Image display apparatus and method of operating the image display apparatus

• US 9,661,230 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2014
• Issued: 05/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kwon, Kwanghun, Hyun, Jinho
• Primary Examiner(s): Ren, Zhubing
• Application Number:
  US14/245,708
• Publication Number:
  US 20150009334A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,145 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/11 for generating image signals from visible and infrared light wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/611 where the recognised objects include parts of the human body

Abstract

Discussed is an image display apparatus including a main body; a display unit displaying at least one screen image; a capturing unit mounted on the main body and capturing an image using a single image sensor; a drive unit that receives a control signal for selectively activating any one of first and second modes that differ depending on whether or not to use an infrared light-cut filter, to drive the capturing unit; and a controller that outputs a first control signal for establishing a connection between the single image sensor and the infrared light-cut filter when one screen image for capturing an image corresponding to a first function is displayed and that outputs a second control signal for establishing a connection between the single image sensor and a visible light-cut filter when another screen image for capturing an image corresponding to a second function is displayed.

Claims

1. An image display apparatus comprising:

a main body;

a display unit configured to display at least one screen image;

a capturing unit mounted on the main body and configured to capture at least one image using a single image sensor;

a drive unit configured to receive a control signal for selectively activating any one of an ordinary photographing mode and an infrared light photographing mode that differ depending on whether or not to use an infrared light-cut filter, in order to drive the capturing unit; and

a controller configured to;

output a first control signal for establishing a connection between the single image sensor and the infrared light-cut filter when one screen image for capturing an image corresponding to the ordinary photographing mode is displayed on the display unit, and

output a second control signal for establishing a connection between the single image sensor and a visible light-cut filter when another screen image for capturing an image corresponding to the infrared light photographing mode is displayed to the display unit,

wherein the controller is further configured to;

detect a user'"'"'s gaze when the one screen image corresponding to the ordinary photographing mode and the another screen image corresponding to the infrared light photographing mode are displayed on a first region and a second region of the display unit, respectively,

output the first control signal for establishing a connection between the single image sensor and the infrared light-cut filter when the user'"'"'s gaze detected through the capturing unit is fixed on the first region of the display unit for a predetermined time, and

output the second control signal for establishing a connection between the single image sensor and the visible light-cut filter when the user'"'"'s gaze detected through the capturing unit is fixed on the second region of the display unit for the predetermined time.

2. The image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ordinary photographing mode is a mode for an ordinary photographing or a video telephone call, and

wherein the infrared light photographing mode is a mode for obtaining information on a user'"'"'s gaze.

3. The image display apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the controller is further configured to control the display unit to output at least one indicator which corresponds to each of control signals that are output according to a change from the ordinary photographing mode to the infrared light photographing mode and a change from the infrared light photographing mode to the ordinary photographing mode, respectively.

4. The image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when the first control signal is received, the drive unit drives the capturing unit so that the infrared light-cut filter is slid to be positioned in front of the single image sensor, and

wherein, when the second control signal is received, the drive unit drives the capturing unit so that the visible light-cut filter is slid to be positioned in front of the single image sensor.

5. The image display apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one switch configured to perform an on/off operation on the infrared light-cut filter and the visible light-cut filter according to the control signal,

wherein the drive unit is further configured to operate a switching element provided in the switch according to the control signal that is received, in order to selectively perform any one of the ordinary photographing mode and the infrared light photographing mode.

6. The image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the capturing unit is further configured to detect ambient intensity of illumination, and

wherein, when it is determined that the ambient intensity of illumination detected through the capturing unit is low intensity of illumination in a state where the one screen image for capturing the image corresponding to the ordinary photographing mode is output to the display unit, the controller outputs the second control signal to the drive unit.

7. The image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when it is determined that a user'"'"'s position is out of a predetermined range from the display unit for a predetermined time in a state where the another screen image for capturing the image corresponding to the infrared light photographing mode is output to the display unit, the controller outputs the first control signal to the drive unit.

8. The image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the infrared light-cut filter and the visible light-cut filter are arranged to be sideways together in one direction and away from the single image sensor or are arranged to be sideways in opposite directions, respectively, and away from the single image sensor, and

wherein the drive unit is further configured to drive a photographing in such a manner that one, which corresponds to the received control signal, of the infrared light-cut filter and the visible light-cut filter, is connected to be positioned in front of the single image sensor.