IMAGE SENSING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF AND PROGRAM FOR IMPLEMENTING THE METHOD

Abstract

From image data for foreign substance detection obtained by an image sensing device that converts an optical image of an object into image data, correction data is created for correcting photographed image data in a case that normal image sensing is performed, and by correcting the photographed image data using the correction data, image data is obtained in which effects due to a foreign substance have been removed. In a case where a foreign substance removal operation, which removes a foreign substance affixed to an optical member, has been executed, the correction data is updated, so that correction of subsequent photographed image data using old correction data is prevented.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the overall configuration of a lens exchangeable type of digital camera applied in an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart explaining a process to detect dust in a digital camera according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart explaining an image sensing process in the digital camera according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart explaining a dust correction process when normal photographing is performed in the digital camera according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart explaining a case in which a cleaning mode has been executed in a digital camera according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart explaining a digital camera process performed after the cleaning mode has been executed in the digital camera according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 7 depicts a view explaining the relationship between photographed image data and the correction data acquired via the flowchart in FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart explaining a dust removal process in a digital camera according to a modified example of the second embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart explaining a dust detection process in a digital camera according to a modified example of the second embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart explaining an image sensing process performed in a digital camera according to a modified example of the second embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart explaining a process performed in a digital camera according to a third embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 12 is a flowchart explaining a modified example of the third embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. An image sensing apparatus, comprising: an image sensing device configured to convert an optical image of an object into image data;a correction data creation unit configured to create correction data for correcting photographed image data, in a case that normal image sensing is performed, from image data for foreign substance detection obtained by the image sensing device;a foreign substance removal unit configured to remove a foreign substance affixed to an optical member disposed in an image sensing light path in front of the image sensing device and; andan updating unit configured to update the correction data, in a case where a foreign substance removal operation has been executed by the foreign substance removal unit.

2. An image sensing apparatus, comprising: an image sensing device configured to convert an optical image of an object into image data;a correction data creation unit configured to create correction data for correcting photographed image data in a case that normal image sensing is performed, from image data for foreign substance detection obtained by the image sensing device;a foreign substance removal mode for allowing a user to remove a foreign substance affixed to an optical member disposed in an image sensing light path in front of the image sensing device; andan updating unit configured to update the correction data, in a case where the foreign substance removal mode has been executed.

3. The image sensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the updating unit invalidates the correction data.

4. The image sensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the updating unit deletes the correction data.

5. The image sensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the updating unit suspends the association between the correction data and the photographed image data.

6. The image sensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the updating unit updates the correction data by creating new correction data with the correction data creation unit.

7. The image sensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the updating unit notifies a user that the correction data will be updated prior to the updating.

8. The image sensing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the updating unit updates according to user input performed after the notification.

9. The image sensing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a correction unit configured to, using the correction data, correct photographed image data in a case that normal image sensing is performed.

10. An image sensing apparatus, comprising: an image sensing device configured to convert an optical image of an object into image data;a correction data creation unit configured to create correction data for correcting photographed image data in a case that normal image sensing is performed, from image data for foreign substance detection obtained by the image sensing device;a foreign substance removal unit configured to remove a foreign substance affixed to an optical member disposed in an image sensing light path in front of the image sensing device;a correction unit configured to, using the correction data, correct photographed image data in a case that normal image sensing is performed; anda prohibition unit configured to prohibit execution of the correction unit, in a case where a foreign substance removal operation has been executed by the foreign substance removal unit.

11. An image sensing apparatus, comprising: an image sensing device configured to convert an optical image of an object into image data;a correction data creation unit configured to create correction data for correcting photographed image data in a case that normal image sensing is performed, from image data for foreign substance detection obtained by the image sensing device;a foreign substance removal mode for allowing a user to remove a foreign substance affixed to an optical member disposed in an image sensing light path in front of the image sensing device;a correction unit configured to, using the correction data, correct photographed image data in a case that normal image sensing is performed; anda prohibition unit configured to prohibit execution of the correction unit in a case where the foreign substance removal mode has been executed.

12. A method for controlling an image sensing apparatus, the method comprising: a step of creating correction data for correcting photographed image data in a case that normal image sensing is performed, from image data for foreign substance detection obtained by an image sensing device that converts an optical image of an object into image data;a removal step of removing a foreign substance affixed to an optical member disposed in an image sensing light path in front of the image sensing device; anda step of updating the correction data in a case where a foreign substance removal operation has been executed in the removal step of removing the foreign substance.

13. A method for controlling an image sensing apparatus, the method comprising: an image sensing step of converting an optical image of an object into image data;a creation step of creating correction data for correcting photographed image data in a case that normal image sensing is performed, from image data for foreign substance detection obtained in the image sensing step;a step of setting a foreign substance removal mode for allowing a user to remove a foreign substance affixed to an optical member; andan updating step of updating the correction data in a case where the foreign substance removal mode has been executed.

14. The method for controlling an image sensing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the correction data is invalidated in the updating step.

15. The method for controlling an image sensing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the correction data is deleted in the updating step.

16. The method for controlling an image sensing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the association between the correction data and the photographed image data is suspended in the updating step.

17. The method for controlling an image sensing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein in the updating step, the correction data is updated by creating new correction data in the creation step.

18. The method for controlling an image sensing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein in the updating step, a user is notified that the correction data will be updated prior to the updating.

19. The method for controlling an image sensing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein in the updating step, updating is performed according to user input performed after the notification.

20. The method for controlling an image sensing apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a step of, using the correction data, correcting photographed image data in a case that normal image sensing is performed.

21. A method for controlling an image sensing apparatus, the method comprising: a step of creating correction data for correcting photographed image data in a case that normal image sensing is performed, from image data for foreign substance detection obtained by an image sensing device that converts an optical image of an object into image data;a removal step of removing a foreign substance affixed to an optical member disposed in an image sensing light path in front of the image sensing device;a correction step of, using the correction data, correcting photographed image data in a case that normal image sensing is performed; anda step of prohibiting execution in the correction step in a case where a foreign substance removal operation has been executed in the removal step.

22. A method for controlling an image sensing apparatus, the method comprising: an image sensing step of converting an optical image of an object into image data;a creation step of creating correction data for correcting photographed image data in a case that normal image sensing is performed, from image data for foreign substance detection obtained in the image sensing step;a step of setting a foreign substance removal mode for allowing a user to remove a foreign substance affixed to an optical member,a correction step of, using the correction data, correcting photographed image data in a case that normal image sensing is performed; anda step of prohibiting execution in the correction step in a case where the foreign substance removal mode has been executed.

23. A program for allowing a computer to execute the control method according to claim 12.