# US 8,786,750 B2 · Imaging apparatus and method for controlling the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,786,750 B2 - Document ID: US8786750B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/454,848 - Filed: 2012-04-24 - Published: 2012-11-01 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2011-04-28 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Makoto Kameyama; Koji Yoshida - Inventors: Makoto Kameyama; Koji Yoshida - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8786750B2 ## CPC - H04N 23/663: for controlling interchangeable camera parts based on electronic image sensor signals - H04N 23/632: {for displaying or modifying preview images prior to image capturing, e.g. variety of image resolutions or capturing parameters} - H04N 23/634: {Warning indications} - H04N 23/635: {Region indicators; Field of view indicators} - H04N 23/959: by adjusting depth of field during image capture, e.g. maximising or setting range based on scene characteristics - H04N 25/58: involving two or more exposures - H04N 23/673: {based on contrast or high frequency components of image signals, e.g. hill climbing method} - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract In a multiple-exposure imaging operation, an imaging apparatus performs an information display according to an appropriate display type considering imaging conditions. The imaging apparatus includes a display type setting unit configured to set any one of a plurality of display types as a display type for an information display to be displayed together with a through image, a mode setting unit to set a multiple-exposure imaging mode, perform a control, when the multiple-exposure imaging mode is set and an image to be multiple-composited with the through image can be acquired, to change to a display type dedicated to the multiple-exposure imaging mode for displaying at least one of the number of multiple-exposure image capturing scheduled images, the number of multiple-exposure image capturing completed images, the number of images remaining to reach the number of multiple-exposure image capturing scheduled images, and an icon indicating that the multiple-exposure imaging mode is set. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An imaging apparatus comprising: an imaging unit configured to capture a through image; a display type setting unit configured to set any one of a plurality of display types as a display type for an information display to be displayed together with the through image captured by the imaging unit; a mode setting unit configured to set a multiple-exposure imaging mode; and a control unit configured to perform a control, when the multiple-exposure imaging mode is set by the mode setting unit and an image to be multiple-composited with the through image can be acquired, so as to change the display type to a display type dedicated to the multiple-exposure imaging mode for displaying at least one of the number of multiple-exposure image capturing scheduled images, the number of multiple-exposure image capturing completed images, the number of images remaining to reach the number of multiple-exposure image capturing scheduled images, and an icon indicating that the multiple-exposure imaging mode is set, wherein the control unit is configured to perform a control, when the multiple-exposure imaging mode is set by the mode setting unit and an image to be multiple-composited with the through image has not been acquired, so as not to change the display type to the display type dedicated to the multiple-exposure imaging mode. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to hold the display type having been set by the display type setting unit if the multiple-exposure imaging mode is set by the mode setting unit and an image to be multiple-composited with the through image is not present. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to perform a control when an image having been recorded before the mode setting unit sets the multiple-exposure imaging mode is set beforehand as a base image to be multiple-composited with an image to be captured in the multiple-exposure imaging mode, so as to change the display type to the display type dedicated to the multiple-exposure imaging mode when the multiple-exposure imaging mode is set by the mode setting unit, and when the base image is not set and the multiple-exposure imaging mode is set by the mode setting unit, so as not to change the display type to the display type dedicated to the multiple-exposure imaging mode. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the control unit is configured to perform a control, when no base image is set, so as to change the display type to the display type dedicated to the multiple-exposure imaging mode in response to a capturing of the first image after the multiple-exposure imaging mode is set by the mode setting unit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display type dedicated to the multiple-exposure imaging mode is a display type that does not display shutter speed, diaphragm value, exposure correction value, number of remaining images that can be stored in a recording medium, AF type, size of captured image, luminance histogram, and inclination information detectable using a leveling instrument. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to perform a control, when the multiple-exposure imaging mode having been set by the mode setting unit is deselected, so as to change the display type to other display type from the display type dedicated to the multiple-exposure imaging mode. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The imaging apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the control unit is configured to perform a control, when the multiple-exposure imaging mode having been set by the mode setting unit is deselected, so as to change the display type to a display type having been set by the display type setting unit before the display type is changed to the display type dedicated to the multiple-exposure imaging mode. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The imaging apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the control unit is configured to change the display type to a predetermined display type when the multiple-exposure imaging mode having been set by the mode setting unit is deselected if the display type immediately before the multiple-exposure imaging mode having been set by the mode setting unit is deselected is the display type dedicated to the multiple-exposure imaging mode, and if the display type has ever been changed to a display type different from the display type dedicated to the multiple-exposure imaging mode before the multiple-exposure imaging mode having been set by the mode setting unit is deselected. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The imaging apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the control unit is configured to perform a control, when the display type immediately before the multiple-exposure imaging mode having been set by the mode setting unit is deselected is not the display type dedicated to the multiple-exposure imaging mode, so as to hold the display type even when the multiple-exposure imaging mode having been set by the mode setting unit is deselected. ### Claim 10 An imaging apparatus comprising: an imaging unit configured to capture a through image; a display type setting unit configured to set any one of a plurality of display types including a display type dedicated to a multiple-exposure imaging mode as a display type for an information display to be displayed together with the through image captured by the imaging unit; a mode setting unit configured to set the multiple-exposure imaging mode; and a control unit configured to perform a control, when the multiple-exposure imaging mode having been set by the mode setting unit is deselected, so as to change the display type to other display type if the display type is the display type dedicated to the multiple-exposure imaging mode, and hold the display type if the display type is not the display type dedicated to the multiple-exposure imaging mode, wherein the control unit is configured to change the display type to a predetermined display type when the multiple-exposure imaging mode having been set by the mode setting unit is deselected if the display type immediately before the multiple-exposure imaging mode having been set by the mode setting unit is deselected is the display type dedicated to the multiple-exposure imaging mode, and if the display type has ever been changed to a display type different from the display type dedicated to the multiple-exposure imaging mode before the multiple-exposure imaging mode having been set by the mode setting unit is deselected. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The imaging apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the control unit is configured to perform a control, when the multiple-exposure imaging mode having been set by the mode setting unit is deselected, so as to change the display type to a display type having been set by the display type setting unit before the display type is changed to the display type dedicated to the multiple-exposure imaging mode. ### Claim 12 A method for controlling an imaging apparatus that includes an imaging unit, the method comprising: setting any one of a plurality of display types as a display type for an information display to be displayed together with a through image captured by the imaging unit; setting a multiple-exposure imaging mode; and performing a control, when the multiple-exposure imaging mode is set and an image to be multiple-composited with the through image can be acquired, so as to change the display type to a display type dedicated to the multiple-exposure imaging mode for displaying at least one of the number of multiple-exposure image capturing scheduled images, the number of multiple-exposure image capturing completed images, the number of images remaining to reach the number of multiple-exposure image capturing scheduled images, and an icon indicating that the multiple-exposure imaging mode is set, wherein performing a control, when the multiple-exposure imaging mode is set and an image to be multiple-composited with the through image has not been acquired, so as not to change the display type to the display type dedicated to the multiple-exposure imaging mode. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A non-transitory computer readable recording medium storing a computer program that causes a computer to function as each unit of the imaging apparatus described in claim 1. ### Claim 14 A method for controlling an imaging apparatus that includes an imaging unit, the method comprising: setting any one of a plurality of display types including a display type dedicated to a multiple-exposure imaging mode as a display type for an information display to be displayed together with a through image captured by the imaging unit; setting the multiple-exposure imaging mode; and performing a control, when the multiple-exposure imaging mode is deselected, so as to change the display type to other display type if the display type is the display type dedicated to the multiple-exposure imaging mode, and hold the display type if the display type is not the display type dedicated to the multiple-exposure imaging mode, wherein changing the display type to a predetermined display type when the multiple-exposure imaging mode having been set is deselected if the display type immediately before the multiple-exposure imaging mode having been set is deselected is the display type dedicated to the multiple-exposure imaging mode, and if the display type has ever been changed to a display type different from the display type dedicated to the multiple-exposure imaging mode before the multiple-exposure imaging mode having been set is deselected. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) A non-transitory computer readable recording medium storing a computer program that causes a computer to function as each unit of the imaging apparatus described in claim 10. ### Claim 16 An imaging apparatus comprising: an imaging unit configured to capture a through image; a display changing unit configured to change a display item to be displayed together with the through image captured by the imaging unit; a mode setting unit configured to set a mode in a multiple-exposure imaging mode; and a controlling unit configured to perform a control so that a display item displayed together with the thorough image is to be a predetermined item for multiple-exposure imaging in response to the setting made by the mode setting unit, wherein, in a case where an image to be multiple-composited with the through image is not acquired, even if the multiple-exposure imaging mode is set by the mode setting unit, the controlling unit doesn't perform the control to display the predetermined display item for multiple-exposure imaging but performs the control to display the predetermined display item for multiple-exposure imaging together with the thorough image in a case where an image to be multiple-composited with the through image is acquired. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The imaging apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the predetermined display item for multiple-exposure imaging is at least one of the number of multiple-exposure image capturing scheduled images, the number of multiple-exposure image capturing completed images, the number of images remaining to reach the number of multiple-exposure image capturing scheduled images, and an icon indicating that the multiple-exposure imaging mode is set. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The imaging apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising: a selecting unit configured to select a base image to be multiple-composited with an image to be captured in the multiple-exposure imaging mode from images stored in a recording medium, wherein, in a case where the base image is not selected by the selecting unit, the predetermined display item for multiple-exposure imaging is not displayed, and in a case where the base image is selected by the selecting unit, the predetermined display item for multiple-exposure imaging is displayed in response to the setting of the multiple-exposure imaging mode set by the mode setting unit. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The imaging apparatus according to claim 18, wherein, in a case where the base image is not selected by the selecting unit, the control unit controls to display the predetermined display item for the multiple-exposure imaging in response to a capturing operation of a first image performed after the mode setting unit setting the mode in the multiple-exposure imaging mode. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The imaging apparatus according to claim 18, wherein, the predetermined display item for the multiple-exposure imaging is displayed in the multiple-exposure imaging mode, shutter speed, diaphragm value, exposure correction value, the number of remaining images that can be stored in a recording medium, AF type, size of captured image, luminance histogram, and inclination information detectable using a leveling instrument, are not displayed. ### Claim 21 A method of controlling an imaging apparatus comprising an imaging unit configured to capture a through image, the method comprising steps of: displaying a display item together with the thorough image captured by an imaging unit on a display unit; setting a mode to a multiple-exposure imaging mode; and controlling a predetermined display item to be displayed together with the thorough image for the multiple-exposure imaging in response to the setting step; wherein in the controlling step, even if it is set to the multiple-exposure imaging mode, the mode is set to the multiple-exposure imaging mode without displaying the predetermined display item for the multiple-exposure imaging when an image to be multiple-composited with the thorough image has not been acquired, and when an image which is to be multiple-composited with the thorough image has been acquired, the predetermined display item for the multiple-exposure imaging is displayed together with the thorough image.