Arrangement and method relating to an image recording device

• US 7,990,421 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2008
• Issued: 08/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Thörn, Ola Karl
• Primary Examiner(s): Ye; Lin
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOGUE, DENNIS A
• Application Number:
  US12/175,971
• Publication Number:
  US 20100013943A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,110 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 348/211.99
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/611 where the recognised objects include parts of the human body

Abstract

An input system for a digital camera may include a portion for taking at least one image to be used as a control image; and a controller to control at least one operation of the digital camera based on a control command recognized from the control image, the control command controlling a function of the camera.

Claims

1. In a camera, a method of inputting, the method comprising:

using at least one image or part of the image as a control image;

comparing the control image to a corresponding control command;

selecting a control command based on a result the comparison, the control command controlling the camera remotely; and

executing the control command to generate a boundary for limiting a captured image, wherein the boundary is a virtual frame generated by portions of a command generating part, and

wherein at least one of the using, comparing, selecting, or executing occur during a self timer mode of operation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the control command is at least one of cropping, or zooming.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the control command is generated by one or more body parts or an indicator.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the body part belongs to one or several persons.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the control command comprises a hand gesture.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the control command further comprises commands for controlling at least one of a flash, a focus, colour settings, or a camera mode.

7. An input system for a camera, comprising:

a portion for taking at least one image to be used as a control image; and

a controller configured to control at least one operation of the camera based on a control command recognized from the control image, the control command controlling a function of the camera during a self timer mode of operation,

where the control command generates a boundary for limiting a captured image, and

where the boundary is a virtual frame generated by portions of a command generating part.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the function is at least one of cropping, or zooming.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the controller comprises:

a control image mapper to map a first image to a control command;

an image comparator to select a target control command by comparing the input image with the control image; and

a control image adapter to execute the control commands mapped to the target control image.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the control command sets the virtual frame for zooming on an area defined by the frame.

11. The system of claim 7, incorporated in a gaming device, a web camera, a laptop computers, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a surveillance camera, a GPS (Global Positioning System) device, a video camera, or a mobile communication terminal.

12. A mobile communication terminal comprising:

a memory;

a key input unit;

a display unit;

a transceiver;

a camera; and

a controller to control at least one operation of the camera based on a control command selected by comparing an input image and the control command, the control command controlling the terminal remotely during a self timer mode of operation,

where the control command generates a boundary for limiting a captured image, and

where the boundary is a virtual frame generated by portions of a command generating part.

13. The mobile communication terminal of claim 12, wherein the command is at least one of cropping, or zooming.