Method and electronic device for controlling plurality of cameras

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11140325-B2
Application number	US-201716468463-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 28, 2017
Priority date	Jan 24, 2017
Publication date	Oct 5, 2021
Grant date	Oct 5, 2021

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present invention comprise: a first image sensor for acquiring a first image of an external object; a second image sensor for acquiring a second image of the external object; and a processor, wherein the processor is set so as to: acquire, through the first image sensor, the first image by using a first setting related to an exposure for the external object; acquire, through the second image sensor, the second image by using a second setting related to the exposure, during the operation of acquiring the first image; select one corresponding setting from among the first setting and the second setting on the basis of at least the first image or the second image; and acquire, through the first image sensor or the second image sensor, a third image of the external object on the basis of at least the one corresponding setting, thereby enabling an entry time of a dual camera mounted on a rear surface of an electronic device to be reduced. Other various embodiments are possible in addition to the embodiments disclosed in the present invention.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An electronic device comprising:
a display:
a first image sensor to obtain a first image of an external object;
a second image sensor to obtain a second image of the external object; and
a processor operationally connected to the display, the first image sensor, and the second image sensor,
wherein the processor is configured to:
operate the first image sensor and the second image sensor,
measure illuminance of a surrounding environment and determine if the illuminance is higher or lower than a preset threshold value,
use the first image sensor to predict the illuminance if the surrounding environment is higher than the preset threshold value,
use the second image sensor to predict the illuminance if the surrounding environment is lower than the preset threshold value,
complete the illuminance prediction using at least one of the first image sensor or the second image sensor,
configure an exposure of the first image sensor through the completed illuminance prediction,
operate the first image sensor based on the exposure configuration,
display a third image from a frame in which the exposure is reflected,
configure exposure of the second image sensor through the completed illuminance prediction, operate the second image sensor based on the exposure configuration, and
display a fourth image from the frame in which the exposure is reflected.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to turn off the second image sensor when the illuminance prediction is complete and only operate the first image sensor.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to display the third image as a preview.

4. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to display the fourth image as a preview.

5. A method of controlling an electronic device, the method comprising:
operating a first image sensor and a second image sensor;
measuring illuminance of a surrounding environment and determining if the illuminance is higher or lower than a preset threshold value;
using the first image sensor to predict the illuminance if the surrounding environment is higher than the preset threshold value;
using the second image sensor to predict the illuminance if the surrounding environment is lower than the preset threshold value;
completing the illuminance prediction using at least one of the first image sensor and the second image sensor;
configuring an exposure of the first image sensor through the completed illuminance prediction;
operating the first image based on the exposure configuration;
displaying a third image from a frame in which the exposure is reflected;
configuring exposure of the second image sensor through the completed illuminance prediction, and operating the second image sensor based on the exposure configuration; and
displaying a fourth image from the frame in which the exposure is reflected.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
turning off the second image sensor when the illuminance prediction is complete and only operating the first image sensor.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the third image is displayed as a preview.

8. The method of claim 5 , wherein the fourth image is displayed as a preview.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Lee Jonghyub
• Lee Haesun
• Baek Sugon
• Shin Jongkeun
• Won Jonghun
• Lee Kihuk

Classifications

• H04N23/633 Primary

  for displaying additional information relating to control or operation of the camera · CPC title

• H04N23/45 Primary

  for generating image signals from two or more image sensors being of different type or operating in different modes, e.g. with a CMOS sensor for moving images in combination with a charge-coupled device [CCD] for still images · CPC title

• H04N23/73

  by influencing the exposure time · CPC title

• H04N23/71

  Circuitry for evaluating the brightness variation · CPC title

• H04N23/63

  by using electronic viewfinders · CPC title