IP Library Granted Patent US 8,896,753
Granted Patent B2
US 8,896,753 · App. 13/735,416 · Granted Nov 25, 2014

Control of light emission at different brightnesses corresponding to operation mode

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,896,753
App. No.
13/735,416
Granted
Nov 25, 2014
Kind
B2
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 (15)

1. An image-pickup device comprising a camera unit which picks up an image, a first light-emission unit which emits light together with an image-pickup operation by the camera unit, and a second light-emission unit which is arranged apart from the camera unit relative to the first light-emission unit and which emits light together with an image-pickup operation by the camera unit, the image-pickup device further comprising:

an operation mode setting unit which is configured to switch and set a first operation mode corresponding to a first image-pickup distance from the camera unit to an object and a second operation mode corresponding to a second image-pickup distance longer than the first image-pickup distance;

a 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

a light-emission control unit which only controls the second light-emission unit to emit light when the operation mode setting unit switches and sets the first operation mode, and controls only the first light-emission unit to emit light when the operation mode setting unit switches and sets the second operation mode, wherein the light-emission control unit controls the first light-emission unit or the second light-emission unit to emit light at respective different brightnesses corresponding to the operation mode switched and set by the operation mode setting unit.

2. A non-transitory recording medium storing a program which allows a control unit of an image-pickup device comprising a camera unit that picks up an image, a first light-emission unit which emits light together with an image-pickup operation by the camera unit, and a second light-emission unit which is arranged apart from the camera unit relative to the first light-emission unit and which emits light together with an image-pickup operation by the camera unit to function as:

an operation mode setting unit which is configured to switch and set a first operation mode corresponding to a first image-pickup distance from the camera unit to an object and a second operation mode corresponding to a second image-pickup distance longer than the first image-pickup distance;

a 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

a light-emission control unit which controls the second light-emission unit to emit light when the operation mode setting unit switches and sets the first operation mode, and controls only the first light-emission unit to emit light when the operation mode setting unit switches and sets the second operation mode, wherein the light-emission control unit controls only the first light-emission unit or the second light-emission unit to emit light at respective different brightnesses corresponding to the operation mode switched and set by the operation mode setting unit.

3. A method of controlling light-emission of light-emission unit in an image-pickup device comprising a camera unit which picks up an image, a first light-emission unit which emits light together with an image-pickup operation by the camera unit, and a second light-emission unit which is arranged apart from the camera unit relative to the first light-emission unit and which emits light together with an image-pickup operation by the camera unit, the method comprising:

an operation mode setting step to switch and set a first operation mode corresponding to a first image-pickup distance from the camera unit to an object and a second operation mode corresponding to a second image-pickup distance longer than the first image-pickup distance;

a camera control step to perform 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 step; and

a light-emission control step to control the second light-emission unit to emit light when the operation mode setting unit switches and sets the first operation mode, and to control the first light-emission unit to emit light when the operation mode setting unit switches and sets the second operation mode, wherein

the light-emission control step controls only the first light-emission unit or the second light-emission unit to emit light at respective different brightnesses corresponding to the operation mode switched and set by the operation mode setting step.

4. The image-pickup device according to claim 1 , wherein the light-emission control unit controls the first light-emission unit to emit light at a brightness higher than a brightness at which the second light-emission unit emits light, when the operation mode setting unit switches and sets the second operation mode.

5. The image-pickup device according to claim 1 , wherein the light-emission control unit controls the first light-emission unit to emit light at a-brightness lower than a brightness at which the second light-emission unit emits light, when the operation mode setting unit switches and sets the second operation mode.

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