Trigger tone of a camera

• US 7,714,897 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2005
• Issued: 05/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Uusitalo, Severi, Mäkelä, Kaj
• Primary Examiner(s): Hannett; James M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Calderon; Cynthia
• Application Number:
  US11/229,018
• Publication Number:
  US 20070058052A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,699 Days
• Field of Search: 348/231.4
• US Class Current: 348/221.1
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/18 Signals indicating condition of a camera member or suitability of light indicating depth of field G03B13/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00405 Output means output arrangements for computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00488 providing an audible output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure

Abstract

The invention relates to a digital camera comprising at least a memory unit for saving pictures and a control unit that is adapted to control the operation of the camera and to form a trigger tone on the basis of the state of the camera. The trigger tone indicates the triggering of the camera and the current state of the camera. The invention also relates to a method and a computer program product for forming an information tone of a digital camera.

Claims

1. A digital camera comprising at least

a trigger button configured to trigger the camera,

a memory unit configured to save pictures,

a control unit that is configured to

control operation of the camera, and

form a trigger tone in response to the trigger button being at least partially pushed down, and

a tone generator that is configured to play a formed trigger tone,

wherein the control unit is configured to form the trigger tone based on a current state of the camera, and to change the trigger tone based on a utilization of memory capacity and a memory capacity threshold, wherein the control unit is configured to form the trigger tone with increasing pitch for decreasing capacity.

2. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to form the trigger tone with a shutter sound before said memory capacity threshold is reached.

3. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to form the trigger tone with an error sound after there is no memory capacity left.

4. The digital camera according to claim 2, wherein the control unit is configured to form the trigger tone with an error sound after there is no memory capacity left.

5. A method comprising:

forming a trigger tone in response to a trigger button of a camera being at least partially pushed down,

forming the trigger tone based on a current state of the camera, and

changing the trigger tone based on a utilization level of memory capacity for storing pictures and a memory capacity threshold, wherein the trigger tone is formed with increasing pitch for indicating decreasing capacity.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the trigger tone is formed with a shutter sound before said memory capacity threshold is reached.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the trigger tone is formed with an error sound after there is no memory capacity left.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the trigger tone is formed with an error sound after there is no memory capacity left.

9. A computer-readable medium having computer program code stored thereon, said code executable in a data processing device for maintaining an information tone of a digital camera, wherein when said code is executed it causes said device to perform

providing a trigger tone in response to a trigger button of the camera being at least partially pushed down,

forming the trigger tone based on a current state of the camera, and

changing the trigger tone based on a utilization level of memory capacity for storing pictures and on a memory capacity threshold, wherein the computer program code comprises instructions, which when executed, further cause said camera to perform providing the trigger tone with increasing pitch for decreasing capacity.

10. The computer readable medium according to claim 9, wherein the computer program code comprises instructions, which when executed, further cause said camera to perform providing the trigger tone with a shutter sound before said memory capacity threshold is reached.

11. The computer readable medium according to claim 9, wherein the computer program code comprises instructions, which when executed, further cause said camera to perform providing the trigger tone with an error sound after there is no memory capacity left.

12. The computer readable medium according to claim 10, wherein the computer program code comprises instructions, which when executed, further cause said camera to perform providing the trigger tone with an error sound after there is no memory capacity left.