Imaging device, imaging method and computer program

An imaging method of performing a photographing operation on an input image of a subject, comprising steps of:

• processing the input image;
• detecting a presence of a face of the subject;
• detecting a smile level of the face of the subject included in the processed input image;
• setting a smiling face detection threshold level at a default level at which a determination of whether the subject is smiling is performed based on the detected smile level;
• recording the input image onto a predetermined recording medium in response to the smiling face detection threshold level being reached by the detected smile level of the subject;
• continuously decreasing the smiling face detection threshold level after the face is present for a predetermined amount of time, and after no smiling face is detected for the predetermined amount of time;
• and
• resetting the smiling face detection threshold level to the default level after an absence of the face of the subject is detected by said step of detecting the presence.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer instructions recorded thereon, the computer instructions configured to perform a method of capturing an input image of a subject when executed on a computer, the method comprising the steps of:

• processing the input image;
• detecting a presence of a face of the subject;
• detecting a smile level of the face of the subject included in the processed input image;
• setting a smiling face detection threshold level at a default level at which a determination of whether the subject is smiling is performed based on the detected smile level;
• recording the input image onto a predetermined recording medium in response to the smiling face detection threshold level being reached by the detected smile level of the subject;
• continuously decreasing the smiling face detection threshold level after the face is present for a predetermined amount of time, and after no smiling face is detected for the predetermined amount of time;
• and
• resetting the smiling face detection threshold level to the default level after an absence of the face of the subject is detected by said step of detecting the presence.

An imaging device, comprising:

• an image input unit inputting an image of a subject;
• an image signal processing unit processing the input image;
• an image recording unit recording the input image on a recording medium;
• face presence and a smiling degree detection unit detecting a presence of a face of the subject and a smile level of the face of the subject included in the input image processed by the image signal processing unit;
• a detection threshold level setting unit setting a smiling face detection threshold level at which a determination of whether the subject is smiling is performed based on the smile level detected by the smiling degree detection unit;
• and
• a photographing control unit controlling a photographing operation in response to the smiling face detection threshold level being reached by the smile level of the subject detected by the smiling degree detection unit, wherein
• the detection threshold level setting unit (i) initially sets the smiling face detection threshold level at a default level, (ii) continuously decreases the smiling face detection threshold level after the face is present for a predetermined amount of time, and after no smiling face is detected for the predetermined amount of time, and resets the smiling face detection threshold level to the default level after an absence of the face of the subject is detected by the face presence and smiling degree detection unit.