Patent ID: 8150208
Filing Date: 2012-04-03
Classification: G06K,H04N

Abstract:
1. An image pickup apparatus comprising: an image pickup unit for photographing an object image, to obtain image data; an object detector for determining specific object feature values each of which is characteristically associated with each of specific objects according to said image data prior to image recording, to detect presence of said specific objects at said object image; a first stability checker for monitoring said specific object feature values to determine that each of said specific object feature values is stable when each of said specific object feature values is within a prescribed range consecutively for time of a predetermined length or consecutively for a predetermined number of times, and for outputting stable result information for said specific object feature values as determined stable; a priority input unit for setting priority for said first stability checker; a result selector for checking whether the priority is set by said priority input unit, wherein when the priority is set, said result selector selects one of said stable result information in accordance with said priority, and when the priority is not set, said result selector selects one of said stable result information which indicates the lowest stability; and a controller for automatically starting image pickup of said image pickup unit for image recording when said stable result information selected by said result selector is determined stable.