JP2005121842A - Portable terminal with camera, and special photographing method using same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a portable terminal with a camera constituted so that a special function as a digital camera is usable with an easy operation, and to provide a special photographing method using the portable terminal with a camera. <P>SOLUTION: The portable terminal with a camera is provided with a numeric keypad 15 related with each integer from 0 to 9, and an imaging part 12 for forming image data in accordance with light made incident on an imaging element, and when either of the numeric keypads 15 is depressed while the imaging part 12 can be acted, a time corresponding to the numerical value related by the depressed numeric keypad 15 is counted by a timer 13 in a control part 11, and after a lapse of time corresponding to the numerical value related by the depressed numeric keypad 15, the image data is formed by the imaging part 12. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a mobile terminal incorporating a digital camera, and more particularly to a camera-equipped mobile terminal capable of performing processing according to a numerical value designated by a user at the time of shooting.

  In recent years, mobile terminals with built-in digital cameras, especially camera-equipped mobile phone terminals, are rapidly spreading.

  The mobile terminals with cameras that are currently popular are the ones that add functions as digital cameras to the mobile terminals. Therefore, in designing the terminals, the operability for realizing the original functions of mobile terminals is a digital camera. Is more important than the operability of For example, in the case of a mobile phone terminal with a camera, operability as a mobile phone terminal, that is, operability for performing wireless communication via a mobile phone network should be designed with more importance than operability as a digital camera. It becomes. For this reason, in the case of a portable terminal with a camera, the operability as a digital camera is not always satisfactory for the user.

  For example, when taking a picture using the self-timer function on a camera-equipped mobile terminal, the user displays a user setting screen while the camera is running, an operation for enabling the self-timer, an operation for setting the operation time of the self-timer, etc. It is necessary to take a picture after performing the operation, which takes time and effort.

  In addition, when trying to continuously shoot images for multiple frames, the user displays the user setting screen while the camera is running, and activates the continuous shooting function. It is necessary to take a picture after performing an operation for setting, etc. In this case, the operation is troublesome.

  As described above, since the conventional camera-equipped mobile terminal has a complicated operation for using a special function (such as a self-timer or continuous shooting) as a digital camera, a user should use the special function as a digital camera. However, it takes time until the function can be actually used.

  For this reason, although a special function as a digital camera is attempted to be photographed, a suitable opportunity for photographing the subject is missed before the special function can be used. There was a fear. Further, if the user hurries to perform a time-consuming input operation in order not to miss a suitable imaging opportunity, there is a risk of erroneous operation.

As a prior art regarding improving the operability as a digital camera of a camera-equipped mobile terminal, there is a “mobile terminal and program” disclosed in Patent Document 1.
In the invention disclosed in Patent Document 1, when the human body is separated from the touch sensor, the time-lapse circuit starts counting the timer, and when the time is up, the camera starts the imaging operation.
JP 2002-204386 A

  However, the invention disclosed in Patent Document 1 requires the user to set a timer time and the like as in the case of the conventional camera-equipped mobile terminal.

  As described above, the conventional camera-equipped mobile terminal has a complicated operation for using a special function as a digital camera, and is suitable for imaging a subject before the special function can be used. There is a possibility that the user misses an opportunity or erroneous operation by the user.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object thereof is to provide a mobile terminal with a camera that can use a special function as a digital camera with a simple operation and a special photographing method using the same.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides, as a first aspect, a numeric key associated with each integer from 0 to 9, and an imaging means for generating image data corresponding to the light incident on the imaging device. A camera-equipped portable terminal having a special photographing unit that executes predetermined processing based on a setting value set by the user when the imaging unit generates image data, in a state in which the imaging unit is capable of imaging Provided is a camera-equipped mobile terminal in which, when any of the numeric keys is pressed, the special photographing unit executes a predetermined process based on a numerical value associated with the pressed numeric key. It is.

  In the first aspect of the present invention, the predetermined process is preferably a process for delaying the imaging timing of the imaging means in accordance with a set value. In addition to this, the predetermined process is any of the following processes: It is more preferable that the time corresponding to the set value is measured after the numeric key is pressed, and the imaging unit generates image data when the time corresponding to the set value has elapsed. Alternatively, the predetermined process is preferably a process of generating image data continuously for the set value. In addition to this, the predetermined process causes the imaging means to generate image data and any numeric key. More preferably, the number of times the image pickup unit has generated image data after the button is pressed is counted, and the image pickup unit repeatedly generates image data until the counted number reaches a number corresponding to the set value.

  In any configuration of the first aspect of the present invention, it is preferable to have a function of performing wireless communication via a mobile phone network.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the second aspect of the present invention, as a second aspect, the number key associated with each integer from 0 to 9 and imaging that generates image data corresponding to the light incident on the imaging device are generated. A special photographing method using a portable terminal with a camera having means and special photographing means for executing predetermined processing based on a setting value set by a user when the image pickup means generates image data, Special shooting using a camera-equipped mobile terminal characterized by causing the special shooting means to execute a predetermined process with a numerical value associated with any of the numeric keys pressed in a state where the imaging means can be picked up as a set value A method is provided.

  In the second aspect of the present invention, the predetermined process is preferably a process for delaying the imaging timing of the imaging means according to a set value, and in addition to this, any numeric key is pressed. It is more preferable that the time corresponding to the set value is measured and the imaging unit generates image data when the time corresponding to the set value has elapsed. Alternatively, the predetermined process is preferably a process of generating image data continuously for the set value. In addition to this, the predetermined process causes the imaging means to generate image data and any numeric key. More preferably, the number of times the image pickup unit has generated image data after the button is pressed is counted, and the image pickup unit repeatedly generates image data until the counted number reaches a number corresponding to the set value.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the portable terminal with a camera which can utilize the special function as a digital camera by simple operation can be provided.

[First Embodiment]
A first embodiment in which the present invention is suitably implemented will be described. FIG. 1 shows a camera-equipped mobile phone terminal according to the present embodiment. The cellular phone terminal 10 includes a control unit 11, an imaging unit 12, a timer 13, an LCD 14, numeric keys 15, and a wireless communication unit 16.

  The control unit 11 is a substantial computer that controls the operation of each unit of the mobile phone terminal 10. The imaging unit 12 includes an imaging element such as a CCD or a CMOS, and generates image data corresponding to image light incident on the imaging element. The timer 13 measures an arbitrary time in response to a request from the control unit 11 and generates a trigger signal when a time-out occurs. The LCD 14 displays information according to a command from the control unit 101. Number key 15 This is an input key for the user to mainly input a telephone number, and has ten types “0” to “9”. The wireless communication unit 16 is a functional unit for performing communication via a mobile phone network, and performs modulation from an electric signal to a radio signal, demodulation from a radio signal to an electric signal, and the like. That is, the wireless communication unit 16 is a functional unit for realizing a function as a mobile phone terminal.

The operation of the mobile phone terminal 10 when using the self-timer function will be described. FIG. 2 shows an operation flow of the cellular phone terminal 10 when the self-timer function is used. FIG. 3 shows an example of a screen displayed on the LCD 14 when shooting using the self-timer function.
The user places the mobile phone terminal 10 in a shooting mode (a state in which shooting can be performed using the digital camera function) before shooting a subject using the self-timer function. In this state, as shown in FIG. 3A, an image corresponding to light incident on the image sensor through the lens is displayed on the LCD 14 of the mobile phone terminal 10.

In this state, when any of the numeric keys 15 of “0” to “9” is pressed by the user (step S101 / Yes), the control unit 11 performs measurement for the number of seconds corresponding to the number of the pressed key. Is requested to the timer 13 (step S102). However, when the “0” key is pressed, the control unit 11 requests the timer 13 to measure for 10 seconds. Further, as shown in FIG. 3B, the control unit 11 displays an icon 141 and a message 142 on the LCD 14, and presents to the user that the self-timer function is being used.
In the illustrated example, the icon 141 indicates the remaining time until shooting.

  When the timer 13 finishes measuring the number of seconds according to the request from the control unit 11 (step S103 / Yes), the timer 13 generates a trigger signal and transmits it to the imaging unit 12. Upon receiving the trigger signal from the timer 13, the imaging unit 12 performs the same imaging process as when the shutter button is pressed (step S104). That is, when the screen shown in FIG. 3C is displayed when the timer 13 finishes counting the number of seconds requested from the control unit 11, the imaging unit 12 is a portion displayed in the frame 143. To generate image data.

  As described above, the camera-equipped mobile phone terminal according to the present embodiment can use a special function as a digital camera called a self-timer only by pressing a numeric key in the shooting mode. In other words, it is not necessary to turn on / off the self-timer function or change the operating time, and any number of seconds from 1 to 10 seconds can be obtained by simply inputting a numeric button while the camera is running. You can activate the self-timer and take a picture of the subject.

[Second Embodiment]
A second embodiment in which the present invention is suitably implemented will be described. FIG. 4 shows a camera-equipped mobile phone terminal according to the present embodiment. The cellular phone terminal 10 is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment, but has a counter 17 instead of the timer 13.

  The counter 17 counts up to the number according to the command from the control unit 11.

The operation of the mobile phone terminal 10 when using the continuous shooting function will be described. FIG. 5 shows a flow of operations of the mobile phone terminal 10 when the continuous shooting function is used.
The user places the mobile phone terminal 10 in a shooting mode (a state in which shooting by the digital camera function is possible) prior to shooting the subject using the continuous shooting function. In this state, the LCD 14 of the mobile phone terminal 10 displays an image corresponding to light incident on the image sensor through the lens.

  In this state, when any of the numeric keys 15 of “0” to “9” is pressed by the user (step S201 / Yes), the control unit 11 counts up to the number corresponding to the number of the pressed key. Request is made to the counter 17 (step S202). However, when the “0” key is pressed, the control unit 11 requests the counter 17 to count 10 times. The initial value of the count value of the counter 13 is 0, and is reset to the initial value when a request from the control unit is received.

  When the shutter button is pressed by the user, the control unit 11 sends a trigger signal to the imaging unit 12. The imaging unit 12 starts imaging processing according to the trigger signal from the control unit 11 and generates image data (step S203).

  The imaging unit 12 sends a counter control signal to the counter 13 when the generation of the image data is completed. The counter 13 increments the count value by 1 according to the counter control signal from the imaging unit 12 (step S204). Then, the controller 11 is notified that the count value has been incremented.

When notified that the counter 13 has incremented the count value, the control unit 11 refers to the count value of the counter 13. If the count value of the counter 13 has reached the number corresponding to the numeric key 15 pressed by the user (step S205 / Yes), the control unit 11 ends the process.
On the other hand, if the count value of the counter 13 is less than the number corresponding to the numeric key 15 pressed by the user (step S205 / No), the control unit 11 sends the trigger signal to the imaging unit 12 again, and the mobile phone terminal 10 Repeats the above processing until the count value of the counter 13 reaches the number corresponding to the number key pressed by the user.

  Thus, the camera-equipped mobile phone terminal according to the present embodiment can use a special function as a digital camera called continuous shooting by simply pressing a numeric key in the shooting mode. In other words, it is not necessary to set the continuous shooting function ON / OFF or change the number of continuous shots, and it is possible to select any number of 1 to 10 images by a simple operation of inputting a numeric button while the camera is activated. You can shoot subjects continuously.

Each of the above embodiments is an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to these.
For example, in the above embodiment, a case has been described in which a numerical value is specified by pressing the numeric keys “0” to “9” once. However, a numerical value is specified by pressing the numerical key twice. May be. In this case, it is possible to specify a single digit by first pressing “0” and pressing the “1” to “9” numeric keys for the second time, and pressing “0” twice in succession. A numerical value of 100 can be specified.
In addition, as a special function as a digital camera, a self-timer and continuous shooting are given as examples. However, the present invention is not limited to these, and settings performed by specifying numerical values at the time of shooting (such as setting of the number of overlapped images) ) As long as it is applicable.
In each of the above embodiments, a mobile phone terminal has been described as an example of a mobile terminal. However, a mobile terminal that does not have a function of performing wireless communication via a mobile phone network (for example, a personal digital assistant (PDA)) ).
As described above, the present invention can be variously modified.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the mobile telephone terminal which concerns on 1st Embodiment which implemented this invention suitably. It is a figure which shows the flow of operation | movement of the mobile telephone terminal with a camera which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen displayed on LCD at the time of imaging | photography using a self-timer function. It is a figure which shows the structure of the mobile telephone terminal which concerns on 2nd Embodiment which implemented this invention suitably. It is a figure which shows the flow of operation | movement of the mobile telephone terminal which concerns on 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Mobile phone terminal 11 Control part 12 Imaging part 13 Timer 14 LCD
15 Numeric keys 16 Wireless communication unit 17 Counter

Claims (11)

Numeric keys associated with each integer from 0 to 9,
Imaging means for generating image data according to light incident on the imaging element;
A camera-equipped mobile terminal having a special imaging unit that executes predetermined processing based on a setting value set by a user when the imaging unit generates image data,
When any one of the numeric keys is pressed while the imaging unit can capture an image, the special imaging unit executes the predetermined process based on a numerical value associated with the pressed numeric key. A camera-equipped mobile terminal.   2. The camera-equipped mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined process is a process of delaying an imaging timing of the imaging unit according to the set value.   The predetermined process is a process of measuring a time corresponding to the set value after any of the number keys is pressed, and causing the imaging unit to generate image data when the time corresponding to the set value has elapsed. The camera-equipped mobile terminal according to claim 2, wherein   2. The camera-equipped mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined process is a process of continuously generating image data by a number corresponding to the set value.   The predetermined processing causes the imaging unit to generate image data and counts the number of times the imaging unit has generated image data after pressing any one of the numeric keys, and the counted number corresponds to the set value. 5. The camera-equipped mobile terminal according to claim 4, wherein the image capturing unit repeatedly generates image data until the number reaches a predetermined number.   The camera-equipped mobile terminal according to claim 1, further comprising a function of performing wireless communication via a mobile phone network. Numeric keys associated with each integer from 0 to 9,
Imaging means for generating image data according to light incident on the imaging element;
A special imaging method using a camera-equipped mobile terminal having a special imaging unit that executes predetermined processing based on a setting value set by a user when the imaging unit generates image data,
A camera-equipped mobile terminal that causes the special imaging unit to execute the predetermined processing using the numerical value associated with any of the numeric keys pressed in a state where the imaging unit is capable of imaging as the setting value Special shooting method using   8. The special imaging method using a camera-equipped mobile terminal according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined process is a process of delaying an imaging timing of the imaging unit according to the set value.   The predetermined process is a process of measuring a time corresponding to the set value after any of the number keys is pressed, and causing the imaging unit to generate image data when the time corresponding to the set value has elapsed. The special photographing method using the camera-equipped mobile terminal according to claim 8.   8. The special photographing method using a camera-equipped mobile terminal according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined process is a process of generating image data continuously for the set value.   The predetermined processing causes the imaging unit to generate image data and counts the number of times the imaging unit has generated image data after pressing any one of the numeric keys, and the counted number corresponds to the set value. The special imaging method using a camera-equipped mobile terminal according to claim 10, wherein the imaging unit repeatedly generates image data until the number reaches a predetermined number.

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