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Digital Camera Patent Abstract
A digital camera capable of detecting whether to be stable is provided.
The digital camera includes a housing, a lens formed on the housing
for inputting light, a photosensor for sensing the inputted light,
an image generator for generating an image based on the sensed light,
and a trigger disposed on the housing for generating a trigger signal
while the housing is fixed. The digital camera is able to adjusting
its operation as the housing is fixed.
Digital Camera Patent Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A digital camera for detecting whether to be stable comprising:
a housing; a lens formed on the housing for inputting light; a photosensor
for sensing the inputted light; an image generator for generating
an image based on the sensed light; and a trigger, disposed on the
housing, for generating a trigger signal while the housing is fixed.
2. The digital camera of claim 1, wherein the trigger comprises:
a movable rod for triggering a switch to generate a trigger signal
while a force is applied; and an elastic member for returning the
movable rod to stop the triggering of the switch, while the force
is not applied on the movable rod.
3. The digital camera of claim 2, wherein the movable rod is extended
out of the housing while the force is applied, but is pushed into
the housing while the force is not applied.
4. The digital camera of claim 2, wherein the movable rod is positioned
within a recess on the housing.
5. The digital camera of claim 1, wherein an exposure period of
the photosensor is prolonged while the trigger signal from the trigger
is received.
6. The digital camera of claim 1, wherein the photosensor is a
charge-coupled device (CCD) or a CMOS photosensor.
7. An image-capturing system for detecting whether to be stable
comprising: a digital camera comprising: a housing; a lens formed
on the housing for inputting light; a photosensor for sensing the
inputted light; an image generator for generating an image based
on the sensed light; a trigger, disposed on the housing, for generating
a trigger signal while the housing is fixed; and a tripod for fixing
the digital camera comprising: a trigger end, for triggering the
trigger of the digital camera for generating a trigger signal as
the tripod is engaged with the digital camera.
8. The image-capturing system of claim 7, wherein the trigger comprises:
a movable rod for triggering a switch to generate a trigger signal
while a force is applied; and an elastic member for returning the
movable rod to stop the triggering of the switch, while the force
is not applied on the movable rod.
9. The image-capturing system of claim 8, wherein the movable rod
is positioned within a recess on the housing.
10. The image-capturing system of claim 7, wherein an exposure
period of the photosensor is prolonged while the trigger signal
from the trigger is received.
11. The image-capturing system of claim 7, wherein the photosensor
is a charge-coupled device (CCD) or a CMOS photosensor.
Digital Camera Patent Description
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a digital camera, and more
specifically, to a digital camera capable of auto-detecting whether
to be stable.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] As the information industry progresses, information-related
products are increasingly used in daily life and conventional analog
products are gradually being replaced by digital products. Take
the digital camera for example; conventional film cameras utilize
chemicals on a film to record images, which can only be viewed after
development, moreover, if a user wants to take pictures with special
effects, they are required to be skillful in controlling the stop
(aperture), shutter speed, as well as lens selection and film development.
This can be inconvenient for an amateur. By contrast, digital cameras
convert images into digital signals using a photosensor and directly
store them in a memory device. Digital cameras can also be connected
to a computer system and store images on its hard disk drive. The
images can then be viewed on a screen or printed on a printer. In
addition, the user can further process the images recorded by the
digital camera using image processing software to produce special
effects, which previously could only be realized by a professional
photographer with a conventional optical camera, or perhaps even
then could not be readily achieved using conventional means.
[0005] If intending to take pictures in the dark or other low-light
environments, the user has to enlarge the aperture or extend the
exposure period so that the digital camera receives enough light.
However, for an entry-level digital camera to be used to good effect
in the dark, enlarging the diaphragm is not enough, generally extending
the exposure period for several seconds is also required. But, during
the exposure period, the digital camera must be in a fixed state,
i.e. static, without the slightest movement, so as to prevent blurring
of the captured image. In other words, a fixed state of the digital
camera is required for the duration of long exposure periods. Therefore,
taking pictures in the dark is difficult for the non-professional
user without the assistance of auxiliary tools. Hence, it is an
important issue for the digital camera to detect whether to be in
a fixed state and to adjust its operation during the fixed state
period.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0006] It is therefore a primary objective of the present invention
to provide a digital camera capable of auto-detecting whether it
is in a fixed state and adjusting its exposure period accordingly.
[0007] According to the claimed invention, a digital camera capable
of detecting whether to be stable comprises a housing, a lens formed
on the housing for inputting light, a photosensor for sensing the
inputted light, an image generator for generating image based on
the sensed light, and a trigger disposed on the housing for generating
a trigger signal while the housing is fixed.
[0008] According to the claimed invention, an image-capturing system
capable of detecting whether to be stable comprises a digital camera
and a tripod. The digital camera comprises a housing, a lens formed
on the housing for inputting light, a photosensor for sensing the
inputted light, an image generator for generating an image based
on the sensed light; and a trigger disposed on the housing for generating
a trigger signal while the housing is fixed. The tripod is used
for fixing the digital camera and comprises a trigger end for triggering
the trigger of the digital camera for generating a trigger signal
as the tripod is engaged with the digital camera.
[0009] These and other objectives of the present invention will
no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after
reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment
that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 shows a digital camera according to the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of digital camera of
FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the digital camera shown
in FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a bottom-view of the digital camera shown in FIG.
1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] Please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. FIG. 1 shows a digital
camera 10 and FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of digital camera
10 according to the present invention. The digital camera 10 comprises
a housing 11, a lens 12 on the housing 11 for inputting light, a
shutter button 14 to be pressed for taking pictures, a photosensor
16 disposed within the housing 11 for sensing light from the lens
12, an image generator 18 disposed within the housing 11 and coupled
to the photosensor 16 for transforming the sensed light into image
signals, a trigger 20 disposed on the housing 11 for generating
triggering signals while the housing 11 is fixed. In addition, a
control circuit 15 is used for controlling the operation of the
digital camera 10. The control circuit 15 can be a hardware circuit
or program code stored in a memory. The photosensor 16 can be a
charge-coupled device (CCD) or a CMOS photosensor.
[0015] Please refer to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional
view of the digital camera 10 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a bottom-view
of the digital camera 10 shown in FIG. 1. The trigger 20 comprises
a switch 22, a first spring 24, a second spring 26, a first movable
rod 28, a second movable rod 30 and a supporting base 32. Both the
first spring 24 and the second spring 26 can be substituted for
other elastic elements. Part of the first movable rod 28 extends
out of the housing 11 of the digital camera 10 while no force is
applied on it. The second movable rod 30 is disposed within a recess
34 of the housing 11. In this embodiment, the first movable rod
28 is formed together with the second movable rod 30. Alternatively,
the first movable rod 28 and the second movable rod 30 are also
disposed independently.
[0016] When a force (in the direction of arrow A) is applied on
the first movable rod 28, (e.g. the digital camera 10 is positioned
on a flat surface such as a table), the first movable rod 28 is
pushed toward the switch 22 to trigger a voltage V. When the applied
force is removed, the first movable rod 28 will return due to a
resilience from the first spring 24 coupled to the supporting base
32. In other words, a triggering signal (i.e. the voltage V) is
generated as the digital camera 10 is in fixed state, that is, fixed
to a tripod or other device with the purpose of alleviating `camera
shake` or movement during image capture. At this moment, the first
movable rod 28 triggers the switch 22 to generate a triggering signal
(i.e. voltage V) and the control circuit 15 detects the triggering
signal in order to determine that the digital camera 10 is fixed.
When the digital camera 10 is removed from the flat surface, the
first movable rod 28 returns to its starting position due to the
action of the first spring 24 coupled with the supporting base 32,
the first movable rod 28 disengages from the switch 22 causing the
triggering signal to be terminated. In this way, the control circuit
15 determines that the digital camera 10 is not in a fixed state,
that is, subject to the limitations of hand-held operation with
respect to movement of the camera during image capture.
[0017] The digital camera 10 also comprises a recess 34 by which
the digital camera 10 is fixed to the tripod 40. When the trigger
end 42 of the tripod 40 is inserted into the recess 34, the second
movable rod 30 is pushed, again in a direction A, to trigger the
switch 22. The control circuit 15 of the digital camera 10 again
detects the voltage V in order to determine that the digital camera
10 is in a fixed condition. When the tripod 40 is removed from the
digital camera 10, the second movable rod 30 returns due to the
action of the second spring 26 coupled with the supporting base
32, causing the triggering signal to be terminated. In this way,
the control circuit 15 determines whether or not the digital camera
10 is in a fixed state.
[0018] In another embodiment, the trigger 20 can be a specific
button or any other devices having a switch function. The user is
able to trigger such a device (for example, by pressing the specific
button), and the control circuit 15 will adjust the digital camera
10 as for a fixed state.
[0019] Please continue referring to FIG. 2. When the fixed state
of the digital camera 10 is determined, the control circuit 15 adjusts
an exposure period of the photosensor 16 to be extended. For example,
if intending to take pictures in the dark or other environments
were ambient light levels are not high enough to allow hand-held
operation, the user can position the digital camera 10 either on
a flat surface thus actuating the the first movable rod 28, or on
a tripod 40 thus actuating the second movable rod 30, to generate
a triggering signal. The photosensor 16 automatically extends the
exposure period while the triggering signal is present, returning
exposure settings to those compatible with hand-held operation when
the digital camera 10 is no longer fixed on a flat surface or tripod.
[0020] Compared to prior art, the present invention digital camera
provides a trigger for determining whether the digital camera is
in a fixed state. When the digital camera is in fixed state, an
exposure period of the digital camera can be extended. In this way,
even in the dark or any insufficient-light environment, the user
can utilize the digital camera positioned on a flat surface, or
fixed on a tripod or otherwise by triggering a specific button to
extend its exposure period, and not have to worry about taking bad
quality pictures in the dark.
[0021] Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous
modifications and alterations of the device may be made while retaining
the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure
should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the
appended claims. |