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SonyGranted patentCameras & imagingInterest 6/10

Sony patents camera system that auto-zooms to keep moving subjects in frame

This patent describes a method for PTZ cameras to automatically adjust their zoom level to keep a specific subject visible. The system calculates how much of the original image is needed to show the subject and uses this ratio to control the camera's physical zoom or digital crop.

Why it mattersIt improves video surveillance and remote monitoring by ensuring the camera automatically adjusts its view to track important subjects without manual intervention.

In the filing’s own words

Provided are an apparatus and a method for calculating an imaging ratio for clipping image generation that is an index value for more reliably executing clipping image generation processing including a notable subject from a captured image of a PTZ camera. In a configuration in which an image clipping region including the notable subject is calculated from the captured image of the PTZ camera, and the image of the calculated region is clipped to generate the clipping image, the imaging ratio for clipping image generation is calculated as an index value for executing the clipping image generation processing including the notable subject. Furthermore, a zoom parameter for capturing an image according to the imaging region size of the camera calculated from the imaging ratio for clipping image generation is calculated, and the PTZ camera is caused to execute image capturing to which the calculated parameter is applied.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. An image processing apparatus, comprising: a central processing unit (CPU) configured to: calculate, as an image clipping region, an image region including a notable subject from a captured first image of a camera; execute a clipping operation on a second image, wherein the second image corresponds to an image of the image clipping region; generate a clipping image based on the execution of the clipping operation; calculate an imaging ratio for the generation of the clipping image, wherein the imaging ratio is a size ratio between a size of the clipping image and a size of an imaging region corresponding to an entire image region of the captured first image of the camera, the imaging ratio is calculated as an index value to execute the generation of the clipping image, and the clipping image includes the notable subject; analyse a motion of the notable subject; and calculate a camera control parameter to: control the camera to capture a third image, wherein the third image is captured based on the size of the imaging region, and the camera is controlled based on application of the calculated camera control parameter; and change the imaging region of the camera based on the analysed motion of the notable subject.

Facts

Company
Sony (SONY GROUP CORPORATION)
Official title
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
Patent number
US12739510B2
Application number
18848932
Filed
Feb 24, 2023
Granted
Sep 15, 2026
Inventors
1
Claims
19

Classified under

H04N 23/69 Electricity & electronicsG06T 7/20 Physics & computingH04N 23/695 Electricity & electronicsG06T 2207/20132 Physics & computing
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.