Device and method for photo and video capture

• US 9,277,126 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2014
• Issued: 03/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snap, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Snap, Inc.
• Inventors: Marlin, Richard E., Mathias, Michael J., Diakov, Kristian D.
• Primary Examiner(s): DIEP, TRUNG T
• Application Number:
  US14/579,096
• Publication Number:
  US 20150109472A1
• Time in Patent Office: 435 Days
• Field of Search: 348/333.01, 348/333.05, 348/211.8, 348/376, 345/373, 396/298
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/212 Motion video recording combined with still video recording television signal recording H04N5/76
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/62 Control of parameters via user interfaces
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• 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 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/7921 for more than one processing mode

Abstract

A single user input element in an image capture device is used for both photo and video capture. Based on a first user interface activity, a timing reference is engaged at a first reference time. In a first case, photo capture is performed. In the first case, a second reference time is based on a second user interface activity, and the timing reference indicates a passage of time between the two reference times is shorter than a particular time interval. In a second case, video capture is performed. In the second case, the timing reference indicates a passage of time since the first reference time is equal to or longer than the particular time interval. Video capture is stopped based on a subsequent user interface activity. The user interface activities may comprise detecting actions based on the same type of physical manipulation of the single user input.

Claims

1. An image capture device comprising:

an image sensor capable of being configured to capture an image or a video;

a single user input element capable of detecting a first action from a user;

a processor connected to the image sensor and configured to determine a duration that a user applies the first action to the single user input element,

wherein the processor is configured to store an image from the image sensor if the duration is less than a time interval; and

wherein the processor is configured to store the video from the image sensor if the duration is greater than the time interval; and

wherein if the duration is greater than the time interval, the image sensor is configured to capture the video starting at a period of time after application of the first action and to continue to capture the video for a portion of the duration.

2. The image capture device of claim 1, wherein the duration is measured based on the first action and a second action.

3. The image capture device of claim 2, wherein the first action is a user touching the single user input element and the second action is the user releasing the single user input element.

4. The image capture device of claim 1, further comprising:

a timing reference within the processor, wherein the processor uses the timing reference to determine the duration of the first action.

5. The image capture device of claim 1, further comprising:

a touchscreen, wherein the single user input element is a touch-sensitive area of the touchscreen.

6. The image capture device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to transmit the image or video.

7. The image capture device of claim 6, wherein the processor is configured to transform the image or the video prior to transmitting.

8. A method of using a single user input element to determine whether to store an image or a video captured from an image sensor, the method comprising:

receiving a first indication that the single user input element has detected a first action from the user;

determining a duration of time that the first action is applied to the single user input element;

in response to the duration being less than a time interval, storing the image from the image sensor;

in response to the duration being more than the time interval, storing the video from the image sensor, wherein the video is captured starting at a period of time after receiving the first indication that the single user input element detected the first action from the user.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein determining the duration includes determining an elapsed time from receiving the first indication to receiving a second indication that the single user input element has detected a second action from the user.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the first action is a user touching the single user input element and the second action is the user releasing the single user input element.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

transmitting the image or the video.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

transforming the image or the video prior to transmitting.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

displaying a visual signal regarding the status of the image or video capture.

14. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium for an image capture device comprising an image sensor configured to capture an image or a video, a single user input element configured to detect an action from a user, and a processor connected to the image sensor, the computer readable storage medium storing therein instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the image capture device to perform a method comprising:

receiving a first indication that the single user input element has detected a first action from the user;

determining a duration of time that the first action is applied to the single user input element;

in response to the duration being less than a time interval, storing the image from the image sensor;

in response to the duration being more than the time interval, storing the video from the image sensor, wherein the video is captured starting at a period of time after receiving the first indication that the single user input element detected the first action from the user.

16. The computer readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the first action is a user touching the single user input element and the second action is the user releasing the single user input element.

17. The computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises transmitting the image or the video.

18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the method further comprises transforming the image or the video prior to transmitting.

19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises displaying a visual signal regarding the status of the image or video capture.

15. The computer readable storage medium of 14, wherein determining the duration includes determining an elapsed time from receiving the first indication to receiving a second indication that the single user input element has detected a second action from the user.