Simultaneous image capture in landscape and portrait modes.

Abstract

A video or image capture device and a method of operation of the capture device are described. One exemplary device includes a first sensor array comprising a first plurality of image sensors, a second sensor array comprising a second plurality of image sensors, a third sensor array comprising a third plurality of image sensors, a fourth sensor array comprising a fourth plurality of image sensors, and a fifth sensor array comprising a fifth plurality of image sensors. The second sensor array and the fourth sensor array are configured to be excluded from use for capturing images in portrait format. The third sensor array and the fifth sensor array are configured to be excluded from use for capturing images in landscape format. The first sensor array is configured to be used for capturing images in portrait format and landscape format.

Claims

1. An image sensor device comprising a cross pattern image sensor, the cross pattern image sensor is A first sensor array having a first set of multiple image sensors; A second sensor array having a second set of image sensors; A third sensor array having a third set of image sensors; A fourth sensor array having a fourth set of image sensors; A fifth sensor array having a fifth set of multiple image sensors; Equipped with, The second and fourth sensor arrays are configured to be excluded from use for capturing images in portrait format. The third and fifth sensor arrays are configured to be excluded from use for capturing images in landscape format. The first sensor array is configured to be used to capture images in the portrait format and the landscape format, The first sensor array, together with the second, third, fourth, and fifth sensor arrays, is configured to be used to capture images in a cross-shaped arrangement in a composite format that includes both portrait and landscape formats. Image sensor device.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first sensor array is a rectangular array having the height of H pixels and the width of W pixels, the second sensor array and the fourth sensor array have the height of H pixels, and the third sensor array and the fifth sensor array have the width of W pixels.

3. The second sensor array is configured to capture the leftmost portion of the image in landscape format or composite format, and the fourth sensor array is configured to capture the rightmost portion of the image in landscape format or composite format. The third sensor array is configured to capture the upper portion of the image in portrait format or composite format, and the fifth sensor array is configured to capture the lower portion of the image in portrait format or composite format. The first sensor array is configured to capture the central portion of the image in the landscape format, the portrait format, or the combined format. The apparatus according to claim 1.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a media processor, the media processor being electrically connected to the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth sensor arrays.

5. A method for capturing images, A step of starting to capture an image or video based on a command received on the user interface of the camera, wherein the camera includes a cross pattern image sensor, and the cross pattern image sensor is A first sensor array having a first set of multiple image sensors; A second sensor array having a second set of image sensors; A third sensor array having a third set of image sensors; A fourth sensor array having a fourth set of image sensors; A fifth sensor array having a fifth set of multiple image sensors; Equipped with, The second and fourth sensor arrays are configured to be excluded from use for capturing images in portrait format. The third and fifth sensor arrays are configured to be excluded from use for capturing images in landscape format. The first sensor array is configured to be used to capture images in the portrait format and the landscape format, The first sensor array, together with the second, third, fourth, and fifth sensor arrays, is configured to be used to capture images in a cross-shaped arrangement in a composite format that includes both portrait and landscape formats. Step; Steps to store the captured image or video in three or more of the first to fifth sensor arrays in accordance with the aforementioned instruction; A method of having.

6. The above method further, A step of generating one or more previews, including a portrait preview, a landscape preview, or a combined preview, before capture; A step of receiving from the user interface at least one selection to choose from among the portrait preview, the landscape preview, and the combined preview; Steps include displaying the preview on the screen; Having, The method according to claim 5.

7. The method further comprises the steps of generating the composite preview of both a cross-shaped landscape image and a portrait image, and scaling the composite preview to fit the screen of a given aspect ratio. The method according to claim 6.

8. The above method further, The process includes the step of saving the captured image or video, and then generating a first file in accordance with the landscape format and a second file in accordance with the portrait format. The method according to claim 5 or 6.

9. The above method further, A step of generating a first file and a second file, wherein a first portion of the first file is exclusive to the first file, a second portion of the first file is shared with the second file, and a portion of the second file is exclusive to the second file; A step of storing the first file and the second file in memory; Having, The method according to claim 5 or 6.

10. An image sensor device, A group of sensor arrays having a cross-pattern shape including non-overlapping sensor arrays, First sensor array; Second sensor array; Third sensor array; Fourth sensor array; Fifth sensor array; A group that includes; Processors coupled to the second sensor array, the third sensor array, the fourth sensor array, and the fifth sensor array; Equipped with, The aforementioned processor, A step of determining the orientation of the image sensor device; By performing a selective invalidation operation based on the orientation, If the orientation is in portrait format, disable the first subset of sensor arrays within the group of sensor arrays. If the orientation is landscape format, a second subset of sensor arrays within the group of sensor arrays is disabled, and the second subset is different from the first subset. Step; It is configured to implement the following: The first sensor array, together with the second, third, fourth, and fifth sensor arrays, is configured to be used to capture images in a cross-shaped arrangement in a composite format that includes both portrait and landscape formats. Image sensor device.

11. The first subset of the sensor array includes the second sensor array and the fourth sensor array, The image sensor device according to claim 10, wherein the second subset of the sensor array includes the third sensor array and the fifth sensor array.

12. The processor is configured to enable the first sensor array in the portrait format, the landscape format, and the composite format. The processor is configured to determine the format using input received from the user interface or using a compass sensor. The image sensor device according to claim 10.

13. The image sensor device according to claim 11, wherein the first sensor array is a rectangular array having the height of H pixels and the width of W pixels, the second sensor array and the fourth sensor array have the height of H pixels, and the third sensor array and the fifth sensor array have the width of W pixels.

14. The second sensor array is configured to capture the leftmost portion of the image in landscape format or composite format, and the fourth sensor array is configured to capture the rightmost portion of the image in landscape format or composite format. or The third sensor array is configured to capture the upper portion of the image in portrait format or composite format, and the fifth sensor array is configured to capture the lower portion of the image in portrait format or composite format. The image sensor device according to claim 11.

15. The image sensor device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 or 10 to 14, further comprising a handheld structure for housing the image sensor device.

Images