Patent ID: 8624990
Filing Date: 2014-01-07
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A camera module connectable to a host control unit and a release button of a mobile device, said camera module comprising: an input terminal to receive input of an imaging start instruction signal from the release button; a signal processing unit to output an exposure start instruction signal when the imaging start instruction signal is input to the input terminal; and an image sensor unit to image external light and generate an image signal when the exposure start instruction signal is input, in which the signal processing unit outputs the exposure start instruction signal to the image sensor unit as an asynchronous signal without waiting for synchronization with a vertical synchronization signal of the camera module, in which the vertical synchronization signal has a plurality of normally occurring pulses associated therewith, such that the exposure start instruction signal is outputted to the image sensor unit before a pulse of the vertical synchronization signal which would have normally occurred next after generation or receipt by the input terminal of the imaging start instruction signal, in which operation of the camera module is controlled by the host control unit, in which the imaging start instruction signal is directly input to the camera module from the release button without passing through the host control unit, and in which the mobile device includes a display which is connectable to the host control unit which controls the display to cause images or a mute screen to be displayed on the display such that the camera module is separate from and not connectable directly to the display.