Imaging device

Abstract

A focus area contains one or more areas, into which an image signal captured by an image sensor ( 14 ) is segmented by an image segmentation section ( 15 ). The focus area follows movement of an object in accordance with feature point positional information of an image extracted by a feature point extraction section ( 34 ) and a feature point positional calculation section ( 35 ). Further, after a low-pass filter ( 36 ) extracts a low frequency component of a time-series oscillation frequency using the feature point positional information, and a focus area selection section calculates a display position, the focus area is displayed on a display section ( 17 ). Therefore, an imaging device, which does not cause discomfort even when the focus area displayed on the display section ( 17 ) fluctuates by tracking movement of the object, is provided.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . An imaging device, comprising:
 an imaging optical system for forming an optical image of an object;   an image sensor for taking the optical image of the object and converting the optical image to an electric image signal;   a feature point extraction section for extracting a feature point of the object based on the generated electric image signal;   a display section for displaying an image based on the generated electric image signal and an area frame indicating a position of the feature point in a manner that the area frame is overlaid onto the image when displayed; and   a feature point setting section to previously set information pertinent to the feature point,   wherein the feature point extraction section extracts a feature point of the object, based on a result of a comparison between the obtained image signal and the information pertinent to the feature point which has been pre-set by the feature point setting section.   
     
     
         20 . The imaging device according to  claim 19 , wherein
 the feature point setting section sets reference color information as the information pertinent to the feature point, and   the feature point extraction section calculates color information from the obtained image signals and extracts the feature point based on the comparison between the calculated color information and the reference color information which has been pre-set by the feature point setting section.   
     
     
         21 . The imaging device according to  claim 20 , wherein the reference color information is color information which is calculated by the feature point extraction section with respect to a desired one of the areas in the previously obtained image signal. 
     
     
         22 . The imaging device according to  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the color information and the reference color information contains at least one of information pertinent to a hue and information pertinent to a saturation. 
     
     
         23 . The imaging device according to  claim 19 , wherein the feature point extraction section extracts edge information of the object. 
     
     
         24 . The imaging device according to  claim 19 , wherein the feature point extraction section extracts luminance information of the object. 
     
     
         25 . The imaging device according to  claim 19 , wherein the area frame indicates the position of the feature point by following a low frequency component of the time-series oscillation of the positional movement of the feature point.