Method and apparatus for correcting aspect ratio in a camera graphical user interface

• US 5,973,734 A
• Filed: 07/09/1997
• Issued: 10/26/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: FlashPoint Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: FlashPoint Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Anderson, Eric C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Tuan V.
• Application Number:
  US08/891,424
• Time in Patent Office: 839 Days
• Field of Search: 348/207, 348/222, 348/239, 348/333, 348/334, 348/96, 348/97, 348/98, 348/445, 348/556
• US Class Current: 348/239
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0044 for image preview or review, e.g. to help the user position a sheet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00442 Simultaneous viewing of a plurality of images, e.g. using a mosaic display arrangement of thumbnails
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00448 horizontally
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00458 Sequential viewing of a plurality of images, e.g. browsing or scrolling
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00461 marking or otherwise tagging one or more displayed image, e.g. for selective reproduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2141 in a multi-frame buffer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/38 Circuits or arrangements for blanking or otherwise eliminating unwanted parts of pictures H04N1/387 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3242 of processing required or performed, e.g. for reproduction or before recording H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/325 Modified version of the image, e.g. part of the image, image reduced in size or resolution, thumbnail or screennail
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3254 Orientation, e.g. landscape or portrait; Location or order of the image data, e.g. in memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/633 for displaying additional information relating to control or operation of the camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2628 Alteration of picture size, shape, position or orientation, e.g. zooming, rotation, rolling, perspective, translation

Abstract

A method and system for correcting the aspect ratio of an image captured by a digital camera is disclosed. In one aspect, the method and system include determining if the image requires cropping, decompressing the image, and cropping the image if the image required cropping. The image is then provided to a display. In another aspect, the method and system include cropping an image to a predetermined shape and providing the data to a display buffer.

Claims

1. A method for correcting an aspect ratio of a screennail image captured by an image capture device comprising the steps of:

(a) determining if the aspect ratio of the screennail image matches a predetermined aspect ratio;

(b) decompressing the screennail image if required;

(c) cropping the screennail image if the aspect ratio does not match the predetermined aspect ratio;

(d) providing the screennail image to a display; and

(e) updating the screennail image with a higher resolution image, the step of updating the screennail image further includes the steps of

(e1) retrieving the higher resolution image;

(e2) determining if the higher resolution image requires cropping;

(e3) decompressing the higher resolution image;

(e4) cropping the higher resolution image if the higher resolution image requires cropping; and

(e5) providing the higher resolution image to the display.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of cropping the image further comprises the step of:

(c1) resizing the image.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the aspect ratio determining step (a) further comprises the step of:

(a1) determining the aspect ratio of the image; and

(a2) determining if the aspect ratio of the image matches an aspect ratio of the display.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the image capture device is a digital camera.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the display is an LCD screen.

6. A system for correcting the aspect ratio of a screennail image captured by an image capture unit comprising:

means for determining if the screennail image requires cropping;

means coupled to the determining means for decompressing the screennail image if required;

means coupled to the decompressing means for cropping the screennail image if the screennail image requires cropping;

means coupled to the cropping means for providing the image to a display; and

means for updating the screennail image with a higher resolution image, the step of updating the screennail image further includes

means for retrieving the higher resolution image;

means coupled to the higher resolution image retrieving means for determining if the higher resolution image requires cropping;

means coupled to the higher resolution image determining means for decompressing the higher resolution image;

means coupled to the higher resolution image decompressing means for cropping the higher resolution image if the higher resolution image requires cropping; and

means coupled to the higher resolution image cropping means for providing the higher resolution image to the display.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the decompressing means further comprise:

means for decompressing and resizing the image.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the determining means further comprise:

means for determining the aspect ratio of the image; and

matching means coupled to the aspect ratio determining means for determining if the aspect ratio of the image matches an aspect ratio of the display.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the display is an LCD screen.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the image capture device is a digital camera.