Detection device and image capture system using the same

• US 8,305,460 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2010
• Issued: 11/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PixArt Imaging Incorporated
• Original Assignee: PixArt Imaging Incorporated
• Inventors: Chen, Hsin-Chia, Lin, Cho-Yi, Lu, Chih Hung, Hsu, En-Feng, Huang, Chao-Chien
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Tuan
• Application Number:
  US12/880,790
• Publication Number:
  US 20110317040A1
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• Field of Search: 348/222.1, 348/240.1, 348/240.2, 348/240.3, 348/240.99, 348/254, 348/255
• US Class Current: 348/222.1
• 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

Abstract

A detection device includes an image capture element, a control signal generator, and a processor. The image capture element is used for capturing an optical signal, and outputting an image signal. The control signal generator is used for generating a control signal. The processor selectively converts the image signal into an object feature or an image feature in response to the control signal. Such a detection device can appropriately convert an operation mode, so as to have both efficacies of reducing the amount of transferred data and processing complex image data.

Claims

1. A detection device, comprising:

an image capture element, for capturing an optical signal, and outputting an image signal;

a control signal generator, for generating a control signal; and

a processor, for selectively converting the image signal into an object feature or an image feature in response to the control signal, wherein the object feature is at least one parameter of at least one image object that is a pattern having a geometric shape in the image signal, and wherein the parameter is one of or a combination of more than one of a coordinate value of the image object, an area value of the image object, an aspect ratio of the image object, a direction value of the image object, a color value of the image object, and an object vertex number of the image object.

2. The detection device according to claim 1, wherein the image feature is a gray-scale image data.

3. The detection device according to claim 1, wherein the image feature is a binary image data.

4. The detection device according to claim 1, further comprising a signal transfer element, for transferring the object feature or the image feature.

5. The detection device according to claim 4, wherein the signal transfer element is compatible with a Bluetooth transport specification.

6. The detection device according to claim 1, further comprising a gravity sensor (G-sensor), wherein the G-sensor is electrically connected to the control signal generator, and the control signal generator generates the control signal according to a sensing result of the G-sensor.

7. The detection device according to claim 1, further comprising a key, wherein the key is electrically connected to the control signal generator, and the control signal generator generates the control signal according to a state of the key.

8. The detection device according to claim 1, further comprising a signal receiving element, for receiving a selection signal, wherein the signal receiving element is connected to the control signal generator, and the control signal generator generates the control signal according to the selection signal.

9. The detection device according to claim 1, further comprising an image recognition module, wherein the image recognition module is electrically connected to the control signal generator, and used for recognizing the image signal and outputting a recognition result to the control signal generator, and the control signal generator generates the control signal according to the recognition result.

10. The detection device according to claim 1, further comprising a zoom lens, wherein the optical signal passes through the zoom lens, and is then captured by the image capture element, and when the processor converts the image signal into the image feature, the processor automatically adjusts a focal length of the zoom lens.

11. The detection device according to claim 10, wherein the zoom lens is configured with an infrared filter.

12. An image capture system, comprising:

a lens, for allowing an optical signal to pass through;

an image capture element, for capturing the optical signal, and outputting an image signal;

a control signal generator, for generating a control signal;

a processor, for selectively converting the image signal into an object feature or an image feature in response to the control signal, and

a signal transfer element, for transferring the object feature or the image feature,

wherein the object feature is at least one parameter of at least one image object that is a pattern having a geometric shape in the image signal, and wherein the parameter is one of or a combination of more than one of a coordinate value of the image object, an area value of the image object, an aspect ratio of the image object, a direction value of the image object, a color value of the image object, and an object vertex number of the image object.

13. The image capture system according to claim 12, further comprising a gravity sensor (G-sensor), wherein the G-sensor is electrically connected to the control signal generator, and the control signal generator generates the control signal according to a sensing result of the G-sensor.

14. The image capture system according to claim 12, further comprising a key, wherein the key is electrically connected to the control signal generator, and the control signal generator generates the control signal according to a state of the key.

15. The image capture system according to claim 12, further comprising a signal receiving element, for receiving a selection signal, wherein the signal receiving element is connected to the control signal generator, and the control signal generator generates the control signal according to the selection signal.

16. The image capture system according to claim 12, further comprising an image recognition module, wherein the image recognition module is electrically connected to the control signal generator, and used for recognizing the image signal and outputting a recognition result to the control signal generator, and the control signal generator generates the control signal according to the recognition result.

17. The image capture system according to claim 12, wherein the image feature is a gray-scale image data or a binary image data.

18. The image capture system according to claim 12, wherein the lens is a zoom lens, and when the control signal is in a second mode, the processor automatically adjusts a focal length of the zoom lens.

19. The image capture system according to claim 12, wherein the image capture element, the processor, and the signal transfer element are located on the same chip.