Method of controlling camera of device and device thereof

• US 10,805,522 B2
• Filed: 02/18/2016
• Issued: 10/13/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Son, Dongil, Kwon, Heekyeong
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Sinh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gebriel, Selam T
• Application Number:
  US15/046,849
• Publication Number:
  US 20160165133A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,699 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• 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 1/00442 Simultaneous viewing of a plurality of images, e.g. using a mosaic display arrangement of thumbnails
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/61 based on recognised objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/62 Control of parameters via user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/632 for displaying or modifying preview images prior to image capturing, e.g. variety of image resolutions or capturing parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/64 Computer-aided capture of images, e.g. transfer from script file into camera, check of taken image quality, advice or proposal for image composition or decision on when to take image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/90 Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/144 camera and display on the same optical axis, e.g. optically multiplexing the camera and display for eye to eye contact

Abstract

Provided are a method of controlling a camera of a device capable of minimizing a vision difference between a front camera and a user by displaying a reduced size preview image within a partial region of a display proximate to a lens of the front camera. When a photo is taken while the user views the reduced size preview image, a more natural image is captured.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a front camera;

a rear camera;

a touch display screen disposed at the same side of the electronic device as the front camera; and

a controller configured to;

control the front camera to acquire images of a user of the electronic device in a self-shooting mode,

control the touch display screen to display a first live preview image based on the acquired images,

receive a capturing request from the user while displaying the first live preview image,

activate a timer in response to receiving the capturing request,

display, while the timer is activated during the self-shooting mode, a visual cue proximate to an edge of the touch display screen with the displayed first live preview image,

wherein the visual cue is located in close proximity to the front camera, whereby when the electronic device is held in a hand of the user and the user looks towards the visual cue, a first line of sight between the user'"'"'s eyes and the visual cue is substantially aligned to a second line of sight between the user'"'"'s eyes and the front camera, and

wherein the visual cue comprises a second live preview image based on the acquired images.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the visual cue further comprises at least one of an image and text.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to control the touch display screen to display the second live preview image in a partial region of the touch display screen proximate to a lens of the front camera.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the visual cue comprises information, and wherein the controller is further configured to control the touch display screen to display the information in a partial region of the touch display screen proximate to a lens of the front camera.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein second preview image is displayed in the partial region to guide the user'"'"'s gaze.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to display the visual cue if a cue-providing feature of the device is turned on.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to display the visual cue with the first live preview image if the timer is set.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to control the touch display screen to display a user interface for setting the visual cue.

9. The device of claim 3, wherein the controller is further configured to:

detect a rotation of the device from a first orientation to a second orientation while the first live preview image is displayed with the second live preview image, and

control the touch display screen to rotate the first live preview image and the second live preview image according to the detected rotation of the device and to display the rotated second live preview image in a partial region of the touch display screen proximate to the lens of the front camera.

10. The device of claim 3, wherein,

if the device is in a first orientation, the second live preview image is displayed in a region proximate to the lens of the front camera, and

if the device is in a second orientation different from the first orientation, the second live preview image is displayed in the region proximate to the lens of the front camera.

11. The device of claim 3, wherein the controller is further configured to control the touch display screen to display the second live preview image partially over the first live preview image.

12. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the visual cue further comprises a user interface related to the timer.

13. An apparatus comprising:

a front camera;

a rear camera;

a touch display screen disposed at a same side of the apparatus as the front camera; and

a controller configured to;

acquire, using the front camera, an image corresponding to a user of the apparatus in a self-shooting mode;

display, using the touch display screen, a first live preview image based at least in part on the image;

receive a capturing request from the user while displaying the first live preview image;

activate a timer in response to receiving the capturing request; and

automatically display, while the timer is activated during the self-shooting mode, an indication to guide a vision of the user in a partial region of the touch display screen, the partial region being located in close proximity to a lens of the front camera, whereby when the apparatus is held in a hand of the user and the user looks towards the indication, a first line of sight between the user'"'"'s eyes and the indication is substantially aligned to a second line of sight between the user'"'"'s eyes and the lens of the front camera,

wherein the indication comprises a second live preview image.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the controller is configured to:

generate the second live preview image based at least in part on the image.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the controller is configured to:

generate the second live preview image based at least in part on the first live preview image.

16. The apparatus of claim 13,

wherein the controller is configured to:

present additional information with respect to the second live preview image.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the controller is configured to:

display a menu, a notification, or a guide with respect to the second live preview image.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the indication further comprises a user interface related to the timer.

19. An electronic device, comprising:

a front camera;

a rear camera;

a touch display screen disposed at the same side of the electronic device as the front camera; and

a controller configured to;

control the front camera to acquire images of a user of the electronic device in a self-shooting mode,

control the touch display screen to display a first image based on the acquired images,

receive a capturing request from the user while displaying the first image,

activate a timer in response to receiving the capturing request, and

display a second image together with the first image by displaying, while the timer is activated during the self-shooting mode in response to the capturing request, the second image in a partial region of the touch display screen located in close proximity to a lens of the front camera, wherein the second image is displayed to induce the user to look towards the front camera,

whereby when the electronic device is held in a hand of the user and the user looks towards the second image, a first line of sight between the user'"'"'s eyes and the second image is substantially aligned to a second line of sight between the user'"'"'s eyes and the lens of the front camera.

20. The electronic device of claim 19, wherein the second image further comprises a user interface related to the timer.

21. An electronic device, comprising:

a front camera;

a rear camera;

a touch display screen disposed at the same side of the electronic device as the front camera; and

a controller configured to;

control the front camera to acquire images of a user of the electronic device in a self-shooting mode,

control the touch display screen to display first live preview images based on the images acquired via the front camera in the self-shooting mode,

receive a capturing request from the user while displaying the first live preview images,

activate a timer in response to receiving the capturing request, and

display, while the timer is activated during the self-shooting mode, a visual cue to induce the user to look towards the front camera, wherein the visual cue is proximate to an edge of the touch display screen,

wherein the visual cue is located in close proximity to the front camera, whereby when the electronic device is held in a hand of the user and the user looks towards the visual cue, a first line of sight between the user'"'"'s eyes and the visual cue is substantially aligned to a second line of sight between the user'"'"'s eyes and the front camera, and

wherein the visual cue comprises a second live preview image based on the images acquired via the front camera.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the visual cue further comprises at least one of an image and text.

23. The device of claim 21, wherein the visual cue is displayed by the controller by causing the touch display screen to display the second live preview image in a partial region of the touch display screen proximate to a lens of the front camera.

24. The device of claim 21, wherein the visual cue comprises information, and wherein the controller is further configured to control the touch display screen to display the information in a partial region of the touch display screen proximate to a lens of the front camera.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein the second live preview image is displayed in the partial region to guide the user'"'"'s gaze.

26. The device of claim 21, wherein the controller is further configured to display the visual cue if a cue-providing feature of the electronic device is turned on.

27. The device of claim 21, wherein the controller is further configured to display the visual cue with the first live preview images if the timer is set.

28. The device of claim 21, wherein the controller is further configured to control the touch display screen to display a user interface for setting the visual cue.

29. The device of claim 23, wherein the controller is further configured to:

detect a rotation of the device from a first orientation to a second orientation while the first live preview images are displayed with the second live preview image, and

control the touch display screen to rotate the first live preview images and the second live preview image according to the detected rotation of the device and to display the rotated second live preview image in a partial region of the touch display screen proximate to the lens of the front camera.

30. The device of claim 23, wherein,

if the device is in a first orientation, the second live preview image is displayed in a region proximate to the lens of the front camera, and

if the device is in a second orientation different from the first orientation, the second live preview image is displayed in the region proximate to the lens of the front camera.

31. The device of claim 23, wherein the controller is further configured to control the touch display screen to display the second live preview image partially over the first live preview images.

32. The device of claim 21, wherein the timer is activated in response to an activation request made during the self-shooting mode.

33. The device of claim 21, wherein the controller is configured to activate timer in response to an activation request made during the self-shooting mode and display the visual cue while the timer is activated during the self-shooting mode.

34. The device of claim 21, wherein the controller is configured to provide guide information regarding to the visual cue.

35. The device of claim 21, wherein the controller is configured to provide a menu regarding to the visual cue.

36. The device of claim 21, wherein the controller is configured to display the visual cue after setting an option regarding to the visual cue.

37. The device of claim 21, wherein the controller is configured to provide a guide message regarding to the visual cue.

38. The device of claim 21, wherein the second live preview image is provided together with the first live preview images.

39. The device of claim 21, wherein the visual cue is displayed together with the first live preview images, and the visual cue is configured to cause the user looking at a facial area of the first live preview images to look towards a lens of the front camera.

40. The device of claim 21, wherein the controller is configured to display the visual cue with the first live preview images to cause the user gazing at the first live preview images displayed on the touch display screen which is provided in a center portion of the electronic device to look towards the front camera disposed in an upper portion or lower portion of the electronic device.

41. The device of claim 21, wherein the visual cue is displayed in a partial region of the touch display screen proximate to a lens of the front camera while the first live preview images are displayed in the touch display screen.

42. The device of claim 21, wherein the controller is configured to display timer information together with the first live preview images while the timer is activated in the self-shooting mode, and the timer information is displayed separately from the visual cue.

43. The device of claim 21, wherein the controller is configured to capture, after expiration of the timer, at least one image based on the images acquired via the front camera.

44. The device of claim 21, wherein the controller is configured to display the visual cue with the first live preview images to cause the user gazing at the first live preview images displayed on the touch display screen to look towards the front camera disposed in an upper portion or lower portion of the electronic device.

45. The device of claim 21, wherein the visual cue is displayed together with the first live preview images, and wherein the visual cue is displayed in a partial region of the touch display screen proximate to a lens of the front camera while the first live preview images are displayed in the touch display screen.

46. The device of claim 21, wherein the controller is configured to display the visual cue with the first live preview images, and to display timer information together with the first live preview images while the timer is activated in the self-shooting mode, and wherein the timer information is displayed separately from the visual cue.

47. The device of claim 21, wherein the controller is configured to display the visual cue with the first live preview images, and to capture, after expiration of the timer, at least one image based on the images acquired via the front camera.

48. The device of claim 21, wherein the controller is configured to display the visual cue, in a partial region of the touch display screen proximate to a lens of the front camera, with the first live preview images to cause the user gazing at the first live preview images displayed on the touch display screen to look towards the front camera disposed in an upper portion or lower portion of the electronic device.

49. The device of claim 21, wherein the controller is configured to display the visual cue with the first live preview images to cause the user gazing at the first live preview images displayed on the touch display screen to look towards the front camera disposed in an upper portion or lower portion of the electronic device, and wherein the controller is further configured to display timer information together with the first live preview images while the timer is activated in the self-shooting mode, and wherein the timer information is displayed separately from the visual cue.

50. The device of claim 21, wherein the controller is configured to display the visual cue with the first live preview images to cause the user gazing at the first live preview images displayed on the touch display screen to look towards the front camera disposed in an upper portion or lower portion of the electronic device, and wherein the controller is configured to capture, after expiration of the timer, at least one image based on the images acquired via the front camera.

51. The device of claim 21, wherein the visual cue is displayed in a partial region of the touch display screen proximate to a lens of the front camera while the first live preview images are displayed in the touch display screen, thereby causing the user looking at a facial area of the first live preview images to look towards a lens of the front camera.

52. The device of claim 21, wherein the controller is configured to display timer information together with the first live preview images while the timer is activated in the self-shooting mode, and the timer information is displayed separately from the visual cue, and wherein the visual cue is configured to cause the user looking at a facial area of the first live preview images to look towards a lens of the front camera.

53. The device of claim 21, wherein the controller is configured to capture, after expiration of the timer, at least one image based on the images acquired via the front camera, and wherein the visual cue is configured to cause the user looking at a facial area of the first live preview images to look towards a lens of the front camera.

54. The device of claim 21, wherein the visual cue is displayed together with the first live preview images.

55. The device of claim 21, wherein the visual cue is configured to cause the user looking at a facial area of the first live preview images to look towards a lens of the front camera.

56. The device of claim 21, wherein the visual cue is displayed together with the first live preview images, thereby causing the user looking at a facial area of the first live preview images to look towards a lens of the front camera.

57. The device of claim 21, wherein the controller is configured to display the visual cue together with the first live preview images thereby causing the user looking at a facial area of the first live preview images to look towards a lens of the front camera, and wherein the controller is further configured to display timer information together with the first live preview images while the timer is activated in the self-shooting mode, and the timer information is displayed separately from the visual cue.

58. The device of claim 21, wherein the controller is configured to display the visual cue together with the first live preview images, thereby causing the user looking at a facial area of the first live preview images to look towards a lens of the front camera, and wherein the controller is further configured to capture, after expiration of the timer, at least one image based on the images acquired via the front camera.