Digital Camera Patent Abstract
A digital camera, which includes an optical module for capturing
an image, angle detecting sensor means for detecting the angle of
the digital camera when capturing an image, and a photo processing
module, which controls the operation of the optical module to adjust
exposure, focusing, and field depth when capturing an image, converts
captured image into a digital image signal, and rotates the picture
frame of the digital image signal thus obtained into an image storage
format subject to the camera angle detected by the angle detecting
sensor means. Digital Camera Patent Claims
What the invention claimed is:
1. A digital camera comprising:
an optical module, said optical module comprising at least one
lens means and image capture means;
angle detecting sensor means, which detects the angle of the digital
camera when capturing an image; and
an image processing module, which controls the operation of said
optical module to adjust exposure, focusing, and field depth when
capturing an image, converts the captured image into a digital image
signal, and rotates the picture frame of the digital image signal
thus obtained into an image storage format subject to the camera
angle detected by said angle detecting sensor means,
wherein said angle detecting sensor means comprises a light chopper
pivoted to the digital camera and turned about an axis along a circular
path, and at least one photo sensor installed in said circular path.
2. The digital camera of claim 1 further comprising a storage module
for storing said image storage format.
3. The digital camera of claim 1 further comprising an input/output
port for enabling said image storage format to be outputted to an
external display or storage means.
4. The digital camera of claim 1 wherein said at least one photo
sensor includes two photo sensors horizontally aligned at two opposite
sides relative to said light chopper.
5. The digital camera of claim 1 wherein said at least one photo
sensor includes three photo sensors disposed in said circular path
at the nine o'clock position, the three o'clock position and the
twelve o'clock position respectively.
Digital Camera Patent Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to digital cameras, and more particularly
to such a digital camera, which is capable of automatically rotating
image storage data subject to image capture angle.
A variety of digital cameras have been developed, and have appeared
on the market. These digital cameras are sold with an attached software
package, so that the consumer can watch captured images through
a personal computer or TV set, or edit the images in a personal
computer. A regular digital camera 30, as shown in FIG. 3, is generally
comprised of an optical module 31, an image processing module 32,
a storage module 33, and an input/output port 34. The optical module
31 is comprised of at least one lens. The image processing module
32 controls the operation of the optical module 31 to adjust exposure,
focusing, field depth when the digital camera picks up an image,
processes captured image into an array of pixels subject to a predetermined
format, and stores the array of pixels in the storage module 33
or sends the array of pixels to an external display (for example,
a computer or TV set) 35 or storage means (for example, a hard disk
drive) 36 through the input/output port 34. The use of a digital
camera saves much cost in photo developing and photo storage arrangement.
However, the picture frame of a digital image is stored in the position
corresponding to the angular position of the digital camera when
capturing the image. For example, if the user A holds the digital
camera B horizontally when capturing an image as shown in FIG. 1,
the object C in the picture frame 10 is presented at the normal
vertical status. If the user A holds the digital camera B vertically
when capturing up an image as shown in FIG. 2, the object C in the
picture frame 20 is presented at a horizontal status. It is uncomfortable
to watch a picture in which the object is not presented at the normal
vertical status. When editing pictures in a personal computer, an
erroneous visual judgment may occur, and the editing efficiency
and effect will be affected.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances
in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide
a method of automatically rotating image storage data subject to
image capture angle, so that the object in each picture is presented
in the natural normal position comfortable for watching. It is another
object of the present invention to provide a digital camera, which
is capable of automatically rotating image storage data subject
to image capture angle. According to one aspect of the present invention,
angle detecting sensor means is installed in the digital camera
detecting to detect the angle of the digital camera when capturing
an image, enabling the image processing module of the digital camera
to rotate the picture frame of the captured image to a predetermined
image storage format. According to another aspect of the present
invention , the picture frame of the captured image can be rotated
through 90.degree., 180.degree. or 270.degree. angle subject to
the angle of rotation of the digital camera.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing showing the format of the picture
frame of the image obtained from a digital camera held in a horizontal
position.
FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing showing the format of the picture
frame of the image obtained from a digital camera held in a vertical
position.
FIG. 3 is a circuit block diagram showing the basic architecture
of a digital camera according to the prior art.
FIG. 4 is a circuit block diagram showing the basic architecture
of a digital camera according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is schematic drawing showing the position of the light chopper
of the angle detecting sensor means in the digital camera held in
the normal horizontal position according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 illustrates the position of the light chopper of the angle
detecting sensor means in the digital camera when the digital camera
rotated clockwise through 90.degree. angles according to the present
invention.
FIG. 7 illustrates the position of the light chopper of the angle
detecting sensor means in the digital camera when the digital camera
rotated counter-clockwise through 90.degree. angles according to
the present invention.
FIG. 8 illustrates the position of the light chopper of the angle
detecting sensor means in the digital camera when the digital camera
rotated through 180.degree. angle according to the present invention.
FIG. 9 is an image-processing module processing flow chart according
to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to FIG. 4, a digital camera 40 in accordance with the
present invention comprises an optical module 41, an image processing
module 42, a storage module 43, an input/output port 44, and angle
detecting sensor means 421. The optical module 41 is comprised of
at least one lens and image capture means such as charge-coupled
device. The angle detecting sensor means 421 detects the angle (horizontal
or vertical) of the digital camera 40 when capturing an image. The
image processing module 42 controls the operation of the optical
module 41 to adjust exposure, focusing, and field depth when capturing
an image, converts captured image into a digital image signal, and
rotates the picture frame of the digital image signal into a horizontal
(or vertical) image storage format subject to the camera angle detected
by the angle detecting sensor means 421, and stores the horizontal
(or vertical) image storage format in the storage module 43 or sends
the horizontal (or vertical) image storage format to an external
display (for example, a computer or TV set) 45 or storage means
(for example, a hard disk drive) 46 through the input/output port
44.
Referring to Figures from 5 through 7, an angle detecting sensor
means is installed in a digital camera 50 at a suitable location,
comprised of a light chopper 51 turned about a pivot at the digital
camera 50, and two photo sensors 521 and 522 disposed at two opposite
sides in the path of the light chopper 51. When the user holds the
digital camera 50 horizontally to capture an image, the light chopper
51 does not block the photo sensors 521 and 522, and the picture
frame of the picked image is in the normal position. When the user
rotates the digital camera 50 in clockwise direction through 90.degree.
angle as shown in FIG. 6, the light chopper 51 blocks the second
photo sensor 522, thereby causing the image processing module to
automatically rotate the picture frame of the digital image signal
thus obtained in counter-clockwise direction through 90.degree.
angle. If the user rotates the digital camera 50 in counter-clockwise
direction through 90.degree. angle as shown in FIG. 7, the light
chopper 51 blocks the first photo sensor 521, thereby causing the
image processing module to automatically rotate the picture frame
of the digital image signal thus obtained in clockwise direction
through 90.degree. angle.
The embodiment of the angle detecting sensor means shown in FIG.
8 comprises three photo sensors, namely, the first photo sensor
521 at the nine o'clock position, the second photo sensor 522 at
the three o'clock position, and the third photo sensor 523 at the
twelve o'clock position. When the user rotates the digital camera
50 in clockwise or counter-clockwise direction through 180.degree.
angle, the light chopper 51 blocks the third photo sensor 523, thereby
causing the image-processing module to automatically rotate the
picture frame of the digital image signal thus obtained through
180.degree. angle.
Referring to FIG. 9, when rotating the picture frame of the digital
image signal, the image-processing module runs subject to the following
procedure:
1. converting the image signal captured by the optical module into
digital image signal subject to a predetermined format immediately
after the shutter release has been pressed;
2. reading in the signal detected by the angle detecting sensor
means;
3. reading in the angle of rotation from an angle conversion table
subject to the signal obtained from the angle detecting sensor means;
and
4. shifting the picture frame of the digital image signal to the
desired status subject to the angle of rotation obtained.
As indicated above, if the user rotates the digital camera through
90.degree., 180.degree. or 270.degree. angle when capturing an image,
the image processing module can automatically rotate the picture
frame of the digital image signal thus obtained through an angle
subject to the angle signal detected by the angle detecting sensor
means, enabling the digital image signal to be converted into the
desired horizontal or vertical image storage format convenient for
graphic editing.
It is to be understood that the drawings are designed for purposes
of illustration only, and are not intended for use as a definition
of the limits and scope of the invention disclosed.
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