Patent ID: 8045013
Filing Date: 2011-10-25
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. An imaging device, comprising: image input means for inputting an image of a subject; image signal processing means for processing the input image; image recording means for recording the input image on a recording medium; face presence and smiling degree detection means for detecting a presence of a face of the subject and a smile level of the face of the subject included in the input image processed by the image signal processing means; detection threshold level setting means for setting a smiling face detection threshold level at which a determination of whether the subject is smiling is performed based on the smile level detected by the smiling degree detection means; and photographing control means for controlling a photographing operation in response to the smiling face detection threshold level being reached by the smile level of the subject detected by the smiling degree detection means, wherein the detection threshold level setting means (i) initially sets the smiling face detection threshold level at a default level, (ii) continuously decreases the smiling face detection threshold level after the face is present for a predetermined amount of time and no smiling face is detected for the predetermined amount of time, and (iii) resets the smiling face detection threshold level to the default level after the face presence and smiling degree detection means has detected an absence of the face of the subject.