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Digital Camera Patent Abstract
An exemplary user interface for a digital camera includes a first
elongated button, a second elongated button and a third elongated
scroll strip located between the first and second elongated buttons.
Digital Camera Patent Claims
1. A user interface for a digital camera comprising: a first elongated
button having a central longitudinal axis extending in a first direction;
a second elongated button having central longitudinal axis extending
in a direction parallel to said first direction; an elongated scroll
strip having a central longitudinal axis extending in a second direction
transverse to said first direction; and said elongated scroll strip
is located between said first elongated button and said second elongated
button.
2. The user interface of claim 1 and further comprising: a third
button located between said first elongated button and said elongated
scroll strip; and a fourth button located between said second elongated
button and said elongated scroll strip.
3. The user interface of claim 2 and further wherein: said first
elongated button, said second elongated button, said third button,
said fourth button and said elongated scroll strip form a dumbbell
configuration.
4. The user interface of claim 1 and further wherein: said second
direction is perpendicular to said first direction.
5. The user interface of claim 1 and further wherein: said elongated
scroll strip controls zooming.
6. The user interface of claim 1 and further wherein: said elongated
scroll strip controls panning.
7. The user interface of claim 1 and further wherein: said elongated
scroll strip controls scrolling through images.
8. A user interface for a digital camera, said user interface comprising:
a plurality of touchpad portions, each of said touchpad portions
capable of specifying a distinct function of said digital camera,
said plurality of touchpad portions comprising: a first elongated
touchpad portion having a central longitudinal axis extending in
a first direction; a second elongated touchpad portion having central
longitudinal axis extending in a direction parallel to said first
direction; a third elongated touchpad portion having a central longitudinal
axis extending in a second direction transverse to said first direction;
and said third elongated touchpad portion located between said first
elongated touchpad and said second elongated touchpad portion.
9. The user interface of claim 8 and further comprising: a fourth
touchpad portion located between said first elongated touchpad portion
and said third elongated touchpad portion; and a fifth touchpad
portion located between said second elongated button and said third
elongated touchpad portion.
10. The user interface of claim 9 and further wherein: said first
elongated touchpad portion, said second elongated touchpad portion,
said third elongated touchpad portion, said fourth touchpad portion
and said fifth touchpad portion form a dumbbell configuration.
11. The user interface of claim 8 and further wherein: said second
direction is perpendicular to said first direction.
12. The user interface of claim 8 and further wherein: said third
elongated touchpad portion controls zooming.
13. The user interface of claim 8 and further wherein: said third
elongated touchpad portion controls panning.
14. The user interface of claim 8 and further wherein: said third
elongated touchpad portion controls scrolling through images.
15. A user interface for a digital camera, said user interface
comprising: a first elongated button; a second elongated button;
an elongated scroll strip located between said first elongated button
and said second elongated button; a third button located between
said first elongated button and said elongated scroll strip; a fourth
button located between said second elongated button and said elongated
scroll strip; and wherein, said first elongated button, said second
elongated button, said third button, said fourth button and said
elongated scroll strip form a dumbbell configuration.
16. The user interface of claim 15 and further wherein: said first
elongated button has a central longitudinal axis extending in a
first direction; said second elongated button has a central longitudinal
axis extending in a direction parallel to said first direction;
said elongated scroll strip has a central longitudinal axis extending
in a second direction transverse to said first direction.
17. The user interface of claim 16 and further wherein: said second
direction is perpendicular to said first direction.
18. The user interface of claim 15 and further wherein: said elongated
scroll strip controls zooming.
19. The user interface of claim 15 and further wherein: said elongated
scroll strip controls panning.
20. The user interface of claim 15 and further wherein: said elongated
scroll strip controls scrolling through images.
Digital Camera Patent Description
[0001] U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, of Amy E. Battles
(attorney docket no. 200506143-1), filed on the same day as this
application, U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, of Amy E.
Battles, Daniel J. Byrne, Shanshan Li and Norman C. Pyle (attorney
docket no. 200506156-1) filed on the same day as this application,
U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, of Amy E. Battles, Shanshan
Li and Norman C. Pyle (attorney docket no. 200506158-1) filed on
the same day as this application, U.S. patent application Ser. No.
______, of Amy E. Battles (attorney docket no. 200506125-1) filed
on the same day as this application and U.S. patent application
Ser. No. ______, of Mark J. Bianchi, Norman C. Pyle, Amy E. Battles,
Shanshan Li and Daniel J. Byrne, (attorney docket no. 200506123-1)
filed on the same day as this application, are all hereby incorporated
by reference for all that is disclosed therein.
BACKGROUND
[0002] As digital cameras get smaller, it becomes increasingly
valuable to combine controls. One method that has been used in the
past is to combine the zoom control (wide angle/telephoto) with
arrow keys (either left/right or up/down). This works well for the
most part, but causes problems in certain areas of the user interface
where all four arrows and the zoom must be active at the same time.
This occurs, for example, in the magnify view where the four arrows
are used to pan around an image, while the zoom controls the level
of magnification. It also occurs in thumbnail view where the four
arrows are used to navigate around and select different thumbnails,
while the zoom out is active to return to full-screen single-image
view.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0003] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an exemplary digital
camera.
[0004] FIG. 2 is an elevation view of a rear face of the exemplary
digital camera of FIG. 1.
[0005] FIG. 3 is a detail view of a portion of the digital camera
rear face of FIG. 2 showing a user interface.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0006] An exemplary user interface for a digital camera is disclosed.
The user interface may include a first elongated button having a
central longitudinal axis extending in a first direction; a second
elongated button having central longitudinal axis extending in a
direction parallel to the first direction and an elongated scroll
strip having a central longitudinal axis extending in a second direction
transverse to the first direction. The elongated scroll strip may
be located between the first elongated button and the second elongated
button.
[0007] Also disclosed is an exemplary user interface for a digital
camera in which the user interface includes a plurality of touchpad
portions, each of the touchpad portions capable of specifying a
distinct function of the digital camera. The plurality of touchpad
portions may include a first elongated touchpad portion having a
central longitudinal axis extending in a first direction; a second
elongated touchpad portion having central longitudinal axis extending
in a direction parallel to the first direction and a third elongated
touchpad portion having a central longitudinal axis extending in
a second direction transverse to the first direction. The third
elongated touchpad portion may be located between the first elongated
touchpad and the second elongated touchpad portion.
[0008] Also disclosed is an exemplary user interface for a digital
camera in which the user interface may include a first elongated
button; a second elongated button; an elongated scroll strip located
between the first elongated button and the second elongated button;
a third button located between the first elongated button and the
elongated scroll strip and a fourth button located between the second
elongated button and the elongated scroll strip. The first elongated
button, the second elongated button, the third button, the fourth
button and the elongated scroll strip may form a dumbbell configuration.
[0009] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary digital camera 2. The camera
2 may include a housing having a front face 4 and an oppositely
disposed and generally parallel rear face 12. The digital camera
2 may include various devices related to the operation of the camera
and features to facilitate user interface with the camera as will
be readily understood by one skilled in the art. The camera 2 may,
for example, include a lens assembly 6, a flash unit 8, and a shutter
release button 10, as shown in FIG. 1.
[0010] FIG. 2 illustrates the rear face 12 of the digital camera
2 in further detail. With reference to FIG. 2, a display 14 which
may, for example, be a conventional LCD-type display, and a user
interface 20 may be located on the rear face 12. A thumb rest 16
may also be located on the rear face 12 to provide the user of the
camera with a place for his or her thumb when operating the camera
to take a picture. A button 18 may be provided on the rear face
12, for example, to allow for user input.
[0011] It is noted that, although some features of the digital
camera 2 have been described above, the camera will include other
devices, not described or shown herein, related to the operation
of the camera as will be readily understood by one skilled in the
art. The camera may, for example, include an image capturing device
(e.g., a CCD), a processor and other buttons and/or switches to
facilitate user interface in a conventional manner.
[0012] FIG. 3 illustrates the user interface 20 in further detail.
With reference to FIG. 3, the user interface 20 may include a conventional
touchpad 22 located behind the rear face 12 of the camera 2. The
rear face 12 may include various openings therein to define user
accessible contact areas of the touchpad 22. Specifically, for example,
a relatively large "dumbbell" shaped opening 24 may be
provided as shown. A pair of smaller openings 26, 28 may be provided
above and below the "handle" portion of the dumbbell shaped
opening. Within each of the openings, one or more areas of the touchpad
22 may be defined as specific controls, e.g., as a button or a slider
in a manner as will now be described in further detail. It is noted
that, although the term "opening" is used herein, the
openings in the rear face 12 may alternatively be covered with a
material that effectively seals the camera housing but still allows
the touchpad to sense a touch or press.
[0013] First through fifth touchpad portions may be provided within
the opening 24 as follows. A first elongated touchpad portion may
be provided having a central longitudinal axis "A". A
second elongated touchpad portion 40 may be provide having a central
longitudinal axis "B" that may, for example, be parallel
to the central longitudinal axis "A" of the first touchpad
portion 30. A third elongated touchpad portion 50 may be provided
between the first touchpad portion 30 and second touchpad portion
40, as shown. Third touchpad portion may have a central longitudinal
axis "C" that may, for example, be perpendicular to the
axes "A" and "B" of the first and second touchpad
portions 30 and 40, respectively. A fourth touchpad portion 60 and
a fifth touchpad portion 70 may be located on either side of the
third touchpad portion 50 as shown. It is noted that the dashed
lines delineating the touchpad portions 60 and 70 are provided in
FIG. 3 only for purposes of facilitating this written description.
In actual use, the touchpad portions 60 and 70 are preferably provided
without any delineating lines, as generally shown in FIG. 2.
[0014] A sixth touchpad portion 80 may be provided within the opening
26 and a seventh touchpad portion 90 may be provided within the
opening 28. Each of the touchpad portions described herein may be
mapped, in a conventional manner, to one or more particular functions
within the digital camera 2. The touchpad portions 30, 40, 60, 70,
80 and 90 may each be mapped to function as buttons such that when
the user applies pressure to one of these areas (e.g., with a finger),
it functions as would a conventional button. Accordingly, the touchpad
portions 30, 40, 60, 70, 80 and 90 may hereinafter be referred to
simply as "buttons". The touchpad portion 50 may be mapped
so as to function as a scroll strip such that movement of the user's
finger along the touchpad portion 50 in the directions indicated
by the arrow 100, may be sensed. Pressing on a particular area of
the touchpad portion 50 can also be sensed. Accordingly, the touchpad
portion 50 may hereinafter be referred to simply as a "scroll
strip".
[0015] As will be described in further detail herein, the touchpad
portion 50 (scroll strip) is able to be used for different camera
functions (e.g., controlling zoom versus panning or scrolling) at
different times. This compliments the efficiency and compactness
of the camera 2. At the same time, the design of the user interface
20 allows the user of the camera 2 to intuitively use the scroll
strip 50 and select its functionality.
[0016] In operation, the digital camera 2 functions in one of at
least two modes: "live mode" and "playback"
mode. In live mode, the image currently being captured by the digital
camera (i.e., via the lens and image capture device) would be displayed
on the display 14, FIG. 2. The digital camera would generally be
placed in live mode when it is desired to capture a still picture
or a video clip. In playback mode, the display 14 would be used
to display images or video clips previously captured and recorded
by the digital camera 2.
[0017] When the digital camera 2 is in live mode, the buttons 30
and 40 function as zoom controls. Specifically, pressing and holding
the button 30 will cause the camera 2 to zoom out while pressing
and holding the button 40 will cause the camera to zoom in. The
buttons 30 and 40 may include icons thereon indicative of the functions
described above. The button 30 may, for example, include an icon
32 in the shape of a plurality of trees to suggest zooming out to
a wider field of view. The button 40 may, for example, include an
icon 42 in the shape of a single tree to suggest a narrower, more
zoomed in, field of view. The button 40 may also include an icon
44 which may, for example, be in the form of a magnifying glass
with a plus sign in the center to further indicate a zooming in
function.
[0018] When in live mode, the user may alternatively slide a finger
along the scroll strip 50 to achieve the same result as pressing
the zoom buttons 30 and 40 as described above. Sliding the finger
to the right, as viewed in FIG. 3, for example, causes the camera
2 to zoom in while sliding to the left causes the camera to zoom
out. The user may also tap or press a specific area on the scroll
strip 50 to cause the camera to "snap" to a particular
zoom setting dictated by the location along the scroll strip that
is tapped or pressed. Tapping the center of the scroll strip, for
example, may cause the camera 2 to snap to a zoom position midway
between its maximum and minimum zoom. Tapping a location 30% of
the way from the left edge of the scroll strip to the right edge
may cause the camera to snap to a zoom position equal to 30% of
its maximum zoom, and so on.
[0019] Playback mode generally includes three sub-modes: regular
playback sub-mode, zoomed view sub-mode and thumbnail view sub-mode.
[0020] In the regular playback sub-mode, the user scrolls through
full-size images that have previously been captured by the camera
and are stored in the camera's memory. In this sub-mode, the buttons
60 and 70 may be used to scroll backward and forward, respectively,
through the images (generally, the images would be displayed either
in the same order that they were captured or in reverse order, i.e.,
the last captured image would be displayed first). The buttons 60
and 70 (as well as the buttons 80 and 90) may include icons 62,
72, 82, 92, respectively, to indicate the directional function of
each button. The icons may take the form of arrows as shown. As
an alternative to using the arrow buttons 60 and 70, the user may
slide a finger along the scroll strip 50 to achieve the same result
as pressing the left and right arrow buttons 60, 70 as described
above. Sliding the finger to the right, as viewed in FIG. 3, for
example, causes the camera to scroll forward through the images,
in the same manner as the arrow button 70 while sliding to the left
causes the camera to scroll backward through the images, in the
same manner as the arrow button 60. The user may also tap or press
a specific area on the scroll strip 50 to cause the camera 2 to
"snap" to the display of a captured image dictated by
the location along the scroll strip that is tapped or pressed. Tapping
the center of the scroll strip, for example, may cause the middle
image to be displayed (if, for example, 25 images are stored in
the camera's memory, the "middle" would be around the
thirteenth image). Tapping a location 30% of the way from the left
edge of the scroll strip to the right edge, for example, may cause
the display to snap to the image that is about 30% from the beginning
of the list of captured images (again, if, for example, 25 images
are stored in the camera's memory, tapping around the 30% point
would cause the seventh or eighth image to be displayed) and so
on.
[0021] From the regular playback sub-mode, pressing or tapping
the zoom in button 40 will cause the camera to enter the second
playback sub-mode-zoomed view. Entering this sub-mode will zoom
in on the image currently being displayed on the display 14. Once
zoomed view sub-mode has been activated, the zoom buttons 30 and
40 may be pressed and held to zoom out or in, respectively and the
function of the scroll strip 50 may also be changed to zoom (it
is noted that, if the zoom out button 30 is continued to be held
after maximum zoom out has been achieved, this may cause the camera
to cycle to the thumbnail view sub-mode, possibly after a brief
pause). Accordingly, after actuating the zoomed view sub-mode, as
described above, the scroll strip 50 will cease to function as a
directional control and will, instead, control zoom in a manner
as described previously.
[0022] If it is desired to pan the image while in zoomed view sub-mode,
the user may press any of the directional arrow buttons 60, 70,
80, 90 to pan in the direction indicated by the arrow icon. The
scroll strip 50 will remain active for zoom control, as described
above.
[0023] As an alternative to the scroll strip 50 remaining active
for zoom control, the function of the scroll strip 50 may be changed
from zoom to pan when one of the directional arrow buttons 60, 70,
80, 90 is pressed in zoomed view sub-mode. In this case, with the
scroll strip 50 function set to pan, the user may slide a finger
along the scroll strip 50 to achieve the same result as pressing
the left and right arrow buttons 60, 70 as described above. Sliding
the finger to the right, as viewed in FIG. 3, for example, may cause
view displayed on the display to pan to the right while sliding
to the left causes the view to pan left. The user may also tap or
press a specific area on the scroll strip 50 to cause the displayed
image to "snap" to a right and left location dictated
by the location along the scroll strip that is tapped or pressed.
Tapping the center of the scroll strip, for example, may cause the
display to snap to the horizontal center of the image. Tapping a
location 30% of the way from the left edge of the scroll strip to
the right edge may cause the display to snap to a horizontal position
30% from the left edge of the image being displayed and so on. Pressing
either of the zoom buttons 30, 40 will cause the function of the
scroll strip 50 to change back to zoom, as described above. Accordingly
pressing one of the zoom buttons 30, 40 may toggle the scroll strip
to zoom function while pressing one of the arrow buttons 60, 70,
80, 90 may toggle the scroll strip to panning function.
[0024] To activate the third sub-mode, the thumbnail view sub-mode,
the button 30 may be tapped (as opposed to pressed and held for
zooming). The button 30 may include an icon 34 indicative of this
function. Specifically, the icon 34 may be in the form of a plurality
of rectangles suggestive of thumbnail view. While in thumbnail view
sub-mode, the arrow buttons 60, 70, 80, 90 may be used to navigate
through the thumbnail images. The scroll strip 50 may also be used
to navigate left and right as an alternative to using the arrow
buttons 60, 70. To exit thumbnail view, the user may tap (once again,
as opposed to pressing and holding) the button 40.
[0025] The user interface 20 described herein provides an intuitive
means of providing the scroll strip 50 with multi-functional capability.
[0026] The user interface 20 has been described herein as having
a generally horizontal orientation. In other words, the axis "C"
of the scroll strip 50 is horizontal as viewed in FIG. 3 and during
normal operation of the camera 2. In an alternative exemplary embodiment
(not shown), however, the user interface 20 could be formed having
a vertical orientation, i.e., one in which the axis "C"
of the scroll strip 50 would be vertical during normal operation
of the camera 2. In this embodiment, the arrow buttons 80 and 90
would adopt left and right, respectively, panning functions and
the arrow buttons 60 and 70 down and up, respectively panning functions.
In panning mode, the scroll strip 50 would function to pan the image
up and down, rather than right and left as described in conjunction
with the previous embodiment. The zooming function of the scroll
strip 50 would remain essentially the same except that zoom in would
be in the upward direction instead of toward the right. The various
icons on the buttons could, of course, be rotated as necessary to
maintain their upright appearance.
[0027] It is noted that, although the up and down buttons 80 and
90 have been described herein as being portions of the touchpad
22, these could alternatively be formed as separate buttons extending
from the surface of the rear face 12 of the camera 2, in a conventional
manner. Further, although one relatively large touchpad 22 has been
described for several buttons and the scroll strip 50, two or more
smaller touchpads could alternatively be used to achieve the same
functionality.
[0028] Although the scroll strip 50 has been described herein for
controlling zoom and panning, it may also be alternatively or additionally
used for other functions, e.g., exposure or focus control.
[0029] While illustrative and presently preferred embodiments of
the invention have been described in detail herein, it is to be
understood that the inventive concepts may be otherwise variously
embodied and employed and that the appended claims are intended
to be construed to include such variations except insofar as limited
by the prior art.
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