Digital camera

• US 7,286,177 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2001
• Issued: 10/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation, Nokia Mobile Phones Australia Pty Ltd. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Cooper, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Srivastava; Vivek
• Assistant Examiner(s): MISLEH, JUSTIN P
• Application Number:
  US10/020,870
• Publication Number:
  US 20030112361A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,134 Days
• Field of Search: 348/333.04, 348/376, 348/333.02
• US Class Current: 348/333.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/145 Handheld terminals
• 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

Abstract

A digital camera is incorporated into a mobile telephone handset. An image window, used as a viewfinder, includes an indicator in the form of a three-part bar for showing whether an optimal image can be captured. Exposure, white balance and dark reference are determined using algorithms executed by the handset.

Claims

1. A digital camera comprising:

a single composite image quality indicator configured to represent a plurality of image quality parameters based on an image,

wherein the composite image quality indicator is generated based on data associated with the plurality of image quality parameters,

wherein the single composite image quality indicator comprises a plurality of portions, each portion of the plurality of portions configurable between a first state and a second state, and

wherein a number of indicator portions displayed in the second state corresponds to a number of image quality parameters that are determined to be stable;

and

a display for displaying the image together with the single composite image quality indicator, wherein the plurality of portions are displayed simultaneously.

2. A digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the image quality indicator indicates whether the image is optimal based on the plurality of image parameters.

3. A digital camera according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of image parameters includes a light exposure.

4. A digital camera according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of image parameters includes a white balance.

5. A digital camera according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of image parameters includes a dark reference.

6. The digital camera according to claim 1, further comprising a mobile communications device.

7. The digital camera according to claim 1, further comprising a mobile telephone handset.

8. A method comprising:

determining a number of image quality parameters that are stable; and

displaying a user interface having a single composite image quality indicator representing a plurality of image quality parameters of an image,

wherein the single composite image quality indicator comprises a plurality of portions, each portion of the plurality of portions displayable in a first state and second state,

wherein the plurality of portions are displayed simultaneously in the user interface and

wherein a number of the plurality of portions displayed in the second state corresponds to a number of image quality parameters that are determined to be stable.

9. A method according to claim 8, further comprising capturing the image.

10. A method according to claim 9, further comprising displaying the captured image, together with the single composite image quality indicator.

11. A method according to claim 9, further comprising executing at least one algorithm for determining the quality of the image.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein executing at least one algorithm for determining the quality of an image captured includes determining light exposure for the image.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein executing the at least one algorithm for determining the quality of an image captured includes performing a white balance of the image.

14. A method according to claim 11, wherein executing the at least one algorithm for determining the quality of an image captured includes determining a dark reference for the image.

15. A method according to claim 11, comprising determining whether the at least one algorithm has been found to be stable.

16. A method according to claim 8 wherein the image quality indicator is displayed within the image.

17. A computer program stored on a computer readable medium for capturing an image on a digital camera, said computer program, when executed, causing the digital camera to perform the method of claim 8.

18. A method comprising:

providing a user interface of a digital camera having a composite image quality indicator representing a plurality of image quality parameters, wherein the composite image quality indicator is generated based on data associated with the plurality of image quality parameters and wherein the composite image quality indicator includes a plurality of segmented portions, each of the plurality of segmented portions displayable in a first state and a second state;

determining whether a first image quality parameter of the plurality of image quality parameters is stable; and

displaying a first segmented portion of the plurality of segmented portions in the second state in response to determining that the first image quality parameter is stable, wherein a number of segmented portions displayed in the second state corresponds to a number of the plurality of image quality parameters that are determined to be stable.

19. A method according to claim 18, comprising executing at least one algorithm for determining the quality of the image.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein determining whether the first image quality parameter is stable further comprises the step of determining whether one or more image quality algorithms converge.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the one or more image quality algorithms comprises at least one of a white balance algorithm, a dark calibration algorithm and an exposure control algorithm.

22. A computer readable medium storing computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to perform a method comprising:

determining a number of image quality parameters that are stable; and

displaying a user interface having a single composite image quality indicator representing a plurality of image quality parameters of an image,

wherein the single composite image quality indicator comprises a plurality of portions, each portion of the plurality of portions displayable in a first state and a second state,

wherein the plurality of portions are displayed simultaneously in the user interface, and

wherein a number of the plurality of portions displayed in the second state corresponds to a number of image quality parameters that are determined to be stable.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 22, wherein the first state corresponds to an unshaded appearance and the second state corresponds to a shaded appearance.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 22, wherein determining a number of image quality parameters that are stable includes analyzing a digital image of a digital camera.

25. A computer readable medium storing computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to generate a user interface comprising:

a composite image quality indicator configured to represent a plurality of image quality parameters, the image quality indicator having a plurality of portions, each of the plurality of portions displayable in a first state and a second state,

wherein the plurality of portions are displayed in the user interface simultaneously, and

wherein a number of the plurality of portions displayed in the second state corresponds to a number of the plurality of image quality parameters determined to be stable.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 25, wherein the user interface further comprises a digital image and wherein the composite image quality indicator is overlaid on the digital image.

27. The computer readable medium of claim 25, wherein the first state corresponds to an unshaded appearance and the second state corresponds to a shaded appearance.