Information processing device

Abstract

To improve control technique of an imaging part of a vehicle.SOLUTION: An information processing device 10 on board of a vehicle comprises: an imaging unit 17 which images a vehicle exterior landscape; an input unit 13 which receives photographing operation by a user; and a control unit 11 which photographs a static image by the imaging unit 17 when first photographing operation is detected, but to photograph a moving image by the imaging unit 17 when second photographing operation is detected. The first photographing operation is short pressing operation but the second photographing operation is long pressing operation.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to an information processing apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, it has been disclosed to photograph the front of a vehicle with an in-vehicle camera of a drive recorder in response to an operation on a steering switch (for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In conventional drive recorders, it is possible to photograph not only moving images but also still images, but the switching of the photographing mode between moving images and still images can only be performed from a setting screen, and the convenience is not necessarily high. Thus, there has been room for improvement in the control technology of the imaging unit of a vehicle.

[0005] In view of such circumstances, an object of the present disclosure is to improve the control technology of the imaging unit of a vehicle.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] An information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is an information processing apparatus mounted on a vehicle, including an imaging unit that images a scenery outside the vehicle, an input unit that receives a photographing operation of a user, and a control unit that controls the imaging unit to photograph a still image when a first photographing operation is detected and to photograph a moving image when a second photographing operation is detected. The information processing apparatus includes the above components.

Effects of the Invention

[0007] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the control technology of the imaging unit of the vehicle is improved.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described.

[0010] (Overview of the Embodiment) With reference to FIG. 1, an overview of the technology according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. The technology according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a vehicle 1 and an information processing apparatus 10 mounted on the vehicle 1.

[0011] The vehicle 1 is, for example, an automobile, but is not limited thereto and may be any vehicle. The automobile is, for example, a gasoline automobile, an electric vehicle (EV), a hybrid vehicle (HV), a plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHV), or a fuel cell vehicle (FCV), etc., but is not limited thereto.

[0012] The information processing apparatus 10 is an arbitrary apparatus used by the occupants of the vehicle 1. For example, a dedicated in-vehicle device such as a drive recorder can be adopted as the information processing apparatus 10.

[0013] First, an overview of this embodiment will be described, and the details will be described later. The information processing apparatus 10 captures an external view of the vehicle by an imaging unit. The information processing apparatus 10 also receives a shooting operation of the user. Further, when a first shooting operation is detected, the information processing apparatus 10 captures a still image by the imaging unit, and when a second shooting operation is detected, the information processing apparatus 10 captures a moving image by the imaging unit. Here, the first shooting operation is a short press operation, and the second shooting operation is a long press operation.

[0014] As described above, according to this embodiment, the control technology of the imaging unit of the vehicle is improved in that the still image or moving image captured by the imaging unit can be switched by the first shooting operation (short press operation) or the second shooting operation (long press operation).

[0015] (Configuration of Information Processing Apparatus) Next, each component of the information processing apparatus 10 will be described in detail. The information processing apparatus 10 is an arbitrary apparatus used by the user.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 2, the information processing apparatus 10 includes a control unit 11, a storage unit 12, an input unit 13, a display unit 14, a communication unit 15, a positioning unit 16, and an imaging unit 17.

[0017] The control unit 11 includes at least one processor, at least one dedicated circuit, or a combination thereof. The processor is a general-purpose processor such as a CPU (central processing unit) or a GPU (graphics processing unit), or a dedicated processor specialized for specific processing. The dedicated circuit is, for example, an FPGA (field-programmable gate array) or an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit). The control unit 11 executes processes related to the operation of the information processing apparatus 10 while controlling each unit of the information processing apparatus 10.

[0018] The storage unit 12 includes at least one semiconductor memory, at least one magnetic memory, at least one optical memory, or a combination of at least two of these. The semiconductor memory is, for example, a RAM (random access memory) or a ROM (read only memory). The RAM is, for example, an SRAM (static random access memory) or a DRAM (dynamic random access memory). The ROM is, for example, an EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable read only memory). The storage unit 12 functions as, for example, a main storage device, an auxiliary storage device, or a cache memory. The storage unit 12 stores data used for the operation of the information processing apparatus 10 and data obtained by the operation of the information processing apparatus 10.

[0019] The input unit 13 includes at least one input interface. The input interface is, for example, a physical key, a capacitive key, a pointing device, or a touch screen provided integrally with a display. The input interface may also be, for example, a sound sensor that receives voice input, or a camera that receives gesture input. The input unit 13 receives an operation for inputting data used for the operation of the information processing apparatus 10. Instead of being provided in the information processing apparatus 10, the input unit 13 may be connected to the information processing apparatus 10 as an external input device. As a connection method, for example, any method such as USB (Universal Serial Bus), HDMI (registered trademark) (High-Definition Multimedia Interface), or Bluetooth (registered trademark) can be used.

[0020] The display unit 14 includes at least one display output interface. The output interface is, for example, a display for displaying the front view of the vehicle 1 or the like. The display is, for example, an LCD (liquid crystal display) or an organic EL (electro luminescence) display. The display unit 14 displays and outputs data obtained by the operation of the information processing device 10. Instead of being provided in the information processing device 10, the display unit 14 may be connected to the information processing device 10 as an external output device. As a connection method, for example, any method such as USB, HDMI (registered trademark), or Bluetooth (registered trademark) can be used.

[0021] The communication unit 15 includes a communication interface for connecting to a network. For example, the communication unit 15 may include a communication interface for connecting to a CAN. The communication interface for connecting to a network conforms to mobile communication standards and the like, but is not limited thereto, and may conform to any communication standard. In the present embodiment, the information processing device 10 of a certain mobile object is wirelessly connected to the information processing device of another mobile object via the communication unit 15 and the network. The communication unit 15 receives data used in the operation of the information processing device 10 and transmits data obtained by the operation of the information processing device 10.

[0022] The positioning unit 16 includes one or more devices for acquiring the position information of the information processing device 10 (that is, the position information of the vehicle 1). Specifically, the positioning unit 16 includes, for example, a receiver corresponding to GPS, but is not limited thereto, and may include a receiver corresponding to any satellite positioning system.

[0023] The imaging unit 17 includes an in-vehicle camera that generates still images and moving images (hereinafter collectively referred to as images) of the out-of-vehicle scenery in front of the vehicle 1. The in-vehicle camera included in the imaging unit 17 may be a monocular camera or a stereo camera. The imaging unit 17 is provided in the vehicle 1 so as to be able to image the out-of-vehicle scenery in front of the vehicle 1. By the imaging unit 17 imaging the out-of-vehicle scenery in front of the vehicle 1, the control unit 11 can display the front image on the display unit 14.

[0024] The functions of the information processing device 10 are realized by executing the program according to the present embodiment on a processor corresponding to the information processing device 10. That is, the functions of the information processing device 10 are realized by software. The program causes a computer to execute the operations of the information processing device 10, causing the computer to function as the information processing device 10. That is, the computer functions as the information processing device 10 by executing the operations of the information processing device 10 according to the program.

[0025] In the present embodiment, the program can be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. The computer-readable recording medium includes a non-temporary computer-readable medium, for example, a magnetic recording device, an optical disk, a magneto-optical recording medium, or a semiconductor memory. The distribution of the program is performed, for example, by selling, transferring, or lending a portable recording medium such as a DVD (digital versatile disc) or a CD-ROM (compact disc read only memory) on which the program is recorded. The distribution of the program may also be performed by storing the program in the storage of an external server and transmitting the program from the external server to another computer. The program may also be provided as a program product.

[0026] Some or all of the functions of the information processing device 10 may be realized by a dedicated circuit corresponding to the control unit 11. That is, some or all of the functions of the information processing device 10 may be realized by hardware.

[0027] (Operation of the information processing apparatus) With reference to FIG. 3, the operation of the information processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment will be described.

[0028] Step S100: The control unit 11 of the information processing apparatus 10 receives a shooting operation of the user. Any method can be adopted for receiving the shooting operation. For example, the shooting operation may be an operation on an object of a shutter button included in a user interface displayed by the display unit 14. In this case, the control unit 11 may detect an operation on such an object of the shutter button and receive the shooting operation. Also, for example, the shooting operation may be an operation on a switch provided on the steering wheel, and the control unit 11 may receive the shooting operation based on an operation of the switch provided on such a steering wheel. Hereinafter, in the present embodiment, an example of receiving a shooting operation based on an operation on an object of a shutter button will be described. FIG. 4 shows an example of a user interface 100 displayed by the display unit 14. As shown in FIG. 4, the user interface 100 includes an object 110 of a shutter button. The shooting operation is received by such an object 110.

[0029] Step S200: The control unit 11 determines the received shooting operation. Specifically, the control unit 11 determines whether the received shooting operation is a first shooting operation or a second shooting operation. Here, the first shooting operation is a short-press operation. Also, the second shooting operation is a long-press operation. In other words, the first shooting operation is a pressing operation, a tap operation, a click operation, etc. for less than a predetermined time. Also, the second shooting operation is a pressing operation, a tap operation, a click operation, etc. for a predetermined time or more. When the first shooting operation is detected, the process proceeds to step S300. When the second shooting operation is detected, the process proceeds to step S400.

[0030] Step S300: When the first shooting operation is detected in step S200, the control unit 11 captures a still image by the imaging unit 17.

[0031] Step S400: When the second shooting operation is detected in Step S200, the control unit 11 causes the imaging unit 17 to shoot a moving image. FIG. 5 shows a user interface 200 displayed by the display unit 14 during video shooting. As shown in FIG. 5, the user interface 200 includes an icon 210 indicating that video shooting is in progress. In other words, the icon of the user interface is switched so that it can be understood that the switching between the moving image and the still image is performed by the second shooting operation (here, a long press on the object 110).

[0032] As described above, the information processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment improves the control technology of the imaging unit 17 of the vehicle in that the switching between the still image and the moving image by the imaging unit 17 can be performed by the first shooting operation (short press operation) or the second shooting operation (long press operation). Also, the shooting mode between the moving image and the still image can be switched by such a simple operation, improving convenience.

[0033] Although the present disclosure has been described based on the drawings and examples, it should be noted that those skilled in the art may make various modifications and alterations based on the present disclosure. Therefore, it should be noted that these modifications and alterations are included in the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the functions included in each component or each step etc. can be rearranged so as not to be logically contradictory, and it is possible to combine or divide a plurality of components or steps etc. into one.

[0034] For example, the control unit 11 may change the setting of the imaging unit 17 according to the vehicle speed. The setting of the imaging unit 17 includes the shutter speed, and the control unit 11 may increase the shutter speed as the vehicle speed increases. Also, the setting may include the frame rate. In this case, the control unit 11 may increase the frame rate as the vehicle speed increases. By doing so, the moving image and the still image captured by the imaging unit 17 can be optimized according to the speed.

[0035] Further, the control unit 11 may determine whether to accept a shooting operation based on the position information of the vehicle 1. For example, the control unit 11 may permit acceptance of the shooting operation when the position information of the vehicle 1 is within a predetermined area. The predetermined area may be, for example, a place with good scenery or the like.

Explanation of Signs

[0036] 1 Vehicle 10 Information processing device 11 Control unit 12 Storage unit 13 Input unit 14 Display unit 15 Communication unit 16 Positioning unit 17 Imaging unit 100, 200 User interface 200 Rear obstacle 110 Object 210 Icon

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus mounted on a vehicle, an imaging unit that captures an external view of the vehicle, an input unit that receives a shooting operation of a user, a control unit that controls the imaging unit to capture a still image when a first shooting operation is detected and to capture a moving image when a second shooting operation is detected, comprising: wherein the first shooting operation is a short press operation and the second shooting operation is a long press operation. The information processing apparatus.

2. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit changes settings of the imaging unit according to the vehicle speed.

3. The setting includes a shutter speed, and the control unit according to claim 2, wherein the higher the vehicle speed, the higher the shutter speed.

4. The setting includes a frame rate, and the control unit according to claim 2, wherein the higher the vehicle speed, the higher the frame rate.

5. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit determines whether to receive a shooting operation based on the position information of the vehicle.

Images