Revised recapture camera and method

• US 20050231625A1
• Filed: 06/23/2005
• Published: 10/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Monument Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Kenneth A. Parulski, Stephen G. Malloy Desormeaux
• Inventors: Parulski, Kenneth A., Malloy Desormeaux, Stephen G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,616,248 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/333.120
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00183 Photography assistance, e.g. displaying suggestions to the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/6011 with simulation on a subsidiary picture reproducer H04N1/622 takes precedence; matching two or more picture reproducers H04N1/6052
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/632 for displaying or modifying preview images prior to image capturing, e.g. variety of image resolutions or capturing parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/634 Warning indications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/64 Computer-aided capture of images, e.g. transfer from script file into camera, check of taken image quality, advice or proposal for image composition or decision on when to take image

Abstract

In a camera and method, a scene is captured as an archival image, with the camera set in an initial capture configuration. Then, a plurality of parameters of the scene are evaluated. The parameters are matched to one or more of a plurality of suggested capture configurations to define a suggestion set. User input designating one of the suggested capture configurations of the suggestion set is accepted and the camera is set to the corresponding capture configuration.

Claims

1. A photography method comprising the steps of:

capturing a digital image of a scene using a digital camera set to an initial capture configuration;

displaying an evaluation image derived from said captured digital image;

evaluating a plurality of parameters of said captured digital image;

matching said parameters to a plurality of suggested capture configurations to define a suggestion set;

presenting the suggestion set of capture configurations;

accepting user input designating one of said suggested capture configurations of said suggestion set as a selected capture configuration; and

responsive to said accepting, causing said camera to be set to said selected capture configuration.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of detecting a user input requesting evaluation of parameters of said captured digital image wherein the steps of evaluating, matching, presenting, accepting and setting are performed only when said user input requesting evaluation of parameters is detected.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of monitoring conditions for changes in capture configuration after the suggested capture configurations have been presented and terminating the presentation of the suggested set of capture configurations when changes are detected to the capture configurations.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said presentation of said suggested set of capture configurations is made in the form of at least one of text or simple icons or audio suggestions.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said suggestion set is presented one suggestion at a time.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the initial capture configuration includes an first zoom position setting, and at least one of the suggested capture configurations includes a second zoom position setting, different than the first zoom position setting.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the initial capture configuration includes an first aspect ratio setting, and at least one of the suggested capture configurations includes a second aspect ratio setting, different than the first aspect ratio setting.

6. The method of claim 6, wherein said causing is performed by providing a user with instructions directing the user to make user input adjusting the capture settings in accordance with the suggestion set.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein user input adjusting the capture settings is limited to user input required to put into effect the selected suggestion set.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of presenting instructions for user input for adjusting the capture settings in accordance with an accepted selection.

9. A camera comprising:

an image capture unit having an optical system for focusing light onto an image sensor and image forming circuitry adapted to cooperate with the image sensor to convert the light focused onto the image sensor into an electronic image according to capture settings;

user input system having at least a first user input and a second user input, said user input system generating a capture signal when the first user input is actuated to a capture position, said user input system further generating an acceptance signal when the second user input is actuated;

a display for presenting images; and

a controller adapted to cause the image capture unit to capture a digital image of a scene using initial capture settings when a user actuates the first user input to derive an evaluation image derived from said captured digital image and to cause the evaluation image to be presented on the display,

with said controller further being adapted to evaluate a plurality of parameters of said captured digital image, to match said parameters to a plurality of suggested capture settings to define a suggestion set, to present the suggestion set of capture settings and to designate one of said suggested capture settings of said suggestion set as a selected capture settings when said acceptance signal is received during the presentation of one of said suggestion set; and

responsive to said accepting, causing said image capture unit to be set at said selected capture settings.

10. The camera of claim 9, wherein said user input system further comprises a third user input adapted to generate a suggestion signal when actuated, with said controller further being adapted to evaluate a plurality of parameters of said captured digital image, to match said parameters to a plurality of suggested capture settings to define a suggestion set, to present the suggestion set of capture settings and to designate one of said suggested capture settings of said suggestion set as a selected capture setting when said acceptance signal is received during the presentation of one of said suggestion set;

and responsive to said accepting, setting said image capture unit to said selected capture settings only when said suggestion signal is generated.

11. The camera of claim 9, wherein the controller is adapted to cause the image capture unit to be set at the selected capture configuration by automatically adjusting capture settings in accordance with the suggestion set.

12. The camera of claim 9, wherein the controller is adapted to cause the image capture unit to be set at the selected capture configuration by providing instructions for a user of the camera to adjust image capture settings using at least one additional user input of the user input device.

13. The camera of claim 12, wherein said instructions are presented as text or icons on the display or in audio form by audio output.

14. The camera of claim 12, further comprising sensors to monitor image capture settings and to provide the signal to the controller from which the controller can determine when the camera is ready to capture an image in accordance with suggested capture configurations of the suggestion set.

15. The camera of claim 9, wherein the initial capture settings includes an first zoom position setting, and at least one of the suggested capture settings includes a second zoom position setting, different than the first zoom position setting.

16. The camera of claim 9, wherein the initial capture settings includes an first aspect ratio setting, and at least one of the suggested capture settings includes a second aspect ratio setting, different than the first aspect ratio setting.

19. A photography method comprising the steps of:

capturing a digital image of a scene using a digital camera having a zoom lens, the zoom lens being set to a first lens position setting;

displaying an evaluation image derived from said captured digital image;

presenting a revised evaluation image which corresponds to a second zoom position;

accepting user input accepting the second zoom position as a revised lens position setting; and

responsive to said accepting, causing said camera lens to be set to said second lens position setting.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of capturing a second digital image of the scene using the second lens position setting.