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Digital Camera Patent Abstract
A digital camera is disclosed herein. An embodiment of the digital
camera comprises a display, wherein previously captured images are
displayable on the display when the camera is in a first mode. Images
of scenes that are capturable by the camera are displayable on the
display when the camera is in a second mode. A touch pad is located
proximate the display. Contact of a stylus on the touch pad causes
the display to display different previously captured images when
the camera is in the first mode. At least one icon representative
of at least one function is displayable on the display when the
camera is in the second mode. Contact by a stylus on the touch pad
proximate the icon causes the at least one function to activate.
Digital Camera Patent Claims
1. A digital camera comprising: a display, wherein previously captured
images are displayable on said display when said camera is in a
first mode and wherein images of scenes that are capturable by said
camera are displayable on said display when said camera is in a
second mode; and a touch pad located proximate said display; wherein
contact by a stylus on said touch pad causes said display to display
different previously captured images when said camera is in said
first mode; and wherein at least one icon representative of at least
one function is displayable on said display when said camera is
in said second mode, and wherein contact by a stylus on said touch
pad proximate said icon causes said at least one function to activate.
2. The digital camera of claim 1, wherein said stylus comprises
a human body part.
3. The digital camera of claim 1, and further comprising at least
one light proximate said touch pad.
4. The digital camera of claim 3, wherein said at least one light
is located between said display and said touch pad.
5. The digital camera of claim 3, wherein said at least one light
is located adjacent a portion of said touch pad that activates said
at least one function.
6. The digital camera of claim 3, wherein said at least one light
is illuminatable when said at least one icon is displayed.
7. The digital camera of claim 3, wherein said at least one light
is illuminatable when said at least one function is activated.
8. The digital camera of clam 1, wherein said at least one exposure
function comprises at least one member of the group consisting of
aperture size, exposure time, contrast, color balance, gain, exposure
compensation, flash, zoom, and delayed capture.
9. The digital camera of claim 1, wherein said contact by said
stylus comprises sliding said stylus on said touch pad.
10. The digital camera of claim 1, wherein said contact by said
stylus comprises tapping said stylus on said touch pad.
11. The digital camera of claim 1, wherein said camera is in said
first mode if said stylus is slid on said touch pad and wherein
said camera is in said second mode if said stylus is pressed on
said touch pad.
12. The digital camera of claim 1, wherein said at least one icon
is text.
13. The digital camera of claim 1, wherein at least one second
icon representative of at least one second function is displayable
on said display when said camera is in said second mode.
14. The digital camera of claim 13, wherein said at least one second
icon is displayable proximate said touch pad.
15. The digital camera of claim 13, wherein said at least one second
function is activated when said touch pad is contacted.
16. The digital camera of claim 1, and further comprising at least
two touch pads.
17. A method of viewing images stored on a digital camera comprising:
causing said digital camera to enter a first mode wherein at least
one previously captured image is displayed on a display portion
of said digital camera; and moving a stylus on a touch pad portion
of said digital camera, wherein said moving causes at least one
second previously captured image to be displayed on said display
portion; wherein images that may be captured by said digital camera
are displayed on said display portion when said digital camera is
in a second mode.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein said moving of said stylus
on said touch pad causes one said at least one second image to be
displayed.
19. The method of claim 17, wherein said moving of said stylus
on said touch pad causes a plurality of images to be displayed sequentially
on said touch pad during the period of said moving.
20. A method of operating a digital camera comprising: displaying
at least one first image on a display portion of said digital camera
when said digital camera is in a first mode; displaying at least
one second image on said display portion when said camera is in
said first mode and upon movement of a stylus on a touch pad portion
of said digital camera; and displaying a image that is able to be
captured by said digital camera on said display portion when said
digital camera is in a second mode.
21. The method of claim 20, and further comprising displaying at
least one icon associated with at least one function on said display
portion wherein contact by said stylus on said touch pad proximate
said at least one icon activates said at least one function.
22. The method of claim 21, and further comprising illuminating
an indicator proximate said at least one icon.
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. ______, Amy E. Battles
(attorney docket no. 200506124-1), filed on the same day as this
application; U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, of Amy E.
Battles, Daniel J. Byrne, Li Shanshan, Mark J. Bianchi, and Norman
C. Pyle (attorney docket no. 200506123-1) filed on the same day
as this application; U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, of
Amy E. Battles, Li Shanshan, 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,
are all hereby incorporated by reference for all that is disclosed
therein.
BACKGROUND
[0002] As digital cameras become more complex and include more
features, more buttons and the like are required to operate these
features. As the digital camera technology improves, digital cameras
are being made smaller. The combination of smaller digital cameras
and more features results in small digital cameras that require
a large number of buttons. Thus, digital cameras have a plurality
of buttons and the like located in a small area, which can make
the operation of the digital cameras cumbersome.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0003] FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of an embodiment of a
digital camera.
[0004] FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the camera of FIG.
1 in an embodiment of a playback mode.
[0005] FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the camera of FIG.
1 in an embodiment of a live view mode.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0006] An embodiment of a digital camera 100 is shown in FIG. 1.
As described in greater detail below, the digital camera 100 includes
touch pads 106 that serve to operate the digital camera 100. The
touch pads 106 operate different functions of the camera depending
whether the camera is in a review or playback mode or a live view
mode. The playback mode is sometimes referred to as the first mode
and enables a user to view previously captured images or video clips
on a display 112. The live view mode is sometimes referred to as
the second mode and enables a user to view scenes or images that
may be captured by the digital camera 100. Pressing a button on
the digital camera 100 causes the image or scene to be captured.
[0007] Having briefly described the digital camera 100, it will
now be described in greater detail. The digital camera 100 may include
two touch pads 106, which are referred to individually as a first
touch pad 108 and a second touch pad 110. As shown in FIG. 1, the
touch pads 106 may be substantially rectangular in shape. In some
embodiments, the touch pads 106 are able to detect a stylus moving
thereon or being pressed thereon. More specifically software associated
with the touch pads 106 may be able to detect the sliding or pressing
of a stylus. In some embodiments, the software and/or the touch
pads 106 are able to distinguish between sliding motion on the touch
pads 106 and a stylus being pressed on the touch pads 106. The stylus
may be a human finger.
[0008] The digital camera 100 may also include a display 112. When
the digital camera 100 is in the live view mode, the display 112
may display images or scenes that are focused onto the digital camera
100. These images or scenes may be captured by the digital camera
100 as described in greater detail below. When the digital camera
100 is in the playback mode, previously captured images may be displayed
on the display 112. In the embodiment of the digital camera 100
shown in FIG. 1, the first touch pad 108 is located adjacent a vertical
edge of the display 112 and the second touch pad 110 is located
adjacent a horizontal edge of the display 112. It is noted that
the digital camera 100 may have a single touch pad located thereon
or more than two touch pads located thereon and that the use of
the two touch pads 106 shown in FIG. 1 is for illustration purposes
only.
[0009] A plurality of LEDs 116 or other lights or indicators may
be located on the digital camera 100. In the embodiment of the digital
camera 100 shown in FIG. 1, the LEDs 116 are located between the
touch pads 106 and the display 112. As described in greater detail
below, the LEDs 116 may serve to inform a user of different functions
of the digital camera 100 that may be activated by contacting various
areas of the touch pads 106.
[0010] The digital camera 100 may also include a capture button
120, wherein depressing the capture button 120 causes the digital
camera 100 to capture the scene on which it is focused. For example,
pressing the capture button 120 will cause an image displayed on
the display 112 during live view mode to be captured. The capture
button 120 or a similar button may cause the digital camera 100
to capture video. The digital camera 100 may have other buttons
122 located thereon that serve to operate or activate different
functions of the digital camera 100.
[0011] Having described some of the components of the digital camera
100, the operation of the components and the digital camera 100
will now be described. The digital camera 100 captures images and
enables a user to view images or scenes that may be captured via
a display 112. The touch pads 106 enable a user to control the functions
of the digital camera 100 during the live view mode. Likewise, when
the digital camera 100 is in the playback mode, the touch pads 106
enable a user to view different captured images or alter different
images. It is noted that the images include video. The LEDs 116
may assist a user in determining how to operate various functions
of the digital camera 100 using the touch pads 106.
[0012] When the digital camera 100 is in playback mode, the display
112 may display previously captured images that are stored in the
digital camera 100 or on some memory device associated with the
digital camera 100. The digital camera 100 may be placed in the
playback mode by a user pressing one of the buttons 122. The digital
camera 100 could also be placed in the playback mode by pressing
on one of the touch pads 106 or pressing a location or button on
one of the touch pads 106. When the digital camera 100 is in playback
mode, changing the image displayed on the display 112 may be achieved
by a user sliding a stylus, such as a finger, along the second touch
pad 110. The images may be stored in some order, such as chronological
order or by name. Sliding the stylus to the right may cause the
next image in the order to be displayed. Likewise, sliding the stylus
to the left may cause the previous image in the order to be displayed.
It is noted that sliding a stylus in a vertical direction on the
first touch pad 108 may produce the same viewing results as sliding
the stylus in a horizontal direction on the second touch pad 110.
[0013] The number of images that change for a predetermined amount
of movement of the stylus on the second touch pad 110 may be preselected
or set by the user. In some embodiments, each time movement is detected,
one different previously captured image is displayed on the display
112. In other embodiments, new previously captured images continue
to be displayed on the display as movement is detected. Thus, the
images scroll on the display 112 as movement is detected. In the
case of stored video, an image representative of the video, such
as the first frame of the video may be displayed on the display
112.
[0014] An embodiment of the digital camera 100 in the playback
mode is shown in FIG. 2. This embodiment of the playback mode may
be obtained by pressing one of the buttons 122 or activating a portion
of one of the touch pads 106. For example, sliding a stylus on one
of the touch pads 106 may cause the digital camera 100 to enter
the playback mode. In this embodiment of the playback mode, the
display 112 may display a previously captured image along with actions
128 that may be taken with respect to the displayed image. The actions
128 may appear as light text on the display 112. The actions 128
shown in FIG. 2 are "delete" which may delete the displayed
image; "mail" which may cause the displayed image to be
sent via electronic mail; "rotate" which may cause the
displayed image to rotate; and "red eye" which may remove
red eyes. It is noted that the actions shown in FIG. 2 are examples
of actions or options and that other actions or options may be available.
[0015] The actions 128 are associated with sections of the first
touch pad 108. The touch pad 108 is portioned using software or
the like within the digital camera 100 that determines the location
of a contact by a stylus, such as a human finger. In the embodiment
of the camera shown in FIG. 2, the first touch pad 108 is divided
into four sections, which are referred to as the first section 130,
the second section 132, the third section 134, and the fourth section
136. The above-described sections of the first touch pad 108 correspond
with the actions 128. Therefore, in order to initiate or activate
an action, the corresponding section of the first touch pad 108
is contacted by a stylus. For example a user may rotate the displayed
image by contacting the third section 134 of the first touch pad
108.
[0016] As described above, the touch pads 106 and/or the software
associated with the touch pads 106 may be able to distinguish between
a sliding motion and a pressing action on the touch pads 106. In
the embodiment of the playback mode shown in FIG. 2, the actions
may be selected by pressing the corresponding sections of the first
touch pad 108. The actions may be changed as described above or
by sliding the stylus on either of the touch pads 106.
[0017] The use of the touch pads 106 enables the digital camera
100 to provide several functions without an array of different buttons.
In one embodiment, contact with one of the sections of the touch
pad may cause more actions to be displayed. For example, a list
of actions may be displayed wherein a user may scroll through the
list of actions similar to the manner in which previously captured
images may be viewed. Thus, more actions than the four displayed
in FIG. 2 may be initiated. In addition, different action may be
available in different modes, wherein the user may be able to scroll
through the different actions and options.
[0018] In the embodiment of the digital camera 100 shown in FIG.
2, there are four LEDs 116, which are referred to individually as
a first LED 140, a second LED 142, a third LED 144, and a third
LED 146. Each of the LEDs 116 corresponds to an action displayed
on the display 112 and a section of the first touch pad 108. In
one embodiment, LEDs corresponding to actions that may be undertaken
are illuminated. For example, if only three actions are possible,
only three LEDs will illuminate. These illuminated LEDs are adjacent
the sections of the first touch pad 108 that are contacted to initiate
the actions. In another embodiment, the LEDs 116 default to not
illuminated. When an action associated with an LED is initiated,
the LED illuminates to indicate that the action has been initiated
or activated.
[0019] In another embodiment, the LEDs 116 may be used to indicate
the actions rather than or in addition to having the actions displayed
on the display 112. For example, the LEDs 116 may be in the shape
of an icon or the like and may illuminate when the corresponding
option or action is available. Icons could be printed on the digital
camera next to the LEDs 116 wherein the icons represent different
actions or options available in different modes.
[0020] Having described the playback mode, the live view mode will
now be described in greater detail. As described above, the live
view mode of the digital camera 100 enables a user to view images
on the display 112 as the images are being captured. A user may
cause the digital camera 100 to enter live view mode by pressing
one of the buttons 122 or by pressing a certain area on the touch
pads 106.
[0021] An embodiment of the digital camera 100 in the live view
mode is shown in FIG. 3. Actions 150 associated with capturing images
may be displayed on the display 112. The actions 150 are shown in
FIG. 3 as being next to the first touch pad 108. However, the actions
150 may be located above the second touch pad 110. Actions include,
but are not limited to, aperture size, exposure time, contrast,
color balance, gain, exposure compensation, flash, zoom, and delayed
capture. Delayed capture operates a timer wherein an image is captured
after a preselected period of time.
[0022] A user may point the digital camera 100 at a scene that
is to be captured and the scene may be displayed on the display
112. The user may then use the touch pads 106 to change capture
or exposure settings in a manner similar to the way in which actions
associated with the playback mode were activated. For example, the
user may turn the flash on and off or set the flash to an automatic
mode by pressing the first portion 130 of the first touch pad 108.
Continually pressing the first portion 130 of the first touch pad
108 may cause the digital camera to cycle through the flash settings.
In another embodiment, sliding or otherwise contacting the second
touch pad 110 may change the setting. Thus, the digital camera 100
may be put in a mode to change the flash by contacting the first
portion 130 of the first touch pad 108 and the flash setting may
be changed by contacting the second touch pad 110. The same is applicable
for other actions.
[0023] It is noted that the above described actions may be achieved
using a single touch pad. When a section of a touch pad is pressed
corresponding to a action, the touch pad may switch to a scrolling
mode and allow the user to scroll through the flash options. The
touch pad may then be tapped, which would cause the soft keys or
actions to be displayed. The soft keys or actions may also be displayed
after a preselected period of time.
[0024] When the user has established the appropriate settings,
the image or scene may be captured by pressing the capture button
120. The captured image or scene may then be viewed using the playback
mode as described above.
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