Method for performing multi-camera capturing control of an electronic device, and associated apparatus

1. A method for performing multi-camera capturing control of an electronic device, the method comprising:

obtaining a plurality of preview images, wherein the plurality of preview images are generated by using at least one lens module of the electronic device;

generating at least one distance-related index according to characteristics of the plurality of preview images;

selectively controlling a multi-camera capturing function based on the at least one distance-related index;

enabling the multi-camera capturing function when the at least one distance-related index is within a predetermined range; and

disabling output of the multi-camera capturing function when the at least one distance-related index is outside of the predetermined range, wherein disabling the output of the multi-camera capturing function includes preventing access to a user interface (UI) used for triggering the multi-camera capturing function of the electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one lens module comprises multiple lens modules of the electronic device.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein a stereo camera of the electronic device comprises the multiple lens modules of the electronic device.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one lens module comprises a single lens module of the electronic device; and any two preview images within the plurality of preview images are generated by using the single lens module at different time points, respectively.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one distance-related index corresponds to a specific region of at least one preview image within the plurality of preview images.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the specific region of the at least one preview image comprises a whole region of the at least one preview image.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one distance-related index comprises at least one or a combination of a distance index, a disparity index, and a depth index.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the at least one distance-related index corresponds to a specific region of at least one preview image within the plurality of preview images; and generating the at least one distance-related index according to the characteristics of the plurality of preview images comprises:

obtaining a plurality of disparity values corresponding to the specific region from a disparity map, selecting a representative disparity value of the plurality of disparity values, and utilizing the representative disparity value as the disparity index; or

obtaining a plurality of depth values corresponding to the specific region from a depth map, selecting a representative depth value of the plurality of depth values, and utilizing the representative depth value as the depth index.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the at least one distance-related index according to the characteristics of the plurality of preview images comprises:

performing face detection on the plurality of preview images to generate the at least one distance-related index.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein generating the at least one distance-related index according to the characteristics of the plurality of preview images comprises:

performing the face detection on a specific preview image within the plurality of preview images to determine a specific face image in the specific preview image; and

determining a specific distance-related index within the at least one distance-related index according to at least one face parameter of the specific face image, wherein the specific distance-related index corresponds to the specific preview image, and the at least one face parameter of the specific face image comprises a face size of the specific face image and/or a face position of the specific face image.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein selectively controlling the multi-camera capturing function comprises:

when it is detected that a specific distance-related index within the at least one distance-related index is within the predetermined range, outputting a notification which indicates that the multi-camera capturing function of the electronic device is enabled.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein selectively controlling the multi-camera capturing function comprises:

when it is detected that the at least one distance-related index is within the predetermined range, enabling the multi-camera capturing function of the electronic device, and performing the multi-camera capturing function to capture multiple images in response to a user input.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

after performing the multi-camera capturing function to capture the multiple images in response to the user input, performing a multi-view image processing based on the multiple images.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the UI comprises at least one physical button of the electronic device and/or at least one virtual button on a touch sensitive display module of the electronic device.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein selectively controlling the multi-camera capturing function comprises:

when it is detected that each of the at least one distance-related index is outside of the predetermined range, outputting a warning information.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein controlling the multi-camera capturing function comprises:

when it is detected that the at least one distance-related index is within the predetermined range, automatically performing the multi-camera capturing function to capture multiple images.

17. An apparatus for performing multi-camera capturing control of an electronic device, the apparatus comprising:

a control circuit configured to obtain a plurality of preview images, wherein the plurality of preview images are generated by using at least one lens module of the electronic device; and

a calculator configured to generate at least one distance-related index according to characteristics of the plurality of preview images;

wherein the control circuit is further configured to:

selectively control a multi-camera capturing function based on the at least one distance-related index;

enable the multi-camera capturing function when the at least one distance-related index is within a predetermined range; and

disable output of the multi-camera capturing function when the at least one distance-related index is outside of the predetermined range, wherein when disabling the output of the multi-camera capturing function, the control circuit is further configured to prevent access to a user interface (UI) used for triggering the multi-camera capturing function of the electronic device.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the at least one distance-related index comprises at least one or a combination of a distance index, a disparity index, and a depth index.

19. A method for performing multi-camera capturing control of an electronic device, the method comprising:

obtaining a specific preview image, wherein the specific preview image is generated by using a lens module of the electronic device;

generating at least one distance-related index according to characteristics of the specific preview image;

selectively controlling a multi-camera capturing function based on the at least one distance-related index;

enabling the multi-camera capturing function when the at least one distance-related index is within a predetermined range; and

disabling output of the multi-camera capturing function when the at least one distance-related index is outside of the predetermined range, wherein disabling the output of the multi-camera capturing function includes preventing access to a user interface (UI) used for triggering the multi-camera capturing function of the electronic device.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein generating the at least one distance-related index according to the characteristics of the specific preview image comprises:

performing face detection on the specific preview image to determine a specific face image in the specific preview image; and

determining a specific distance-related index within the at least one distance-related index according to at least one face parameter of the specific face image and according to a set of predetermined reference data regarding faces, wherein the specific distance-related index corresponds to the specific preview image, and the at least one face parameter of the specific face image comprises a face size of the specific face image and/or a face position of the specific face image.

21. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

capturing multiple images via the multi-camera capturing function;

determining that the preview images are different from the multiple images; and

outputting a warning notification based on the determination that the preview images are different from the multiple images.