IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,097,318
Granted Patent B2
US 7,097,318 · App. 10/694,061 · Granted Aug 29, 2006

Mobile phone provided with lighting, lighting control method and lighting control program

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,097,318
App. No.
10/694,061
Granted
Aug 29, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

A mobile phone provided with lighting devices capable of capturing not only a still image but also a moving image in the dark. When a user sets the lighting of a light emitting section to ON at the time of capturing an image, the light emitting section is controlled so as to illuminate a subject for the most suitable time for capturing the image regardless of capturing a still image or moving image. Accordingly, it becomes possible to capture an image in the dark successfully. Moreover, the mobile phone can be used as a flashlight by continuously turning on the light emitting section that would be used when capturing an image. Accordingly, the mobile phone may be used for lighting when finding a keyhole, searching for something, etc. in the dark.

Claims (63)

1. A mobile phone provided with lighting, comprising:

a capturing section for capturing an image;

a light emitting section for emitting light to illuminate a subject when capturing an image;

an operation inputting section through which a user inputs information to operate the mobile phone; and

a control section for controlling the respective sections, wherein:

the control section controls the light emitting section so as to continuously emit light while capturing a moving image so that a time length for emitting light varies depending on whether a still image or moving image is captured, and

wherein, the light emitting section comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes, and the control section controls the number of the light emitting diodes that emit light so that the intensity of light emitted from the light emitting diodes at the time of continuous lighting while the capturing section is not active is lower than the intensity of light emitted from the light emitting diodes at the time of capturing an image.

2. The mobile phone of claim 1 , wherein when an operation to activate the light emitting section is executed while the capturing section is not active, the control section controls the light emitting section so as to continuously emit light until a predetermined operation is executed.

3. A mobile phone provided with lighting, comprising:

a capturing section for capturing an image;

a light emitting section for emitting light to illuminate a subject when capturing an image;

an operation inputting section through which a user inputs information to operate the mobile phone; and

a control section for controlling the respective sections, wherein:

the control section controls the light emitting section so as to continuously emit light while capturing a moving image so that a time length for emitting light varies depending on whether a still image or moving image is captured; and

the control section controls the light emitting section to continuously emit light while the capturing section is not active with an intensity that is lower than the intensity of light emitted from the light emitting section at the time of capturing an image.

4. A mobile phone provided with lighting as claimed in claim 3 , wherein:

the light emitting section comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes; and

the control section controls the number of the light emitting diodes that emit light so that the intensity of light emitted from the light emitting diodes at the time of continuous lighting while the capturing section is not active is lower than the intensity of light emitted from the light emitting diodes at the time of capturing an image.

5. A mobile phone provided with lighting, comprising:

a capturing section for capturing an image;

a light emitting section for emitting light to illuminate a subject when capturing an image;

an operation inputting section through which a user inputs information to operate the mobile phone; and

a control section for controlling the respective sections, wherein:

the control section controls the light emitting section so as to continuously emit light while capturing a moving image so that a time length for emitting light varies depending on whether a still image or moving image is captured;

when an operation to activate the light emitting section is executed while the capturing section is not active, the control section controls the light emitting section so as to continuously emit light until a predetermined operation is executed; and

the control section controls the light emitting section to emit light so that the intensity of light emitted from the light emitting section at the time of continuous lighting while the capturing section is not active is lower than the intensity of light emitted from the light emitting section at the time of capturing an image.

6. A mobile phone provided with lighting as claimed in claim 5 , wherein:

the light emitting section comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes; and

the control section controls the number of the light emitting diodes that emit light so that the intensity of light emitted from the light emitting diodes at the time of continuous lighting while the capturing section is not active is lower than the intensity of light emitted from the light emitting diodes at the time of capturing an image.

7. A lighting control method for a mobile phone provided with lighting comprising a capturing means for capturing an image, a light emitting means for emitting light to illuminate a subject when capturing an image, and an operation inputting means through which a user inputs information to operate the mobile phone, comprising a first control step of:

controlling the light emitting means so as to continuously emit light while capturing a moving image so that a time length for emitting light varies depending on whether a still image or moving image is captured,

wherein the light emitting means comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes, and further comprising a second control step in which the number of the light emitting diodes that emit light is controlled so that the intensity of light emitted from the light emitting diodes at the time of continuous lighting while the capturing means is not active is lower than the intensity of light emitted from the light emitting diodes at the time of capturing an image.

8. The lighting control method of claim 7 , further comprising

a third control step of, when an operation to activate the light emitting means is executed while the capturing means is not active, controlling the light emitting means so as to continuously emit light until a predetermined operation is executed.

9. A lighting control method for a mobile phone provided with lighting comprising a capturing means for capturing an image, a light emitting means for emitting light to illuminate a subject when capturing an image, and an operation inputting means through which a user inputs information to operate the mobile phone, comprising:

a first control step of controlling the light emitting means so as to continuously emit light while capturing a moving image so that a time length for emitting light varies depending on whether a still image or moving image is captured; and

a second control step of controlling the light emitting means to continuously emit light while the capturing means is not active with an intensity that is lower than the intensity of light emitted from the light emitting means at the time of capturing an image.

10. A lighting control method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein:

the light emitting means comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes; and

at the second control step, the number of the light emitting diodes that emit light is controlled so that the intensity of light emitted from the light emitting diodes at the time of continuous lighting while the capturing means is not active is lower than the intensity of light emitted from the light emitting diodes at the time of capturing an image.

11. A lighting control method for a mobile phone provided with lighting comprising a capturing means for capturing an image, a light emitting means for emitting light to illuminate a subject when capturing an image, and an operation inputting means through which a user inputs information to operate the mobile phone, comprising:

a first control step of controlling the light emitting means so as to continuously emit light while capturing a moving image so that a time length for emitting light varies depending on whether a still image or moving image is captured;

a second control step of, when an operation to activate the light emitting means is executed while the capturing means is not active, controlling the light emitting means so as to continuously emit light until a predetermined operation is executed; and

a third control step of controlling the light emitting means to emit light so that the intensity of light emitted from the light emitting means at the time of continuous lighting while the capturing means is not active is lower than the intensity of light emitted from the light emitting means at the time of capturing an image.

12. A lighting control method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein:

the light emitting means comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes; and

at the third control step, the number of the light emitting diodes that emit light is controlled so that the intensity of light emitted from the light emitting diodes at the time of continuous lighting while the capturing means is not active is lower than the intensity of light emitted from the light emitting diodes at the time of capturing an image.

13. A lighting control program in a computer readable medium, for a mobile phone provided with lighting comprising a capturing means for capturing an image, a light emitting means for emitting light to illuminate a subject when capturing an image, and an operation inputting means through which a user inputs information to operate the mobile phone, the program executing the process of:

controlling the light emitting means to continuously emit light while capturing a moving image so that a time length for emitting light varies depending on whether a still image or a moving image is captured,

wherein the light emitting means comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes, and wherein the program further executes the process of controlling the number of the light emitting diodes that emit light so that the intensity of light emitted from the light emitting diodes at the time of continuous lighting while the capturing means is not active is lower than the intensity of light emitted from the light emitting diodes at the time of capturing an image.

14. The lighting control program of claim 13 , wherein

when an operation to activate the light emitting means is executed while the capturing means is not active, the program controls the light emitting means so as to continuously emit light until a predetermined operation is executed.

15. A lighting control program in a computer readable medium, for a mobile phone provided with lighting comprising a capturing means for capturing an image, a light emitting means for emitting light to illuminate a subject when capturing an image, and an operation inputting means through which a user inputs information to operate the mobile phone, the program executing the process of:

controlling the light emitting means to continuously emit light while capturing a moving image so that a time length for emitting light varies depending on whether a still image or a moving image is captured; and

controlling the light emitting means to continuously emit light while the capturing means is not active with an intensity that is lower than the intensity of light emitted from the light emitting means at the time of capturing an image.

16. A lighting control program as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the light emitting means comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes, the program further executing the process of:

controlling the number of the light emitting diodes that emit light so that the intensity of light emitted from the light emitting diodes at the time of continuous lighting while the capturing means is not active is lower than the intensity of light emitted from the light emitting diodes at the time of capturing an image.

17. A lighting control program in a computer readable medium, for a mobile phone provided with lighting comprising a capturing means for capturing an image, a light emitting means for emitting light to illuminate a subject when capturing an image, and an operation inputting means through which a user inputs information to operate the mobile phone, the program executing the process of:

controlling the light emitting means to continuously emit light while capturing a moving image so that a time length for emitting light varies depending on whether a still image or a moving image is captured;

when an operation to activate the light emitting means is executed while the capturing means is not active, controlling the light emitting means so as to continuously emit light until a predetermined operation is executed; and

controlling the light emitting means to emit light so that the intensity of light emitted from the light emitting means at the time of continuous lighting while the capturing means is not active is lower than the intensity of light emitted from the light emitting means at the time of capturing an image.

18. A lighting control program as claimed in claim 17 wherein the light emitting means comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes, the program further executing the process of:

controlling the number of the light emitting diodes to emit light so that the intensity of light emitted from the light emitting diodes at the time of continuous lighting while the capturing means is not active is lower than the intensity of light emitted from the light emitting diodes at the time of capturing an image.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 11, 2014
From: NEC CORPORATION
To: LENOVO INNOVATIONS LIMITED (HONG KONG)
Reel/Frame 033720/0767 →