# US 10,122,934 B2 · Imaging apparatus having an apodization filter and capable of selecting first and second program diagrams > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,122,934 B2 - Document ID: US10122934B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/716,081 - Filed: 2017-09-26 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2015-03-27 - Assignees: FUJIFILM Corporation - Applicants: FUJIFILM Corporation - Inventors: Akihiro Uchida - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10122934B2 ## CPC - H04N 23/72: Combination of two or more compensation controls - G03B 7/097: for control of both exposure time and aperture - G03B 7/18: in accordance with light-reducing "factor" of filter or other obturator used with or on the lens of the camera - G03B 11/00: Filters or other obturators specially adapted for photographic purposes - G03B 13/36: Autofocus systems - H04N 23/55: Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof - H04N 23/61: based on recognised objects - H04N 23/611: where the recognised objects include parts of the human body - H04N 23/663: for controlling interchangeable camera parts based on electronic image sensor signals - H04N 23/672: {based on the phase difference signals} - H04N 23/673: {based on contrast or high frequency components of image signals, e.g. hill climbing method} - H04N 23/71: Circuitry for evaluating the brightness variation - H04N 23/745: Detection of flicker frequency or suppression of flicker wherein the flicker is caused by illumination, e.g. due to fluorescent tube illumination or pulsed LED illumination - H04N 23/75: by influencing optical camera components - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D) ## Abstract A subject information acquisition section acquires a subject distance difference, which is distance difference between a main subject and a subject farthest from the main subject, on the basis of an imaging signal sent from an imaging element. A program diagram storage section stores a first program diagram where an aperture value is fixed at an open aperture value at a first amount of exposure EV1 or less, and stores a second program diagram where an aperture value is fixed at an open aperture value at a second amount of exposure EV2, which is greater than the first amount of exposure EV1, or less. An imaging exposure determination section selects the second program diagram in a case where an APD filter is disposed on the optical path and a case where the subject distance difference is equal to or greater than a threshold value and there is an imaged scene in which a blurred image tends to occur, and selects the first program diagram in a case where the subject distance difference is less than the threshold value and there is an imaged scene in which a blurred image is hard to occur. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An imaging apparatus comprising: an imaging element that photoelectrically converts incident light so as to output an imaging signal; a stop that adjusts a light amount of the incident light; an apodization filter that is disposed on an optical path of the incident light; and an electric signal processing device configured for: performing photometry based on the imaging signal; storing a first program diagram in which an aperture value is fixed at an open aperture value in a case where an amount of exposure is equal to or less than a first amount of exposure, and a second program diagram in which an aperture value is fixed at an open aperture value in a case where the amount of exposure is equal to or less than a second amount of exposure, which is greater than the first amount of exposure; acquiring subject information based on the imaging signal; and selecting the second program diagram in a case where the apodization filter is disposed on the optical path and the subject information satisfies a first condition; selecting the first program diagram in a case where the apodization filter is not disposed on the optical path and in a case where the apodization filter is disposed on the optical path and the subject information does not satisfy the first condition; and determining one group of an imaging aperture value and an imaging shutter speed based on an amount of imaging exposure which is calculated from a photometric value obtained by the performing photometry. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electric signal processing device acquires, as the subject information, a subject distance difference between a main subject and a subject farthest from the main subject, and wherein the electric signal processing device sets the first condition as a condition in which the subject distance difference is equal to or greater than a threshold value. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein in addition to the subject distance difference, the electric signal processing device acquires, as the subject information, a main subject distance which is a subject distance up to a main subject, and wherein the electric signal processing device sets the first condition as a condition in which the main subject distance is less than a specific distance and the subject distance difference is equal to or greater than a threshold value. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the electric signal processing device divides an imaging range of the imaging element into a plurality of blocks, calculates a subject distance for each of the blocks, and calculates the subject distance difference and the main subject distance from the subject distance of each of the blocks. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a shutter speed corresponding to the second amount of exposure in the second program diagram is faster than a shutter speed corresponding to the first amount of exposure in the first program diagram. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The imaging apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a mechanical shutter, wherein the shutter speed corresponding to the second amount of exposure in the second program diagram is a limit speed on a high speed side of the mechanical shutter. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The imaging apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the imaging element has an electronic shutter function capable of making an imaging shutter speed faster than the limit speed, wherein the electric signal processing device stores a third program diagram in which an aperture value is fixed at an open aperture value in a case where the amount of exposure is equal to or less than a third amount of exposure which is greater than the second amount of exposure, and wherein the electric signal processing device selects the third program diagram in a case where the first condition is satisfied and a second condition different from the first condition is satisfied, and selects the second program diagram in a case where the first condition is satisfied and the second condition is not satisfied. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The imaging apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the electric signal processing device detects an amount of movement of the main subject based on the imaging signal of a plurality of frames, wherein the electronic shutter function is a rolling shutter system, and wherein the electric signal processing device sets the second condition as a condition in which the amount of movement is equal to or less than a specific value. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The imaging apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the electric signal processing device detects whether or not flickering occurs by calculating a change in luminance value from the imaging signal of the plurality of frames, wherein the electric signal processing device sets the second condition as a condition in which the flickering is not detected. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein in addition to the subject distance difference, the electric signal processing device acquires, as the subject information, a size of a face of a subject in a case where whether or not the face is present is detected based on the imaging signal and then the face is present, and wherein the electric signal processing device sets the first condition as a condition in which the main subject distance is less than a specific distance and the size of the face is equal to or greater than a threshold value in the case where the face is detected. ### Claim 11 An imaging apparatus body in which a first lens barrel having an apodization filter and a second lens barrel having no apodization filter are mountable, the imaging apparatus body comprising: an imaging element that photoelectrically converts incident light so as to output an imaging signal; a stop that adjusts a light amount of the incident light; an electric signal processing device configured for: performing photometry based on the imaging signal; storing a first program diagram in which an aperture value is fixed at an open aperture value in a case where an amount of exposure is equal to or less than a first amount of exposure, and a second program diagram in which an aperture value is fixed at an open aperture value in a case where the amount of exposure is equal to or less than a second amount of exposure which is greater than the first amount of exposure; acquiring subject information based on the imaging signal; selecting the second program diagram in a case where the first lens barrel is mounted and the subject information satisfies a first condition; selecting the first program diagram in a case where the second lens barrel is mounted and in a case where the first lens barrel is mounted and the subject information does not satisfy the first condition; and determining one group of an imaging aperture value and an imaging shutter speed based on an amount of imaging exposure which is calculated from a photometric value obtained by the performing photometry. ### Claim 12 A method of controlling an imaging apparatus including an imaging element that photoelectrically converts incident light so as to output an imaging signal, a stop that adjusts a light amount of the incident light, an apodization filter that is disposed on an optical path of the incident light, an electric signal processing device configured for performing photometry based on the imaging signal, storing a first program diagram in which an aperture value is fixed at an open aperture value in a case where an amount of exposure is equal to or less than a first amount of exposure, and a second program diagram in which an aperture value is fixed at an open aperture value in a case where the amount of exposure is equal to or less than a second amount of exposure which is greater than the first amount of exposure, and acquiring subject information based on the imaging signal, the method comprising: selecting the second program diagram in a case where the apodization filter is disposed on the optical path and the subject information satisfies a first condition; selecting the first program diagram in a case where the apodization filter is not disposed on the optical path and in a case where the apodization filter is disposed on the optical path and the subject information does not satisfy the first condition; and determining one group of an imaging aperture value and an imaging shutter speed based on an amount of imaging exposure which is calculated from a photometric value obtained by the performing photometry.