IP Library Patent Application 12744455
Patent Application
App. No. 12/744,455

IMAGING DEVICE, INFORMATION PROCESSING TERMINAL, MOBILE TELEPHONE, PROGRAM, AND LIGHT EMISSION CONTROL METHOD

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
12/744,455
Abstract

A camera-mounted cellular phone ( 1 ) comprises a camera sensor ( 3 ) which picks up an image, a switch ( 2 ) which is configured to switch and set at least equal to or more than two operation modes each corresponding to an image-pickup distance from the camera sensor ( 3 ) to an object, and an LED ( 4 ) which emits light together with an image-pickup. At the time of image-pickup, an image-pickup operation is performed by controlling a focal point of the camera sensor ( 3 ) in accordance with an operation mode switched and set by the switch ( 2 ), and the luminous brightness of the LED ( 4 ) is controlled in accordance with the operation mode switched and set.

Claims (29)

1 . An image-pickup device comprising a camera unit which picks up an image and light-emission unit which emits light together with an image-pickup operation by the camera unit, the image-pickup device further comprising:

operation mode setting unit which is configured to switch and set at least equal to or more than two operation modes each corresponding to an image-pickup distance from the camera unit to an object;

camera control unit which performs an image-pickup operation by controlling a focal point of the camera unit in accordance with an operation mode switched and set by the operation mode setting unit; and

light-emission control unit which controls a light-emission operation of the light-emission unit in accordance with the operation mode switched and set by the operation mode setting unit.

2 . The image-pickup device according to claim 1 , wherein the longer an image-pickup distance corresponding to the operation mode switched and set by the operation mode setting unit is, the brighter the light-emission control unit controls the light-emission unit to emit light.

3 . The image-pickup device according to claim 1 , wherein the light-emission unit is arranged near the camera unit.

4 . An image-pickup device comprising a camera unit which picks up an image and a plurality of light-emission units which are arranged apart from the camera unit at different distances therefrom and which emit light together with an image-pickup operation by the camera unit, the image-pickup device further comprising:

operation mode setting unit which is configured to switch and set at least equal to or more than two operation modes each corresponding to an image-pickup distance from the camera unit to an object;

camera control unit which performs an image-pickup operation by controlling a focal point of the camera unit in accordance with an operation mode switched and set by the operation mode setting unit; and

light-emission control unit which controls the light-emission unit which is arranged in a position closer and closer to the camera unit to emit light when an image-pickup distance corresponding to the operation mode switched and set by the operation mode setting unit is longer and longer.

5 . The image-pickup device according to claim 4 , wherein the longer the image-pickup distance corresponding to the operation mode switched and set by the operation mode setting unit is, the brighter the light-emission control unit controls the light-emission unit which is arranged in the position closer and closer to the camera unit to emit light.

6 . An information processing terminal comprising the image-pickup device according to claim 1 .

7 . A cellular phone comprising the image-pickup device according to claim 1 .

8 . A recording medium storing a program which allows a control unit of an image-pickup device comprising a camera unit that picks up an image, and light-emission unit that emits light together with an image-pickup operation by the camera unit to function as:

operation mode setting unit which is configured to switch and set at least equal to or more than two operation modes each corresponding to an image-pickup distance from the camera unit to an object;

camera control unit which performs an image-pickup operation by controlling a focal point of the camera unit in accordance with an operation mode switched and set by the operation mode setting unit; and

light-emission control unit which controls a light-emission operation of the light-emission unit in accordance with the operation mode switched and set by the operation mode setting unit.

9 . A recording medium storing a program which allows a control unit of an image-pickup device comprising a camera unit that picks up an image, and a plurality of light-emission units that are arranged apart from the camera unit at different distances therefrom and which emit light together with an image-pickup operation by the camera unit to function as:

operation mode setting unit which is configured to switch and set at least equal to or more than two operation modes each corresponding to an image-pickup distance from the camera unit to an object;

camera control unit which performs an image-pickup operation by controlling a focal point of the camera unit in accordance with an operation mode switched and set by the operation mode setting unit; and

light-emission control unit which controls the light-emission unit that is arranged in a position closer and closer to the camera unit to emit light when an image-pickup distance corresponding to the operation mode switched and set by the operation mode setting unit is longer and longer.

10 . A method of controlling light-emission of light-emission unit in an image-pickup device comprising a camera unit which picks up an image, and the light-emission unit which emits light together with an image-pickup operation by the camera unit, the method comprising:

an operation mode setting step of switching and setting at least equal to or more than two operation modes each corresponding to an image-pickup distance from the camera unit to an object;

an operation mode detection step of detecting an operation mode switched and set in the operation mode setting step; and

an image-pickup light emission control step of performing an image-pickup operation by controlling a focal point of the camera unit in accordance with an image-pickup distance corresponding to the operation mode detected in the operation mode detection step, and of controlling light-emission operation of the light-emission unit in accordance with the image-pickup distance.

11 . A method of controlling light-emission of light-emission unit in an image-pickup device comprising a camera unit which picks up an image, and a plurality of light-emission units which are arranged apart from the camera unit at different distances therefrom and which emit light together with an image-pickup operation by the camera unit, the methods comprising:

an operation mode setting step of switching and setting at least equal to or more than two operation modes each corresponding to an image-pickup distance from the camera unit to an object;

an operation mode detection step of detecting an operation mode switched and set by the operation mode setting unit; and

an image-pickup light emission control step of performing an image-pickup operation by controlling a focal point of the camera unit in accordance with an image-pickup distance corresponding to the operation mode detected in the operation mode detection step, and of controlling the light-emission unit which is arranged in a position closer and closer to the camera unit to emit light when the image-pickup distance is longer and longer.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 7, 2010
From: OOZEKI, KEISUKE
To: NEC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 024493/0677 →