Multi-camera solution for electronic devices

• US 20060139463A1
• Filed: 12/22/2005
• Published: 06/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Heinonen, Tomi
• Application Number:
  US11/317,914
• Publication Number:
  US 20060139463A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/239
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/145 Handheld terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2365 Multiplexing of several video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4347 Demultiplexing of several video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/58 Means for changing the camera field of view without moving the camera body, e.g. nutating or panning of optics or image sensors
• 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 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display

Abstract

There is disclosed a method, electronic device and computer program product for handling video streams of two or more cameras in an electronic device, wherein at least first and second video streams (1, 1′, 1″; 2, 2′, 2″) are captured (202, 204) by first and second cameras and integrating (206) said first and second video streams into an integrated video stream.

Claims

1. Method for handling video streams of two or more cameras in an electronic device, comprising:

capturing at least first and second video streams by first and second cameras, and

integrating said first and second video streams into an integrated video stream.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein said integrating is performed by

generating said integrated video stream, wherein frames of said integrated video stream are alternately provided by frames of said at least first and second video streams, respectively.

3. Method according to claim 1, wherein said integrating is performed by

generating said integrated video stream, wherein sections of a frame of said integrated video stream are provided by sections of frames of said at least first and second video streams, respectively.

4. Method according to claim 3, wherein said sections are arranged adjacent to each other.

5. Method according to claim 1, wherein said integrating is performed by

generating an integrated video stream, wherein lines of a frame of said integrated video stream are alternately provided by lines of frames of said at least first and second video streams, respectively.

6. Method according to claim 1, further comprising

processing said integrated video stream.

7. Method according to claim 1, further comprising

separating said integrated video stream into first and second output video streams corresponding to said first and second video streams, respectively, to render said first and second output video streams available for further processing, storing or displaying.

8. Computer program product comprising program code means for carrying out the method of claim 1, when said program product is run on a computer or network device.

9. Computer program product comprising program code means embodied on a computer readable medium for carrying out the method of claim 1, when said program product is run on a computer or network device.

10. Computer program product comprising program code, downloadable from a server for carrying out the method of claim 1, when said program product is run on a computer or network device.

11. Electronic device, comprising:

at least first and second optics;

at least first and second image sensors, wherein said first image sensor is associated with said first optic and said second image sensor is associated with said second optic, said image sensors being adapted for capturing at least first and second video streams, respectively; and

a video integrator unit being adapted for generating an integrated video stream of said at least first and second video streams.

12. Electronic device according to claim 11, wherein said video integrator unit is adapted for

generating said integrated video stream such that frames of said integrated video stream are alternately provided by frames of said at least first and second video streams, respectively.

13. Electronic device according to claim 11, wherein said video integrator unit is adapted for

generating said integrated video stream such that sections of a frame of said integrated video stream are provided by sections of frames of said at least first and second video streams, respectively.

14. Electronic device according to claim 11, wherein said video integrator unit is adapted for

generating said integrated video stream such that lines of a frame of said integrated video stream are alternately provided by lines of frames of said at least first and second video streams, respectively.

15. Electronic device according to claim 11, further comprising a video processing unit adapted for processing said integrated video stream.

16. Electronic device according to claim 11, further comprising a camera interface for enabling access to said integrated video stream by an application engine of said mobile electronic device.

17. Electronic device according to claim 11, further comprising a video separator unit adapted for separating said integrated video stream into first and second output video streams corresponding to said first and second video streams, respectively, to render said first and second output video streams available for further processing, storing or displaying.

18. Electronic device according to claim 11, wherein said first and second image sensors are combined into an integral image sensor.

19. Electronic device according to claim 11, further comprising a deflection element for directing the views viewed by said first and said second optic to said first and said second image sensor, respectively.

20. Electronic device according to claim 11, further comprising a housing, and wherein said first and second optics are incorporated into a retractable element settable to at least a first and a second position, wherein said optics are at least partially retracted into said housing in said second position and are operable in said first position.

21. Electronic device according to claim 20, further comprising a switch being adapted to be actuated when said retractable element is set into said first position, or when said retractable element is set into said second position, or both.