Mobile terminal having two cameras and method for storing images taken by two cameras

Abstract

A mobile terminal includes a memory; a touch screen; a first camera having a first capturing angle; a second camera having a second capturing angle that is wider than the first capturing angle; and a controller. The controller is configured to: cause the touch screen to display a first preview image of the first camera, a second preview image of the second camera, or both the first and second preview images overlapping each other; cause the memory to store a first image taken by the first camera in response to a first capture command received while the first preview image is displayed; and cause the memory to store both the first image and a second image taken by the second camera when a wide-angle capturing condition is satisfied while at least one of the first preview image or the second preview image is displayed.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A mobile terminal, comprising:
 a memory;   a touch screen;   a first camera having a first capturing angle;   a second camera having a second capturing angle that is wider than the first capturing angle; and   a controller configured to:
 cause the touch screen to display a first preview image of the first camera, a second preview image of the second camera, or both the first and second preview images overlapping each other; 
 measure a distance between the mobile terminal and a subject to be captured via the first or second camera; and 
 in response to a capture command:
 capture both a first image taken by the first camera and a second image taken by the second camera when the measured distance is satisfied for a specific distance condition; and 
 capture the first image only when the measured distance is not satisfied for the specific distance condition. 
 
   
     
     
       2. The mobile terminal of  claim 1 , wherein the specific condition is satisfied when the measured distance is greater than a prescribed distance. 
     
     
       3. The mobile terminal of  claim 2 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 cause the touch screen to display an image synthesized from the captured first image and second image.   
     
     
       4. The mobile terminal of  claim 3 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 cause the touch screen to display a graphic element to adjust a ratio of the first image to the second image for the synthesized image.   
     
     
       5. The mobile terminal of  claim 3 , wherein the synthesized image is generated by overlapping at least a portion of the second image such that an object in the first image coincides with the same object in the second image. 
     
     
       6. The mobile terminal of  claim 3 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 cause the touch screen to display a preview image synthesized from the first preview image and the second preview image before the first image and the second image are captured when the measured distance is satisfied for the specific distance condition.   
     
     
       7. A method for controlling a mobile terminal comprising a touch screen, a first camera having a first capturing angle, and a second camera having a second capturing angle that is wider than the first capturing angle, the method comprising:
 displaying, on the touch screen, a first preview image of the first camera, a second preview image of the second camera, or both the first and second preview images overlapping each other;   measuring a distance between the mobile terminal and a subject to be captured via the first or second camera; and   in response to a capture command:
 capturing both a first image taken by the first camera and a second image taken by the second camera when the measured distance is satisfied for a specific distance condition; and 
 capturing the first image only when the measured distance is not satisfied for the specific distance condition. 
   
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the specific condition is satisfied when the measured distance is greater than a prescribed distance. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 displaying, on the touch screen, an image synthesized from the captured first image and second image.   
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 displaying, on the the touch screen, a graphic element to adjust a ratio of the first image to the second image for the synthesized image.   
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the synthesized image is generated by overlapping at least a portion of the second image such that an object in the first image coincides with the same object in the second image. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 displaying, on the touch screen, a preview image synthesized from the first preview image and the second preview image before the first image and the second image are captured when the measured distance is satisfied for the specific distance condition.   
     
     
       13. A mobile terminal, comprising:
 a memory;   a touch screen;   a first camera having a first capturing angle;   a second camera having a second capturing angle that is wider than the first capturing angle, wherein the first camera and the second camera are located on one side of the mobile terminal; and   a controller configured to:
 determine a capture mode in response to a user input related to the first capturing angle or the second capturing angle; 
 determine a value related to a distance between the mobile terminal and a subject to be captured via the first or second camera; 
 cause the touch screen to display a first preview image of the first camera, a second preview image of the second camera, or both the first and second preview images overlapping each other based on the distance related value; 
 in response to a capture command:
 capture both a first image taken by the first camera and a second image taken by the second camera based on the capturing mode being related to the second capturing angle and the distance related value satisfying a distance condition; and 
 capture the first image only based on the capturing mode being related to the first capturing angle and the distance related value not satisfying the distance condition.  
 
   
     
     
       14. The mobile terminal of  claim 13 , wherein the distance condition is a minimum distance related condition.  
     
     
       15. The mobile terminal of  claim 14 , wherein the distance condition is satisfied when the distance related value indicates that a distance between the mobile terminal and the main subject is greater than a prescribed distance.  
     
     
       16. The mobile terminal of  claim 15 , wherein the controller is further configured to cause the touch screen to display an image synthesized from the captured first image and second image.  
     
     
       17. The mobile terminal of  claim 16 , wherein the controller is further configured to cause the touch screen to display a graphic element to adjust a ratio of the first image to the second image for the synthesized image.  
     
     
       18. The mobile terminal of  claim 16 , wherein the synthesized image is generated by overlapping the first image and the second image such that an object in the first image coincides with the same object in the second image.  
     
     
       19. The mobile terminal of  claim 16 , wherein the controller is further configured to cause the touch screen to display a preview image synthesized from the first preview image and the second preview image before the first image and the second image are captured based on the capturing mode being related to the second capturing angle and the distance related value satisfying the distance condition.  
     
     
       20. A method for controlling a mobile terminal comprising a touch screen, a first camera having a first capturing angle, and a second camera having a second capturing angle that is wider than the first capturing angle, wherein the first camera and the second camera are located on one side of the mobile terminal, the method comprising:
 determining a capture mode in response to a user input related to the first capturing angle or the second capturing angle;   determining a value related to a distance between the mobile terminal and a subject to be captured via the first or second camera;   displaying on the touch screen a first preview image of the first camera, a second preview image of the second camera, or both the first and second preview images overlapping each other based on the distance related value;   in response to a capture command:
 capturing both a first image taken by the first camera and a second image taken by the second camera based on the capturing mode being related to the second capturing angle and the distance related value satisfying a distance condition; and 
 capturing the first image only based on the capturing mode being related to the first capturing angle and the distance related value not satisfying the distance condition.  
   
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 20 , wherein the distance condition is a minimum distance related condition.  
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 21 , wherein the distance condition is satisfied when the distance related value indicates that a distance between the mobile terminal and the main subject is greater than a prescribed distance.  
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 displaying, on the touch screen, an image synthesized from the captured first image and second image.    
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 displaying, on the touch screen, a graphic element to adjust a ratio of the first image to the second image for the synthesized image.    
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 23 , wherein the synthesized image is generated by overlapping the first image and the second image such that an object in the first image coincides with the same object in the second image.  
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 displaying, on the touch screen, a preview image synthesized from the first preview image and the second preview image before the first image and the second image are captured based on the capturing mode being related to the second capturing angle and the distance related value satisfying the distance condition.    
     
     
       27. A mobile terminal, comprising:
 a memory;   a touch screen;   a first camera having a first capturing angle;   a second camera having a second capturing angle that is wider than the first capturing angle, wherein the first camera and the second camera are located on one side of the mobile terminal; and   a controller configured to:
 cause the touch screen to display a first preview image of the first camera including a subject to be captured, a second preview image of the second camera including the subject, or both the first and second preview images overlapping each other and including the subject; 
 determine a value related to a distance between the mobile terminal and the subject to be captured via the first or second camera; 
 in response to a capture command:
 capture both a first image taken by the first camera and a second image taken by the second camera when the distance related value satisfies a distance condition; and 
 capture the first image only when the distance related value does not satisfy the distance condition; and 
 
 execute a gallery application.  
   
     
     
       28. The mobile terminal of  claim 27 , wherein the distance condition is a minimum distance related condition.  
     
     
       29. The mobile terminal of  claim 28 , wherein the distance condition is satisfied when the distance related value indicates that a distance between the mobile terminal and the main subject is greater than a prescribed distance.  
     
     
       30. The mobile terminal of  claim 29 , wherein the controller is further configured to cause the touch screen to display an image synthesized from the captured first image and second image.  
     
     
       31. The mobile terminal of  claim 30 , wherein the controller is further configured to cause the touch screen to display a graphic element to adjust a ratio of the first image to the second image for the synthesized image.  
     
     
       32. The mobile terminal of  claim 30 , wherein the synthesized image is generated by overlapping the first image and the second image such that an object in the first image coincides with the same object in the second image.  
     
     
       33. The mobile terminal of  claim 30 , wherein the controller is further configured to cause the touch screen to display a preview image synthesized from the first preview image and the second preview image before the first image and the second image are captured based on the distance related value satisfying the distance condition.