HAND-HELD ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20120242807A1
• Filed: 03/01/2011
• Published: 09/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Umezu, Ryuji, Konno, Hideki, Sugino, Kenichi, Akifusa, Yusuke
• Application Number:
  US13/500,048
• Publication Number:
  US 20120242807A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/47
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 35/08 by simultaneous recording
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 35/18 by simultaneous viewing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/239 using two 2D image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance H04N13/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/243 using three or more 2D image sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/293 Generating mixed stereoscopic images; Generating mixed monoscopic and stereoscopic images, e.g. a stereoscopic image overlay window on a monoscopic image background
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/305 using lenticular lenses, e.g. arrangements of cylindrical lenses
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/31 using parallax barriers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/359 Switching between monoscopic and stereoscopic modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2213/001 Constructional or mechanical details

Abstract

In a hand-held electronic device having a stereoscopic display section capable of displaying an image which is stereoscopically visible with naked eyes, a variety of functions are realized. A hand-held electronic device 10 includes an upper LCD 22 capable of displaying an image which is stereoscopically visible with naked eyes. Further, the hand-held electronic device 10 includes three imaging sections.

Claims

1. A hand-held electronic device including a stereoscopic display section capable of displaying an image which is stereoscopically visible with naked eyes, and three imaging sections.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein two of the three imaging sections are arranged so as to be horizontally symmetrical with respect to a center of a screen of the stereoscopic display section.

3. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein one of the three imaging sections is aligned with a horizontal center of a screen of the stereoscopic display section.

4. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the three imaging sections are linearly arranged along the horizontal direction of the stereoscopic display section.

5. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the three imaging sections are assembled as a single unit, and the unit is housed in a storage section of a housing.

6. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the three imaging sections are arranged so that the imaging directions of two of the three imaging sections are in a first direction, and the imaging direction of the other one imaging section is in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

7. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein two of the three imaging sections are capable of stereoscopic shooting, and the stereoscopic display section displays a stereoscopic image by using images taken by and outputted from the two imaging sections.

8. The electronic device according to claim 7, wherein

the stereoscopic display section is located on a main surface of a housing of the electronic device,

two of the three imaging sections are arranged on a rear surface of the housing, which is reverse to the main surface, so as to be aligned in parallel with the horizontal direction of the display screen of the stereoscopic display section, thereby configuring an outer imaging section,

the other one of the three imaging sections is arranged on the main surface of the housing, thereby configuring an inner imaging section, and

the electronic device further includes:

selection means for selecting either of the outer imaging section and the inner imaging section; and

display control means for, when the selection means selects the outer imaging section, causing the stereoscopic display section to display the stereoscopic image by using a right-eye image and a left-eye image taken by the outer imaging section.

9. The electronic device according to claim 8, wherein

the stereoscopic display section is capable of displaying the stereoscopic image and a planar image, and

the display control means

causes the stereoscopic display section to display the stereoscopic image by using a right-eye image and a left-eye image taken by the outer imaging section, when the selection means selects the outer imaging section, and

causes the stereoscopic display section to planarly display an image taken by the inner imaging section, when the selection means selects the inner imaging section.

10. The electronic device according to claim 9, wherein the display control means causes the stereoscopic display section to display, in real time, the image taken by the imaging section selected by the selection means.

11. The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein

stereoscopically visible display is performed on the stereoscopic display section in a stereoscopic view mode by using images taken by the two imaging sections facing in the first direction,

planarly visible display is performed on the stereoscopic display section in a planar view mode by using an image taken by the single imaging sections facing in the second direction, and

stereoscopically visible display or planarly visible display is performed on the stereoscopic display section by combining at least two images among the images taken by the two imaging sections facing the first direction and the image taken by the single imaging section facing the second direction.

12. The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein

stereoscopically visible display is performed on the stereoscopic display section in a stereoscopic view mode by using images taken by the two imaging sections facing in the first direction,

planarly visible display is performed on the stereoscopic display section in a planar view mode by using an image taken by the single imaging sections facing in the second direction, and

stereoscopically visible display of a real image is performed on the stereoscopic display section in the stereoscopic view mode by using images taken by the two imaging sections facing in the first direction, and simultaneously, a virtual object is taken by a virtual camera for a left eye and a virtual camera for a right eye by using, as a texture of the virtual object, an image taken by the single imaging section facing in the second direction, and then a stereoscopically visible virtual image thus obtained is combined with the stereoscopically visible real image displayed on the stereoscopic display section in the stereoscopic view mode.

13. The electronic device according to claim 8, wherein

the stereoscopic display section is capable of switching the display mode between a stereoscopic display mode for displaying a stereoscopic image which is stereoscopically visible with naked eyes, by using a right-eye image and a left-eye image, and a planar display mode for planarly displaying an image, and

the display control means

switches the display mode of the stereoscopic display section to the stereoscopic display mode, and causes the stereoscopic display section to display the stereoscopic image by using a right-eye image and a left-eye image taken by the outer imaging section, when the selection means selects the outer imaging section, and

switches the display mode of the stereoscopic display section to the planar display mode, and causes the stereoscopic display section to planarly display an image taken by the inner imaging section, when the selection means selects the inner imaging section.

14. The electronic device according to claim 8, further including a second housing which has a holding part to be held by a user, and is foldably connected to a lower side portion of the housing at its upper side portion.

15. The electronic device according to claim 14 further including imaging instruction means located on the second housing, the imaging instruction means instructing storage of an image taken by the outer imaging section or the inner imaging section.

21. The electronic device according to claim 8, wherein the inner imaging section is located at a horizontal center of the display screen of the stereoscopic display section.

22. The electronic device according to claim 8, wherein two imaging means of the outer imaging section are located so as to be symmetrical with respect to a line which divides the display screen of the stereoscopic display section into two equal parts in the horizontal direction.

23. The electronic device according to claim 22, wherein the two imaging means of the outer imaging section are located on an upper portion of the rear surface of the housing, at a position reverse of a position above an upper edge of the display screen of the stereoscopic display section.

24. The electronic device according to claim 22, wherein the inner imaging section is located at a position reverse of a middle position between the two imaging means of the outer imaging section.

25. The electronic device according to claim 8 further including a hardware operation switch for performing switching between a stereoscopic view mode and a planar view mode.

26. The electronic device according to claim 25, wherein

the stereoscopic display section is capable of switching the display mode between a stereoscopic display mode for displaying a stereoscopic image which is stereoscopically visible with naked eyes, by using a right-eye image and a left-eye image, and a planar display mode for planarly displaying an image, and

the electronic device further includes a switch located on the main surface of the housing, the switch switching the display mode between the stereoscopic display mode and the planar display mode.

27. The electronic device according to claim 14, wherein

the stereoscopic display section is capable of switching the display mode between a stereoscopic display mode for displaying a stereoscopic image which is stereoscopically visible with naked eyes, by using a right-eye image and a left-eye image, and a planar display mode for planarly displaying an image, and

the electronic device further includes a switch located on the main surface of the housing, the switch switching the display mode between the stereoscopic display mode and the planar display mode.

28. The electronic device according to claim 26, wherein

the operation switch is a slider switch, and the degree of stereoscopic effect of the stereoscopic display section is adjustable by sliding the slider switch, and

the display mode is switched to the planar view mode when the slider switch is slid to an end position in the direction in which the stereoscopic effect deteriorates.

29. The electronic device according to claim 26, wherein

the switch is a slider, and the slider is movable in a predetermined range between an first position and a second position, and to a third position,

the stereoscopic display section is switched to the planar display mode when the slider is located at the third position, and switched to the stereoscopic display mode when the slider is located in the predetermined range, and

the electronic device further includes adjustment means for adjusting, when the slider is located in the predetermined range, a shift in the horizontal direction between the position of the right-eye image and the position of the left-eye image on the display screen of the stereoscopic display section, in accordance with the position of the slider in the predetermined range.

30. The electronic device according to claim 26 further including a first indicator located on the main surface of the housing, the first indicator indicating whether or not the display mode of the stereoscopic display section is the stereoscopic display mode.

31. The electronic device according to claim 30 further including a second indicator located on a surface different from the main surface of the housing, the second indicator indicating a predetermined state of the electronic device, which is different from the state indicated by the first indicator.

32. The electronic device according to claim 8, wherein the entire main surface of the housing, including the display screen of the stereoscopic display section, is covered with a transparent screen cover.

33. The electronic device according to claim 8 further including an analog stick which is positioned such that a finger of a user contacts the analog stick when the user holds the electronic device to view the display screen of the stereoscopic display section from the front thereof.

34. The electronic device according to claim 33 further including a cross key located beneath the analog stick.

35. The electronic device according to claim 14 further including:

an analog stick which is positioned such that a finger of a user contacts the analog stick when the user holds the second housing to view the display screen of the stereoscopic display section from the front thereof; and

a cross key located beneath the analog stick.

36. The electronic device according to claim 8 further including:

attitude detection means for detecting an attitude of the electronic device; and

attitude annunciation means for announcing whether or not the attitude detected by the attitude detection means is horizontal.

37. The electronic device according to claim 36, wherein the attitude annunciation means displays, on the stereoscopic display section, whether or not the attitude detected by the attitude detection means is horizontal.

38. The electronic device according to claim 8 further including:

a second housing connected to a lower side portion of the housing, the second housing having a main surface facing the same direction as the main surface of the housing, and a holding part to be held by a user;

shooting instruction means located on the second housing, the shooting instruction means instructing the outer imaging section or the inner imaging section to shoot an image; and

a planar display section located on the main surface of the second housing, the planar display section planarly displaying an image.

16. The electronic device according to claim wherein

the main surface of the housing is located inside when the housing and the second housing are folded, and

the electronic device further includes a planar display section for planarly displaying an image, the planar display section being located on an inner side surface of the second housing, which is located inside when the housing and the second housing are folded.

17. The electronic device according to claim 16 further including contact position detection means located on the display screen of the planar display section, the contact position detection means detecting a contact position on the display screen of the planarly display section.

18. The electronic device according to claim 17 further including position designation means for designating a position on the display screen of the stereoscopic display section, which position corresponds to the contact position on the display screen of the planarly display section, which is detected by the contact position detection means.

19. The electronic device according to claim 16, wherein the area of the display screen of the stereoscopic display section is larger than the area of the display screen of the planar display section.

20. The electronic device according to claim 16, wherein the resolution of the display screen of the stereoscopic display section in the horizontal direction is higher than the resolution of the display screen of the planar display section in the horizontal direction.