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US 9,854,149 B2Granted
Image processing apparatus capable of obtaining an image focused on a plurality of subjects at different distances and control method thereof
AssigneeCanon Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorIchiro Matsuyama
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An image capture apparatus derives a frequency distribution of subject distances from captured images, selects a plurality of subject distances based on peaks in the frequency of appearance, and acquires a plurality of captured images whose focus distances are the plurality of selected subject distances, enabling an image focused on a plurality of subjects at different distances to be efficiently obtained.
Claims12
An image processing apparatus comprising:
- a processor;
- and
- a memory including instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
- obtain depth information according to subject distances subjects its an image captured by an image capture unit;
- select a plurality of subject distances based on peaks in a frequency distribution of the depth information;
- and
- control the image capture unit to capture a plurality of images whose focus distances correspond to the plurality of selected subject distances, respectively;
- wherein the frequency distribution of the depth information is based on a range image generated from a pair of captured images constituting stereoscopic images, and
- wherein the image capture unit comprises;
- an image sensor in which a plurality of pixels each having a plurality of photoelectric conversion areas are arranged, and that is capable of outputting the pair of captured images.
7 more elements
An image processing apparatus comprising:
- a processor;
- and
- a memory including instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
- obtain depth information according to subject distances of subjects in an image captured by an image capture unit;
- select a plurality of subject distances based on peaks in a frequency distribution, depth information;
- and
- control the image capture unit to, capture a plurality of images whose focus distances correspond to the plurality of selected subject distances, respectively;
- wherein the frequency distribution of the depth information is based on a range, image generated form a pair of captured images constituting stereoscopic images, and
- wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:
- combine at least two of the plurality of images and generate a combined image having an expanded depth of field.
7 more elements
A method of controlling an image processing apparatus, comprising:
- obtaining, depth information according to subject distances subjects n an image captured by image capturing unit;
- selecting a plurality of subject distances based on peaks in frequency distribution of the depth information;
- and
- controlling, the image capture unit to capture a plurality of images whose focus distances correspond to the plurality of selected subject distances, respectively;
- wherein the frequency distribution of the depth information is based on a range image generated from a pair of captured images constituting stereoscopic images, and
- wherein the image capture unit comprises:
- an image sensor in which a plurality of pixels each having a plurality of photoelectric conversion areas are arranged, and that is capable of outputting the pair of captured images.
4 more elements
A method of controlling an image processing apparatus, comprising:
- obtaining, depth information according to subject distances of subjects in an image captured by an image capturing unit;
- selecting a plurality of subject distances based on peaks in a frequency distribution of the depth information;
- and
- controlling, the image capture unit to capture a plurality of images whose focus distances correspond to the plurality of selected subject distances, respectively;
- and
- combining at least two of the plurality of images and generate a combined image having an expanded depth of field,
- wherein the frequency distribution of the depth information is based on a range image generated form a pair of captured images constituting stereoscopic images.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.