Patent Publication Number: US-2020304696-A1

Title: Image capture apparatus and control method of the same

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an image capture apparatus that has a speech recognition function. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2012-185343 discloses an image capture apparatus that, while the user is half-pressing a shutter button, records speech sound data, which triggers speech recognition, in an image capture apparatus, performs speech recognition using the trigger, and executes shooting. 
     According to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2012-185343, a trigger for speech recognition is a registered speech sound data, and the user needs to first utter a predetermined speech sound, and thereafter utter a speech sound that is actually desired to be subjected to speech recognition. Therefore, speech recognition cannot be smoothly performed, and thus user convenience is degraded. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been made in consideration of the aforementioned problems, and realizes techniques for making it possible to more easily use a speech recognition function. 
     In order to solve the aforementioned problems, the present invention provides an image capture apparatus having a speech recognition function, comprising: a viewfinder; a detector; an operation unit; and one or more processors configured to function as a control unit, a setting unit, and a display unit, wherein the control unit is configured to, when the detector has detected an eye approach state with respect to the viewfinder, recognize input speech using the speech recognition function, and make settings of the image capture apparatus based on the recognized speech, the setting unit is configured to make settings of the image capture apparatus according to an operation accepted via the operation unit, and the display unit is configured to distinguishably display the settings of the image capture apparatus made by the control unit based on speech, and the settings of the image capture apparatus made by the setting unit according to an operation accepted via the operation unit, on the viewfinder. 
     In order to solve the aforementioned problems, the present invention provides a method of controlling an image capture apparatus having a speech recognition function, a viewfinder, a detector, and an operation unit, the method comprising: recognizing input speech using the speech recognition function when the detector has detected an eye approach state with respect to the viewfinder; making settings of the image capture apparatus based on the recognized speech; making settings of the image capture apparatus according to an operation accepted via the operation unit; and distinguishably displaying the settings of the image capture apparatus made based on the recognized speech, and the settings of the image capture apparatus made according to an operation accepted via the operation unit, on the viewfinder. 
     In order to solve the aforementioned problems, the present invention provides a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program that causes a computer to execute a method of controlling an image capture apparatus having a speech recognition function, a viewfinder, a detector, and an operation unit, the method comprising: recognizing input speech using the speech recognition function when the detector has detected an eye approach state with respect to the viewfinder; making settings of the image capture apparatus based on the recognized speech; making settings of the image capture apparatus according to an operation accepted via the operation unit; and distinguishably displaying the settings of the image capture apparatus made based on the recognized speech, and the settings of the image capture apparatus made according to an operation accepted via the operation unit, on the viewfinder. 
     In order to solve the aforementioned problems, the present invention provides an image capture apparatus having a speech recognition function, comprising: an operation unit; and one or more processors configured to function as a control unit, a setting unit, and a display unit, wherein the control unit is configured to, when a predetermined condition is satisfied, recognize input speech using the speech recognition function, and make settings of the image capture apparatus based on the recognized speech, the setting unit is configured to make settings of the image capture apparatus according to an user operation accepted via the operation unit, and the display unit is configured to distinguishably display the settings of the image capture apparatus made by the control unit based on speech, and the settings of the image capture apparatus made by the setting unit according to an operation accepted via the operation unit. 
     In order to solve the aforementioned problems, the present invention provides a method of controlling an image capture apparatus having a speech recognition function, and an operation unit, the method comprising: recognizing input speech using the speech recognition function when a predetermined condition is satisfied; making settings of the image capture apparatus based on the recognized speech; making settings of the image capture apparatus according to an operation accepted via the operation unit; and distinguishably displaying the settings of the image capture apparatus made based on the recognized speech, and the settings of the image capture apparatus made according to an operation accepted via the operation unit. 
     In order to solve the aforementioned problems, the present invention provides a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program that causes a computer to execute a method of controlling an image capture apparatus having a speech recognition function, and an operation unit, the method comprising: recognizing input speech using the speech recognition function when a predetermined condition is satisfied; making settings of the image capture apparatus based on the recognized speech; making settings of the image capture apparatus according to an operation accepted via the operation unit; and distinguishably displaying the settings of the image capture apparatus made based on the recognized speech, and the settings of the image capture apparatus made according to an operation accepted via the operation unit. 
     According to the present invention, the user can more easily use a speech recognition function. 
     Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments (with reference to the attached drawings). 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing an apparatus configuration according to a first embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a flowchart showing processing performed at the time of shooting according to the first embodiment. 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  are diagrams showing examples of content displayed by a viewfinder according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram showing an apparatus configuration according to a second embodiment. 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  are flowcharts showing processing performed at the time of shooting according to the second embodiment. 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  are diagrams showing examples of content displayed by a viewfinder according to the second embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a flowchart showing processing performed at the time of image reproduction according to the second embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Note, the following embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention. Multiple features are described in the embodiments, but limitation is not made an invention that requires all such features, and multiple such features may be combined as appropriate. Furthermore, in the attached drawings, the same reference numerals are given to the same or similar configurations, and redundant description thereof is omitted. 
     First Embodiment 
     The following describes a first embodiment with reference to  FIG. 1 . 
     Apparatus Configuration 
     First, an image capture apparatus  100  according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to  FIG. 1 . 
     Although the present embodiment describes an image capture apparatus that can capture a sill image or a moving image, such as a digital camera, the present invention is not limited in this way, and may be an information processing apparatus having a camera function, such as a tablet device or a personal computer, a surveillance camera, a medical camera, or the like. 
     The image capture apparatus  100  includes an operation unit  101 , a control unit  102 , a viewfinder control unit  103 , a memory  104 , a lens unit  105 , an image capturing unit  106 , a sound collection unit  107 , a speech recognition unit  108 , a viewfinder unit  109 , and an eye approach detection unit  110 . 
     The operation unit  101  includes operation members that accept various operations from a user, such as various kinds of switches, buttons, dials, levers, and touch panels. The operation unit  101  transmits a user operation to the control unit  102 . The operation unit  101  includes a power switch, a shutter button, a setting dial for performing various settings on the camera, a four-way bottom, and so on (not shown). The operation unit  101  transmits a user operation to the control unit  102 . The user can operate the image capture apparatus  100  and perform various settings regarding the image capture apparatus  100  by operating the operation unit  101 . 
     The control unit  102  includes a CPU or an MPU that controls the entire image capture apparatus  100 , a ROM, a RAM, and so on, and performs each processing step of the flowchart described below by executing a program stored in the ROM. The RAM is also used as a work memory onto which constants, variables, a program read out from the ROM, and so on, which are used to operate the control unit  102 , are loaded. The ROM stores information such as the content of settings changed by voice input at the time of shooting, and the content of settings manually input. The control unit  102  also has the function of the viewfinder control unit  103  that performs display control on the viewfinder unit  109 . 
     The viewfinder control unit  103  displays setting information, an operation status, and so on regarding the image capture apparatus  100 , on a display screen of the viewfinder unit  109 . Also, the viewfinder control unit  103  can display image data that has been subjected to image processing performed by the control unit  102 , on the viewfinder unit  109 . In the present embodiment, the viewfinder control unit  103  is one of the functional blocks included in the control unit  102 . However, the present invention is not limited in this way, and the viewfinder control unit  103  may be separately provided as a processor chip that communicates with the control unit  102 , for example. 
     The memory  104  includes a RAM chip and so on, and stores various kinds of data such as image data that has been subjected to image processing performed by the control unit  102 . 
     The lens unit  105  includes a lens group that includes at least one optical lens, and a drive unit for driving the lens group. The lens unit  105  forms the object image on an imaging surface of the image capturing unit  106 . 
     The image capturing unit  106  includes a shutter that has a diaphragm function, an imaging device that is constituted by a CCD or CMOS device or the like and converts the object image formed by the lens unit  105  into electrical signals, and an A/D convertor that converts analogue image signals output from the imaging device into digital signals. The image capturing unit  106 , under the control of the control unit  102 , converts the object image formed by the lens included in the image capturing unit  106 , into electrical signals, using the imaging device, performs noise reduction processing or the like, and thus outputs captured image data that is constituted by digital signals. 
     The control unit  102  generates image data by performing various kinds of image processing on the captured image data output from the image capturing unit  106 , and records it on a recording medium such as a memory card or a hard disk (not shown). Also, the control unit  102  performs AF (autofocus) processing or AE (auto exposure) processing by performing predetermined calculation processing using image data, and controlling the lens unit  105  and the diaphragm/shutter of the image capturing unit  106  based on the obtained result of calculation. 
     The sound collection unit  107  is a microphone that inputs sound collected around the image capture apparatus  100 . The sound collection unit  107  collects sound around the image capture apparatus  100 , and inputs the sound to the speech recognition unit  108  as audio signals. 
     The speech recognition unit  108  can recognize audio signals input from the sound collection unit  107 , and has a library, a communication function, and a calculation function that enable the speech recognition unit  108  to perform various speech recognition algorithms. The speech recognition unit  108  can recognize settings and an instruction intended by the user, from audio signals transmitted from the sound collection unit  107 , using a speech recognition algorithm, and transmits the result of recognition to the control unit  102 . 
     The viewfinder unit  109  allows the user to visually observe the object by bringing their eye close to it and looking into it. 
     The eye approach detection unit  110  can detect a state in which the user&#39;s eye has approached a position that is at a predetermined distance from the viewfinder unit  109 , or has brought into contact with the viewfinder unit  109  (hereinafter referred to as an eye approach state). Upon detecting the user&#39;s eye approach state, the viewfinder unit  109  transmits the result of detection to the control unit  102 . 
     Note that power is supplied from a power supply (not shown) to each component of the image capture apparatus  100 , and each component operates using the supplied power. 
     Processing at the time of Shooting Next, processing performed at the time of shooting according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to  FIG. 2 . 
     Note that the processing shown in  FIG. 2  is realized by the control unit  102  executing a program stored in the ROM. The same applies to  FIGS. 5A, 5B and 7  described below. 
     In the following description, each component connected to the control unit  102  operates in response to a control signal received from the control unit  102 , unless otherwise specifically described. 
     In step S 200 , upon the user powering ON the image capture apparatus  100  and setting the operation mode of the image capture apparatus  100  to a shooting mode, or upon the user powering ON the image capture apparatus  100  that was previously powered OFF when the operation mode thereof was the shooting mode, the control unit  102  sets the operation mode of the image capture apparatus  100  to the shooting mode and starts shooting processing. The user points the image capture apparatus  100  at the object, the image capturing unit  106  captures an image of the object, and the captured image is displayed on the viewfinder unit  109 . In this case, the user completes setting of the image capture apparatus  100  using the operation unit  101 , and setting information regarding the image capture apparatus  100  is displayed in a manual setting display area  302  of the viewfinder unit  109  shown in  FIG. 3A . The details of  FIG. 3A  will be described later. 
     In step S 201 , the control unit  102  detects the eye approach state of the user, using the eye approach detection unit  110 . The control unit  102  receives the result of detection from the eye approach detection unit  110 . Upon determining that the eye approach state of the user has been detected, the control unit  102  moves processing to step S 202 , and upon determining that the eye approach state has not been detected, the control unit  102  moves processing to step S 210 . 
     In step S 202 , the control unit  102  activates the speech recognition function because the eye approach state of the user has been detected. Upon the speech recognition function being activated, the sound collection unit  107  is started up so that sound around the image capture apparatus  100 , such as the user&#39;s voice, can be input thereto. The speech recognition unit  108  discerns whether or not the audio signals transmitted from the sound collection unit  107  form valid speech sound, using a speech recognition algorithm. Note that processing may be performed using a model learned through machine learning, instead of the above-described speech recognition algorithm for the speech recognition unit  108 . If this is the case, for example, a plurality of data sets each consisting of input data and output data for the speech recognition unit are prepared as learning data, and a learned model that has acquired knowledge through machine learning using the learning data, and that outputs output data as a result corresponding to input data based on the acquired knowledge, is generated. The learning model may be constituted by a neural network model, for example. The learned model cooperates with a CPU or a GPU as a program for performing processing that is equivalent to the processing performed by the above-described speech recognition unit, to perform the above-described processing. Note that the above-described learning model may be updated as appropriate after predetermined processing has been completed. 
     In step S 203 , the control unit  102  determines whether or not the speech recognition unit  108  has discerned that the audio signals input from the sound collection unit  107  form valid speech sound. If the speech recognition unit  108  discerns that the audio signals form valid speech sound, the control unit  102  moves processing to step S 204 , and if the speech recognition unit  108  discerns that the audio signals do not form valid speech sound, the control unit  102  moves processing to step S 206 . Valid speech sound means speech of which the result of speech recognition performed by the speech recognition unit  108  brings about an operation or setting of the image capture apparatus  100 . Although there are various algorithms for the determination method, any method may be employed without any specific limitation as long as it is possible to determine whether or not valid speech sound has been input. 
     In step S 204 , the control unit  102  receives the result of speech recognition from the speech recognition unit  108  because the audio signals input from the sound collection unit  107  have been determined as valid speech sound. 
     In step S 205 , the control unit  102  makes settings of the image capture apparatus  100  based on the result of speech recognition received from the speech recognition unit  108 . 
     In step S 206 , using the viewfinder control unit  103 , the control unit  102  displays the content of the settings of the image capture apparatus  100  made by the control unit  102 , in a voice setting display area  310  of the viewfinder unit  109  shown in  FIG. 3B . The content of voice input settings by the user is displayed in the voice setting display area  310  of the viewfinder unit  109 , which enables the user to easily check the settings discerned through speech recognition. Details of  FIG. 3B  will be described later. 
     In step S 207 , the control unit  102  determines whether or not a shooting instruction has been input from the user. Upon determining that a shooting instruction has been input, the control unit  102  advances processing to step S 208 , and upon determining that a shooting instruction has not been input, the control unit  102  returns processing to step S 201 . A shooting instruction is transmitted to the control unit  102  upon the user operating the shutter button, for example, of the operation unit  101 . 
     In step S 208 , the control unit  102  controls each component of the image capture apparatus  100  according to the shooting instruction from the user, to perform shooting processing. Although the details of shooting processing are omitted, generally the following processing is performed. 
     Upon receiving a shooting instruction from the user, the image capturing unit  106  converts the analogue signals, which are electrical signals converted from the object image light incident to the image capturing unit  106  from the lens unit  105 , into digital signals, and transmits them to the control unit  102  as captured image data. The control unit  102  temporarily stores the captured image data received from the image capturing unit  106  in the memory  104 , sequentially performs image processing thereon to generate final image data, and records the final data on a recording medium such as a memory card or a hard disk (not shown). Upon the series of processing from image capturing to recording being complete, the control unit  102  advances processing to step S 209 , and terminates shooting processing. 
     In step S 210 , the control unit  102  determines whether or not a predetermined period of time has elapsed in a non-eye approach state in which the user&#39;s eye approach state has not been detected by the eye approach detection unit  110 . Upon determining that the predetermined period of time has elapsed in the non-eye approach state, the control unit  102  advances processing to step S 211 , and upon determining that the predetermined period of time has not elapsed, the control unit  102  advances processing to step S 207 . 
     In step S 211 , the control unit  102  determines whether or not the content of settings is displayed in the voice setting display area  310  of the viewfinder unit  109 . Upon determining that the content of settings is displayed in the voice setting display area  310  of the viewfinder unit  109 , the control unit  102  advances processing to step S 212 . Upon determining that the content of settings is not displayed, the control unit  102  returns processing to step S 207 . 
     In step S 212 , the control unit  102  deactivates the content of settings displayed in the voice setting display area  310 , and activates the content of settings displayed in the manual setting display area  302 . Thus, the control unit  102  controls the image capture apparatus  100  according to the content of settings displayed in the manual setting display area  302 . 
     In step S 213 , using the viewfinder control unit  103 , the control unit  102  hides the content of settings displayed in the voice setting display area  310  of the viewfinder unit  109 , and advances processing to step S 207 . The content of settings displayed in the voice setting display area  310  is hidden because the voice input settings can be merely temporary settings, and the settings manually input are regarded as permanent settings that match the user&#39;s intention. 
     By performing the processing in steps S 210  to S 213  described above, it is possible to easily restore the settings of the image capture apparatus  100  from the temporary voice input settings to the settings manually input. 
     Examples of Content Displayed by Viewfinder 
     Next, examples of content displayed by the viewfinder unit  109  according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to  FIGS. 3A and 3B . 
       FIG. 3A  shows an example of content displayed by the viewfinder unit  109  at the start of shooting in step S 200  in  FIG. 2 . 
     The viewfinder unit  109  includes an object display area  301 , the manual setting display area  302 , and the voice setting display area  310 . 
     The object display area  301  is an area for displaying image data captured by the image capturing unit  106  and generated by the control unit  102 . The user can check the state of the object and the composition of the image by visually checking the image displayed in the object display area  301 . 
     The manual setting display area  302  is an area for displaying items that can be manually set by the user using, for example, an operation member included in the operation unit  101 . Each setting item shows information regarding the content of settings, such as a setting value or a picture (an icon) related to shooting. The present embodiment shows an example in which items manually set by the user are displayed in the manual setting display area  302 . However, the items in the manual setting display area  302  need only be items set without using the speech recognition function. For example, the content of default settings of the image capture apparatus  100 , the content of settings automatically generated by the image capture apparatus  100  in an automatic mode, or the like may be displayed therein. The manual setting display area  302  in  FIG. 3A  shows items manually set by the user, for example. 
     An item  3021  indicates the focus mode manually set by the user. An item  3022  indicates the metering mode manually set by the user. An item  3023  indicates the ON/OFF setting of the flash manually set by the user. An item  3024  indicates the shutter speed manually set by the user. An item  3025  indicates the aperture value manually set by the user. An item  3026  indicates the exposure correction value manually set by the user. An item  3027  indicates the ISO sensitivity manually set by the user. An item  3028  indicates the number of pictures that can currently be taken. An item  3029  indicates the current battery level. 
     Although the present embodiment shows nine items, it suffices ifat least one item is input via voice. 
     An object  303  is the shooting target that is to be photographed by the user. 
     Next, through steps S 201  to S 206  in  FIG. 2 , if the settings of the image capture apparatus  100  are temporarily changed by the user inputting voice in a state where the user has brought their eye close to the viewfinder unit  109 , the content displayed by the viewfinder unit  109  changes from that shown in  FIG. 3A  to that shown in  FIG. 3B . 
       FIG. 3B  shows an example of content displayed by the viewfinder unit  109  in step S 206  in  FIG. 2 . The same display items as in  FIG. 3A  are assigned the same reference numerals and descriptions thereof are omitted. 
     The voice setting display area  310  is an area in which the setting items and the content of voice input settings in steps S 201  to S 206  in  FIG. 2  are displayed. The voice setting display area  310  in  FIG. 3B  shows an example of the content of voice input settings by the user. 
     An item  3111  indicates the focus mode set (changed) by voice input. An item  3112  indicates the exposure correction value set (changed) by voice input. An item  3113  indicates the ISO sensitivity set (changed) by voice input. An item  3114  indicates the metering mode set (changed) by voice input. An item  3115  indicates the shutter speed set (changed) by voice input. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3B , if the manual setting display area  302  and the voice setting display area  310  show settings of the same category, the settings in the manual setting display area  302  are deactivated regarding the settings of the category, and the settings in the voice setting display area  310  are activated. For example, the focus mode manually set (the item  3021 ) is deactivated, and the focus mode set by voice input (the item  3111 ) is activated. This is because it is envisioned that, in shooting immediately after voice input, preferably using the settings changed by voice input matches the user&#39;s intention. 
     Also, in the example shown in  FIG. 3B , items displayed in the manual setting display area  302  are activated if they are not displayed in the voice setting display area  310 . For example, the flash settings (the item  3023 ) and the aperture value (the item  3025 ) manually set are active. 
     The user performs shooting in steps S 207  and S 208  in a state where the content of voice input settings is displayed in the voice setting display area  310  as shown in  FIG. 3B , and thus the user can perform shooting using the content of voice input settings. 
     Also, in a case where the content of voice input settings is displayed in the voice setting display area  310 , if a predetermined period of time has elapsed from when the user has moved their eye away from the viewfinder unit  109 , the processing in steps S 210  to S 213  is performed. If this is the case, the contend displayed by the viewfinder unit  109  returns from that shown in  FIG. 3B  to that shown in  FIG. 3A . This is because it is envisaged that content of settings changed by voice input is merely temporary, and the content of settings manually set is the permanent content of settings that matches the user&#39;s intention. 
     Through such control, it is possible to easily return the settings of the image capture apparatus  100  from the temporary voice input settings to the settings manually set. 
     The image capture apparatus  100  according to the present embodiment detects the eye approach state with respect to the viewfinder unit  109 , and the speech recognition function is activated in the eye approach state so that the user is less often required to perform touch typing in order to change the settings at the time of shooting, which allows the user to perform shooting without stress. 
     Note that the image capture apparatus  100  may be provided with a liquid crystal panel or the like (not shown) in addition to the viewfinder unit  109 . In a non-eye approach state in which the user&#39;s eye is not close to the viewfinder unit  109 , the same content as in  FIGS. 3A and 3B  may be displayed in the liquid crystal panel (not shown). 
     Also, the arrangement of the object display area  301 , the manual setting display area  302 , and the voice setting display area  310  is not limited to that shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B . For example, it is possible to employ a layout in which the manual setting display area  302  and the voice setting display area  310  are separately arranged on the left side and the right side or on the upper side and the lower side in the viewfinder unit  109 . 
     Also, the manual setting display area  302  and the voice setting display area  310  may or may not overlap the object display area  301 . For example, in  FIG. 3B , the voice setting display area  310  overlaps the object display area  301 , but the manual setting display area  302  does not. 
     Furthermore, an area that overlaps the object display area  301 , of the manual setting display area  302  or the voice setting display area  310  may be transparent so that the image of the object display area  301  can be seen through the area. Alternatively, the overlapping area may be fully transparent because the user need only visually check the displayed settings. 
     Second Embodiment 
     The following describes a second embodiment with reference to  FIGS. 4 to 7 . 
     First, an image capture apparatus  400  according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to  FIG. 4 . 
     The image capture apparatus  400  includes an operation unit  401 , a control unit  402 , a display unit  403 , and a recording unit  404 . The image capture apparatus  400  also includes the viewfinder control unit  103 , the memory  104 , the lens unit  105 , the image capturing unit  106 , the sound collection unit  107 , the speech recognition unit  108 , the viewfinder unit  109 , and the eye approach detection unit  110 , which are components that are the same as those of the image capture apparatus  100  according to the first embodiment. 
     In the following, the components that are the same as those of the image capture apparatus  100  according to the first embodiment are assigned the same reference numerals, the descriptions thereof are omitted, and different components are mainly described. 
     The operation unit  401  has the same function as the operation unit  101  according to the first embodiment, and additionally includes a setting dial  4011  for setting the image capture apparatus  400  upon a physical position being selected through a user operation. The setting dial  4011  is a rotatable operation member that is used to switch the settings of the image capture apparatus  400 . The user can change the focus mode and so on by rotating the setting dial  4011  and selecting a desired setting position. 
     The control unit  402  has the same function as the control unit  102  according to the first embodiment, and additionally records image data captured by the image capturing unit  106  and subjected to image processing, on the recording unit  404 . The control unit  402  adds the settings used at the time of shooting, and metadata indicating whether the settings have been manually set or set by voice input, to the image data, and records the image data. The control unit  402  performs image reproduction processing to read out image data recorded on the recording unit  404  and display the image data on the display unit  403 . 
     The display unit  403  is constituted by a liquid crystal panel, an organic EL panel, or the like, and reproduces and displays image data recorded on the recording unit  404 . The user selects a desired image from a list of images displayed on the display unit  403 , via the operation unit  401 , and thus the selected image is displayed on the display unit  403 . The display unit  403  also has the function of notifying the user. 
     The recording unit  404  is a recording medium such as a memory card or a hard disk (not shown), and records image data generated by the control unit  402 . 
     Operations at the Time of Shooting 
     Next, processing performed at the time of shooting according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to  FIGS. 5A and 5B . 
     In the following description, the processing steps that are the same as those in  FIG. 2  according to the first embodiment are assigned the same step number, descriptions thereof are omitted, and different processing steps are mainly described. Also, in the processing shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , the operation unit  101  and the control unit  102  according to the first embodiment are replaced with the operation unit  401  and the control unit  402  in the present embodiment, respectively. 
     In the following description, each component connected to the control unit  402  operates in response to a control signal received from the control unit  402 , unless otherwise specifically described. 
     Steps S 200  to S 206  are the same as those in  FIG. 2 . 
     In step S 501 , the control unit  402  determines whether or not a user instruction to overwrite the content of settings displayed in the manual setting display area  302  with the content of settings displayed in the voice setting display area  310  has been received. Upon determining that such an instruction has been input, the control unit  402  advances processing to step S 502 , and upon determining that such an instruction has not been input, the control unit  402  advances processing to step S 207 . 
     The user can replace the content of settings displayed in the manual setting display area  302  with the content of settings displayed in the voice setting display area  310  by performing a predetermined operation using the operation unit  401 . The predetermined operation may be any operation as long as it is an operation performed to overwrite the content of settings, such as speaking predetermined words (e.g. “overwrite the settings”) (inputting voice), or long-pressing or double-pressing a predetermined button on the operation unit  401 . 
     The image capture apparatus  400  is enabled to accept such an operation performed to overwrite the content of settings, and therefore it is possible to set the temporary voice input settings as permanent content of settings of the image capture apparatus  400  through an easy operation. 
     In step S 502 , the control unit  402  determines whether or not the content of settings displayed in the voice setting display area  310  conflicts or contradicts (in the following description, contradicts) with the content of settings selected using the setting dial  4011 . Upon determining that there is no contradiction, the control unit  402  advances processing to step S 503 , and upon determining that there is a contradiction, the control unit  402  advances processing to step S 511 . For example, “AF (autofocus mode)” is set as the focus mode (the item  3021 ), using the setting dial  4011 . In this case, if the focus mode set by voice input (the item  3111 ) is “MF (manual focus mode)” as shown in  FIG. 3B , it is determined that there is a contradiction. 
     In step S 503 , the content of settings set using the setting dial  4011  and the content of voice input settings do not contradict with each other, and therefore the control unit  402  overwrites the content of settings displayed in the manual setting display area  302  with the content of settings displayed in the voice setting display area  310  which is to be displayed. 
     In step S 504 , the control unit  402  hides the content of settings displayed in the voice setting display area  310 . Upon the processing in steps S 503  and S 504  being complete, the content displayed by the viewfinder unit  109  changes from that shown in  FIG. 3B  to that shown in  FIG. 6A . 
       FIG. 6A  shows an example of content displayed by the viewfinder unit  109  in step S 504  in  FIG. 5B . The same display items as in  FIG. 3A  are assigned the same reference numerals and descriptions thereof are omitted. 
     An item  601  indicates the content of settings where the focus mode manually set has been overwritten with the focus mode set by voice input. 
     An item  602  indicates the content of settings where the metering mode manually set has been overwritten with the metering mode set by voice input. 
     An item  603  indicates the content of settings where the shutter speed manually set has been overwritten with the shutter speed set by voice input. 
     An item  604  indicates the content of settings where the exposure correction value manually set has been overwritten with the exposure correction value set by voice input. 
     An item  605  indicates the content of settings where the ISO sensitivity manually set has been overwritten with the ISO sensitivity set by voice input. 
     Through such control, it is possible to easily change the content of settings of the image capture apparatus  100  manually set, to the content of settings set by voice input. 
     In step S 511 , the control unit  402  continues displaying the content in the voice setting display area  310  because the content of settings selected using the setting dial  4011  contradict with the content of voice input settings, and the content of voice input settings cannot be reflected without change. 
     In step S 512 , voice input setting items and do not contradict with the content of settings selected using the setting dial  4011  can be reflected without change, and therefore the control unit  402  displays such setting items, displayed in the voice setting display area  310 , in the manual setting display area  302 . 
     In step S 513 , the control unit  402  hides the setting items that have been reflected to the content of settings displayed in the manual setting display area  302  in step S 512 , from among the setting items displayed in the voice setting display area  310 . 
     Upon the processing in steps S 511  to S 513  being complete, the content displayed by the viewfinder unit  109  changes from that shown in  FIG. 3B  to that shown in  FIG. 6B . 
       FIG. 6B  shows an example of content displayed by the viewfinder unit  109  in step S 513  in  FIG. 5B . The same display items as in  FIG. 6A  are assigned the same reference numerals and descriptions thereof are omitted. 
     An item  611  indicates the focus mode set by voice input. 
     An item  612  indicates the focus mode selected using the setting dial  4011 . 
     Here, the focus mode set by voice input (the item  611 ) contradicted with the focus mode selected using the setting dial  4011  (the item  612 ), and the item  612  in the manual setting display area  302  could not be overwritten with the item  611 . Therefore, the item  611  remains in the voice setting display area  310 . 
     Therefore, the user can easily discern a setting item that contradicted with the manually set setting item and could not be used to change the settings of the image capture apparatus  400 , from among the voice input setting items. 
     Steps S 207  to S 208  are the same as those in  FIG. 2 . 
     In step S 505 , the control unit  402  records the image data obtained in step S 208 , on the recording unit  404 . In this case, the control unit  402  can add various kinds of metadata to the image data. The control unit  402  additionally records, to the metadata, information indicating whether the settings employed at the time the image data was captured were the settings displayed in the manual setting display area  302  or the settings displayed in the voice setting display area  310 . 
     Step S 209  is the same as that in  FIG. 2 . 
     Through such control, when reproducing an image, the user can easily discern whether or not the image was captured using the content of voice input settings. 
     Processing at the Time of Image Reproduction 
     Next, processing performed by the image capture apparatus  400  at the time of reproducing an image will be described with reference to  FIG. 7 . 
     In step S 700 , the operation unit  401  receives an instruction to reproduce an image, from the user, and the control unit  402  starts image reproduction processing. 
     In step S 701 , the control unit  402  reads out image data and metadata added to the image data, from the recording unit  404 . 
     In step S 702 , the control unit  402  displays the image data read out from the recording unit  404 , on the display unit  403 . 
     In step S 703 , the control unit  402  determines whether or not the metadata of the image data read out from the recording unit  404  includes data that was recorded in step S 505  of  FIG. 5B  and indicates a setting item that was displayed in the voice setting display area  310 . Upon determining that there is data that indicates a setting item that was displayed in the voice setting display area  310 , the control unit  402  advances processing to step S 704 , and otherwise advances processing to step S 710 . 
     In step S 704 , the control unit  402  displays, on the display unit  403 , options that can be selected by the user, regarding whether or not to activate the setting item displayed in the voice setting display area  310 , read out in step S 703 , as a current setting of the image capture apparatus  400 . 
     In step S 705 , the control unit  402  determines whether or not the user has selected “activate” from the options displayed in step S 704 . Upon determining that “activate” has been selected, the control unit  402  advances processing to step S 706 , and upon determining that “not activate” has been selected, the control unit  402  advances processing to step S 710 . 
     In step S 706 , the control unit  402  determines whether or not the setting item that is to be activated contradicts with the content of settings set using the setting dial  4011 . If there is a contradiction, the control unit  402  advances processing to step S 707 , and otherwise advances processing to step S 708 . 
     In step S 707 , there is no contradiction in the content of settings in step S 706 , and the control unit  402  activates the voice input setting item and recorded to metadata, and reflects the setting item to the current settings of the image capture apparatus  400 . In this case, the contents of settings do not contradict each other, and therefore, as the user intended, the current content of settings of the image capture apparatus  400  can be replaced with the content of voice input settings. 
     In step S 708 , the contents of settings contradict each other in step S 706 , and therefore the control unit  402  only activates a setting item that does not contract with the setting item set using the setting dial  4011  at the time of reproduction, from among the voice input setting items and recorded in metadata. In this case, the contents of settings contradict each other, and contrary to the user&#39;s intention, there is a voice input setting item but not reflected to the current settings of the image capture apparatus  400 . 
     In step S 709 , the control unit  402  displays, on the display unit  403 , information indicating that the voice input setting items and recorded in metadata included a setting item that contradicts with the content of settings set using the setting dial  4011  at the time of image reproduction, and could not be activated, to notify the user. In this way, the user can check what voice input setting item could not be reflected to the current settings of the image capture apparatus  400 . 
     In step S 710 , the control unit  402  terminates image reproduction processing. 
     The user can reproduce an image captured using the temporary voice input settings, and check whether or not the content of settings is acceptable. If the content of settings is acceptable, the user can easily reflect the content of settings to the current settings of the image capture apparatus  400 . 
     Here, the options in step S 704  in  FIG. 7  and the notification in step S 709  are not necessarily displayed on the display unit  403 , and may be output as a sound from a speaker (not shown). 
     As described above, according to the present embodiment, upon the user entering the eye approach state, the speech recognition function of the image capture apparatus  400  is activated. Therefore, the user can perform shooting or making voice input settings, and the user is less often required to perform touch typing in order to change the settings at the time of shooting, which allows the user to perform shooting without stress. 
     Also, by explicitly distinguishing between the content of voice input settings and the content of settings manually input when displaying them on the viewfinder to which the user has brought their eye close, it is possible to enable the user to recognize which content of settings is currently employed as the settings of the image capture apparatus  400 . Also, it is possible to easily reflect the content of voice input settings to the current settings of the image capture apparatus  400  if the user wishes to do so. 
     Also, by explicitly distinguishing between the content of voice input settings and the content of settings manually input when recording them in the metadata of image data, it is possible to enable the user to easily reflect the content of voice input settings to the current settings of the image capture apparatus  400  when reproducing image data captured using the content of voice input settings. 
     Also, as in the first embodiment,  FIGS. 6A and 6B , which show the content displayed by the viewfinder unit  109 , are examples, and the present invention is not limited thereto. 
     Other Embodiments 
     Embodiment(s) of the present invention can also be realized by a computer of a system or apparatus that reads out and executes computer executable instructions (e.g., one or more programs) recorded on a storage medium (which may also be referred to more fully as a ‘non-transitory computer-readable storage medium’) to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/or that includes one or more circuits (e.g., application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)) for performing the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s), and by a method performed by the computer of the system or apparatus by, for example, reading out and executing the computer executable instructions from the storage medium to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/or controlling the one or more circuits to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s). The computer may comprise one or more processors (e.g., central processing unit (CPU), micro processing unit (MPU)) and may include a network of separate computers or separate processors to read out and execute the computer executable instructions. The computer executable instructions may be provided to the computer, for example, from a network or the storage medium. The storage medium may include, for example, one or more of a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a storage of distributed computing systems, an optical disk (such as a compact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™), a flash memory device, a memory card, and the like. 
     While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions. 
     This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-051509, filed Mar. 19, 2019 which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.