System and method for a simplified digital camera interface

• US 20030081135A1
• Filed: 10/26/2001
• Published: 05/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Boll, David W.
• Granted Patent: US 6,970,200 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/333.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00458 Sequential viewing of a plurality of images, e.g. browsing or scrolling
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/65 Control of camera operation in relation to power supply

Abstract

A simplified image display control interface provides easy and convenient retrieving and viewing of digital images captured by a digital camera. Two control buttons provide for scrolling backwards or forwards through a plurality of captured images displayed on a display and stored in the digital camera memory. When the oldest captured image has been displayed, subsequent actuation of a control button causes the display to be turned off. When the most recently captured image is displayed, subsequent actuation of another control button causes a live preview to be displayed.

Claims

1. A display interface for displaying images comprising:

a display configured to display an image; and

a simplified image display control interface consisting of;

a first button configured to change an image shown by the display to the next most recently captured image; and

a second button configured to change an image shown by the display to the next previously captured image.

2. The display interface of claim 1, wherein the first button is further configured to display a live preview when there is no next most recently captured image, and wherein the second button is further configured to turn off the display when there is no next previously captured image.

3. The display interface of claim 1, further comprising a third button configured to delete data associated with the image shown by the display, wherein the third button is further configured to turn off the display when there is no data associated with the image shown by the display to delete.

4. The display interface of claim 1, further comprising;

a memory configured to store data corresponding to at least one captured image; and

a processor unit coupled to the memory and configured to receive signals from the first button and the second button, the processor unit further configured to retrieve from the memory data associated with the captured images specified by the first button and the second button.

5. The display interface of claim 1, wherein the first button and the second button are further configured to turn on the display when the display is off.

6. The display interface of claim 1, further comprising a right pointing arrow icon residing on the first button.

7. The display interface of claim 1, further comprising a left pointing arrow icon residing on the second button.

8. A method for controlling display of images on a display, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting actuation of a simplified image display control interface consisting of a first control button and a second control button;

displaying a next most recently captured image on the display when the first control button is actuated; and

displaying a next previously captured image on the display when the second control button is actuated.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

determining when the next most recently captured image is available for displaying on the display when the first control button is actuated; and

displaying a current image detected by an image sensor when the next most recently captured image is not available.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of turning off the display in response to actuation of the first control button when the current image is displayed.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

determining if the next previously captured image is available for displaying on the display when the second control button is actuated; and

turning off the display in response to actuation of the second control button when the next previously captured image is not available.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of;

detecting actuation of the simplified image display control interface further consisting of a third control button; and

deleting data associated with the image shown on the display when a third control button is actuated.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

determining if the data associated with the image shown on the display is available for deleting when the third control button is actuated; and

displaying a current image detected by an image sensor when the data is not available.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

determining when the display is off; and

turning on the display in response to detecting actuation of one of the first control button and the second control button when the display is off.

15. A system for controlling display of images on a display comprising:

means for detecting actuation of a simplified image display control interface consisting of a first control button, a second control button and a third control button;

means for displaying a next most recently captured image on the display when the first control button is actuated;

means for deleting data associated with the image shown on the display when the second control button is actuated; and

means for displaying a next previously captured image on the display when the third control button is actuated.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

means for determining when the next most recently captured image is available for displaying on the display when the first control button is actuated and means for displaying a current image detected by an image sensor when the next most recently captured image is not available;

means for determining if the data associated with the image shown on the display is available for deleting when the second control button is actuated and means for displaying a current image detected by an image sensor when the data is not available; and

means for determining if the next previously captured image is available for displaying on the display when the third control button is actuated and means for displaying a current image detected by an image sensor when the next previously captured image is not available.

17. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

means for determining when the display is off; and

means for turning on the display in response to detecting actuation of one of the first control button, the second control button and the third control button when the display is off.

18. A computer readable medium having a program for controlling display of images on a display, the program comprising logic configured to perform the steps of:

detecting actuation of a simplified image display control interface consisting of a first control button and a second control button;

displaying a live preview after the most recently captured image has been displayed on the display in response to actuation of the first control button;

turning off the display after the oldest captured image on the display has been displayed in response to actuation of the second control button.

19. A display interface for displaying images comprising:

a digital image capturing device;

a display residing on the digital image capture device configured to display an image; and

a simplified image display control interface consisting of;

a first button configured to display a live preview on the display after a most recently captured image has been displayed; and

a second button configured to turn off the display after an oldest captured image has been displayed.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the digital image capturing device is a digital camera.