Image revising camera and method

• US 6,516,154 B1
• Filed: 07/17/2001
• Issued: 02/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Cannon, James W., Parulski, Kenneth A., Malloy Desormeaux, Stephen G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Perkey, W. B.
• Application Number:
  US09/907,170
• Time in Patent Office: 567 Days
• Field of Search: 396/374, 396/310, 396/287, 396/311, 396/296, 348/333.11, 348/333.12, 348/333.01, 348/207, 348/64, 348/333.02, 348/333.03, 348/333.04, 348/333.05
• US Class Current: 396/287
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
• 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 23/634 Warning indications

Abstract

In a method and camera, a scene is captured as an original electronic image. The original electronic image is stored as an archival image in memory in the camera. A plurality of parameters of the scene are evaluated. The parameters are matched to one or more of a plurality of editorial suggestions to define a suggestion set. One or more editorial suggestion images are generated. Each editorial suggestion image is a copy of the original electronic image modified in accordance with a respective editorial suggestion. The editorial suggestion images are displayed. User input is accepted designating one depictions as a user selection. The user input is recorded for later use in preparation of a final image or the stored archival image is edited in accordance with the selected suggestion.

Claims

1. A photography method comprising the steps of:

capturing a scene as an original electronic image;

captuing a latent image concurrent with said capturing of said original electronic image;

storing said original electronic image in memory in said camera;

evaluating a plurality of parameters of said scene;

matching said parameters to one or more of a plurality of editorial suggestions to define a suggestion set;

generating one or more editorial suggestion images, each said editorial suggestion image being a copy of said original electronic image modified in accordance with a respective one of said editorial suggestions of said suggestion set;

displaying said editorial suggestion images;

accepting user input designating one of said depictions as a user selection; and

recording photofinishing data in association with said latent image, said data being an indication of said user selection.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

editing said original electronic image in accordance with the respective said editorial suggestion corresponding to said user selection to provide an edited image; and

storing said edited image in said memory.

3. A photography method comprising the steps of:

capturing a scene as an original electronic image;

storing said original electronic image in memory in said camera;

evaluating a plurality of parameters of said scene;

matching said parameters to one or more of a plurality of editorial suggestions to define a suggestion set;

showing depictions of said editorial suggestions of said suggestion set;

accepting user input designating one of said depictions as a user selection;

following said showing and accepting, editing said original electronic image in accordance with the respective said editorial suggestion corresponding to said user selection to provide an edited image; and

storing said edited image in said memory.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said storing of said edited image further comprises replacing said original electronic image in said memory with said edited image.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein said evaluating said scene further comprises detecting, in said scene, a photographic subject and a background.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein at least one of said editorial suggestions includes enlarging a part of said original electronic image that includes said photographic subject.

7. The method of claim 3 wherein at least one of said editorial suggestions includes recentering.

8. The method of claim 3 wherein at least one of said depictions is only partially inclusive of said original electronic image.

9. The method of claim 3 wherein at least one of said editorial suggestions includes altering the aspect ratio of said original electronic image.

10. The method of claim 3 wherein said showing further comprises, as to each of said depictions, copying said original electronic image to provide a copy and modifying said copy in accordance with the respective said editorial suggestion of said suggestion set.

11. A photography method comprising the steps of:

capturing a scene as an original electronic image;

storing said original electronic image in memory in said camera;

evaluating a plurality of parameters of said scene;

matching said parameters to one or more of a plurality of editorial suggestions to define a suggestion set;

copying said original electronic image to provide a copy for each said editorial suggestion of said suggestion set;

modifying said copies in accordance with respective said editorial suggestions of said suggestion set to provide suggestion images;

showing said suggestion images;

accepting user input designating one of said suggestion images as an edited image; and

replacing said original electronic image in said memory with said edited image.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising discarding said suggestion images other than said edited image.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein said evaluating further comprises detecting, in said scene, a photographic subject and a background.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein at least one of said editorial suggestions includes enlarging a part of said original electronic image that includes said photographic subject.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein at least one of said editorial suggestions includes re-centering.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein at least one of said suggestion images is only partially inclusive of said original electronic image.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein at least one of said editorial suggestions includes altering the aspect ratio of said original electronic image.

18. An image capture method comprising:

capturing an electronic image in a camera, said electronic image defining an assessment field of view;

following said capturing of said electronic image, selectively displaying, in alternation, a plurality of different portions of said assessment field of view, said portions each being different, at least one of said portions being non-concentric with said electronic image;

accepting user designation of one of said portions of said electronic image;

following said accepting, cropping said electronic image to match the respective portion of said designation; and

storing said electronic image following said cropping.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said cropping is irreversible.

20. A camera comprising:

a body;

an electronic capture unit disposed in said body, said electronic capture unit capturing an original electronic image of a scene;

memory disposed in said body, said memory storing said original electronic image;

an evaluator disposed in said body, said evaluator assessing one or more parameters of said scene to provide an assessment;

a look-up table matching said assessment to one or more of a plurality of editorial suggestions to define a suggestion set;

a display operatively connected to said look-up table, said display indicating said editorial suggestions of said suggestion set;

a designator mounted to said body, said designator having a plurality of settings, each said setting corresponding to a selected one said editorial suggestions of said suggestion set, said designator being selectively settable to a selected one of said settings to define a selected suggestion; and

a control system operatively connected to said memory, said look-up table, and said designator, said control system recording photofinishing data that is an indication of said selected suggestion.

21. The camera of claim 20 further comprising a photographic film capture unit disposed in said body, said photographic film capture unit being configured to hold a film unit, said photographic film capture unit capturing a latent image of said scene in said film unit, concurrent with said capturing of said original electronic image.

22. The camera of claim 21 further comprising a recording head disposed, in said camera, to record said indication of said selected suggestion in association with said latent image in said film unit.

23. The camera of said 20 wherein said photofinishing data is a revision of said original electronic image in said memory in accordance with said selected suggestion.

24. The camera of claim 23 wherein said control system replaces said original electronic image in said memory with said revision.

25. A camera comprising:

a body;

an electronic capture unit disposed in said body, said electronic capture unit capturing an original electronic image of a scene;

memory disposed in said body, said memory storing said original electronic image;

an evaluator disposed in said body, said evaluator assessing one or more parameters of said scene to provide an assessment;

a look-up table matching said assessment to one or more of a plurality of editorial suggestions to define a suggestion set;

a display operatively connected to said look-up table, said display indicating said editorial suggestions of said suggestion set;

a designator mound to said body, said designator having a plurality of settings, each said setting corresponding to one of said editorial suggestions of said suggestion set, said designator being selectively settable to a selected one of said settings to define a selected suggestion; and

a control system operatively connected to said memory, said look-up table, and said designator, said control system revising said original electronic image in said memory in accordance with said selected suggestion.

26. The camera of claim 25 wherein said control system generates depictions of said editorial suggestions of said suggestion set and said display shows said depictions.

27. The camera of claim 26 wherein said depictions are each a combination of said original electronic image and the respective said editorial suggestion.

28. A camera comprising:

a body;

an electronic imager disposed in said body, said imager capturing an original electronic image of a scene;

memory disposed in said body, said memory storing said original electronic image;

an evaluator disposed in said body, said evaluator assessing one or more parameters of said scene to provide an assessment;

a look-up table matching said assessment to one or more of a plurality of editorial suggestions to define a suggestion set;

a controller operatively connected to said memory and said look-up table, said controller generating an edited copy of said original electronic image corresponding to each of said editorial suggestions of said suggestion set, each said copy implementing a respective said editorial suggestion;

a display operatively connected to said look-up table, said display showing said edited copies;

a designator having a plurality of settings, each said setting designating one of said edited copies, said designator being selectively settable in one of said settings to store the respective said edited copy in said memory;

wherein said edited copy in said memory replaces said original electronic image.

29. The camera of claim 28 wherein at least one of said edited copies is only partially inclusive of said scene.

30. The camera of claim 28 wherein said evaluator includes a multiple element rangefinder and one of said parameters is the position within said electronic image, of a photographic subject detected by said rangefinder.

31. The camera of claim 30 wherein at least one of said edited copies recenters said photographic subject.

32. The camera of claim 28 wherein at least one of said edited copies has an altered aspect ratio relative to said original electronic image.

33. A camera comprising:

a body;

an electonic imager disposed in said body, said imager capturing an original electronic image of a scene;

memory disposed in said body, said memory storing said original electronic image;

a controller operatively connected to said memory, said controller generating a plurality of edited copies of ad original electronic image;

a display operatively connected to said controller, said display showing said edited copies;

a designator having a plurality of settings, each said setting designating one of said edited copies, said designator being selectively settable in one of said settings to store the respective said edited copy in said memory;

wherein said edited copy in said memory replaces said original electronic image.

34. The camera of claim 33 wherein each of said edited copies is cropped relative to said original electronic image.

35. The camera of claim 33 wherein at least one of said edited copies is only partially inclusive of said scene.

36. The camera of claim 33 further comprising an evaluator disposed in said body, said evaluator assessing one or more parameters of said scene to provide an assessment;

and a look-up table matching said assessment to one or more of a plurality of editorial suggestions to define a suggestion set; and

wherein said controller generates an edited copy of said original electronic image implementing each of said editorial suggestions of said suggestion set.

37. The camera of claim 36 wherein said evaluator includes a multiple element rangefinder and one of said parameters is the position within said electronic image, of a photographic subject detected by said rangefinder.

38. The camera of claim 37 wherein at least one of said edited copies recenters said photographic subject.

39. The camera of claim 33 wherein at least one of said edited copies has an altered aspect ratio relative to said original electronic image.