Notebook computer with mirror and image pickup device to capture multiple images simultaneously

• US 8,368,795 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2009
• Issued: 02/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Primax Electronics Limited
• Original Assignee: Primax Electronics Limited
• Inventors: Lo, Jui-Hsiang, Huang, Ying-Jieh, Hsu, Ming-Ta
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, NGOC YEN T
• Application Number:
  US12/614,160
• Publication Number:
  US 20110069181A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,187 Days
• Field of Search: 348/373, 348/376
• US Class Current: 348/333.02
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1686 the I/O peripheral being an integrated camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/64 Computer-aided capture of images, e.g. transfer from script file into camera, check of taken image quality, advice or proposal for image composition or decision on when to take image

Abstract

A notebook computer with a multi-image capturing function is provided. The notebook computer includes an image pickup device and a mirror. The image pickup device is used for capturing a first image. The mirror is disposed beside the image pickup device and tilted by an angle with respect to the image pickup device. A second image reflected by the mirror is adjustable by changing the angle. The second image reflected by the mirror is also captured by the image pickup device, so that the first image and the second image are simultaneously captured by the image pickup device.

Claims

1. A notebook computer with multi-image capturing function for producing a spatial image, said notebook computer comprising:

an image pickup device for capturing a first image;

a mirror disposed beside said image pickup device and tilted by an angle with respect to said image pickup device, wherein a second image reflected by said mirror is adjustable by changing said angle, wherein said second image reflected by said mirror is also captured by said image pickup device, so that said first image and said second image are simultaneously captured by said image pickup device; and

wherein overlapped images of said first image and said second image in accordance with two different viewing angles are obtained and analyzed through an image analysis program of said notebook computer to create a spatial image.

2. The notebook computer according to claim 1 further comprising:

an input block served as a directive interface, wherein an image of said input block is reflected by said mirror, so that said image of said input block is captured by said image pickup device; and

a screen for outputting a movable cursor, wherein a moving direction and a trajectory of said cursor are obtained according to a change of said image of said input block.

3. The notebook computer according to claim 2 wherein a user'"'"'s finger is moved on said input block in a specified moving direction and a specified trajectory, thereby causing said change of said image of said input block.

4. The notebook computer according to claim 1 wherein said overlapped images include images of an object, wherein said object is included in said first image and said second image at said two different viewing angles.

5. The notebook computer according to claim 4 wherein said object is a human face, and said notebook computer has a facial recognition function by computing a spatial position of an organ on said human face.

6. The notebook computer according to claim 1 wherein said image pickup device has a function of detecting an environmental brightness value.

7. A notebook computer with multi-image capturing function, capable of detecting movements on an input block, comprising:

an image pickup device for capturing a first image;

a mirror disposed beside said image pickup device and tilted by an angle with respect to said image pickup device, wherein a second image reflected by said mirror is adjustable by changing said angle, and said second image reflected by said mirror is also captured by said image pickup device, so that said first image and said second image are simultaneously captured by said image pickup device;

an input block served as a text input interface, said input block comprising a plurality of key regions with different symbols, wherein an image of said input block is reflected by said mirror, so that said image of said input block is captured by said image pickup device; and

a screen for outputting a text that is inputted into said notebook computer, wherein said text that is inputted into said notebook computer is obtained according to a change of said image of said input block.

8. The notebook computer according to claim 7 wherein said key regions with different symbols on said input block are sheltered or depressed, thereby causing said change of said image of said input block.

9. A notebook computer with multi-image capturing function, capable of detecting brightness of an image by triggering an illuminating function of a keyboard, comprising:

an image pickup device, capable of detecting brightness of an environment of said image and capturing a first image;

a mirror disposed beside said image pickup device and tilted by an angle with respect to said image pickup device, wherein a second image reflected by said mirror is adjustable by changing said angle, and said second image reflected by said mirror is also captured by said image pickup device, so that said first image and said second image are simultaneously captured by said image pickup device, when said image pickup device detects the brightness of said keyboard is below a predetermined standard, said illuminating function of the keyboard is triggered.