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Digital Camera Patent Abstract
A digital camera and related methods enable a scrolling slideshow
of captured images across a display screen. The display screen can
be the digital camera's display screen or an external display screen
(e.g., a TV screen or a computer monitor) driven by the digital
camera. The number of images scrolled across a display screen can
be adjusted for ease and efficiency of viewing based on user preference.
The camera provides controls for image scrolling including speed
adjustment, forward scrolling, reverse scrolling, scroll pausing,
and scroll resuming. The camera permits images to be locked in place
on the display screen during the scrolling slideshow, which provides
for easy comparison with other images that continue to scroll across
the display screen. When an image is locked, scrolling images appear
to scroll to a position behind the locked image.
Digital Camera Patent Claims
1. A processor-readable medium comprising processor-executable instructions
configured for scrolling a number of images across a display screen
of a digital camera.
2. A processor-readable medium as recited in claim 1, comprising
further processor-executable instructions configured for varying
the speed of the scrolling.
3. A processor-readable medium as recited in claim 2, wherein the
varying the speed of the scrolling is selected from the group comprising:
fast-forwarding the scrolling; slowing the scrolling; reversing
the scrolling; pausing the scrolling; and resuming the scrolling
after the pausing.
4. A processor-readable medium as recited in claim 1, comprising
further processor-executable instructions configured for: locking
an image in place on the display screen; and scrolling images behind
the locked image.
5. A processor-readable medium as recited in claim 4, wherein the
locking an image comprises justifying the image at one edge of the
display screen.
6. A processor-readable medium as recited in claim 4, comprising
further processor-executable instructions configured for: unlocking
a locked image; locking a new image in place on the display screen;
and scrolling images behind the new image.
7. A processor-readable medium as recited in claim 1, comprising
further processor-executable instructions configured for altering
the number of images being scrolled across the display screen.
8. A processor-readable medium as recited in claim 1, comprising
further processor-executable instructions configured for driving
an external display screen with the digital camera such that the
multiple images are scrolled across the external display screen.
9. A processor-readable medium as recited in claim 8, wherein the
external display screen is selected from the group comprising: a
television screen; a high definition television screen having a
widescreen format; and a computer monitor.
10. A processor-readable medium as recited in claim 1, wherein
the scrolling comprises moving the images across the display screen
in a direction selected from the group comprising: a left to right
direction across the display screen; a right to left direction across
the display screen; a top to bottom direction across the display
screen; and a bottom to top direction across the display screen.
11. A processor-readable medium as recited in claim 1, wherein
the scrolling comprises presenting the images beginning with a most
recently captured image and progressing toward a least recently
captured image.
12. The digital camera comprising the processor-readable medium
as recited in claim 1.
13. A method comprising: capturing images with a digital camera;
storing the images in a memory of the digital camera; and displaying
the images as a scrolling slideshow on a display screen of the digital
camera.
14. A method as recited in claim 13, further comprising: fast-forwarding
the scrolling slideshow; slowing the scrolling slideshow; reversing
the scrolling slideshow; pausing the scrolling slideshow; and resuming
the scrolling slideshow after the pausing.
15. A method as recited in claim 13, further comprising: locking
an image in place; justifying the locked image at one side of the
display screen; and scrolling other images behind the locked image.
16. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the displaying comprises
displaying the images as a scrolling slideshow on an external display
coupled to the digital camera.
17. A digital camera comprising: a display screen; captured images;
and a scrolling slideshow module configured to scroll the images
across the display screen in a scrolling slideshow.
18. A digital camera as recited in claim 17, wherein the scrolling
slideshow includes scrolling control features selected from the
group comprising: scroll pause; scroll resume; scroll speed; scroll
direction; image locking; and image unlocking.
19. A digital camera as recited in claim 18, further comprising
a controller configured to manipulate the scrolling control features.
20. A digital camera as recited in claim 17, further comprising
a memory configured to store image data, the memory selected from
the group comprising: an internal memory configured as part of the
digital camera; and a memory that is distinct from the digital camera,
insertable within the digital camera, and removable from the digital
camera.
21. A digital camera as recited in claim 17, further comprising
an audio/video output terminal configured to couple the digital
camera to an external display device, the scrolling slideshow module
further configured to format the images for scrolling across the
external display device.
22. A digital camera comprising: means for capturing light on an
electronic light sensor; means for converting the light into digital
data representing a plurality of images; and means for scrolling
the images across a display screen as a scrolling slideshow.
23. A digital camera as recited in claim 22, wherein the means
for scrolling the images across a display screen comprise: means
for outputting the images to an external display screen; and means
for formatting the images for display on the external display screen.
24. A digital camera as recited in claim 22, wherein the means
for scrolling the images across a display screen comprise: means
for pausing the scrolling; means for resuming the scrolling; means
for changing direction of the scrolling; means for changing speed
of the scrolling; means for locking an image in place on the display
screen; and means for unlocking a locked image.
25. A digital camera as recited in claim 22, wherein the means
for scrolling the images across a display screen comprise: means
for increasing the number of images being scrolled across the display
screen; and means for decreasing the number of images begin scrolled
across the display screen.
Digital Camera Patent Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Digital cameras provide various ways for users to review
captured images. One common way is to enable a user to review captured
images directly on an LCD (liquid crystal display) screen of the
digital camera. For many digital cameras, this type of review includes
an option for displaying images one-at-a-time on the LCD screen
and an option for displaying images in a thumbnail index where multiple
images appear on the LCD screen at the same time. Another way to
review captured images can include attaching the digital camera
to a computer device, such as a PC, a printer, or an all-in-one
device that includes a printer and an image viewer. Still another
way to review captured images may include attaching the camera to
a television set. Many digital cameras include a video output that
permits viewing images captured by the camera on a TV screen.
[0002] For many digital cameras, these methods of reviewing images
are adequate in terms of the speed and accuracy with which images
from a digital camera can be reviewed. However, the number of images
that digital cameras can store is increasing dramatically. For example,
many conventional digital cameras use removable memory devices that
can range is size from about 32 megabytes to about 512 megabytes.
Removable memory devices come in such forms as compact flash cards,
smart media cards, memory sticks, and the like. The larger removable
memory devices (e.g., 512 megabytes) can enable a digital camera
to store as many as 2,500 pictures, depending on data resolution
and compression settings on the camera.
[0003] Prior methods for reviewing images stored on digital cameras
are quickly becoming inadequate in light of the dramatic increase
in the number of images digital cameras can store. Reviewing such
a large number of images one-by-one on a camera's LCD screen, a
TV screen, or a computer screen can be a cumbersome task. Moreover,
the previous methods for reviewing images make it virtually impossible
to make side-by-side comparisons of images. The problem of making
side-by-side comparisons of images is exacerbated by the increasing
number of images that can be stored in the memory of a digital camera.
SUMMARY
[0004] A digital camera enables scrolling images across a display
screen. The speed of the scrolling is adjustable, and images can
be locked in place while other images continue to scroll across
the display screen.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] The same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings
to reference like components and features.
[0006] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a digital
camera suitable for providing a scrolling slideshow of images across
a display screen.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example architecture
of a digital camera such as that shown in FIG. 1.
[0008] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a more detailed representation
of an example architecture of a digital camera such as that shown
in FIG. 2.
[0009] FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a main controller
on a digital camera.
[0010] FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a sequence
of menus that might be displayed on a display screen during the
setup of a scrolling slideshow.
[0011] FIG. 6 illustrates an example of digital camera images moving
across a display screen in a scrolling slideshow.
[0012] FIG. 7 illustrates the images shown in FIG. 6 as they proceed
to scroll across the display screen in a scrolling slideshow.
[0013] FIG. 8 illustrates an example of digital camera images moving
across a display screen in a scrolling slideshow wherein one of
the images has been locked in place on the screen.
[0014] FIG. 9 illustrates the images shown in FIG. 8 as they proceed
to scroll across the display screen and behind the locked image.
[0015] FIG. 10 illustrates an example of a scrolling slideshow
as it might appear on a widescreen format display, such as an HDTV.
[0016] FIG. 11 illustrates another example of a scrolling slideshow
as it might appear on a widescreen format display, such as an HDTV.
[0017] FIG. 12 is a flow diagram illustrating an example method
of providing a scrolling slideshow of digital camera images across
a display screen.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] Overview
[0019] The following discussion is directed to a digital camera
and related methods that enable a scrolling slideshow of captured
images across a display screen. The display screen can be the digital
camera's display screen or an external display screen (e.g., a TV
screen or a computer monitor) being driven by the digital camera.
The number of images being scrolled across a display screen at one
time can be adjusted for ease and efficiency of viewing based on
user preference. The camera provides controls for image scrolling
including speed adjustment, forward scrolling, reverse scrolling,
scroll pausing, and scroll resuming. The camera permits images to
be locked in place on the display screen during the scrolling slideshow,
which provides for easy comparison with other images that continue
to scroll across the display screen. When an image is locked, scrolling
images appear to scroll to a position behind the locked image.
[0020] Advantages of the disclosed digital camera and methods include
the ability to quickly review large numbers of images captured by
the camera and the ability to perform a side-by-side comparison
of images through the slideshow image locking feature.
[0021] Exemplary System Environment
[0022] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary digital camera system 100
suitable for providing a scrolling slideshow of images across a
display screen. The digital camera 100 electronically captures object
images and stores them on an electronic/digital recording medium.
The captured images can be reviewed in a number of ways, including
on an LCD (liquid crystal display) screen of the digital camera.
[0023] The exemplary digital camera 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes
an external architecture that has various mechanisms configured
to control and perform camera functions, such as image capture and
image display functions. The mechanisms include a lens system 102
and electronic flash 104 that are configured to perform a photographic
image capture process. Lens system 102 is typically an electrically
driven autofocus/telephoto lens system, the focal length of which
may be adjusted from a wide angle setting to a close-up telephoto
setting by adjusting a zoom control switch 114.
[0024] Additional mechanisms of digital camera 100 may include,
for example, a viewfinder 106, an LCD screen 108, a microphone 110,
an image capture button 112, the zoom control switch 114, a main
controller 116, an audio/video (A/V) output terminal 118, and a
wireless interface (not shown) such as 802.11 or Bluetooth. LCD
screen 108 and A/V output terminal 118 or a wireless interface (e.g.,
802.11 or Bluetooth) enable viewing of captured images in several
ways, such as by displaying the images on the LCD screen 108 or
on an external television screen, or by printing the images onto
paper. LCD screen 108 also displays menus that are navigable and
selectable via main controller 116 to control various settings and
functions of digital camera 100.
[0025] Also illustrated on digital camera 100 is a media compartment
120 used to house removable electronic/digital photographic storage
media. The removable storage media may include, for example, compact
flash cards, smart media cards, memory sticks, and so on. Such storage
media is inserted into camera 100 through compartment 120 to provide
image storage capacity for digital camera 100. Camera 100 may also
include other mechanisms not illustrated but commonly found on conventional
film, digital, or hybrid cameras, such as an autofocus sensor, a
light metering sensor, a lens cover system and the like.
[0026] FIG. 2 is a high level block diagram illustrating an example
architecture of digital camera 100. Digital camera 100 includes
an imaging device 200, a computer 202 and a control interface 204.
Imaging device 200 is optically coupled to an object 206 and electrically
coupled via system bus 208 to computer 202. Control interface 204
is also coupled to computer 202 via system bus 208. In general,
control of imaging device 200 is managed by computer 202 based on
control signals initiated at control interface 204.
[0027] Referring generally to FIGS. 1 and 2, the architecture and
mechanisms of digital camera 100 enable the camera 100 to capture
object images and output those images for display in a variety of
ways, including in a scrolling slideshow.
[0028] Exemplary Embodiments
[0029] FIG. 3 illustrates in greater detail, an exemplary embodiment
of the digital camera 100 of FIGS. 1 and 2. In the embodiment of
FIG. 3, camera 100 is based on a conventional digital camera. Accordingly,
an imaging device 200 includes lens system 102, electronic flash
104, aperture 300, and electronic light sensor 302. Electronic light
sensor 302 is typically implemented as a charge coupled device (CCD)
or CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) sensor. Electronic
light sensors 302 in digital cameras provide exposure control that
has the same effect as a mechanical shutter in a film camera. However,
instead of interposing a mechanical light blocker, an electronic
light sensor 302 limits exposure by constraining the sampling period.
It is noted that, although a mechanical shutter is not illustrated
on the digital camera 100 of FIG. 3, digital cameras often include
a mechanical shutter. Mechanical shutters on a digital camera allow
for improved image quality and may be necessary depending on the
particular design of the electronic light sensor. Thus, a mechanical
shutter may also be included on digital camera 100, although one
is not illustrated in FIG. 3.
[0030] In addition to providing exposure control, electronic light
sensor 302 serves as the initial capture medium for an image captured
by digital camera 100. When an image is captured on electronic light
sensor 302, each sensor element converts captured light into a voltage
proportional to the brightness of the light. Voltages are passed
through an analogue-to-digital converter (not shown) that ultimately
translates the entire image into digital image data that is stored
on a digital storage medium, such as a removable compact flash card.
[0031] Also included as part of imaging device 200 are imaging
device actuators 304. Imaging device actuators 304 respond to input
from computer 202 to control the various components of imaging device
200 such as the lens system 102, electronic flash 104, aperture
300, and electronic light sensor 302.
[0032] Computer 202 includes a conventional processor device 306
for controlling the operation of digital camera 100. Processor 306
is capable of concurrently executing multiple software control routines
308 and other executable instructions to control various processes
of digital camera 100. Such processes are typically implemented
through control of actuators 304. Actuators 304 may include various
mechanisms configured to provide physical control over components
such as lens system 102, electronic flash 104, aperture 300, and
electronic light sensor 302. For example, an actuator 304 may include
a motor configured to move the lens system 102.
[0033] Computer 202 additionally includes volatile memory 310 (i.e.,
RAM) and nonvolatile memory 312. Volatile memory 310 is a block
of memory that is selectively allocable to various storage functions
related to processes currently being controlled by processor 306.
Nonvolatile memory 312 can include various computer storage media
such as ROM, flash memory and a hard disk. Nonvolatile memory 312
stores processor-executable modules such as camera control routines
308 and scrolling slideshow module 314 configured to control camera
functions. Nonvolatile memory 312 may, in some cases, also be used
to store digital image data from images captured through imaging
device 200.
[0034] Another form of nonvolatile memory included in digital camera
100 is removable storage 316. Removable storage 316 is a removable/replaceable
memory device used to store digital image data 318 from images captured
through imaging device 200. Removable storage device 316 may be
implemented as various memory devices including, for example, a
compact flash card, a smart media card, a memory stick, and the
like. Removable storage devices 316 commonly range in size from
about 32 megabytes to about 512 megabytes. Depending on the data
resolution and compression settings on digital camera 100, a large
removable storage device (e.g., 512 megabytes of memory) can enable
digital camera 100 to store as many as 2,500 images. Removable storage
devices 316 provide advantages including a significantly increased
image storage capacity for digital camera 100 and an easy means
for transferring a large number of images from the digital camera
100 to another device such as a PC having a removable storage input
reader.
[0035] Control interface 204 includes input/output (I/O) mechanisms
on the external architecture of digital camera 100 that enable a
user to input and receive information related to controlling the
operation of the camera 100. Thus, control interface 204 I/O mechanisms
include LCD display screen 108, microphone 110, image capture button
112, zoom controller 114, main controller 116, and AN output terminal
118.
[0036] Settings and functions of digital camera 100 are manageable
through main controller 116 in conjunction with associated menus
that are driven by control routines 308 and displayed on LCD screen
108. As illustrated in FIG. 1, main controller 116 is a multi-control
input button that includes left and right direction arrows, up and
down direction arrows, and a center selection button. Menu items
associated with various settings and functions of digital camera
100 are navigable and selectable through main controller 316 by
pressing the direction arrows and selection button. For example,
a user can access menu items that enable management of camera settings
related to both capturing and displaying images. Thus, camera settings
and functions related to lens 102 focus, flash 104, LCD screen 108,
aperture 300, electronic light sensors 302, displaying images, and
the like, are manageable through main controller 316. Operation
of main controller 116 is discussed in greater detail below with
respect to navigating and selecting camera settings from a menu
and controlling various camera functions such as a display of images
in a scrolling slideshow.
[0037] It is noted that main controller 316 is described throughout
this disclosure by way of example only, as one of various types
of controls that may be appropriate for managing settings and functions
on digital camera 100. Thus, other types of controls are contemplated
for managing settings and functions of digital camera 100. Such
other controls may be implemented in a variety of ways, including,
for example, as other multi-control buttons configured in a manner
similar to or different from the main controller 316, or as numerous
individual control buttons configured to support the same general
managerial tasks performed by main controller 316. Accordingly,
the description of main controller 316 and related components is
not intended to indicate any limitation as to how settings, functions,
or other items on digital camera 100 may be managed or controlled.
[0038] As indicated above, the operation of digital camera 100
is controlled by processor 306 through the execution of various
processor-executable modules (e.g., camera control routines 308
and scrolling slideshow module 314) in conjunction with user input
instructions. Input instructions are entered primarily through main
controller 116, but also through other input controls such as image
capture button 112 and zoom control switch 114. User activation
of main controller 116 sends instructions to processor 306 in various
ways. User activation of main controller 116 may include menu navigation
and selection instructions for menus that are displayed on LCD screen
108. Menus displayed on LCD screen 108 enable a user to control
digital camera settings regarding both the capturing of images and
the playback or display of the captured images.
[0039] Digital camera 100 provides several modes/options for displaying
captured images. Note that for any selected display option, images
can be displayed on the LCD screen 108 of camera 100, or on an external
display screen driven by the camera 100 through A/V output terminal
118 or a wireless interface (not shown), such as 802.11 or Bluetooth.
One option is to display images "frame by frame", or one
image at a time. This option is generally known to those skilled
in the art, and it allows a user to view one image at a time while
stepping forward or backward through stored images. Another option
for displaying captured images is through an index of images. The
"image index" option is also generally known to those
skilled in the art, and it permits a user to view a number of image
thumbnails (e.g., nine image thumbnails) together on each frame
of a display screen.
[0040] Still another option for displaying images from digital
camera 100 is in a scrolling slideshow. Digital camera 100 includes
scrolling slideshow module 314 that executes on processor 306 to
manage a scrolling slideshow of images in conjunction with user
instructions entered via main controller 116. In general, a scrolling
slideshow enables a user to review and compare a number of images
at the same time as the images scroll across a display screen. The
scrolling slideshow is discussed in greater detail below with respect
to FIGS. 6-11. First, however, the exemplary main controller 116
will be described in more detail to benefit further discussion of
how the main controller 116 may be used to set up and control a
scrolling slideshow.
[0041] FIG. 4 illustrates the exemplary main controller 116 of
digital camera 100. The exemplary main controller 116 includes several
direction arrows labeled as A.sub.1 through A.sub.4, and a selection
button labeled as S. Depending on the operation mode of the camera
100, these inputs provide different functions. For example, they
provide for navigation and selection of menu items when camera settings
are made from menus that are displayed on LCD screen 108 in a menu
mode, while they provide for navigation and manipulation of images
during an image display mode.
[0042] FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary sequence of menus that might
be displayed on LCD screen 108 during the setup of a scrolling slideshow.
The sequence of menus in FIG. 5 is intended to illustrate one possible
example of how a menu system might be implemented to configure a
scrolling slideshow on digital camera 100. Thus, the menus illustrated
in FIG. 5 are not intended to limit the scope of a scrolling slideshow
or the manner by which a scrolling slideshow may be configured on
a digital camera 100. In addition, various of the menu options discussed
regarding a scrolling slideshow may be the default settings of camera
100 and may therefore not need to be actively selected by a user.
[0043] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a user may access a menu system
on digital camera 100, for example, by pressing the center selection
(S) button of the main controller 116 (FIG. 4). Menus from digital
camera 100 can be displayed on LCD screen 108 or on an external
display screen (e.g., a TV screen or a computer monitor) driven
by digital camera 100 through A/V output terminal 118. A "Main
Menu" 500 (FIG. 5) may provide the user with options including,
for example, accessing an "Image Capture" mode where camera
settings related to capturing images can be adjusted, or accessing
an "Image Display" mode where camera settings related
to displaying captured images can be adjusted. Menu 500 indicates
by the highlighted "Image Display" option, that a user
has navigated to the "Image Display" mode (e.g., by pressing
direction arrow A.sub.4) and selected the "Image Display"
mode (e.g., by pressing the center selection button S).
[0044] In response to the selection of the "Image Display"
mode from menu 500, an "Image Display Menu" 502 is displayed
which provides options for displaying images that have been captured
and stored on digital camera 100. Image display menu 502 indicates
that digital camera 100 provides several options for displaying
captured images including the "Frame by Frame", "Image
Index", and "Scrolling Slideshow" options mentioned
above. It is noted that other image display options may also be
available on digital camera 100, and that the options illustrated
in any of the menus shown throughout FIG. 5 are not intended to
limit the image display options or other functionality that may
be available on digital camera 100.
[0045] The "Image Display Menu" 502 indicates that a
user has navigated to, and selected, the "Scrolling Slideshow"
option for displaying images. In response to this selection, a "Scrolling
Slideshow Menu" 504 is displayed that provides options for
what display device will be used for the scrolling slideshow and
what number of images will be displayed at one time during the scrolling
slideshow. FIG. 5 indicates that when the "Display Device"
option is selected, a "Display Device Menu" 506 is displayed
that provides options for the type of display device on which the
scrolling slideshow is to be displayed. Menu 506 illustrates options
for displaying images on the LCD screen 108 of the digital camera
100, an external display device, or both the LCD screen and an external
device.
[0046] The "Display Device Menu" 506 indicates that a
user has navigated to, and selected, the "External Display"
option as the device on which the scrolling slideshow will be displayed.
Had the "LCD Screen" option been selected, the scrolling
slideshow would appear on the LCD screen 108. Likewise, had the
"LCD & External Display" option been selected, the
scrolling slideshow may appear on both the LCD screen 108 and an
externally coupled display device, such as a TV or computer monitor.
Displaying images on an external display device includes coupling
such a device to digital camera 100. An external display device
may be coupled to digital camera 100 in various ways, such as by
a hardwire connection made through the A/V output terminal 118,
or by a wireless connection made through various well-known wireless
interfaces (not shown) such as 802.11 or Bluetooth. In response
to the "External Display" selection, an "External.
Display Type Menu" 508 is displayed that provides options for
what type of external display device will be used to display the
scrolling slideshow of images. The example options shown in menu
508 for an external display device include a "Normal TV Display",
an "HDTV (high definition TV) Display", and a "Computer
Monitor". As noted above, these options are provided as examples
and not limitations. Therefore, numerous other types of external
display devices might also be provided as viable options.
[0047] Referring again to menu 504, the number of images scrolling
across a display screen at one time can be altered by selecting
the "# Scrolling Images" option. In response to a selection
of this option, a "# of Scrolling Images Menu" 510 is
displayed that provides options for increasing or decreasing the
number of images scrolling across a display screen during a scrolling
slideshow.
[0048] The number of images desired for scrolling across a display
screen depends in part on the display device. For example, if a
user chooses to view a scrolling slideshow on the LCD screen 108
of digital camera 100, the number of scrolling images may need to
be relatively few (e.g., 2 or 3 images) because of the small size
of the LCD screen 108. However, a user may want to increase the
number of scrolling images if a larger, external display device
such as a TV screen or an HDTV screen will be used for viewing the
scrolling slideshow.
[0049] In addition, the desirable number of images to scroll across
a display screen may increase or decrease based on the type of external
display device being used to view the scrolling slideshow. This
is due to the different aspect ratios that may be available on different
external display devices. The "aspect ratio" of a display
refers to the number of units of width by the number of units of
height of the display. A normal TV's aspect ratio is 4:3, which
produces an image that is more square, while an HDTV's aspect ratio
is 16:9, which produces an image that is more panoramic in shape.
The aspect ratio of a CinemaScope movie is 2.35:1. Thus, the choice
of which external display device to use for viewing the scrolling
slideshow informs the digital camera 100 what the aspect ratio is
for the external display. This allows camera 100 to properly format
the image data 318 before it is transferred to the external device
through the A/V output terminal 118 or other interface such as an
802.11 or Bluetooth wireless interface (not shown).
[0050] FIGS. 6-11 illustrate various aspects of a scrolling slideshow.
In general, the term scrolling should be understood to mean the
movement of images (e.g., graphics, pictures, text, text incorporated
within images, etc.) across a display screen as if the images were
unrolled like a scroll. In FIGS. 6-11, as an exemplary default setting
for digital camera 100, stored images 318 are scrolling from the
right side of the screen to the left side of the screen. However,
it is to be understood that images 318 may be scrolled across the
screen in any direction, including right to left, left to right,
top to bottom, or bottom to top. As another exemplary default setting,
the scrolling slideshow presents the stored images 318 beginning
with the most recently captured image and progressing toward the
least recently captured image. However, it is noted that the scrolling
slideshow may present stored images 318 beginning with other images,
such as an image last reviewed in a previous scrolling slideshow,
and so on.
[0051] Aspects of a scrolling slideshow can be described with reference
to FIGS. 6 and 7 and the main controller 116 of digital camera 100
as shown in FIG. 4. It is apparent from the illustrated display
screen in FIGS. 6 and 7 that the number of images scrolling across
the screen is set at two. Thus, as the first image 600 begins to
scroll off the screen to the left, a third image 602 begins to scroll
onto the screen from the right. The first and third images are therefore
only partially displayed on the screen, while the second image 604
is fully displayed toward the center of the display screen. FIG.
7 illustrates a continuation of the scrolling images of FIG. 6,
where the first image 600 is almost completely scrolled off of the
display screen on the left side.
[0052] Digital camera 100 enables the exercise of numerous controls
over the scrolling of images in a scrolling slideshow through main
controller 116 (FIG. 4). It is noted that, although specific examples
are described herein regarding how a scrolling slideshow of images
may be controlled, the actual manner by which images may be controlled
in a scrolling slideshow is completely arbitrary. Thus, it is understood
that there may be many different ways to control the scrolling of
images in a scrolling slideshow, using similar or different control
mechanisms to those that are described herein.
[0053] Using the main controller 116 of FIG. 4 as an example, the
digital camera 100 enables a user to control various scrolling features
such as the starting, pausing, resuming, direction, and speed of
the scrolling. Once digital camera 100 is set to a "Scrolling
Slideshow" display mode (e.g., through menu 504, FIG. 5) the
center select button, "S", of main controller 116 can
be used to "start" the scrolling of images. Once images
are scrolling across the display screen, the select button "S"
can be depressed to "pause" the scrolling. If the scrolling
is paused, the select button "S" can again be depressed
to "resume" the scrolling. Thus, the center select button
"S" of main controller 116 can serve as a multi-function
control (e.g., a "start" control, a "pause"
control, a "resume" control, etc.) depending on the current
status of the scrolling slideshow.
[0054] The direction in which images scroll across the display
screen can be altered by pressing one of the direction arrows, A.sub.1
or A.sub.2, of main controller 116. For example, if images are initially
scrolling from right to left across the display screen (i.e., the
default direction), pressing the right direction arrow, A.sub.2,
will reverse the direction of scrolling so that images scroll from
left to right across the screen. The direction of scrolling can
also be changed by first pausing the scrolling as discussed above,
and then pressing the right direction arrow, A.sub.2, to resume
scrolling in the opposite direction.
[0055] Direction arrows A.sub.1 or A.sub.2 can also function as
speed controls for the scrolling slideshow. For example, if a scrolling
slideshow of images is progressing across the display screen from
right to left, depressing arrow A.sub.1 will increase the speed
with which images scroll from right to left. If the scrolling speed
is already at an increased level from right to left, depressing
the arrow A.sub.2 will decrease the right to left scrolling speed.
Additional pressing of arrow A.sub.2 will decrease the right to
left scrolling speed until the scrolling speed is at an initial
starting speed, after which depressing arrow A.sub.2 again will
reverse the direction of scrolling as described above. In a similar
way, the speed of images scrolling from left to right across the
display screen can be controlled by depressing direction arrow A.sub.2.
[0056] Additional features of a scrolling slideshow can be understood
with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate an "image
locking" feature of the scrolling slideshow of digital camera
100. Image 800 has been locked on the display screen of FIGS. 8
and 9. When an image is locked on a display screen, it is preferably
automatically justified to the side of the screen to which images
are scrolling. Thus, when images are scrolling from right to left
across a display screen, a locked image justifies to the left side
of the screen as illustrated by image 800 of FIGS. 8 and 9. In addition,
images that continue to scroll across the display screen, begin
to scroll off the screen behind the locked image. Thus, image 802
begins to scroll behind locked image 800 in FIG. 8, and it continues
to scroll behind locked image 800 until it finally disappears, as
shown in FIG. 9.
[0057] The image locking feature also allows locked images to be
unlocked and new images to be locked. In addition, more than one
image can be locked on the screen depending on the size of the display
screen. For example, if a scrolling slideshow is set up to display
3 images across a display screen, 2 images can be locked while other
images continue scrolling across the remaining portion of the screen.
[0058] When an image is locked during a scrolling slideshow, other
control features of the scrolling slideshow continue to work as
described above. Thus, a user can pause and resume scrolling, and
change direction and speed of scrolling for the images that continue
to scroll on a display screen. The image locking feature provides
a convenient way to compare a locked image to other stored images
318 that continue to scroll in a scrolling slideshow. The ability
to compare images is enhanced when the image locking feature is
used in conjunction with other scrolling control features such as
scroll pause, scroll resume, scroll direction, and scroll speed.
[0059] Referring again to the main controller 116 of FIG. 4, an
exemplary method for controlling the image locking feature can be
described. During a scrolling slideshow, the direction arrow, A.sub.3,
can be pressed to lock an image on the display screen. There are
various alternative implementations for locking an image. In one
implementation, the image locked on the screen may be the image
most closely aligned on the screen above the A.sub.3 direction arrow
at the time the A.sub.3 arrow is pressed. In another implementation,
the image locked on the screen may be the image closest to being
justified in the direction in which images are scrolling. For example,
if images are scrolling from right to left across a display screen,
the image closest to being left justified on the screen would be
the image locked when the A.sub.3 direction arrow is pressed.
[0060] Locked images can be unlocked by pressing the A.sub.4 direction
arrow on main controller 116. Thus, if an image is locked on the
display screen in a left justified position, pressing the A.sub.4
arrow will unlock the locked image and permit it to scroll off the
screen. If more than one image is locked on the display screen,
various implementations are possible for unlocking the images. One
implementation may include pressing the A.sub.4 arrow one or more
times in succession to unlock the image desired for unlocking. For
example, if 3 images are locked on the screen, pressing the A.sub.4
arrow 3 times in relatively fast succession will unlock the third
locked image, while pressing the A.sub.4 arrow one time will unlock
the first locked image.
[0061] FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate various features discussed above
with reference to an exemplary scrolling slideshow as it might appear
on a widescreen format display, such as an HDTV. In FIGS. 10 and
11, it is apparent that the number of images scrolling across the
display screen (in a default direction of right to left) has been
set to 4. In addition, in both FIGS. 10 and 11, an image has been
locked on the display screen and is left justified while other images
continue to scroll across the display screen and behind the locked
image. In FIG. 10, image 1000 is locked into a left justified position,
while images 1002, 1004, 1006 and 1008 continue to scroll across
the screen and behind the locked image 1000. In FIG. 11, it is apparent
that image 1000 from FIG. 10 has been unlocked and allowed to scroll
off the screen, and that a new image 1004 has been locked on the
display screen.
[0062] Exemplary Methods
[0063] Example methods for providing a scrolling slideshow of images
across a display screen will now be described with primary reference
to the flow diagram of FIG. 12. The methods apply generally to the
exemplary embodiments discussed above with respect to FIGS. 1-11.
The elements of the described methods may be performed by any appropriate
means including, for example, by hardware logic blocks on an ASIC
or by the execution of processor-readable instructions defined on
a processor-readable medium.
[0064] A "processor-readable medium," as used herein,
can be any means that can contain, store, communicate, propagate,
or transport instructions for use or execution by a processor. A
processor-readable medium can be, without limitation, an electronic,
magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system,
apparatus, device, or propagation medium. More specific examples
of a processor-readable medium include, among others, an electrical
connection (electronic) having one or more wires, a portable computer
diskette (magnetic), a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory
(ROM), an erasable programmable-read-only memory (EPROM or Flash
memory), an optical fiber (optical), and a portable compact disc
read-only memory (CDROM) (optical).
[0065] FIG. 12 shows an exemplary method 1200 for providing a scrolling
slideshow of images from a digital camera 100 across a display screen.
At block 1202, images are captured with a digital camera 100. An
imaging device 200 of the camera 100 captures images as directed
by the camera's computer 202 in response to user input entered through
the camera's control interface 204. At block 1204, images 318 are
stored in a memory of camera 100. The memory used for storing images
318 is usually a removable storage device 316 such as a compact
flash card, a smart media card, a memory stick, and the like. However,
the memory used for storing images 318 may also be the camera's
internal non-volatile memory 312.
[0066] At block 1206 of method 1200, the captured images 318 are
scrolled across a display screen in a scrolling slideshow. The display
screen may be the LCD screen 108 on camera 100, an external display
screen being driven the camera 100 as shown in block 1208, or both.
External display devices can include display devices having a range
of aspect ratios such as a normal format TV screen, a wide format
HDTV, or a computer monitor. The images may scroll across the screen
in various manners including, for example, from right to left, left
to right, top to bottom, and bottom to top. The default for direction
of scrolling is typically from right to left. The scrolling may
progress in various ways, including for example, beginning with
the most recently captured image and progressing toward the least
recently captured image, or beginning with the last image left off
in a previous scrolling slideshow and progressing either toward
the least recently captured image or the most recently captured
image.
[0067] At block 1210, the scrolling in a scrolling slideshow can
be varied in numerous ways. For example, the speed of scrolling
can be varied to provide fast-forward scrolling or slow scrolling.
The direction of scrolling can be changed, for example, from a right
to left direction to a left to right direction. The scrolling can
also be paused and resumed from a paused condition.
[0068] At block 1212, one or more images scrolling across the screen
can be locked in place on the screen. A locked image is typically
justified to one side of the display screen as shown in block 1214.
When images are locked on the display screen, scrolling continues
with images on the remainder of the screen, and scrolling images
scroll off the display screen as if they are scrolling behind the
locked image(s) as shown at block 1216. At block 1218, a locked
image or images can be unlocked. Unlocked images proceed to scroll
off the screen, and new images can be locked on the screen.
[0069] While one or more methods have been disclosed by means of
flow diagrams and text associated with the blocks of the flow diagrams,
it is to be understood that the blocks do not necessarily have to
be performed in the order in which they were presented, and that
an alternative order(s) may result in similar advantages. Furthermore,
the methods are not exclusive and can be performed alone or in combination
with one another.
CONCLUSION
[0070] Although the invention has been described in language specific
to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood
that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily
limited to the specific features or acts described. Rather, the
specific features and acts are disclosed as exemplary forms of implementing
the claimed invention.
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