Digital camera having system for digital image composition and related method

• US 20060098112A1
• Filed: 11/05/2004
• Published: 05/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Douglas J. Kelly
• Original Assignee: Douglas J. Kelly
• Inventors: Kelly, Douglas J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,782,384 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/333.12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/633 for displaying additional information relating to control or operation of the camera
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/71 Circuitry for evaluating the brightness variation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/743 Bracketing, i.e. taking a series of images with varying exposure conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2621 Cameras specially adapted for the electronic generation of special effects during image pickup, e.g. digital cameras, camcorders, video cameras having integrated special effects capability

Abstract

A digital camera is provided, comprising an image system having a unique combination of features that aid in generating creative, high-quality images. The system presents a variety of overlays, each having prescribed attributes, e.g., ranging in size, opacity, and functionality, and from iconic overlays to full-scale overlays having varied opacity. The overlays can be used as an aid in composing a live image for digital capture, either as a constant or intermittent presence on the view-screen of the camera. In an exemplary embodiment, the camera can create a composite photograph in which a live image and the overlay are combined together. In an independent aspect, the camera can include an auto-compositing feature that aids in creating images free of improperly exposed regions. Thus, a photographer can create and combine images “on location” in a unique manner.

Claims

1. A handheld digital camera, comprising:

a processor;

a digital memory in communication with the processor;

a view-screen in communication with the processor and configured to present images from the field-of-view of the camera;

a plurality of files stored in the digital memory; and

a user interface executable by the processor, the interface configured to be presented on the view-screen to enable creation of overlays and selection of overlays from the plurality of files, the resulting overlay having a user-assignable opacity level and configured to be depicted on the view-screen in conjunction with image data corresponding to the field-of-view of the camera such that the opacity of the overlay affects the presentation of the image data on the view-screen.

2. A camera as defined in claim 1, wherein the camera can save two digital files to the digital memory upon taking a photograph, the first file comprising the image data corresponding to the field-of-view of the camera and the second file comprising a composite image of the overlay superimposed on the image data corresponding to the field-of-view of the camera.

3. A camera as defined in claim 1, wherein the user interface enables sizing and positioning of the overlay for use relative to the image data captured from the field-of-view of the camera.

4. A camera as defined in claim 1, wherein the plurality of files includes at least one file usable as an overlay sized to correspond to a default image size for the digital camera such that the assigned opacity level of the overlay affects the entirety of corresponding image data.

5. A camera as defined in claim 1, wherein the overlay can be presented on the view-screen as a constant or an intermittent presence.

6. A camera as defined in claim 1, wherein the user interface enables modification of an overlay selected from the plurality of files by designating the region of the selected overlay with a first color via the user input device, and removing the first color from the overlay.

7. A camera as defined in claim 1, wherein the user interface enables modification of an overlay selected by removing a first color from the overlay.

8. A camera as defined in claim 1, wherein the plurality of files includes at least one print overlay having one or more regions of altered appearance, including an unaltered region and an altered region, the altered region of the overlay having an altered appearance relative to the unaltered region, the unaltered region having a prescribed aspect ratio corresponding to a photograph print size.

9. A camera as defined in claim 8, wherein the plurality of files includes multiple print overlays, wherein the open region of each print overlay has a distinct aspect ratio.

10. A camera as defined in claim 8, wherein the prescribed aspect ratio of the open region is 8×

10.

11. A camera as defined in claim 1, wherein the user interface enables automated creation of a line overlay from an image file via an edge-detect feature in which the line overlay is a line drawing of the image of the image file.

12. A camera as defined in claim 11, wherein the edge-detect feature analyzes the image file by identifying borders between regions of differing color and tone of a prescribed value, and defines, in the line overlay, a line of prescribed opacity and color corresponding to the identified border.

13. A camera as defined in claim 11, wherein the user can set the prescribed value used for identifying the border between regions in the image file.

14. A camera as defined in claim 13, wherein the user can set the opacity value and the color for the line overlay.

15. A method of generating an overlay for use with a digital camera, comprising:

selecting a stored image from digital memory of a digital camera for use as an overlay atop a live image corresponding to the field-of-view of the camera;

assigning an opacity level to the overlay via a user input device of the digital camera;

presenting the image selected on a view-screen of the camera;

erasing a region of the stored image designated via the user input device such that, when used, a portion of the live image corresponding to the erased region is unaffected by the overlay; and

saving the resultant image to digital memory for use as an overlay.

16. A method as defined in claim 15, wherein the erasing step further comprises

designating the region with a first color via the user input device, and

removing the first color from the image.

17. A method as defined in claim 15, further comprising sequentially displaying (a) the image unaltered and (b) the image having the defined region erased, prior to the saving step.

18. A method as defined in claim 15, wherein the resultant image is sized to correspond to a default image size for the digital camera such that the assigned opacity level of the overlay affects the entirety of the live image.

19. A method as defined in claim 15, wherein the resultant image has two region of differing opacity, including an open region and a shaded region, the shaded region of the overlay having one or more regions of altered appearance, including an unaltered region and an altered region, the altered region of the overlay having a altered appearance relative to the unaltered region, the unaltered region having a prescribed aspect ratio corresponding to a photograph print size.

20. A method of generating an overlay for use with a digital camera, comprising:

selecting an icon file from digital memory of a digital camera for use as an overlay atop a live image corresponding to the field-of-view of the camera;

presenting the selected icon on a view-screen of the camera against an alignment background;

positioning the icon with respect to the alignment background via an user input device of the digital camera such that, when used, a portion of the live image corresponding to the icon as positioned is affected by the overlay; and

saving the icon and associated positioning to digital memory for use an overlay.

21. A method as defined in claim 20, further comprising the step of assigning an opacity level to the overlay via the user input device.

22. A method for image composition using a handheld digital camera, comprising:

capturing multiple digital images in automated sequence using a digital camera, each image captured at a distinct exposure setting, the digital camera having a processor assembly and a digital sensor assembly in communication with the processor, the sensor assembly having a exposure latitude beyond which a captured image will have over- or under-exposed regions;

analyzing a first digital image of the multiple digital images for over- or under-exposed regions;

identifying properly exposed regions in the remaining digital images of the multiple digital images corresponding in location to the over- or under-exposed regions of the first digital image, the identifying step performed by the processor assembly of the camera;

automated compositing of properly exposed regions identified in the first digital image and the remaining digital images of the multiple digital images, resulting in a composite image in which the identified regions replace the corresponding over- or under-exposed regions of the first digital images; and

storing the composite image in digital memory of the camera.

23. A method as defined in claim 22, further comprising, prior to the capturing multiple images step, analyzing an image taken as a single exposure for over- or under-exposed regions and, if found, prompting user to initiate the capturing multiple images step.

24. A method as defined in claim 22, further comprising storing the multiple digital images that were captured in automated sequence for later use.

25. A method as defined in claim 22, further comprising automated deletion of the multiple digital images following completion of the composite image.

26. A handheld digital camera configured to perform the method of claim 22.

27. A method as defined in claim 22, wherein the identifying and automated compositing steps further include

(a) selecting a second digital image of the multiple digital images having at least one properly exposed region corresponding in location to an over- or under-exposed region of the first digital image;

(b) automated compositing of all regions from the second digital image region corresponding in location to all over- or under-exposed region of the first digital image with the remaining portions of the first digital image; and

(c) repeating steps (a) and (b) with the resultant image from the prior step (b) and a third digital image of the multiple digital images.

28. A method as defined in claim 27, further comprising, prior to the capturing multiple images step, analyzing an image taken as a single exposure for over- or under-exposed regions and, if found, prompting user to initiate the capturing multiple images step.

29. A handheld digital camera configured to perform the method of claim 27.