Image signal processing apparatus and method thereof in mobile communications terminal

• US 20060024047A1
• Filed: 07/27/2005
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Tae-Haeng
• Granted Patent: US 7,489,863 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 396/429
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/145 Handheld terminals
• 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 23/667 Camera operation mode switching, e.g. between still and video, sport and normal or high- and low-resolution modes

Abstract

An image signal processing apparatus and a method thereof which can simplify design of a circuit for controlling each of camera modules when a terminal has two camera modules therein, the image signal processing apparatus includes: first and second camera modules for capturing a subject; a digital signal processor for controlling each operation of the first and second camera modules and processing image signals captured by the first and the second camera modules; and a switch module for supplying control signals inputted through the digital signal processor to the first and second camera modules, and selectively outputting the image signals captured by the first and second camera modules to the digital signal processor.

Claims

1. An image signal processing apparatus in a mobile communications terminal, comprising:

a plurality of camera modules for capturing a subject;

a digital signal processor (DSP) for outputting a switch control signal and control signals to control the plurality of camera modules according to a capture mode, and processing an image signal into a digital signal; and

a switch module distributing the control signals of the DSP to the plurality of camera modules, and selectively outputting image signals captured by the plurality of camera modules to the DSP according to the switch control signal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a control unit for controlling the DSP according to the user'"'"'s capture mode and processing the digital signals inputted from the DSP.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the capture mode indicates a general camera mode and a video communication mode.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a first camera module is used to capture a subject in an external direction of the terminal and a second camera module is used to capture a subject in an internal direction of the terminal.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a first camera module is operated in a general camera module and a second camera module is operated in a video communication mode.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein both first and second camera modules are operated in general camera mode/video communication mode.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein if a user selects the general camera mode in the general camera mode/video communication mode, a first camera is automatically selected, and the user performs capturing operation by selecting the first and second camera modules in the selected mode.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein if a user selects the video communication mode in the general camera mode/video communication mode, a second camera is selected, and the user performs capturing operation by selecting the first and second camera modules in the selected mode.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the switch module is located on a Flexible Printed Circuit Board (FPCB).

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the captured image signal is a still image or a moving image.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the switch module comprises a switch for selectively outputting the image signals captured by first and second camera modules to the digital signal processor.

12. A method for processing an image signal in a mobile communications terminal having a plurality of camera modules, comprising:

outputting control signals for controlling the plurality of camera modules if a capture mode is selected; and

distributing the control signals to the plurality of camera modules;

selectively outputting image signals captured by the plurality of camera modules according to one control signal.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the control signal is a control signal for selecting one of the plurality of camera modules.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the control signal is a switch module control signal for controlling a switch module that selectively outputs image signals captured by the plurality of camera modules.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the captured image signal is a still image or a moving image.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein a first camera module is used to capture a subject in an external direction of the terminal and a second camera module is used to capture a subject in an internal direction of the terminal.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein a first camera module is operated in a general camera module and a second camera module is operated in a video communication mode.

18. A method for processing an image signal in a mobile communications terminal having a plurality of camera modules, comprising:

outputting, if a user selects one capture mode, control signals and a first switch control signal for the capture mode;

distributing the control signals to the first and second camera modules and selectively outputting first image signals captured by the first and second camera modules according to the first switch control signal outputting a new second switch control signal if the user selects one of the first and second camera modules again in the same capture mode; and

selectively outputting second image signals captured by the first and the second camera modules according to the second switch control signal.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the one capture mode is one of a general camera mode and a video communication mode.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein both first and second camera modules are operated in general camera mode/video communication mode.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein if a user selects the general camera mode in the general camera mode/video communication mode, a first camera is automatically selected, and the user performs capturing operation by selecting the first and second camera modules in the selected mode.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein if a user selects the video communication mode in the general camera mode/video communication mode, a second camera is automatically selected, and the user performs capturing operation by selecting the first and second camera modules in the selected mode.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the first and second switch control signals are set to be identical to or different from each other.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein the first image signal is a still image signal or a moving image signal and the second image signal is a still image signal.