Multi-purpose camera system supporting normal camera functionality and additional user input functionality
First Claim
1. A multi-purpose camera system, comprising:
- an image capture block, arranged for generating an image signal, wherein the image capture block comprises an image sensor, an optical system, and a control circuit; and
an image signal processing block, arranged for processing the image signal;
wherein when the multi-purpose camera system is operated in a first operation mode, the multi-purpose camera system acts as a camera for generating a captured image output;
when the multi-purpose camera system is operated in a second operation mode, the multi-purpose camera system acts as part of a user input apparatus for receiving a user input;
an overall configuration of the control circuit and the image signal processing block in the first operation mode is different from an overall configuration of the control circuit and the image signal processing block in the second operation mode; and
at least one of the image signal processing block and the control circuit has lower power consumption in the second operation mode than in the first operation mode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multi-purpose camera system includes an image capture block and an image signal processing block. The image capture block is arranged for generating an image signal, wherein the image capture block has an image sensor, an optical system, and a control circuit. The image signal processing block is arranged for processing the image signal. When the multi-purpose camera system is operated in a first operation mode, the multi-purpose camera system acts as a camera for generating a captured image output; when the multi-purpose camera system is operated in a second operation mode, the multi-purpose camera system acts as part of a user input apparatus for receiving a user input; and an overall configuration of the control circuit and the image signal processing block in the first operation mode is different from an overall configuration of the control circuit and the image signal processing block in the second operation mode.
11 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A multi-purpose camera system, comprising:
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an image capture block, arranged for generating an image signal, wherein the image capture block comprises an image sensor, an optical system, and a control circuit; and an image signal processing block, arranged for processing the image signal; wherein when the multi-purpose camera system is operated in a first operation mode, the multi-purpose camera system acts as a camera for generating a captured image output;
when the multi-purpose camera system is operated in a second operation mode, the multi-purpose camera system acts as part of a user input apparatus for receiving a user input;
an overall configuration of the control circuit and the image signal processing block in the first operation mode is different from an overall configuration of the control circuit and the image signal processing block in the second operation mode; and
at least one of the image signal processing block and the control circuit has lower power consumption in the second operation mode than in the first operation mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15)
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11. A multi-purpose camera system, comprising:
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an image capture block, arranged for generating an image signal, wherein the image capture block comprises an image sensor, an optical system, and a control circuit; and an image signal processing block, arranged for processing the image signal; wherein when the multi-purpose camera system is operated in a first operation mode, the multi-purpose camera system acts as a camera for generating a captured image output;
when the multi-purpose camera system is operated in a second operation mode, the multi-purpose camera system acts as part of a user input apparatus for receiving a user input;
an overall configuration of the control circuit and the image signal processing block in the first operation mode is different from an overall configuration of the control circuit and the image signal processing block in the second operation mode;
the image signal processing block converts a color image into a black &
white image in the second operation mode;
the image signal processing block further compares a luminance value of a pixel in the black &
white image with a threshold value;
when the luminance value is greater than the threshold value, the image signal processing block assigns a first predetermined luminance value to the pixel; and
when the luminance value is not greater than the threshold value, the image signal processing block assigns a second predetermined luminance value to the pixel.
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12. A multi-purpose camera system, comprising:
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an image capture block, arranged for generating an image signal, wherein the image capture block comprises an image sensor, an optical system, and a control circuit; and an image signal processing block, arranged for processing the image signal; wherein when the multi-purpose camera system is operated in a first operation mode, the multi-purpose camera system acts as a camera for generating a captured image output;
when the multi-purpose camera system is operated in a second operation mode, the multi-purpose camera system acts as part of a user input apparatus for receiving a user input; and
an overall configuration of the control circuit and the image signal processing block in the first operation mode is different from an overall configuration of the control circuit and the image signal processing block in the second operation mode;
the image signal processing block converts a color image into a black &
white image in the second operation mode;
the image signal processing block further down-samples black &
white image to generate a down-sampled black &
white image, and compares a luminance value of a pixel in the down-sampled black &
white image with a threshold value;
when the luminance value is greater than the threshold value, the image signal processing block assigns a first predetermined luminance value to the pixel; and
when the luminance value is not greater than the threshold value, the image signal processing block assigns a second predetermined luminance value to the pixel.
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16. An electronic device, comprising:
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a multi-purpose camera system, comprising; an image capture block, arranged for generating an image signal, wherein the image capture block comprises an image sensor, an optical system, and a control circuit; and an image signal processing block, arranged for processing the image signal, wherein when the multi-purpose camera system is operated in a first operation mode, the multi-purpose camera system acts as a camera for generating a captured image output;
when the multi-purpose camera system is operated in a second operation mode, the multi-purpose camera system acts as part of a user input apparatus for receiving a user input;
an overall configuration of the control circuit and the image signal processing block in the first operation mode is different from an overall configuration of the control circuit and the image signal processing block in the second operation mode; and
at least one of the image signal processing block and the control circuit has lower power consumption in the second operation mode than in the first operation mode; anda user input processing system, acting as another part of the user input apparatus and arranged for identifying the user input by processing an image output of the image signal processing block in the second operation mode. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A multi-purpose camera system integrated in a portable electronic device, comprising:
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an image capture block, arranged for generating an image signal; and an image signal processing block, arranged for processing the image signal; wherein when the multi-purpose camera system is operated in a first operation mode, the multi-purpose camera system acts as a camera for generating a captured image output;
when the multi-purpose camera system is operated in a second operation mode, the multi-purpose camera system acts as part of a user input apparatus for receiving a user input; and
a control circuit included in the image capture block has lower power consumption in the second operation mode than in the first operation mode. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification