or tilting at the time of shooting from the plurality of shot images.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the preferred image selection process is performed by the CPU 11 in the imaging control unit 51, the environment information acquisition unit 52, the behavior estimation processing unit 53, the shooting parameter setting unit 54, the image acquisition unit 55, and the environment. The information analysis unit 56 and the image selection unit 57 function.

  An environment information storage unit 71 and an image storage unit 72 are set in one area of the storage unit 20.

  The environment information storage unit 71 stores a sensor sampling table in which sensor values indicating the movement state (degree) of the apparatus acquired from the sensor unit 16 are arranged in the order of acquisition. In this sensor sampling table, the order of captured images is stored in time series together with sensor values.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the sensor sampling table.
As shown in the example of FIG. 3A, the sensor sampling table has a data format in which the sensor value [ACC] and the exposure timing [EXP] sampled in the header type [Header] are described in time series. It has become. Further, the sensor sampling table has a data format in which the sensor value and the image number assigned in the photographing order are described in the data portion [data] corresponding to the header portion.
In this sensor sampling table, the sensor number and the image are described for each image capture together with the sensor value for each acquisition, so that the sensor value and the image can be synchronized. That is, the sensor value corresponding to the image number becomes a sensor value between the sensor values before and after the image number.
For this reason, when comparing sensor values between a plurality of captured images, it is only necessary to compare the sensor values before and after the image number.
By using such a sensor sampling table, acquisition and management of sensor values can be performed, and synchronization between sensor values and images can be achieved. In addition, since the posture of the apparatus at the time of shooting can be analyzed based on the sensor value, the design is simpler and the processing load can be reduced compared to the case where image analysis or the like is performed to determine blur and tilt.
As shown in the example of FIG. 3B, when the sensor value [ACC] (sensor value 0 to 8) and the exposure timing [EXP] (image number 1 and image number 2) are plotted in the order of acquisition, the values are plotted. By comparing the sensor values of the exposure timing, it is possible to easily compare the magnitude of blur at the time of shooting.

  Returning to FIG. 2, the image storage unit 72 stores data of the image selected by the image selection unit 57.

  The imaging control unit 51 controls the sensor unit 16 and the imaging unit 17 related to shooting, controls the sensor unit 16 in response to the start of interval shooting, and sets the imaging unit based on settings of shooting parameters and the like. 17 is controlled.

  The environment information acquisition unit 52 acquires environment information that is a shooting environment at the shooting timing of interval shooting. The shooting information includes, for example, the state of movement of the apparatus and the brightness of the surrounding (shooting direction). In the present embodiment, the movement state of the apparatus is acquired from the sensor value from the sensor unit 16, and the brightness is acquired by analyzing the captured image.

The behavior estimation processing unit 53 executes behavior estimation processing.
In the behavior estimation process, a process of estimating the current behavior of the photographer wearing the imaging device 1 from the acquired sensor value (movement state) is executed. For the behavior estimation, for example, a known behavior estimation method such as machine learning is used. As a result of the behavior estimation process, the behavior of the photographer's stillness, walking, running, and other motions (stationary / walking / running / others) is estimated.

In the present embodiment, shooting parameters corresponding to the estimated behavior (in the present embodiment, [number of continuous shots], [continuous shot fps], [program diagram]) are provided.
As the shooting parameters corresponding to the estimated action, generally, the higher the exercise intensity of the estimated action (stillness <running), the higher the shutter speed and the higher speed continuous shooting are selected. For other shooting parameters, a high shutter speed and a setting that can withstand high-speed continuous shooting are selected.

Specifically, when the estimated action is “still”, the number of continuous shots is 1 and the program diagram: Normal is selected.
If the estimated action is [walking], the number of continuous shots is 3, the continuous shots fps is 30 fps, and the program diagram: Action 1 is selected.
When the estimated action is “running”, the continuous shooting number: 10, the continuous shooting fps: 60 fps, and the program diagram: Action 2 are selected.
If the estimated action is “Other”, the number of continuous shots is 3, the continuous shots fps is 30 fps, and the program diagram: Action 1 is selected.

Here, the program diagram has a relationship among each of the shooting parameters (sensitivity, aperture, shutter speed, EV (Exposure Value) in this embodiment) set at the time of exposure control for a plurality of parameters related to shooting. It is a defined characteristic diagram.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a program diagram in the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 4, the program diagram of the present embodiment is such that the sensitivity increases and the shutter speed decreases as the action 2 corresponding to running with high exercise intensity changes from normal corresponding to stationary with low exercise intensity. It is configured.
Such a program diagram is based on the exposure value (optimum program line) based on the brightness, which is environmental information acquired from an image or the like at the time of shooting, when the type of program diagram is selected based on the estimated behavior. Figure) is determined.

Returning to FIG. 2, the shooting parameter setting unit 54 selects shooting parameters for the number of continuous shots, continuous shooting fps, and program diagram based on the behavior estimated by the behavior estimation processing unit 53.
The imaging parameter setting unit 54 sets AF (Auto Focus), AWB (Auto White Balance), and AE (Auto Exposure) from 3A measurement and a program diagram. With regard to AE, the shooting exposure value is determined and set from the environmental information of the brightness acquired from the image or the like at the time of shooting for the program diagram selected by the estimated action.

  The image acquisition unit 55 acquires an image captured by the imaging unit 17.

The environmental information analysis unit 56 executes environmental information analysis processing.
In the environmental information analysis process, the sensor value acquired from the sensor unit 16 is analyzed.
Specifically, the environment information analysis unit 56 analyzes the sensor value at each shooting (exposure) time point to determine whether or not there is a shake, and the posture estimation that determines the tilt from the estimated posture of the device. ,I do. The blur determination is performed by determining a deviation from the movement cycle of the photographer specified from the periodic change of the sensor value. In addition, posture estimation is performed by extracting a gravitational acceleration component from the sensor value and determining a deviation of the estimated device posture from a reference posture (for example, the horizontal direction). As a result of the analysis, it is possible to determine the degree of image blurring and device tilt at each shooting (exposure) time point from the status of the device without determining an actual image.

  The image selection unit 57 selects, from the images acquired by the image acquisition unit 55, an image with less image blur or device inclination based on the analysis result by the environment information analysis unit 56.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of a preferred image selection process executed by the imaging apparatus 1 of FIG. 1 having the functional configuration of FIG.
The preferred image selection process is started by an operation for starting the preferred image selection process to the input unit 18 by the user.

  In step S1, the imaging control unit 51 starts interval shooting.

In step S <b> 2, the environment information acquisition unit 52 starts sampling the sensor value output from the sensor unit 16. Moreover, the environment information acquisition part 52 outputs and memorize | stores a sensor value in the environment information storage part 71 according to acquisition.
In the environment information storage unit 71, the acquired sensor values are sequentially added to a sensor sampling table as shown in FIG.

In step S3, the imaging control unit 51 determines whether it is interval shooting timing. That is, the imaging control unit 51 determines whether or not it is an imaging timing due to the elapse of a specified interval.
If it is not the interval shooting timing, NO is determined in step S3, and the standby state is set until the interval shooting timing arrives.
If it is the interval shooting timing, YES is determined in step S3, and the process proceeds to step S4.

  In step S4, the behavior estimation processing unit 53 executes behavior estimation processing. In the behavior estimation process, a sensor value acquired sequentially is analyzed, and a process of estimating a current behavior of a photographer to which the imaging device 1 is attached is executed. As a result of the behavior estimation process, the behavior of the photographer's stillness, walking, running, and other motions (stationary / walking / running / others) is estimated. For example, walking behavior is estimated from the acquired sensor value.

  In step S <b> 5, the shooting parameter setting unit 54 selects shooting parameters for the number of continuous shots / shutter speed (fps) / program diagram corresponding to the behavior estimated by the behavior estimation processing unit 53. For example, when the estimated action is “walking”, the number of continuous shots is 3, the continuous shots fps is 30 fps, and the program diagram (FIG. 4): Action 1 is selected.

  In step S6, the environment information acquisition unit 52 acquires brightness environment information from the image or the like at that time, and performs 3A measurement (AE / AWB / AF). At that time, the imaging unit 17 prepares for exposure.

  In step S7, the shooting parameter setting unit 54 sets shooting based on the shooting parameters. Specifically, the shooting parameter setting unit 54 sets the number of continuous shots selected based on the estimated action and the continuous shooting fps. The shooting parameter setting unit 54 also determines 3A (AE / AWB / AF) based on the shooting exposure value determined from the brightness environment information acquired for the selected program diagram and the measurement result. Set up.

  In step S8, the imaging control unit 51 controls the imaging unit 17 to start imaging.

  In step S <b> 9, the imaging control unit 51 controls the imaging unit 17 to perform exposure with the contents set by the imaging parameter setting unit 54. Then, the image acquisition unit 55 acquires an image from the imaging unit 17. The exposure timing is stored in the sensor sampling table of the environment information storage unit 71 in order to synchronize the exposure timing with the sensor value.

In step S10, the imaging control unit 51 determines whether or not the set continuous shooting has been completed. That is, the imaging control unit 51 determines whether or not the set continuous shooting number has been shot.
If continuous shooting has not been completed, NO is determined in step S10, and the process returns to step S9.
If continuous shooting has been completed, YES is determined in step S10, and the process proceeds to step S11.

In step S11, the environment information analysis unit 56 executes an environment information analysis process. In the environmental information analysis process, the sensor value acquired from the sensor unit 16 is analyzed.
Specifically, the environment information analysis unit 56 analyzes the sensor value at each shooting (exposure) time point, and determines the degree of inclination of the apparatus from the degree of blurring of the corresponding image and the estimated attitude of the apparatus. As a result, the degree of image blur and tilt in each image is analyzed.

  In step S <b> 12, the image selection unit 57 selects an image from the images acquired by the image acquisition unit 55. Specifically, the image selection unit 57 selects an image with less image blur or device tilt from a plurality of images based on the analysis result by the environment information analysis unit 56.

  In step S <b> 13, the image selection unit 57 stores the selected image in the image storage unit 72 with less blurring and less inclination of the apparatus.

In step S14, the imaging control unit 51 determines whether or not interval shooting has been completed.
If interval shooting has not been completed, NO is determined in step S14, and the process returns to step S3.
If interval shooting has been completed, YES is determined in step S14, and the preferred image selection process ends.

  Therefore, the imaging apparatus 1 estimates the photographer's behavior (operating state) and appropriately selects and sets continuous shooting according to the estimated behavior, thereby reducing image blurring and tilting of the apparatus. It is possible to shoot an image with little. Further, in the imaging apparatus 1, since the sensor sampling table can synchronize the exposure timing and the sensor value acquisition timing, the sensor value can be analyzed at the time of photographing. It is possible to automatically select and store an optimal image with less image blurring and less inclination of the apparatus.

The imaging apparatus 1 configured as described above includes an environment information acquisition unit 52, a shooting parameter setting unit 54, an image acquisition unit 55, and an image selection unit 57.
The environment information acquisition unit 52 acquires a shooting environment including the movement state of the apparatus at the shooting timing of the interval shooting through the sensor value.
The shooting parameter setting unit 54 sets the number of images to be acquired based on the shooting environment acquired by the environment information acquisition unit 52.
The image acquisition unit 55 captures an image every time the shooting timing is detected, and acquires the number of images set by the shooting parameter setting unit 54.
Thereby, in the imaging device 1, a desired image can be stored.

The imaging apparatus 1 further includes an image selection unit 57 that selects an image to be stored from the number of images acquired by the image acquisition unit 55.
Thereby, in the imaging device 1, a suitable image to be stored can be selected.

The image selection unit 57 selects an image to be stored from the acquired plurality of images based on the movement state of the apparatus when acquiring the set number of images.
Thereby, in the imaging device 1, it can image | photograph at the desired imaging | photography timing and can select the suitable image which should be preserve | saved.

The imaging device 1 further includes an environment information storage unit 71 that stores the movement state of the device acquired by the environment information acquisition unit 52 and the set number of images in association with each other.
The image selection unit 57 selects an image to be stored from a plurality of images stored in the environment information storage unit 71 during a period excluding the shooting timing.
Thereby, in the imaging device 1, processing can be reduced with a simple configuration as compared with, for example, selecting an image to be analyzed and stored.

The shooting parameter setting unit 54 sets shooting conditions when the image acquisition unit 55 acquires an image based on the shooting environment acquired by the environment information acquisition unit 52.
Thereby, in the imaging device 1, a suitable image according to the imaging environment at the time of imaging | photography can be acquired.

The environment information acquisition unit 52 acquires the shooting environment every time the shooting timing comes.
Thereby, the imaging device 1 can acquire a suitable image according to the shooting environment at the shooting timing.

The environment information acquisition unit 52 acquires the state of movement of the device using an acceleration sensor mounted on the device.
Thereby, in the imaging device 1, the sensor value detected by the acceleration sensor can be used, and the movement state of the device with high accuracy can be acquired.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, The deformation | transformation in the range which can achieve the objective of this invention, improvement, etc. are included in this invention.

In the above-described embodiment, the movement state of the imaging device 1 is acquired using the sensor value of the acceleration sensor. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it may be configured to acquire an image each time, and may be configured to acquire the movement state of the imaging device 1 by analyzing the acquired image.
Specifically, the imaging environment acquisition unit can be configured to acquire the movement state of the imaging device 1 by analyzing the image.
Thereby, in the imaging device 1, the movement state of the imaging device 1 can be acquired by the imaging unit 17 without separately providing an acceleration sensor.

Moreover, the estimation process of the action estimation process part 53 may acquire a moving speed directly, and may estimate the movement state of the imaging device 1 from this moving speed.
Specifically, in the imaging device 1, the movement state of the device includes the speed of movement of the device.

Moreover, when acquiring said moving speed, you may acquire a moving speed by matching a moving type (walking, running, etc.) and a moving speed of a photographer, and acquiring a moving type.
Specifically, the imaging apparatus 1 further includes first estimation means for estimating the movement type from the movement state of the apparatus, and the speed of movement is based on the movement type estimated by the first estimation means. It can be configured to be determined.

Furthermore, contrary to the above case, the estimation process of the behavior estimation processing unit 53 may directly acquire the movement type and estimate the movement state of the imaging device 1 from this movement type. Further, when acquiring the above movement type, the movement type may be acquired by associating the movement speed of the photographer with the movement type and acquiring the movement speed.
Specifically, the apparatus further comprises second estimation means for estimating the movement speed from the movement state of the device, and the movement type is determined based on the speed estimated by the second estimation means. can do.

  Moreover, in the above-mentioned embodiment, although the sensor part 16 was comprised with the acceleration sensor, it is not restricted to this, You may use and combine variously, if it is a sensor effective in estimation and determination, such as a geomagnetic sensor, a gyro sensor, and GPS.

  In the above-described embodiment, the behavior related to exercise such as walking and running is estimated, but the present invention is not limited to this, and various behaviors may be estimated.

  In the above-described embodiment, the number of continuous shots / continuous shots fps / program diagram is not limited to an example, and may be variously set according to the operation state.

  In the above-described embodiment, the preferable image condition is “low image blur” and “small apparatus tilt”. However, various suitable image conditions may be set and determined depending on the application.

  In the above-described embodiment, the shooting timing of continuous shooting is set after the shooting setting notification. However, an appropriate timing may be determined using a state estimation result or a sensor value.

  In the above-described embodiment, the timing for starting the interval shooting is set to a fixed time interval. However, the shooting timing may be adaptively determined based on the state estimation result and the sensor data analysis result. For example, the timing at which the operating state changes (change from an exercise state to a stationary state, etc.) and the interval shooting interval is adaptively variable according to the operating state (for example, stationary: every 5 minutes, walking: every 3 minutes, running: For example, every minute).

  In the above-described embodiment, the exposure timing synchronized with the sensor data is the exposure start timing. However, the exposure timing is not limited to this, and may be the exposure end timing or the exposure start / end timing.

  In the above-described embodiment, the acceleration sensor is mounted on the camera. However, if the sensing part and the camera part can communicate with each other, a separate system using an external device may be used.

In the above-described embodiment, the imaging apparatus 1 to which the present invention is applied has been described using a wearable camera, which is a digital camera, as an example, but is not particularly limited thereto.
For example, the present invention can be applied to general electronic devices having a suitable image selection function. Specifically, for example, the present invention can be applied to a notebook personal computer, a printer, a television receiver, a video camera, a portable navigation device, a mobile phone, a smartphone, a portable game machine, and the like.

The series of processes described above can be executed by hardware or can be executed by software.
In other words, the functional configuration of FIG. 2 is merely an example and is not particularly limited. That is, it is sufficient that the imaging apparatus 1 has a function capable of executing the above-described series of processing as a whole, and what functional blocks are used to realize this function is not particularly limited to the example of FIG.
In addition, one functional block may be constituted by hardware alone, software alone, or a combination thereof.

When a series of processing is executed by software, a program constituting the software is installed on a computer or the like from a network or a recording medium.
The computer may be a computer incorporated in dedicated hardware. The computer may be a computer capable of executing various functions by installing various programs, for example, a general-purpose personal computer.

  The recording medium including such a program is not only constituted by the removable medium 31 of FIG. 1 distributed separately from the apparatus main body in order to provide the program to the user, but also in a state of being incorporated in the apparatus main body in advance. It is comprised with the recording medium etc. which are provided in. The removable medium 31 is composed of, for example, a magnetic disk (including a floppy disk), an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, or the like. The optical disc is composed of, for example, a CD-ROM (Compact Disk-Read Only Memory), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), a Blu-ray Disc (Blu-ray Disc) (registered trademark), and the like. The magneto-optical disk is configured by an MD (Mini-Disk) or the like. In addition, the recording medium provided to the user in a state of being preliminarily incorporated in the apparatus main body includes, for example, the ROM 12 in FIG. 1 in which a program is recorded, the hard disk included in the storage unit 20 in FIG.

  In the present specification, the step of describing the program recorded on the recording medium is not limited to the processing performed in time series along the order, but is not necessarily performed in time series, either in parallel or individually. The process to be executed is also included.

  As mentioned above, although several embodiment of this invention was described, these embodiment is only an illustration and does not limit the technical scope of this invention. The present invention can take other various embodiments, and various modifications such as omission and replacement can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention described in this specification and the like, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

The invention described in the scope of claims at the beginning of the filing of the present application will be appended.
[Appendix 1]
A shooting environment acquisition means for acquiring a shooting environment including the state of movement of the device at the shooting timing of interval shooting;
First setting means for setting the number of images to be acquired based on the shooting environment acquired by the shooting environment acquiring means;
An acquisition unit that captures an image every time the imaging timing is detected and acquires the number of images set by the first setting unit;
An imaging apparatus comprising:
[Appendix 2]
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising selection means for selecting an image to be stored from the number of images acquired by the acquisition means.
[Appendix 3]
The additional means according to claim 2, wherein the selecting means selects an image to be stored from the plurality of acquired images based on a movement state of the apparatus when the set number of images are acquired. Imaging device.
[Appendix 4]
A holding unit that holds the movement state of the apparatus acquired by the shooting environment acquisition unit and the set number of images in association with each other;
The imaging apparatus according to appendix 3, wherein the selection unit selects an image to be stored from a plurality of images held in the holding unit during a period excluding the shooting timing.
[Appendix 5]
Second setting means for setting shooting conditions when the acquiring means acquires an image based on the shooting environment acquired by the shooting environment acquiring means;
The imaging apparatus according to any one of Appendix 1 or 4, further comprising:
[Appendix 6]
The shooting environment acquisition means acquires a shooting environment every time shooting timing arrives.
The imaging apparatus according to appendix 5, which is characterized in that.
[Appendix 7]
The imaging environment acquisition means acquires the movement state of the device by an acceleration sensor mounted on the device.
The imaging apparatus according to any one of supplementary notes 1 to 6, wherein:
[Appendix 8]
The photographing environment acquisition means acquires the movement state of the device by analyzing an image;
The imaging apparatus according to any one of supplementary notes 1 to 6, wherein:
[Appendix 9]
The imaging apparatus according to any one of appendices 1 to 8, wherein the movement state of the apparatus includes a movement speed of the apparatus.
[Appendix 10]
Further comprising first estimating means for estimating the movement type from the movement state of the device;
The imaging apparatus according to appendix 9, wherein the speed of the movement is determined based on a movement type estimated by the first estimation means.
[Appendix 11]
The imaging apparatus according to any one of appendices 1 to 8, wherein the movement state of the apparatus includes a movement type.
[Appendix 12]
A second estimating means for estimating the speed of movement from the movement state of the apparatus;
The imaging apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the movement type is determined based on a speed estimated by the second estimation unit.
[Appendix 13]
An image acquisition method executed by an imaging device,
A shooting environment acquisition step for acquiring a shooting environment including the state of movement of the device at the shooting timing of interval shooting;
A first setting step for setting the number of images to be acquired based on the shooting environment acquired in the shooting environment acquisition step;
An acquisition step of capturing images every time the capturing timing is detected and acquiring the number of images set by the first setting step;
An image acquisition method comprising:
[Appendix 14]
A computer that controls the imaging device;
A shooting environment acquisition means for acquiring a shooting environment including the state of movement of the device at the shooting timing of interval shooting;
First setting means for setting the number of images to be acquired based on the shooting environment acquired by the shooting environment acquisition means;
An acquisition unit that captures an image every time the imaging timing is detected and acquires the number of images set by the first setting unit;
A program characterized by functioning as

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Imaging device, 11 ... CPU, 12 ... ROM, 13 ... RAM, 14 ... Bus, 15 ... Input / output interface, 16 ... Sensor part, 17 ... Imaging unit, 18 ... input unit, 19 ... output unit, 20 ... storage unit, 21 ... communication unit, 22 ... drive, 31 ... removable media, 51 ... imaging control , 52... Environmental information acquisition unit, 53... Behavior estimation processing unit, 54... Shooting parameter setting unit, 55. Image selection unit, 71 ... Environmental information storage unit, 72 ... Image storage unit

Claims (14)

A shooting environment acquisition means for acquiring a shooting environment including the state of movement of the device at the shooting timing of interval shooting;
First setting means for setting the number of images to be acquired based on the shooting environment acquired by the shooting environment acquiring means;
An acquisition unit that captures an image every time the imaging timing is detected and acquires the number of images set by the first setting unit;
An imaging apparatus comprising:   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a selection unit that selects an image to be stored from the number of images acquired by the acquisition unit.   The selection unit selects an image to be stored from the plurality of acquired images based on a state of movement of the apparatus when the set number of images are acquired. Imaging device. A holding unit that holds the movement state of the apparatus acquired by the shooting environment acquisition unit and the set number of images in association with each other;
The imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the selection unit selects an image to be stored from a plurality of images held in the holding unit during a period excluding the shooting timing. Second setting means for setting shooting conditions when the acquiring means acquires an image based on the shooting environment acquired by the shooting environment acquiring means;
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: The shooting environment acquisition means acquires a shooting environment every time shooting timing arrives.
The imaging apparatus according to claim 5. The imaging environment acquisition means acquires the movement state of the device by an acceleration sensor mounted on the device.
The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image pickup apparatus is an image pickup apparatus. The photographing environment acquisition means acquires the movement state of the device by analyzing an image;
The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image pickup apparatus is an image pickup apparatus.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the movement state of the apparatus includes a movement speed of the apparatus. Further comprising first estimating means for estimating the movement type from the movement state of the device;
The imaging apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the movement speed is determined based on a movement type estimated by the first estimation unit.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the movement state of the apparatus includes a movement type. A second estimating means for estimating the speed of movement from the movement state of the apparatus;
The imaging apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the movement type is determined based on a speed estimated by the second estimation unit. An image acquisition method executed by an imaging device,
A shooting environment acquisition step for acquiring a shooting environment including the state of movement of the device at the shooting timing of interval shooting;
A first setting step for setting the number of images to be acquired based on the shooting environment acquired in the shooting environment acquisition step;
An acquisition step of capturing images every time the capturing timing is detected and acquiring the number of images set by the first setting step;
An image acquisition method comprising: A computer that controls the imaging device;
A shooting environment acquisition means for acquiring a shooting environment including the state of movement of the device at the shooting timing of interval shooting;
First setting means for setting the number of images to be acquired based on the shooting environment acquired by the shooting environment acquisition means;
An acquisition unit that captures an image every time the imaging timing is detected and acquires the number of images set by the first setting unit;
A program characterized by functioning as

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