CAMERA SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ALIGNING IMAGES AND PRESENTING A SERIES OF ALIGNED IMAGES

• US 20170064208A1
• Filed: 09/02/2016
• Published: 03/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ThumbRoll LLC
• Original Assignee: ThumbRoll LLC
• Inventors: Salimpour, Ariella, Gilmore, Michael, Swartz, David, Maltin, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 10,158,806 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04804 Transparency, e.g. transparent or translucent windows
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04855 Interaction with scrollbars
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0007 Image acquisition
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/62 Control of parameters via user interfaces
• 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 23/64 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 camera system includes a processor, a camera coupled to the processor, a display coupled to the processor, and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to store a first image in the memory, modify the first image to generate a modified first image, the modified first image corresponding to the first image at a reduced opacity, control the camera to capture a real-time preview, overlay the modified first image on the real-time preview to generate a combined preview, output the combined preview to the display, capture a second image using the camera, and store the second image in the memory.

Claims

1. A camera system comprising:

a processor;

a camera coupled to the processor;

a display coupled to the processor; and

a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

store a first image in the memory;

modify the first image to generate a modified first image, the modified first image corresponding to the first image at a reduced opacity;

control the camera to capture a real-time preview;

overlay the modified first image on the real-time preview to generate a combined preview;

output the combined preview to the display;

capture a second image using the camera; and

store the second image in the memory.

2. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

show a real-time preview of the first image on the display; and

control the camera to capture the first image.

3. The camera system of claim 2, wherein the memory further stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to orient the camera in a first orientation to capture the first image and in the first orientation to capture the second image.

4. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the modified first image is stored in the memory.

5. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the processor reduces the opacity of the first image by 40%.

6. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the display is configured to concurrently display a plurality of layers.

7. The camera system of claim 6, wherein the plurality of layers comprises:

a user interface view layer configured to display the real-time preview; and

an overlay layer configured to display an image stored in the memory.

8. The camera system of claim 7, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

show a real-time preview on the user interface view layer;

display a transparent layer in the overlay layer; and

capture the first image using the camera.

9. The camera system of claim 7, further comprising a controller layer comprising an icon.

10. The camera system of claim 9, wherein the camera system is configured to send a signal to the processor when the icon is engaged.

11. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the second image is captured by taking a screenshot of the real-time preview of the second image.

12. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the processor, the camera, the display, and the memory are components of a smartphone.

13. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the camera comprises:

an image sensor; and

a lens configured to focus light onto the image sensor.

14. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the camera comprises medical imaging equipment.

15. The camera system of claim 14, where the medical imaging equipment comprises one of X-ray equipment, MRI equipment, a PET scanner, a CT scanner, ultrasound equipment, an echocardiography machine, or a mammography machine.

16. A display system for presenting a series of aligned images, the display system comprising:

a processor;

a display coupled to the processor;

a user interface device for sending a signal to the processor; and

a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

store a plurality of images in the memory;

assign values to each of the images according to an order of the images from among the plurality of images in the memory, such that a first value corresponds to a first image and a second value corresponds to a second image, the first image being ordered before the second image;

correlate the values to portions of a transport controller;

display the first image and the transport controller on the display;

receive an input from the user interface device corresponding to a portion of the transport controller corresponding to the second value; and

display the second image according to the second input.

17. The display system of claim 16, wherein the transport controller comprises a virtual button that is slidable along a virtual bar on the display.

18. The display system of claim 16, wherein the user interface device comprises a mouse, a touch screen integrated with the display, a touchscreen external to the display, a track ball, or a stylus.

19. The display system of claim 16, wherein the transport controller is a virtual button that is slidable along a circular path.

20. The display system of claim 19, wherein one revolution of the transport controller displays each of the images of the plurality of images.

21. The display system of claim 16, wherein the plurality of images are each displayed at their native resolutions.

22. A method of capturing an image, the method comprising:

storing a first image in a memory of a device in communication with a camera and having a memory;

overlaying a modified first image on a real-time preview shown on the display, the modified first image corresponding to the first image at a reduced opacity;

capturing a second image using the camera; and

storing the second image in the memory.