TW201935238A - Method and electronic device for automatically testing and repairing camera function - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and an electronic device for automatically testing and repairing camera function are provided. The method includes a processing unit automatically starting a camera module for image capture when an electronic device being started, the processing unit determining whether an image picture capture function of the camera module is abnormal, the processing unit controlling the camera module reset when the image picture capture function is abnormal, the processing unit controlling a power supply module to stop supplying power to the camera module when the image picture capture function is still abnormal after the camera module being reset, and the processing unit controlling the power supply module to supply power to the camera module again after the camera module being stopped.

Description

Automatic test and repair method of camera function and electronic device thereof

The invention provides a method for automatically testing and repairing a camera function and an electronic device thereof.

With the needs of people, most electronic devices are equipped with camera modules, especially portable electronic devices, such as notebook computers, mobile phones, and tablet computers. People can use the electronic devices to take pictures or videos at any time. Without having to carry a camera with you, it greatly improves the convenience of life.

However, camera modules contain different components. Camera module manufacturers usually purchase different components of camera modules from different manufacturers, and then integrate them to manufacture camera modules. Different compatibility causes manufacturers to produce camera modules of different quality. For example, some camera modules may have the problem of no image output after booting, causing inconvenience to subsequent users, or the camera module repairer must recycle the electronic device to remove the camera module. Wrong, it is really inconvenient.

In view of this, the present invention provides an automatic test and repair method of a camera function and an electronic device thereof.

In one embodiment, an electronic device with an automatic test and repair camera function includes a camera module, a power supply module, and a processing unit. The power supply module is coupled to the camera module, and the processing unit is coupled to the camera module and the power supply module. The camera module has an image capture function. The power supply module supplies power to the camera module. The processing unit automatically starts the camera module to perform the image capture function. After the electronic device is turned on, the processing unit automatically starts the camera module to perform the image capture function. The processing unit determines whether the image capture function of the camera module is abnormal. When the function is abnormal, the processing unit controls the camera module to reset. When the image capture function is still abnormal after the camera module is reset, the processing unit controls the power supply module to stop supplying power to the camera module, and stops the camera module from operating. The rear control power supply module re-powers the camera module.

In one embodiment, an automatic test and repair method for camera functions includes a processing unit that automatically activates an image capture function of a camera module after the electronic device is powered on. The processing unit determines whether the image capture function is abnormal. When the function is abnormal, the processing unit controls the camera module to reset. When the image capture function is still abnormal after the camera module is reset, the processing unit controls a power supply module to stop supplying power to the camera module. After the module stops operating, the power supply module is controlled to supply power to the camera module again.

In summary, according to an embodiment of the camera function automatic testing and repairing method of the present invention and an electronic device thereof, the processing unit can automatically detect whether the image capturing function is abnormal, and can automatically repair the abnormal image capturing function. In this way, the repairer of the camera module does not need to recycle the electronic device equipped with the camera module, and the user of the electronic device only needs to update the software or firmware in the electronic device to repair the abnormal camera module. group.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of an electronic device 1 for automatically testing and repairing camera functions according to the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, the electronic device 1 includes a camera module 11, a power supply module 12, and a processing unit 13. The processing unit 13 is coupled to the camera module 11 and the power supply module 12. The power supply module 12 is coupled to the camera module 11. The power supply module 12 supplies power to the camera module 11 to provide power required for the operation of the camera module 11. The camera module 11 has an image capture function. The camera module 11 performs an image capture function and can perform photography or video recording. In one embodiment, the electronic device 1 may be a Point of Sales (POS) terminal, a desktop computer, a notebook computer, or the like. The processing unit 13 may be a central processing unit, an embedded controller, or a microprocessor.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of an embodiment of a method for automatically testing and repairing a camera function according to the present invention. Please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 together. When the electronic device 1 operates, the processing unit 13 automatically performs a detection procedure on the camera module 11. In the detection procedure, the processing unit 13 starts the camera module 11 to execute the image capturing function after the electronic device 1 is turned on (step S01), and the processing unit 13 determines whether the image capturing function of the camera module 11 is abnormal (step S02). The image capturing function of the camera module 11 is abnormal (the determination result is “Yes”), and the processing unit 13 performs a repair procedure. In the repair procedure, the processing unit 13 first controls the camera module 11 to be reset (step S06), and the processing unit 13 repairs the camera module 11 by a faster resetting method. Next, the processing unit 13 executes step S02 again, and the processing unit 13 determines whether the image capturing function of the camera module 11 returns to normal after the reset. If the processing unit 13 determines that its image capturing function is still abnormal (determined as YES) after the camera module 11 is reset, the processing unit 13 then controls the power supply module 12 to stop supplying power to the camera module 11 (step S03) To stop the camera module 11 and the processing unit 13 controls the power supply module 12 to re-power the camera module 11 after the camera module 11 stops operating (step S04), so that the camera module 11 resumes operation to repair the abnormality Image capture function.

In an embodiment, after the processing unit 13 controls the power supply module 12 to re-power the camera module 11, the processing unit 13 will further activate the camera module 11 to perform the image capture function and determine the camera module 11 after power is re-powered. Whether the image capture function returns to normal (step S07). If it is judged as NO, the processing unit 13 classifies the abnormal image capture function as a hardware abnormality (step S09) instead of a software abnormality.

In one embodiment, the camera module 11 has a reset control terminal coupled to the processing unit 13, and the processing unit 13 can control the camera module 11 to restart by using the aforementioned reset control terminal. Furthermore, after the processing unit 13 controls the camera module 11 to reset (step S06), the processing unit 13 waits for a preset time to wait for the camera module 11 to complete the reset operation, and the processing unit 13 waits for the preset time It is then determined whether the image capturing function of the camera module 11 returns to normal. Further, after the processing unit 13 controls the power supply module 12 to re-power the camera module 11 (step S04), the processing unit 13 will also wait for a preset time to wait for the camera module 11 to restart, and the processing unit 13 is also waiting After the preset time, it is judged whether the image capturing function of the camera module 11 returns to normal (step S07).

Here, FIG. 1 shows that the electronic device 1 includes a camera module 11 as an example, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The number of camera modules included in the electronic device 1 may also be two or more. If the electronic device 1 includes two camera modules, the processing unit 13 can perform detection procedures and repair procedures of the two camera modules simultaneously. In detail, the processing unit 13 may start the two camera modules when executing step S01, and determine the two camera modules in step S02 (for convenience of description, the two camera modules are hereinafter referred to as a first camera module and a second camera module, respectively). Whether the image capture function of the second camera module is abnormal; if the processing unit 13 determines that the image capture function of the first camera module is abnormal, the processing unit 13 executes the detection procedure of the second camera module and the first camera module simultaneously Set of fixes. When performing the repair procedure of the first camera module, the processing unit 13 controls the reset of the first camera module in step S06, and the processing unit 13 re-determines the Whether the image capture function is still abnormal after resetting, in order to control the power supply module 12 to stop supplying power to the first camera module in step S03 of the subsequent repair procedure and to control the power supply module 12 after the first camera module stops operating Re-power the first camera module to repair the first camera module; on the other hand, if the processing unit 13 determines that the image capture function of the second camera module is abnormal during the repair process of the first camera module, The processing unit 13 may perform the repair procedure of the second camera module simultaneously or sequentially. When performing the repair procedure of the second camera module, the processing unit 13 controls the reset of the second camera module in step S06, and the processing unit 13 re-determines the second camera module after controlling the reset of the second camera module. Whether the image capture function is still abnormal after resetting, in order to control the power supply module 12 to stop supplying power to the second camera module in step S03 of the subsequent repair procedure and control the power supply module 12 after the second camera module stops operating Re-power the second camera module to repair the second camera module.

In one embodiment, the abnormal image capture function of the camera module 11 occurs probabilistically. Before the image capturing function of the camera module 11 is abnormal, the processing unit 13 may repeatedly execute step S02 until the image capturing function of the camera module 11 is abnormal. When the image capturing function of the camera module 11 is abnormal, the processing unit 13 executes steps S03 and S04, and after executing steps S03 and S04, the camera module 11 is started again (step S01) and it is determined whether the image capturing function is abnormal. (Step S02). After the repair process is performed, the processing unit 13 determines that the image capturing function is normal. At this time, the processing unit 13 stops executing step S02 and ends its detection process and repair process. After the electronic device 1 is turned off, the processing unit 13 executes steps S01 and S02 during another startup period after the electronic device 1 is restarted to perform a detection procedure, and executes a repair procedure when the image capturing function of the camera module 11 is abnormal. Therefore, the processing unit 13 can automatically start in the background during the startup process of the electronic device 1 or when the operating system is running before receiving the activation signal from the user of the electronic device 1 to start the image capture function of the camera module 11. The background execution method is executed as firmware or software of the BIOS code to perform the aforementioned detection procedure; and, when the processing unit 13 determines that the image capturing function of the camera module 11 is abnormal, it continues to automatically execute in the background in the background. The aforementioned repair procedure is performed in a manner that the user of the electronic device 1 does not notice that the image capturing function is abnormal, and the user does not notice that the processing unit 13 is performing a detection procedure and a repair procedure to avoid affecting the use. Person's operation.

In one embodiment, the camera module 11 includes an image sensor 112. The image sensor 112 may include a photosensitive-coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) device. The image sensor 112 is used for sensing light and capturing images to generate image signals. In step S01, the image sensor 112 operates as the camera module 11 is activated, and the image sensor 112 generates an image signal. In step S02, the processing unit 13 determines whether the image capturing function of the camera module 11 is abnormal according to the image signal generated by the image sensor 112. The processing unit 13 compares whether the image signal generated by the image sensor 112 conforms to a preset non-image signal. The no-image signal is an image signal output by the image sensor 112 when its image capturing function is abnormal. When the image signal generated by the image sensor 112 matches the no-image signal, the processing unit 13 executes steps S03 and S04 to perform a repair procedure.

As shown in FIG. 1, the camera module 11 may further include a digital signal processor (DSP) 111, the digital signal processor 111 is coupled to the image sensor 112, and the digital signal processor 111 is used for image processing. The image signal generated by the sensor 112 performs analog digital conversion signal processing to generate an image signal which is a digital signal. Therefore, the processing unit 13 can also determine whether the image capturing function of the camera module 11 is abnormal by determining whether the digital image signal generated by the digital signal processor 111 conforms to the no-image signal.

In an embodiment, after the processing unit 13 executes step S02, if the processing unit 13 determines that the image capturing function of the camera module 11 is abnormal, the processing unit 13 may first determine whether the reset number of the camera module 11 has reached a predetermined Set the number of times (step S05). For example, the preset number of times can be three times. If the reset number of the camera module 11 does not reach the preset number, the processing unit 13 starts to control the camera module 11 to reset (step S06). If the number of reset times reaches a preset number, the processing unit 13 executes step S03 to control the power supply module 12 to stop supplying power to the camera module 11 without controlling the camera module 11 to reset. In other words, after the processing unit 13 determines that the image capturing function of the camera module 11 is abnormal, the processing unit 13 may continuously control the camera module 11 to reset until the image capturing function of the camera module 11 is normal due to the reset or The number of resets reaches the preset number. When the reset number of times of the camera module 11 reaches a preset number and its image capture function is still abnormal, the processing unit 13 executes steps S03 and S04 to repair the image capture function of the camera module 11.

In an embodiment, the digital signal processor 111 of the camera module 11 is coupled to the aforementioned reset control terminal. In step S06, the processing unit 13 can control the digital signal processor 111 to control the digital signal processor 111 to reset the digital signal processor 111. Home. Furthermore, the processing unit 13 may execute two different programs to perform the aforementioned detection procedure and repair procedure (hereinafter, the two procedures are referred to as a detection procedure and a repair procedure, respectively). In detail, the processing unit 13 executes steps S01, S02, and S07 in the detection process by using a detection program. When the processing unit 13 determines that the image capturing function is abnormal, the processing unit 13 further executes a repair program to perform repair. Steps S05, S06, S03, and S04 in the program are performed.

In one embodiment, the electronic device 1 further includes a universal serial bus (USB) port. The camera module 11 is inserted into the USB port, and the power terminal of the camera module 11 is connected to the USB port. The camera module 11 operates by receiving power from the power circuit of the USB port through its power terminal. Here, the power supply module 12 is a USB power supply module. When the processing unit 13 determines that the image capturing function of the camera module 11 is abnormal, the processing unit 13 controls the power supply module 12 to stop supplying power to the USB port, so that the camera module 11Unable to receive power from the USB port and stop working.

In summary, according to an embodiment of an automatic test and repair method of a camera function of the present invention and an embodiment of an electronic device thereof, the processing unit can automatically execute software to detect whether the image capture function is abnormal, and can automatically repair the abnormal image capture. Features. In this way, the repairer of the camera module does not need to recycle the electronic device equipped with the camera module, and the user of the electronic device only needs to update the software or firmware in the electronic device to repair the abnormal camera module. group.

Although this case has been disclosed with examples as above, it is not intended to limit this case. Any person with ordinary knowledge in the technical field can make some changes and retouching without departing from the spirit and scope of this case. Therefore, the scope of protection of this case Subject to the scope of the attached patent application.

1‧‧‧ electronic device

11‧‧‧ Camera Module

111‧‧‧ Digital Signal Processor

112‧‧‧Image Sensor

12‧‧‧ Power Supply Module

13‧‧‧processing unit

S01-S09‧‧‧step

[Figure 1] A block diagram of an embodiment of an electronic device for automatically testing and repairing camera functions according to the present invention. [FIG. 2] A flowchart of an embodiment of an automatic test and repair method for a camera function according to the present invention.

Claims (10)

An electronic device with an automatic test and repair camera function includes: a camera module with an image capture function; a power supply module coupled to the camera module to supply power to the camera module; and a processing A unit coupled to the camera module and the power supply module, and after the electronic device is powered on, the processing unit automatically starts the camera module to execute the image capturing function, and the processing unit determines the image capturing of the camera module Whether the fetch function is abnormal. When the image capture function is abnormal, the processing unit controls the camera module to reset. When the image capture function is still abnormal after the camera module is reset, the processing unit controls the camera module. The power supply module stops supplying power to the camera module, and controls the power supply module to supply power to the camera module again after the camera module stops operating. The electronic device with the function of automatically testing and repairing the camera as described in claim 1, wherein the processing unit automatically activates the camera module to execute the image capturing function in the background execution mode when running an operating system. The electronic device with an automatic test and repair camera function as described in claim 2, wherein before the image capturing function is abnormal, the processing unit is configured to receive a user of the electronic device to activate the camera module. Before one of the image capture functions starts the signal, it automatically determines whether the image capture function is abnormal by repeatedly executing the background. Until it is determined that the image capture function is abnormal, it automatically controls the camera module in the background. Reset and automatically control the power supply module to stop supplying power to the camera module when the camera module is still abnormal after resetting. The electronic device with an automatic test and repair camera function according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the camera module includes an image sensor for sensing light to generate an image signal The processing unit determines whether the image capturing function is abnormal according to whether the image signal is abnormal. The electronic device with an automatic test and repair camera function according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the camera module includes a reset end coupled to the processing unit, and when the image capturing function is abnormal The processing unit first determines whether the reset number of the camera module reaches a preset number. When the reset number of the camera module does not reach the preset number, the processing unit controls the camera through the reset terminal. Module reset. When the reset number of the camera module reaches the preset number, the processing unit controls the power supply module to stop supplying power to the camera module. An automatic test and repair method for a camera function is suitable for an electronic device. The automatic test and repair method for a camera function includes: a processing unit automatically activating an image capture function of a camera module after the electronic device is powered on; The processing unit determines whether the image capturing function is abnormal; when the image capturing function is abnormal, the processing unit controls the camera module to reset; when the image capturing function is still abnormal after the camera module is reset The processing unit controls a power supply module to stop supplying power to the camera module; and the processing unit controls the power supply module to supply power to the camera module again after the camera module stops operating. The method for automatically testing and repairing a camera function according to claim 6, wherein in the steps of automatically starting the camera module by the processing unit and determining whether the image capturing function is abnormal, the processing unit is running an operating system Automatically activate the camera module in the background execution mode and determine whether the image capture function is abnormal. The method for automatically testing and repairing a camera function according to claim 7, further comprising: before the processing unit determines that the image capturing function is abnormal, the processing unit activates the user upon receiving a user of the electronic device. One of the image capture functions of the camera module automatically and repeatedly determines whether the image capture function is abnormal before activating the signal until the image capture function is determined to be abnormal. The camera module is reset; wherein when the camera module is still abnormal after the reset, the processing unit controls the power supply module to stop supplying power to the camera module in a background execution manner. The automatic test and repair method for a camera function according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein in the step of the processing unit determining whether the image capturing function is abnormal, the processing unit determines one of the camera modules Whether an image signal generated by the image sensor when detecting light is abnormal. According to the automatic test and repair method of the camera function according to any one of claims 6 to 8, the automatic test and repair method of the camera function further includes: the processing unit determines whether the reset number of the camera module reaches a predetermined Set the number of times; wherein, when the image capturing function is abnormal and the reset number of the camera module does not reach the preset number of times, the processing unit controls the camera module by a reset control terminal of one of the camera modules Group reset; wherein, when the image capturing function is abnormal and the number of resets of the camera module reaches the preset number, the processing unit controls the power supply module to stop supplying power to the camera module.