201005418 九、發明說明 【發明所屬之技術領域】 本發明係有關於一種偵測及記錄方法及裝置，特別是 有關於一種使用方向感測器偵測、記錄及改變相機閃光燈 頭方向的方法及裝置。 【先前技術】 • 許多諸如單鏡反光（single-lens reflex，SLR)相機 (又稱單眼相機）、中片幅相機（medium format cameras )以及消費級傻瓜相機（consumer point and shoot cameras )等相機產品，讓使用者有使用閃光燈單元的選 擇。圖1 A及1 B顯示現今閃光燈產品的例子。圖1 A所示 的消費級傻瓜相機單元120使用內建式閃光燈單元1〇〇。 內建式閃光燈單元1 〇〇 —般提供的功率較低且彈性有限。 另外，相對於內建式閃光燈單元是外接式閃光燈單元。最 φ 簡單的外接式閃光燈單元，用手動控制來進行閃光功率控 制，其閃光輸出方向是固定的。圖1Β所示的相機單元 170具有較複雜的外接式閃光燈單元160,其可藉著使閃 光燈頭1 50傾斜或旋轉而調整閃光方向，提供對天花板或 牆壁表面的跳閃或反射閃光（bounce flash)，以便有令 人滿意的柔和散射光。圖2A及2B分別說明標準閃光燈 單元200及能夠傾斜跳閃的閃光燈單元260。首先，顯示 於圖2A的相機單元220上的是標準閃光燈單元200，其 閃光燈頭210的閃光方向是向著前面的主題240。顯示於 201005418 圖2B的相機單元270上的閃光燈單元260的閃光燈頭 2 90是可調整的，以使閃光能打向主題280上方的天花板 250。相較於圖2A所示之閃光直接照射前面的主題，圖 2B所示之藉由將閃光打向主題上方天花板的方式，能使 光在到達主題之際變得較柔和，此外，由主題上方下來的 光可提供更自然的照明。 ' 然而，較複雜的外接式閃光燈所具有的問題在於，閃 0 光燈頭方向是手動控制。如圖3所示，倘若使用者將相機 3 20的方向從水平方向（橫拍）改變成垂直方向（豎拍） ，他必須也要確認閃光燈單元3 1 0之閃光燈頭3 0 0的方向 。通常，倘若需要跳閃，則閃光燈頭3 0 0的方向亦須改變 ’在使用相機拍攝的過程中，此步驟麻煩且費時。 使用方向感測器的作法並非最新。現今技術中，會在 數位相機體內使用一或多個方向感測器來增強功能。圖4 即說明此種使用方向感測器的例子。利用方向感測器所提 .❹ 供的資料’此相機提供的先進特點包括：以數位影像記錄 , “水平”及“垂直”方向資料；不論相機4 1 0的方向爲何 ’在相機上LCD螢幕400中的預視圖420及450都會以 適當的方向（例如此處預視圖420及450皆保持水平方向 )呈現，以及臉部偵測處理（face detection processing) 的改進。 【發明內容】 本發明係關於一種諸如靜態相機（still camera )或諸 201005418 如攝影機的視訊記錄元件（video recording device)的成 像元件。在相機的領域裡，圖2B所示的“跳閃”技術被廣 泛地用來使發射自閃光燈單元的光柔和。爲實施此種跳閃 ，現今技術必須要手動調整閃光燈頭的方向。此外，現今 技術無法記錄閃光燈頭方向資料供後擷取（post-capture )分析及檢閱。因此，爲偵測及利用此閃光燈頭方向資料 ，本發明使用方向感測器來偵測閃光燈頭方向。 藉由使用消費級傻瓜相機中的方向感測器，欲偵測及 記錄閃光燈單元之閃光燈頭的方向係可行的。本發明的優 點包括具有如下列的能力··記錄供未來參考或處理之用的 閃光燈頭方向；自動化閃光燈頭方向使得其永遠根據使用 者的喜好來定位；以及利用閃光燈頭方向資料於被擷取影 像及視訊的影像處理。 【實施方式】 現在，將參照附圖針對本發明較佳實施例給予更詳細 說明。要注意的是，此等實施例之目的僅在於說明而非限 制本發明所有可能的應用或由申請專利範圍所涵蓋的所有 應用領域。 &圖5所示之本發明實施例中，閃光燈單元能夠偵測 閃光纟登頭方向，並將此閃光燈頭方向資料傳送到相機單元 "該相機單元接著能使用此方向資料供自身的處理及/或 儲存到可記錄媒體。此實施例至少包括：閃光燈單元500 :閃光燈頭5 1 0 ;用以偵測閃光燈頭方向的方向感測器 -6- 201005418 520 ;用以包裝來自方向感測器520之方向資料之例如閃 光處理器530的信號處理器；相機單元540;用以接收及 使用該方向資料之例如相機處理器5 5 0的信號處理器；以 及用以儲存該方向資料的多數記億體元件560。 在圖6所示之本發明另一實施例中，閃光燈單元能夠 偵測、處理及改變閃光燈頭方向。此種裝置，例如，能使 ’ 使用者將想要的閃光燈頭方向規劃進閃光燈單元本身，而 0 閃光燈單元能保持此閃光燈頭方向，而不管閃光燈單元的 方向爲何。此實施例至少包括：閃光燈單元600 ;閃光燈 頭6 1 0 ;用以偵測閃光燈頭6 1 0方向的方向感測器640 ; 用以分析該方向感測器資料之例如閃光處理器63 0的信號 處理器；以及用以改變該閃光燈頭6 1 0方向之例如閃光燈 頭馬達620的馬達。 在圖7所示之本發明另一實施例中，相機單元具有內 建式閃光燈能力，其中該閃光燈及相機組件係組合於單一 -φ 相機單元中，且能夠偵測及記錄閃光燈頭方向。此實施例 . 至少包括：相機單元700 ;閃光燈頭7 1 0 ;用以偵測閃光 燈頭710方向的方向感測器720;用以處理該方向資料之 例如處理器73 0的信號處理器；以及用以儲存該方向資料 的多數記憶體元件740。 在圖8所示之本發明另一實施例中，相機單元能夠處 理閃光燈頭方向資料並控制閃光燈頭方向。其中閃光燈單 元與相機單元對能夠偵測、記錄及自動改變閃光燈頭方向 。此實施例至少包括：閃光燈單元800 ;閃光燈頭81〇 ; 201005418 用以偵測閃光燈頭8 1 0方向的方向感測器860 ;用以包裝 來自該方向感測器860之例如閃光處理器8 70的信號處理 器；用以改變該閃光燈頭8 1 0方向例如閃光燈頭馬達820 的馬達；相機單元830;用以處理來自該閃光燈單元800 之方向資料及控制該閃光燈頭8 1 0方向之例如相機處理器 8 40的信號處理器；以及用以儲存該方向資料的多數記憶 ' 體元件850。 ^ 雖然本發明業已以較佳實施例的方式加以描述，應瞭 響 解到本發明可以多種其它特定格式實施，而不背離本發明 的精神與範疇。本發明示範例亦可被視爲說明而非限制， 且本發明並不受限於本文所給之細節，但可在所附之申請 專利範圍以及等同物的全部範圍的範疇內加以修飾。 【圖式簡單說明】 圖1Α顯示使用內置式閃光燈單元的消費級傻瓜相機 圖1 Β係具有可調整閃光燈頭方向的外接式閃光燈單 元的相機單元及閃光燈單元的前視及側視圖； 圖2Α顯示標準向前的閃光燈單元及閃光燈頭的閃光 方向； 圖2Β顯示可經調整以提供對天花板表面的跳閃的閃 光燈單元； 圖3顯示相機單元呈水平方向時閃光燈頭的方向向上 ，但在相機旋轉成垂直方向後卻不一定是方向向上的情形 -8- 201005418 其中 圖4顯示相機單元內的方向感測器的現今應用’ θ 不論相機單元的方向爲何，其使預視圖保持水平方1^ ’ 圖5係本發明一實施例的方塊圖； 圖6係本發明另一實施例的方塊圖； 圖7係本發明另一實施例的方塊圖；以及 圖8係本發明另一實施例的方塊圖。 【主要元件符號說明】 100 :內建式閃光燈單元 120' 170、220、270 ：相機單元 150、210、290、300、510、610' 710、810:閃光燈 頭 160 :外接式閃光燈單元 200 :標準閃光燈單元 240 、 280 ：主題 25 0 :天花板 260 :閃光燈單元 310、500、600' 800 ：閃光燈單元 320 > 410 ：相機 400 : LCD 螢幕 420、450 :預視圖 520、640、720、860:方向感測器 530、630、870 ：閃光處理器 201005418201005418 IX. Description of the Invention [Technical Field] The present invention relates to a detection and recording method and apparatus, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for detecting, recording and changing the direction of a camera flash head using a direction sensor . [Prior Art] • Many camera products such as single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras (also known as monocular cameras), medium format cameras, and consumer point and shoot cameras To give the user the option to use the flash unit. Figures 1 A and 1 B show examples of today's flash products. The consumer-grade point-and-shoot camera unit 120 shown in Fig. 1A uses a built-in flash unit unit. The built-in flash unit 1 〇〇 generally offers low power and limited flexibility. In addition, the external flash unit is an external flash unit. The most φ simple external flash unit with manual control for flash power control, the flash output direction is fixed. The camera unit 170 shown in FIG. 1A has a more complicated external flash unit 160 that can adjust the flash direction by tilting or rotating the flash head 150 to provide flash or bounce flash to the ceiling or wall surface (bounce flash) ) so that there is a satisfactory gentle scattering of light. 2A and 2B illustrate a standard flash unit 200 and a flash unit 260 capable of tilting flash, respectively. First, displayed on the camera unit 220 of Fig. 2A is a standard flash unit 200 whose flashing direction of the flash head 210 is toward the front subject 240. The flash head 2 90 of the flash unit 260 shown on camera unit 270 of FIG. 2B is adjustable in 201005418 to enable flash to strike the ceiling 250 above the theme 280. Compared to the flash shown in FIG. 2A directly illuminating the previous subject, the way of striking the flash to the ceiling above the theme as shown in FIG. 2B enables the light to be softer as it reaches the theme, in addition, above the theme The light that comes down provides more natural lighting. However, the problem with the more complicated external flash is that the flash head orientation is manually controlled. As shown in Fig. 3, if the user changes the direction of the camera 3 20 from the horizontal direction (horizontal shot) to the vertical direction (vertical shot), he must also confirm the direction of the flash head 300 of the flash unit 3 10 . Normally, if flashing is required, the direction of the flash head 300 must also be changed. </ br> This step is cumbersome and time consuming during shooting with the camera. The use of directional sensors is not up to date. In today's technology, one or more directional sensors are used in a digital camera to enhance functionality. Figure 4 illustrates an example of such a use of a direction sensor. Use the direction sensor to provide information. 'The advanced features provided by this camera include: digital image recording, "horizontal" and "vertical" direction data; regardless of the direction of the camera 4 10 'on the camera LCD screen The pre-views 420 and 450 in 400 will be presented in the appropriate direction (e.g., where the pre-views 420 and 450 are both horizontal), as well as improvements in face detection processing. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to an imaging element such as a still camera or 201005418 video recording device. In the field of cameras, the "flash" technique shown in Figure 2B is widely used to soften light emitted from the flash unit. To implement this flashover, today's technology must manually adjust the direction of the flash head. In addition, today's technology cannot record flash head orientation data for post-capture analysis and review. Therefore, in order to detect and utilize the flash head direction data, the present invention uses a direction sensor to detect the direction of the flash head. By using a directional sensor in a consumer-grade point-and-shoot camera, it is possible to detect and record the direction of the flash head of the flash unit. Advantages of the present invention include having the ability to record flash head orientation for future reference or processing; automating the flash head orientation such that it is always positioned according to user preferences; and utilizing flash head orientation data to be captured Image processing for video and video. [Embodiment] Now, a more detailed description will be given of a preferred embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is to be noted that the embodiments are intended to be illustrative only and not limiting of all possible applications of the invention or all applications covered by the scope of the application. In the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 5, the flash unit is capable of detecting the direction of the flashing head and transmitting the flash head direction data to the camera unit. The camera unit can then use the direction data for its own processing. And/or stored to recordable media. This embodiment includes at least: a flash unit 500: a flash head 5 1 0; a direction sensor for detecting the direction of the flash head -6 - 201005418 520; and a flash processing for packaging direction information from the direction sensor 520 a signal processor of the device 530; a camera unit 540; a signal processor such as a camera processor 550 for receiving and using the directional data; and a majority of the mega-element 560 for storing the directional data. In another embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 6, the flash unit is capable of detecting, processing and changing the direction of the flash head. Such a device, for example, enables the user to plan the direction of the desired flash head into the flash unit itself, while the 0 flash unit maintains the direction of the flash head regardless of the direction of the flash unit. This embodiment includes at least: a flash unit 600; a flash head 61; a direction sensor 640 for detecting the direction of the flash head 61; and a flash processor 63 0 for analyzing the direction sensor data. a signal processor; and a motor such as a flash head motor 620 for changing the direction of the flash head 61. In another embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 7, the camera unit has built-in flash capability, wherein the flash and camera assembly are combined in a single -φ camera unit and are capable of detecting and recording the flash head orientation. This embodiment includes at least: a camera unit 700; a flash head 7 1 0; a direction sensor 720 for detecting the direction of the flash head 710; a signal processor such as a processor 73 0 for processing the direction data; A plurality of memory elements 740 for storing the directional data. In another embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 8, the camera unit is capable of processing flash head orientation data and controlling the flash head orientation. The flash unit and camera unit pair can detect, record and automatically change the direction of the flash head. This embodiment includes at least: a flash unit 800; a flash head 81A; 201005418 a direction sensor 860 for detecting the direction of the flash head 81; and a package for e.g. flash processor 8 70 from the direction sensor 860. a signal processor; a motor for changing the direction of the flash head 81 to the flash head motor 820; a camera unit 830; a camera for processing direction information from the flash unit 800 and controlling the direction of the flash head 81 a signal processor of processor 8 40; and a plurality of memory elements 850 for storing the direction data. Although the present invention has been described in terms of the preferred embodiments, it is understood that the invention may be embodied in various other specific forms without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The present invention is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not limited by the scope of the appended claims. [Simple diagram of the diagram] Figure 1 shows a consumer-grade point-and-shoot camera using the built-in flash unit. Figure 1 Front and side views of the camera unit and flash unit with an external flash unit that adjusts the direction of the flash head; Figure 2Α The flash direction of the standard forward flash unit and the flash head; Figure 2Β shows the flash unit that can be adjusted to provide flashover of the ceiling surface; Figure 3 shows the direction of the flash head in the horizontal direction of the camera unit, but the camera rotates After the vertical direction, it is not necessarily the direction upwards. -8- 201005418 Where Figure 4 shows the current application of the directional sensor in the camera unit ' θ regardless of the orientation of the camera unit, which keeps the pre-view horizontal 1^ ' Figure 5 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 8 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the present invention. Figure. [Main component symbol description] 100: Built-in flash unit 120' 170, 220, 270: camera unit 150, 210, 290, 300, 510, 610' 710, 810: flash head 160: external flash unit 200: standard Flash unit 240, 280: theme 25 0: ceiling 260: flash unit 310, 500, 600' 800: flash unit 320 > 410: camera 400: LCD screen 420, 450: pre-view 520, 640, 720, 860: direction Sensors 530, 630, 870: flash processor 201005418
540、700、83 0 ：相機單元 55 0、840 :相機處理器 560、740、85 0 :記憶體元件 6 2 0、8 2 0 :閃光燈頭馬達 7 3 0 :處理器 -10540, 700, 83 0 : Camera unit 55 0, 840 : Camera processor 560, 740, 85 0 : Memory component 6 2 0, 8 2 0 : Flash head motor 7 3 0 : Processor -10