KR100689465B1 - Camera phone having infrared sensor and method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a camera phone having a function of inputting an image of a subject, comprising: a memory configured to correspond to and store a voltage value in digital display data indicating a temperature value, a sensor unit configured to detect an external temperature and output the voltage value; In response to a user request, the sensor unit detects a temperature of a subject input to the camera and outputs the voltage value in a camera mode, and reads digital display data corresponding to the voltage value output from the sensor unit from the memory. And a display unit for synthesizing and displaying the digital display data output from the control unit and an image of a subject input to the camera. Therefore, the present invention can easily measure the body temperature when checking the health of the user or fever of the infant through the camera phone. In addition, the recent prevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) infection can be easily checked using a camera phone without the need for expensive equipment.

Camera phone, infrared sensor

Description

Camera phone with infrared sensor and its method {CAMERA PHONE HAVING INFRARED SENSOR AND METHOD THEREOF}             

1 is a block diagram of a camera phone according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation process of a camera phone according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3A and 3B are exemplary diagrams for describing an operation process of a camera phone according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention relates to a mobile communication terminal, and more particularly, to a camera phone (ie, a mobile communication terminal with a camera) having an infrared sensor and a method thereof.

In general, a mobile communication terminal is a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a personal communication services phone (PCS), an IMT-2000 terminal (International Mobile Telecommunication-2000), GSM (Global System For Mobile Communication) It refers to a device that provides a communication function such as a terminal, such as a terminal, to make a call or exchange data while moving.

The mobile communication terminal is a device commonly used anywhere in the world regardless of gender, age and age, and is recognized as a necessity to always carry around. Therefore, the mobile communication terminal has become a miniaturized, slim, and light weight in consideration of portability, and is moving toward multimedia for pursuing more various functions. In particular, future mobile communication terminals will be increasingly miniaturized, multifunctional and versatile, and will be modified to adapt to various multimedia environments and the Internet environment.

There are many types of mobile communication terminals currently in use. The most important function of the mobile communication terminal is to talk to the other party, but in addition to the ability to exchange various information to meet the needs of users who require more various functions, various other additional functions are added. Among these additional functions, a camera is provided in the mobile communication terminal so that a user of the mobile communication terminal can capture and store an image of a desired subject through the camera, or transmit an image of the photographed subject. In the following description, a mobile communication terminal equipped with a camera is called a camera phone.

As described above, an attempt to extend the utility of the mobile communication terminal continues. One of these attempts is to attach a thermometer to the mobile communication terminal to inform the user of the ambient temperature. However, in the mobile communication terminal with a thermometer as described above, the thermometer attached to the mobile communication terminal measures the temperature by its own function, which does not extend the utility of the mobile communication terminal, but rather coarsens the outside of the main body of the mobile communication terminal. Made it. In addition, when the mobile communication terminal falls to the floor there is a high possibility that the thermometer is broken, and when the user wants to measure the temperature of a specific object, the user can directly measure the temperature of the mobile communication terminal.

Therefore, if the user can measure the temperature while looking at a specific object or person without directly touching the mobile terminal to a specific object as described above, the mobile communication terminal may further increase the utility as a multimedia device.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a camera phone and a method for checking a body temperature of a subject to be photographed when a user photographs an image of the subject.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a camera phone having a function of inputting an image of a subject, comprising: a memory for storing voltage values corresponding to digital display data representing temperature values; And a sensor unit for outputting the sensor to detect the temperature of the subject input to the camera in the camera mode in response to a user's request, and output the voltage as a voltage value, and digitally corresponding to the voltage value output from the sensor unit. And a control unit for reading and outputting display data from the memory, and a display unit for synthesizing and displaying an image of a digital display data output from the control unit and an object input to the camera.

In addition, the present invention provides a method of performing a camera function of the camera phone, the process of pre-stored in the memory by matching the voltage value to the digital display data indicating the temperature value, and the camera phone is input in the camera mode in response to the user request Sensing the temperature of the subject and outputting the voltage value; reading digital display data corresponding to the output voltage value from the memory; and reading the read digital display data and the image of the subject input to the camera. And synthesizing the display on the display unit.

Preferably, the method of performing a camera function of the camera phone further comprises the step of storing the displayed digital display data and the image of the subject in a separate area of the memory.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the same elements in the figures are represented by the same numerals wherever possible. In addition, detailed descriptions of well-known functions and configurations that may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention will be omitted.

1 is a block diagram of a camera phone according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The illustrated camera phone 100 includes a key input unit 110, a display unit 120, a camera unit 130, a control unit (MSM) 140, a sensor unit 150, a wireless transmission / reception unit 160, and a memory 170. And an audio processor 180.

The key input unit 110 has a key matrix structure (not shown), and includes a character key, numeric keys, various function keys, and an external volume key to output a key input signal corresponding to a key input by a user to the controller 140. do.

The display unit 120 may use a liquid crystal display (LCD) to output various display information output from the mobile communication terminal. In this case, the display unit 120 may include an LCD controller and a memory capable of storing image data. And an LCD display element or the like.

The display unit 120 outputs various types of information received by the wireless transmitter / receiver 160, and displays an image signal output from an image processor (not shown) and user data output from the controller 140. Meanwhile, when the LCD is implemented by using a touch screen method, the display unit 120 may operate as an input unit.

The camera unit 130 may include a camera sensor (not shown) for converting an optical signal detected at the time of image capturing into an electrical signal, and a signal processor (not shown) for converting an analog image signal photographed from the camera sensor into digital data. ).

The camera sensor is assumed to be a charge coupled device (CCD) sensor, and the signal processor may be implemented by a digital signal processor (DSP). In addition, the camera sensor and the signal processor may be integrally implemented or may be implemented separately.

The controller 140 controls the overall operation of the camera phone according to the embodiment of the present invention. The controller 140 switches and controls the driving mode of the camera phone 100 based on various key input signals provided from the key input unit 10.

In addition, the controller 140 controls the sensor unit 150 at the user's request to detect the temperature of the subject input to the camera in the camera mode and output the voltage value. In addition, the controller 140 reads digital display data corresponding to the voltage value output from the sensor unit 150 from the memory 170. Subsequently, the controller 140 synthesizes the read digital display data and the image of the subject input to the camera and displays the synthesized image on the display unit 120. Meanwhile, the controller 140 may store the synthesized information (ie, digital display data and an image of the subject) in the memory 170 according to a user request.

In addition, the controller 140 controls the sensor unit 150 to detect the temperature of the subject inputted in the camera mode at predetermined intervals (for example, 10 seconds) and to output a signal value. At this time, the period for detecting the temperature of the subject can be set by the user.

The sensor unit 150 detects an external temperature and outputs the voltage as a voltage value. For this purpose, the sensor unit 150 is implemented as an infrared sensor that senses the physical quantity of the external temperature using infrared light and outputs the signal as a voltage value capable of signal processing. It is preferable. In addition, the sensor unit 150 detects the temperature of the subject input to the camera in the camera mode under the control of the controller 140 and outputs the voltage value.

The radio transmitter / receiver 160 is a radio frequency (RF) unit and refers to a comprehensive component of a high frequency processor, an intermediate frequency processor, and a baseband processor.

The wireless transmitter / receiver 160 is responsible for transmitting and receiving voice data, text data, video data, and control data under the control of the controller 140.

The memory 170 may be configured as a program memory, a data memory, and the like to store various information necessary for controlling the operation of the camera phone 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The memory 170 also stores various pieces of information selected based on the user's selection information.

The memory 170 associates voltage values with digital display data representing temperature values and stores them in a table form as shown in Table 1 below.

Temperature value Voltage value 0 ℃ 0 V 1 ℃ 0.1 V … … 10 ℃ 1 V … … 20 ℃ 2 V … … 30 ℃ 3 V … … 40 ℃ 4V

Referring to Table 1, it can be seen that the voltage value corresponding to the temperature value of 0 ° C is 0V, 1V at 10 ° C, 2V at 20 ° C, 3V at 30 ° C, and 4V at 40 ° C. Table 1 is not limited to the present invention, it should be noted that it is only a preferred embodiment.

In addition, the memory 170 may store the digital display data displayed on the display unit 120 and the image of the subject under separate control under the control of the controller 140.

The audio processor 180 modulates the electrical signal input from the microphone and converts the electrical signal into voice data. The audio processor 180 demodulates the encoded voice data input from the wireless transmitter / receiver 160 into an electrical signal and outputs it to the speaker. .

In addition, the audio processor 180 may include a codec for converting and playing a digital audio signal received by the wireless transmitter / receiver 160 into an analog signal or converting an analog audio signal generated from a microphone into a digital audio signal. desirable. The codec includes a data codec for processing packet data and an audio codec for processing an audio signal such as voice. The codecs may be separately provided or included in the controller 140.

2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation process of a camera phone according to an embodiment of the present invention.

1 and 2, the controller 140 controls the voltage value to correspond to the digital display data indicating the temperature value and stores the voltage value in the memory 170 in a table form as shown in Table 1 (S110).

The controller 140 checks whether there is a user's temperature check request (S120). The temperature check request may be a temperature check request through a predetermined key input or a menu key input to perform a voice input or a temperature checking operation.

The controller 140 switches the operation mode of the camera phone 100 to the camera mode and drives the sensor unit 150 when the user's body temperature request is requested (S130).

The sensor unit 150 detects the temperature of the subject input to the camera in the camera mode under the control of the controller 140 and outputs the corresponding voltage value to the controller 140 (S140). That is, the sensor unit 150 senses the temperature of the subject to be previewed on the display unit 120.

In the meantime, the sensor unit 150 may detect the temperature of the subject of the image input in the camera mode every preset period (for example, 10 seconds) and output the signal value. You can set it yourself.

When the sensor unit 150 outputs the voltage value, the controller 140 reads digital display data corresponding to the output voltage value from the memory 170 (S150). For example, when the voltage value output from the sensor unit 150 is 3.7V, the controller 140 reads the digital display data 37 ° C corresponding thereto from the memory 170.

The controller 140 synthesizes the read digital display data and the image of the subject input to the camera and displays the synthesized image on the display 120 (S160).

On the other hand, the control unit 140 checks whether there is a request for storing the synthesized information from the user (S170). The synthesized information refers to information displayed on the display unit 120, that is, information obtained by combining the read digital display data and an image of a subject input to the camera.

If there is the storage request, the controller 140 controls to store the synthesized information in a separate area of the memory 170 (S180).

3A and 3B are schematic views illustrating an operation process of a camera phone according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

3 (a) and 3 (b), FIG. 3 (a) shows an image of a subject (eg, a standing child) inputted to a camera by a camera phone in response to a user's request for checking the temperature, and the image of the subject. The screen 120 is shown by synthesizing and displaying the digital display data for the temperature value.

Figure 3 (a) is divided into three parts of the upper, middle and lower part of the image of the child to be previewed on the LCD, the body temperature detected in the upper face portion (A) 37 ℃, the middle chest and arms The body temperature detected in the body portion (B) comprising a 36.5 ℃, the body temperature detected in the lower body portion (C) that is the bottom is displayed at 36 ℃. At this time, the temperature value displayed as digital display data on the screen of FIG. 3 (a) is changed each time the voltage value detected by the sensor unit 150 is updated every predetermined period.

FIG. 3 (b) is a screen in which an image of a child, which is a subject to be previewed, is displayed on the LCD, the upper part A of the face part and the middle part B of the torso part including the chest and the arm. The body temperature of) is 38 ℃, the body temperature of the middle (B) is 37 ℃.

In the above description of the present invention, specific embodiments have been described, but various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be defined by the described embodiments, but should be determined not only by the claims but also by the equivalents of the claims.

 As described above, the present invention can easily measure the body temperature when checking the health of the user or fever of the infant through the camera phone. In addition, the recent outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) infection can be easily checked using a camera phone without the need for expensive equipment.

Claims (8)

A camera phone having a function of inputting an image of a subject, A memory for storing voltage values in correspondence with digital display data representing temperature values; A sensor unit for sensing an external temperature and outputting the voltage value; In response to a user request, the sensor unit detects a temperature of a subject input to the camera and outputs the voltage value in a camera mode, and reads digital display data corresponding to the voltage value output from the sensor unit from the memory. A control unit for outputting And a display unit for synthesizing and displaying the digital display data output from the controller and the image of the subject input to the camera. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor unit Camera phone, characterized in that the infrared sensor for detecting the physical quantity of the external temperature using the infrared rays and outputs the voltage value capable of signal processing. The method of claim 1, wherein the control unit And the sensor unit detects a temperature of a subject inputted in the camera mode at predetermined intervals and outputs a signal value thereof. The method of claim 1, wherein the control unit And control to store the synthesized digital display data and an image of a subject in the memory. In the camera function of the camera phone, Mapping the voltage values to digital display data representing the temperature values and storing them in memory in advance; In response to a user request, the camera phone detects the temperature of the subject input image in the camera mode and outputs the voltage value; Reading digital display data corresponding to the output voltage value from the memory; And synthesizing the read digital display data with an image of a subject input to the camera and displaying the synthesized image on the display unit. The method of claim 5, And storing the displayed digital display data and the image of the subject in a separate area of the memory. The method of claim 5, wherein the output process The camera function of the camera phone, characterized in that for sensing the temperature of the subject input image in the camera mode through a sensor unit for detecting the external temperature to output a voltage value. The method of claim 7, wherein the output process And detecting a temperature of a subject to be inputted in the camera mode at predetermined intervals and outputting a voltage value thereof.

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