# US 2012/0075413 A1 · Imaging apparatus, imaging method and recording medium > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2012/0075413 A1 - Document ID: US20120075413A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/245,127 - Filed: 2011-09-26 - Published: 2012-03-29 - Earliest claimed: 2010-09-27 - Assignees: Casio Computer Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Akira HAMADA; Tomoharu Yamaguchi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20120075413A1 ## CPC - 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 5/2628: {Alteration of picture size, shape, position or orientation, e.g. zooming, rotation, rolling, perspective, translation} - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract A digital camera 1 captures at least photographic subjects intended to be positioned on the left and right ends of a group photograph (temporary imaging), and prompts a user to designate the photographic subjects intended to be positioned on the left and right ends. Next, the digital camera 1, which has been placed on a suitable surface (such as on a desk), moves the optical zoom further to the wide-angle side than during the temporary imaging, and performs actual imaging when the self-timer reaches time up. Then, the digital camera 1 identifies the photographic subjects designated by the temporary imaging within the actually captured image, and after determining the left, right, upper, and lower ends of a clipping area such that the identified photographic subjects are included, clips an image of the determined clipping area as a final image. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An imaging apparatus capable of imaging using a self-timer, comprising: an imaging section; an imaging area setting section which sets photographic subjects intended to be positioned on both ends of an imaging area; and an imaging control section which identifies the photographic subjects intended to be positioned on both ends of the imaging area which have been set by the imaging area setting section, and captures an image by controlling an image viewing angle of the imaging section so that the photographic subjects are included within the imaging area, when imaging using the self-timer is performed. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an image processing section which acquires, after the imaging control section captures the image by controlling the image viewing angle of the imaging section so that the photographic subjects intended to be positioned on both ends of the imaging area are included in the imaging area, an image of the imaging area from the captured image such that photographic subjects on upper and lower ends of the captured image are included. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the imaging section includes an optical zoom lens; the imaging control section captures an actual image by the imaging section, by setting the optical zoom lens further to a wide-angle side than during setting of the imaging area by the imaging area setting section; and the image processing section acquires an image of the imaging area from the actual image captured by the imaging section, such that the photographic subjects intended to be positioned on both ends of the imaging area which have been set by the imaging area setting section and photographic subjects on upper and lower ends of the actual image are included. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the imaging control section re-captures the actual image by setting the optical zoom lens further to the wide-angle side, when the photographic subjects intended to be positioned on both ends of the imaging area are not able to be identified from the captured actual image; and the image processing section acquires an image of the imaging area from the actual image re-captured by the imaging section by the imaging control section setting the optical zoom lens further to the wide-angle side, such that the photographic subjects intended to be positioned on both ends of the imaging area which have been set by the imaging area setting section and photographic subjects on upper and lower ends of the re-captured actual image are included. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imaging section includes an optical zoom lens; and the imaging control section, when the imaging area including the photographic subjects intended to be positioned on both ends which have been set by the imaging area setting section is narrower than an imaging area of the image captured by controlling the image viewing angle of the imaging section, re-captures the image by setting the optical zoom lens to a telescopic side to the extent that the photographic subjects are included within the imaging area. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a display section which displays the image captured by the imaging section; and a touch panel provided on a surface of the display section; wherein the imaging area setting section sets the photographic subjects intended to be positioned on both ends of the imaging area based on a user operation performed on the touch panel provided on the surface of the display section. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a recognition section which recognizes photographic subjects within the imaging area that is being captured by the imaging section; wherein the imaging area setting section selectively sets photographic subjects intended to be positioned on both ends of the imaging area from among the photographic subjects recognized by the recognition section. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a confirmation section which confirms whether or not to store the image captured by the imaging section in accordance with control performed by the imaging control section. ### Claim 9 An imaging apparatus capable of imaging using a self-timer, comprising: an imaging section; a recognition section which recognizes photographic subjects on both ends from among a plurality of photographic subjects within an imaging area of the imaging section; and an imaging control section which captures an image by controlling an image viewing angle of the imaging section so that the photographic subjects on both ends which have been recognized by the recognition section are included within the imaging area, when imaging using the self-timer is performed. ### Claim 10 An imaging method using a self-timer in an imaging apparatus including an imaging section, comprising: an imaging step of performing imaging by the imaging section; an imaging area setting step of setting photographic subjects intended to be positioned on both ends of an imaging area; and an imaging control step of identifying the photographic subjects intended to be positioned on both ends of the imaging area which have been set in the imaging area setting step, and capturing an image by controlling an image viewing angle for the imaging step so that the photographic subjects are included within the imaging area, when imaging using the self-timer is performed. ### Claim 11 An imaging method using a self-timer in an imaging apparatus including an imaging section, comprising: an imaging step of performing imaging by the imaging section; a recognition step of recognizing photographic subjects on both ends from among a plurality of photographic subjects within an imaging area of the imaging step; and an imaging control step of capturing an image by controlling an image viewing angle for the imaging step so that the photographic subjects on both ends which have been recognized in the recognition step are included within the imaging area of the imaging step, when imaging using the self-timer is performed. ### Claim 12 A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon a program that is executable by a computer in an imaging apparatus capable of imaging using a self-timer, the program being executable by the computer to perform functions comprising: imaging processing; imaging area setting processing for setting photographic subjects intended to be positioned on both ends of an imaging area; and an imaging control processing for identifying the photographic subjects intended to be positioned on both ends of the imaging area which have been set by the imaging area setting processing, and capturing an image by controlling an image viewing angle for the imaging processing so that the photographic subjects are included within the imaging area, when imaging using a self-timer is performed. ### Claim 13 A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon a program that is executable by a computer in an imaging apparatus capable of imaging using a self-timer, the program being executable by the computer to perform functions comprising: imaging processing; recognition processing for recognizing photographic subjects on both ends from among a plurality of photographic subjects within an imaging area of the imaging processing; and imaging control processing for capturing an image by controlling an image viewing angle for the imaging processing so that the photographic subjects on both ends which have been recognized by the recognition processing are included within the imaging area of the imaging processing, when imaging using a self-timer is performed.