Wireless video telephone with ambient light sensor
AssigneeDenso Corporation
InventorAkio Kosaka
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A communication device such as a portable video telephone capable of transmitting images as well as sound is capable of preventing the transmission of dark and featureless images resulting from the device being used in a dark location. When an image is to be transmitted, a device controller determines if the present ambient light level is too dark by measuring the light level of a light sensor. If the ambient light is inadequate, the controller generates a brightness warning on the device display, and stops image transmission.
Claims40
A communication device comprising:
- a display;
- an image input camera for capturing first image data and for measuring an ambient light level;
- a voice data transceiver for receiving and transmitting voice data;
- an image data transceiver for transmitting the first image data and receiving second image data;
- and
- a controller for generating a message on the display indicating that the ambient light level is inadequate when the light level measured by the light measuring device is less than a predetermined level;
- wherein the controller inhibits an image data transmit state to limit the communications device to voice communication when the ambient light level is below the predetermined level.
A portable communication device with both voice and image wireless transceiving capabilities, said device comprising:
- a light sensor for sensing an ambient light level;
- and
- a controller in communication with the light sensor for indicating that the ambient light level is inadequate for image data transmission when the ambient light level measured by the light sensor is lower than a predetermined level;
- wherein the controller inhibits an image data transmit state to limit the communications device to voice communication when the ambient light level is below the predetermined level.
A communication device comprising:
- a display;
- an image input camera for capturing first image data and for measuring an ambient light level;
- a voice data transceiver for receiving and transmitting voice data;
- an image data transceiver for transmitting the first image data and receiving second image data;
- and
- a controller for generating a message on the display indicating that the ambient light level is inadequate when the light level measured by the light measuring device is less than a predetermined level so that an operator does not need to view any images;
- wherein the controller inhibits an image data transmit state to limit the communications device to voice communication when the ambient light level is below the predetermined level.
A communication device comprising:
- a light sensor for sensing an ambient light level;
- an image input camera for capturing a first image;
- a voice data transceiver for receiving and transmitting voice data;
- an image data transceiver for transmitting the first image data and receiving second image data;
- an image transmit key for initiating an image data transmit state;
- and
- a controller for controlling an operation state of the communication device, the operation state including an image and voice data transmission state and a voice data transmission state;
- wherein when the image transmit key is pressed during the voice data transmission state, the controller compares the ambient light level with a predetermined level,
- if the ambient light level is higher than the predetermined level, the controller enables the image and voice data transmission state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.