PHOTOGRAPHY-TASK-SPECIFIC DIGITAL CAMERA APPARATUS AND METHODS USEFUL IN CONJUNCTION THEREWITH

• US 20120182435A1
• Filed: 03/28/2012
• Published: 07/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shai Silberstein
• Original Assignee: Shai Silberstein
• Inventors: Silberstein, Shai
• Granted Patent: US 8,681,226 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/208.4
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0035 User-machine interface; Control console input or output arrangements for computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00411 the display also being used for user input, e.g. touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00482 outputting a plurality of job set-up options, e.g. number of copies, paper size or resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
• 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 23/667 Camera operation mode switching, e.g. between still and video, sport and normal or high- and low-resolution modes

Abstract

A multi-mode digital photography method including generating an output image of a location L at a specific time t which is identified as a function of a user-selected photography task, the method including generating an output image of a particular scene which is built up from a plurality of images thereof, as another function of a user-selected photography task.

Claims

1-54. -54. (canceled)

55. A digital photography method comprising:

receiving a definition of a moment at which an anticipated event is to be photographed;

using a digital imaging device residing in a digital camera to generate a stream of digital images of a location at which said event is anticipated to occur; and

inspecting said stream of digital images, to detect, in said stream, a digital image which has captured said moment; and

selectively storing said digital image which has captured said moment, said inspecting comprising;

calculating an image value of each image in said stream of digital images, said image value being calculated based on a single image in said stream of digital images;

calculating statistical values of said image value; and

calculating a threshold based on said statistical values; and

said selectively storing comprising;

storing said image based on a comparison of said image value of said image and said threshold.

56. A digital photography method according to claim 55 wherein said statistical values comprise at least one of an average of said image value and a standard deviation of said image value.

57. A digital photography method according to claim 55 wherein:

said image value is a motion level;

said moment is a moment of minimal motion; and

said storing comprises storing said image if said image value of said image is below said threshold.

58. A digital photography method according to claim 57 wherein said motion level is calculated based on an image smear of said single image in said stream of digital images.

59. A digital photography method according to claim 57 wherein said moment of minimal motion is a moment at which a photographer has arrived at the location and is motionless.

60. A digital photography method according to claim 55 wherein:

said image value is a motion level;

said moment is a moment of maximum motion; and

said storing comprises storing said image if said image value of said image is above said threshold.

61. A digital photography method according to claim 60 wherein said motion level is calculated based on an image smear of said single image in said stream of digital images.

62. A digital photography method according to claim 60 wherein said moment of maximum motion is a moment at which candle flames are flickering out.

63. A digital photography method comprising:

receiving a definition of a moment at which an anticipated event is to be photographed, said moment comprising a moment of minimal motion;

using a digital imaging device residing in a digital camera to generate a stream of digital images of a location at which said event is anticipated to occur; and

inspecting said stream of digital images, to detect, in said stream, a digital image which has captured said moment of minimal motion; and

selectively storing said digital image which has captured said moment of minimal motion,

said inspecting comprising calculating a motion level of each image in said stream of digital images, said motion level being based on a single image in said stream of digital images; and

said selectively storing comprising storing said image if said motion level of said image is below a predetermined threshold.

64. A digital photography method according to claim 63 wherein said motion level is calculated based on an image smear of said single image in said stream of digital images.

65. A digital photography method comprising:

receiving a definition of a moment at which an anticipated event is to be photographed, said moment comprising at least one of a moment of minimal motion and a moment of maximum motion;

using a digital imaging device residing in a digital camera to generate a stream of digital images of a location at which said event is anticipated to occur; and

inspecting said stream of digital images, to detect, in said stream, a digital image which has captured said moment; and

selectively storing said digital image which has captured said moment,

said inspecting comprising calculating a motion level of each image in said stream of digital images; and

said selectively storing comprising storing said image if said motion level of said image is at least one of a local minimum and a local maximum.

66. A digital photography method according to claim 65 wherein said motion level is calculated based on a single image in said stream of digital images.

67. A digital photography method according to claim 66 wherein said motion level is calculated based on an image smear of said single image in said stream of digital images.