Method and electric device for taking panoramic photograph

• US 9,282,242 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2012
• Issued: 03/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Original Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Inventors: Brinda, David, Chin, Peter, Shotel, Micah, Rong, Jye, Ip, Shu-Ching
• Primary Examiner(s): Harold, Jefferey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sanders, Justin
• Application Number:
  US13/591,203
• Publication Number:
  US 20130050407A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,295 Days
• Field of Search: 348/38
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 37/02 with scanning movement of lens or cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/634 Warning indications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/635 Region indicators; Field of view indicators
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/698 for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture

Abstract

A method for an electric device to take a panoramic photograph is provided and the method includes following steps. A first image is captured. A first line is displayed on a preview window. A first graphical object and a second graphical object are displayed on the first line. Posture information of the electric device is obtained. The second graphical object is moved along the first line according to the posture information. It is determined if the electric device is panned horizontally or tilted vertically according to the first line. A second image is captured if the second graphical object reaches the first graphical object and the electric device is panned horizontally or tilted vertically. The panoramic photograph is generated according to the first image and the second image. Accordingly, a user obtains a panoramic photograph easily.

Claims

1. A method for an electric device to take a panoramic photograph, the method comprising:

capturing a first image;

displaying a first line on a preview window;

displaying a first graphical object and a second graphical object on the first line, wherein the location of the first graphical object is fixed on the first line;

obtaining posture information of the electric device;

moving the second graphical object along the first line according to the posture information;

determining if the electric device is panned horizontally or tilted vertically;

capturing a second image when the second graphical object reaches the first graphical object and when the electric device is panned horizontally or tilted vertically;

and

generating the panoramic photograph according to the first image and the second image;

the method further comprising;

displaying a second line through the first graphical object on the preview window; and

rotating the second line about the first graphical object according to a rotation angle of the posture information.

2. The method according to the claim 1, wherein the step of moving the second graphical object along the first line according to the posture information further comprising:

displaying a third graphical object on the preview window, wherein the third graphical object indicates a first direction opposite to the direction that the second graphical object is moved.

3. The method according to the claim 2, wherein after the step of moving the second graphical object along the first line according to the posture information, the method further comprising:

obtaining second posture information of the electric device;

generating a second direction according to the second posture information;

determining if the second direction is the same with the first direction; and

when the second direction is not the same with the first direction, displaying an error message on the preview window.

4. The method according to the claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining a moving velocity of the electric device according to the posture information;

determining if the moving velocity is larger than a velocity threshold;

when the moving velocity is larger than the velocity threshold, displaying an error message on the preview window.

5. The method according to the claim 1, wherein the step of displaying the first graphical object and the second graphical object on the first line comprising:

displaying the first graphical object at the center of the first line, and displaying the second graphical object at an end of the first line.

11. The method according to the claim 1, wherein the step of capturing the second image when the second graphical object reaches the first graphical object further comprising:

displaying a pausing sign on the preview window.

6. An electric device for taking a panoramic photograph, the electric device comprising:

a camera module, configured to capture a first image;

a display unit, configured to display a preview window;

a posture sensor, configured to obtain posture information of the electric device; and

a control unit, coupled to the camera module, the display unit, and the posture sensor, wherein the control unit is configured to display a first line on the preview window,

wherein the control unit is configured to display a first graphical object and a second graphical object on the first line, wherein the location of the first graphical object is fixed on the first line,

wherein the control unit is configured to move the second graphical object along the first line according to the posture information,

wherein the control unit is configured to determine if the electric device is panned horizontally or tilted vertically,

wherein the control unit is configured to control the camera module to capture a second image when the second graphical object reaches the first graphical object and when the electric device is panned horizontally or tilted vertically,

wherein the control unit is configured to generate the panoramic photograph according to the first image and the second image,

wherein the control unit is further configured to display second line through the first graphical object on the preview window, and rotate the second line about the first graphical object according to a rotation angle of the posture information.

7. The electric device according to the claim 6, wherein the control unit is further configured to display a third graphical object on the preview window, and the third graphical object indicates a first direction opposite to the direction that the second graphical object is moved.

8. The electric device according to the claim 7, wherein the posture sensor is further configured to obtain second posture information of the electric device, and the control unit is further configured to generate a second direction according to the second posture information, determine if the second direction is the same with the first direction, and display an error message on the preview window when the second direction is not the same with the first direction.

9. The electric device according to the claim 6, wherein the control unit is further configured to obtain a moving velocity of the electric device according to the posture information, determining if the moving velocity is larger than a velocity threshold, and display an error message on the preview window when the moving velocity is larger than the velocity threshold.

10. The electric device according to the claim 6, wherein the control unit is further configured to display the first graphical object at the center of the first line, and display the second graphical object at an end of the first line.

12. The electric device according to the claim 6, wherein the control unit is further configured to display a pausing sign on the preview window.