Camera remote control

• US 9,742,977 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2015
• Issued: 08/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Howard, James A., Lee, Eric S., Johnson, Hugh W., Dovey, James C., Chapman, Gregory R., Batson, James D., Williams, George E., Eagleston, Walker J., Novick, Gregory B., Karunamuni, Chanaka G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Osinski, Michael
• Application Number:
  US14/842,597
• Publication Number:
  US 20160065831A1
• Time in Patent Office: 721 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0075 by a user operated remote control device, e.g. receiving instructions from a user via a computer terminal or mobile telephone handset
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet

Abstract

Certain embodiments of the present invention provide the ability to control a camera from a wearable mechanism device, such as a watch, pendant or other device with its own limited display. Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a wearable mechanism device for remotely controlling a camera with an intuitive user interface and sequencing of interface options. In one embodiment, the display on the wearable mechanism changes before a picture or video is taken with the electronic camera. Certain embodiments of the present invention provide the ability to partially control a camera from the wearable mechanism device, providing split control.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

establishing a wireless connection between a wearable mechanism device and a camera in an electronic device;

providing, on a display screen of the wearable mechanism device, a first display in which a control interface for controlling the camera is provided along with a preview of an image viewed by the camera;

receiving, at the wearable mechanism device, a user input to capture an image with the camera;

thereafter, (i) changing the first display to a second display in which the preview of the image viewed by the camera is not shown on the display screen and (ii) providing, from the wearable mechanism device, an image capture signal to the camera in the electronic device; and

thereafter, changing the second display on the display screen to a third display that enables a user to view the image captured by the camera in response to the user input.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the second display is a substantially blank screen.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the second display is an image of a watch face.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the user input to capture an image with the camera generates a timed shutter activation signal that instructs the camera to capture an image after a countdown period and wherein the method further comprises, prior to changing the first display to the second display, providing a user feedback signal when a countdown time reaches a predetermined value.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said user feedback signal comprises at least one of:

an audible sound, a visual effect, and a haptic effect.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the control interface includes a shutter control icon that, when selected by a user, generates a user input to capture an image from the camera.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the control interface further includes a timed shutter activation icon that, when selected by a user, generates a user input to capture an image from the camera after a predetermined countdown period.

8. An electronic wearable mechanism device comprising:

a housing;

a wireless communication interface operable to communicate with an electronic device having a camera;

a storage system to store image data transmitted from the camera;

a display screen;

a control interface to control the camera in the electronic device, the control interface including

a shutter control for the camera shutter in the electronic device;

a timer control for the camera to provide a countdown time before an image capture event; and

a processor system programmed to;

monitor said countdown time;

establish a wireless connection between the wearable electronic device and the camera;

provide a first display on the display screen in which a preview of an image viewed by the camera is shown on the display screen;

receive, at the wearable electronic device, a user input to generate a shutter activation signal that instructs the camera to capture an image;

change the first display on the display screen to a second display in which the preview of the image viewed by the camera is not shown on the display screen; and

thereafter, change the second display on the display screen to a third display that enables a user to view the image captured by the camera in response to the shutter activation signal.

9. The wearable electronic mechanism device of claim 8 wherein the second display is a substantially blank screen.

10. The wearable electronic mechanism of claim 8 wherein the first display further includes a shutter control icon that, when selected, generates a shutter activation signal that instructs the camera to capture an image.

11. The wearable electronic mechanism of claim 10 wherein the first display further includes a timed shutter activation icon that, when selected, generates a shutter activation signal that instructs the camera to capture an image after a countdown period.

12. The wearable electronic mechanism of claim 11 wherein the second display is a blank screen.

13. The wearable electronic mechanism of claim 8 wherein the third display includes a user-selectable icon that, upon being selected, displays the image captured by the camera on the display screen.

14. A method of controlling a camera with a wearable electronic device that includes a display screen, the method comprising:

establishing a wireless connection between the wearable electronic device and the camera;

providing a first display in which a preview of an image viewed by the camera is shown on the display screen;

receiving, at the wearable electronic device, a user input to generate a shutter activation signal that instructs the camera to capture an image;

changing the first display on the display screen to a second display in which the preview of the image viewed by the camera is not shown on the display screen; and

thereafter, changing the second display on the display screen to a third display that enables a user to view the image captured by the camera in response to the shutter activation signal.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the first display further includes a shutter control icon that, when selected, generates a shutter activation signal that instructs the camera to capture an image.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the first display further includes a timed shutter activation icon that, when selected, generates a shutter activation signal that instructs the camera to capture an image after a countdown period.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the first display further includes a shutter control icon and a timed shutter activation icon, wherein the shutter control icon, when selected, generates a shutter activation signal that instructs the camera to capture an image and the shutter activation icon, when selected, generates a shutter activation signal that instructs the camera to capture an image after a countdown period.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein the second display is a blank screen.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein the third display includes a user-selectable icon that, upon being selected, displays the image captured by the camera on the display screen.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the third display further includes a preview of an image viewed by the camera and the user-selectable icon is superimposed over the preview image.

21. The method of claim 14 wherein, prior to changing the first display to the second display, a user-feedback signal is generated by the wearable electronic device a predetermined amount of time prior to the camera capturing the image.