Viewfinder wearable, at least in part, by human operator

• US 9,491,365 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2013
• Issued: 11/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Ratcliff, Joshua J.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHEN, CHIA WEI A
• Application Number:
  US14/082,959
• Publication Number:
  US 20150138417A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,086 Days
• Field of Search: 34833301-33313, 348143-160, 345/8, 345/7, 359/630
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/53 of electronic viewfinders, e.g. rotatable or detachable
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/61 based on recognised objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/635 Region indicators; Field of view indicators
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/69 Control of means for changing angle of the field of view, e.g. optical zoom objectives or electronic zooming

Abstract

A system embodiment may include at least one camera wearable, at least in part, by a human operator. The at least one camera may have, when enabled, at least one active field of view that may be captured by the at least one camera in response, at least in part, to image capture actuation by the human operator. This embodiment also may include a viewfinder wearable, at least in part, on a head of the human operator. The viewfinder may provide to the human operator, prior to the image capture actuation, at least one visual indication of the at least one active field of view of the at least one camera. The at least one visual indication may be displayed in at least one central field of vision of the human operator. Of course, many alternatives, modifications, and variations are possible without departing from this embodiment.

Claims

1. An apparatus wearable, at least in part, by a human operator, the apparatus comprising:

a viewfinder wearable, at least in part, on a head of the human operator, the viewfinder to provide to the human operator, prior to image capture actuation, at least one visual indication of at least one active field of view of at least one camera, the at least one visual indication to be displayed in at least one central field of vision of the human operator;

wherein the at least one camera and the viewfinder are capable of being controlled, at least in part, based, at least in part, upon (1) detection, based at least in part upon comparisons, at least in part, of at least one previously captured stored image with at least one current video data stream, of presence of one or more user-programmable types of currently sensed but previously uncaptured images, and (2) one or more of the following;

(a) one or more user-programmed physical gestures of the human operator;

(b) one or more user-programmed facial gestures of the human operator;

(c) one or more user-programmed biofeedback signals initiated, at least in part, by the human operator;

also wherein;

the comparisons are to be carried out, at least in part, both on an on-going basis and using mathematical decomposition/hashing;

the apparatus comprises at least one eyeglass element to be worn on the head of the human operator;

the at least one camera also is to be worn on the head of the human operator;

when the at least one camera is enabled, the at least one eyeglass element comprises at least one portion through which the human operator is to view, in relation to the viewfinder, at least one region visible at least in part to the human operator;

the at least one eyeglass element comprises two controllably variably transparent film layers that are adjacent each other, one of the two layers being dimensioned so as to correspond to an entirety of an area of the at least one eyeglass element, the other of the two layers having at least one certain region that is dimensioned and located in the other of the two layers so as to correspond to the at least one active field of view;

optical transmissivity and/or opacity of the at least one eyeglass element being controllable, at least in part, so as to be capable of providing, in response at least in part to the image capture actuation, at least one visually non-transparent portion of the at least one eyeglass element to indicate, at least in part, that image capture has occurred.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the viewfinder is to indicate, at least in part, the at least one active field of view by providing to the human operator, at least one visual boundary delimiting at least one capture region of the at least one camera within, at least in part, the at least one region visible, at least in part, to the human operator; and

in response, at least in part, to the image capture actuation, the at least one eyeglass element is to provide, at least in part, the human operator at least one other visual indication, the at least one other visual indication being to indicate, at least in part, that image capture by the at least one camera of the at least one capture region has occurred.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one eyeglass element comprises at least one of;

at least one controllably, variably transparent electrochromic panel element; and

at least one controllable liquid crystal display (LCD) panel element;

the at least one eyeglass element is attached, at least in part, to an eyeglass frame wearable, at least in part, by the human operator;

the frame comprises a microcontroller to control, at least in part, the at least one camera and the at least one eyeglass element, based at least in part upon input from the human operator.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one camera is controllably optically zoomable and has a selectably variable focal length;

the at least one eyeglass element comprises at least one of;

controllable electrochromic elements; and

controllable liquid crystal display (LCD) elements;

at least one of the eletrochromic elements and the LCD elements is to be dynamically controlled so as to permit the at least one visual indication to correspond to a currently selected focal length of the at least one camera.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one eyeglass element satisfies at least one of the following subparagraphs (a) and (b);

(a) the at least one eyeglass element comprises at least one matrix of controllably variably transparent elements whose respective transparencies are to be controlled so as to provide regions that are to provide, at least in part, both the at least one visual indication and at least one other visual indication to indicate, at least in part, that image capture by the at least one camera has occurred; and

(b) the at least one matrix is comprised, at least in part, in at least one layer of the at least one eyeglass element.

6. A method that uses, at least in part, one or more apparatus wearable, at least in part, by a human operator, the method comprising:

providing, at least in part, to the human operator by a viewfinder wearable, at least in part, on a head of the human operator, prior to image capture actuation, at least one visual indication of at least one active field of view of at least one camera, the at least one visual indication to be displayed in at least one central field of vision of the human operator;

wherein the at least one camera and the viewfinder are capable of being controlled, at least in part, based, at least in part, upon (1) detection, based at least in part upon comparisons, at least in part, of at least one previously captured stored image with at least one current video data stream, of presence of one or more user-programmable types of currently sensed but previously uncaptured images, and (2) one or more of the following;

(a) one or more user-programmed physical gestures of the human operator;

(b) one or more user-programmed facial gestures of the human operator;

(c) one or more user-programmed biofeedback signals initiated, at least in part, by the human operator;

also wherein;

the comparisons are to be carried out, at least in part, both on an on-going basis and using mathematical decomposition/hashing;

the one or more apparatus comprise at least one eyeglass element to be worn on the head of the human operator;

the at least one camera also is to be worn on the head of the human operator;

when the at least one camera is enabled, the at least one eyeglass element comprises at least one portion through which the human operator is to view, in relation to the viewfinder, at least one region visible at least in part to the human operator;

the at least one eyeglass element comprises two controllably variably transparent film layers that are adjacent each other, one of the two layers being dimensioned so as to correspond to an entirety of an area of the at least one eyeglass element, the other of the two layers having at least one certain region that is dimensioned and located in the other of the two layers so as to correspond to the at least one active field of view;

optical transmissivity and/or opacity of the at least one eyeglass element being controllable, at least in part, so as to be capable of providing. in response at least in part to the image capture actuation, at least one visually non-transparent portion of the at least one eyeglass element to indicate, at least in part. that image capture has occurred.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein:

the viewfinder is to indicate, at least in part, the at least one active field of view by providing to the human operator, at least one visual boundary delimiting at least one capture region of the at least one camera within, at least in part, the at least one region visible, at least in part, to the human operator; and

in response, at least in part, to the image capture actuation, the at least one eyeglass element is to provide, at least in part, the human operator at least one other visual indication, the at least one other visual indication being to indicate, at least in part, that image capture by the at least one camera of at least one capture region has occurred.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein:

the at least one eyeglass element comprises at least one of;

at least one controllably, variably transparent electrochromic panel element; and

at least one controllable liquid crystal display (LCD) panel element;

the at least one eyeglass element is attached, at least in part, to an eyeglass frame wearable, at least in part, by the human operator;

the frame comprises a microcontroller to control, at least in part, the at least one camera and the at least one eyeglass element, based at least in part upon input from the human operator.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein:

the at least one camera is controllably optically zoomable and has a selectably variable focal length;

the at least one eyeglass element comprises at least one of;

controllable electrochromic elements; and

controllable liquid crystal display (LCD) elements;

at least one of the eletrochromic elements and the LCD elements is to be dynamically controlled so as to permit the at least one visual indication to correspond to a currently selected focal length of the at least one camera.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein:

the at least one eyeglass element satisfies at least one of the following subparagraphs (a) and (b);

(a) the at least one eyeglass element comprises at least one matrix of controllably variably transparent elements whose respective transparencies are to be controlled so as to provide regions that are to provide, at least in part, both the at least one visual indication and at least one other visual indication to indicate, at least in part, that image capture by the at least one camera has occurred;

(b) the at least one matrix is comprised, at least in part, in at least one layer of at least one eyeglass element.

11. Non-transitory computer-readable memory storing at least one instruction that when executed by a machine results in performance of operations comprising:

providing, at least in part, to the human operator by a viewfinder wearable, at least in part, on a head of the human operator, prior to image capture actuation, at least one visual indication of at least one active field of view of at least one camera, the at least one visual indication to be displayed in at least one central field of vision of the human operator;

wherein the at least one camera and the viewfinder are capable of being controlled, at least in part, based, at least in part, upon (1) detection, based at least in part upon comparisons, at least in part, of at least one previously captured stored image with at least one current video data stream, of presence of one or more user-programmable types of currently sensed but previously uncaptured images, and (2) one or more of the following;

(a) one or more user-programmed physical gestures of the human operator;

(b) one or more user-programmed facial gestures of the human operator;

(c) one or more user-programmed biofeedback signals initiated, at least in part, by the human operator;

also wherein;

the comparisons are to be carried out, at least in part, both on an on-going basis and using mathematical decomposition/hashing;

the viewfinder is comprised, at least in part. in at least one eyeglass element to be worn on the head of the human operator;

the at least one camera also is to be worn on the head of the human operator;

when the at least one camera is enabled, the at least one eyeglass element comprises at least one portion through which the human operator is to view, in relation to the viewfinder, at least one region visible at least in part to the human operator;

the at least one eyeglass element comprises two controllably variably transparent film layers that are adjacent each other, one of the two layers being dimensioned so as to correspond to an entirety of an area of the at least one eyeglass element, the other of the two layers having at least one certain region that is dimensioned and located in the other of the two layers so as to correspond to the at least one active field of view;

optical transmissivity and/or opacity of the at least one eyeglass element being controllable. at least in part. so as to be capable of providing. in response at least in part to the image capture actuation, at least one visually non-transparent portion of the at least one eyeglass element to indicate, at least in part, that image capture has occurred.

12. The computer-readable memory of claim 11, wherein:

the viewfinder is to indicate, at least in part, the at least one active field of view by providing to the human operator, at least one visual boundary delimiting at least one capture region of the at least one camera within, at least in part, the at least one region visible, at least in part, to the human operator; and

in response, at least in part, to the image capture actuation, the at least one eyeglass element is to provide, at least in part, the human operator at least one other visual indication, the at least one other visual indication being to indicate, at least in part, that image capture by the at least one camera of at least one capture region has occurred.

13. The computer-readable memory of claim 11, wherein:

the at least one eyeglass element comprises at least one of;

at least one controllably, variably transparent electrochromic panel element; and

at least one controllable liquid crystal display (LCD) panel element;

the at least one eyeglass element is attached, at least in part, to an eyeglass frame wearable, at least in part, by the human operator;

the frame comprises a microcontroller to control, at least in part, the at least one camera and the at least one eyeglass element, based at least in part upon input from the human operator.

14. The computer-readable memory of claim 11, wherein:

the at least one camera is controllably optically zoomable and has a selectably variable focal length;

the at least one eyeglass element comprises at least one of;

controllable electrochromic elements; and

controllable liquid crystal display (LCD) elements;

at least one of the eletrochromic elements and the LCD elements is to be dynamically controlled so as to permit the at least one visual indication to correspond to a currently selected focal length of the at least one camera.

15. The computer-readable memory of claim 11, wherein:

the at least one eyeglass element satisfies at least one of the following subparagraphs (a) and (b);

(a) the at least one eyeglass element comprises at least one matrix of controllably variably transparent elements whose respective transparencies are to be controlled so as to provide regions that are to provide, at least in part, both the at least one visual indication and at least one other visual indication to indicate, at least in part, that image capture by the at least one camera has occurred; and

(b) the at least one matrix is comprised, at least in part, in at least one layer of at least one eyeglass element.

16. A system wearable, at least in part, by a human operator, the system comprising:

at least one camera wearable, at least in part, by the human operator, the at least one camera having, when enabled, at least one active field of view that is to be captured by the at least one camera in response, at least in part, to image capture actuation by the human operator;

a viewfinder wearable, at least in part, on a head of the human operator, the viewfinder to provide to the human operator, prior to the image capture actuation, at least one visual indication of the at least one active field of view of the at least one camera, the at least one visual indication to be displayed in at least one central field of vision of the human operator;

wherein the at least one camera and the viewfinder are capable of being controlled, at least in part, based, at least in part, upon (1) detection, based at least in part upon comparisons, at least in part, of at least one previously captured stored image with at least one current video data stream, of presence of one or more user-programmable types of currently sensed but previously uncaptured images, and (2) one or more of the following;

(a) one or more user-programmed physical gestures of the human operator;

(b) one or more user-programmed facial gestures of the human operator;

(c) one or more user-programmed biofeedback signals initiated, at least in part, by the human operator;

also wherein;

the comparisons are to be carried out, at least in part, both on an on-going basis and using mathematical decomposition/hashing;

the system comprises at least one eyeglass element to be worn on the head of the human operator;

the at least one camera also is to be worn on the head of the human operator;

when the at least one camera is enabled, the at least one eyeglass element comprises at least one portion through which the human operator is to view, in relation to the viewfinder, at least one region visible at least in part to the human operator;

the at least one eyeglass element comprises two controllably variably transparent film layers that are adjacent each other, one of the two layers being dimensioned so as to correspond to an entirety of an area of the at least one eyeglass element, the other of the two layers having at least one certain region that is dimensioned and located in the other of the two layers so as to correspond to the at least one active field of view;

optical transmissivity and/or opacity of the at least one eyeglass element being controllable, at least in part, so as to be capable of providing. in response at least in part to the image capture actuation, at least one visually non-transparent portion of the at least one eyeglass element to indicate, at least in part, that image capture has occurred.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein:

the viewfinder is to indicate, at least in part, the at least one active field of view by providing to the human operator, at least one visual boundary delimiting at least one capture region of the at least one camera within, at least in part, the at least one region visible, at least in part, to the human operator; and

in response, at least in part, to the image capture actuation, the at least one eyeglass element is to provide, at least in part, the human operator at least one other visual indication, the at least one other visual indication being to indicate, at least in part, that image capture by the at least one camera of the at least one capture region has occurred.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein:

the at least one eyeglass element comprises at least one of;

at least one controllably, variably transparent electrochromic panel element; and

at least one controllable liquid crystal display (LCD) panel element;

the at least one eyeglass element is attached, at least in part, to an eyeglass frame wearable, at least in part, by the human operator;

the frame comprises a microcontroller to control, at least in part, the at least one camera and the at least one eyeglass element, based at least in part upon input from the human operator.