KR20060131155A - Control apparatus and method for preset white balance of picture mobile terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for controlling the preset white balance of an image communication terminal are provided to obtain the exact white balance and control the color sense and temperature more clearly and exactly. A preset mode is started by a user and a preset white mode is set(S101,S102). A preset lens is overlapped and arranged at the front of a camera lens(S103). The photographing is started at this state(S104) and at this time, the preset white balance is measured from the captured image(S105). The entire white balance value is calculated through the measured preset white balance value(S106) and the calculated value is applied to the entire image(S107).

Description

Control apparatus and method for preset white balance of picture mobile terminal

1 is a perspective view showing a video communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is an exploded perspective view of a preset white balance adjustment device of a video communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3 is an operating state diagram of FIG. 2.

4 is an exploded perspective view of a preset white balance adjustment device of a video communication terminal according to another embodiment of the present invention.

5 is an operational state diagram of FIG. 4.

6 is a system configuration diagram showing a preset white balance adjustment device of a video communication terminal according to the present invention;

7 is a flowchart illustrating a preset white balance adjustment method of a video communication terminal according to the present invention.

<Description of the reference numerals for the main parts of the drawings>

21 RF part 23 Data processing part

25 Control panel 27 Keypad

29 Memory 50 Camera

60 ... signal processor 70 ... image processor

80 Display 100 Image communication terminal

110 Main body 120 Cover part

140 Camera part 141 Handle guide groove

142,152 Handle 143 Hole

144,154 Camera module cover 145,153 Preset adjustment lens

146,156 Camera module 147 Handle guide groove

149,159 Lens

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for adjusting a preset white balance, in particular, capable of setting a preset white balance of a camera.

Recently, the rapid development of the information society has demanded the development of a video communication terminal with various functions in addition to a communication terminal that merely delivers voice only. Accordingly, according to the multimedia era, a portable video communication terminal having both a video transmission and reception function and a voice transmission and reception function are implemented. In such a video communication terminal, a so-called camera phone has been developed in which a digital camera function is implemented in a portable communication terminal (eg, a mobile phone) that a user usually carries. When a user suddenly wants to capture a certain scene or a subject necessary for a job, the user can use the camera phone to take a desired scene and store it therein. In addition, the photographed image may be wirelessly transmitted to another terminal through a communication terminal, may be connected to a personal computer (PC), and output as a screen of the PC and stored in the PC.

In such a video communication terminal, various techniques are applied to improve the quality of an image captured by a camera, and among them, white balance is used to obtain an appropriate color temperature. Here, the appropriate color temperature means the constant color temperature of each of the lights in the room and the sun to make the object visible. Even the same sun light has different color temperatures in the morning, day, and evening, and incandescent, fluorescent, etc. Each light source has a different color temperature. Since the color of the photographed image is expressed differently according to such an environment, a white balance is used to solve this problem.

In general digital cameras, various white balance techniques are applied to adjust the color temperature, and among other techniques, a preset function for more accurate white balance is used.

However, the current video communication terminal does not support the preset function as described above, and there is a disadvantage in that it is inconvenient for general users to use because the specific conditions such as a white wall or paper are necessary to implement the function. .

In digital cameras, white balance adjusts the right color temperature, usually in the auto-mode and in a preset mode. Auto mode applies the white balance based on the brightest value of the captured image, so it is difficult to obtain the proper color temperature if the brightest value of the captured image is not white.

In addition, since the preset modes (incandescent mode, fluorescent mode, flow mode, bright mode, etc.) apply a white balance based on a preset offset value, fine adjustment is not possible.

In order to achieve a more accurate color temperature, the preset white balance function is used. If the subject has a white part, the camera is placed close to it, and the white set is adjusted based on the image.

For example, if you take a white paper full under an incandescent lamp, the white paper will appear as red as the color temperature of the light, and you can get the offset value to make it white. Here, the correct color temperature is obtained by applying the obtained offset value to another image.

In other words, using the preset mode, the user can arbitrarily set the white balance. Normally, to set the white balance, set the preset mode to the white paper in front of the camera and press the shutter or set button to select the white area. The camera then adjusts the brightness of the red, blue, and green colors so that the colors appear in white. This allows for more accurate whites under fluorescent, sunlight or incandescent lamps.

However, in order to use the preset function, the subject must have a lot of white parts or have a white paper.

It is a first object of the present invention to provide a preset white balance adjusting device and method for applying a preset white balance function to a video communication terminal and obtaining an accurate white balance value through setting of a preset white balance.

It is a second object of the present invention to provide a preset white balance adjusting device and a method for providing a preset white balance using a preset adjusting lens in a light source incident direction of a camera.

A third object of the present invention is to provide a preset white balance adjustment device and method capable of adjusting the preset white balance according to a user's needs by moving the preset adjustment lens to the front / rear of the front lens of the camera.

It is a fourth object of the present invention to provide a preset white balance adjusting device and method including a white translucent lens as a preset adjustment lens, and enabling a reciprocating movement to the front of a camera lens according to a preset mode.

Preset white balance adjustment device of the video communication terminal according to the present invention for achieving the above object,

A camera unit including a camera lens and a preset adjustment lens disposed in front of the camera lens in the preset mode;

Means for capturing a photographed video image with the preset adjustment lens disposed in front of a camera lens and measuring a preset white balance value from the image;

And a means for obtaining a total white balance value using the measured white balance value and applying it to the entire image using the obtained total white balance value.

Preferably, the preset adjustment lens is characterized in that the white semi-transparent lens.

Preferably, the white translucent lens is characterized in that it has a transparency enough to pass through the light source, but not pass through the image.

Preferably, the camera unit is a camera module having the camera lens attached to one side, a preset adjustment lens for opening and closing the camera lens on the other side of the camera module, a handle to open and close the preset adjustment lens, and the camera module It characterized in that it comprises a camera module cover having a guide groove so as to protect and protrude the handle portion.

Preferably, the camera unit has the camera lens attached to one side, the camera module cover for protecting the camera module on the camera module, and the camera lens according to whether the preset mode in the center of the camera module cover And a preset adjustment lens that opens and closes.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method of adjusting a preset white balance in a video communication terminal includes: when a preset white balance is set for a preset mode of a camera, arranging a preset adjustment lens to overlap the front of the camera lens; Performing photographing with a preset adjustment lens disposed in front of the camera lens; Measuring a preset white balance from the photographed image and obtaining a total white balance value from the measured white balance value; And applying the entire white balance value to the entire image.

Preferably, the preset adjustment lens is characterized in that consisting of a lens that passes through the light source, but does not pass through the image.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings as follows.

1 is a perspective view of a video communication terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a folder type video communication terminal 100 according to the present invention as an example, and may include another slide type terminal or a flip type terminal when expanded. As shown in the figure, the main body 110 and the cover 120 are configured, and the main body 110 includes, for example, a key pad for inputting various key signals, an up / down key on the side, a battery, and the like. It may be mounted, and may also include a system body and a main display unit.

In addition, the cover part 120 includes the auxiliary display part 130 and is connected to the main body part 110 through the hinge part 150. The hinge part 150 is mounted in a rotatable structure from the main body part 110.

In addition, the terminal 100 is provided with a camera unit 140, the camera unit 140 may be installed in the body portion 110, the cover portion 120 or the hinge portion 150 and the like. The present invention has shown an example in which the camera unit is installed in the hinge portion.

The camera unit 140 may include a lens 149 and may be installed to be rotatable separately from the hinge unit 150. The camera unit 140 supports the preset mode.

The front of the camera lens 149 includes a handle portion 142 and a handle guide groove 141 for supporting a preset mode, the handle portion 142 is coupled to the preset adjustment member handle guide groove 141 The preset adjustment member is moved toward the front of the camera lens. Here, the preset adjustment member may be constituted by a lens, and includes a white semitransparent lens as the preset adjustment lens. For example, the preset adjustment member capable of measuring the preset white balance may be configured as a white translucent lens or coated white paper or a white film.

Here, when the white translucent lens is applied, the white translucent lens expresses the color temperature of the light source, but since the images do not express the color temperature of the photographed light source, the color temperature of the photographed light source can be accurately obtained. Can be applied correctly. Here, the transparency of the white translucent lens used is a lens having a transparency such that the light source is transmitted but the image is not transmitted.

In this way, the white translucent lens can be manually moved to the front of the camera lens 149, so that the user can measure the preset white balance and obtain the total white balance value using the measured white balance value. You do not have to adjust the preset white balance.

2 and 3, the camera unit includes a camera module 146 and a camera module cover 144. The camera module 146 includes a lens 149 on one side and on the other side. The white semi-transparent lens 145, which is a preset adjustment lens having a handle, is coupled to the handle guide grooves 147 and 141.

The camera module cover 144 coupled to the camera module 146 forms a lens hole 143 and a handle guide groove 141 for guiding the handle 142 on one side.

In this state, to operate in the preset mode as shown in FIG. 3, when the white semi-transparent lens 145 is moved to the left by holding the handle 142 located on the right side of the camera lens 149, the white semi-transparent lens ( 145 moves to the front of the camera lens 149. If you shoot with the camera in this state, you can measure the preset white balance.

When the user wants to release the preset mode, the white semi-transparent lens 145 is separated from the camera lens 149 by returning to the home position by holding the handle 142 and moving the white semi-transparent lens 145 to the right. do.

The white translucent lens 145 may be mounted on the camera unit 140 configured as the rotatable hinge unit as shown in FIG. 1, or may be mounted on the camera unit mounted on one side of the cover unit or the main body unit.

On the other hand, Figures 4 and 5 as another example of the present invention, the camera module 156 is equipped with a camera lens 159 and includes a camera module cover 154 to be moved left / right above the camera module 156. It is a constitution. Since the camera module cover 154 includes a white translucent lens 153 in the center, the user uses the handle 152 to turn the white translucent lens 153 from the front of the camera lens 159 to the left / right. It will move (open and close). Here, the camera module 156 includes a cover guide part 157 to move the camera module cover 154 so that the camera module 156 can be moved left / right.

The left / right movement of the white translucent lens 153 may operate or release the preset mode. The movement of the camera module cover 154 may be adjusted manually or automatically. Accordingly, in using the preset function, photographing by attaching a white translucent lens to the front of the camera lens 159 is equivalent to photographing white paper.

6 is a block diagram showing a video communication terminal equipped with a preset white balance adjustment device according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, the RF unit 21 performs communication of the portable telephone. The RF unit 21 includes an RF transmitter for upconverting and amplifying a frequency of a transmitted signal, and an RF receiver for low noise amplifying and downconverting a received signal.

The data processor 23 includes a transmitter for encoding and modulating the transmitted signal, a receiver for demodulating and decoding the received signal, and the like. That is, the data processor 23 may be configured of a modem and a codec CODDEC.

The audio processor 25 plays a function of reproducing a received audio signal output from the data processor 23 or transmitting a transmission audio signal generated from a microphone to the data processor 23.

The keypad 27 is provided with keys for inputting numeric and character information and function keys for setting various functions. In addition, the keypad 27 may include a mode setting key and a shooting key for performing a function for capturing an image and setting a preset mode through the camera unit 50 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The memory 29 may be composed of program memory and data memories. The program memory may store programs for controlling a general operation of the portable telephone and programs for capturing and displaying an image and performing an operation according to a preset mode according to an embodiment of the present invention. In addition, the data memory temporarily stores data generated during the execution of the programs.

The controller 10 performs a function of controlling the overall operation of the portable telephone. In addition, the controller 10 may include the data processor 23. In addition, the control unit 10 controls the signal processing unit 60 when changing the mode setting from the keypad 27 according to an embodiment of the present invention to set a preset mode or a shooting mode, the preset mode or shooting mode And control to display the captured image data.

The camera unit 50 captures image data and includes a camera sensor that converts the photographed optical signal into an electrical signal. It is assumed here that the camera sensor is a CCD or CMOS sensor. The signal processor 60 converts the video signal output from the camera unit 50 into an image signal. In addition, the signal processor 60 performs a function of varying the frame rate of the image signal output from the camera unit 50 by the mode control signal output from the controller 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The signal processor 60 may be implemented by a digital signal processor (DSP). The image processor 70 performs a function of generating screen data for displaying an image signal output from the signal processor 60.

The display unit 80 displays an image signal output from the image processing unit 70 on a screen and displays user data output from the control unit 10.

When the signal processing unit 60 according to the present invention is set to the preset mode through the key pad 27, the white semi-transparent lens is positioned in front of the camera lens in the camera unit 50 to set the preset mode, thereby photographing the captured image. Will be captured. At this time, the preset white balance is measured from the captured image, the total white balance value is obtained from the measured value, and applied to the entire image. At this time, the white translucent lens expresses the color temperature of the light source, but since the images are not expressed, the color temperature of the light source to be photographed can be accurately obtained, and the white balance can be applied accurately using this offset value. Here, the transparency of the white translucent lens used may have a transparency such that the light source transmits (through) and the image does not transmit (through).

7 is a view comparing white balance, in which (a) is auto white balance, and (b) is preset white balance according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 7B, it can be seen that the preset white balance obtained through the preset white balance using the preset mode in the state where the white translucent lens is attached is more accurately represented.

8 is a diagram illustrating a preset white balance adjustment method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 8, a preset white balance is set by starting a preset mode by a user (S101 and S102). Then, the preset adjustment lens (that is, white translucent lens) is arranged to overlap the front of the camera lens (S103). Photographing is started in this state (S104), and the preset white balance is measured from the captured image (S105).

The total white balance value is obtained using the measured preset white balance value (S106), and the applied value is applied to the entire image using the obtained value (S107), thereby providing a more accurate white balance using the preset white balance. .

In this case, when the preset adjustment lens is positioned in front of the camera lens, the color temperature can be accurately obtained from the light source emitted through the camera lens. That is, since the preset adjustment lens expresses the color temperature of the light source, but does not express the images, the color temperature of the photographed light source can be accurately obtained, and the white balance can be accurately applied by using the offset value of the preset white balance. have.

So far, the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments, and those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains to the detailed description of the present invention and other forms of embodiments within the essential technical scope of the present invention. Could be implemented. Here, the essential technical scope of the present invention is shown in the claims, and all differences within the equivalent range will be construed as being included in the present invention.

According to the apparatus and method for adjusting the preset white balance in the video communication terminal according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain an accurate white balance and to match a more vivid color and an accurate color temperature, thereby increasing the user's satisfaction with the image quality. . It also has an added preset adjustment lens to prevent dust on the lens used in actual shooting.

Claims (8)

A camera unit including a camera lens and a preset adjustment lens disposed in front of the camera lens in the preset mode; Means for capturing a photographed video image with the preset adjustment lens disposed in front of a camera lens and measuring a preset white balance value from the image; And a means for obtaining a total white balance value using the measured white balance value and applying it to the entire image using the obtained total white balance value. The method of claim 1, And the preset adjustment lens is a white semi-transparent lens. The method of claim 2, The white semi-transparent lens has a transparency enough to pass through the light source, but does not pass through the image, the preset white balance adjusting device in the video communication terminal. The method of claim 1, The camera unit protects the camera module, a camera module having the camera lens attached to one side, a preset adjustment lens for opening and closing the camera lens on the other side of the camera module, a handle part for opening and closing the preset adjustment lens, and And a camera module cover having a guide groove to protrude the handle portion. The method of claim 1, The camera unit opens and closes the camera lens according to whether the camera module is attached to one side, the camera module cover to protect the camera module on the camera module, and the center of the camera module cover according to the preset mode. A preset white balance adjustment device in a video communication terminal, comprising a preset adjustment lens. In a video communication terminal, If a preset white balance is set for the preset mode of the camera, placing a preset adjustment lens overlapping the front of the camera lens; Performing photographing with a preset adjustment lens disposed in front of the camera lens; Measuring a preset white balance from the photographed image and obtaining a total white balance value from the measured white balance value; And applying the calculated total white balance value to the entire image. The method of claim 6, The preset adjustment lens is a preset white balance adjustment method of a video communication terminal, characterized in that consisting of a lens that passes through the light source and does not pass through the image. The method of claim 6, The preset adjustment lens is a preset white balance adjustment method of the video communication terminal, characterized in that the user manually moves for the preset mode.

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