Wireless video telephone with ambient light sensor
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A communication device comprising:
- a display;
an image input camera for capturing first image data and for measuring an ambient light level;
a voice data transceiver for receiving and transmitting voice data;
an image data transceiver for transmitting the first image data and receiving second image data; and
a controller for generating a message on the display indicating that the ambient light level is inadequate when the light level measured by the light measuring device is less than a predetermined level;
wherein the controller inhibits an image data transmit state to limit the communications device to voice communication when the ambient light level is below the predetermined level.
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Abstract
A communication device such as a portable video telephone capable of transmitting images as well as sound is capable of preventing the transmission of dark and featureless images resulting from the device being used in a dark location. When an image is to be transmitted, a device controller determines if the present ambient light level is too dark by measuring the light level of a light sensor. If the ambient light is inadequate, the controller generates a brightness warning on the device display, and stops image transmission.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. A communication device comprising:
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a display;
an image input camera for capturing first image data and for measuring an ambient light level;
a voice data transceiver for receiving and transmitting voice data;
an image data transceiver for transmitting the first image data and receiving second image data; and
a controller for generating a message on the display indicating that the ambient light level is inadequate when the light level measured by the light measuring device is less than a predetermined level;
wherein the controller inhibits an image data transmit state to limit the communications device to voice communication when the ambient light level is below the predetermined level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
an internal battery for providing power to device components;
an energy level detector for detecting a remaining energy level of the battery; and
a sampling rate calculator for calculating a sampling rate at which transmission image data is to be sampled by the controller based on the remaining energy level detected by the energy level detector.
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8. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the image input camera measures the ambient light level based on the first image data.
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9. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the communication device transmits and receives data via a wireless communication link.
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10. The communication device of claim 1, further comprising a notifying device selectively activated by the controller for notifying a receiving party that the communication device is in a location where the ambient light level measured by the image input camera is below the predetermined level.
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11. The communication device of claim 1, wherein a text message indicating that the ambient light level is inadequate is displayed on the display when the measured light level is less than the predetermined level.
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12. The communication device of claim 1, wherein an LED lamp lights indicating that the ambient light level is inadequate when the measured light level is less than the predetermined level.
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13. The communication device of claim 1, wherein an audible signal sounds indicating that the ambient light level is inadequate when the measured light level is less than the predetermined level.
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14. The communication device of claim 1, wherein image transmission is inhibited and an image transmission speed is reduced when the ambient light level is determined to be inadequate.
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15. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the controller can be selectively placed in a brightness warning mode or a lamp lighting mode.
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16. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the controller can be switched to a lamp lighting mode by a key operation.
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17. A portable communication device with both voice and image wireless transceiving capabilities, said device comprising:
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a light sensor for sensing an ambient light level; and
a controller in communication with the light sensor for indicating that the ambient light level is inadequate for image data transmission when the ambient light level measured by the light sensor is lower than a predetermined level;
wherein the controller inhibits an image data transmit state to limit the communications device to voice communication when the ambient light level is below the predetermined level. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
an internal battery for providing power to device components;
an energy level detector for detecting a remaining energy level of the battery; and
a sampling rate calculator for calculating a sampling rate at which transmission image data is to be sampled by the controller based on the remaining energy level detected by the energy level detector.
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27. A communication device comprising:
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a display;
an image input camera for capturing first image data and for measuring an ambient light level;
a voice data transceiver for receiving and transmitting voice data;
an image data transceiver for transmitting the first image data and receiving second image data; and
a controller for generating a message on the display indicating that the ambient light level is inadequate when the light level measured by the light measuring device is less than a predetermined level so that an operator does not need to view any images;
wherein the controller inhibits an image data transmit state to limit the communications device to voice communication when the ambient light level is below the predetermined level. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
an internal battery for providing power to device components;
an energy level detector for detecting a remaining energy level of the battery; and
a sampling rate calculator for calculating a sampling rate at which transmission image data is to be sampled by the controller based on the remaining energy level detected by the energy level detector.
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34. The communication device of claim 27, wherein the image input camera measures the ambient light level based on the first image data.
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35. The communication device of claim 27, wherein the communication device transmits and receives data via a wireless communication link.
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36. The communication device of claim 27, further comprising a notifying device selectively activated by the controller for notifying a receiving party that the communication device is in a location where the ambient light level measured by the image input camera is below the predetermined level.
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37. The communication device of claim 27, wherein if the measured light level is equal to or larger than the predetermined light level, a communication speed is set to accommodate voice and image transmission which is a communication speed higher than when the measured light level is lower than the predetermined light level at which time a communication speed is set lower than a voice and image communication speed which corresponds to a voice only communication speed.
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38. The communication device of claim 27, wherein the communication speed is changed according to the ambient light level.
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39. A communication device comprising:
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a light sensor for sensing an ambient light level;
an image input camera for capturing a first image;
a voice data transceiver for receiving and transmitting voice data;
an image data transceiver for transmitting the first image data and receiving second image data;
an image transmit key for initiating an image data transmit state; and
a controller for controlling an operation state of the communication device, the operation state including an image and voice data transmission state and a voice data transmission state;
wherein when the image transmit key is pressed during the voice data transmission state, the controller compares the ambient light level with a predetermined level, if the ambient light level is higher than the predetermined level, the controller enables the image and voice data transmission state. - View Dependent Claims (40)
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Specification