Patent ID: 7679651
Filing Date: 2010-03-16
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. An image pickup apparatus comprising: an image pickup unit that picks up successive frame images of an object at predetermined time intervals; a storage device that stores in time series a predetermined number of successive ones of the frame images picked up by the image pickup unit; a composition range specifying unit that specifies a composition start position and a composition end position on the predetermined number of successive image frames to thereby delimit a time range in which successive ones of the predetermined number of successive image frames fall; an image part specifying unit which is operable by a user to specify at least one same part of the frame images to define an area range; a combining unit that reads from the storage device the respective successive frame images falling in the delimited time range, and combines the read frame images with respect to only the specified at least one same part in the defined area range, thereby producing a composite image; a display unit that displays the composite image; a control unit, responsive to an enter command, for recording the composite image displayed on the display unit in a predetermined memory; a composition range changing unit for changing the time range by changing at least one of the specified composition start position and the specified composition end position; a combining control unit that controls the combining unit so as to read from the storage device the respective successive frame images falling in the changed time range, and combines the read frame images with respect to only the specified at least one same part in the defined area range, thereby producing an updated composite image when the composition range is changed; wherein the display unit displays the updated composite image when the composition range is changed; and wherein the control unit, responsive to the enter command, records the updated composite image displayed on the display unit in the predetermined memory when the time range is changed.