Image capturing device and method for adjusting photographing angle thereof

• US 8,059,159 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2009
• Issued: 11/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cloud Network Technology Singapore Pte. Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Chang-Jung, Lo, Chih-Ping, Lee, Hou-Hsien
• Primary Examiner(s): Ye; Lin
• Assistant Examiner(s): HSU, AMY R
• Application Number:
  US12/423,795
• Publication Number:
  US 20100220205A1
• Time in Patent Office: 945 Days
• Field of Search: 348/222.1, 348/211.99, 348/208.7
• US Class Current: 348/208.7
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/02 Bodies
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/58 Means for changing the camera field of view without moving the camera body, e.g. nutating or panning of optics or image sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/60 Control of cameras or camera modules

Abstract

A image capturing device includes an image capture unit, a digital signal processor (DSP), a selection unit, an adjustment unit, a microprocessor, a storage unit, and a accelerometer. The image capture unit photographs a subject to output image data representing the subject to the DSP. The accelerometer detects an angle between a vertical axis of the image capture unit and the direction of the gravitational field to output an adjustment signal. The microprocessor outputs an adjustment value after comparing the adjustment signal with a reference adjustment value preset in the storage unit. When a first photograph angle adjustment manner is selected by the selection unit, the DSP adjusts the image data according to the adjustment value. When a second photograph angle adjustment manner is selected by the selection unit, the adjustment unit adjusts photographing angle of the image capture unit according to the adjustment value.

Claims

1. An image capturing device, comprising:

a digital signal processor (DSP);

a storage unit to store a preset reference adjustment value;

an image capture unit configured to capture an image, and to output image data representing the image to the DSP;

an accelerometer to detect an angle between a vertical axis of the image capture unit and the direction of the gravitational field, and to output an adjustment signal according to the angle;

a microprocessor to compare the adjustment signal with the preset reference adjustment value, and to output an adjustment value according to the comparison;

a selection unit to select one of a first photographing angle adjustment manner and a second photographing angle adjustment manner;

an adjustment unit to adjust a photographing angle of the image capturing device; and

wherein the DSP adjusts the image data according to the adjustment value in response to selecting the first photographing angle adjustment manner, and wherein the adjustment unit adjusts the photographing angle of the image capture unit according to the adjustment value in response to selecting the second photographing angle adjustment manner.

2. The image capturing device of claim 1, wherein the preset reference adjustment value is an angle determined according to the adjustment signal;

wherein the preset reference adjustment value is 180 degrees in response to the adjustment signal being in the range from 0 degrees to 360 degrees, or wherein the reference adjustment angle is 0 degrees in response to the adjustment signal being in the range from −

180 degrees to 180 degrees.

3. The image capturing device of claim 2, wherein the adjustment value is a difference between the adjustment signal and the preset reference adjustment value.

4. The image capturing device of claim 1, further comprising a transmitting unit, to transmit the adjustment value and the image data to a peripheral device.

5. The image capturing device of claim 1, the selection unit is a switch unit or a logic circuit.

6. The image capturing device of claim 1, wherein the adjustment unit comprises a motor connected to the image capture unit, and a driver for driving the image capture unit.

7. An adjustment method for adjusting a photographing angle for an image capturing device comprising a storage unit, an image capture unit, a digital signal processor (DSP), a microprocessor, a adjustment unit and an accelerometer, the adjustment method comprising:

storing a preset reference adjustment value in the storage unit;

detecting an angle between a vertical axis of the image capture unit and the direction of the gravitational field by the accelerometer to output an adjustment signal, and outputting image data representing an image captured by the image capture unit to the (DSP);

comparing the adjustment signal with the preset reference adjustment value by the microprocessor to output an adjustment value according to the comparison;

determining if the image capturing device is in an inclining attitude;

if the image capturing device is in an inclining attitude, adjusting the image data by the DSP according to the adjustment value in response to selecting a first photographing angle adjustment manner; and

if the image capturing device is in an inclining attitude, adjusting the photographing angle of the image capture unit by the adjustment unit according to the adjustment value in response to selecting a second photographing angle adjustment manner.

8. The adjustment method of claim 7, wherein the preset reference adjustment value is an angle determined according to the adjustment signal;

wherein the preset reference adjustment value is 180 degrees in response to the adjustment signal being in the range from 0 degrees to 360 degrees, or wherein the preset reference adjustment angle is 0 degrees in response to the adjustment signal being in the range from −

180 degrees to 180 degrees.

9. The adjustment method of claim 8, wherein the adjustment value is a difference between the adjustment signal and the preset reference adjustment value.

10. The adjustment method of claim 7, wherein the adjustment unit comprises a motor connected to the image capture unit, and a driver for driving the image capture unit.