Abstract: A main object determination apparatus includes an image acquisition unit configured to acquire images captured at different timings, a selection unit configured to select main object candidate(s) from objects in the images, a determination unit configured to determine whether the main object candidate(s) each selected at the respective different timings are the same, and an input unit configured to receive an operation. In a case where the determination unit determines that the main object candidate(s) selected by the selection unit in an image of interest and one or more images captured within a predetermined time before the image of interest is captured are the same, the determination unit determines the main object candidate(s) to be a main object. In a case where the input unit receives an instruction to specify a new main object, the determination unit switches the main object according to the instruction.

Abstract: A main object determination apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire images captured at different timings, a selection unit configured to select a candidate of a main object from among objects using information about a feature point of each object in the images, and a determination unit configured to determine whether candidates of the main object selected at the different timings are the same using the information, wherein the main object is determined in a case where the determination unit determines that the candidates of the main object selected by the selection unit in an image of interest and in at least one image captured within a predetermined period of time before the image of interest is captured are the same.

Abstract: There is provided an action determination apparatus. A detection unit performs detection processing for detecting a plurality of types of body parts of a subject in an image. A selection unit selects one of a plurality of determination methods for determining an action of the subject, based on a result of the detection processing. Each of the plurality of determination methods uses a positional relationship of two or more of the plurality of types of body parts in order to determine the action. A control unit performs control to determine the action of the subject in accordance with the determination method selected by the selection unit.

Abstract: A control apparatus includes a first focus detector (255, 212) which performs focus detection by phase difference detection using a first sensor (254) that receives a light ray formed by an image capturing optical system, a second focus detector (204, 212) which performs the focus detection using a second sensor (201) that receives a light ray formed by the image capturing optical system, a calculator (212a) which calculates correction information corresponding to a difference between first and second signals from the first and second detectors, a memory (209) which stores the correction information, a controller (212b) which performs focus control based on the first signal in a first area and performs the focus control based on the second signal and the correction information in a second area, and an identifier (212) which identifies an object, and the memory stores the correction information for each object.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus has a focus adjustment mechanism based on auto focus adjustment of an imaging plane phase difference scheme. An imaging element has a plurality of micro-lenses and a plurality of photoelectric conversion units corresponding to the micro-lenses and acquires a pupil-divided image signal. An auto focus (AF) signal processing unit and a camera control unit perform shading correction on a image for each pupil division acquired from the imaging element. The recording medium control unit controls an operation of recording a correction value to be used in shading correction in a recording medium when the image signal before correction for each pupil division is recorded in the recording medium.

Abstract: In an image capture apparatus that can perform processing using an image on which information displayed by a display device is superimposed and a method for controlling the same, the influence of the superimposed information included in the image is reduced. A first image in which information displayed by the display device is superimposed on an optical finder image is acquired. Then, the predetermined image processing is performed using a second image that excludes data on a pixel having the display color of the information, of pixels included in the first image.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus has a focus adjustment mechanism based on auto focus adjustment of an imaging plane phase difference scheme. An imaging element has a plurality of micro-lenses and a plurality of photoelectric conversion units corresponding to the micro-lenses and acquires a pupil-divided image signal. An auto focus (AF) signal processing unit and a camera control unit perform shading correction on a image for each pupil division acquired from the imaging element. The recording medium control unit controls an operation of recording a correction value to be used in shading correction in a recording medium when the image signal before correction for each pupil division is recorded in the recording medium.

Abstract: Image pickup apparatus 201 generates the optical image formed with light from the image pickup optical system and the second image is generated by using the output from taking picture system 303 and the 2nd image-pickup element with which the first for display and record image is generated by using the output from the 1st image-pickup element 211 that converts the photoelectron respectively and the 2nd image-pickup element 208 and the 1st image-pickup element. Detection system 303 that searches for photometry and the object by using the second image is possessed. The detection system searches for the object when it can be selected whether to add the pixel of the output from the second image-pickup element in photometry, and doesn't add the pixel, and limits the object searching when the pixel is added.

Abstract: To increase the accuracy of object tracking using particle filter processing, an imaging apparatus performs object tracking processing as follows. During an SW1 holding state and continuous shooting, the apparatus repeatedly performs distributing particles according to the random number following normal distribution based on light metering image data obtained from an AE sensor, estimating an image region of an object by calculating likelihood at the position of each of the particles, and arranging a particle having a lower likelihood in the position of a particle having a higher likelihood. At this time, the apparatus calculates a movement amount of the object based on a difference between the present position of the object and the previous position thereof. If the calculated movement amount is greater than a predetermined threshold value, the apparatus increases the dispersion of the normal distribution for random movement of the particles to be performed next.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises an image capturing unit configured to capture an object image, a flicker detection unit configured to detect a flicker, a generation unit configured to generate a flicker image which is affected by the flicker or appears to be affected by the flicker from an image captured by the image capturing unit when the flicker detection unit detects the flicker, a display unit configured to display an image, and a control unit configured to control the display unit to display an image which is not affected by the flicker and the flicker image.

Abstract: In an image capture apparatus that can perform processing using an image on which information displayed by a display device is superimposed and a method for controlling the same, the influence of the superimposed information included in the image is reduced. A first image in which information displayed by the display device is superimposed on an optical finder image is acquired. Then, the predetermined image processing is performed using a second image that excludes data on a pixel having the display color of the information, of pixels included in the first image.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises an image capturing unit configured to capture an object image, a flicker detection unit configured to detect a flicker, a generation unit configured to generate a flicker image which is affected by the flicker or appears to be affected by the flicker from an image captured by the image capturing unit when the flicker detection unit detects the flicker, a display unit configured to display an image, and a control unit configured to control the display unit to display an image which is not affected by the flicker and the flicker image.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes: a first detection unit that, based on feature amounts of an image obtained by an image sensor, detects a position of a certain subject in the image and a position of a certain part of the certain subject; and a second detection unit that detects a position of a region of the certain subject in the image obtained by the image sensor with a smaller calculation amount than the first detection unit. A focus detection area corresponding to the certain part is selected from among a plurality of focus detection areas based on a relationship between the position of the region of the certain subject detected by the second detection unit and the positions of the certain subject and the certain part detected by the first detection unit.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes: a first detection unit that, based on feature amounts of an image obtained by an image sensor, detects a position of a certain subject in the image and a position of a certain part of the certain subject; and a second detection unit that detects a position of a region of the certain subject in the image obtained by the image sensor with a smaller calculation amount than the first detection unit. A focus detection area corresponding to the certain part is selected from among a plurality of focus detection areas based on a relationship between the position of the region of the certain subject detected by the second detection unit and the positions of the certain subject and the certain part detected by the first detection unit.

Abstract: When a peripheral device is connected to a host apparatus for the first time, an easy and secure installation of the driver of the peripheral device into the host apparatus is made possible. A printer 102, and a storage 103 storing a driver 104 for the printer 102 and an installer thereof, which function on a PC 200 are connected, as USB devices 111, 112, to a USB hub 110. An installation flag 105 records a value indicating an installation state of the driver 104. When the PC 200 is connected to the USB hub 110, if the value of the installation flag 105 indicates “non-installed”, the PC 200 is so controlled as to make access only to the storage 103. If the value of the installation flag 105 indicates “already installed”, the PC 200 is so controlled as to make access to the storage 103 and the printer 102.

Abstract: Image pickup apparatus 201 generates the optical image formed with light from the image pickup optical system and the second image is generated by using the output from taking picture system 303 and the 2nd image-pickup element with which the first for display and record image is generated by using the output from the 1st image-pickup element 211 that converts the photoelectron respectively and the 2nd image-pickup element 208 and the 1st image-pickup element. Detection system 303 that searches for photometry and the object by using the second image is possessed. The detection system searches for the object when it can be selected whether to add the pixel of the output from the second image-pickup element in photometry, and doesn't add the pixel, and limits the object searching when the pixel is added.

Abstract: An imaging device includes an imaging unit configured to capture an image of a subject and obtain image data, a setting unit configured to set at least two shooting modes including an underwater shooting mode and a normal shooting mode, and a control unit configured to set a different initial value of a control amount of white balance according to whether a shooting mode set by the setting unit is the underwater shooting mode or the normal shooting mode, calculate the control amount of white balance based on the set initial value and the image data obtained by the imaging unit, and perform white balance control on the image data obtained by the imaging unit based on the calculated control amount.

Abstract: When a peripheral device is connected to a host apparatus for the first time, an easy and secure installation of the driver of the peripheral device into the host apparatus is made possible. A printer 102, and a storage 103 storing a driver 104 for the printer 102 and an installer thereof, which function on a PC 200 are connected, as USB devices 111, 112, to a USB hub 110. An installation flag 105 records a value indicating an installation state of the driver 104. When the PC 200 is connected to the USB hub 110, if the value of the installation flag 105 indicates “non-installed”, the PC 200 is so controlled as to make access only to the storage 103. If the value of the installation flag 105 indicates “already installed”, the PC 200 is so controlled as to make access to the storage 103 and the printer 102.

Abstract: Image processing apparatus comprises, a first USB interface which connects with an external processing apparatus, a second USB interface which connects with a data processing unit, and a control unit which controls data transfer between the first USB interface and second USB interface. The control unit notifies the data processing unit of management data, which is managed by the control unit, via the second USB interface. The data processing unit generates status data of the data processing unit, including the notified management data. In response to a request from the external processing apparatus, the generated status data is transmitted to the external processing apparatus via the first USB interface and second USB interface.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus connected with a wireless LAN unit having a USB host controller via a USB interface, which performs data transmission/reception to/from a PC included in a network with which the communication terminal is connected. A data-receiving request is issued to the wireless LAN unit via the USB interface, then, in correspondence with a data-request command sent from the wireless LAN unit in response to the data-receiving request, information related to the network, arranged by input from an operation unit, is transmitted to the wireless LAN unit. Communication with the PC is performed via the wireless LAN unit by using the information related to the network.