# US 11,442,244 B2 · Imaging device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,442,244 B2 - Document ID: US11442244B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/205,424 - Filed: 2021-03-18 - Published: 2021-09-30 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2020-03-25 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Yutaka Kojima - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11442244B2 ## CPC - G02B 7/28: Systems for automatic generation of focusing signals - G02B 7/287: {including a sight line detecting device} - G03B 13/36: Autofocus systems - G03B 2213/025: Sightline detection - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - 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 An imaging device detects a specific type object in a captured image, detects a position of a line-of-sight of a photographer, and controls so that: in case where the specific type object is not detected in the captured image, a main object to which a specific process should be applied is selected based on a predetermined condition within a first type zone including a detected line-of-sight input position, and in case where the specific type object is detected in the captured image, if the detected line-of-sight input position is included in a second type zone that is larger than the first type zone and includes the specific type object, the specific type object included in the second type zone corresponding to the line-of-sight input position is selected as the main object to which the specific process should be applied, regardless of the predetermined condition. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An imaging device comprising: an image sensor; and at least one memory and at least one processor which function as: an object-detecting unit configured to detect a specific type object in an image captured by the image sensor, a line-of-sight detection unit capable of detecting a position of a line-of-sight of a photographer, and a control unit configured to control so that: in case where the specific type object is not detected by the object-detecting unit in the image captured by the image sensor, a main object to which a specific process should be applied is selected based on a predetermined condition within a first type zone including a line-of-sight input position detected by the line-of-sight detection unit, and in case where the specific type object is detected by the object-detecting unit in the image captured by the image sensor, if the line-of-sight input position detected by the line-of-sight detection unit is included in a second type zone that is larger than the first type zone and includes the specific type object, the specific type object included in the second type zone corresponding to the line-of-sight input position is selected as the main object to which the specific process should be applied, regardless of the predetermined condition. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the specific process is at least one of autofocus (AF) and tracking. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls to select the main object in response to an operation performed on a specific operation member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The imaging device according to claim 3, wherein the specific operation member is located at a position where the specific operation member is operable with a finger of a hand holding a grip unit of the imaging device and differs from a shutter button that is operable with the finger of the hand. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the specific type object is a human face. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the specific type object is at least one of human eye, a face of an animal, a vehicle, and a moving object. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls so that in a case where a plurality of specific type objects are detected, a second type zone is set for each of the plurality of specific type objects. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The imaging device according to claim 7, wherein in a case where a first zone and a second zone that are second type zones and adjacent to each other are set, the control unit regards a midpoint between a center position of a specific type object detected in the first zone and a center position of a specific type object detected in the second zone, as a boundary between the first zone and the second zone. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the second type zone is larger than a detection size of the specific type object corresponding to the second type zone. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition is a condition for increasing a priority to be selected as the main object and is a condition that an object is at least one of an object that is close to the imaging device, an object that is close to a center of the image, an object having a high contrast, a moving object, and a vehicle. ### Claim 11 A control method of an imaging device, comprising: detecting a specific type object in a captured image; detecting a position of a line-of-sight of a photographer, and controlling so that: in case where the specific type object is not detected in the captured image, a main object to which a specific process should be applied is selected based on a predetermined condition within a first type zone including a detected line-of-sight input position, and in case where the specific type object is detected in the captured image, if the detected line-of-sight input position is included in a second type zone that is larger than the first type zone and includes the specific type object, the specific type object included in the second type zone corresponding to the line-of-sight input position is selected as the main object to which the specific process should be applied, regardless of the predetermined condition. ### Claim 12 A non-transitory computer readable medium that stores a program, wherein the program causes a computer to execute a control method of an imaging device, the control method comprising: detecting a specific type object in a captured image; detecting a position of a line-of-sight of a photographer, and controlling so that: in case where the specific type object is not detected in the captured image, a main object to which a specific process should be applied is selected based on a predetermined condition within a first type zone including a detected line-of-sight input position, and in case where the specific type object is detected in the captured image, if the detected line-of-sight input position is included in a second type zone that is larger than the first type zone and includes the specific type object, the specific type object included in the second type zone corresponding to the line-of-sight input position is selected as the main object to which the specific process should be applied, regardless of the predetermined condition.