# US 12,604,085 B2 · Imaging method and imaging apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,604,085 B2 - Document ID: US12604085B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/516,911 - Filed: 2023-11-21 - Published: 2024-03-14 - Granted: 2026-04-14 - Earliest claimed: 2021-06-17 - Assignees: FUJIFILM Corporation - Applicants: FUJIFILM Corporation - Inventors: Kosuke Takahashi; Koichi Tanaka; Shunsuke Miyagishima; Hiroki Saito; Tomoki Otsuki - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12604085B2 ## CPC - H04N 23/634: {Warning indications} - H04N 23/951: by using two or more images to influence resolution, frame rate or aspect ratio - G03B 15/00: Special procedures for taking photographs; Apparatus therefor - 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 23/667: Camera operation mode switching, e.g. between still and video, sport and normal or high- and low-resolution modes - H04N 23/6812: {based on additional sensors, e.g. acceleration sensors} - H04N 23/685: {performed by mechanical compensation} - 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 - 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 The imaging method is used in an imaging apparatus including an imaging element that captures a subject image and a moving mechanism configured to change a relative position between the subject image and the imaging element, the imaging method including: a changing step of changing the relative position a plurality of times; an imaging step of acquiring a plurality of first images by capturing the subject image using the imaging element at a plurality of the relative positions; a combining step of generating a second image by combining the plurality of first images; and a display step of performing a temporal display relating to the imaging step or the combining step. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An imaging method used in an imaging apparatus including an imaging sensor that captures a subject image and a moving mechanism configured to change a relative position between the subject image and the imaging sensor, the imaging method comprising: a changing step of changing the relative position a plurality of times; an imaging step of acquiring a plurality of first images by capturing the subject image using the imaging sensor at a plurality of the relative positions; a combining step of generating a second image by combining the plurality of first images; a determination step of determining whether or not the combining step is executable based on whether or not at least one of the plurality of first images satisfies a first condition, wherein the combining step is executed in a case in which an affirmative determination is made in the determination step, and wherein a process content of the imaging step is changed in a case in which a negative determination is made; and a display step of performing a temporal display relating to the imaging step or the combining step. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The imaging method according to claim 1, wherein the temporal display is a display with which an execution time of the imaging step or the combining step is recognizable. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The imaging method according to claim 1, further comprising: a first stopping step of stopping the capturing of the subject image in the imaging step in a case in which a negative determination is made in the determination step. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The imaging method according to claim 3, further comprising: a second stopping step of stopping the temporal display in the display step in a case in which the capturing of the subject image is stopped. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The imaging method according to claim 4, further comprising: a notification step of notifying a user of a reason for stopping the capturing of the subject image or a reason for stopping the temporal display. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The imaging method according to claim 1, wherein, in the changing step, the relative position is changed by using a shake applied to the imaging apparatus. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The imaging method according to claim 1, wherein, in a case in which a negative determination is made in the determination step, the number of capturing operations of the subject image in the imaging step is increased more than in a case in which an affirmative determination is made. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The imaging method according to claim 7, further comprising: an update step of updating the temporal display in the display step in a case in which the number of the capturing operations of the subject image in the imaging step is increased. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The imaging method according to claim 8, further comprising: a notification step of notifying a user of a reason for increasing the number of the capturing operations in the imaging step or a reason for updating the temporal display. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The imaging method according to claim 7, wherein, in the changing step, the relative position is changed by moving the imaging sensor to a predetermined position using the moving mechanism. ### Claim 11 An imaging apparatus comprising: an imaging sensor that captures a subject image; a moving mechanism configured to change a relative position between the subject image and the imaging sensor; and a processor, wherein the processor is configured to execute a changing process of changing the relative position a plurality of times, an imaging process of acquiring a plurality of first images by capturing the subject image using the imaging sensor at a plurality of the relative positions, a combining process of generating a second image by combining the plurality of first images, a determination process of determining whether or not the combining process is executable based on whether or not at least one of the plurality of first images satisfies a first condition, wherein the combining process is executed in a case in which an affirmative determination is made in the determination process, and wherein a process content of the imaging process is changed in a case in which a negative determination is made; and a display process of performing a temporal display relating to the imaging process or the combining process. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The imaging apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to selectively execute a first mode and a second mode, in the first mode, change the relative position by using a shake applied to the imaging apparatus in the changing process, in the second mode, change the relative position by moving the imaging sensor to a predetermined position using the moving mechanism in the changing process, change the temporal display in the display process to different contents between the first mode and the second mode in a case in which a negative determination is made in the determination process.