Continuous audio capture in an image capturing device

• US 20030035055A1
• Filed: 08/17/2001
• Published: 02/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Baron, John M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,106,369 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/231.4
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32112 in a separate computer file, document page or paper sheet, e.g. a fax cover sheet H04N1/32122 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3264 of sound signals

Abstract

An image capturing device comprises an audio transducer, a processor, and a memory. The memory receives an audio signal produced by the audio transducer and gated by the processor. The memory includes an audio buffer capable of continuously accumulating the audio signal until the buffer becomes full, and thereafter storing a predetermined time amount of the most recent audio signal. The memory further includes one or more audio storage cells capable of storing at least a portion of the audio signal held in the audio buffer. The processor is capable of storing at least a portion of the audio signal from the audio buffer into an audio storage cell of the one or more audio storage cells.

Claims

1. An image capturing device, comprising:

an audio transducer capable of converting sound into a representative electrical audio signal;

a processor communicating with said audio transducer and selectively causing said audio signal to be outputted by said audio transducer; and

a memory receiving said audio signal, said memory including an audio buffer capable of continuously storing a predetermined amount of said audio signal and including at least one audio storage cell capable of storing at least a portion of said audio signal held in said audio buffer;

wherein said processor causes at least a portion of said audio signal from said audio buffer to be stored into said at least one audio storage cell upon an input command of a user.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising an audio conditioning circuit that performs audio signal processing on said audio signal.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said audio buffer receives said audio signal when said image capturing device is in an audio capture mode.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said audio buffer receives said audio signal when a lens cover is open and a lens apparatus is exposed.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said audio buffer receives said audio signal when said image capturing device is powered on.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said processor stores said at least a portion of said audio signal upon a user input.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said processor stores said at least a portion of said audio signal upon a user input, and wherein said user input is not constrained to occur simultaneously with an image capture.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said processor stores said at least a portion of said audio signal upon a user input, and wherein said user input specifies a portion of said audio signal to be stored.

9. An audio capture method in an image capturing device, comprising the steps of:

continuously storing a predetermined time amount of an audio signal in an audio buffer in said image capturing device; and

selectively storing at least a portion of said audio signal in a memory storage area upon receipt of a store command input from a user.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the storing step is performed when said image capturing device is in an audio capture mode.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising a preliminary step of converting sound into said audio signal.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein said store command input comprises a store command input unassociated with any image capture function.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein said store command input is automatically issued in conjunction with an image capture function.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein said store command input is not constrained to occur simultaneously with an image capture.

15. An audio capture method in an image capturing device, comprising the steps of:

continuously storing a predetermined time amount of an audio signal in an audio buffer in said image capturing device when said image capturing device is in an audio capture mode; and

storing at least a portion of said audio signal upon a store command input from a user.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising a preliminary step of converting sound into said audio signal.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said store command input comprises a store command input unassociated with any image capture function.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein said store command input is issued automatically in conjunction with an image capture function.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein said store command input is not constrained to occur simultaneously with an image capture.