# US 12,120,420 B2 · Imaging device, imaging method, and program > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,120,420 B2 - Document ID: US12120420B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/087,119 - Filed: 2022-12-22 - Published: 2023-08-31 - Granted: 2024-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2018-12-28 - Assignees: Sony Group Corporation - Applicants: Sony Group Corporation - Inventors: Takahiro Sato - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12120420B2 ## CPC - G02B 7/34: using different areas in a pupil plane - H04N 23/635: {Region indicators; Field of view indicators} - G06V 40/10: Human or animal bodies, e.g. vehicle occupants or pedestrians; Body parts, e.g. hands - G06V 40/19: Sensors therefor - H04N 23/611: where the recognised objects include parts of the human body - H04N 23/675: {comprising setting of focusing regions} - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING ## Abstract The present technology relates to an imaging device, an imaging method, and a program that make it possible to easily perform imaging focusing on a subject or a specific part of the subject. The imaging device causes a preliminary-notice frame that gives notice of a specific area to be focused to be displayed on an image obtained by an imaging unit according to a type of the subject. The present technology can be applied to an imaging device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An imaging apparatus, comprising: an imager configured to acquire an image; and circuitry configured to: set a face area of a human as a first type of in-focus area of the image, set a pupil area of the human as a second type of in-focus area of the image, set a pupil area of a cat or dog as a third type of in-focus area of the image, enter an animal pupil detection mode that is distinct from a human pupil detection mode, and in the animal pupil detection mode, in an absence of receiving indication of pressing of a physical button for autofocus or a start of pupil focusing, superimposing a pupil preliminary notice frame corresponding to the pupil area of the cat or dog. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the circuitry is further configured to omit setting a face area of the cat or dog as an additional in-focus area of the image in the human pupil detection mode. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the circuitry is further configured to control a display unit to display a notice frame that gives notice of a specific area to be focused on the image. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the notice frame surrounds the face area of the human, the pupil area of the human or the pupil area of the cat or dog based on a setting. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the circuitry is further configured to set the pupil area of the cat or dog as a selected in-focus area of the image based on receiving indication of a pressing of the physical button for autofocus or the start of pupil focusing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The imaging apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the physical button is an autofocus button. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The imaging apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the physical button is a dedicated button for instructing the start of pupil focusing. ### Claim 8 A non-transitory computer readable medium storing program code, the program being executable to perform operations comprising: receiving an image captured by an imager; setting a face area of a human as a first type of in-focus area of the image; setting a pupil area of the human as a second type of in-focus area of the image; setting a pupil area of a cat or dog as a third type of in-focus area of the image; enter an animal pupil detection mode that is distinct from a human pupil detection mode; and in the animal pupil detection mode, in an absence of receiving indication of pressing of a physical button for autofocus or a start of pupil focusing, superimposing a pupil preliminary notice frame corresponding to the pupil area of the cat or dog. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise: omitting a setting of a face area of the cat or dog as an additional in-focus area of the image in the human pupil detection mode. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise: controlling a display unit to display a notice frame that gives notice of a specific area to be focused on the image. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 10, wherein the notice frame surrounds the face area of the human, the pupil area of the human or the pupil area of the cat or dog based on a setting. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise: setting the pupil area of the cat or dog as a selected in-focus area of the image based on receiving indication of the pressing of the physical button for autofocus or the start of pupil focusing. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 12, wherein the physical button is an autofocus button. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 12, wherein the physical button is a dedicated button for instructing the start of pupil focusing. ### Claim 15 A method comprising: receiving an image captured by an imager; setting a face area of a human as a first type of in-focus area of the image; setting a pupil area of the human as a second type of in-focus area of the image; setting a pupil area of a cat or dog as a third type of in-focus area of the image; enter an animal pupil detection mode that is distinct from a human pupil detection mode; and in the animal pupil detection mode, in an absence of receiving indication of pressing of a physical button for autofocus or a start of pupil focusing, superimposing a pupil preliminary notice frame corresponding to the pupil area of the cat or dog. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, further comprising: omitting a setting of a face area of the cat or dog as an additional in-focus area of the image in the human pupil detection mode. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, further comprising: controlling a display unit to display a notice frame that gives notice of a specific area to be focused on the image. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, wherein the notice frame surrounds the face area of the human, the pupil area of the human or the pupil area of the cat or dog based on a setting. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, further comprising: setting the pupil area of the cat or dog as a selected in-focus area of the image based on receiving indication of a pressing of the physical button for autofocus or for the start of pupil focusing. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method according to claim 19, wherein the physical button is an autofocus button. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The method according to claim 19, wherein the physical button is a dedicated button for instructing the start of pupil focusing.