ELECTRONIC DEVICE, IMAGE DISPLAY METHOD, AND IMAGE DISPLAY PROGRAM

• US 20130329014A1
• Filed: 02/24/2012
• Published: 12/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Inventors: Obata, Tooru
• Granted Patent: US 9,432,661 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera constructional features concerning the integration of cameras in portable phones H04M1/0264
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/204 using stereoscopic image cameras stereoscopic photography G03B35/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/366 using viewer tracking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/61 based on recognised objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/633 for displaying additional information relating to control or operation of the camera

Abstract

According to an aspect, an electronic device includes: an imaging unit for capturing a subject; and a storage unit for storing therein an image captured by the imaging unit. The image stored in the storage unit is an image that forms a three-dimensional image when displayed in combination with other image of the same subject stored in the storage unit.

Claims

22. An electronic device comprising:

an operating unit;

a display unit for displaying a plurality of images in a superimposed manner to display a three-dimensional image;

a storage unit for storing therein a plurality of pieces of image data obtained by capturing a subject at different positions together with position information obtained each time the image is captured; and

a control unit configured to

determine a display angle of the subject based on an operation detected by the operating unit,

determine at least two image data based on the determined display angle and the position information associated with each of the images, and

superimpose at least the two images on the display unit to display the subject as a three-dimensional image.

23. The electronic device according to claim 22, wherein

the storage unit is a temporary storage device for temporarily storing information acquired from outside.

24. The electronic device according to claim 22, further comprising:

an imaging unit for capturing an image; and

a relative-position acquiring unit for acquiring information on a relative position and angle between the electronic device and the subject, wherein

the control unit is configured to

acquire the relative position and angle by the relative-position acquiring unit,

capture a first image of the subject, and

capture a second image of the subject when it is determined, based on the information acquired by the relative-position acquiring unit, that the electronic device is located at a position and angle where an image capable of stereoscopically viewing the subject by being combined with the first image can be captured.

25. The electronic device according to claim 24, wherein

the control unit is configured to

determine the relative position and angle where the image is captured as coordinate information, and

store the captured image and the coordinate information in association with each other in the storage unit.

27. The electronic device according to claim 24, further comprising

a includes a capture-direction adjusting unit for adjusting a direction in which capturing can be performed, wherein

the control unit is configured to

analyze the image to determine a position of the subject within the image, and

adjust a direction of the imaging unit to a direction in which the subject can be captured.

28. The electronic device according to claim 27, wherein

the control unit is configured to captures the subject at a plurality of different positions and angles so as to obtain a combination of images capable of three-dimensionally displaying the subject.

29. The electronic device according to claim 25, wherein

the relative-position acquiring unit includes an acceleration sensor for detecting a movement of the electronic device and a geomagnetic sensor for detecting a direction of the electronic device.

30. The electronic device according to claim 24, wherein

the relative-position acquiring unit includes a GPS information acquiring unit for acquiring an absolute position of the electronic device and a geomagnetic sensor for detecting a direction of the electronic device.

31. The electronic device according to claim 24, wherein

the relative-position acquiring unit is configured to calculate a distance between the electronic device and the subject based on a focal distance detected by the imaging unit.

32. An image display method for an electronic device that includes an operating unit, a display unit for displaying a plurality of images in a superimposed manner to display a three-dimensional image, and a storage unit for storing therein a plurality of images obtained by capturing a subject at different positions together with position information obtained each time the image is captured, the image display method comprising:

determining a display angle of the subject based on an operation detected by the operating unit;

determining at least two image data based on the determined display angle and the position information associated with the image; and

superimposing at least the two image data on the display unit to display the subject as a three-dimensional image.

33. A non-transitory storage medium that stores an image display program for causing, when executed by an electronic device that includes an operating unit, a display unit for displaying a plurality of images in a superimposed manner to display a three-dimensional image, and a storage unit for storing therein a plurality of images obtained by capturing a subject at different positions together with position information obtained each time the image is captured, the electronic device to execute:

determining a display angle of the subject based on an operation detected by the operating unit;

determining at least two image data based on the determined display angle and the position information associated with the image; and

superimposing at least the two image data on the display unit to display the subject as a three-dimensional image.

34. An electronic device comprising:

an imaging unit for capturing a subject; and

a storage unit for storing therein an image captured by the imaging unit, wherein

the image stored in the storage unit is an image that forms a three-dimensional image when displayed in combination with other image of the same subject stored in the storage unit.

1. The electronic device according to claim 34, further comprising:

an angle detecting unit for detecting a relative rotation angle of the subject with respect to the imaging unit, wherein

the storage unit is configured to further store therein the rotation angle of the subject detected, upon capturing the image, by the angle detecting unit.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein

the angle detecting unit is configured to

analyze the image acquired by the imaging unit,

detect a position of an angle specifying portion that relatively rotates together with the subject, and

detect thereby the relative rotation angle of the subject.

3. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein

the angle detecting unit is configured to

analyze the image acquired by the imaging unit,

detect a feature point of the subject, and

determine the feature point as the angle specifying portion.

4. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising

a shape detecting unit for detecting a shape of the subject, wherein

the angle detecting unit is configured to detect the rotation angle of the subject based on a change in the shape of the subject detected by the shape detecting unit.

5. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein

the angle detecting unit is configured to

acquire angle information for a supporting base for supporting the subject, and

detect a change in the rotation angle of the subject based on the angle information for the supporting base.

6. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising

a distance calculating unit for calculating a distance between the electronic device and the subject, wherein

the storage unit is configured to store therein the distance calculated by the distance calculating unit and the rotation angle detected by the angle detecting unit in association with each other.

7. The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein

the distance calculating unit is configured to calculate the distance to the subject based on a focal distance detected by the imaging unit.

8. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein

the imaging unit is configured to capture the image when the angle detecting unit detects a rotation of the subject.

9. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the imaging unit continuously captures images.

10. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein

the imaging unit is configured to capture the image when it is determined, based on the rotation angle of the subject detected by the angle detecting unit and the rotation angle of the subject associated with an already captured image, that the subject is arranged in a position where an image that can be three-dimensionally displayed by being displayed in combination with the already captured image can be captured.

11. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein

the imaging unit is configured to capture the subject at a plurality of different rotation angles so as to obtain a combination of images capable of three-dimensionally displaying the subject.

12. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a display unit for displaying a plurality of images in a superimposed manner to display the three-dimensional image; and

an operating unit for accepting an operation indicating that the three-dimensional image viewed from which rotation angle is displayed, wherein

the display unit is configured to use data for at least the two images to display the subject as the three-dimensional image, based on the operation detected by the operating unit and the angle information associated with the data for the images.

13. The electronic device according to claim 34, further comprising:

an operating unit;

a display unit being capable of displaying a plurality of images in a superimposed manner;

an information communication unit for performing communication with imaging device; and

a control unit configured to

display a first image captured by the imaging unit and a second image captured by the imaging device and acquired by the information communication unit on the display unit in a superimposed manner, and

store the first image and the second image displayed on the display unit, as images that can be three-dimensionally displayed, in the storage unit in response to an instruction to the operating unit.

14. The electronic device according to claim 13, wherein the information communication unit is a short-range communication unit for performing short-range communication.

15. The electronic device according to claim 13, wherein

the information communication unit is configured to acquire a capture condition of the second image, and

the control unit is configured to adjust a capture condition of the imaging unit based on the capture condition of the second image.

16. The electronic device according to claim 13, wherein

the information communication unit is configured to acquire a capture condition of the second image, and

the control unit is configured to

compare a capture condition of the first image with a capture condition of the second image,

transmit a capture-condition change instruction to the imaging device through the information communication unit, and

cause the imaging device to change the capture condition thereof.

17. The electronic device according to claim 15, wherein

the control unit is configured to calculate a distance between the electronic device and the subject as the capture condition.

18. The electronic device according to claim 15, wherein

the control unit is configured to detect a relative position to the imaging device, as the capture condition, based on a communication state of the information communication unit.

19. The electronic device according to claim 15, further comprising

a capture-direction adjusting unit for adjusting a direction in which capturing can be performed, wherein

the control unit is configured to

analyze the image to determine a position of the subject within the image, and

adjust a direction of the imaging unit to a direction in which the subject can be captured.

20. The electronic device according to claim 34, further comprising:

an operating unit;

a display unit for displaying a plurality of images in a superimposed manner;

an information communication unit for performing communication with imaging device; and

a control unit configured to

perform communication with the imaging device, in response to an instruction to the operating unit, to adjust a capture condition of the imaging device and a capture condition of the imaging unit,

acquire, after the adjusting, a first image captured by the imaging unit and a second image captured by the imaging device and acquired by the information communication unit, and

store the acquired first image and second image, as images that can be three-dimensionally displayed, in the storage unit.

21. The electronic device according to claim 15, wherein

the capture condition is at least one of an exposure value, a focal distance, a magnification, and an angle of view.

26. The electronic device according to claim 34, further comprising:

a relative-position acquiring unit for acquiring information on a relative position and angle between the electronic device and a subject; and

a control unit configured to

acquire the relative position and angle by the relative-position acquiring unit,

capture a first image of the subject, and

capture a second image of the subject when it is determined, based on a result detected by the relative-position acquiring unit, that the electronic device is located at a position and angle where an image capable of stereoscopically viewing the subject by being combined with the first image can be captured, wherein

the storage unit is configured to store therein the captured images and coordinate information including the relative positions and angles where the images are captured in association with each other.