# US 12,225,298 B2 · Imaging device, imaging method, and imaging program > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,225,298 B2 - Document ID: US12225298B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/472,198 - Filed: 2023-09-21 - Published: 2024-01-11 - Granted: 2025-02-11 - Earliest claimed: 2020-03-25 - Assignees: FUJIFILM Corporation - Applicants: FUJIFILM Corporation - Inventors: Takehiro Koguchi; Taro Saito; Yukinori Nishiyama; Tomoharu Shimada - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12225298B2 ## CPC - H04N 23/60: Control of cameras or camera modules - H04N 23/72: Combination of two or more compensation controls - G03B 7/093: for control of exposure time - G06T 7/20: Analysis of motion (motion estimation for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals H04N19/43, H04N19/51) - G06T 7/254: involving subtraction of images - H04N 5/2222: {Prompting} - H04N 23/55: Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof - H04N 23/69: Control of means for changing angle of the field of view, e.g. optical zoom objectives or electronic zooming - H04N 23/73: by influencing the exposure time - H04N 23/75: by influencing optical camera components - H04N 23/951: by using two or more images to influence resolution, frame rate or aspect ratio - G06T 2207/10016: Video; Image sequence - G06T 2207/10144: Varying exposure - G06T 2207/10152: Varying illumination - 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) - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL ## Abstract Provided are an imaging device, an imaging method, and an imaging program capable of easily acquiring a slow moving image with good image quality. In one aspect of the present invention, an imaging device includes an optical system, an imaging element, and a processor, and the processor performs detection processing of detecting a movement of a subject based on an image signal output from the imaging element, frame rate control of increasing a frame rate of a moving image output from the imaging element based on the detected movement, exposure control processing of maintaining a rate of an exposure time per frame of the moving image constant according to the increase in the frame rate, and dimming control processing of changing a degree of dimming of the optical system according to the exposure control processing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An imaging device comprising: an optical system; an imaging element; and a processor, wherein the processor performs detection processing of detecting a movement of a subject based on an image signal output from the imaging element, frame rate control of increasing a frame rate of a moving image output from the imaging element based on the detected movement, exposure control processing of maintaining a rate of an exposure time per frame of the moving image constant according to the increase in the frame rate, dimming control processing of changing a degree of dimming of the optical system according to the exposure control processing, and information output processing of, according to an imaging situation of the subject, prompting a user to change an imaging condition set to the imaging device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the processor calculates a first timing for starting to change the frame rate and the exposure time and a second timing for setting the frame rate and the exposure time as target values based on the movement, increases the frame rate from the first timing to the second timing, and shortens the exposure time from the first timing to the second timing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The imaging device according to claim 2, wherein the processor calculates a timing at which a distance between a plurality of subjects is equal to or less than a threshold value as the second timing based on the detected movement in the frame rate control. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The imaging device according to claim 3, wherein the processor sets a rate of change in the frame rate and the exposure time according to a relative speed between the plurality of subjects. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The imaging device according to claim 2, wherein the processor sets the target values for the frame rate and the exposure time. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The imaging device according to claim 2, wherein the processor returns values of the frame rate, the exposure time, and the degree of dimming to values set before starting the frame rate control, the exposure control processing, and the dimming control processing after the second timing has elapsed. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the processor captures a first moving image, which is a moving image of the increased frame rate after the first timing, by setting a bit rate higher as the frame rate is higher. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The imaging device according to claim 7, wherein the processor sets an exposure time per frame to half or more of a frame interval for the first moving image. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The imaging device according to claim 7, wherein the processor displays the first moving image on a display device at the same initial frame rate as before starting the frame rate control. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The imaging device according to claim 9, wherein the processor thins out a frame of the first moving image to generate a second moving image having the initial frame rate and displays the first moving image and the second moving image on the display device at the initial frame rate. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the imaging condition includes at least one of a frame rate, an exposure time, a degree of dimming of a dimming element, a stop, a sensitivity, or a bit rate. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the optical system has a stop mechanism in which a degree of stop is variable, and the processor changes the degree of stop of the stop mechanism to a release side in accordance with shortening of the exposure time. ### Claim 13 An imaging method by an imaging device including an optical system, an imaging element, and a processor, processing performed by the processor comprising: a detection step of detecting a movement of a subject based on an image signal output from the imaging element; a frame rate control step of continuously increasing a frame rate of a moving image output from the imaging element based on the detected movement; an exposure control step of maintaining a rate of an exposure time per frame of the moving image constant according to the increase in the frame rate; a dimming control step of changing a degree of dimming of the optical system according to the control of the exposure time; and an information output step of, according to an imaging situation of the subject, prompting a user to change an imaging condition set to the imaging device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A non-transitory, computer-readable tangible recording medium which records thereon, a program for causing, when read by a computer, the computer to perform the imaging method according to claim 13.