Patent ID: 8102465
Filing Date: 2012-01-24
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A photographing apparatus in which subject image light is inputted to an image sensor through a taking lens, and image signals obtained through photoelectric conversion by the image sensor are stored after being converted to digital data, the apparatus comprising: a face image position identification unit for detecting a human or animal face image within the subject image based on the digital data, and identifying the position of the face image; an eye position identification unit for identifying an eye position from the face image identified by the face image position identification unit; an auxiliary light irradiation unit for irradiating narrow-angle auxiliary light onto a position within an area including the face image identified by the face image position identification unit other than the eye position; and a focus control unit for controlling the focus of the taking lens by identifying the in-focus position based on the digital data of the area including the face image, wherein the auxiliary light irradiation unit includes: a light source which is activated when controlling the focus of the taking lens; a narrow-angle lens for turning the light from the light source into narrow-angle auxiliary light; an irradiation direction control section for controlling the irradiation direction of the narrow-angle auxiliary light by moving either the light source or the narrow-angle lens on a plane substantially orthogonal to the photographing optical axis; the auxiliary light irradiation unit includes an auxiliary light irradiation angle changing section for changing the irradiation angle of the light from the light source to turn the light into wide-angle auxiliary light; and the wide-angle auxiliary light is irradiated onto the subject by the auxiliary light irradiation angle changing section when the face image position identification unit is unable to detect a face image.