Camera image stabilization method, apparatus and computer program

• US 20030234885A1
• Filed: 04/30/2003
• Published: 12/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Pilu, Maurizio
• Granted Patent: US 7,969,496 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/333.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/68 for stable pick-up of the scene, e.g. compensating for camera body vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/6812 based on additional sensors, e.g. acceleration sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/682 Vibration or motion blur correction

Abstract

A camera comprises a user interface for the input of information indicative of the activity of a user. A control unit controls at least one function of the camera in response to the information.

Claims

1. A camera comprising a user interface for the input of information indicative of the activity of a user;

and a control unit arranged to control at least one function of the camera in dependence upon said information.

2. A camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein said user interface comprises a user selection unit for the manual selection of at least one activity from a predetermined group of activities.

3. A camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control unit is arranged to store said information with at least one image captured by the camera for subsequent processing of said image.

4. A camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein said function comprises an image stabilisation mode of the camera.

5. A camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein said function comprises an image capture mode of the camera.

6. A camera as claimed in claim 5, wherein said information is utilised to determine what images are captured and subsequently stored by the camera.

7. A camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein said information is indicative of at least one of the type of motion likely to be undergone by the user;

the type of motion likely to be undergone by the camera;

the attention of the user;

the behaviour of the user; and

the surrounding environment.

8. A camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein said camera further comprises a user activity determination unit arranged to estimate the activity of a user, the camera being arranged to utilise the estimated activity if, for a predetermined interval, said estimated activity differs from the activity indicated by the input information.

9. A camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein said camera is a wearable camera.

10. A user interface for a camera, the user interface being arranged for inputting information indicative of the activity of a user, for the subsequent control of at least one function of the camera in dependence upon said information.

11. A camera comprising a control unit arranged to control at least one function of the camera in dependence upon information indicative of the activity of a user input from a user interface.

12. A camera comprising a user interface for the input of information indicative of at least one of the motion of the user and the motion of the camera;

and a control unit arranged to control at least one function of the camera in dependence upon said information.

13. A method of controlling a camera comprising the steps of:

causing a user of the camera to supply information to the camera indicative of the activity of the user; and

controlling at least one function of the camera as a function of said information.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said activity is selected from a predetermined group of activities, each one of the activities in said group being associated with at least one predetermined parameter, the method further comprising the step of controlling said function of the camera by utilising said parameter associated with the selected activity.

15. A storage medium storing a computer program arranged to control a camera, the program being arranged to cause the camera to:

receive information from a user indicative of the activity of the user; and

control at least one function of the camera in dependence upon said information.