Portable terminal having touch sensing based image capture function and image capture method therefor

• US 8,203,640 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2008
• Issued: 06/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Jong-Hwan, Eom, Kwang-Ho
• Primary Examiner(s): DIEP, TRUNG T
• Application Number:
  US12/172,076
• Publication Number:
  US 20090015703A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,439 Days
• Field of Search: 348/333.12, 348/333.11, 348/333.07, 348/333.05, 348/333.02, 348/14.07, 345/173
• US Class Current: 348/333.12
• 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: 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 23/635 Region indicators; Field of view indicators
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/675 comprising setting of focusing regions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/70 Circuitry for compensating brightness variation in the scene

Abstract

Disclosed is a portable terminal having a touch sensing based image capture function and image capture method therefore, the method including: displaying a preview image of an object to be captured on a touch screen; recognizing (sensing) a touch input for the preview image; setting an image capture function based on the recognized touch input; and automatically performing an image capture operation according to the set capture function. The image capture function includes setting and change for a focus area, exposure, illumination, lightness, zoom-in/zoom-out and color change. Therefore, the present invention can enable the user to freely set the focus area and to perform a single or continuous image capture operation with a simple touch, thereby being utilized in all portable devices employing the touch screen.

Claims

1. A method of performing image capture in a portable terminal, the method comprising:

displaying a preview image of an object to be captured on a touch screen;

recognizing a touch input on the touch screen related to the preview image;

identifying a type of the recognized touch input;

displaying at least one focus area on a portion of the preview image at a position where the touch input was recognized;

determining whether an image capture to be performed is a general image capture or a continuous image capture based on the identified type of the recognized touch input; and

performing the general image capture or the continuous image capture based on the determination,

wherein the touch input is recognized as a setting for the at least one focus area and as a command to perform the general image capture or the continuous image capture.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the recognized touch input is identified as a short touch, a long touch, a multi-position touch, or a touch &

drag.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein:

the general image capture is performed when the identified type of touch input is the short touch or the long touch; and

the continuous image capture is performed when the identified type of touch input is the multi-position touch.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising;

displaying a capture effect selection menu window when the identified type of touch is the long touch; and

receiving a selection of at least one capture effect from the displayed capture effect selection menu,

wherein the general image capture or the continuous image capture is automatically performed based upon the selection of the at least one capture effect.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the at least one selected capture effect comprises object recognition, area recognition, depth of field adjustment or a focus shape.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising no longer displaying the at least one focus area upon recognizing a double-touch input.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one focus area has a form of dots or closed curves.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising moving the displayed at least one focus area upon recognizing a dragging touch input.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the at least one focus area comprises visually displaying various colors on the preview image or generating an audible output.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the general image capture or the continuous image capture is performed automatically.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the general image capture or the continuous image capture is performed manually.

12. A portable terminal, comprising:

a touch screen configured for displaying a preview image of an object to be captured; and

a controller configured for;

recognizing a touch input on the touch screen related to the preview image;

identifying a type of the recognized touch input;

controlling the touch screen to display at least one focus area on a portion of the preview image at a position where the touch input was recognized;

determining whether an image capture to be performed is a general image capture or a continuous image capture based on the identified type of the recognized touch input, and

performing the general image capture or the continuous image capture based on the determination,

wherein the controller recognizes the touch input as a setting for the at least one focus area and as a command to perform the general image capture or the continuous image capture.

13. The terminal of claim 12, wherein the recognized touch input is identified as a short touch, a long touch, a multi-position touch, or a touch &

drag.

14. The terminal of claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured for:

performing the general image capture when the identified type of touch input is the short touch or the long touch; and

performing the continuous image capture when the identified type of touch input is the multi-position touch.

15. The terminal of claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured for:

controlling the touch screen to display a capture effect selection menu window when the identified type of touch is the long touch; and

receiving a selection of at least one capture effect from the displayed capture effect selection menu,

wherein the general image capture or the continuous image capture is automatically performed based upon the selection of the at least one capture effect.

16. The terminal of claim 15, wherein the at least one selected capture effect comprises object recognition, area recognition, depth of field adjustment or a focus shape.

17. The terminal of claim 12, wherein the controller is further configured for controlling the touch screen to no longer display the at least one focus area upon recognizing a double-touch input.

18. The terminal of claim 12, wherein the at least one focus area has a form of dots or closed curves.

19. The terminal of claim 12, wherein the controller is further configured for controlling the touch screen to move the displayed at least one focus area upon recognizing a dragging touch input.

20. The terminal of claim 12, wherein the controller is further configured for controlling the touch screen to display the at least one focus area by visually displaying various colors on the preview image or generating an audible output.

21. The terminal of claim 12, wherein the controller is further configured to perform the general image capture or the continuous image capture automatically.

22. The terminal of claim 12, wherein the controller is further configured to perform the general image capture or the continuous image capture in response to recognizing a manual input.