Sony Ericsson patents ZOOM CONTROL
Abstract
A device may establish a distance of a device from a reference object. The device may also determine a difference or change in the distance, obtain a zoom value based on the difference or change, and zoom in or out on a view based on the zoom value.
Description
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TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001]Implementations described herein relate to photography and in particular, to controlling a zoom.
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
[0002]When the size of a subject on the viewfinder of a camera is too small or too large, the optical zoom of the camera may be used to change the magnification of the subject image. The magnification may be changed by manually adjusting the zoom lens.
SUMMARY
[0003]According to one aspect, a method may comprise establishing a first distance between a device and a reference object, determining a difference between the first distance and a current distance between the device and the reference object, obtaining a zoom value based on the difference, and zooming in on a view based on the zoom value.
[0004]Additionally, establishing a first distance may include setting an output value of an accelerometer sensor to zero.
[0005]Additionally, determining the difference between the first distance and the current distance may include obtaining the output value from the accelerometer sensor.
[0006]Additionally, the reference object may be a user of the device or a portion of the user's body.
[0007]Additionally, the method may further comprise receiving a calibration value to be used for determining the zoom value.
[0008]Additionally, obtaining a zoom value based on the difference may include multiplying the calibration value by the difference.
[0009]Additionally, the method may further comprise setting a shutter speed or an aperture size based on the zoom value.
[0010]Additionally, the method may further comprise setting a shutter speed, a white balance, or an aperture size based on luminance sensor outputs.
[0011]Additionally, the method may further comprise focusing in on the view based on focus sensor outputs.
[0012]Additionally, the method may further comprise receiving a user input to terminate zooming in on the view.
[0013]Additionally, the method may further comprise capturing the view as an image.
[0014]According to another aspect, a device may comprise a lens assembly and a sensor. Additionally, the device may further comprise a processor to set a reference position of the device relative to a reference point based on information from the sensor, determine the distance of the device to the reference position, derive zoom information based on the distance, and adjust the lens assembly to magnify an image based on the zoom information.
[0015]Additionally, the sensor may include at least one of an accelerometer sensor that obtains the distance of the device to the reference position, an ultrasound sensor that obtains the distance of the device to the reference point, an infrared sensor that obtains the distance of the device to the reference point, or a camera sensor that obtains the distance of the device to the reference point.
[0016]Additionally, the accelerometer sensor may include an accelerometer.
[0017]Additionally, the camera sensor may include a video camera.
[0018]Additionally, the device may further comprise a light sensor to sense the image, a memory to capture the image, and a display to show the image.
[0019]Additionally, the sensor may include a luminance sensor for detecting brightness of the image.
[0020]Additionally, the sensor may include a focus sensor.
[0021]According to yet another aspect, a device may comprise means for obtaining a distance from the device to a user of the device, means for determining magnification based on the distance, and means for adjusting an optical zoom based on the magnification.
[0022]Additionally, the device may further comprise at least one of means for measuring acceleration and determining the distance based on the measured acceleration, means for measuring a delay between an ultrasound pulse and an echo of the ultrasound pulse and determining the distance based on the delay, or means for measuring video camera parameters and determining the distance based on the video camera parameters.
A device may establish a distance of a device from a reference object. The device may also determine a difference or change in the distance, obtain a zoom value based on the difference or change, and zoom in or out on a view based on the zoom value.
Description
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001]Implementations described herein relate to photography and in particular, to controlling a zoom.
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
[0002]When the size of a subject on the viewfinder of a camera is too small or too large, the optical zoom of the camera may be used to change the magnification of the subject image. The magnification may be changed by manually adjusting the zoom lens.
SUMMARY
[0003]According to one aspect, a method may comprise establishing a first distance between a device and a reference object, determining a difference between the first distance and a current distance between the device and the reference object, obtaining a zoom value based on the difference, and zooming in on a view based on the zoom value.
[0004]Additionally, establishing a first distance may include setting an output value of an accelerometer sensor to zero.
[0005]Additionally, determining the difference between the first distance and the current distance may include obtaining the output value from the accelerometer sensor.
[0006]Additionally, the reference object may be a user of the device or a portion of the user's body.
[0007]Additionally, the method may further comprise receiving a calibration value to be used for determining the zoom value.
[0008]Additionally, obtaining a zoom value based on the difference may include multiplying the calibration value by the difference.
[0009]Additionally, the method may further comprise setting a shutter speed or an aperture size based on the zoom value.
[0010]Additionally, the method may further comprise setting a shutter speed, a white balance, or an aperture size based on luminance sensor outputs.
[0011]Additionally, the method may further comprise focusing in on the view based on focus sensor outputs.
[0012]Additionally, the method may further comprise receiving a user input to terminate zooming in on the view.
[0013]Additionally, the method may further comprise capturing the view as an image.
[0014]According to another aspect, a device may comprise a lens assembly and a sensor. Additionally, the device may further comprise a processor to set a reference position of the device relative to a reference point based on information from the sensor, determine the distance of the device to the reference position, derive zoom information based on the distance, and adjust the lens assembly to magnify an image based on the zoom information.
[0015]Additionally, the sensor may include at least one of an accelerometer sensor that obtains the distance of the device to the reference position, an ultrasound sensor that obtains the distance of the device to the reference point, an infrared sensor that obtains the distance of the device to the reference point, or a camera sensor that obtains the distance of the device to the reference point.
[0016]Additionally, the accelerometer sensor may include an accelerometer.
[0017]Additionally, the camera sensor may include a video camera.
[0018]Additionally, the device may further comprise a light sensor to sense the image, a memory to capture the image, and a display to show the image.
[0019]Additionally, the sensor may include a luminance sensor for detecting brightness of the image.
[0020]Additionally, the sensor may include a focus sensor.
[0021]According to yet another aspect, a device may comprise means for obtaining a distance from the device to a user of the device, means for determining magnification based on the distance, and means for adjusting an optical zoom based on the magnification.
[0022]Additionally, the device may further comprise at least one of means for measuring acceleration and determining the distance based on the measured acceleration, means for measuring a delay between an ultrasound pulse and an echo of the ultrasound pulse and determining the distance based on the delay, or means for measuring video camera parameters and determining the distance based on the video camera parameters.
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