Method and system for controlling external lens

• US 8,890,999 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2011
• Issued: 11/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Altek Corporation
• Original Assignee: Altek Corporation
• Inventors: Koh, HongBin
• Primary Examiner(s): Ye, Lin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Morehead, III, John H
• Application Number:
  US13/220,690
• Publication Number:
  US 20120188438A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,176 Days
• US Class Current: 348/360
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/617 Upgrading or updating of programs or applications for camera control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/663 for controlling interchangeable camera parts based on electronic image sensor signals

Abstract

A method and a system for controlling an external lens, applicable to a main device to control a lens module connected thereto, are provided. The main device provides power and storage medium for the lens module to use. In the present method, the lens module is connected to the main device, and a control program is downloaded from a memory unit of the lens module and installed in the main device. The control program is used to allow the main device to receive a control operation, accordingly control the lens module to execute a camera function, and finally display an execution result of the lens module executing the camera function.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an external lens, applicable to a main device to control a first lens module externally connected thereto, wherein the main device provides power and storage medium for the first lens module, the method comprising:

when the first lens module is externally connected to an external connecting interface of the main device, the first lens module detecting an operating system executed by the main device and providing a control program corresponding to the operating system, and the main device downloading the control program from a memory unit of the first lens module and installing the control program therein, wherein the external connecting interface is externally disposed on the main device, and the first lens module is detachable from the main device, wherein the control program downloaded from the memory unit enables the main device to control the first lens module; and

using the control program to allow the main device to receive a control operation, and control the first lens module to execute a camera function according to the control operation, and display an execution result of the first lens module executing the camera function.

2. The method for controlling an external lens as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of downloading the control program corresponding to the operating system from the memory unit of the first lens module and installing the control program in the main device comprises:

displaying an installing interface of the control program of the first lens module at the main device, wherein the installing interface comprising a plurality of options corresponding to a plurality of operating systems; and

receiving a selecting operation for one of the options, and accordingly downloading the control program corresponding to the selecting operation from the memory unit of the first lens module and installing the downloaded control program in the main device.

3. The method for controlling an external lens as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of downloading the control program corresponding to the operating system from the memory unit of the first lens module and installing the control program in the main device further comprises:

receiving an installing request sent by the first lens module; and

receiving a confirming operation for the installing request, accordingly downloading the control program from the memory unit of the first lens module, and installing the control program in the main device.

4. The method for controlling an external lens as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of the main device receiving the control operation, controlling the first lens module to execute the camera function according to the control operation, and displaying the execution result of the first lens module executing the camera function by using the control program comprises:

the control program sending a corresponding control command to the first lens module based on the control operation;

the first lens module executing the camera function corresponding to the control command, and transmitting the execution result of the camera function to the main device; and

the control program displaying the execution result transmitted from the first lens module.

5. The method for controlling an external lens as claimed in claim 1, wherein the camera function comprises auto-focusing, focal length adjusting, shutter triggering and adjustment in size, color or white balance of the image captured by the first lens module.

6. The method for controlling an external lens as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of receiving the control operation, controlling the first lens module to execute the camera function according to the control operation, and displaying the execution result of the first lens module executing the camera function by using the control program comprises:

the control program sending a corresponding capturing command to the first lens module based on the control operation;

the first lens module capturing an image according to the capturing command, and transmitting the captured image to the main device; and

the control program executing an image processing to the image transmitted from the first lens module based on the control operation, and displaying the processed image.

7. The method for controlling an external lens as claimed in claim 6, wherein the image processing comprises adjusting size, color or white balance of the image captured by the first lens module.

8. The method for controlling an external lens as claimed in claim 6, wherein after the control program is installed in the main device, the method further comprises:

connecting a second lens module to the first lens module; and

receiving the control operation, controlling the first lens module and the second lens module to execute the camera function through the first lens module according to the control operation, and displaying the execution result of the first lens module and the second lens module executing the camera function by using the control program.

9. The method for controlling an external lens as claimed in claim 8, wherein after the second lens module is connected to the first lens module, the method further comprises:

downloading the control program of the second lens module from the memory unit of the second lens module, installing the downloaded control program in the main device through the first lens module, and accordingly controlling the second lens module to execute the camera function.

10. The method for controlling an external lens as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of receiving the control operation, controlling the first lens module to execute the camera function according to the received control operation, and displaying the execution result of the first lens module executing the camera function by using the control program comprises:

displaying an operating interface of the control program, wherein the operating interface comprising a plurality of function buttons corresponding to a plurality of camera functions;

receiving a selecting operation for one of the function buttons, and accordingly controlling the first lens module to execute the camera function selected by the selecting operation; and

displaying the execution result of the camera function executed by the first lens module on the operating interface.

11. A system for controlling an external lens, comprising:

a main device, comprising an external connecting interface and configured to use a control program to receive a control operation, and accordingly send a corresponding control command through the external connecting interface, wherein the external connecting interface is disposed externally on the main device; and

a first lens module, comprising;

a first connecting interface, connected to the main device, and configured to receive the control command sent by the main device;

a first image capturing unit, configured to capture a first image;

a first memory unit, configured to store the control program;

a first detecting unit, configured to detect an operating system executed by the main device connected to the first lens module and provide a control program corresponding to the operating system; and

a first processing unit, coupled to the first connecting interface, the first image capturing unit and the first memory unit, and configured to execute a camera function corresponding to the control command, transmit an execution result of the camera function to the main device through the first connecting interface, so as to display the execution result by the main device, wherein

when the first lens module is externally connected to the external connecting interface of the main device through the first connecting interface, the detecting unit detects the operating system executed by the main device, and the main device downloads the control program from the first memory unit of the first lens module and installs the control program therein, wherein the control program downloaded from the memory unit enables the main device to control the first lens module, the first lens module is detachable from the main device.

12. The system for controlling an external lens as claimed in claim 11, wherein the main device comprises:

a display unit, configured to display an installing interface of the control program of the first lens module, wherein the installing interface comprising a plurality of options corresponding to a plurality of operating systems; and

an operating unit, configured to receive a selection operation for one of the options, accordingly download the control program corresponding to the options from the first memory unit of the first lens module, and install the control program in the main device.

13. The system for controlling an external lens as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:

a second lens module, comprising;

a second connecting interface, connected to the first lens module, and configured to receive the control command sent by the main device through the first lens module;

a second image capturing unit, configured to capture a second image;

a second memory unit, configured to store the control program; and

a second processing unit, coupled to the second connecting interface and the second image capturing unit, and configured to execute the camera function corresponding to the control command, transmit the execution result of the camera function to the main device, so as to display the execution result by the main device.