Camera module

• US 20050068421A1
• Filed: 12/30/2002
• Published: 03/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Dutta, Amit, Shin, Kazunobu
• Application Number:
  US10/498,411
• Publication Number:
  US 20050068421A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/207.990
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/145 Handheld terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0075 by a user operated remote control device, e.g. receiving instructions from a user via a computer terminal or mobile telephone handset
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/673 based on contrast or high frequency components of image signals, e.g. hill climbing method
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/76 Addressed sensors, e.g. MOS or CMOS sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display

Abstract

A chip-set for a camera module, comprises: a first input interface for receiving data from an image sensor; image processing means for processing data received via the first input interface; and a processor for controlling the image processing means. The processor may process data received via the first input interface in dependence upon data received as a request message via a second input interface. The processor decodes a request message and produces control signals for directly controlling the image processing means and external camera hardware.

Claims

1. A chip-set for a camera module, comprising:

a first input interface for receiving data from an image sensor;

image processing means for processing data received via the first input interface; and

a processor for controlling the image processing means.

2. A chip-set as, claimed in claim 1, further comprising a second input interface for receiving data wherein the processor is arranged to process data received via the first input interface in dependence upon data received via the second input interface.

3. A chip-set as claimed in claim 2, wherein the data received via the second input interface is comprised in a request message and the processor is operable to decode a request message and produce control signals for directly controlling the image processing means.

4. A chip-set as claimed in claim 3, further comprising image processing means wherein the processor is operable to decode the request message and produce control signals for directly controlling an image capturing means.

5. A chip-set as claimed in claim 3, wherein a request message specifies a camera action.

6. A chip-set as claimed in claim 1, wherein the image processing means comprises a hardwired imaging accelerator.

7. A chip-set as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processor is arranged to configure the image processing means.

8. A chip-set as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first input interface is arranged to provide an input or inputs to the processor.

9. A chip-set as claimed in claim 1, wherein the imaging processing means is arranged to provide an input or inputs to the processor.

10. A chip-set as claimed in claim 8, wherein the inputs are indicative of brightness and contrast of an image.

11. A chip-set as claimed in claim 1, further comprising one or more output interfaces for connection to an image capture means, wherein the processing means produces control signals for directly controlling the image capturing means.

12. A chip-set as claimed in claim 11, wherein the processor is operable to produce a control signal for setting the configuration of camera opto-mechanics.

13. A chip-set as claimed in claim 11, comprising an opto-mechanics interface for controlling one or more of the lens position, the aperture size and the shutter speed of the image capture means.

14. A chip-set as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processing means is operable to produce a control signal for setting the configuration of an image sensor.

15. A chip-set as claimed in claim 11, comprising an image sensor control interface for controlling the operation of a digital image sensor of the image capture means.

16. A chip-set as claimed in claim 11, wherein the processing means is operable to produce a control signal for setting the configuration of a strobe.

17. A chip-set as claimed in claim 11, comprising a strobe interface for controlling the operation of a strobe of the image capturing means.

18. A chip-set as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processing means is arranged to produce control signals for controlling auto-focusing.

19. A chip-set as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processing means is arranged to produce control signals for controlling auto-exposure.

20. A chip-set as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processing means is arranged to produce control signals for controlling an optical zoom function.

21. A chip-set as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processing means operates in accordance with a computer program that may be varied or replaced.

22. A chip-set as claimed in claim 1, further comprising conversion means for converting interlaced type data from an image sensor of the image capturing means to progressive type data.

23. A chip-set as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processor is arranged to display image data only by transferring it to an attached host device.

24. A chip-set as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processor is arranged to store image data only by transferring it to an attached host device.

25. A chip-set as claimed in claim 1, arranged to compress image data to create compressed image data.

26. A chip-set as claimed in claim 1, wherein the chip-set is arranged to compress image data to create compressed image data for transfer to a connected host device and to decompress compressed image data received from an attached host device to produce decompressed image data.

27. A camera module comprising camera hardware and a chip-set as claimed in claim 1.

28. A digital camera system comprising a camera module as claimed in claim 27 and a digital host device.

29. A method of controlling the operation of a camera module comprising the steps of:

receiving at a camera module chip-set a request message; and

converting the request message, in processing means of the camera module chip-set, to control signals for controlling image capture.

30. (canceled)

31. (canceled)