JP2006303851A - Wireless communication terminal and closeup photographing method in wireless communication terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a wireless communication terminal capable of easily photographing a sharp closeup image without the need for provision of a guide rod for focusing. <P>SOLUTION: The wireless communication terminal is provided with an antenna 3 whose length is nearly equal to a focal distance of a camera 2 when the antenna 3 is completely drawn out of a main body of the terminal. Thus, the terminal can easily photograph a sharp closeup image by using this antenna 3 in the case of closeup photographing. Since no exclusive guide rod for focusing is required like prior arts, the downsizing and the portability of the terminal main body are not hindered, a troublesomeness of carrying the exclusive guide rod can be avoided and no care about missing is caused. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless communication terminal such as a mobile phone equipped with a camera or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) and a close-up photographing method in the wireless communication terminal.

  Conventionally, when shooting a short-distance subject with a camera, in order to obtain a clear captured image, an autofocus method in which the lens is driven and focused according to the distance to the subject or the photographer sets the distance between the camera and the subject. A method of changing the focus and focusing is used.

On the other hand, in wireless communication terminals such as mobile phones and PDAs, in order to reduce the size and weight of the device body, the camera does not employ an autofocus mechanism, and focusing is performed with a fixed focal length in close-up photography. It is difficult. By the way, in a wireless communication terminal equipped with a camera, information may be input by identifying a bar code or a character photographed by the camera. In particular, in order to improve the recognition rate of high-density image information, Focusing is essential. In view of this, there has been proposed a configuration in which a guide rod is attached to the camera body so that focusing can be performed near the tip of the guide rod so that focusing can be performed even with this type of wireless communication terminal (for example, Patent Documents). 1).
JP-A-9-102898

  However, even if the guide bar disclosed in Patent Document 1 is applied to a conventional wireless communication terminal, the size and portability of the main body are hindered, and even if the guide bar is detachable, it is carried separately from the main body. Therefore, there is a problem that it is troublesome and may be lost.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and provides a wireless communication terminal and a close-up photographing method in the wireless communication terminal that can easily capture a clear close-up image without providing a guide rod for focusing. The purpose is to provide.

(1) One aspect of the wireless communication terminal of the present invention includes a camera capable of shooting a close subject, a telescopic antenna that also serves as a guide rod whose length to the tip indicates the focal length of the subject, The structure which comprises is taken.

  According to the above configuration, the antenna has a length that is substantially the same as the focal length of the camera when fully pulled out from the main body, so that a clear close-up image can be easily captured by using this antenna during close-up. can do. In addition, since a dedicated guide rod for focusing as in the prior art is not required, it does not hinder downsizing and portability of the main body of the device, and there is no hassle of having a dedicated guide rod. , Never lost.

(2) One aspect of the wireless communication terminal according to the present invention is the wireless communication terminal according to (1), in which the antenna is detected by an antenna state detection unit that detects the state of the antenna, and the antenna state detection unit. When it is detected that the camera has been completely pulled out, a configuration is provided that includes shooting mode switching means for switching the camera to a close-up mode suitable for close-up shooting.

  According to the above configuration, since it is detected that the antenna is completely pulled out and the camera is switched to the close-up mode, an operation for selecting the close-up mode is not required, and operability can be improved.

(3) One aspect of the wireless communication terminal of the present invention is the wireless communication terminal according to (2), wherein the antenna state detection unit detects that the antenna is completely pulled out, and the imaging When it is detected that the antenna is contracted by the antenna state detection unit while the camera is switched to the close-up mode by the mode switching unit, the fact that the antenna is not fully pulled out is notified. A configuration including notification means is adopted.

  According to the above configuration, it is possible to prevent erroneous shooting at a distance shorter than the focal length of the camera.

(4) One aspect of the close-up photographing method in the wireless communication terminal of the invention is a close-up photographing method in a wireless communication terminal including a mobile phone or PDA equipped with a camera, and the length of an antenna provided in the wireless communication terminal When the lens is completely pulled out from the wireless communication terminal, the focal length of the camera is substantially the same, and the antenna is completely pulled out from the wireless communication terminal and the front end is brought close to the subject. I do.

  According to the above method, a clear close-up image can be easily taken by using an antenna having a length substantially matching the focal length of the camera when fully pulled out from the main body during close-up.

(5) According to one aspect of the close-up photographing method in the wireless communication terminal of the present invention, in the above (4), when the antenna is completely pulled out from the wireless communication terminal, the camera is switched to a close-up mode suitable for close-up photographing. In addition, when the antenna contracts in a state where the antenna is completely pulled out from the wireless communication terminal, it is notified that the antenna is not in a fully pulled out state.

  According to the above method, when the antenna is fully pulled out, the camera is switched to the close-up mode, and after the antenna is fully pulled out, when the antenna contracts, it is notified that the antenna is not fully pulled out. An operation for selecting a mode is not required, operability can be improved, and it is possible to prevent erroneous shooting at a distance closer to the focal length of the camera.

  According to the present invention, a clear close-up image can be easily taken without providing a guide rod for focusing.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a wireless communication terminal according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In this figure, a wireless communication terminal 1 of the present embodiment includes a camera 2 that uses an image sensor such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), and a rod-shaped antenna 3 that can be stored in the main body. The antenna 3 is formed to have a length that substantially matches the focal length of the camera 2 when fully pulled out from the main body. In addition to making the length of the antenna 3 itself coincide with the focal length of the camera 2, when the specification of the antenna 3 is determined in advance, the camera 3 is made to coincide with the length when the antenna 3 is completely pulled out. A focal length of 2 may be designed. In addition, when the length of the antenna 3 is longer than the focal length of the camera 2, a means may be provided for restricting the camera 3 so that it stops at the focal length of the camera 2 when shooting with the camera 2.

  When the user of the wireless communication terminal 1 performs close-up photography of the close subject 4 as shown in FIG. 1, the antenna 3 is completely pulled out, the wireless communication terminal 1 or the subject 4 is moved, and the tip of the antenna 3 is pulled out. Shoot with the subject 4 in the vicinity. Since the focal length of the camera 2 is near the tip of the antenna 3, the subject 4 is focused on the focal length of the camera 2. Here, when an image of the subject 4 photographed by the camera 2 is processed to identify information such as a barcode or a character, the antenna 3 may or may not appear outside the information identification range.

  As described above, according to the wireless communication terminal 1 of the present embodiment, the antenna 3 has a length that substantially matches the focal length of the camera 2 when completely pulled out from the main body. By using the antenna 3, a clear close-up image can be easily taken. In addition, since there is no need for a dedicated guide rod for focusing as in the past, it does not hinder downsizing and portability of the main body of the equipment, and there is no hassle to own the dedicated guide rod and it is lost I don't do it.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a part of the radio communication terminal according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In this figure, parts common to those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  In FIG. 2, the wireless communication terminal 1 </ b> A according to the present embodiment takes a picture with the camera 2, the sensor 5 that detects the pull-out of the antenna 3, the camera control circuit 8 that controls the camera 2, and the camera 2. An image processing circuit 9 that processes the processed image, an image recognition circuit 10 that recognizes an image from the processing result of the image processing circuit 9, and a CPU (central processing unit) 11 that controls each unit of the wireless communication terminal 1A. Yes. The sensor 5 and the CPU 11 constitute an antenna state detection unit, and the camera control circuit 8 and the CPU 11 constitute a photographing mode switching unit.

  Note that a program memory and a work memory (not shown) are connected to the CPU 11 via a bus line (not shown). Control. In particular, when the sensor 5 detects that the antenna 3 is pulled out, the camera control circuit 8 and the image processing circuit 9 are controlled. That is, when the antenna 3 is pulled out, the camera control circuit 8 is instructed to shift to the close-up mode, and the image processing circuit 9 is instructed to process the image captured by the camera 2. A key input unit 6 shown in FIG. 1 is also connected to the CPU 11 via a bus line (not shown), and processing based on a key signal input from the key input unit 6 is performed.

  When an instruction to shift to the close-up mode is given from the CPU 11, the camera control circuit 8 shifts the camera 2 to the close-up mode. For example, when recognizing a barcode or a character, the image processing circuit 9 performs a process for recognizing the barcode or the character from an image photographed by the camera 2 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 11. The image recognition circuit 10 recognizes information from the processing result of the image processing circuit 9.

  In such a configuration, when the user of the wireless communication terminal 1 </ b> A pulls out the antenna 3 stored in the wireless communication terminal 1 </ b> A while the camera 2 can shoot, the sensor 5 detects that the antenna 3 has been pulled out. Then, the CPU 11 is notified. In response to the notification from the sensor 5, the CPU 11 instructs the camera control circuit 8 to shift to the close-up mode, and the camera control circuit 8 shifts the camera 2 to the close-up mode. That is, the user can call up the close-up mode by simply pulling out the antenna 3 without operating the key input unit 6 to call up the menu and selecting the mode for close-up.

  When the user presses a shutter key (not shown) assigned to a predetermined key of the key input unit 6 in the state of transition to the close-up mode, shooting is performed by the camera 2. At this time, when the photographed image is a barcode or a character, the image recognition circuit 10 recognizes information from the image processing result after the image processing circuit 9 performs the image processing. Then, the recognized result is displayed on the display 7 (see FIG. 1) of the wireless communication terminal 1A. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, when a subject 4 on which “ABC123” is drawn is photographed, “ABC123” drawn on the subject 4 is subjected to image processing, image recognition is performed, and the result is displayed on the display 7. Is displayed as “ABC123”.

  As described above, according to the wireless communication terminal 1A of the present embodiment, the sensor 5 that detects the withdrawal of the antenna 3 is provided, and the camera 2 is switched to the close-up mode when the sensor 5 detects the withdrawal of the antenna 3. The operation for selecting the close-up mode is not required, and the operability can be improved.

  In the present embodiment, the sensor 5 detects only the extraction of the antenna 3. However, after detecting the extraction of the antenna 3 and shifting to the close-up mode, the antenna 3 contracts by hitting the subject 4. This may also be detected and notified to the user. In this case, for example, a message is displayed on the screen of the display device 7 or a sound is emitted with a buzzer or the like to notify that the antenna 3 is not completely pulled out. By doing so, it is possible to inform the user that the antenna 3 is not completely pulled out, and maintain the distance to the subject 4 and erroneously take a picture at a distance closer to the focal length of the camera 2. Can be prevented. Means for displaying a message on the screen of the display unit 7 or for generating a sound corresponds to notification means.

  The present invention is suitable for application to a wireless communication terminal such as a mobile phone or PDA equipped with a camera.

1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a wireless communication terminal according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a part of a wireless communication terminal according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1A Wireless communication terminal 2 Camera 3 Antenna 4 Subject 5 Sensor 6 Key input part 7 Display 8 Camera control circuit 9 Image processing circuit 10 Image recognition circuit 11 CPU

Claims (5)

A camera capable of shooting a close subject,
A telescopic antenna that also serves as a guide rod whose length to the tip indicates the focal length of the subject,
A wireless communication terminal comprising: An antenna state detecting means for detecting the state of the antenna;
When it is detected by the antenna state detection means that the antenna is completely pulled out, shooting mode switching means for switching the camera to a close-up mode suitable for close-up shooting,
The wireless communication terminal according to claim 1, comprising:   When the antenna state detecting means detects that the antenna is completely pulled out and the camera is switched to the close-up mode by the shooting mode switching means, the antenna state is contracted by the antenna state detecting means. The wireless communication terminal according to claim 2, further comprising notification means for notifying that the antenna is not completely pulled out when it is detected. A close-up photography method in a wireless communication terminal including a mobile phone or PDA equipped with a camera,
The length of the antenna provided in the wireless communication terminal is made to substantially coincide with the focal length of the camera when fully pulled out from the wireless communication terminal, and the antenna is completely pulled out from the wireless communication terminal. A close-up photographing method in a wireless communication terminal that performs photographing with a tip close to a subject. When the antenna is fully pulled out from the wireless communication terminal, the camera is switched to a close-up mode suitable for close-up photography, and when the antenna contracts in a state where the antenna is fully pulled out from the wireless communication terminal. The close-up photography method in the radio | wireless communication terminal of Claim 4 which notifies that the said antenna is not the state pulled out completely.

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