Image capture apparatus and method for tracking a subject

摘要

Disclosed is an image capture apparatus that has a subject tracking functionality of sequentially detecting a predetermined subject in images that are continuously shot, and a method for controlling the same. During tracking of the subject, degrees of reliability of tracking are determined. When the detected face is set as a template image, the template image is not changed until it is determined a predetermined plurality of times in succession that the degrees of reliability of tracking are low. It is thus possible to achieve a subject tracking functionality that is hardly affected by false detections.

主权项

1. An image capture apparatus comprising:
a face detection unit configured to detect a face that is included in an image; a subject detecting unit configured to track a subject by sequentially detecting an area similar to a template image of the subject in a sequence of images obtained by shooting; and a control unit configured to:
determine, during tracking of the subject, reliability of the detection by the subject detecting unit, andif the face detected by the face detection unit has been set as the template image,
not change the template image until it is determined a predetermined plurality of times in succession that the reliability of the detection by the subject detecting unit is low, andchange the template image to another face that has been continuously detected for the predetermined plurality of times in succession if it has been continuously determined for the predetermined plurality of times in succession that the reliability of the detection by the subject detecting unit is low.