TWI390322B - A method and apparatus to detect, record, and change camera flash head orientation - Google Patents

Description

Method and apparatus for detecting, recording and changing the direction of a camera flash head using a direction sensor

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for detecting and recording, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for detecting, recording and changing the direction of a camera flash head using a direction sensor.

Many camera products, such as single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras (also known as monocular cameras), medium format cameras, and consumer point and shoot cameras, allow users to Use the flash unit to choose. Figures 1A and 1B show examples of current flash products. The consumer grade point camera unit 120 shown in FIG. 1A uses the built-in flash unit 100. The built-in flash unit 100 generally provides lower power and limited flexibility. In addition, the external flash unit is an external flash unit. The simplest external flash unit uses manual control for flash power control with a fixed flash output direction. The camera unit 170 shown in FIG. 1B has a more complicated external flash unit 160 that can adjust the flash direction by tilting or rotating the flash head 150 to provide a flash or bounce flash to the ceiling or wall surface. In order to have a satisfactory soft scattered light. 2A and 2B illustrate a standard flash unit 200 and a flash unit 260 capable of tilting flash, respectively. First, displayed on the camera unit 220 of FIG. 2A is a standard flash unit 200 whose flashing direction of the flash head 210 is toward the front subject 240. Displayed on The flash head 290 of the flash unit 260 on the camera unit 270 of FIG. 2B is adjustable to enable flash to strike the ceiling 250 above the theme 280. Compared to the flash shown in FIG. 2A directly illuminating the previous subject, the way of striking the flash to the ceiling above the theme as shown in FIG. 2B enables the light to be softer as it reaches the theme, in addition, above the theme The light that comes down provides more natural lighting

However, the more complicated external flash has the problem that the flash head orientation is manually controlled. As shown in FIG. 3, if the user changes the direction of the camera 320 from the horizontal direction (horizontal shot) to the vertical direction (vertical shot), he must also confirm the direction of the flash head 300 of the flash unit 310. Generally, if flashing is required, the direction of the flash head 300 must also be changed. This step is troublesome and time consuming during shooting with the camera.

The use of directional sensors is not up to date. In today's technology, one or more directional sensors are used in a digital camera to enhance functionality. Figure 4 illustrates an example of such a use direction sensor. Using the information provided by the directional sensor, the advanced features provided by the camera include: recording "horizontal" and "vertical" orientation data in digital images; regardless of the orientation of camera 410, a pre-view 420 in LCD screen 400 on the camera. And 450 will be presented in the appropriate direction (eg, where the pre-views 420 and 450 are both horizontal); and the improvement of face detection processing.

The invention relates to a device such as a still camera or An imaging element such as a video recording device of a camera. In the field of cameras, the "flash" technique shown in Figure 2B is widely used to soften light emitted from the flash unit. To implement this flashover, today's technology must manually adjust the direction of the flash head. In addition, today's technology cannot record flash head orientation data for post-capture analysis and review. Therefore, in order to detect and utilize the flash head direction data, the present invention uses a direction sensor to detect the direction of the flash head.

By using a directional sensor in a consumer-grade point-and-shoot camera, it is possible to detect and record the direction of the flash head of the flash unit. Advantages of the present invention include the ability to record the direction of the flash head for future reference or processing; to automate the flash head orientation such that it is always positioned according to the user's preference; and to utilize the flash head orientation data to capture the image And video processing of video.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A more detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be given by reference to the accompanying drawings. It is to be noted that the embodiments are only intended to illustrate, not limit, all possible applications of the invention or all of the fields of application covered by the scope of the claims.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 5, the flash unit is capable of detecting the direction of the flash head and transmitting the flash head direction data to the camera unit. The camera unit can then use this direction data for its own processing and/or storage to recordable media. This embodiment includes at least: a flash unit 500; a flash head 510; a direction sensor for detecting the direction of the flash head a signal processor (first signal processor) for packaging the direction data from the direction sensor 520, such as a flash processor 530; a camera unit 540; for example, a camera processor 550 for receiving and using the direction data a signal processor (second signal processor); and a plurality of memory elements 560 for storing the direction data.

In another embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 6, the flash unit is capable of detecting, processing and changing the direction of the flash head. Such a device, for example, enables the user to plan the direction of the desired flash head into the flash unit itself, while the flash unit maintains the direction of the flash head regardless of the direction of the flash unit. This embodiment includes at least: a flash unit 600; a flash head 610; a direction sensor 640 for detecting the direction of the flash head 610; and a signal processor such as a flash processor 630 for analyzing the direction sensor data (No. a signal processor; and a motor for changing the direction of the flash head 610, such as the flash head motor 620.

In another embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 7, the camera unit has a built-in flash capability, wherein the flash and camera assembly are combined in a single camera unit and are capable of detecting and recording the flash head orientation. This embodiment includes at least: a camera unit 700; a flash head 710; a direction sensor 720 for detecting the direction of the flash head 710; and a signal processor such as a camera processor 730 for processing the direction data (second signal processing) And a plurality of memory elements 740 for storing the direction data.

In another embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 8, the camera unit is capable of processing flash head orientation data and controlling the flash head orientation. The flash unit and the camera unit pair can detect, record and automatically change the direction of the flash head . This embodiment includes at least: a flash unit 800; a flash head 810; a direction sensor 860 for detecting the direction of the flash head 810; and a signal processor for packaging, for example, the flash processor 870 from the direction sensor 860 ( a first signal processor; a motor for changing the direction of the flash head 810, such as the flash head motor 820; a camera unit 830; a camera processor for processing direction information from the flash unit 800 and controlling the direction of the flash head 810 a signal processor (second signal processor) of 840; and a plurality of memory elements 850 for storing the direction data.

Although the present invention has been described in terms of the preferred embodiments, it is understood that the invention may be embodied in a variety of other specific forms without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The present invention is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not limited by the scope of the appended claims.

100‧‧‧ Built-in flash unit

120, 170, 220, 270‧‧‧ camera units

150, 210, 290, 300, 510, 610, 710, 810 ‧ ‧ flash head

160‧‧‧External flash unit

200‧‧‧Standard flash unit

240, 280‧ ‧ subject

250‧‧‧ ceiling

260‧‧‧ flash unit

310, 500, 600, 800‧‧‧ flash unit

320, 410‧‧‧ camera

400‧‧‧LCD screen

420, 450‧ ‧ pre-view

520, 640, 720, 860‧‧‧ direction sensor

530, 630, 870 ‧ ‧ flash processor (first signal processor)

540, 700, 830 ‧ ‧ camera unit

550, 730, 840‧‧ ‧ camera processor (second signal processor)

560, 740, 850‧‧‧ memory components

620, 820‧‧‧ flash head motor

Figure 1A shows a consumer-grade point-and-shoot camera using a built-in flash unit; Figure 1B is a front and side view of a camera unit and flash unit with an external flash unit that adjusts the direction of the flash head; Figure 2A shows a standard forward flash unit And the flash direction of the flash head; Figure 2B shows the flash unit that can be adjusted to provide flashover to the ceiling surface; Figure 3 shows the direction of the flash head when the camera unit is horizontal Up, but after the camera is rotated in the vertical direction, it is not necessarily the direction of the direction; Figure 4 shows the current application of the direction sensor in the camera unit, which keeps the pre-view horizontal in the direction of the camera unit; Figure 5 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 8 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the present invention. Figure.

500‧‧‧ flash unit

510‧‧‧Flash head

520‧‧‧ Directional Sensor

530‧‧‧Flash Processor

540‧‧‧ camera unit

550‧‧‧ camera processor

560‧‧‧ memory components

Claims (15)

A device for recording and changing the direction of the camera flash head, comprising: a flash unit having a flash head capable of changing direction; a plurality of direction sensors for detecting the direction of the flash head and providing direction information; and a first signal processor, Used to receive and process the direction data from the direction sensor. The device of claim 1, wherein the direction sensor is disposed in the flash unit. The device of claim 1, wherein the direction sensor is disposed in a camera unit. The device of claim 3, wherein the camera unit is a still camera device. The device of claim 3, wherein the camera unit is a camera device. The device of claim 1, wherein the first signal processor is configured to package the direction data from the direction sensor and record the direction data to a memory component. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flash unit is configured to plan a desired flash head direction into the flash unit so that the flash unit can maintain the direction of the flash head regardless of the flash What is the direction of the light unit? The device of claim 7, wherein the memory component is an on-board recording medium. The device of claim 7, wherein the memory component is a detachable recording medium. The device of claim 1, wherein the first signal processor is disposed in the flash unit. The device of claim 1, wherein the first signal processor is disposed in a camera unit. The device of claim 1, further comprising a motor capable of changing the direction of the flash head. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second signal processor for processing the direction data from the direction sensor and using the direction data to control the direction of the flash head. The device of claim 13, wherein the second signal processor is disposed in a camera unit. A method of recording and changing the direction of a camera flash head using a device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14.