Mobile terminal and controlling method thereof

• US 8,922,625 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2010
• Issued: 12/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Tae Ho, Jeong, Yi Seon, Shin, Duck Moon, Kim, Woon Phil, Yang, Hyun Jun, Kang, Min Hun, Kang, Jung Wan, Lee, Hye Sook, Kim, Yong Jun, Woo, Min Keun, Kim, Su Cheoul, Oh, Won Taek
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Y
• Assistant Examiner(s): AMR, SALAME M
• Application Number:
  US12/949,570
• Publication Number:
  US 20110117958A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,503 Days
• Field of Search: 348/115, 348/143, 348/207.2, 348/47, 348/48, 382/154, 600/427, 439/699.1
• US Class Current: 348/47
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 35/10 having single camera with stereoscopic-base-defining system
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0208 characterized by the relative motions of the body parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0216 Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0237 Sliding mechanism with one degree of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0264 for a camera module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/20 including a rotatable camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/239 using two 2D image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance H04N13/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/315 the parallax barriers being time-variant
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/356 having separate monoscopic and stereoscopic modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/398 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof

Abstract

A mobile terminal is provided that includes a first camera to obtain a first image of an object, and a second camera to obtain a second image of an object, the second camera being separated from the first camera by a distance d. The mobile terminal also includes a controller to determine the distance d between the first camera and the second camera when the first camera obtains the first image of the object at a same time that the second camera obtains the second image. Still further, the mobile terminal includes a varying device to allow the distance d between the first camera and the second camera to vary, and a display to display a combination of the first image and the second image to allow a perceived three-dimensional (3D) image of the object.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal comprising:

a first camera to obtain a first image of an object;

a second camera to obtain a second image of an object, the second camera being separated from the first camera by a distance d;

a controller to determine the distance d between the first camera and the second camera when the first camera obtains the first image of the object at a same time that the second camera obtains the second image;

a varying device to allow the distance d between the first camera and the second camera to vary; and

a display unit to display a combination of the first image and the second image to allow a perceived three-dimensional (3D) image of the object,

wherein in a first mode of the mobile terminal, the distance d between the first camera and the second camera is greater than the distance d between the first camera and the second camera in a second mode of the mobile terminal, and

wherein the first mode of the mobile terminal is for displaying the 3D image on the display unit, and the second mode of the mobile terminal is for displaying the

     31) image on an external display, the external display being larger than the display unit,

wherein the varying device includes a link member,

wherein the first camera is loaded using the link member provided rotatable in an accommodating space of a housing of the mobile terminal, and

wherein the link member includes a link shaft loaded in a thickness direction of the mobile terminal, and

wherein the first camera is provided with a rotational shaft in a vertical direction of the link shaft.

2. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein in the first mode of the mobile terminal, the distance d between the first camera and the second camera is greater than 1.5 inches and is less than 2.5 inches.

3. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein in the second mode of the mobile terminal, the distance d between the first camera and the second camera is less than 1.5 inches.

4. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein information of the distance is stored in a storage device of the mobile terminal.

5. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the varying device moves the second camera relative to the first camera.

6. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the first camera is to be provided with a rotational shaft in a vertical direction of the link shaft.

7. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the display unit displays information of a 3D level of an object displayed within the combination of the first image and the second image.

8. The mobile terminal of claim 7, wherein the information of the 3D level is displayed in real-time while the first image and the second image are being obtained.

9. The mobile terminal of claim 7, wherein the information of the 3D level is displayed in real-time when the first image and the second image are obtained.

10. A mobile terminal comprising:

a storage device to store a first image of an object from a first camera and to store a second image of the object from a second camera;

a controller to determine a distance d between the first camera and the second camera when the first camera and the second camera obtain the first image and the second image of the object at a same time; and

a display unit to display a combination of the first image and the second image to allow a perceived three-dimensional (3D) image of the object,

wherein in a first mode of the mobile terminal, the distance d between the first camera and the second camera is greater than the distance d between the first camera and the second camera in a second mode of the mobile terminal, and

wherein the first mode of the mobile terminal is for displaying the 3D image on the display unit, and the second mode of the mobile terminal is for displaying the 3D image on an external display, the external display being larger than the display unit,

wherein the first camera is loaded using a link member provided rotatable in an accommodating space of a housing of the mobile terminal, and

wherein the link member includes a link shaft loaded in a thickness direction of the mobile terminal, and

wherein the first camera is provided with a rotational shaft in a vertical direction of the link shaft.

11. The mobile terminal of claim 10, wherein in the first mode of the mobile terminal, the distance d between the first camera and the second camera is greater than 1.5 inches and is less than 2.5 inches.

12. The mobile terminal of claim 10, wherein in the second mode of the mobile terminal, the distance d between the first camera and the second camera is less than 1.5 inches.

13. The mobile terminal of claim 10, wherein the first camera is to be provided with a rotational shaft in a vertical direction of the link shaft.

14. The mobile terminal of claim 10, wherein the display unit displays information of a 3D level of an object displayed within the combination of the first image and the second image.

15. The mobile terminal of claim 14, wherein the information of the 3D level is displayed in real-time while the first image and the second image are being obtained.

16. The mobile terminal of claim 14, wherein the information of the 3D level is displayed in real-time when the first image and the second image are obtained.