CAMERA DEVICE, MOBILE TERMINAL AND AE CONTROLLING METHOD

• US 20120188440A1
• Filed: 01/19/2012
• Published: 07/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Inventors: TAKEUCHI, Minoru
• Application Number:
  US13/354,232
• Publication Number:
  US 20120188440A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/362
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3252 Image capture parameters, e.g. resolution, illumination conditions, orientation of the image capture device H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3254 Orientation, e.g. landscape or portrait; Location or order of the image data, e.g. in memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/71 Circuitry for evaluating the brightness variation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/74 by influencing the scene brightness using illuminating means

Abstract

A mobile phone apparatus is provided with a camera module 36 having an image sensor and an exposure evaluating circuit. When a camera function is turned on, an image sensor outputs image data, and the exposure evaluating circuit performs AE controlling processing based on an exposure time in correspondence with a luminance evaluated value of the image data. Also, in a case that the ambient is dark, and thus, illumination of an object is low, that is, in a case that the luminance evaluated value of the image data is less than a predetermined value, an LED 40 emits light as a flash in imaging. At this time, the AE controlling processing is suspended to thereby change the current exposure time into a predicted exposure time. Then, the AE controlling processing is started regarding the changed predicted exposure time as a starting point of the control.

Claims

1. A camera device having an image sensor for outputting image data and an AE controller for performing an AE control based on an exposure time in correspondence with a luminance value of the image data output from said image sensor, comprising:

a light-emitter which emits light when said luminance value is less than a predetermined value; and

a storager which stores a predicted exposure time indicating a predetermined exposure time;

wherein

said AE controller performs an AE control based on said predicted exposure time in a case that said light-emitter emits light.

2. A camera device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a detector which detects illumination of the object, wherein

said light-emitter changes brightness of the emitting light based on the illumination detected by said detector, and said predicted exposure time is decided on the basis of the brightness when said light-emitter emits light.

3. A camera device according to claim 2, further comprising:

a table in which each brightness when said light-emitter emits light and each of said predicted exposure times are brought into correspondence with each other, wherein

said predicted exposure time is decided on the basis of the brightness when said light-emitter emits light and said table.

4. A camera device according to claim 1, wherein

said predicted exposure time is calculated by using a distance from the object.

5. A camera device according to claim 1, wherein

said AE controller does not perform an AE control based on said predicted exposure time in a case that said luminance value is equal to or more than said predetermined value before said light-emitter emits light.

6. A camera device according to claim 1, wherein

said light-emitter includes an LED, and

said predicted exposure time is decided on the basis of performance of said image sensor and a type of said LED.

7. A mobile terminal having a camera device according to claim 1.

8. An AE controlling method having an image sensor for outputting image data and an AE controller for performing an AE control based on an exposure time in correspondence with a luminance value of the image data output from said image sensor, a light-emitter which emits light when said luminance value is less than a predetermined value, and a storager which stores a predicted exposure time indicating a predetermined exposure time, comprising:

detecting illumination of the object;

changing brightness of the emitting light on the basis of the illumination;

deciding a predicted exposure time on the basis of the brightness when said light-emitter emits light, and

causing said AE controller to perform an AE control based on said predicted exposure time in a case that said light-emitter emits light.