Photographing apparatus and method for controlling photographing apparatus

• US 10,110,828 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2016
• Issued: 10/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Kwanhyung, Kwon, Youngman
• Primary Examiner(s): Haskins, Twyler Lamb
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tejano, Dwight Alex C
• Application Number:
  US15/567,072
• Publication Number:
  US 20180103185A1
• Time in Patent Office: 935 Days
• Field of Search: 348246
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 17/002 for television cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/45 for generating image signals from two or more image sensors being of different type or operating in different modes, e.g. with a CMOS sensor for moving images in combination with a charge-coupled device [CCD] for still images
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/73 by influencing the exposure time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/76 by influencing the image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/95 Computational photography systems, e.g. light-field imaging systems

Abstract

Photographing apparatus and method for controlling the photographing apparatus are disclosed. The present invention comprises: a lens; a beam splitter; a first image sensor for outputting first image data; a second image sensor for outputting second image data; a display unit for displaying the first image data; and a control unit for correcting the pixel value of at least a part of the first image data displayed on the display unit on the basis of brightness information obtained from the second image data, and when a malfunction of the first image sensor is detected, adjusting the exposure value of the second image sensor to the exposure value of the first image sensor and displaying the second image data on the display unit. According to the present invention, a photographed image can be improved, and an image can be stably output even when an image sensor in a photographing apparatus malfunctions.

Claims

1. A photographing apparatus comprising:

a lens;

a beam splitter splitting light passing through the lens into light in a first direction and light in a second direction;

a first image sensor sensing light traveling in the first direction and outputting first image data;

a second image sensor having an exposure value different from that of the first image sensor, sensing light traveling in the second direction, and outputting second image data;

a display unit displaying the first image data; and

a controller correcting pixel values of at least a partial region of the first image data displayed on the display unit on the basis of brightness information obtained from the second image data, and adjusting, when malfunction of the first image sensor is detected, the exposure value of the second image sensor with the exposure value of the first image sensor to display the second image data on the display unit.

2. The photographing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller detects malfunction of the first image sensor according to whether the first image data is received.

3. The photographing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller detects malfunction of the first image sensor according to whether an operation signal is received from the first image sensor.

4. The photographing apparatus of claim 1, wherein when a difference between the first image data and the second image data is equal to or greater than a preset reference, the controller detects that the first image sensor malfunctions.

5. The photographing apparatus of claim 4, wherein the controller obtains the difference by detecting edges of subjects included in the first image data and the second image data or comparing keypoints of the first image data and the second image data.

6. The photographing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller detects malfunction of the first image sensor according to whether colors of the first image data include types of a predetermined reference.

7. The photographing apparatus of claim 1, wherein when malfunction of the first image sensor is detected, the controller outputs a malfunction notification signal on the display unit.

8. The photographing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller adjusts the exposure value of the first image sensor on the basis of brightness information obtained from the second image data.

9. The photographing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller adjusts the exposure value of the first image sensor and the exposure value of the second image sensor to be contrasted, and synthesize the first image data and the second image data to display synthesized image data on the display unit.

10. A method for controlling a photographing apparatus, the method comprising:

splitting light passing through a lens into light in a first direction and light in a second direction;

sensing light traveling in the first direction using the first image sensor and outputting first image data;

sensing light traveling in the second direction using a second image sensor having an exposure value different from that of the first image sensor, and outputting second image data;

displaying the first image data on a display unit;

correcting pixel values of at least a partial region of the first image data displayed on the display unit on the basis of brightness information obtained from the second image data; and

when malfunction of the first image sensor is detected, adjusting the exposure value of the second image sensor to display the second image data on the display unit.