Image pickup device, image pickup method, program, and integrated circuit

An image pickup method used by an image pickup device that forms a stereo image, the image pickup device including an imaging unit configured to image a subject and obtain a first point image corresponding to a scene including the subject viewed from a first point and a second point image corresponding to a scene including the subject viewed from a second point different from the first point, the method comprising:

• obtaining subject size information using information that is based on image data forming the first point image and the second point image or information that is based on settings used in forming the first point image and the second point image, the subject size information indicating a size of the subject;
• estimating a subject distance using the subject size information, the subject distance being a distance from the image pickup device to the subject;
• and
• adjusting an imaging parameter used by the imaging unit in a manner to change a disparity determined by the first point image and the second point image in accordance with at least information indicating the subject distance estimated by the step of estimating.

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing thereon a program that is executed by a computer to enable an image pickup device that forms a stereo image to implement an image pickup method, the image pickup device including an imaging unit configured to image a subject and obtain a first point image corresponding to a scene including the subject viewed from a first point and a second point image corresponding to a scene including the subject viewed from a second point different from the first point, the method comprising:

• obtaining subject size information using information that is based on image data forming the first point image and the second point image or information that is based on settings used in forming the first point image and the second point image, the subject size information indicating a size of the subject;
• estimating a subject distance using the subject size information, the subject distance being a distance from the image pickup device to the subject;
• and
• adjusting an imaging parameter used by the imaging unit in a manner to change a disparity determined by the first point image and the second point image in accordance with at least information indicating the subject distance estimated by the step of estimating.

An integrated circuit used in an image pickup device that forms a stereo image, the image pickup device including an imaging unit configured to image a subject and obtain a first point image corresponding to a scene including the subject viewed from a first point and a second point image corresponding to a scene including the subject viewed from a second point different from the first point, the integrated circuit comprising:

• an obtaining unit configured to obtain subject size information using information that is based on image data forming the first point image and the second point image or information that is based on settings used in forming the first point image and the second point image, the subject size information indicating a size of the subject;
• an estimation unit configured to estimate a subject distance using the subject size information, the subject distance being a distance from the image pickup device to the subject;
• and
• an adjustment unit configured to adjust an imaging parameter used by the imaging unit in a manner to change a disparity determined by the first point image and the second point image in accordance with at least information indicating the subject distance estimated by the estimation unit.