Imaging device and imaging method

An imaging method used by an imaging device to determine when to perform an image capture process by detecting that an amount of change in a plurality of precaptured images has decreased below a threshold, the imaging device including an imaging element and including a memory unit configured to temporarily store a plurality of pieces of image data corresponding to the plurality of precaptured images, the plurality of pieces of image data being captured individually at predetermined timings via the imaging element, the imaging method comprising:

• comparing at least two pieces of image data stored in the memory unit to detect whether an image change greater than or equal to a first threshold has occurred between the at least two pieces of image data;
• if an image change greater than or equal to the first threshold is detected, analyzing at least two second pieces of image data captured after the at least two pieces of image data to determine whether a second image change less than or equal to a second threshold has occurred between the at least two second pieces of image data by comparing the at least two second pieces of image data of the plurality of pieces of image data recorded in the memory unit;
• and
• if it is determined that the image change has converged to an amount less than or equal to the second threshold, exercising a control so that image data captured via the imaging element is recorded on a predetermined recording medium.

An imaging device comprising:

• an imaging element;
• a memory unit configured to temporarily store a plurality of pieces of image data corresponding to a plurality of images, the plurality of pieces of image data being captured individually at predetermined timings via the imaging element;
• a comparator configured to compare the a first piece of image data and a second piece of image data recorded in the memory unit to detect whether an image change greater than or equal to a first threshold has occurred;
• a determining unit configured to determine, when the image change greater than or equal to the first threshold has been detected by the comparator, whether a subsequent image change has converged to an amount less than or equal to a second threshold by comparing at least a third piece of image data and a fourth piece of image data recorded in the memory unit, the third and fourth pieces of image data having been captured following the first piece of image data and the second piece of image data;
• and
• a controller configured to exercise control so that image data captured via the imaging element is recorded on a predetermined recording medium when it is determined by the determining unit that the subsequent image change has converged to an amount less than or equal to the second threshold.