Digital photographing device, method of controlling the same, and computer-readable storage medium to select between a still and a moving image capturing mode

• US 8,363,121 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2009
• Issued: 01/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Maeng, Sook-young
• Primary Examiner(s): Jerabek, Kelly L
• Application Number:
  US12/616,914
• Publication Number:
  US 20100182442A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,174 Days
• Field of Search: 348/208.99, 3482081-2083, 348/220.1
• US Class Current: 348/220.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/667 Camera operation mode switching, e.g. between still and video, sport and normal or high- and low-resolution modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/6811 based on the image signal

Abstract

Provided are a digital photographing device, a method of controlling the same, and a computer-readable storage medium for storing a program for executing the method. The method includes calculating a degree of motion of a subject; determining whether a photographing mode change condition is satisfied based on the degree of motion; determining whether to change a photographing mode according to a predetermined reference, if the photographing mode change condition is satisfied; and changing the photographing mode if it is determined to change the photographing mode, wherein the photographing mode is one of a still image capturing mode and a video capturing mode.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a digital photographing device, the method comprising:

calculating a degree of motion of a subject in a captured image;

when the photographing mode is a still image capturing mode, and the calculated degree of motion is greater than a first reference value, changing the photographing mode to a video capturing mode; and

when the photographing mode is in the video capturing mode, and the calculated degree of motion is less than a second reference value, changing the photographing mode to the still image capturing mode

wherein in the still image capturing mode, a still image file is generated as an output file, and in the video capturing mode, a video file is generated as an output file.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

changing the photographing mode only when a predetermined reference of the digital photographing device is set to change the photographing mode.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein when the photographing mode is a still image capturing mode, further comprises:

when the photographing mode is a still image capturing mode, and the calculated degree of motion is equal to or greater than a first reference value for a first reference time, changing a photographing mode to a video capturing mode.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein when a photographing mode is a video capturing mode further comprises:

when the photographing mode is in the video capturing mode, and the calculated degree of motion is equal to or less than a second reference value for a second reference time, changing the photographing mode to the still image capturing mode.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein when a photographing mode is a still image capturing mode further comprises:

when the photographing mode is a still image capturing mode, and the calculated degree of motion is equal to or greater than a first reference value, prompting a user whether to change the photographing mode and when the user indicates to change the photographing mode, changing the photographing to a video capturing mode.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein when a photographing mode is a video capturing mode further comprises:

when the photographing mode is in the video capturing mode, and the calculated degree of motion is equal to or less than a second reference value, prompting a user whether to change the photographing mode and when the user indicates to change the photographing mode, changing the photographing mode to the still image capturing mode.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the subject is an in-focus subject.

8. A digital photographing device comprising:

an imaging device configured to capture images;

a degree of motion calculator configured to calculate a degree of motion of a subject in an image captured by the imaging device; and

a photographing mode changer configured to change the photographing mode from a still image capturing mode to a video capturing mode based on the degree of motion,

wherein in the still image capturing mode, a still image file is generated as an output file, and in the video capturing mode, a video file is generated as an output file.

9. The digital photographing device of claim 8, wherein the photographing mode changer is further configured to change the photographing mode from the still image capturing mode to the video capturing mode when the degree of motion is maintained to be equal to or greater than a first reference value for a first reference time.

10. The digital photographing device of claim 8, wherein the photographing mode changer is further configured to change the photographing mode from the video capturing mode to the still image capturing mode when the degree of motion is maintained to be equal to or less than a second reference value for a second reference time.

11. The digital photographing device of claim 8, wherein the photographing mode changer is further configured to provide a user-selectable user interface for prompting a user whether to change the photographing mode, and if the user selects not to change the photographing mode, then not changing the photographing mode.

12. The digital photographing device of claim 8, wherein the photographing mode changer is configured to automatically change the photographing mode without prompting a user.

13. The digital photographing device of claim 8, wherein the subject is an in-focus subject.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with a computer-executable program to perform a method comprising:

calculating a degree of motion of a subject in a captured image;

when the photographing mode is a still image capturing mode, and the calculated degree of motion is equal to or greater than a first reference value, changing the photographing mode to a video capturing mode; and

when the photographing mode is in the video capturing mode, and the calculated degree of motion is equal to or less than a second reference value, changing the photographing mode to the still image capturing mode,

wherein in the still image capturing mode, a still image file is generated as an output file, and in the video capturing mode, a video file is generated as an output file.

15. The computer-readable medium encoded with a computer-executable program of claim 14, the method further comprising:

changing the photographing mode only when a predetermined reference of the digital photographing device is set to change the photographing mode.

16. The computer-readable medium encoded with a computer-executable program of claim 14, wherein when the photographing mode is a still image capturing mode, further comprises:

when the photographing mode is a still image capturing mode, and the calculated degree of motion is equal to or greater than a first reference value for a first reference time, changing a photographing mode to a video capturing mode.

17. The computer-readable medium encoded with a computer-executable program of claim 14, wherein when a photographing mode is a video capturing mode further comprises:

when the photographing mode is in the video capturing mode, and the calculated degree of motion is equal to or less than a second reference value for a second reference time, changing the photographing mode to the still image capturing mode.

18. The computer-readable medium encoded with a computer-executable program of claim 14, wherein when a photographing mode is a still image capturing mode further comprises:

when the photographing mode is a still image capturing mode, and the calculated degree of motion is equal to or greater than a first reference value, prompting a user whether to change the photographing mode and when the user indicates to change the photographing mode, changing the photographing to a video capturing mode.

19. The computer-readable medium encoded with a computer-executable program of claim 14, wherein when a photographing mode is a video capturing mode further comprises:

when the photographing mode is in the video capturing mode, and the calculated degree of motion is equal to or less than a second reference value, prompting a user whether to change the photographing mode and when the user indicates to change the photographing mode, changing the photographing mode to the still image capturing mode.