Electronic camera with image review

• US 6,147,703 A
• Filed: 12/19/1996
• Issued: 11/14/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Miller, Michael Eugene, Lourette, Richard William
• Primary Examiner(s): Garber, Wendy
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILSON, JACQUELINE B
• Application Number:
  US08/769,573
• Time in Patent Office: 1,426 Days
• Field of Search: 348/333, 348/334, 348/252, 348/239, 348/373, 348/375, 348/376, 348/552, 348/220, 348/231, 348/221
• US Class Current: 348/220.1
• 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 1/00477 Indicating status, e.g. of a job for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N2201/3219
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/214 Checking or indicating the storage space
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/631 Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/633 for displaying additional information relating to control or operation of the camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure

Abstract

An electronic camera for capturing images and for reviewing selected images, the camera comprising an arrangement for capturing an image of a real world scene as an image signal, a storage structure for storing captured images and from which stored images can be read, a screen, and a structure for displaying on the screen a graphical representation of a list of the stored images and a user selected location within the list. The camera further comprises a user interface which allows a user to select the location within the list, and a structure for displaying on the screen the image within the list corresponding to the selected location.

Claims

1. A camera comprising:

(a) means for capturing an image of a real world scene as an image signal;

(b) storage means for storing captured images and from which stored images can be read, the images being in a list ordered in the sequence in which the images were stored;

(c) a screen;

(d) means for displaying on the screen a plurality of interspersed images from the list of stored images, the interspersed images being moved across the screen as a user moves the location within the list; and

(e) a user interface which allows a user to move the location within the list from which the interspersed images are to be displayed.

2. A camera according to claim 1 wherein the user interface allows the user to move the location at least at a slower rate and a faster rate, and wherein the display means causes an additional visual indication to be displayed on the screen when the faster rate is selected.

3. A camera according to claim 1 wherein the user interface allows the user to move the location at a slower rate and a faster rate, and wherein at the faster rate the interspersed images are displayed at a separation in the list greater than the separation of images at the slower rate.

4. A camera according to claim 3 wherein there is no separation in the list between images displayed at the slower rate.

5. A camera comprising:

(a) means for capturing an image of a real world scene as an image signal;

(b) storage means for storing captured images and from which stored images can be read, the images being a list ordered in the sequence in which the images were stored;

(c) a screen;

(d) means for displaying on the screen a graphical representation of the list of the stored images and a user selected location within the list, the images being moved across the screen as a user moves the location within the list;

(e) a user interface which allows the user to move the location within the list from which the images are to be displayed, the user interface allowing the user to move the location at least at a slower rate and a faster rate; and

(f) means for displaying a selected image on the screen, wherein at the faster rate the interspersed images are displayed at a separation in the list greater than the separation of images at the slower rate.

6. A camera according to claim 5 wherein there is no separation in the list between images displayed at the slower rate.

7. A camera comprising:

(a) means for capturing an image of a real world scene as an image signal;

(b) storage means for storing captured images and from which stored images can be read;

(c) a screen;

(d) means for displaying on the screen a graphical representation of a list of the stored images and a user selected location within the list;

(e) a user interface which allows a user to select the location within the list; and

(f) means responsive to a predetermined retrieval time for displaying on the screen the image within the list corresponding to the selected location, wherein if during the retrieval time a user selects another location within the list, the retrieval is terminated.

8. A camera comprising:

(a) means for capturing an image of a real world scene as an image signal;

(b) storage means for storing captured images and from which stored images can be read;

(c) a screen;

(d) means for displaying on the screen a graphical representation of a list of the stored images and a user selected location within the list;

(e) a user interface which allows a user to select the location within the list; and

(f) means for displaying on the screen the image within the list corresponding to the selected location, provided a user does not select another location within a predetermined time.

9. A camera comprising:

(a) means for capturing an image of a real world scene as an image signal;

(b) storage means for storing captured images and from which stored images can be read;

(c) a screen;

(d) means for displaying on the screen a graphical representation of a list of the stored images and a user selected location within the list;

(e) a user interface which allows a user to select the location within the list; and

(f) means for displaying on the screen a low resolution version of the image within the list corresponding to the selected location, and including means for causing a higher resolution version of the image to be displayed provided a user does not select another location within a time required to display the low resolution version.

10. A method of capturing, storing and displaying stored images on a camera, comprising:

(a) capturing on the camera, images of real world scenes as image signals;

(b) storing the captured images in the camera;

(c) displaying on a screen on the camera, a graphical representation of the list of stored images and a user selected location within the list; and

(d) displaying on the screen the image within the list corresponding to the selected location, wherein a predetermined retrieval time is required to display the image, and wherein if during the retrieval time a user selects another location, the retrieval is terminated.

11. A method of capturing, storing and displaying stored images on a camera, comprising:

(a) capturing on the camera, images of real world scenes as image signals;

(b) storing the captured images in the camera;

(c) displaying on a screen on the camera, a graphical representation of the list of stored images and a user selected location within the list; and

(d) displaying on the screen the image within the list corresponding to the selected location provided a user does not select another location within a predetermined time.

12. A method of capturing, storing and displaying stored images on a camera, comprising:

(a) capturing on the camera, images of real world scenes as image signals;

(b) storing the captured images in the camera;

(c) displaying on a screen on the camera, a graphical representation of the list of stored images and a user selected location within the list;

(d) displaying on the screen a low resolution version of the image within the list corresponding to the selected location; and

(e) displaying a higher resolution version of the image provided a user does not select another location within a time required to display the low resolution version.

13. A camera comprising:

(a) means for capturing an image of a real world scene as an image signal;

(b) storage means for storing captured images and from which stored images can be read, the images being a list ordered in the sequence in which the images were stored;

(c) a screen;

(d) means for displaying on the screen a graphical representation of the list of the stored images and a user selected location within the list, the images being moved across the screen as a user moves the location within the list;

(e) a user interface which allows the user to move the location within the list from which the images are to be displayed; and

(f) means responsive to a predetermined retrieval time for displaying a selected image on the screen, wherein if during the retrieval time a user selects another location with the list, the retrieval is terminated.

14. A camera comprising:

(a) means for capturing an image of a real world scene as an image signal;

(b) storage means for storing captured images and from which stored images can be read, the images being a list ordered in the sequence in which the images were stored;

(c) a screen;

(d) means for displaying on the screen a graphical representation of the list of the stored images and a user selected location within the list, the images being moved across the screen as a user moves the location within the list;

(e) a user interface which allows the user to move the location within the list from which the images are to be displayed; and

(f) means for displaying a selected image on the screen provided a user does not select another location within a predetermined time.

15. A camera comprising:

(a) means for capturing an image of a real world scene as an image signal;

(b) storage means for storing captured images and from which stored images can be read, the images being a list ordered in the sequence in which the images were stored;

(c) a screen;

(d) means for displaying on the screen a graphical representation of the list of the stored images and a user selected location within the list, the images being moved across the screen as a user moves the location within the list;

(e) a user interface which allows the user to move the location within the list from which the images are to be displayed; and

(f) means for displaying a low resolution version of a-selected image on the screen, and including means for displaying a higher resolution version of the image provided a user does not select another location within a time required to display the low resolution version.

16. A camera comprising:

(a) means for capturing an image of a real world scene as an image signal;

(b) storage means for storing captured images and from which stored images can be read, the images being a list ordered in the sequence in which the images were stored;

(c) a screen;

(d) means for displaying on the screen a graphical representation of the list of the stored images and a user selected location within the list, the images being moved across the screen as a user moves the location within the list;

(e) a user interface which allows the user to move the location within the list from which the images are to be displayed, the user interface allowing the user to move the location at least at a slower rate and a faster rate; and

(f) means for displaying a selected image on the screen, including means for causing an additional visual indication to be displayed on the screen when the faster rate is selected.