Patent ID: 7573505
Filing Date: 2009-08-11
Classification: G06K,H04N

Abstract:
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.