KR100876734B1 - Mobile terminal with camera function and its method - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of performing a camera function of a mobile terminal having a camera shutter key equipped with a touch sensor, the method comprising: entering a preview mode for previewing an image of a subject to be photographed when the camera function is performed; Turning off the backlight of the display unit displaying the preview screen; turning on the turned off backlight when a touch input is detected through the touch sensor; and capturing an image of the subject when the shutter key is input. It is characterized by. Therefore, in the present invention, when the touch sensor is mounted on the shutter key or the user's touch input, or when the shutter key is pressed halfway and the shutter button is pressed halfway, the display is turned on to display the preview screen. The usage time of the terminal can be increased.

Description

Mobile terminal with camera function and its method {MOBILE TERMINAL HAVING CAMERA FUNCTION AND METHOD THEREOF}

1 is a block diagram of a portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a process of performing a camera function of the mobile terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a process of performing a camera function of a mobile terminal according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention relates to a portable terminal having a camera function and a method thereof, and more particularly, to a portable terminal and a method capable of increasing the use time of the portable terminal by reducing the current consumption when performing the camera function.

Currently, portable terminals are transforming into structures capable of transmitting high-speed data in addition to voice communication functions. This is because if the mobile communication network of the IMT 2000 standard is implemented, high-speed data communication can be implemented in addition to voice communication using the portable terminal. Data that can be processed by the mobile terminal performing the data communication may be packet data and image data. In addition, a function of displaying a video signal by adding a camera or a TV receiver to the portable terminal is implemented. Therefore, the portable terminal having the camera as described above can take a picture of the subject and display it as a moving picture and a still picture, and can also transmit the captured picture screen.

Meanwhile, when the camera terminal enters the preview mode for previewing the subject image when the camera function is performed, the portable terminal displays an image of the subject to be photographed by the user on the preview screen of the display unit.

However, the above method has a problem in that the portable terminal enters the preview mode and consumes unnecessary current because the backlight of the display unit is turned on for a predetermined time even if the user does not capture an image.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a portable terminal and a method of increasing the use time by reducing the current consumption when performing a camera function.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of performing a camera function of a mobile terminal having a camera shutter key equipped with a touch sensor, the method comprising: entering a preview mode for previewing an image of a subject to be photographed when performing a camera function; Turning off the backlight of the display unit displaying the preview screen when the preview mode is completed; turning on the turned off backlight when a touch input is detected through the touch sensor; It characterized in that it comprises a process of taking an image.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of performing a camera function of a mobile terminal equipped with a camera, a process of entering a preview mode for previewing an image of a subject to be photographed when the camera function is performed, and displaying a preview screen when the preview mode is completed. Turning off the backlight; turning on the off backlight when there is a half shutter input with the camera shutter key half pressed; and when the shutter key is pressed completely during the half shutter input, an image of the subject is displayed. It is characterized by including the process of photographing.

 In another aspect, the present invention provides a portable terminal, comprising: a key input unit including a camera shutter key equipped with a touch sensor, a camera unit for capturing an image of a subject when the shutter key is input, and a display unit displaying an image of the photographed subject And a control unit which controls to turn off the backlight of the display unit when the display unit displays the preview screen when the camera function is performed and to turn off the backlight when the touch input is detected through the touch sensor. It is characterized by including.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a mobile terminal comprising a camera unit for capturing an image of a subject, a display unit for displaying an image of the photographed subject, and a display unit for displaying a preview screen when a camera function is performed. And turning off the backlight of the display unit when the mode entry is completed, and turning on the turned off backlight when there is a half-shutter input in which the shutter key is half pressed.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 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 portable terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The illustrated mobile terminal 100 includes a touch sensor 110, a key input unit 120, a controller 130, a memory 140, a camera unit! 50, an image processor 160, a display unit 170, and an audio processor. And 180.

The touch sensor 110 is mounted on one surface (eg, the front of the shutter key) of the camera shutter key provided in the key input unit 120 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and if there is a touch input of a finger or a pen, the touch sensor 110 detects the signal Output to the controller 130.

The key input unit 120 has a key matrix structure (not shown), and may include a character key, a numeric key, various function keys, and an external volume key, and control the key input signal corresponding to a key input by a user. ) In addition, the key input unit 120 uses camera operation keys at a predetermined position, that is, a camera power key used to enter a camera mode, a zoom key used to adjust a zoom level (that is, a magnification), and a shutter used to capture an image. (Shutter) key is provided. The touch sensor 110 may be mounted on one surface of the shutter key.

The controller 130 controls the overall operation of the mobile terminal 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention. In addition, when the user requests a camera mode, the controller 130 switches the operation mode of the mobile terminal 100 to the camera mode, and the display unit 170 enters the preview mode for displaying a preview screen of the image of the subject. Enter.

When the preview mode is completed, the controller 130 turns off the backlight of the display unit 170 to prevent unnecessary current consumption and turns off the user's touch input through the touch sensor 110 mounted on the shutter key. To turn on the backlight. In this case, the controller 130 may control to turn off the backlight when the touch input is maintained for a predetermined time or more.

In addition, the controller 130 controls to turn off the backlight when the touch input is not detected while the backlight is turned on due to the touch input.

On the other hand, when the mobile terminal 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention does not include the touch sensor 110, the operation of the controller 130 is as follows.

After entering the preview mode, the controller 130 controls to turn on the turned-off backlight if there is a half-shutter input (that is, the shutter-key is pressed halfway) while the backlight of the display unit 170 is turned off. In this case, the controller 130 may control to capture an image of a subject when the shutter key is completely pressed by the half shutter input. If the half shutter input is not maintained while the backlight is turned on, the controller 130 turns off the backlight. It is more preferable to control to make it.

In addition, the controller 130 may control to automatically adjust the focus of the subject image to be photographed when the half shutter input is maintained for a predetermined time or more.

The memory 140 may include a program memory and a data memory, and stores various pieces of information selected based on various pieces of information and user selection information necessary for controlling the operation of the mobile terminal 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. .

The camera module 150 may include a lens unit (not shown) that can be pulled out and pulled out. If there is a shutter key input, the camera module 150 captures image data through the lens unit.

In addition, the camera unit 150 includes a camera sensor (not shown) for converting the photographed optical signal into an electrical signal, and a signal processor (not shown) for converting the 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 separately implemented.

The image processor 160 performs a function of generating screen data for displaying an image signal output from the camera unit 150.

The image processor 160 processes the image signal output from the camera unit 150 in units of frames, and outputs the frame image data according to the characteristics and size of the display unit 170. In addition, the image processor 180 includes an image codec and performs a function of compressing the frame image data displayed on the display unit 170 in a set manner or restoring the compressed frame image data to the original frame image data.

In addition, it is assumed that the image processor 160 has an On Screen Display (OSD) function, and may output on-screen display data according to the screen size displayed by the control of the controller 130.

The display unit 170 may be formed of a liquid crystal display (LCD) or the like, and outputs various display data generated in the mobile communication terminal. In this case, when the LCD is implemented using a touch screen method, the display unit 170 may operate as an input unit.

In addition, the display unit 170 displays the image signal output from the image processor 160 on the screen, and displays the user data output from the controller 130.

The audio processor 180 modulates the electrical signal input from the microphone and converts the electrical signal into voice data, and demodulates the encoded voice data input from the wireless transmitter / receiver (not shown) into an electrical signal and outputs it to the speaker. do. In addition, the audio processor 180 preferably includes a codec for converting and reproducing the digital audio signal received by the wireless transmitter and receiver into an analog signal or converting an analog audio signal generated from a microphone into a digital audio signal. The codec includes a data codec for processing packet data and an audio codec for processing an audio signal such as voice. The codec may be included in the controller 130.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a process of performing a camera function of the mobile terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

1 and 2, the controller 130 checks whether there is a camera mode request (S110). The user may request a camera mode by inputting a menu key or a camera power key used when entering a camera mode.

When the camera mode request is made, the controller 130 enters a preview mode in which the subject image is previewed on the display unit 170 (S120).

When the preview mode entry is completed, the controller 130 turns off the backlight of the display unit 170 displaying the preview screen (S130).

The controller 130 checks whether a touch input is detected through the touch sensor 110 mounted on the shutter key while the backlight is turned off (S140).

When the touch input is detected, the controller 130 turns on the backlight of the turned off display unit 170 (S150). In this case, the control unit 130 may control to turn on the backlight when the touch input is maintained for a predetermined time or more, in order to prevent a malfunction of the touch sensor 110.

The controller 130 checks whether a shutter key is input while the backlight is turned on (S160). If the touch input is not detected while the backlight is turned on, the controller 130 may turn off the backlight.

When the shutter key is input, the controller 130 captures an image of a subject displayed on the preview screen of the display unit 170 (S170).

3 is a flowchart illustrating a process of performing a camera function of a portable terminal according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

1 and 3, the controller 130 checks whether there is a camera mode request (S210).

When the camera mode request is made, the controller 130 enters the preview mode in which the subject image is previewed on the display unit 170 (S220).

The controller 130 turns off the backlight of the display unit 170 displaying the preview screen when the preview mode entry is completed (S230).

The controller 130 checks whether there is a half shutter input in which the shutter key is half pressed (S240).

If there is the half shutter input, the controller 130 turns on the backlight of the turned off display unit 170 (S250). In this case, the controller 130 may turn off the backlight if the half shutter input is not maintained while the backlight is turned on.

The controller 130 may further include automatically adjusting a focus of a subject image to be photographed when the half shutter input is maintained for a predetermined time or more. In this case, the controller 130 drives an auto-focusing motor built in the lens unit (not shown) to adjust the focus according to the distance between the subject and the camera. Description is omitted.

The controller 130 checks whether the shutter key is fully pressed in the half shutter input state (S260).

When the shutter key is fully pressed, the controller 130 captures an image of a subject displayed on the display unit 170 preview screen (S270).

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. In particular, in the present specification, a mobile terminal equipped with a camera has been described as a specific embodiment, but it is obvious that the present invention can be applied to a digital camera device. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be defined by the described embodiments, but should be determined by the equivalent of claims and claims.

As described above, when the touch sensor is mounted on the shutter key, the present invention displays the preview screen by turning on the backlight of the display unit when there is a user's touch input or when the shutter key is pressed halfway. It is possible to increase the use time of the portable terminal by reducing the number of minutes.

Claims (13)

A method of performing a camera function of a portable terminal having a camera shutter key equipped with a touch sensor, Entering a preview mode to preview an image of a subject to be photographed when performing a camera function; Turning off the backlight of the display unit displaying the preview screen when the preview mode is completed; Turning on the turned off backlight when a touch input is detected through the touch sensor; And taking a picture of the subject when the shutter key is input. The method of claim 1, wherein the turning on the backlight is performed. And if the touch input is maintained for a predetermined time or more, turning off the backlight. The method according to claim 1 or 2, And if the touch input is not detected while the backlight is turned on, turning off the backlight. In the camera function of a mobile terminal equipped with a camera, Entering a preview mode to preview an image of a subject to be photographed when performing a camera function; Turning off the backlight of the display unit displaying the preview screen when the preview mode is completed; Turning on the turned off backlight if there is a half shutter input with the camera shutter key half pressed; And photographing an image of a subject when the shutter key is completely pressed by the half shutter input. The method of claim 4, wherein the turning on the backlight is performed. And automatically adjusting the focus of a subject image to be photographed when the half shutter input is maintained for a predetermined time or more.  The method of claim 4, wherein  And turning off the backlight if the half-shutter input is not maintained while the backlight is turned on.  In a mobile terminal,  A key input unit including a camera shutter key equipped with a touch sensor,  A camera unit for photographing an image of a subject when the shutter key is input;  A display unit which displays an image of the photographed subject;  And a controller configured to turn off the backlight of the display unit when the display unit displays the preview screen when the camera function is completed and to turn off the backlight when a touch input is detected through the touch sensor. Mobile terminal, characterized in that.  The method of claim 7, wherein the control unit  And turning off the backlight when the touch input is maintained for a predetermined time or more.  The method of claim 7 or 8, wherein the control unit  And if the touch input is not detected while the backlight is turned on, controlling the backlight to be turned off.  In a mobile terminal,  A camera unit for recording an image of a subject when a camera shutter key is input;  A display unit which displays an image of the photographed subject;  When the camera function is completed, the display unit displays the preview screen, when the preview mode is completed, the backlight of the display unit is turned off, and when the shutter key is pressed halfway (half), the shutter is turned on to turn off the backlight. And a control unit for controlling the mobile terminal.  The method of claim 10, wherein the control unit  And when the shutter key is completely pressed by the half shutter input, controlling to photograph an image of a subject.  The method of claim 10, wherein the control unit  And controlling the focus of an image of a subject to be photographed automatically when the half shutter input is maintained for a predetermined time or more.  The method of claim 10, wherein the control unit  And if the half shutter input is not maintained while the backlight is turned on, controlling the backlight to be turned off.

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