KR100751095B1 - Method and Device for inputting key in electric device having camera module and wheel key - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a key input method and apparatus in an electronic device having a camera module and a wheel key. According to an embodiment of the present invention, in an electronic device having a camera module and a wheel key, the position of the input point provided in the wheel key is analyzed by analyzing an image of the wheel key photographed by the camera module according to an input key input command. An electronic device is provided, which recognizes a key according to the present invention. Therefore, there is an effect of providing a key input method and apparatus in an electronic device having a camera module and a wheel key that can maximize the utilization of parts by allowing the provided camera module to be used universally.

Wheel key, camera, key, enter

Description

Method and device for inputting key in electric device having camera module and wheel key}

1 is a perspective view of an electronic device having a camera module and a wheel key according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side cross-sectional view of an electronic device having a camera module and a wheel key according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a functional block diagram of an electronic device having a camera module and a wheel key according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 illustrates a key value table in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

5 and 6 are views for explaining a method for recognizing a key using an image in the image analysis module of the electronic device according to each preferred embodiment of the present invention.

7 is a diagram illustrating a process of recognizing a key by analyzing an image captured by an electronic device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

100: electronic device

110: body

120: camera module

130: wheel key

132: input point

134: zone

140: enter button

150: display module

160: input module

170: video analysis module

175: key value recognition module

180: memory

190: processor

The present invention relates to key input in an electronic device, and more particularly, to a key input method and apparatus in an electronic device having a camera module and a wheel key.

One of the most used electronic devices in recent years is a mobile phone such as a PCS and a mobile communication terminal such as a PDA. Recently, with the rapid development of electronic engineering and communication engineering, mobile communication terminals have various functions. That is, with the rapid development of wireless communication and data communication technology, people can use not only voice calls but also Internet access, video communication and video message transmission using mobile communication terminals. Also, due to the rapid spread of mobile communication terminals, mobile communication terminals are becoming an essential means of communication in modern life, such as a large amount of communication occurring in human relationships through mobile communication terminals.

As a method of inputting data using the mobile communication terminal, first, a method of directly inputting a plurality of key buttons on a key pad of a mobile communication terminal and second, an electronic data input tool such as an electronic pen is used. There is a method of writing data directly into a liquid crystal display (LCD) of a mobile communication terminal by using a third method and a third method of inputting voice data into a voice input device of a mobile communication terminal.

Among these methods, the data input method using the electronic data input tool is relatively widespread. However, since it requires a large LCD screen, it is not suitable for a mobile phone with a small LCD screen and has a relatively large LCD screen. It is mainly used for Digital Assistants.

In addition, the method of inputting voice data into the voice input device is difficult to accurately identify and recognize the input voice data at the current voice recognition technology level. In addition, since a high specification system is required to support a smooth voice recognition speed, there are many difficulties in universal application to a mobile communication terminal.

Therefore, a method of directly pressing a key button is most widely used as a method for inputting data using a mobile communication terminal.

In more detail, in the method of inputting numeric data by using a key button of a mobile communication terminal, one key button is assigned to each number to be input, so that it can be input relatively easily. However, as the functions of the mobile communication terminal are diversified and developed, it is more frequent to input text data than numeric data to the mobile communication terminal. For example, when a text message is sent to the other party to the mobile communication terminal or a content to be memorized is input to the mobile communication terminal during a call.

As a method of inputting text data in the mobile communication terminal, select a text input mode by operating a mode selection key of the mobile communication terminal, and then display Korean alphabet or English alphabet, special characters and symbols, etc. displayed on the LCD screen. There is a method of moving to a character to be input by using a cursor moving key and inputting character data by pressing a character selection key. At this time, the selected character is displayed on the LCD screen of the mobile communication terminal.

As another method of inputting character data, the most common method currently includes one to several Hangul alphabets and English alphabets assigned to each key button on the keypad. There is a method of inputting character data through an operation process such as pressing over. Of course, the selected character is also displayed on the LCD screen of the mobile terminal.

However, such a method of directly inputting data by pressing a key button of the conventional mobile communication terminal has a disadvantage in that it is not suitable for inputting data due to the small size of the key button in the mobile communication terminal. That is, there is a problem in that an input error such as a key button is not pressed well or two or more key buttons are pressed at the same time while inputting data by pressing a key button. In addition, there is a problem that the key button is not normally pressed because foreign matter is stuck or attached to the gap in which the key button is formed.

In addition, in the conventional mobile communication terminal having a button-type keypad, a mold operation is required for each key button, which causes a problem that the manufacturing process of the mobile communication terminal becomes complicated and the manufacturing cost thereof increases. In addition, due to the fixed area occupied by the keypad, there is a problem in that the size and design of the entire mobile communication terminal are limited.

In addition, the conventional button-type keypad has a problem that the foreign matter is stuck or attached to the gap in which the key button is formed, the key button is not normally pressed.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, the key input method in an electronic device having a camera module and a wheel key that can maximize the utilization of the components by making the provided camera module universally available And to provide a device.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a key input method and apparatus using a plate-type wheel key and a camera module which are not provided with any circuit device.

In addition, the present invention can reduce the manufacturing cost for the key input means of the electronic device having a camera module, such as a mobile communication terminal key input method and apparatus in the electronic device having a camera module and a wheel key to increase sales There is another purpose to provide.

Still other objects of the present invention will become more apparent through the preferred embodiments described below.

According to an aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object, in the electronic device having a camera module and a wheel key, by analyzing the image of the wheel key captured by the camera module according to the input key input command There is provided an electronic device having a camera module and a wheel key, which recognizes a key according to a position of an input point provided in the wheel key.

In addition, an electronic device, the input module; Camera module; Wheel keys; An image analysis module that analyzes an image of the wheel key photographed by the camera module according to an operation of the input module and recognizes a key according to a position of an input point included in the wheel key; And a camera module and a wheel key including a key value recognition module that recognizes a key value corresponding to a key recognized by the image analysis module.

The input module may be a shutter of the camera module.

In addition, the camera module is mounted on the lower body and the wheel key is mounted on the upper body, the camera module can take a lower portion of the wheel key.

The image analysis module may recognize the key using an angle of the input point measured along an X axis and a Y axis having the center of the image as the center of the axis.

The image analysis module may classify the image into blocks having a predetermined size and recognize the key corresponding to the block in which the input point is located.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a key input method in an electronic device comprising: (a) photographing a wheel key by a camera module according to an input key input command; (b) analyzing a captured image and recognizing a key according to a position of an input point of the wheel key; And (c) a key input method in an electronic device having a camera module and a wheel key, comprising input processing of a key value corresponding to the key, and a recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing the method.

The key input command may be input according to a shutter operation of the camera module.

In addition, the step (b), the step of measuring the angle of the input point along the X-axis, Y-axis having the center of the image as the center of the axis; And recognizing the key preset to correspond to the angle.

The image may be divided into blocks having a predetermined size, and the key may be recognized according to a block in which the input point is located.

Hereinafter, a key input method and apparatus in an electronic device having a camera module and a wheel key according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Regardless, duplicate descriptions of the same or corresponding components will be omitted.

1 is a perspective view of an electronic device having a camera module and a wheel key according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a side view of the electronic device having a camera module and a wheel key according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. It is a cross section.

Referring to FIG. 1, the electronic device 100 according to the present invention includes a main body 110, a camera module 120, a wheel key 130, an input button 140, and a display module 150.

Although the main body 110 is illustrated as being formed in a sliding manner, it is apparent that the main body 110 may also be formed in a folder format applied to a mobile phone such as a PCS. Hereinafter, the main body 110 will be described with an example of being formed in a sliding manner as shown in the drawings, and the part including the wheel key 130 being slid to the upper part of the main body, the part including the camera module 120. Will be referred to as the lower body. In addition, for convenience of description, a state in which the upper portion of the main body is slid as shown in the drawing will be referred to as an open state and a non-slid state as a closed state.

As shown in the figure, the camera module 120 may be mounted on one side of the lower part of the main body so that the main body 110 may photograph the outside in an open state. That is, the camera module 120 may perform a function like a general camera like a digital camera while the main body 110 is open.

In addition, referring to FIG. 2, the camera module 120 is positioned below the wheel key 130 when the main body 110 is closed. When a key input command is input, the camera module 120 captures the lower part of the wheel key 130 in a state in which the main body 110 is closed. The camera module 120 transmits the captured image of the wheel key 130 to the processor 190. The processor 190 controls each component (see FIG. 3) of the electronic device 100 to recognize and input a corresponding key by using the image captured by the camera module 120. Key recognition using the captured image will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings below.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the wheel key 130 may be formed in a plate-like shape, and may be formed to be rotatable in one direction or both left and right directions. The wheel key 130 may be configured to rotate the entire region, or may be configured such that a portion of the inside is fixed and only the remaining outer region is rotatable. Therefore, the fixed inner region may be provided with a separate button or the like. In addition, the wheel key 130 may be formed to protrude from the main body 110 of the electronic device 100 or may be formed in a recessed shape.

As shown in the figure, key values are printed around the wheel key 130. Although only one key value is shown for each zone 134 in the figure, one or more key values may be set. For example, a plurality of key values such as 'a', 'ㅋ', 'ㄱ', 'a', 'b', and 'c' may be set in the region 134 corresponding to 'a'. Here, each zone 134 has a respective key. For example, when the electronic device 100 is a mobile phone, the 'a' zone 134 may be a button corresponding to the number '1' of the mobile phone. Accordingly, the electronic device 100 first recognizes a key corresponding to the input signal (for example, a region according to 'b'), and then recognizes a current input mode (for example, Korean input mode and English input mode). Etc.) and key values (eg, 'ㅋ', 'ㄲ', etc.) according to the input signal. Here, the input mode may be set using a mode setting key (not shown) separately provided, and the input mode may be set using a menu button, for example, a mobile phone. Of course, without having a separate mode setting key, it is natural that the input mode may be set using a key input method using the camera module 120 according to the present invention. That is, the specific area of the wheel key 130 can be set as the mode setting key. In addition, an input mode corresponding to a software program currently being executed may be set in advance. For example, the numeric input mode may be set in the initial state, and the Korean input mode may be set in advance when the message writing program is executed. Even in a mobile phone such as PCS, the input mode may be set according to numbers, Korean, English, etc., and thus detailed description of the input mode will be omitted.

An input point 132 is formed at one side of the wheel key 130. The input point 132 is for pointing to an area 134 corresponding to a key to be input by the user, and is also used for the electronic device 100 to recognize a key (ie, area 134) to be input by the user. will be. An input point 132 may be formed by forming a groove or protruding concave on one side of the wheel key 130. Alternatively, the input point 132 may be formed to be different from other parts of the wheel key 130, and the input point 132 may be formed to be recognized by the user by being painted in a specific color or by attaching a sticker or the like.

On one side of the opposite side of the wheel key 130 corresponding to the position of the input point 132 (that is, the surface facing the camera module 120), the input point of the wheel key 130 in which the electronic device 100 is photographed Separate recognition means is provided to recognize the position of 132. If the camera module 120 is provided with a flash, light may be emitted when the image is taken, so that the color may be distinguished from other parts of the opposite surface of the wheel key 130 as a recognition means of the input point 132. It may be formed. In addition, the input point 132 of the wheel key 130 is formed of a transparent material through which light can pass, so that the position of the input point 132 in the image of the wheel key 130 photographed using natural light input from the outside. You can also recognize. In addition, a separate light emitting material for emitting light may be applied or a light emitting device may be installed on the opposite surface of the wheel key 130 according to the position of the input point 132. However, when the light emitting device is installed, a problem may arise in that a circuit for transmitting power and control signals, etc. according to the light emitting device must be separately installed in the wheel key 130. Therefore, it is more preferable to simplify the structure of the wheel key 130 for key input of the electronic device 100 according to the present invention by not using any circuit device as the recognition means of the input point 132. Hereinafter, a part provided with a recognition means corresponding to the input point 132 on the opposite side of the wheel key 130 will also be referred to as an input point for convenience of description.

The input button 140 is a means for inputting a key input command. That is, when the input button 140 is operated (for example, pressed) by the user, the camera module 120 captures the opposite side of the wheel key 130, and the captured image is electronically processed so that the corresponding key value is processed. The device 100 is used to recognize the location of the input point 132. When the electronic device 100 is a digital camera, the input button 140 may be a shutter. Similarly, when performing the camera function while the main body 110 of the electronic device 100 is open, the input button 140 may perform the function of a shutter.

The input button 140 may be formed on one side of the upper body or the lower body as well as the side of the main body 110 as shown in the figure. In addition, a button function may be added to the wheel key 130 itself without having an input button 140 separately. Accordingly, the user may input the key by rotating the wheel key 130 to position the input point 132 in the region 134 corresponding to the key value to be input, and then pressing the wheel key 130. However, it is preferable to provide a separate input button 140 as shown in the figure for the structure of the wheel key 130 is not provided with any circuit device as described above.

The display module 150 performs a function of displaying information (eg, letters, numbers, etc.) corresponding to key values according to the input key. The display module 150 may be, for example, a liquid crystal, and since the display module 150 may be obvious to those skilled in the art because the display module 150 is still used in many electronic devices 100, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Hereinafter, a configuration according to the function of the electronic device 100 for performing key input using the camera module 120 and the wheel key 130 according to the present invention will be described.

3 is a functional block diagram of an electronic device having a camera module and a wheel key according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a key value table according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the electronic device 100 according to the present invention includes a camera module 120, an input module 160, an image analysis module 170, a key value recognition module 175, a memory 180, and a processor ( 190). Of course, some of the components shown in the drawings (eg, the image analysis module 170, the key value recognition module 175, etc.) are not necessarily implemented in hardware, and may be executed by the electronic device 100. Of course, it may be implemented as a software program.

The input module 160 may be implemented as an input button 140 as shown in FIG. 1 as a means for receiving a key input command.

As described above, the camera module 120 performs a function of capturing the wheel key 130 according to a key input command input through the input module 160.

The image analysis module 170 analyzes an image captured by the camera module 120 to recognize a key. That is, the image analysis module 170 analyzes the position of the input point in the captured image and recognizes a key corresponding to the position (that is, the area in which the input point in the wheel key 130 is located). For example, when the region corresponding to the location where the input point of the wheel key 130 is located is 'a', the image analysis module 170 analyzes the captured image to recognize the corresponding key 'a'. The method of recognizing the key by analyzing the image by the image analysis module 170 will be described later with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The memory 180 stores a key value table having a key value corresponding to each key corresponding to each input mode. A key value table in which key values corresponding to input modes are set for each key is shown in FIG. 4. As shown in the figure, the key 'a' may be set to a value of 1 in the numeric input mode and key values of A, B, and C in the English input mode. Accordingly, the processor 190 may recognize and input a key recognized by the image analysis module 170 and a key value corresponding to the current input mode using a key value table stored in the memory 180. For example, when the user operates the wheel key 130 to position the input point at the position corresponding to 'ㄱ' in the English input mode, pressing the input button 140 once causes A to enter, and pressing B twice to process the input. Can be.

The key value recognition module 175 performs a function of recognizing a key value corresponding to a key recognized by the image analysis module 170 by using a key value table stored in the memory 180.

The processor 190 captures the wheel key 130 by the camera module 120, the image analysis module 170 recognizes the key in the captured image, and the key value recognition module corresponds to the current input mode and key. The camera module 120, the image analysis module 170, the key value recognition module 175, and the memory 180 are controlled to recognize the key value, and the input key is processed. In addition, the processor 190 displays information corresponding to the input processed key value through the display apparatus 150.

Hereinafter, a method of recognizing a corresponding key by analyzing the captured image by the image analysis module 170 will be described with reference to the drawings.

5 and 6 are diagrams for describing a method of recognizing a key using an image in an image analysis module of an electronic device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As a method of recognizing a key according to a position of an input point in the captured image, the image analysis module 170 may use a block method and an angle method.

Referring to FIG. 5 for explaining a block method, reference numeral 510 is a diagram illustrating dividing a virtual space having a size equal to the size of an image captured by the camera module 120 into blocks having a preset size. As shown in the figure, a key is set to a specific block. Reference numeral 530 denotes an image of the photographed wheel key 130.

Reference numeral 550 denotes a mapping of the captured image and a virtual space divided into blocks. Therefore, the image analysis module 170 may recognize the corresponding key by recognizing a block corresponding to the input point 501 of the image.

That is, the image analysis module 170 divides the image photographed by the camera module 120 into blocks having a preset size, maps the image captured by the image captured by the camera module 120, and recognizes a block corresponding to the input point 501. To recognize the corresponding key.

As another key recognition method, the angle method will be described with reference to FIG. 6. First, the image analysis module 170 first inputs an input point 615 of an image according to preset X-axis and Y-axis coordinates at the center of the captured image 610. The angle θ of) is calculated.

In the calculation method of the input point angle, the X and Y values at the center of the circle are first calculated. For example, the values of X and Y may be measured by setting each total length to '1'. Using the calculated X and Y values, the angle θ of the input point 615 may be calculated using Equation 1 below.

sgn (Y) = 1 (if Y> = 0), sgn (Y) = -1 (if Y <0),

θ = tan ^-1 (Y / X) (if X> = 0), θ = tan ^-1 (Y / X) + π * sgn (Y) (if X <0)

Thereafter, the image analysis module 170 recognizes a key value corresponding to the angle calculated by using a table, for example, a preset key for each angle as shown by reference numeral 630.

In addition to the above-described block method and angle method, other methods of recognizing the key according to the position of the input point by the image analysis module 170, such as a method of recognizing a key corresponding to the input point by recognizing a pixel corresponding to the input point, are also the same. Applicable would be obvious.

Hereinafter, a key input process using the camera module 120 and the wheel key 130 in the electronic device 100 according to the present invention will be described.

7 is a diagram illustrating a process of recognizing a key by analyzing an image captured by an electronic device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, in operation 710, the electronic device 100 photographs the wheel key 130 by the camera module 120 according to an input key input command.

In steps 720 to 740, the electronic device 100 analyzes an image of the photographed wheel key 130 to recognize a key according to an input point, and recognizes a key value corresponding to a current input mode and a recognized key and processes the input. do. The electronic device 100 may display the information according to the input processed key value through the display module 150.

The method of the present invention as described above may be implemented in a program and stored in a computer-readable recording medium (CD-ROM, RAM, ROM, floppy disk, hard disk, magneto-optical disk, etc.).

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and many variations are possible by those skilled in the art within the spirit of the present invention.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a key input method and apparatus in an electronic device having a camera module and a wheel key that can maximize the utilization of parts by allowing the provided camera module to be used universally. It can be effective.

In addition, there is an effect that can provide a key input method and apparatus in an electronic device using a plate-type wheel key and a camera module that is not provided with any circuit device.

In addition, it is possible to provide a key input method and apparatus for an electronic device having a camera module and wheel keys that can increase sales by reducing manufacturing costs for key input means of an electronic device having a camera module such as a mobile communication terminal. There is also an effect.

Although described above with reference to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, those skilled in the art that various modifications of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention described in the claims below And can be changed.

Claims (11)

delete In the electronic device, Input module; Camera module; Wheel keys; An image analysis module that analyzes an image of the wheel key photographed by the camera module according to an operation of the input module and recognizes a key according to a position of an input point included in the wheel key; And An electronic device having a camera module and a wheel key including a key value recognition module for recognizing a key value corresponding to a key recognized by the image analysis module. Claim 3 was abandoned when the setup registration fee was paid. The method of claim 2, Claim 4 was abandoned when the registration fee was paid. The method of claim 2, The camera module is mounted to the bottom of the main body and the wheel key is mounted to the top of the main body, the camera module and the electronic device having a wheel key, characterized in that for imaging the lower portion of the wheel key. The method of claim 2, The image analysis module is an electronic device having a camera module and a wheel key that recognizes the key using an angle of the input point measured along an X axis and a Y axis having the center of the image as the center of the axis. . The method of claim 2, The image analyzing module classifies the image into blocks having a predetermined size, and recognizes the key corresponding to the block in which the input point is located. In a key input method in an electronic device, (a) imaging the wheel key by the camera module according to the input key input command; (b) analyzing a captured image and recognizing a key according to a position of an input point of the wheel key; And and (c) inputting and processing a key value corresponding to the key. The method of claim 7, wherein And the key input command is input according to a shutter operation of the camera module. The method of claim 7, wherein The step (b) may include measuring an angle of the input point along an X axis and a Y axis having the center of the image as the center of the axis; And And recognizing the key pre-set to correspond to the angle. The method of claim 7, wherein The image is divided into a block having a predetermined size, and the key input method in the electronic device having a camera module and a wheel key, characterized in that for recognizing the key corresponding to the block in which the input point is located. In a recording medium that is implemented in a type that can be executed in an electronic device that processes the key input by using a camera module and a wheel key, the program can be read by the electronic device in the recording medium, Imaging the wheel key by the camera module according to the input key input command; Analyzing the captured image and recognizing a key according to a position of an input point of the wheel key; And And processing the input of a key value corresponding to the key.

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