REVISED RECAPTURE CAMERA AND METHOD

• US 20090284637A1
• Filed: 07/22/2009
• Published: 11/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Monument Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Intellectual Ventures Fund 83 LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Malloy Desormeaux, Stephen G., Parulski, Kenneth A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,934,043 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 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 comprising a shutter button including a first switch actuated when the shutter button is depressed by a user through a first stroke, and a second switch actuated when the shutter button is depressed by the user through a second stroke;

a display for presenting images; and

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

with said controller further being adapted to said captured digital image to determine a subject region of said scene by determining eye positions within the captured first digital image and to provide an archival capture configuration based on the determined subject region for capturing an archival image when the second switch is actuated.

2. The camera of claim 1, wherein the initial capture settings include a first aspect ratio setting, and the archival capture configuration includes a second aspect ratio setting, different than the first aspect ratio setting.

3. The camera of claim 1, wherein the controller is adapted to cause the image capture unit to be set to the archival capture configuration by automatically adjusting capture settings.

4. The camera of claim 1, wherein the controller is adapted to cause the image capture unit to be set to the archival 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 system.

5. The camera of claim 4, wherein said instructions are presented as text or icons on the display or in audio form by audio output.

6. The camera of claim 4, further comprising sensors to monitor image capture settings and to provide a capture signal to the controller from which the controller can determine when the camera is ready to capture an image in accordance with the archival capture configurations.

7. The camera of claim 1, wherein the initial capture settings includes a first zoom position setting, and the archival capture configuration includes a second zoom position setting, different than the first zoom position setting.