Linkable digital cameras for an image capture system

• US 6,864,911 B1
• Filed: 10/26/2000
• Issued: 03/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Lavin, Yingmei, Zhang, Xuemei
• Primary Examiner(s): Christensen, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ye, Lin
• Application Number:
  US09/696,779
• Time in Patent Office: 1,594 Days
• Field of Search: 348/42, 348 46- 48, 348/51, 348/52, 348/211.1, 348/211.11, 348/207.99, 348/207.1, 382/154, 345/419, 396/324, 352/57
• US Class Current: 348/42
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 35/08 by simultaneous recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00347 with another still picture apparatus, e.g. hybrid still picture apparatus circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between image input and image output device H04N1/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/239 using two 2D image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance H04N13/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0041 Point to point H04N2201/0039 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0049 By wire, cable or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0056 Using mechanical couplings, e.g. mating elements H04N2201/0049, H04N2201/0051, H04N2201/0058 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/635 Region indicators; Field of view indicators
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet

Abstract

A system of linked digital cameras for an image capture system is disclosed. A first and second digital camera can be linked to capture a first images and a second image that are used to form a stereo image. A first data port on the first digital camera and a second data port on the second digital camera intercommunicate data between each other when the cameras are linked. The data can include the first and second image data, camera control data, and camera synchronization data. After capturing the first and second images, the image from one of the cameras can be transferred to the other camera so that both the first and second images reside in the other camera. The system allows a user who wishes to capture stereo images the ability to do so with out having to purchase two digital cameras. A compatible digital camera can be borrowed from another user for the purpose of stereo image capture. After the stereo image is captured, the user transfers both images to his camera and returns the borrowed camera. The cameras can be equipped with viewfinders that allow a user of the cameras to view the image being captured in stereo. The viewfinders can be adjustable to accommodate variations in user interpupillary distance. A digital camera operating system (OS) can be customized to enable stereo image capture, image data handling, image processing, and camera control for the linked digital cameras.

Claims

1. A stereo image capture system, comprising:

a first digital camera adapted for hand-held use by a user as a stand-alone digital camera and operative to capture a first digital image and including a first optical axis and a first data port;

a second digital camera adapted for hand-held use by a user as a stand-alone digital camera and operative to capture a second digital image and including a second optical axis and a second data port,

the first and second data ports are adapted to intercommunicate data including the first and second digital images between the cameras,

the first and second digital cameras are adapted to be connected with each other so that the first and second optical axes are coplanar and parallel to each other and are separated by a predetermined distance, and

wherein when the cameras are connected with each other, the cameras form the stereo image capture system operative to capture a stereo image by capturing the first and second digital images.

2. The stereo image capture system of claim 1, wherein the data is intercommunicated between the first and second data ports when the first digital camera is connected with the second digital camera.

3. The stereo image capture system of claim 1 and further comprising a data port connector for connecting the cameras with each other and for connecting the first data port with the second data port.

4. The stereo image capture system of claim 3, wherein the data port connector has a fixed length and the predetermined distance is varied by selecting the fixed length of the data port connector.

5. The stereo image capture system of claim 1 and further comprising a data port connector for connecting the cameras with each other and for connecting the first data port with the second data port and including an adjustable length and the predetermined distance is varied by adjusting the length of the data port connector.

6. The stereo image capture system of claim 5, wherein the predetermined distance can be varied in a range from about 18.0 millimeters to about 80.0 millimeters.

7. The stereo image capture system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined distance is in a range from about 18.0 millimeters to about 80.0 millimeters.

8. The stereo image capture system of claim 1, wherein when the first and second digital cameras are connected with each other the first and second data ports are in electrical intercommunication with each other.

9. The stereo image capture system of claim 8, wherein the data is electrically intercommunicated using a communication protocol.

10. The stereo image capture system of claim 9, wherein the communication protocol is selected from the group consisting of a JETSEND protocol, an IEEE 1394 protocol, a FIREWIRE protocol, an USB protocol, a RS-232 protocol, and a RS422 protocol.

11. The stereo image capture system of claim 1, wherein the first and second data ports are in wireless intercommunication with each other when the first and second digital cameras are connected with each other.

12. The stereo image capture system of claim 11, wherein the wireless intercommunication is a selected one of optical intercommunication and radio intercommunication.

13. The stereo image capture system of claim 12, wherein the optical intercommunication is effectuated using a selected one of an IRDA communication protocol and a JETSEND communication protocol, and the radio intercommunication is effectuated using a BLUETOOTH communication protocol.

14. The stereo image capture system of claim 12, wherein either one or both of the first and second data ports is adapted to receive extrinsic data transmitted from a source external to either one of the first and second digital cameras.

15. The stereo image capture system of claim 14, wherein the extrinsic data comprises illumination data.

16. The stereo image capture system of claim 1 and further comprising:

a first view finder mounted on the first digital camera; and

a second view finder mounted on the second digital camera,

the first and second view finders are spaced apart by an interpupillary separation when the cameras are connected with each other, and

wherein the first and second view finders are adapted to form a visual stereo image that is representative of the stereo image captured by the first and second digital cameras.

17. The stereo image capture system of claim 16, wherein the first and second view finders are a component selected from the group consisting of an optical view finder, a through-the-lens optical view finder, and a micro-display view finder.

18. The stereo image capture system of claim 16, wherein the first and second view finders are movably mounted to the first and second digital cameras respectively so that the interpupillary separation between the first and second view finders can be adjusted to match a user specific variation in eye spacing.

19. The stereo image capture system of claim 1, wherein one of the first and second digital cameras is selectable to be a master camera and the other one of the first and second digital cameras is a slave camera, and after the first and second digital images have been captured, the digital image captured by the slave camera is intercommunicated to the master camera so that the stereo image resides in the master camera.

20. The stereo image capture system of claim 19, wherein one or more identical functions on the slave camera including the capturing of the second image is controlled by the master camera.

21. The stereo image capture system of claim 1, wherein the second digital camera is flipped from a normal position to a linked position so that the second digital camera can be connected to the first digital camera and so that the second data port is in communication with the first data port when the cameras are connected to each other.

22. The stereo image capture system of claim 1, wherein the first data port is replicated at least once on the first digital camera and the second data port is replicated at least once on the second digital camera so that the first and second digital cameras can be connected with each other without having to flip either one of the cameras in order to effectuate communication between the first and second data ports.

23. The stereo image capture system of claim 1 and further comprising:

a first display positioned on the first digital camera and operative to display information including the first digital image; and

a second display positioned on the second digital camera and operative to display information including the second digital image, wherein the predetermined distance defines an interpupillay separation between the first and second displays such that a user of the stereo image capture system can view the stereo image.

24. The stereo image capture system of claim 23, wherein the predetermined distance can be varied in a range from about 18.0 millimeters to about 80.0 millimeters so that the interpupillay separation can be adjusted to match a user specific variation in ey e spacing.