# US 10,122,941 B2 · Image pickup apparatus, method for controlling the image pickup apparatus, and recording medium

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- Number: US 10,122,941 B2
- Document ID: US10122941B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/351,098
- Filed: 2016-11-14
- Published: 2017-03-02
- Granted: 2018-11-06
- Earliest claimed: 2012-05-21
- Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
- Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
- Inventors: Takahiro Iwasaki
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10122941B2

## CPC

- H04N 5/2621: {Cameras specially adapted for the electronic generation of special effects during image pickup, e.g. digital cameras, camcorders, video cameras having integrated special effects capability}
- G08B 13/19686: {Interfaces masking personal details for privacy, e.g. blurring faces, vehicle license plates}
- H04N 7/18: Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
- H04N 23/63: by using electronic viewfinders
- H04N 23/661: Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
- H04N 23/695: Control of camera direction for changing a field of view, e.g. pan, tilt or based on tracking of objects
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS

## Abstract

An image pickup apparatus includes a receiving unit configured to receive a designation of an image pickup direction of an image pickup unit in relation to superimposition of a mask image on an picked-up image; and a setting unit configured to set, when the receiving unit receives the designation of the image pickup direction, a position of superimposition of the mask image in an image pickup range where the image pickup unit can pick up images, on the basis of the designated image pickup direction.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An image pickup apparatus comprising:
an image pickup unit capable of changing an image pickup direction to pick up an image;
a memory to hold a plurality of video source configurations including a resolution of the picked-up image; and
circuitry configured to:
receive identification information for identifying a video source configuration and a mask position for setting a mask image to be displayed within the picked-up image; and
set the mask position of the mask image to be displayed on the picked-up image on the basis of the video source configuration identified by the received identification information, the mask position of the mask image being set relative to a current image pickup direction of the image pickup unit.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the current image pickup direction is defined based on at least one of a pan angle value, a tilt angle value, and a zoom factor value.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the received mask position is defined based on a coordinate of the mask image in a normalized coordinate system.

### Claim 4

An image pickup method of an image pickup apparatus capable of changing an image pickup direction to pick up an image, comprising:
receiving identification information for identifying a video source configuration including a resolution of the picked-up image, wherein a plurality of video source configurations are stored in a memory of the image pickup apparatus, and
receiving a mask position for setting a mask image to be displayed within the picked-up image; and
setting the mask position of the mask image to be displayed on the picked-up image on the basis of the video source configuration identified by the received identification information, the mask position of the mask image being set relative to a current image pickup direction of the image pickup unit.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method according to claim 4, wherein the current image pickup direction is defined based on at least one of a pan angle value, a tilt angle value, and a zoom factor value.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The method according to claim 4, wherein the received mask position is defined based on a coordinate of the mask image in a normalized coordinate system.

### Claim 7

A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising a computer program for an image pickup method of an image pickup apparatus capable of changing an image pickup direction to pick up an image, the method comprising:
receiving identification information for identifying a video source configuration including a resolution of the picked-up image, wherein a plurality of video source configurations are stored in a memory of the image pickup apparatus, and
receiving a mask position for setting a mask image to be displayed within the picked-up image; and
setting the mask position of the mask image to be displayed on the picked-up image on the basis of the video source configuration identified by the received identification information, the mask position of the mask image being set relative to a current image pickup direction of the image pickup unit.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 7, wherein the current image pickup direction is defined based on at least one of a pan angle value, a tilt angle value, and a zoom factor value.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 7, wherein the received mask position is defined based on a coordinate of the mask image in a normalized coordinate system.