초록 ▼

An image capturing apparatus having an auto focus function or an auto exposure function stores digital image data output from an A/D conversion unit as first image data directly or after performing predetermined processing, and stores the digital image data serving as a base of the first image data

An image capturing apparatus having an auto focus function or an auto exposure function stores digital image data output from an A/D conversion unit as first image data directly or after performing predetermined processing, and stores the digital image data serving as a base of the first image data as second image data after performing predetermined processing for the digital image data. The apparatus then detects a face region from the second image data, and displays the image on the basis of the image data output from the A/D conversion unit while the face region is detected form the second image data. After completion of detection of the face region from the second image data, the apparatus extracts information for auto focus, auto exposure, or white balance by using, of the first image data, data at a portion corresponding to the face region that is detected by said face detection means, and performs auto focus control, auto exposure control, or white balance control.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An image capturing apparatus comprising: an image sensing element that photoelectrically converts an object image formed by an imaging optical system, and outputting an image signal; an A/D conversion element that digitizes the image signal output from said image sensing elem

What is claimed is: 1. An image capturing apparatus comprising: an image sensing element that photoelectrically converts an object image formed by an imaging optical system, and outputting an image signal; an A/D conversion element that digitizes the image signal output from said image sensing element, and outputting a plurality of frames of first image data; an extraction element that divides the first image data into a plurality of areas and extracts an evaluation value for at least one of auto focus, auto exposure, and white balance from each divided area of the first image data; a storage element that stores evaluation values each of which is extracted from the each divided area by said extraction element; a face detection element that detects a face region from second image data which is formed from the first image data; a display element that displays an image on the basis of the first image data; and a control element that reads out the evaluation value stored in said storage element and performs at least one of auto focus control, auto exposure control, and white balance control, wherein the second image data is generated from a specific frame of the plurality of frames of first image data, wherein said display element displays the image on the basis of the plurality of frames of first image data that are output after the specific frame, while said face detection element detects the face region from the second image data, and wherein said control element reads out the evaluation value corresponding to the detected face region from said storage element, the evaluation value having been extracted from the specific frame of first image data and stored in said storage element, and performs at least one of auto focus control, auto exposure control, and white balance control on the basis of the read out evaluation value corresponding to the detected face region, after said face detection element completely detects the face region from the second image data. 2. An image capturing apparatus control method comprising: an image sensing step of photoelectrically converting an object image formed by an imaging optical system, and outputting an image signal; an A/D conversion step of digitizing the image signal output in the image sensing step, and outputting a plurality of frames of first image data; an extraction step of dividing the first image data into a plurality of areas and extracting an evaluation value for at least one of auto focus, auto exposure, and white balance from each divided area of the first image data; a storage step of storing evaluation values each of which is extracted from the each divided area in the extraction step in a storage element; a face detection step of detecting a face region from second image data which is formed from the first image data; a display step of displaying an image on the basis of the first image data; and a control step of reading out the evaluation value stored in said storage step and performing at least one of auto focus control, auto exposure control, and white balance control, wherein the second image data is generated from a specific frame of the plurality of frames of first image data, wherein in said display step, the image is displayed on the basis of the plurality of frames of first image data that are output after the specific frame, while the face region is detected from the second image data in said face detection step, and wherein in said control step, the evaluation value corresponding to the detected face region is read out from the storage element, the evaluation value having been extracted from the specific frame of first image data and stored in the storage element, and at least one of auto focus control, auto exposure control, and white balance control is performed on the basis of the read out evaluation value corresponding to the detected face region, after the face region is completely detected from the second image data in said face detection step.