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Digital Camera Patent Abstract
The present invention provides a method for controlling the picture
capturing process of a digital camera, which includes the steps
of: determining whether the digital camera is operating in an auto
flash mode; when the digital camera is operating in the auto flash
mode, then further determining whether a flash of the digital camera
is charging; if the flash of the digital camera is charging, then
further detecting whether the ambient light value is higher than
a predetermined value; and if the ambient light value is higher
than the predetermined value, then causing the digital camera to
enter into a ready status that is capable of capturing pictures
immediately.
Digital Camera Patent Claims
1. A method for controlling a picture capturing process in a digital
camera operating in an auto flash mode, the method comprising: determining
whether the digital camera is operating in the auto flash mode;
when the digital camera is operating in the auto flash mode, then
further determining whether an ambient light is higher than a predetermined
value; and when the ambient light is higher than the predetermined
value, placing the digital camera into a ready status that is capable
of capturing pictures immediately.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the digital camera
is not in the auto flash mode, the method for controlling the picture
capturing process of the digital camera completes.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the ambient light
is not higher than the predetermined value, the digital camera is
inoperable until a flash of the digital camera has charged.
4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined
value is a predetermined light value.
5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the predetermined
light value is about 8.5.
6. A method for controlling a picture capturing process of a digital
camera, the method comprising: determining whether the digital camera
is operating in an auto flash mode; when the digital camera is operating
in the auto flash mode, then further determining whether a flash
of the digital camera is charging; when the flash of the digital
camera is charging, then further detecting whether an ambient light
value is higher than a predetermined value; and when the ambient
light value is higher than the predetermined value, then causing
the digital camera to enter into a ready status that is capable
of capturing pictures immediately.
7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein when the digital camera
is not in the auto flash mode, the method for controlling the picture
capturing process of the digital camera completes.
8. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein when the flash of
the digital camera is not charging, the digital camera is available
for operation.
9. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein when the ambient light
is not higher than the predetermined value, the digital camera is
inoperable until the flash has charged.
10. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the predetermined
value is a predetermined light value.
11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the predetermined
light value is about 8.5.
12. A digital camera capable of controlling an operation by detecting
an ambient light, the digital camera comprising: a flash for providing
illumination during a picture capturing process; a flash state determination
unit for determining whether the flash is operating in an auto flash
mode to operate the digital camera; and an ambient light detection
unit for detecting whether the ambient light is higher than a predetermined
value when the digital camera is operating in the auto flash mode;
wherein when the ambient light is higher than the predetermined
value, the ambient light detection unit places the digital camera
into a ready status that is capable of capturing pictures immediately,
and when the ambient light is not higher than the predetermined
value, the digital camera is inoperable until the flash has charged.
13. The digital camera as claimed in claim 12 further comprising
a flash charging state determination unit for determining whether
the flash is charging when the digital camera is operating in the
auto flash mode; wherein when the flash is still charging, the flash
charging state determination unit causes the ambient light detection
unit to detect the ambient light.
14. The digital camera as claimed in claim 12, wherein the predetermined
value is a predetermined light value.
15. The digital camera as claimed in claim 14, wherein the predetermined
light value is about 8.5.
Digital Camera Patent Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a method for controlling
the picture capturing process of a digital camera, and, more particularly,
to a method for controlling the picture capturing process of a digital
camera operating in an auto flash mode.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Generally, in order to provide a high quality picture, a
digital camera requires a high quality flash. The flash built into
the digital camera is an essential element of the camera. The flash
is a key element for high quality pictures.
[0005] For operational convenience, the prior art digital camera
usually provides several flash operating modes among which a user
may choose, such as a forced-flash mode, a no-flash mode, a red-eye
reduction mode, or an auto flash mode. However, when the digital
camera operates in the auto flash mode, after the first shot, the
user needs to wait for the flash to be fully charged before taking
another picture.
[0006] Since it may take a few seconds for the flash to complete
charging, the user is forced to waste time waiting, and may even
miss the next desired shot. Furthermore, unnecessary flash charging
processes in the prior art digital camera consume battery power,
which reduces the operating time of the digital camera.
[0007] Therefore, it is desirable to provide a method for controlling
the picture capturing process of a digital camera operating in an
auto flash mode to mitigate and/or obviate the aforementioned problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention provides a method for controlling
the picture capturing process of a digital camera operating in an
auto flash mode
[0009] The present invention provides a method for controlling
the picture capturing process of a digital camera, which comprises:
determining whether the digital camera is operating in an auto flash
mode; when the digital camera is operating in the auto flash mode,
then further determining whether a flash of the digital camera is
charging; if the flash of the digital camera is charging, then further
detecting whether the ambient light value is higher than a predetermined
value; and if the ambient light value is higher than the predetermined
value, then causing the digital camera to enter into a ready status
that is capable of capturing pictures immediately.
[0010] In one embodiment of the present invention, the predetermined
value is a predetermined light value about 8.5.
[0011] Furthermore, in one embodiment of the present invention,
the method can detect whether the flash of the digital camera is
charging, if the flash of the digital camera is charging, then further
detect whether an ambient light value is higher than a predetermined
value; otherwise, if the flash of the digital camera is not charging,
cause the digital camera to enter into a ready status that is capable
of capturing pictures immediately
[0012] The present invention also provides a digital camera capable
of controlling an operation by detecting an ambient light, the digital
camera comprises: a flash for providing illumination during a picture
capturing process; a flash state determination unit for determining
whether the flash is operating in the auto flash mode to operate
the digital camera; and an ambient light detection unit for detecting
whether the ambient light is higher than a predetermined value when
the digital camera is operating in the auto flash mode; wherein
when the ambient light is higher than the predetermined value, the
ambient light detection unit places the digital camera into a ready
status that is capable of capturing pictures immediately, and when
the ambient light is not higher than the predetermined value, the
digital camera is inoperable until the flash has charged.
[0013] In one embodiment of the present invention, the digital
camera further comprises a flash charging state determination unit
for determining whether the flash is charging when the digital camera
is operating in the auto flash mode; wherein if the flash is still
charging, the flash charging state determination unit causes the
ambient light detection unit to detect the ambient light
[0014] Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention
will become more apparent from the following detailed description
when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a first embodiment according to
the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a second embodiment according to
the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing of a digital camera according
to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0018] Please refer to FIG. 1 FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a first
embodiment according to the present invention. As shown FIG. 1,
in step S11, the digital camera determines whether it is operating
in an auto flash mode. The present invention solves problems associated
with the digital camera operating in an auto flash mode. Therefore,
if the digital camera operating in a mode other than the auto flash
mode, such as a forced-flash mode or a no-flash mode, the method
of the present invention finishes. That is, the digital camera cannot
be used until the flash has charged.
[0019] Otherwise, if the digital camera is operating in an auto
flash mode, in step S12 the camera determines whether the ambient
light exceeds a predetermined value. In a preferred embodiment of
the present invention, the predetermined value is a predetermined
light value, and the predetermined light value is about 8.5, but
may be other values.
[0020] If the ambient light is not higher than the predetermined
value, then this indicates that the ambient light is not bright
enough for a user to operate the digital camera. Therefore, the
method of the present invention finishes, and again, the digital
camera is not available for use until the flash has charged.
[0021] On the other hand, if the ambient light is higher than the
predetermined value, then this indicates that the ambient light
is sufficiently bright and the user does not need the flash to take
a picture. In step S13, the digital camera is placed into a ready
mode that permits the taking of pictures immediately.
[0022] Please refer to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a second
embodiment according to the present invention. As shown in FIG.
2, the present invention prevents the inconvenience that arises
when the digital camera operates in an auto flash mode; that is,
the digital camera cannot operate until the flash has fully charged.
The second embodiment further comprises step S22, which includes
determining whether the flash of the digital camera is still charging.
[0023] As shown in FIG. 2, after step S11, if the digital camera
is not operating in an auto flash mode, the method of the present
invention finishes, and the digital camera is not available for
use until the flash has charged.
[0024] When the digital camera operates in an auto flash mode,
step S22 is performed to determine whether the flash of the digital
camera is still charging. Since the user only needs to wait when
the flash is charging, when the result of step S22 is that the flash
has fully charged, step S13 is performed to enable the digital camera
to be used for capturing images immediately.
[0025] On the other hand, if the result of step S22 is that the
flash is still charging, step S12 is performed to detect whether
the ambient light is higher than the predetermined value. If the
ambient light is higher than the predetermined value, step S13 is
performed to enable of the camera for the immediate capturing of
images. Since steps S12 and S13 are described in the first embodiment,
they require no further description.
[0026] The method of the present invention increases the convenience
of operating the digital camera when in an auto flash mode, and
reduces the charging process of the flash to save power, permitting
more pictures to be taken while extending battery times.
[0027] Moreover, the present invention also provides a digital
camera that utilizes the method in the first embodiment or the second
embodiment. Please refer to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing
of a digital camera according to the present invention.
[0028] As shown in FIG. 3, the present invention also provides
a digital camera 3, which can detect the ambient light to control
the picture capturing process. The digital camera 3 comprises a
flash 31, a flash state determination unit 32, a flash charging
state determination unit 33 and an ambient light detection unit
34, which are all electrically connected together.
[0029] The flash 31 is used for providing light during the picture
capturing process; the flash state determination unit 32 is used
for executing step S11 to determine whether the digital camera is
in the auto flash mode; the flash charging state determination unit
33 is used for executing step S22 to determine whether the flash
is still charging; and the ambient light detection unit 34 is used
for executing step S12 to detect whether the ambient light is higher
than the predetermined value.
[0030] In the embodiments, the flash state determination unit 32,
the flash charging state determination unit 33 and the ambient light
detection unit 34 can be implemented not only in hardware but also
in software, so long as they are capable of respectively performing
steps S11, S22 and S12.
[0031] Although the present invention has been explained in relation
to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other
possible modifications and variations can be made without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. |