Method and apparatus for providing live view and instant review in an image capture device

• US 7,821,544 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2002
• Issued: 10/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: FlashPoint Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qurio Holdings Incorporated
• Inventors: Anderson, Eric C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Aggarwal; Yogesh K
• Application Number:
  US10/228,707
• Publication Number:
  US 20030090585A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,983 Days
• Field of Search: 348/222.1, 348/231.6, 348/376, 348/207.1, 348/333.01, 348/333.02, 348/333.04, 348/333.05, 348/31, 348/333.12, 358/906, 358/909.1
• US Class Current: 348/222.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0044 for image preview or review, e.g. to help the user position a sheet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00442 Simultaneous viewing of a plurality of images, e.g. using a mosaic display arrangement of thumbnails
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00453 arranged in a two dimensional array
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00458 Sequential viewing of a plurality of images, e.g. browsing or scrolling
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2137 with temporary storage before final recording, e.g. in a frame buffer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2158 using a detachable storage unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32128 attached to the image data, e.g. file header, transmitted message header, information on the same page or in the same computer file as the image for information embedded in the image H04N1/32144
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3264 of sound signals
• 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

Abstract

A method and system for providing instant review of a last image in an image capture device is disclosed. The image capture device includes a viewfinder for displaying a live image and each image of a plurality of previously captured images. The method and system include selecting instant review of the last image captured by the image capture device, determining the status and location of the last image, and providing the last image to the viewfinder for display. Therefore, the image capture device is capable of displaying the last image substantially immediately after the last image has been captured. In another aspect, the image capture device contains an image processing system. In this aspect, the method and system include allowing a user to access a play mode and a review mode while the last image captured undergoes processing by the image processing system.

Claims

1. A method for providing review of a last image captured by an image capture device including instant review of a last image, the image capture device including a buffer for storing image data and a viewfinder for displaying a live image and each image of a plurality of captured images, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing the last image to the viewfinder for display to allow the last image to be edited before image processing for the last image is completed, wherein the image capture device is capable of displaying and allowing editing of the last image substantially immediately after the last image has been captured;

(b) subsequent to providing the last image to the viewfinder, determining if the last image is stored in the buffer;

(c) if the last image is not stored in the buffer, retrieving the last image; and

(d) if the last image is stored in the buffer, providing a screennail to the viewfinder.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

(e) updating the viewfinder with higher-resolution image data.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

if the last image is stored in the buffer, providing the last image from the buffer to the viewfinder.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the buffer is a frame buffer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

removing the last image from the viewfinder when a given time interval has elapsed.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

annotating the last image captured.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein annotating the last image captured comprises:

adding sound to the last image captured.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the image capture device is a digital camera.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the viewfinder comprises a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen and an LCD controller.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein editing includes allowing a user to add supplemental data to the last image.

11. An image capture device for providing review of a last image captured by the image capture device including instant review of a last image, the image capture device comprising:

a viewfinder for displaying a live image and each image of a plurality of previously captured images;

a buffer in communication with the viewfinder operative to store image data;

means in communication with the viewfinder for providing the last image to the viewfinder for display to allow the last image to be edited before image processing for the last image is completed, wherein editing includes allowing a user to add supplemental data to the last image and wherein the image capture device is capable of displaying and allowing editing of the last image substantially immediately after the last image has been captured;

buffer determining means in communication with the buffer for determining, subsequent to providing the last image to the viewfinder, if the last image is stored in the buffer;

means in communication with the buffer determining means for retrieving the last image if the last image is not stored in the buffer; and

means in communication with the buffer determining means for providing a screennail of the last image to the viewfinder if the screennail of the last image is stored in the buffer.

12. The image capture device of claim 11, wherein the buffer is a frame buffer.

13. The image capture device of claim 11, wherein the image capture device further comprises:

means in communication with the viewfinder for updating the viewfinder with higher-resolution image data of the last image.

14. The image capture device of claim 11, wherein the image capture device further comprises:

means coupled to the viewfinder for removing the last image from the viewfinder when a given time interval has elapsed.

15. The image capture device of claim 11, wherein the image capture device further comprises:

means for annotating the last image captured.

16. The image capture device of claim 15, wherein the annotating means further comprises:

means for adding sound to the last image captured.

17. The image capture device of claim 11, wherein the image capture device is a digital camera.

18. The image capture device of claim 11, wherein the viewfinder comprises a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen and an LCD controller.

19. A method for providing review of a last image captured by an image capture device including instant review of a last image, the image capture device including a buffer for storing image data and a viewfinder for displaying a live image and each image of a plurality of captured images, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing the last image to the viewfinder for display to allow the last image to be edited before image processing for the last image is completed, wherein the image capture device is capable of displaying and allowing editing of the last image substantially immediately after the last image has been captured;

(b) subsequent to providing the last image to the viewfinder, determining if the last image is stored in the buffer;

(c) if the last image is not stored in the buffer, retrieving the last image; and

(d) if the last image is stored in the buffer, providing a screennail to the viewfinder.