Camera non-touch switch

• US 9,282,244 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2013
• Issued: 03/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Chau, Seang Y., Han, Amy Aimei, Lammers, Michael J., Han, Sang-Kyun
• Primary Examiner(s): Vaughn, Jr., William C
• Assistant Examiner(s): ADAMS, EILEEN M
• Application Number:
  US13/873,069
• Publication Number:
  US 20140270689A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,044 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/188 Capturing isolated or intermittent images triggered by the occurrence of a predetermined event, e.g. an object reaching a predetermined position signal generation from motion picture films H04N5/253

Abstract

Various embodiments provide a wearable camera that can be worn by a user. In one or more embodiments, the wearable camera can include a non-touch switch that can be utilized to access and activate various camera functionality.

Claims

1. A camera device comprising:

a housing;

a camera lens supported by the housing and configured to enable capture of image data;

a fastening device on the housing and configured to enable the camera device to be wearable by and attachable to a user;

a non-touch switch configured to receive input to access and activate a camera device functionality, wherein the non-touch switch comprises a light sensor that receives light that enters the wearable, attachable camera device;

a processor configured to;

receive an input from the non-touch switch;

access the camera device functionality associated with the non-touch switch; and

activate the camera functionality.

2. The camera device of claim 1, wherein the light sensor is configured to enable image capture.

3. The camera device of claim 1, wherein the light sensor is configured to enable image capture and the processor is configured to access the camera device functionality based on an user input that covers the non-touch switch.

4. The camera device of claim 1 further comprising:

a memory buffer within the housing; and

a replay module within the housing and coupled to the memory buffer, the replay module being configured to enable a replay mode in which the camera device automatically captures image data and saves the image data to the memory buffer and, when the memory buffer is full, erases older image data to make room for currently-captured image data.

5. The camera device of claim 1, further comprising:

a memory buffer within the housing; and

a replay module within the housing and coupled to the memory buffer, the replay module being configured to implement the camera device functionality to enable a replay mode in which the camera device automatically captures image data and saves the image data to the memory buffer and, when the memory buffer is full, erases older image data to make room for currently-captured image data;

the non-touch switch, responsive to receiving input to access and activate the camera device functionality, being configured to cause;

image data from the beginning of the memory buffer to be saved, and

currently-captured image data to be saved.

6. A computer-implemented method comprising:

capturing, with a wearable camera device, image data and saving the image data to a memory buffer, the wearable camera device being attachable to a user;

receiving, via a non-touch switch, input to enter a record mode of the camera device, the non-touch switch comprising a light sensor that receives light that enters the wearable attachable camera device;

responsive to receiving the input to enter the record mode, saving image data from the beginning of the memory buffer; and

saving currently captured image data in addition to the image data from the beginning of the memory buffer.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the light sensor is configured to enable image capture.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said receiving input comprises receiving user input that covers the light sensor.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the camera device is configured to be worn on a location other than a user'"'"'s clothing.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the camera device is configured to be worn on a user'"'"'s clothing.

11. A camera device comprising:

a housing;

a camera lens supported by the housing and configured to enable capture of image data;

a fastening device on the housing and configured to enable the camera device to be wearable by, and attachable on clothing of a user;

a non-touch switch, in the form of a light sensor, configured to receive input to access and activate a camera device functionality, the light sensor being configured to receive light that enters the camera;

a processor configured to;

receive an input from the non-touch switch;

access a functionality associated with the non-touch switch; and

activate the camera functionality.

12. The camera device of claim 11, wherein the light sensor is configured to enable image capture.

13. The camera device of claim 12, wherein the input to access and activate a camera device functionality comprises user input that covers the light sensor.

14. The camera device of claim 11, wherein the light sensor is not configured to enable image capture.

15. The camera device of claim 11, wherein the light sensor is configured to enable image capture and the input to access and activate a camera device functionality comprises user input that covers the light sensor.

16. The camera device of claim 11, wherein the light sensor is not configured to enable image capture and the input to access and activate a camera device functionality comprises user input that covers the light sensor.

17. A camera device comprising:

a housing;

a camera lens supported by the housing and configured to enable capture of image data;

a fastening device on the housing and configured to enable the camera device to be wearable by, and attachable to a user;

a non-touch switch configured to receive input to access and activate a camera device functionality, wherein the non-touch switch comprises a proximity sensor;

a processor configured to;

receive an input from the non-touch switch;

access the camera device functionality associated with the non-touch switch; and

activate the camera functionality.