Mobile terminal

Abstract

To provide a mobile terminal that does not cause a difference in image quality between a vertically long image and a horizontally long image.SOLUTION: A mobile terminal 10 includes an imaging unit 11 having a first imaging device 11a and a second imaging device 11b, and a housing 21 that holds the imaging unit 11. An aspect ratio of an effective imaging area of an imaging element of each of the first imaging device 11a and the second imaging device 11b is different from 1. The imaging element of the first imaging device 11a and the imaging element of the second imaging device 11b face the same direction. The aspect ratio of the effective imaging area of the imaging element of the first imaging device 11a is a reciprocal of the aspect ratio of the effective imaging area of the imaging element of the second imaging device 11b.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a mobile terminal and the like. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, as in Patent Document 1, an image processing device that rotates a captured image depending on the attitude of the device has been proposed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-54682 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, since the image is reduced in size, a difference in image quality occurs between a vertically long image and a horizontally long image.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a mobile terminal or the like that does not cause a difference in image quality between portrait and landscape images. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A mobile terminal according to the present invention includes an imaging unit having a first imaging device and a second imaging device, and a housing that holds the imaging unit. The aspect ratio of the effective imaging area of ​​each of the imaging elements of the first imaging device and the second imaging device is different from 1. The imaging element of the first imaging device and the imaging element of the second imaging device face in the same direction. The aspect ratio of the effective imaging area of ​​the imaging element of the first imaging device is the reciprocal of the aspect ratio of the effective imaging area of ​​the imaging element of the second imaging device.

[0007] It is possible to obtain both portrait and landscape images in one holding position without changing the holding position or causing a difference in image quality.

[0008] Preferably, the mobile terminal further includes a detection unit that acquires information regarding the holding attitude of the casing. An image is captured using one of the first imaging device and the second imaging device, which is determined based on the information obtained by the detection unit.

[0009] It is possible to select either the first imaging device or the second imaging device depending on the holding posture of the housing.

[0010] More preferably, when the mobile terminal is viewed from the front, the short side direction of the housing is defined as the x direction and the long side direction of the housing is defined as the y direction, the first imaging device includes an imaging element whose dimension in the x direction is longer than its dimension in the y direction, and the second imaging element includes an imaging element whose dimension in the x direction is shorter than its dimension in the y direction. When it is determined based on the information obtained by the detection unit that the housing is held so that the y direction faces upward, an image is captured using the first imaging device.

[0011] The vertical holding position allows the mobile terminal to be held more stably than the horizontal holding position. By using a horizontally long first imaging device, it is possible to obtain a horizontally long image, that is, an image that is easy to view on a horizontally long monitor such as a personal computer or television.

[0012] More preferably, the mobile terminal further comprises a display unit including a display device whose dimension in the x direction is shorter than its dimension in the y direction. When it is determined based on the information obtained by the detection unit that the housing is being held with the y direction facing upward, the display unit displays the image captured using the first imaging device in landscape format and displays a black band at least at the top or bottom of the landscape image.

[0013] A mobile terminal according to the present invention includes an imaging unit having a third imaging device, a housing that holds the imaging unit, and a detection unit that obtains information about the holding attitude of the housing. The aspect ratio of the effective imaging area of ​​the imaging element of the third imaging device is different from 1. The third imaging device includes a rotation unit that rotates the imaging element of the third imaging device around an axis parallel to a direction perpendicular to an imaging surface of the imaging element of the third imaging device. The rotation unit rotates the imaging element of the third imaging device based on the information obtained by the detection unit.

[0014] It is possible to obtain both portrait and landscape images in one holding position without changing the holding position or causing a difference in image quality. It is possible to change the holding state of the imaging element of the third imaging device depending on the holding attitude of the housing.

[0015] Preferably, when viewing the mobile terminal from the front, the short side direction of the housing is defined as the x direction and the long side direction of the housing is defined as the y direction, and when it is determined based on information obtained by the detection unit that the housing is being held so that the y direction is facing upward, the rotation unit rotates the imaging element of the third imaging device so that the dimension in the x direction is longer than the dimension in the y direction.

[0016] The vertical holding position allows the mobile terminal to be held more stably than the horizontal holding position. By using the imaging element of the third imaging device, which is rotated to a landscape orientation by the rotating part, it is possible to obtain a landscape image, i.e., an image that is easy to view on a landscape monitor such as a personal computer or television.

[0017] More preferably, the mobile terminal further comprises a display unit including a display device whose dimension in the x direction is shorter than its dimension in the y direction. When it is determined based on the information obtained by the detection unit that the housing is being held with the y direction facing upward, the display unit displays the image captured using the third imaging device in landscape format and displays a black band at least at the top or bottom of the landscape image. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a mobile terminal or the like that does not cause a difference in image quality between portrait and landscape images. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a mobile terminal according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a front view of the mobile terminal according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the mobile terminal according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] 10 is a display example of the display unit in the second mode and in the second holding position. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of a mobile terminal according to a second embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a rear view of the mobile terminal of the second embodiment in the first mode or the second mode and in the first holding position. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a rear view of the mobile terminal of the second embodiment in the second mode and in the second holding position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] The first and second embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings. The embodiments are not limited to the following embodiments. Furthermore, the content described in one embodiment is generally applicable to other embodiments as well. Furthermore, the embodiments and modifications can be combined as appropriate.

[0021] To explain the directions, when viewing mobile terminal 10 from the front, the short side direction of housing 21 is defined as the x direction, which is perpendicular to the x direction, the long side direction of housing 21 is defined as the y direction, and the thickness direction of housing 21, which is perpendicular to the x and y directions, is defined as the z direction (not shown). The z direction is perpendicular to the imaging surfaces of imaging elements of first imaging device 11a, second imaging device 11b, and third imaging device 11c, which will be described later.

[0022] In FIG. 2, the imaging unit 11, which is located on the rear surface and cannot actually be seen, is shown by a dotted line. In Figures 3, 6 and 7, the display unit 17, which is located on the front and cannot actually be seen, is shown by dotted lines.

[0023] (Mobile terminal 10) The mobile terminal 10 in the first embodiment includes an imaging unit 11, a detection unit 12, an operation unit 13, a control unit 15, a recording unit 16, a display unit 17, a communication unit 19, and a housing 21. The mobile terminal 10 may be a camera, a mobile phone, a tablet terminal, or the like.

[0024] (Image capture unit 11) The imaging unit 11 includes a first imaging device 11a and a second imaging device 11b. The imaging unit 11 is provided on the rear surface of the housing 21, and the imaging element of the first imaging device 11a and the imaging element of the second imaging device 11b face backward in the z direction. The aspect ratio of the effective imaging area of ​​each of the imaging elements of the first imaging device 11a and the second imaging device 11b is different from 1. The first imaging device 11a includes an imaging element that is horizontally long in the second holding posture, that is, an imaging element whose dimension in the x direction is longer than its dimension in the y direction. The second imaging device 11b includes an imaging element that is vertically long in the second holding posture, that is, an imaging element whose dimension in the x direction is shorter than its dimension in the y direction. The aspect ratio of the effective imaging area of ​​the imaging element of the first imaging device 11a is the reciprocal of the aspect ratio of the effective imaging area of ​​the imaging element of the second imaging device 11b. For example, if the aspect ratio of the effective imaging area of ​​the imaging element of the first imaging device 11a is 9 / 16, the aspect ratio of the effective imaging area of ​​the imaging element of the second imaging device 11b is 16 / 9. The first imaging device 11a and the second imaging device 11b include optical systems with the same aspect ratio, the same size of effective imaging area, and the same focal length.

[0025] (Detection unit 12) The detection unit 12 includes an acceleration sensor and the like, and acquires information about the holding posture of the housing 21 . Specifically, based on information regarding the holding posture of the housing 21 obtained by the detection unit 12, the detection unit 12 or the control unit 15 determines whether the housing 21 is being held so that the x direction is facing upward or whether the housing 21 is being held so that the y direction is facing upward. A state in which the housing 21 is held so that the x direction faces upward is defined as a first holding posture (horizontally elongated holding posture). The posture in which the housing 21 is held so that the y direction faces upward is defined as the second holding posture (portrait-oriented holding posture).

[0026] (Operation unit 14) The operation unit 14 is provided on the front surface of the housing 21 or the like. The operation unit 14 is used to set the use mode of the mobile terminal 10, etc. The usage modes of the mobile terminal 10 include a first mode (normal mode) and a second mode (movie shooting mode). The operation unit 14 may be configured as a touch panel of the display unit 17.

[0027] (Control unit 15) The control unit 15 controls each unit of the mobile terminal 10.

[0028] (Selection control of imaging device) In the first embodiment, the detection unit 12 or the control unit 15 identifies the holding posture of the housing 21 based on information obtained by the detection unit 12. The control unit 15 determines the imaging device to be used for imaging, either the first imaging device 11a or the second imaging device 11b, based on the use mode of the mobile terminal 10 set by the operation unit 14 and the holding posture.

[0029] When the usage mode of the mobile terminal 10 is set to the first mode by operating the operation unit 14, the control unit 15 takes an image using the second imaging device 11b regardless of whether the mobile terminal 10 is in the first holding position or the second holding position. When the use mode of the mobile terminal 10 is set to the second mode by operation of the operation unit 14 and the mobile terminal 10 is in the first holding position, the control unit 15 uses the second imaging device 11b to capture an image. When the use mode of the mobile terminal 10 is set to the second mode by operation of the operation unit 14 and the mobile terminal 10 is in the second holding position, the control unit 15 uses the first imaging device 11a to capture an image.

[0030] (Recording Section 16) The recording unit 16 records the images obtained by the imaging unit 11.

[0031] (Display section 17) The display unit 17 is provided on the front surface of the housing 21. Display unit 17 includes a vertically long display device, that is, a display device whose dimension in the x direction is shorter than its dimension in the y direction. The aspect ratio of the display device of the display unit 17 is preferably the same as the aspect ratio of the imaging element of the second imaging device 11b. The display unit 17 displays the image obtained by the imaging unit 11 .

[0032] (Display control of display unit 17) When the usage mode of the mobile terminal 10 is set to the first mode by operating the operation unit 14 and the mobile terminal 10 is in the first holding position, the control unit 15 causes the display unit 17 to display a landscape image (an image obtained by the second imaging device 11b) with the x direction facing upward. When the usage mode of the mobile terminal 10 is set to the first mode by operating the operation unit 14 and the mobile terminal 10 is in the second holding position, the control unit 15 causes the display unit 17 to display a vertically elongated image (an image obtained by the second imaging device 11b) with the y direction facing upward.

[0033] When the usage mode of the mobile terminal 10 is set to the second mode by operating the operation unit 14 and the mobile terminal 10 is in the first holding position, the control unit 15 causes the display unit 17 to display a landscape image (an image obtained by the second imaging device 11b) with the x direction facing upward. When the usage mode of the mobile terminal 10 is set to the second mode by operating the operation unit 14 and the mobile terminal 10 is in the second holding position, the control unit 15 causes the display unit 17 to display a landscape image (an image obtained by the first imaging device 11a) with the y direction facing upward (see Figure 4). In this case, at least one of the upper and lower portions of the display area of ​​the display unit 17 is displayed as a black band. FIG. 4 shows an example in which black bars are displayed at both the top and bottom of the display area of ​​the display unit 17.

[0034] (Communications Department 19) The communication unit 19 communicates with external devices via telephone lines or the like.

[0035] (Case 21) The housing 21 holds each part of the mobile terminal 10. The dimension of the housing 21 in the x direction is shorter than the dimension of the housing 21 in the y direction.

[0036] (The effect of having two imaging devices with reciprocal aspect ratios) It is possible to obtain both portrait and landscape images in one holding position without changing the holding position or causing a difference in image quality.

[0037] (Effect of selecting an imaging device based on information obtained by the detection unit 12) Depending on the holding posture of the housing 21, it is possible to select either the first imaging device 11a or the second imaging device 11b.

[0038] (Effect of capturing an image using the first imaging device 11a in a landscape orientation when the camera is held in a portrait orientation) The mobile terminal 10 can be held more stably in the portrait holding position than in the landscape holding position. By using the horizontally long first imaging device 11a, it is possible to obtain a horizontally long image, that is, an image that is easy to view on a horizontally long monitor such as a personal computer or television.

[0039] (Example of manual switching application) In the first embodiment, an example has been described in which the holding posture is identified based on the detection result by the detection unit 12, and selection control between the first imaging device 11a and the second imaging device 11b is performed based on the identified holding posture. However, the user may manually select whether to use at least one of the first imaging device 11a and the second imaging device 11b via the operation unit 13.

[0040] (Second embodiment) In the first embodiment, an example was described in which the imaging unit 11 has two imaging devices (a first imaging device 11a including a horizontally elongated imaging element in the second holding position, and a second imaging device 11b including a vertically elongated imaging element in the second holding position). In the second embodiment, the imaging section 11 has only one imaging device (third imaging device 11c) (see FIGS. 5 to 7). The imaging section 11 of the second embodiment has a third imaging device 11c. The aspect ratio of the effective imaging area of ​​the imaging element of the third imaging device 11c is different from one. That is, the imaging element of the third imaging device 11c has different dimensions in the vertical and horizontal directions. The third imaging device 11c is provided with a rotating section 11c1. The rotation unit 11c1 rotates the imaging element of the third imaging device 11c around an axis parallel to the z direction.

[0041] (Operation control of the rotating part 11c1) When the usage mode of the mobile terminal 10 is set to the first mode by operating the operation unit 14, regardless of whether the mobile terminal 10 is in the first holding position or the second holding position, the control unit 15 operates the rotation unit 11c1 so that the longitudinal direction of the imaging element of the third imaging device 11c is parallel to the y direction (see Figure 6).

[0042] When the usage mode of the mobile terminal 10 is set to the second mode by operating the operation unit 14 and the mobile terminal 10 is in the first holding position, the control unit 15 operates the rotation unit 11c1 so that the longitudinal direction of the imaging element of the third imaging device 11c is parallel to the y direction. Therefore, when the camera is held in a landscape orientation, the image pickup element of the third imaging device 11c is in a landscape orientation when capturing an image.

[0043] When the usage mode of the mobile terminal 10 is set to the second mode by operating the operation unit 14 and the mobile terminal 10 is in the second holding posture, the control unit 15 operates the rotation unit 11c1 so that the longitudinal direction of the imaging element of the third imaging device 11c is parallel to the x direction (see Figure 7). Therefore, when the camera is held in a portrait orientation, the image sensor of the third imaging device 11c is oriented landscape to capture an image.

[0044] (Effect of rotating the imaging element of the third imaging device 11c) It is possible to obtain both portrait and landscape images in one holding position without changing the holding position or causing a difference in image quality.

[0045] (Effect of operating the rotating part 11c1 based on the information obtained by the detecting part 12) Depending on the holding posture of the housing 21, it becomes possible to change the holding state of the imaging element of the third imaging device 11c.

[0046] (Effect of capturing an image using the third imaging device 11c in a landscape orientation when the camera is held in a portrait orientation) The mobile terminal 10 can be held more stably in the portrait holding position than in the landscape holding position. By using the imaging element of the third imaging device 11c that is rotated to a landscape orientation by the rotating portion 11c1, it is possible to obtain a landscape image, that is, an image that is easy to view on a landscape monitor such as a personal computer or television.

[0047] (Example of manual switching application) In the second embodiment, an example has been described in which the holding posture is identified based on the detection result by the detection unit 12, and the rotation unit 11c1 rotates the imaging element of the third imaging device 11c based on the identified holding posture. However, the user may manually set via the operation unit 13 how the rotation unit 11c1 rotates the imaging element of the third imaging device 11c.

[0048] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included within the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as within the scope of the invention described in the claims and their equivalents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0049] 10 Mobile devices 11 Imaging unit 11a First imaging device 11b Second imaging device 11c Third imaging device 11c1 Rotating part 12 Detection unit 13 Control section 15 Control Unit 16 Recording section 17 Display section 19 Communications Department 21. Cabinet

Claims

1. an imaging unit having a first imaging device and a second imaging device; a housing for holding the imaging unit, the aspect ratio of the effective imaging area of ​​each of the imaging elements of the first imaging device and the second imaging device is different from 1; an imaging element of the first imaging device and an imaging element of the second imaging device face in the same direction; A mobile terminal, wherein an aspect ratio of an effective imaging area of ​​an imaging element of the first imaging device is the reciprocal of an aspect ratio of an effective imaging area of ​​an imaging element of the second imaging device.

2. a detection unit for acquiring information about the holding posture of the housing; The mobile terminal according to claim 1 , wherein an image is captured using one of the first imaging device and the second imaging device, which is determined based on information obtained by the detection unit.

3. When the mobile terminal is viewed from the front, a short-side direction of the housing is defined as an x-direction and a long-side direction of the housing is defined as a y-direction, the first imaging device includes an imaging element whose dimension in the x-direction is longer than its dimension in the y-direction, and the second imaging element includes an imaging element whose dimension in the x-direction is shorter than its dimension in the y-direction, The mobile terminal according to claim 2 , wherein when it is determined based on information obtained by the detection unit that the housing is being held so that the y direction is facing upward, an image is captured using the first imaging device.

4. a display unit including a display device whose dimension in the x direction is shorter than its dimension in the y direction; 4. The mobile terminal according to claim 3, wherein when it is determined based on information obtained by the detection unit that the housing is being held with the y direction facing upward, the display unit displays an image captured using the first imaging device in landscape orientation and displays a black band at least at the top or bottom of the landscape image.

5. an imaging unit having a third imaging device; a housing for holding the imaging unit; a detection unit that acquires information about the holding posture of the housing, The aspect ratio of the effective imaging area of ​​the imaging element of the third imaging device is different from 1, the third imaging device includes a rotation unit that rotates an imaging element of the third imaging device around an axis parallel to a direction perpendicular to an imaging surface of the imaging element of the third imaging device, The mobile terminal, wherein the rotation unit rotates the imaging element of the third imaging device based on the information obtained by the detection unit.

6. 6. The mobile terminal of claim 5, wherein, when the mobile terminal is viewed from the front, the short side direction of the housing is defined as the x direction and the long side direction of the housing is defined as the y direction, and when it is determined based on information obtained by the detection unit that the housing is being held so that the y direction is facing upward, the rotation unit rotates the imaging element of the third imaging device so that the dimension in the x direction is longer than the dimension in the y direction.

7. a display unit including a display device whose dimension in the x direction is shorter than its dimension in the y direction; 7. The mobile terminal according to claim 6, wherein when it is determined based on information obtained by the detection unit that the housing is being held with the y direction facing upward, the display unit displays an image captured using the third imaging device in landscape orientation and displays a black band at least at the top or bottom of the landscape image.

Images