Image pickup device and image pickup method

• US 9,800,785 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2017
• Issued: 10/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Holdings Corporation
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Ishihara, Takashi, Yamamoto, Kazutaka, Ito, Katsuyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Pasiewicz, Daniel M
• Application Number:
  US15/469,710
• Publication Number:
  US 20170201682A1
• Time in Patent Office: 211 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/02 Bodies
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/20 visible in viewfinder
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04897 Special input arrangements or commands for improving display capability
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0626 for control of overall brightness
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3406 Control of illumination source illumination devices structurally associated with liquid crystal cells G02F1/1336
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera constructional features concerning the integration of cameras in portable phones H04M1/0264
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/62 Control of parameters via user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/631 Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/633 for displaying additional information relating to control or operation of the camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/651 for reducing power consumption by affecting camera operations, e.g. sleep mode, hibernation mode or power off of selective parts of the camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/667 : Camera operation mode switching, e.g. between still and video, sport and normal or high- and low-resolution modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/73 : by influencing the exposure time

Abstract

An image pickup device includes at least one camera, a display, and a touch panel that overlaps the display, and detects a flick operation in at least first and second directions substantially opposite to each other. The image pickup device has at least a first, second and third imaging modes, in which the display displays a video image being obtained by the at least one camera. Switching to the second imaging mode occurs by a first flick operation in the first direction in the first imaging mode. Switching to the first imaging mode occurs by a second flick operation in the second direction in the second imaging mode. Switching to the third imaging mode occurs by a third flick operation in the first direction in the first imaging mode. Switching to the first imaging mode occurs by a fourth flick operation in the second direction in the third imaging mode.

Claims

1. An image pickup device comprising:

at least one camera;

a display; and

a touch panel that overlaps the display, and is capable of detecting a flick operation in at least first and second directions, the first direction being substantially opposite to the second direction,

wherein the image pickup device has at least a first imaging mode, a second imaging mode, and a third imaging mode,

in the first imaging mode, the display displays a video image being obtained by the at least one camera,

in the second imaging mode, the display displays a video image being obtained by the at least one camera,

in the third imaging mode, the display displays a video image being obtained by the at least one camera,

switching to the second imaging mode occurs by a first flick operation in the first direction in the first imaging mode,

switching to the first imaging mode occurs by a second flick operation in the second direction in the second imaging mode,

switching to the third imaging mode occurs by a third flick operation in the first direction in the first imaging mode, and

switching to the first imaging mode occurs by a fourth flick operation in the second direction in the third imaging mode.

2. The image pickup device according to claim 1,

wherein the first imaging mode is different from the second imaging mode, and the second imaging mode is different from the third imaging mode.

3. The image pickup device according to claim 1,

wherein, in at least one imaging mode of the first, second, and third imaging modes, while the display displays a video image being obtained by the at least one camera, the at least one camera captures a still image.

4. The image pickup device according to claim 1,

wherein, in the first imaging mode, the display displays a processed video image being obtained by the at least one camera.

5. The image pickup device according to claim 1,

wherein the first direction and the second direction are different by at least 160 degrees or more and at least 200 degrees or less.

6. The image pickup device according to claim 1,

wherein the first direction and the second direction are different by at least 170 degrees or more and at least 190 degrees or less.

7. The image pickup device according to claim 1,

wherein the first direction is a right direction, and the second direction is a left direction.

8. The image pickup device according to claim 1,

wherein the display has a rectangular shape, and

wherein the first direction is a direction away from a predetermined side of the rectangular shape.

9. The image pickup device according to claim 1,

wherein the display has a rectangular shape, and

wherein the second direction is a direction away from a predetermined side of the rectangular shape.

10. The image pickup device according to claim 1,

wherein the touch panel overlaps a substantially entire surface of the display.

11. The image pickup device according to claim 10,

wherein an area of the display overlapping the touch panel is 90% or more and 100% or less of an area of the display.

12. The image pickup device according to claim 10,

wherein an area of the touch panel overlapping the display is 90% or more and 100% or less of an area of the touch panel.