Mobile terminal and method of controlling the same

• US 8,817,160 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2012
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Park, Jongseok, Lee, Choonggun, Lee, Seobkeun
• Primary Examiner(s): OSINSKI, MICHAEL S
• Application Number:
  US13/532,696
• Publication Number:
  US 20130050519A1
• Time in Patent Office: 792 Days
• Field of Search: 348 42- 60, 34820899-20816, 348/222.1, 348/239, 348/241, 34833301-33313, 382254-275, 396322-340
• US Class Current: 348/333.04
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/45 for generating image signals from two or more image sensors being of different type or operating in different modes, e.g. with a CMOS sensor for moving images in combination with a charge-coupled device [CCD] for still images
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/741 by increasing the dynamic range of the image compared to the dynamic range of the electronic image sensors

Abstract

A mobile terminal and a method of controlling the same are provided. The mobile terminal detects an object in which a ghost may appear through a preview image of an image acquired using a dual camera. The mobile terminal may display an indicator for identifying the detected object. Accordingly, a higher quality high dynamic range (HDR) image can be more efficiently acquired.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal comprising:

a display unit;

a first camera configured to acquire a first image from a first view point;

a second camera configured to acquire a second image from a second view point that is different from the first view point; and

a controller configured to;

detect at least one object comprising a ghost in preview images of the first or second images,

control the display unit to display an indicator corresponding to the detected at least one object, and

determine whether a user requests high dynamic range (HDR) image processing on the detected at least one object.

2. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

switch from a photographing mode to an HDR operating mode when the preview image of the first image comprises at least one saturation area.

3. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

detect the at least one object when a disparity exists between overlapped preview images of the first and second images.

4. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the indicator comprises at least a highlight or a text message.

5. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

detect selection of the detected at least one object; and

control the display unit to display information about the detected at least one object according to a distance between the mobile terminal and the detected at least one object in response to the selection of the detected at least one object.

6. The mobile terminal of claim 3, wherein the controller is further configured to:

control the display unit to display a user selection menu that inquires whether to capture a video or an image in response to the selection of the detected at least one object.

7. The mobile terminal of claim 3, wherein the controller is further configured to:

re-detect the at least one object comprising the ghost in the preview images of the first or second images; and

control the display unit to display an indicator corresponding to the re-detected at least one object when a distance between the mobile terminal and the re-detected at least one object is changed.

8. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein:

the first camera is set to over-expose the first image, and

the second camera is set to under-expose the second image.

9. The mobile terminal of claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to:

overlap background images of the first and second images; and

apply histogram distribution analysis results from the first and second images to a hole when the detected at least one object in the second image is shifted to a corresponding area in the first image.

10. The mobile terminal of claim 9, wherein the controller is further configured to:

analyze a histogram distribution of a first area, the first area corresponding to the at least one object in the first image;

analyze a histogram distribution of a second area, the second area corresponding to an area proximate to the first area; and

change the histogram distribution of the first area with reference to the histogram distribution of the second area.

11. A method of controlling a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

acquiring a first image by a first camera from a first view point;

acquiring a second image by a second camera from a second view point that is different from the first view point;

entering a high dynamic range (HDR) operating mode;

detecting at least one object comprising a ghost in preview images of the first or second images; and

displaying an indicator corresponding to the detected at least one object.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

analyzing a histogram distribution of a first area, the first area corresponding to the at least one object in the first image;

analyzing a histogram distribution of a second area, the second area corresponding to an area proximate to the first area; and

overlapping the first and the second images;

shifting the detected at least one object from the second image to a corresponding area of the first image; and

changing the histogram distribution of the first area with reference to the histogram distribution of the second area.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

switching from a photographing mode to an HDR operating mode when a preview image of the first image comprises at least one saturation area.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

detecting the at least one object when a disparity exists between overlapped preview images of the first and second images.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the indicator comprises at least a highlight or a text message.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

detecting selection of the detected at least one object; and

controlling a display unit to display information about the detected at least one object according to a distance between the mobile terminal and the detected at least one object in response to the selection of the detected at least one object.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

controlling a display unit to display a user selection menu that inquires whether to capture a video or an image in response to the selection of the detected at least one object.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

re-detecting the at least one object comprising the ghost in the preview images of the first or second images; and

controlling the display unit to display an indicator corresponding to the re-detected at least one object when a distance between the mobile terminal and the re-detected at least one object is changed.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein:

the first camera is set to over-expose the first image, and

the second camera is set to under-expose the second image.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

overlapping background images of the first and second images; and

applying histogram distribution analysis results from the first and second images to a hole when the detected at least one object in the second image is shifted to a corresponding area in the first image.