# US 12,225,295 B2 · Image capture apparatus and control method therefor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,225,295 B2 - Document ID: US12225295B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/177,360 - Filed: 2023-03-02 - Published: 2023-09-21 - Granted: 2025-02-11 - Earliest claimed: 2022-03-16 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Hidetaka Tsuchiya - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12225295B2 ## CPC - H04N 23/698: for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture - H04N 5/2628: {Alteration of picture size, shape, position or orientation, e.g. zooming, rotation, rolling, perspective, translation} - H04N 23/45: for generating image signals from two or more image sensors being of different type or operating in different modes, e.g. with a CMOS sensor for moving images in combination with a charge-coupled device [CCD] for still images - H04N 23/55: Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof - H04N 23/633: {for displaying additional information relating to control or operation of the camera} - H04N 23/634: {Warning indications} - H04N 23/635: {Region indicators; Field of view indicators} - H04N 23/64: {Computer-aided capture of images, e.g. transfer from script file into camera, check of taken image quality, advice or proposal for image composition or decision on when to take image} - H04N 23/651: {for reducing power consumption by affecting camera operations, e.g. sleep mode, hibernation mode or power off of selective parts of the camera} - H04N 23/6812: {based on additional sensors, e.g. acceleration sensors} - H04N 23/683: {performed by a processor, e.g. controlling the readout of an image memory} - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract An image capture apparatus that generates an omnidirectional image using imaging lenses is disclosed. The apparatus detects an orientation of the image capture apparatus. The apparatus identifies, when the image capture apparatus is in an operation mode for generating a first image with a smaller field of view than an omnidirectional image, an area to be captured required to generate the image on a basis of a difference between a reference orientation and a current orientation of the image capture apparatus. The apparatus, when the image capture apparatus is in the operation mode, enables image capture using an imaging lens, from among the imaging lenses, required to capture the area to be captured and disable image capture using an imaging lens, from among the imaging lenses, not required to capture the area to be captured. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image capture apparatus that generates an omnidirectional image using a plurality of image capture units with different capture directions, the plurality of image capture units respectively including a plurality of imaging lenses, the image capture apparatus comprising: one or more processors; and a memory storing a program which, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the image capture apparatus to; (1) execute detecting processing to detect an orientation of the image capture apparatus; (2) execute identifying processing to, when the image capture apparatus is in an operation mode for generating a first image with a smaller field of view than the omnidirectional image, (a) identify a reference orientation which is a unidirectional direction that is not affected by changes to the orientation of the image capture apparatus thereafter and (b) identify a first area to be captured required to generate the first image on a basis of a difference between the reference orientation and a current orientation of the image capture apparatus detected by the detecting processing; (3) execute control processing to, when the image capture apparatus is in the operation mode, (a) in a case where a capturable area of a first image capture unit, from among the plurality of image capture units, includes at least a portion of the first area, put the first image capture unit in a first state capable of imaging processing and (b) in a case where a capturable area of a second image capture unit, from among the plurality of image capture units, does not include any portion of the first area, put the second image capture unit in a power saving state in which less power is consumed than when in the first state; and (4) execute generating processing to generate a guide display including a display indicating how to change the orientation of the image capture apparatus to reduce a number of imaging lenses to be used for image capture. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image capture apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in the generating processing, the first image is generated by cropping a region of the first area from an image obtained using an imaging lens, from among the plurality of imaging lenses, image capture using that imaging lens having been enabled by the control processing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The image capture apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the program, when executed by the one or more processors further causes the image processing apparatus to execute combining processing to generate a combined image by stitching together images captured using the plurality of imaging lenses when image capture using each one of the plurality of imaging lenses is enabled in the control processing, and wherein in the generating processing, the first image is generated by cropping the region of the first area from the combined image. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The image capture apparatus according to claim 3, wherein in the generating processing, the guide display is superimposed with the first image. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The image capture apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the guide display further includes (a) a display indicating a boundary between a plurality of images used to generate the combined image or (b) a display indicating that image capture by the plurality of imaging lenses is enabled. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The image capture apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first image generated in the generating processing is output to a display apparatus included in the image capture apparatus or to an external apparatus including a display apparatus. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The image capture apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the identifying processing identifies the first area by converting a position of an area to be captured when the image capture apparatus is in the reference orientation to a position corresponding to the current orientation of the image capture apparatus. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The image capture apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control processing causes a circuit relating to an imaging lens, image capturing using which is disabled, to be transition to a state in which less power is consumed than when image capturing using that imaging lens is enabled. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The image capture apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the circuit includes an image sensor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The image capture apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the program causes the image capture apparatus to perform the identifying processing and the control processing repeatedly. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The image capture apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of imaging lenses are circular fisheye lenses. ### Claim 12 A control method for an image capture apparatus that can generate an omnidirectional image using a plurality of image capture units with different capture directions, the plurality of image capture units respectively including a plurality of imaging lenses, the method comprising: detecting an orientation of the image capture apparatus; when the image capture apparatus is in an operation mode for generating a first image with a smaller field of view than the omnidirectional image, (a) identifying a reference orientation which is a unidirectional direction that is not affected by changes to the orientation of the image capture apparatus thereafter and (b) identifying a first area to be captured required to generate the first image on a basis of a difference between a reference orientation and a current orientation of the image capture apparatus detected in the detecting; when the image capture apparatus is in the operation mode, (a) in a case where a capturable area of a first image capture unit, from among the plurality of image capture units, includes at least a portion of the first area, putting the first image capture unit in a first state capable of imaging processing and (b) in a case where a capturable area of a second image capture unit, among the plurality of image capture units, does not include any portion of the first area, putting the second image capture unit in a power saving state in which less power is consumed than when in the first state; and generating a guide display including a display indicating how to change the orientation of the image capture apparatus to reduce a number of imaging lenses to be used for image capture. ### Claim 13 A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program which, when executed by one or more processors of an image capture apparatus that can generate an omnidirectional image using a plurality of image capture units with different capture directions, the plurality of image capture units respectively including a plurality of imaging lenses, causes the image capture apparatus to perform a control method comprising: detecting an orientation of the image capture apparatus; when the image capture apparatus is in an operation mode for generating a first image with a smaller field of view than the omnidirectional image, (a) identifying a reference orientation which is a unidirectional direction that is not affected by changes to the orientation of the image capture apparatus thereafter and (b) identifying a first area to be captured required to generate the first image on a basis of a difference between a reference orientation and a current orientation of the image capture apparatus detected in the detecting; when the image capture apparatus is in the operation mode, (a) in a case where a capturable area of a first image capture unit, of the plurality of image capture units, includes at least a portion of the first area, putting the first image capture unit in a first state capable of imaging processing and (b) in a case where a capturable area of a second image capture unit, of the plurality of image capture units, does not include any portion of the first area, putting the second image capture unit in a power saving state in which less power is consumed than when in the first state; and generating a guide display including a display indicating how to change the orientation of the image capture apparatus to reduce a number of imaging lenses to be used for image capture.