KR100697627B1 - Method and apparatus for photography using motion sensing - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for photography by using motion sensing are provided to enable a user to easily operate a timer even in the position of a subject when the user photographs an image by using the timer, thereby solving inconvenience that the user has to hastily hurry and wait for a long time for photographing due to the time of a timer. A portable terminal(200) comprises the followings: a camera unit which has a photographing camera unit(50a) for photographing a subject and a motion sensing camera unit(50b) for sensing motion; an image processing unit(60) which processes an image inputted from the camera unit by frame unit; a display unit(70); a storage unit(80); a control unit(90) which controls a storage unit(80) to store the image inputted to the image processing unit(60) from the camera unit; and a timer unit(110). The control unit(90) includes a frame comparison operation unit(95) which continuously compares frames inputted to the image processing unit(60) from the camera unit and transmits a timer operation signal to the timer unit(110) if the change of the frame is sensed.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001]

1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an internal configuration of a portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B are flowcharts illustrating a photographing method using motion detection using a portable terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a block diagram illustrating a motion detection area according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Description of the Related Art

10: wireless communication unit 20: data processing unit

30: audio processing unit 40: key input unit

42: character key 44: control key

46: motion detection mode key 48: shooting key

50a: photographing camera section 50b: motion detecting camera section

60: image processing unit 70:

80: storage unit 90: control unit

95: frame operation processing unit 110:

120: alarm unit 200: portable terminal

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable terminal having a camera function, and more particularly, to a photographing method and apparatus using motion detection capable of operating a timer through motion during image capturing using a timer.

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a portable terminal is a personal mobile communication terminal, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a smart phone, an International Mobile Telecommunication 2000 (IMT-2000) ), And a wireless LAN terminal, and is capable of carrying out various functions using an application program including wireless communication while being carried by an individual.

Such a mobile terminal has various functions such as a video call, an electronic note function, a voice or image storage function, an Internet function, and an entertainment function in the initial simple voice call and short message transmission function through the rapid technological development. In addition to these functions, a portable terminal having a digital camera function is added to easily capture and store a desired moving image or still image (hereinafter referred to as a " video ") and use it as a background image, And a function of transmitting to a terminal are provided to users.

In recent years, high-performance digital cameras ranging from 5 million pixels to 8 million pixels have been installed in portable terminals. Therefore, even if the image is captured using the portable terminal, it is possible to obtain a quality image similar to that of a conventional camera in terms of image quality.

 Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2005-36565 discloses a technique in which a self-timer is applied to a portable terminal having such a camera. According to this, the conventional portable terminal sets the timer time and the alarm output function to the camera menu item through the self-timer setting menu, and when the user presses the photographing key, the portable terminal detects the detected time and counts the set timer time. When the count is started, an alarm is displayed using a speaker or a backlight unit provided in the portable terminal. When the counting is completed, the subject is photographed.

In such a conventional portable terminal, as soon as the user presses the photographing key, the timer operates immediately. Therefore, when the user sets the time of the timer to be short, there is a problem that the user has to go to the photographing position promptly after posing the photographing key and take a pose. On the contrary, when the timer is set to be too long, there is a problem that the user has to wait for a long time at the photographing position and poses.

As described above, the conventional portable terminal uses only the method of setting the timer time, even though the time taken from when the user presses the photographing key to take the pose completely varies depending on the place and the situation. There is a limit to

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a shooting method and apparatus using motion detection capable of detecting a motion and operating a timer when shooting an image using a digital camera .

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable terminal having a camera function, including: a camera unit including a photographing camera unit for photographing a subject and a motion detection camera unit for detecting movement; A display unit connected to the image processing unit and displaying an image input by the camera unit, a storage unit storing an image displayed on the display unit, a control unit controlling the image input from the camera unit to the image processing unit to be stored in the storage unit And a timer unit for counting the set time when the timer operation signal is transmitted and for sending a photographing command to the control unit when the count is completed. The control unit continuously compares frames inputted from the camera unit to the image processing unit, A timer operation signal is transmitted to the timer unit And a frame comparison operation unit.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the photographing camera unit comprises a camera module having a high pixel, and the motion detecting camera unit comprises a camera module having a low pixel.

In addition, the present invention may further include an alarm unit for informing the subject of the elapsed time of the count time.

In this case, it is preferable that the alarm unit includes at least one of a speaker for outputting sound or a lamp for emitting light.

The present invention also relates to a method of photographing a portable terminal having a motion detecting camera unit and a photographing camera unit. The method includes a first step of entering a motion sensing photographing mode, a second step of inputting a photographing key, A fourth step of stopping the motion detection camera unit and operating the timer unit when the motion is detected in the third step, and a fourth step of stopping the counting of the timer unit and photographing the subject And a fifth step.

In the present invention, when the timer of the fourth step is operated, it is preferable that a sound is output or the lamp blinks so that the subject can recognize the start and progress of the timer portion.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the third step compares only a predetermined motion detection area among the image data input through the motion detection camera unit and senses the motion.

In this case, prior to the first step, setting a motion detection zone may be further included.

In addition, the motion detection area of the present invention is preferably set at the edge of the image input through the motion detection camera unit.

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

In the following description of the embodiments of the present invention, descriptions of techniques which are well known in the technical field of the present invention and are not directly related to the present invention will be omitted. In addition, detailed description of components having substantially the same configuration and function will be omitted.

For the same reason, some of the elements in the accompanying drawings are exaggerated, omitted, or schematically shown, and the size of each element does not entirely reflect the actual size.

1 is a view schematically showing an internal configuration of a portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a portable terminal 200 according to the present embodiment includes a controller 90, a wireless communication unit 10, a data processing unit 20, an audio processing unit 30, a key input unit 40, 50a, a motion detection camera unit 50b, an image processing unit 60, a display unit 70, and a storage unit 80.

The controller 90 performs the overall control operation of the portable terminal 200. In addition, the control unit 90 includes a frame comparison operation unit 95 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The frame comparison operation unit 95 detects a change in motion using the image input from the motion detection camera unit 50b, which will be described later.

The wireless communication unit 10 performs transmission / reception of corresponding data for wireless communication of the portable terminal 200. The wireless communication unit 10 may include an RF transmitter for up-converting and amplifying the frequency of a transmitted signal, and an RF receiver for low-noise amplifying the received signal and down-converting the frequency of the received signal. The wireless communication unit 10 may receive data through a wireless channel and output the data to the data processing unit 20, and may receive the data output from the data processing unit 20 and transmit the data through the wireless channel.

The data processing unit 20 includes a transmission module for encoding and modulating a signal for transmission over a wireless channel, and a reception module for demodulating and decoding the signal received through the wireless channel. The data processing unit 20 demodulates / decodes the received data and provides the data to the control unit 90.

The audio processing unit 30 may include a codec (Codec: Decoder). The codec may include a data codec for processing packet data and an audio codec for processing audio signals such as voice. Accordingly, the audio processing unit 30 converts the digital audio signal received by the data processing unit 20 during voice communication of the portable terminal 200 into an analog signal through an audio codec and reproduces the converted analog signal through a speaker. On the contrary, Converts the audio signal into a digital audio signal through an audio codec, and provides the digital audio signal to the data processing unit 20.

The key input unit 40 includes a plurality of character keys 42 for inputting numbers and character information and control keys 44 for controlling the operation of the portable terminal 200. In addition, the key input unit 40 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a motion detection mode key 46 and a photographing key 48. The motion detection mode key 46 is used to change the portable terminal 200 from the normal mode or the photographing mode to the motion detection photographing mode and the photographing key 48 is a key for photographing the image and storing it in the storage unit 80 Key. The motion detection mode key 46 and the photographing key 48 of the present embodiment may be implemented in software or may be implemented in hardware by being connected to various control keys 44. [

The photographing camera unit 50a includes a camera sensor that photographs an image captured through a lens, converts the photographed optical signal into an electrical signal, and a signal processor that converts an analog image signal photographed by the camera sensor into digital data. Here, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) sensor may be used as the camera sensor and a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) as the signal processing unit, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

The motion detecting camera unit 50b has the same configuration as that of the photographing camera unit 50a, but is not used for photographing the image but is used for detecting the motion of the subject. Therefore, it is preferable that the photographing camera unit 50a uses a camera module of a high pixel and the motion-sensing camera unit 50b uses a camera module of a low pixel.

Meanwhile, in the present embodiment, a portable terminal 200 having a photographing camera unit 50a and a motion-sensing camera unit 50b separately for capturing an image and sensing motion is disclosed. It is possible to perform both the photographing and the movement detection by using the photographing camera unit 50a of the high-pixel area, but the present invention is not limited to this in order to minimize the load on the portable terminal 200. [

The image processing unit 60 processes the image signal output from the photographing camera unit 50a on a frame-by-frame basis, and then outputs the image data according to the display characteristics and size of the display unit 70. [ The image processing unit 60 processes the video signal output from the motion detection camera unit 50b on a frame basis and then transmits the video data to the frame comparison and operation unit 95 of the control unit 90. [ In this embodiment, the image input unit 50a and the motion detection camera unit 50b are all processed using one image processing unit 60. However, if necessary, the image pickup camera unit 50a and the motion detection camera unit 50b It is also possible to connect a separate image processing unit 60 to each unit 50b.

The image processing unit 60 includes an image codec and compresses the image data displayed on the display unit 70 in a predetermined manner or restores the compressed image data into original image data. The image codec may be a JPEG codec, an MPEG codec, a Wavelet codec, or the like.

The display unit 70 displays the image data output from the image processing unit 60 on the screen. Here, the display unit 70 may be a liquid crystal display (LCD). In this case, the display unit 70 may include an LCD control unit 90, a memory capable of storing image data, and an LCD display device. In this case, when the LCD is implemented by a touch screen method, the screen of the display unit 70 may be operated as an input unit.

The storage unit 80 includes a program memory and a data memory. Programs for controlling the general operation of the portable terminal 200 are stored in the program memory. The data memory stores the data generated during the execution of the programs and the still image or moving image inputted through the photographing camera unit 50a and stores the motion sensing image frame input through the motion detecting camera unit 50b do.

The timer unit 110 is connected to the control unit 90. When the timer operation signal is inputted in the frame comparison operation unit 95, the timer unit 110 counts a preset time preset by the user. send.

The alarm unit 120 is connected to the timer unit 110 and is connected to a lamp and a speaker which are generally mounted on the portable terminal 200 for informing the user when the timer unit 110 is operated. The alarm unit 120 blinks the lamp according to the setting of the user or outputs a specific sound such as voice through the speaker.

2 is a flowchart schematically illustrating a method of photographing using motion detection according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the controller 90 determines whether there is an input of the motion sensing mode key 46 (S110). If there is no input of the motion detection mode key 46, the portable terminal 200 is set to a general image capture mode and used. Therefore, the motion detecting camera unit 50b does not operate, and only the photographing camera unit 50a operates and photographs a still image or a moving image.

Thereafter, when the user inputs the motion detection mode key 46, the control unit 90 changes the mode of the portable terminal 200 to the motion detection shooting mode, and then waits for the input of the shooting key 48.

When the portable terminal 200 enters the motion detection shooting mode, the step of inputting the shooting key 48 proceeds (S120). When the user presses the photographing key 48 after positioning the portable terminal 200 at a desired position, a photographing instruction is input from the key input unit 40 to the control unit 90. [ Accordingly, the control unit 90 rapidly operates the motion-sensing camera unit 50b, and the motion-sensing camera unit 50b senses the motion of the subject (S130).

As described above, in the portable terminal 200 of the present embodiment, when the photographing key is input in the motion sensing photographing mode, the photographing camera unit 50a and the motion sensing camera unit 50b operate together. At this time, the same image is input to the photographing camera unit 50a and the motion detecting camera unit 50b.

Subsequently, a step of detecting a motion in the motion detection zone proceeds (S140). Here, the motion detection zone is a specific zone for detecting motion among the images input from the motion detection camera unit 50b, which will be described in detail as follows.

3 is a block diagram illustrating a motion detection area according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, when a user photographs an image using a timer function, a user, that is, a person is a subject P, the motion of the subject P is detected Everything will be detected. Accordingly, in this embodiment, the motion detection area A0 is set to a standardized size, not the whole image, and only motion within the motion detection area A0 is detected.

In addition, in the position setting of the motion detection area A0, since the subject P is mainly located at the center of the image at the time of image capturing, when the motion detection area A0 is positioned at the center of the image, There is a problem that the motion is detected by an operation or the like which takes an image. Accordingly, in this embodiment, the motion detection area A0 is located at the edge of the image input through the motion detection camera unit. Therefore, even if the subject P moves in the central portion of the image, it does not recognize the motion, but only when it moves at the edge portion of the image.

On the other hand, the position of the motion detection area A0 is preset by the user. That is, the user sets one of the edges of the image displayed on the display unit 70 as the motion detection area A0 prior to photographing the image. In addition, the user sets a time interval to set a certain time interval to compare images input from the motion detection camera.

The motion detection process will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG.

When the motion detection camera unit 50b starts to operate by inputting a photographing command, the frame comparison operation unit 95 outputs the image data of the motion detection area A0 from the image processing unit 60 And stores it in the storage unit 80. After a predetermined time (for example, 0.5s) has elapsed, the frame comparison operation unit 95 receives the image data of the motion detection area A0 input from the motion detection camera unit 50b at the current point, And is compared with the previous image data stored in the storage unit 80. FIG.

The frame comparison operation unit 95 repeats this process and continuously compares the image data. If the previous image data and the current image data are largely different from each other, it is determined that the motion is detected.

When the subject P generates a motion in the motion detection area A0 using a hand or the like, the frame comparison calculation unit 95 detects motion in the motion detection area A0, (S150). At the same time, the frame comparison operation unit 95 transmits a timer operation signal to the timer unit 110 and the alarm unit 120 (S160).

The timer unit 110, which has received the timer operation signal, counts a predetermined time by the user. The alarm unit 120 connected to the timer unit outputs a specific sound such as voice through a speaker, blinks the lamp, The fact that the timer is operating is notified (S170). At this time, the alarm unit 120 gradually increases the sound volume or rapidly increases the flashing speed of the lamp so that the subject can easily recognize that the count completion time of the timer unit 110 is approaching.

On the other hand, when the timer unit 110 is operated, the alarm unit 120 may use either sound output or lamp blinking, or may be used together. The alarm unit 120 is not limited to the speaker and the lamp described above and can display the counted number using the LCD of the display unit 70 or display the counted number on the display unit 70 The entire screen or the key input unit 40 is blinked.

Subsequently, the counting of the timer unit 110 is completed, and the photographing camera unit 50a photographs the subject (S180). The control unit 90 stores the image data inputted from the photographing camera unit 50a and passed through the image processing unit 60 in the storage unit 80 at the same time that the counting of the timer unit 110 is completed.

When the photographing of the image is completed through the above process, the portable terminal 200 is changed to the normal photographing mode. When the photographing is to be performed again using the motion sensing photographing mode, the user repeats the above- (S190).

Meanwhile, the method and apparatus for photographing using motion sensing according to the present invention are not limited to the embodiments, and various modifications may be made by those skilled in the art within the technical scope of the present invention. For example, in the present embodiment, the video data of the motion detection area input from the motion detection camera unit is compared through the frame comparison operation unit installed in the control unit. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. If the image data of the motion detection area can be easily compared, various applications are possible. In addition, although the present embodiment shows an example applied to a portable terminal having a camera function, it can be variously applied to any electronic apparatus having a digital camera function. In addition, the various elements and regions in the figures are schematically drawn. Accordingly, the invention is not limited by the relative size or spacing depicted in the accompanying drawings.

As described above, according to the present invention, since the timer unit is operated by using the motion detection camera unit, the user can easily operate the timer at the position of the subject when photographing using the timer, It is possible to eliminate the inconvenience that the user rushes or waits for a long time by the time.

Claims (9)

A portable terminal having a camera function, A camera unit including a photographing camera unit for photographing a subject and a motion detection camera unit for detecting movement; An image processing unit for processing an image input from the camera unit on a frame-by-frame basis; A display unit connected to the image processing unit to display an image input by the camera unit as an external unit; A storage unit for storing an image displayed on the display unit; A control unit for controlling the image input from the camera unit to the image processing unit to be stored in the storage unit; And And a timer unit for counting the set time when the timer operation signal is transmitted and transmitting a photographing command to the control unit when counting is completed, Wherein the control unit includes a frame comparison operation unit for continuously comparing frames input from the camera unit to the image processing unit and transmitting the timer operation signal to the timer unit when a change in the frame is detected, terminal. The portable terminal of claim 1, wherein the camera unit comprises a camera module having a high pixel, and the camera module comprises a low-pixel camera module. The portable terminal of claim 1, further comprising an alarm unit for informing the subject of an elapsed time of the count time. 4. The apparatus according to claim 3, A speaker for outputting sound, and a lamp for emitting light. A method for photographing a portable terminal having a motion detecting camera unit and a photographing camera unit, A first step of entering a motion detection shooting mode; A second step of inputting a photographing key and operating the motion detecting camera unit; A third step of detecting movement of an image input from the motion detection camera unit; A fourth step of, when the motion is detected in the third step, stopping the motion detection camera unit and operating the timer unit; And And counting the timer unit, and photographing the subject by the photographing camera unit. 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein, when the timer in the fourth step is operated, a sound is output or the lamp blinks so that the subject can recognize the start and progress of the timer unit Way. 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein, in the third step, motion detection is performed by comparing only a preset motion detection area among the image data input through the motion detection camera unit. The method according to claim 7, further comprising setting the motion detection area before the first step. The method according to claim 7, wherein the motion detection area is set at an edge portion of an image input through the motion detection camera unit.

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