Device comprising camera elements

• US 20060056837A1
• Filed: 09/14/2005
• Published: 03/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Vapaakoski, Simo
• Granted Patent: US 7,677,817 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 396/439
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 29/00 Combinations of cameras, projectors or photographic printing apparatus with non-photographic non-optical apparatus, e.g. clocks or weapons; Cameras having the shape of other objects combinations with flash apparatus G03B15/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0235 Slidable or telescopic telephones, i.e. with a relative translation movement of the body parts; Telephones using a combination of translation and other relative motions of the body parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0245 using open/close detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/45 for generating image signals from two or more image sensors being of different type or operating in different modes, e.g. with a CMOS sensor for moving images in combination with a charge-coupled device [CCD] for still images
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/57 Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet

Abstract

A device comprising a housing; a first camera element located on a first side of the housing for forming image information on a view seen by the first camera element; a second camera element located on a second side of the housing for forming image information on a view seen by the second camera element; an activator for providing a signal from either the first camera element or the second camera element according to a selection, the activator comprising a detector for detecting the selection; and a processing means for processing the obtained image information.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a housing;

a first camera element located on a first side of the housing for forming image information on a view seen by the first camera element;

a second camera element located on a second side of the housing for forming image information on a view seen by the second camera element;

a detector for detecting a state of a sensing element to form a selection;

an activator for providing the signal from either the first camera element or the second camera element according to the selection; and

an image processing element for processing the obtained image information.

2. The device according to claim 1 comprising a cover movable between a first position, in which the view of the first camera element is at least partly uncovered, and a second position, in which the view of the first camera element is covered, wherein the detector is adapted to detect the position of the cover.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the activator is adapted to activate either the first camera element if the selection indicates that the cover is in the first position, or the second camera element if the selection indicates that the cover is in the second position.

4. The device according to claim 1, the detector comprising

an input for inputting image information at least from one of the camera elements;

and

an analyzer for analyzing the image information from said one of the camera elements,

wherein the detector is adapted to indicate the activator that the second camera element is to be selected if the analyzed image information indicates that the whole view seen by the first camera element is substantially constant.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the detector is adapted to signal the activator that the second camera element is to be selected if the analyzed image information indicates that one of the following conditions is true:

the whole view seen by the first camera element is substantially dark, or

the whole view seen by the first camera element is substantially constant.

6. The device according to claim 1, comprising a display for displaying at least image information of the first camera element, wherein the first camera element is used as a viewfinder when the first camera element is activated.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the second camera element is adapted to be used at least as a camera element for viewing the face of a user of the device.

8. The device according to claim 1, comprising a transmitter for transmitting image information of the signal provided by said activator from the device.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the activator is adapted to activate one camera element at a time of the first and second camera elements, wherein the image processing element is adapted to process the obtained image information from the activated camera element.

10. A system comprising a device, which comprises:

a housing;

a first camera element located on a first side of the housing for forming image information on a view seen by the first camera element;

a second camera element located on a second side of the housing for forming image information on a view seen by the second camera element;

a detector for detecting a state of a sensing element to form a selection;

an activator for providing the signal from either the first camera element or the second camera element according to the selection; and

an image processing element for processing the obtained image information.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the activator is adapted to activate one camera element at a time of the first and second camera elements, wherein the image processing element is adapted for processing the obtained image information from the activated camera element.

12. A module for selecting a camera element among at least a first and a second camera element, said first camera element located on a first side of a housing for forming image information on a view seen by the first camera element, and said second camera element located on a second side of the housing for forming image information on a view seen by the second camera element,

wherein the module comprises at least:

a detector for detecting a state of a sensing element to form a selection, and

an activator for providing the signal from either the first camera element or the second camera element according to the selection for processing the obtained image information.

13. A method for selecting a camera element among at least a first and a second camera element, said first camera element located on a first side of a housing for forming image information on a view seen by the first camera element, and said second camera element located on a second side of the housing for forming image information on a view seen by the second camera element,

wherein the method comprises at least:

detecting a state of a sensing element to form a selection, and

providing the signal from either the first camera element or the second camera element according to the selection for processing the obtained image information.

14. A computer program product comprising machine executable steps stored on a readable medium so that when executed by a processor are for selecting a camera element among at least a first and a second camera element, said first camera element located on a first side of a housing for forming image information on a view seen by the first camera element, and said second camera element located on a second side of the housing for forming image information on a view seen by the second camera element,

wherein the computer program product comprises machine executable steps for:

detecting a state of a sensing element to form a selection, and

providing the signal from either the first camera element or the second camera element according to the selection for processing the obtained image information.