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Digital Camera Patent Abstract
A digital camera can employ logic to delay capturing a still image
after a person has operated the control button until such time as
predetermined subject criteria are met, e.g., the subject is smiling
with eyes open, three or more players are in the field of view to
ensure a good action shot, etc.
Digital Camera Patent Claims
1. A digital camera, comprising: a housing having a shutter button
thereon and manipulable by a user to indicate a user desire to generate
a still image; at least one imaging element on the housing; and
at least one processor on the housing and receiving signals from
the digital imaging element and the shutter button, the processor
executing logic to capture a still image only when a user has manipulated
the shutter button to indicate a desire to take a picture, and when
at least one predetermined subject criterion has been satisfied.
2. The camera of claim 1, comprising at least one shutter mechanism
on the housing and movable to a picture configuration, in which
light from outside the housing can impinge on the imaging element,
the shutter mechanism also being movable to a blocking configuration,
in which light from outside the housing is substantially blocked
from the imaging element, the shutter mechanism being controlled
by the processor.
3. The camera of claim 1, wherein the imaging element is a CCD.
4. The camera of claim 1, wherein the subject criterion includes
at least one predetermined facial expression.
5. The camera of claim 4, wherein the predetermined facial expression
includes open eyes.
6. The camera of claim 4, wherein the predetermined facial expression
includes a smile.
7. The camera of claim 1, wherein the subject criterion includes
plural human subjects in an image.
8. The camera of claim 1, wherein the subject criterion includes
a ball in the air above the ground.
9. A digital camera, comprising: a housing; at least one imaging
element on the housing; and at least one processor on the housing
and receiving signals from the digital imaging element, the processor
accessing at least one digital template representing at least one
predetermined subject criterion to execute logic to capture a still
image from the imaging element only when the at least one predetermined
subject criterion has been satisfied.
10. The camera of claim 9, comprising a shutter button thereon
and manipulable by a user to signal a user desire to generate the
still image.
11. The camera of claim 9, wherein the imaging element is a CCD.
12. The camera of claim 9, wherein the subject criterion includes
at least one predetermined facial expression.
13. The camera of claim 12, wherein the predetermined facial expression
includes at least one of: open eyes, and a smile.
14. The camera of claim 9, wherein the subject criterion includes
plural human subjects in an image.
15. The camera of claim 9, wherein the subject criterion includes
a ball in the air above the ground.
16. A method for taking a digital picture, comprising: receiving
at least one subject criterion embodied at least in part by a digital
template; receiving a signal indicating a user desire to take a
digital picture conforming to the subject criterion; receiving at
least one image from a CCD; comparing the image to the template;
and at least in part based on the comparing act and after reception
of the signal, determining whether to capture the image from the
CCD.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the signal indicating a user
desire to take a digital picture is generated when a user manipulates
a shutter button.
18. The method of claim 16, comprising allowing a user to establish
the subject criterion.
19. The method of claim 16, wherein the subject criterion includes
at least one facial expression.
20. The method of claim 16, wherein the subject criterion does
not include a focus of the subject relative to the CCD.
Digital Camera Patent Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to digital cameras.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Digital cameras can capture still images when a user manipulates
a shutter button. Manipulation of the shutter button can signal
a processor in the digital camera to move a shutter mechanism, similar
to what occurs in non-digital cameras, to allow light to impinge
on a digital imaging device, typically a charge-coupled device (CCD).
The CCD in turn converts light into electric signals that are sent
to the processor for generating an image. Or, in some digital cameras,
opening a lens cover and activating the camera allows light to impinge
on the CCD, with the signals from the CCD being used to generate
a video stream of images and with manipulation of the shutter button
not necessarily causing actuation of a shutter mechanism but instead
signalling to the processor to "grab" one of the images
in the stream as a still image. Accordingly, regardless of whether
manipulation of the shutter button actually causes a shutter mechanism
to "expose" the CCD or simply causes an image in a stream
of images to be "grabbed", it is to be appreciated that
the user establishes a still image by manipulating the shutter button
to cause the processor to capture a still image.
[0003] As recognized by the present invention, digital cameras
can suffer many of the same drawbacks as non-digital camera when
taking a picture, namely, causing a still image to be generated
at a less than opportune time for the subject. For example, the
still image might be generated at the instant the subject blinks,
or fails to smile. In other contexts, it might be desired to take
an action photo of a sporting event, but it can be difficult, giving
the fast-moving nature of the game, to generate a still image at
an action point at precisely the moment the action occurs. Thus,
for instance, a still image of a soccer match, instead of being
generated just as the ball pierces the plane of the goal, might
not be generated until the ball is already in the net. In any case,
it may be appreciated that the present invention recognizes that
it would be advantageous to couple the generation of a still image
to one or more criteria that are subject-dependent.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] A digital camera includes a housing that can have a shutter
button which may be manipulated by a user to indicate a desire to
generate a still image. An imaging element such as a CCD is on the
housing, and a processor is on the housing for receiving signals
from the digital imaging element and the shutter button. As set
forth below, the processor executes logic to capture a still image
only when a user has manipulated the shutter button to indicate
a desire to take a picture, and when at least one predetermined
subject criterion has been satisfied. By "subject criterion"
is meant an attribute of the subject that is independent of the
camera, i.e., that does not include whether the subject is "in
focus" at the camera but rather indicates one or more attributes
possessed by the subject, for example, particular facial expressions
such as open eyes and smiles, or the subject being plural human
subjects in an image, or yet again a ball being in the air above
the ground.
[0005] In non-limiting implementations a shutter mechanism can
be provided on the housing. The shutter mechanism can be movable
to a picture configuration, in which light from outside the housing
can impinge on the imaging element. The shutter mechanism can also
be movable to a blocking configuration, in which light from outside
the housing is substantially blocked from the imaging element.
[0006] In another aspect, a digital camera includes a housing,
an imaging element on the housing, and a processor on the housing.
The processor receives signals from the digital imaging element
and accesses digital templates representing at least one predetermined
subject criterion to execute logic to capture a still image from
the imaging element only when the at least one predetermined subject
criterion has been satisfied.
[0007] In still another aspect, a method for taking a digital picture
includes receiving at least one subject criterion embodied by a
digital template, and receiving a signal indicating a user desire
to take a digital picture conforming to the subject criterion. The
method also includes receiving an image from a CCD, comparing the
image to the template, and, based on the comparison and after the
reception of the signal from the user, determining whether to capture
the image from the CCD.
[0008] The details of the present invention, both as to its structure
and operation, can best be understood in reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts,
and in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 shows one non-limiting camera system; and
[0010] FIG. 2 is a flow chart of the present logic.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0011] Referring initially to FIG. 1, a digital camera is shown,
generally designated 10, that includes a housing 12 and a processor
14 within the housing 12. The processor 14 is a digital processor
that executes logic shown herein, as well as conventionally controlling
various components of the camera 10 and receiving and processing
electrical signals from an imaging device such as a CCD 16 in the
camera 10 to produce still images and, in some implementations,
a video stream of images in accordance with digital photography
principles known in the art.
[0012] The processor 14 may be implemented by plural processors
if desired. The logic may be implemented on a logic module 18 accessible
to the processor 14. The logic module 18 may be solid state memory
or other type of memory. In any case, it is to be understood that
the processor 14 executes some or all of the logic below. The flow
charts herein illustrate the structure of the logic modules of the
present invention as embodied in computer program software. Those
skilled in the art will appreciate that the flow charts illustrate
the structures of logic elements, such as computer program code
elements or electronic logic circuits, that function according to
this invention. Manifestly, the invention is practiced in its essential
embodiment by a machine component that renders the logic elements
in a form that instructs a digital processing apparatus (that is,
a computer or microprocessor) to perform a sequence of function
steps corresponding to those shown. Internal logic could be as simple
as a state machine.
[0013] In other words, the present logic may be established as
a computer program that is executed by a processor as a series of
computer-executable instructions. In addition to residing on hard
disk drives, these instructions may reside, for example, in RAM,
or the instructions may be stored on magnetic tape, electronic read-only
memory, or other appropriate data storage device.
[0014] FIG. 1 shows that a manipulable shutter button 20 is provided
on the housing 12 and is electrically connected to the processor
14 to allow a user to indicate, by appropriately manipulating the
shutter button 20, a desire to "take a picture" (i.e.,
to capture a still image). While the term "shutter button"
is used herein for convention, and indeed while FIG. 1 shows that
the particular non-limiting camera 10 shown may include a shutter
mechanism 22 that can be moved in response to manipulation of the
shutter button 20, it is to be understood that "shutter button"
encompasses any user control that is manipulated or otherwise operated
to receive an indication of a user's desire to have the processor
14 take a picture.
[0015] When a shutter mechanism 22 is provided, it can be movable
under control of the processor 14 in response to signals from the
shutter button 20 to a picture configuration, in which light from
outside the housing 12 can impinge on the CCD 16. The shutter mechanism
22 is also movable to a blocking configuration, in which light from
outside the housing 12 is substantially blocked from the CCD 16.
[0016] If desired, a camera lens 24 can be provided on the housing
12. The lens 24 may be movable by the processor 14 as appropriate
for focus. While the shutter mechanism 22 is shown in FIG. 1 as
being interposed between the lens 24 and CCD 16, its actual location
in the housing 12 is not limiting. Image storage 26 can also be
provided in the housing 12, either in non-movable (internal) storage
form and/or in removable (e.g., disk-based) storage form. The processor
14 can store still images in the image storage 26.
[0017] Now referring to FIG. 2, the inventive logic executed by
the processor 14 is shown. Commencing at block 28, the processor
14 receives, from a user or from the vendor of the camera 10, one
or more predetermined picture-taking criteria, which is then used
to recognize and collect digital video data. Specifically, the criteria
are subject-oriented, i.e., the criteria define subject attributes
that must be present to capture a still image. Non-limiting examples
of subject criteria include capturing a still image when three or
more individuals enter the robot's reference frame, or when an individual's
facial expressions change or assume a predetermined expression,
e.g., eyes open and smiling or when a ball (e.g., at a sporting
event) is in the air above the ground. To this end, a menu of subject-oriented
criteria can be provided to the user on a display of the camera
10, and the user can select which criteria, if any, he or she wishes
to employ to capture a still image. Or, advanced users/vendors can
program criteria into the camera 10, and a user can simply select
"on" or "off" to indicate whether the subject-oriented
criteria are to be used or not.
[0018] It may now be appreciated that the processor 14 can employ
image recognition principles, such as face recognition principles,
to recognize whether the subject-oriented criteria are present.
Consequently, in some embodiments the step at block 28 includes
loading into the camera 10 (e.g., into the storage 26 at block 30
in FIG. 2) what can be thought of as digital templates of desired
facial expressions, which can be compared later by the processor
14 to actual images generated from the CCD 16 to determine whether
the actual images "match" the appropriate template within
empirically established fuzzy criteria. Other templates can be included
that might include plural figures in an image template. Or, "templates"
may be established by and/or used in conjunction with rules, such
as a rule that allows the processor to recognize ground in an image
and objects of particular shapes (such as balls) that are distanced
above the ground.
[0019] Moving to block 32, when a user desires that a still image
be captured, the user can signal this desire by operating the shutter
button 20. In some implementations, it is not necessary to operate
the shutter button. Instead, the user need simply activate the camera
10 to indicate a desire to take a picture, with the CCD 16 generating
a signal stream representing a constant video stream and with the
processor 16 grabbing one or more frames in the stream to establish
the capture of a still image whenever the subject-oriented criteria
are satisfied.
[0020] In any case, once the user has evinced a desire to capture
a still image using the subject-oriented criteria established at
block 28, the logic flows to block 34, wherein when the processor
14 detects a match of an image from the CCD 16 to the subject-oriented
criteria, the processor 14 captures the matching image and, if desired,
stores it in the storage 26. After the data has been collected,
the processor 14 can then provide any number of options to the user
concerning processing and storage of the data. Examples of this
include a user's desire to permanently store a still-frame segment
from the video stream and using collected data to make a "virtual
scrapbook."
[0021] While the particular DIGITAL CAMERA WITH AUTOMATIC FUNCTIONS
as herein shown and described in detail is fully capable of attaining
the above-described objects of the invention, it is to be understood
that it is the presently preferred embodiment of the present invention
and is thus representative of the subject matter which is broadly
contemplated by the present invention, that the scope of the present
invention fully encompasses other embodiments which may become obvious
to those skilled in the art, and that the scope of the present invention
is accordingly to be limited by nothing other than the appended
claims, in which reference to an element in the singular is not
intended to mean "one and only one" unless explicitly
so stated, but rather "one or more". It is not necessary
for a device or method to address each and every problem sought
to be solved by the present invention, for it to be encompassed
by the present claims. Furthermore, no element, component, or method
step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the
public regardless of whether the element, component, or method step
is explicitly recited in the claims. Absent express definitions
herein, claim terms are to be given all ordinary and accustomed
meanings that are not irreconcilable with the present specification
and file history. |