JP2010199851A - Electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To directly detect the state that the finger is put over the lens part of an electronic device with an imaging function and to inform it to a user that photographing is troubled. <P>SOLUTION: A camera and illuminance sensor of a portable communication terminal with the camera are activated (step S1), and when the predetermined illuminance or higher is obtained ("YES" in step S3), the luminance of an imaging screen is detected (step S5). When the luminance of all the pixels included in a region which includes and continues to the periphery of the screen and is a predetermined size or larger is the predetermined illuminance or below ("YES" in step S7), it is reported that photographing is troubled visibly or by audible sound. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device, and more particularly to an electronic device having an imaging function.

  For example, electronic devices having an imaging function such as a digital still camera and a mobile phone with a camera are widely used. When many digital still cameras are activated for photographing, the lens portion protrudes outside the housing, so that it is possible to prevent a situation in which photographing is hindered by a finger on the lens. On the other hand, since the lens part does not protrude even when the camera of the camera-equipped mobile phone is activated, there is a possibility that a finger is put on the lens and obstructs photographing.

  In order to solve such a problem, there is known a technique for preventing a failure to take a picture with a finger on the lens (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3). The camera disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a plurality of light-receiving elements for distance measurement and photometry, and a finger is placed on one of the optical paths when a difference in brightness between the light-receiving elements is detected. It is judged and warned.

  The obstacle approach prevention camera disclosed in Patent Document 2 includes a red-eye reduction light-emitting unit that emits light toward the direction of the subject, and an AE light-receiving unit that measures the amount of light received from the direction of the subject adjacent thereto. In addition, when the finger approaches the red-eye reduction light emitting unit, the approach of the finger is detected by detecting an increase in the amount of light received by the AE light receiving unit due to the reflected light reflected from the obstacle.

  The digital camera disclosed in the above-mentioned patent document 3 has an aperture portion when auto-focus (AF) auxiliary light that should have been projected in a predetermined pattern from the auxiliary light emitting portion through the aperture portion is not detected from the image data. And detecting that the user's finger is hung on the flash window adjacent to the window.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2004-12497 (5th page, FIG. 7) JP-A-10-282551 (3rd page, FIG. 4) Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2006-301391 (10th page, FIG. 8)

  The camera disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above indirectly detects a state in which a finger is put on the assumption that the difference in brightness between a plurality of light receiving elements for distance measurement and photometry is due to the approach of the finger. However, since it cannot be said that such a difference in brightness does not occur even when the finger is not hung, there is a possibility of erroneous detection. In addition, since a plurality of light receiving elements are provided, it is not advantageous in terms of the number of parts, size, and manufacturing cost.

  The obstacle approach prevention camera disclosed in Patent Document 2 described above indirectly detects a state in which the finger is put on the assumption that the increase in the amount of received light of the red-eye reduction light is due to the approach of the finger. Since it cannot be said that such an increase in the amount of received light does not occur even when the finger is not put on, there is a possibility of erroneous detection.

  The digital camera disclosed in Patent Document 3 described above indirectly detects a state where a finger is applied based on the assumption that the AF auxiliary light that should have been projected is not detected from the image data due to the approach of the finger. However, there is a possibility of erroneous detection because such a phenomenon cannot occur without a finger.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problem, and directly detects that a finger is placed on a lens portion of an electronic device having an imaging function, thereby notifying that there is a problem in shooting. The purpose is to get.

  In order to achieve the above object, an electronic apparatus according to the present invention includes a camera, an illuminance measuring unit that measures ambient illuminance, and a screen that the camera shoots when the illuminance measured by the illuminance measuring unit is equal to or greater than a predetermined illuminance. Determining means for determining that there is a problem in shooting when the brightness of all pixels included in a region that is equal to or larger than the predetermined size and that includes the periphery of the screen is equal to or lower than the predetermined brightness; And a notification means for notifying that it has been determined that there is a problem.

  According to the present invention, it is directly determined that a finger is on by determining whether or not a finger is on a lens unit of an electronic device having an imaging function based on the captured image. It is possible to detect that there is a problem in shooting.

The external appearance (front) figure of the electronic device (mobile communication terminal) which concerns on the Example of this invention. The external appearance (back) figure of the portable communication terminal which concerns on the Example of this invention. The block diagram of the portable communication terminal which concerns on the Example of this invention. The flowchart showing operation | movement of the portable communication terminal which concerns on the Example of this invention. The figure showing an example of the screen image | photographed after the camera starting of the mobile communication terminal which concerns on the Example of this invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state where a finger is placed on the screen illustrated in FIG. 5. The modification of the flowchart represented to FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is an external view of a mobile communication terminal 1 with a camera, which is an electronic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The mobile communication terminal 1 is configured by connecting a first housing 11 and a second housing 12 so as to be openable and closable. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the first housing 11 and the second housing 12 are opened from the user side (front side). However, the casing configuration of the mobile communication terminal 1 is not limited to the so-called folding type as shown in FIG.

  A display unit 14 made of, for example, a liquid crystal device is attached to the first housing 11. The display unit 14 can display a text or an image, and the mobile communication terminal 1 uses the display unit 14 to display an application with screen display (for example, e-mail transmission / reception, web page browsing, phone book creation and browsing, etc.). Can be executed. A receiver 15 is attached to the first housing 11. A transmitter 16 is attached to the second housing 12. The mobile communication terminal 1 can be used for voice calls by including the receiver 15 and transmitter 16.

  An operation unit 17 (represented by a dashed frame) is attached to the second housing 12 and includes a plurality of operation keys. The operation unit 17 may include operation keys provided on the side surface or the back surface of the first housing 11 or the second housing 12 (not shown). When an operation key belonging to the operation unit 17 is operated, the mobile communication terminal 1 can be activated, stopped, or a text or an operation command can be input. All of the display unit 14, the reception unit 15, the transmission unit 16, and the operation unit 17 described above function as a human interface unit of the mobile communication terminal 1.

  FIG. 2 is an external view of the mobile communication terminal 1 viewed from the opposite side (back side) from that shown in FIG. A camera 13 is attached to a portion of the back surface of the second housing 12 close to the first housing 11. An illuminance sensor 18 is attached at a position adjacent to the camera 13. The illumination sensor 18 can measure ambient illumination.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the mobile communication terminal 1. The mobile communication terminal 1 includes an antenna 19 and a transmission / reception unit 20 and can transmit and receive radio waves with a mobile communication base station (not shown). The mobile communication terminal 1 includes a voice interface unit 21, a control unit 22, a random access memory (RAM) 23, and a read only memory (ROM) 24.

  The transmission / reception unit 20, the audio interface unit 21, the RAM 23 and the ROM 24, and the camera 13, the display unit 14, the operation unit 17 and the illuminance sensor 18 described with reference to FIG. 1 are connected to the control unit 22 through a common bus, for example. Monitored and controlled by the unit 22. The control unit 22 is configured by a single processing device such as a microprocessor or a combination of a plurality of chips.

  The RAM 23 is a memory that is used by the control unit 22 to read and write a required program or data as needed to realize the functions of the mobile communication terminal 1. The ROM 24 is a memory in which a program or data is written in advance.

  In the case of a voice call, an encoded voice signal transmitted from the other party through the base station is received by the transmitting / receiving unit 20 via the antenna 19 and subjected to processing such as demodulation and error correction, and further, a voice interface unit. Decoded at 21 and reproduced from the receiver 15. The voice picked up by the transmitter 16 is encoded by the voice interface unit 21, error-correction encoded, modulated and amplified by the transmitter / receiver 20, and then transmitted from the antenna 19 to the base station.

  In the case of data communication, a data signal transmitted from the other party through the base station is received by the transmission / reception unit 20 via the antenna 19 and subjected to processing such as demodulation and error correction, and is transmitted to the control unit 22 and sent to the RAM 23. Or displayed on the display unit 14. Further, data input from the operation unit 17 or read from the RAM 23 is transmitted to the base station from the antenna 19 after being subjected to error correction coding, modulation and amplification in the transmission / reception unit 20.

  The mobile communication terminal 1 includes a luminance detection unit 25. The luminance detection unit 25 can obtain the luminance signal Y for each pixel by converting the RGB imaging signal output from the camera 13 into a YUV format signal.

  With reference to FIG. 4 thru | or FIG. 6, the operation | movement which concerns on the present Example of the mobile communication terminal 1 is demonstrated. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the mobile communication terminal 1. When processing related to the present embodiment is started based on, for example, operation of the operation unit 17 (START), the control unit 22 activates the camera 13 and the illuminance sensor 18 (step S1). If the ambient illuminance measured by the illuminance sensor 18 is greater than or equal to a predetermined illuminance (for example, 250 lux, but is not limited to this) (“YES” in step S3), the control unit 22 detects the luminance detection unit 25. On the other hand, control is performed to obtain the luminance signal Y for each pixel by converting the RGB imaging signal output from the camera 13 into a YUV format signal (step S5).

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen shot after the camera 13 is activated in step S1. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state where a finger is placed on the same screen. As shown in FIG. 6, the luminance detection unit 25 is a continuous area and includes an area of a (horizontal) × b (vertical) pixel or more including cross-hatching (cross-hatching). It is detected that the brightness of () is below the predetermined brightness.

  The size (a × b) of the cross-hatching area is equal to or larger than a predetermined size for determining that there is a problem in shooting because the lens portion is in a state where a finger is applied, and the cross-hatching area is continuous. If it includes the periphery of the screen (“YES” in step S7), the control unit 22 determines that there is a problem with shooting and notifies that fact (step S9).

  For example, the control unit 22 can notify that there is a problem with the above-described shooting by a visible means of displaying a predetermined text or image on the display unit 14. The control unit 22 may notify that there is a problem with the above-described shooting by generating a predetermined audible sound from the receiver 15 or another speaker (not shown).

  When the above notification is made, the user of the mobile communication terminal 1 can notice the state in which the finger is hung on the lens unit and resolve this. After the notification, the control unit 22 displays the imaging screen on the display unit 14 to enable preview (step S11), and ends the processing related to the present embodiment (END).

  If the ambient illuminance measured by the illuminance sensor 18 in step S3 is less than the predetermined illuminance (“NO” in step S3), a low-luminance region spreads on the screen even when the finger is not put on. Therefore, the control unit 22 shifts to the preview without determining the presence or absence of the shooting trouble. Further, if the condition for determining that the finger is in the above state is not satisfied in step S7 (“NO” in step S7), the control unit 22 proceeds to the preview without notifying the shooting trouble.

  With reference to FIG. 7, the modification of the operation | movement which concerns on the present Example of the mobile communication terminal 1 is demonstrated. After the processing is started, the operations from step S1 to step S7 are the same as those shown in FIG. When the condition for determining that the finger is placed in step S7 is satisfied (“YES” in step S7), the control unit 22 causes the luminance detection unit 25 to detect the luminance of all pixels in the entire screen. .

  As a result, if the luminance of the pixel in at least a part of the screen exceeds the predetermined luminance (“NO” in step S8), the control unit 22 proceeds to the processing after step S9 described above. On the other hand, if the luminance of all the pixels in the entire screen is equal to or lower than the predetermined luminance (“YES” in step S8), it is predicted that the subject of low luminance is being photographed. Move to preview without determining whether or not there is.

  According to the embodiment of the present invention described above, it is possible to directly detect a state where a finger is applied to the lens unit and notify the user of the presence or absence of a shooting trouble. Note that the types, shapes, configurations, connections, processing flows, and the like of the mobile communication terminals in the above description are examples, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The electronic device according to the present invention is not limited to the mobile communication terminal.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Mobile communication terminal 11 1st housing | casing 12 2nd housing | casing 13 Camera 14 Display part 15 Reception part 16 Transmission part 17 Operation part 18 Illuminance sensor 19 Antenna 20 Transmission / reception part 21 Voice interface part 22 Control part 23 RAM
24 ROM
25 Luminance detector

Claims (4)

A camera,
Illuminance measuring means capable of measuring ambient illuminance;
When the illuminance measured by the illuminance measuring means is equal to or greater than a predetermined illuminance, the luminance of all pixels included in a region that includes the periphery of the screen and is continuous and is equal to or greater than the predetermined size is a predetermined luminance. A determination means for determining that shooting is hindered when:
An electronic device comprising: a notification unit capable of notifying that the determination unit has determined that there is a problem with shooting.   2. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit is capable of determining whether there is a trouble in shooting except when the luminance of all pixels in the entire screen is equal to or lower than the predetermined luminance. .   The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the notification unit can notify that it is determined that there is a problem in the shooting by visually displaying a predetermined text or image.   The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the notification unit can notify that it has been determined that there is a problem with the photographing by generating a predetermined audible sound.

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