Apparatus and method for setting camera

• US 10,257,416 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2016
• Issued: 04/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Minyoung, Park, Kenhyung, Heo, Changryong, Kim, Taekyun, Kim, Taeseon
• Primary Examiner(s): Aghevli, Reza
• Application Number:
  US15/091,855
• Publication Number:
  US 20160301866A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,098 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/006 Mixed reality object pose determination, tracking or camera calibration for mixed reality G06T7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2025/783 based on threshold decision
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 25/87 Detection of discrete points within a voice signal
• 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 23/611 where the recognised objects include parts of the human body
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/62 Control of parameters via user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/667 Camera operation mode switching, e.g. between still and video, sport and normal or high- and low-resolution modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/681 Motion detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/69 Control of means for changing angle of the field of view, e.g. optical zoom objectives or electronic zooming
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/698 for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/90 Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A method for setting a camera in an electronic device including at least one photographing module is provided. The method includes detecting environment information through a sensor or a microphone, and changing setting information of at least one photographing module according to the detected environment information.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an electronic device, the method comprising:

detecting environmental information associated with the electronic device using a sensor, wherein the electronic device comprises the sensor, a first image sensor, and a second image sensor;

changing first setting information of the first image sensor based on the environmental information;

detecting a user'"'"'s viewpoint;

selecting one of the first image sensor or the second image sensor based on the user'"'"'s viewpoint; and

changing the first setting information or a second setting information of the second image sensor based on the selected image sensor,

wherein the detecting of the user'"'"'s viewpoint comprises;

receiving orientation information from a head mounted display (HMD); and

determining the user'"'"'s viewpoint based on the orientation information.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a user input; and

changing the first setting information based on the user input.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising displaying the first setting information through a user interface.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a user input from another electronic device that is connected to the electronic device; and

changing the first setting information of the first image sensor based on the user input.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising assigning a priority to the first image sensor or the second image sensor based on at least one of:

detecting a subject, identifying whether the subject includes a specific object, and determining a direction of the specific object;

detecting the subject and determining a direction of movement associated with the subject;

or

detecting a direction of movement of the electronic device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the changing of the first setting information comprises:

when the environmental information is detected in a first area associated with the first image sensor, turning the first image sensor on; and

when the environmental information is not detected in the first area, turning the first image sensor off.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the changing of the first setting information comprises, when the environmental information is detected in an area corresponding to the first image sensor, providing a higher photographing quality to the first image sensor and providing a lower photographing quality to the second image sensor.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a first image sensor;

a second image sensor;

a transceiver configured to receive orientation information from a head mounted display (HMD),

a camera control device configured to;

detect environmental information associated with the apparatus using a sensor, and

change first setting information of the first image sensor based on the environmental information; and

a camera processor configured to;

control the first image sensor based on the first setting information,

detect a user'"'"'s viewpoint based on the orientation information,

select one of the first image sensor or the second image sensor based on the user'"'"'s viewpoint, and

change the first setting information or a second setting information of the second image sensor based on the selected image sensor,

wherein the camera processor is further configured to determine the user'"'"'s viewpoint based on the orientation information.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the camera processor is further configured to continuously synthesize images obtained through the first image sensor and the second image sensor.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

a touch screen configured to;

detect a user input, and

display the first setting information of the first image sensor.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the camera processor is further configured to change the first setting information based on the user input.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the camera control device is further configured to assign a priority to the first image sensor or the second image sensor based on one of:

detecting a subject, identifying whether the subject includes a specific object, and determining a direction of the specific object,

detecting the subject and determining a direction of movement associated with the subject, or

detecting a direction of movement of the apparatus.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein, when the camera control device changes the first setting information, the camera control device is further configured to:

when the environmental information is detected in a first area associated with the first image sensor, turn the first image sensor on, and

when the environmental information is not detected in the first area, turn the first image sensor off.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein, when the camera control device changes the first setting information, the camera control device is further configured to, when the environmental information is detected in an area corresponding to the first image sensor, provide a higher photographing quality to the first image sensor and provide a lower photographing quality to the second image sensor.

15. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

a memory configured to store images,

wherein the transceiver is further configured to;

transmit the images to the HMD at a predetermined time or in response to a user request.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the images comprise at least one of an actual image taken from an external environment, an image converted to a virtual reality from the actual image, or an augmented image that includes content added to the actual image.