Digital camera with separate function and option icons and control switches

• US 6,362,851 B1
• Filed: 06/07/1996
• Issued: 03/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Original Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Inventors: Lavelle, Mark Thomas, Pfeifer, Herbert H. F., Laughton, Paul Cameron, Montgomery, Paul S., Kare, Susan Deborah
• Primary Examiner(s): HO, TUAN V
• Application Number:
  US08/660,319
• Time in Patent Office: 2,118 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.5225, H04/N.5222, 348/207, 348/222, 348/232, 348/233, 348/333.04, 348/333.02, 348/333.01, 348/552, 348/231, 348/211, 348/220, 348/333.05, 348/333.06, 348/333.07
• US Class Current: 348/333.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0074 Arrangements for the control of a still picture apparatus by the connected apparatus arrangements for the control of the connected apparatus by the still picture apparatus H04N2201/0013; control of image communication with the connected apparatus H04N2201/0015
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/651 for reducing power consumption by affecting camera operations, e.g. sleep mode, hibernation mode or power off of selective parts of the camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet

Abstract

A hand-held digital camera including a CCD for receiving an image and converting the image to a digital file of image data, a memory for storing the image data, a communication port for communicating between the hand-held digital camera and a digital computer, and a user interface for receiving input commands from the user. The user interface includes a LCD and a plurality of switches for permitting the user to communicate with the camera intuitively. A host interface facilitates the transfer of commands and data between the digital camera and the host computer via a communication link and permits a user to operate the digital camera remotely from the host computer. The display includes function icons which the user can cycle among using one of the switches. The display also includes option icons for certain of the function icons, which the user can cycle among using a second switch.

Claims

1. A digital camera comprising:

a circuit for receiving an image and converting said image to a digital file of image data;

a memory for storing at least a portion of said image data;

a communication port for communicating between said digital camera and a digital computer; and

a user interface, said user interface comprising;

a display comprising a plurality of selectable function icons representing a plurality of selectable functions, at least one of said selectable function icons having a plurality of selectable options icons adjacent thereto;

selecting means consisting of;

a first switch for cycling among said selectable function icons to choose a selected function; and

a second switch for cycling among said selectable options of said selected function;

wherein said first and second switch control all selectable functions on said display.

2. The digital camera of claim 1 further comprising:

means coupled to said communication port and responsive to a command from said digital computer for disabling a first one of said selectable functions thereby preventing its selection by a user.

3. The digital camera of claim 1 further comprising:

means coupled to said communication port and responsive to a command from said digital computer for setting the power-up defaults of certain ones of said selectable functions.

4. The digital camera of claim 3 wherein said one of said selectable functions is one of exposure offset, shutter delay, or flash functions.

5. The digital camera of claim 1 further comprising:

means coupled to said communication port and responsive to a command from said digital computer for permitting said digital camera to select one of said selectable functions and one of said selectable options without requiring a user to operate said switches.

6. The digital camera of claim 1 wherein said second switch cycles in a first direction among said selectable options, and further comprising:

a third switch for cycling in a second direction among said selectable options; and

a single rocker button for activating said second and third switches.

7. The digital camera of claim 1 wherein at least one of said selectable functions is an option-less function that does not have a plurality of selectable options, and instead, when selected by said first switch, is activated by said second switch.

8. The digital camera of claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of non-user-selectable function icons on said display;

means for storing in said memory status information regarding functions represented by said selectable function icons and said plurality of non-user-selectable function icons;

means, coupled to said communication port, for sending said status information to said digital computer responsive to a signal on said communication port.

9. The digital camera of claim 1 further comprising:

means for placing said camera in an off mode wherein it is unresponsive to said user interface; and

means for communicating over said communication port while said camera is in said off mode.

10. A digital camera comprising:

a circuit for receiving an image and converting said image to a digital file of image data;

a memory for storing at least a portion of said image data;

a communication port for communicating between said digital camera and a digital computer; and

a user interface, said user interface comprising;

a display comprising a plurality of selectable function icons representing a plurality of selectable functions, at least one of said selectable function icons having selectable options;

a plurality of non-user-selectable function icons on said display;

means for storing in said memory status information regarding functions represented by said selectable function icons and said plurality of non-user-selectable function icons; and

means, coupled to said communication port, for sending said status information to said digital computer responsive to a signal on said communication port.

11. A digital camera comprising:

a circuit for receiving an image and converting said image to a digital file of image data;

a memory for storing at least a portion of said image data;

a communication port for communicating between said digital camera and a digital computer; and

a user interface, said user interface comprising;

a display comprising a plurality of selectable function icons representing a plurality of selectable functions, at least one of said selectable function icons having selectable options;

means for placing said camera in an off mode wherein it is unresponsive to said user interface; and

means for communicating over said communication port while said camera is in said off mode.