Digital camera and method of using same to view image in live view mode

• US 6,900,840 B1
• Filed: 09/14/2000
• Issued: 05/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2000
• 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: Schinner, Charles, Van Veen, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Garber, Wendy R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jerabek, Kelly L.
• Application Number:
  US09/661,764
• Time in Patent Office: 1,720 Days
• Field of Search: 34833301-33311, 348/222.1, 348/229.1, 348241-248, 348/217.1
• US Class Current: 348/333.01
• 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 23/667 Camera operation mode switching, e.g. between still and video, sport and normal or high- and low-resolution modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/73 by influencing the exposure time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/76 by influencing the image signals

Abstract

In accordance with the present invention, a new and improved digital camera has a capture mode of operation where a scene to be captured can be captured and stored in a removable memory device as a digital still image and subsequently retrieved and displayed on a LCD in a review mode of operation. Alternatively, the scene to be captured can be captured repeatedly and buffered to the LCD where the buffering rate is determined in a live view capture mode of operation allowing a user to preview the scene to be captured in various ambient lighting conditions. In one instance, under low ambient lighting conditions a user is able to manually adjust the live view/preview apparent image brightness level of tie displayed scene independently of any LCD brightness or contrast adjustments.

Claims

1. An electronic device for displaying a buffered image, comprising:

an image capture device having a range of exposure times for converting light to an electrical signal; and

a programmable amplifier coupled to said image capture device and responsive to a manual indication from a user that the image is sufficiently obfuscated due to lighting conditions to lack discernible features for adjusting the strength of said electrical signal;

wherein a set of controls icons are automatically displayed whenever the exposure time of said image capture device is at about 13.33 milliseconds or greater to help facilitate user adjustments to improve quality.

2. An electronic device for displaying a buffered image according to claim 1, wherein said programmable amplifier is further responsive to said manual indication from the user that the image is smeared for further adjusting the strength of said electrical signal to cause the display of an unsmeared image.

3. An electronic device for displaying a buffered image, according to claim 1, further comprising:

multiplying means responsive to said programmable amplifier for further increasing the strength of said electrical signal to cause the display of an image of sufficient detail to facilitate live view observation.

4. An electronic device for displaying a buffered image, according to claim 3, wherein said multiplying means includes:

an analog to digital converter for converting said electrical signal into a digital signal; and

digital multiplier means for increasing the strength of said digital signal.

5. An electronic device for displaying a buffered image according to claim 4, wherein said digital multiplier means is a digital multiplier.

6. An electronic device for displaying a buffered image according to claim 4, wherein said digital multiplier means is a microprocessor.