DIGITAL IMAGE CAPTURING METHOD AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE FOR DIGITAL IMAGE CAPTURING

Abstract

An electronic device and a method are provided for digital image capturing including activating a digital camera to capture an image, when an optical code, especially a barcode is detected. Advantageously, the invention provides to zoom-out a zooming means of the digital camera before capturing the image and after detecting the optical code.

Claims

1.-23. (canceled)

24. A computer program for digital image capturing, configured, when executed by an electronic device having a digital camera system for digital image capturing comprising a first camera with a first angle of view and a second camera with a second angle of view: to capture first image data with said first camera, to detect an optical code in said first image data, and to trigger said second camera to capture second image data, when an optical code in said first image data is detected.

25. The computer program according to claim 24, wherein said second angle of view is larger than said first angle of view.

26. The computer program according to claim 24, wherein said electronic device comprises a zooming means to change said first angle of view, said computer program further configured to activate said zooming means of said digital camera system to change said second angle of view, when an optical code in first image data is detected.

27. The computer program according to claim 24, wherein said electronic device comprises a transmitter adapted to transmit data to internet, said computer program further configured to send said second image data to an internet server via internet using said transmitter.

28. The computer program according to claim 24, wherein said electronic device comprises a digital non-volatile memory device, said computer program further configured to store said second image data automatically in said digital non-volatile memory device.

29. The computer program according to claim 24, wherein said electronic device comprises a zooming means to change said first angle of view, said computer program further configured to activate said zooming means of said digital camera system to zoom out to increase said second angle of view, when an optical code in first image data is detected, such that said optical code becomes smaller in said second image data.

30. The computer program according to claim 24, wherein said first digital camera is arranged at a front side of said electronic device and said second digital camera is arranged at a rear side of said electronic device opposite to said front side.

31. A computer program for digital image capturing, configured, when executed by an electronic device having a digital camera system for digital image capturing comprising a digital camera with a first angle of view adapted to capture first image data: to capture first image data with said digital camera, to detect an optical code in said first image data; and when an optical code in first image data is detected: to increase said first angle of view and then to trigger said digital camera to capture second image data.

32. The computer program according to claim 31, wherein said electronic device comprises a zooming means to change said first angle of view, said computer program further configured to activate said zooming means of said digital camera system to increase said first angle of view, preferably by zooming out, when an optical code in first image data is detected, such that said optical code becomes smaller in said second image data.

33. The computer program according to claim 31, wherein said electronic device comprises a transmitter adapted to transmit data to internet, said computer program further configured to send said second image data to an internet server via internet using said transmitter.

34. The computer program according to claim 31, wherein said electronic device comprises a digital non-volatile memory device, said computer program further configured to store said second image data automatically in said digital non-volatile memory device.

35. An electronic device having a digital camera system for digital image capturing comprising a first camera with a first angle of view and a second camera with a second angle of view, wherein said electronic device is configured: to capture first image data with said first camera to detect an optical code in said first angle of view; to detect an optical code in said first image data; and to trigger said second camera to capture second image data, when an optical code in said first image data is detected.

36. The electronic device according to claim 35, wherein said second angle of view is larger than said first angle of view.

37. The electronic device according to claim 35, wherein said electronic device comprises a zooming means to change said first angle of view, wherein said electronic device is further configured to activate said zooming means of said digital camera system to change said second angle of view, when an optical code in first image data is detected.

38. The electronic device according to claim 35, wherein said electronic device comprises a transmitter adapted to transmit data to internet, wherein said electronic device is further configured to send said second image data to an internet server via internet using said transmitter.

39. The electronic device according to claim 35, wherein said electronic device comprises a digital non-volatile memory device, wherein said electronic device is further configured to store said second image data automatically in said digital non-volatile memory device.

40. The electronic device according to claim 35, wherein said electronic device comprises a zooming means to change said first angle of view, wherein said electronic device is further configured to activate said zooming means of said digital camera system to zoom out to increase said second angle of view, when an optical code in first image data is detected, such that said optical code becomes smaller in said second image data.

41. The electronic device according to claim 35, wherein said first digital camera is arranged at a front side of said electronic device and said second digital camera is arranged at a rear side of said electronic device opposite to said front side.

42. The electronic device according to claim 35, wherein said first camera and said second camera are arranged such that said second angle of view comprises said first angle of view at least partially.

Description

SHORT EXPLANATION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] The above disclosed and further features of the current invention will be better understood with the following detailed description and drawings of the preferred embodiments of the invention.

[0043] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the electronic device according to the invention;

[0044] FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of an embodiment according to the invention; and

[0045] FIGS. 3a and 3b show an embodiment of the support device according to the invention in perspective and side views respectively.

DETAILED EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

[0046] Preferred embodiments of the current invention will be described with references to the appended drawings. The dashed lines in the drawings show optional features of the preferred embodiments.

[0047] FIG. 1 shows an electronic device 10, such as a smartphone or a digital camera, according to an embodiment of the invention. The electronic device comprises a first digital camera 130 having a first angle of view 150, 160. The electronic device is configured to scan and detect optical codes, such as barcodes. In operation, a medium 100, such as an article or piece of paper, comprising an optical code 110 is provided to the electronic device for scanning the optical code. When the optical code 110 is provided to the first angle of view 150, the first digital camera 130 perceives the image of the optical code 110 and the electronic device 10 detects the optical code 110. Therefore, the electronic device 110 comprises the necessary software installed for scanning barcodes and taking pictures, as known person skilled in the art. In order to detect an optical code, the first digital camera may capture a first digital image of the first angle of view 150.

[0048] Upon detection of the optical code 110, the electronic device 10 enlarges the first angle of view 160 and then activates the first digital camera 130 to capture a picture. Alternatively or additionally, the electronic device 10 may enlarge the first angle of view 160 during or before scanning the optical code 110.

[0049] The electronic device comprises a zooming apparatus 240, which can enlarge and reduce the size of the first angle of view 150, 160. The zooming apparatus 240 is operated by the electronic device 10 digitally; however the zooming apparatus 240 may also be operated optically/mechanically and/or manually. Here, the first angle of view 160 is enlarged by zooming-out the zooming apparatus 240 by the electronic device 10. The zooming apparatus 240 is operated automatically; however the zooming apparatus 240 may also be operated manually, i.e. the electronic device 10 may activate or adjust the first digital camera 130 to capture a picture and a user may trigger the electronic device 10 to take the picture.

[0050] The electronic device 10 comprises a non-volatile memory 230. The picture taken by the first digital camera 130 is then stored in the non-volatile memory 230. Alternatively or additionally, the electronic device 10 may send the picture to an internet server via internet.

[0051] Alternatively or additionally, the electronic device 10 may comprise a second digital camera 200 with a second view of angle 160 different or larger than the first view of angle 150. The second digital camera 200 may be arranged such that to have a different or larger view of angle such as the first digital camera 130 may be placed at a front side of the electronic device 10 and the second digital camera 200 may be placed at a rear side (at the opposite side of the front side) of the electronic device 10. In this case, when the optical code 110 is provided to the first angle of view 150, the first digital camera 130 perceives the image of the optical code 110 and the electronic device 10 detects the optical code 110 and then activates the second digital camera 200 to capture a picture.

[0052] The electronic device 10 comprises a microprocessor 190 controlling both the first digital camera 130 and the second digital camera 200 and possibly further the non-volatile memory 230. The first digital camera 130 and the second digital camera 200 may be embedded and integrated to the electronic device 10.

[0053] The second digital camera 200 is operated automatically; however the second digital camera 200 may also be operated manually, i.e. the electronic device 10 may activate or adjust the second digital camera 200 to capture a picture and a user may trigger the electronic device 10 to take the picture.

[0054] The picture may be further processed by the microprocessor 190 such that a clickable region 170, 180 on the picture is defined, which comprises an image of an optical code at least partially, and a respective url is associated with the clickable region 170, 180 such that a web browser is directed to the respective url when the respective clickable region is clicked by a user.

[0055] The electronic device may optionally comprise other data capturing means 220 controllable by the microprocessor 190. Other data capturing means 220 may be triggered to capture data, when an optical code 110 is detected by the electronic device.

[0056] FIG. 2 shows a flowchart showing an exemplary embodiment of a computer program according to the invention. The method includes providing an electronic device 10 for digital image capturing with a digital camera system comprising a first digital camera 130 having a first angle of view 150, 160 adapted to capture image data; capturing image data 310 with the first digital camera 130 to detect an optical code 110; and then automatically activating 340 the first digital camera 130 to capture a picture, when an optical code 110 in the image data is detected 320. The method may include to zoom-in the zooming apparatus 240 before step 310 and/or to zoom-out the zooming apparatus 240 after the detection step 320.

[0057] FIG. 3 shows an exemplary support device for an electronic device 10 for digital image capturing with a digital camera system comprising a digital camera 130, 427, comprising a docking body part 400 adapted to support a flat surface of the electronic device having the digital camera at a first side of the docking body part 400 and a protrusion 410 protruding from the docking body part 400 from a second side thereof opposite to the first side, such that when the electronic device 10 is placed on the docking body part 400 and a medium 100, 420 comprising an optical code 110, 425 is approached to the digital camera of the electronic device for scanning the optical code 110, 425, the medium 100, 420 is obstructed by the protrusion 410 keeping a predefined minimum distance h between the camera 130, 427 and the medium 100, 420. The protrusion 410 is arranged resizable to adapt the predefined minimum distance h to the electronic device 10 or medium 420.

[0058] The above description is not limiting. Many other embodiments or adaptations of the above embodiments/modifications without departing from the scope of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reviewing the above description. Each of the following claims is incorporated herein to the specification by reference as a separate exemplary embodiment.