Intuitive camera user interface methods and apparatus

• US 9,979,878 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2015
• Issued: 05/22/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blue River Technology Inc. (Deere & Company)
• Original Assignee: Light Labs Inc.
• Inventors: Laroia, Rajiv, Shroff, Sapna A
• Primary Examiner(s): Vieaux, Gary C
• Application Number:
  US14/628,209
• Publication Number:
  US 20150244927A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,187 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/18 with mechanism for moving the apparatus relatively to the stand
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2014 around a vertical axis F16M11/2035 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/04 for supporting on, or holding steady relative to, a person, e.g. by chains , e.g. rifle butt or pistol grip supports, supports attached to the chest or head apparatus or arrangements for taking photographs or for projecting or viewing them G03B
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/561 Support related camera accessories
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/563 Camera grips, handles means in general for steadying hand-held apparatus F16M13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2217/005 Blur detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/45 for generating image signals from two or more image sensors being of different type or operating in different modes, e.g. with a CMOS sensor for moving images in combination with a charge-coupled device [CCD] for still images
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/62 Control of parameters via user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/651 for reducing power consumption by affecting camera operations, e.g. sleep mode, hibernation mode or power off of selective parts of the camera
• 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 23/67 Focus control based on electronic image sensor signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/6812 based on additional sensors, e.g. acceleration sensors
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/695 Control of camera direction for changing a field of view, e.g. pan, tilt or based on tracking of objects

Abstract

Zoom and focus control user interface methods and apparatus are described. Acceleration is monitored and interpreted to detect camera motion. Acceleration indicative of camera motion in a forward or backward direction is used to control zoom in or zoom out operations when a zoom function is enabled. The zoom function can be enabled by touching a touch sensor or pressing a button. Thus, by activating the zoom function and making intuitive movements forward or backward which can be detected through the use of sensors, a user can control zoom in and zoom out operations in an intuitive manner with little risk of shaking the camera or interfering with image capture that might occur if a touch display or other zoom control was used to control zoom operation while capturing one or more images. The zoom control function is well suited for use with still cameras and video cameras.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a camera, the method comprising:

detecting camera acceleration;

detecting user activation of one of;

i) a zoom control user input used to enable an acceleration based zoom control mode of operation, ii) a focus control user input used to enable an acceleration based focus control mode of operation or iii) concurrent activation of both the zoom control user input and the focus control user input;

enabling one of the acceleration based zoom control mode of operation or the acceleration based focus control mode of operation based on the detected user activation of one of;

i) the zoom control user input used to enable an acceleration based zoom control mode of operation, ii) the focus control user input used to enable an acceleration based focus control mode of operation or iii) concurrent activation of both the zoom control user input and the focus control user input was detected;

controlling the camera device to not accept user input attempting to enable the acceleration based focus control mode of operation when the acceleration based zoom control mode of operation is enabled thereby keeping the zoom control mode of operation enabled despite user activation of the focus control user input; and

performing a focus operation as a function of the detected camera acceleration when the acceleration based focus control mode of operation is enabled.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the focus operation includes performing a focus adjustment operation which decreases the back focal distance of the camera when the detected acceleration is indicative of a forward camera motion.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein enabling one of the acceleration based zoom control mode of operation or the acceleration based focus control mode of operation includes:

operating the camera to enable the zoom control mode of operation in response to detecting concurrent activation of both the zoom control user input and the focus control user input.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

storing information indicating the state of the zoom control user input used for controlling the zoom control function; and

storing information indicating the state of the focus control user input used for controlling the focus control function.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said zoom control user input is a first touch sensor and said focus control user input is a second touch sensor.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said first and second touch sensors are touch sensors of a handle of a camera holder into which said camera is inserted.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein said zoom control user input is a first button on a camera holder into which said camera is inserted and a second touch sensor is a second button on the camera holder.

8. A camera system, comprising:

a zoom control user input;

a focus control user input; and

a camera including;

an accelerometer configured to detect camera acceleration; and

a processor configured to;

detect user activation of one of;

i) the zoom control user input used to enable an acceleration based zoom control mode of operation, ii) the focus control user input used to enable an acceleration based focus control mode of operation or iii) concurrent activation of both the zoom control user input and the focus control user input;

enable one of the acceleration based zoom control mode of operation or the acceleration based focus control mode of operation based on the detected user activation of one of;

i) the zoom control user input used to enable an acceleration based zoom control mode of operation, ii) the focus control user input used to enable an acceleration based focus control mode of operation or iii) concurrent activation of both the zoom control user input and the focus control user input was detected;

control the camera device to not accept user input attempting to enable the acceleration based focus control mode of operation when the acceleration based zoom control mode of operation is enabled thereby keeping the zoom control mode of operation enabled despite user activation of the focus control user input; and

control the camera to perform a focus operation as a function of detected camera acceleration.

9. The camera system of claim 8, wherein said processor controls the camera to decrease camera back focal distance when the detected acceleration is indicative of a forward camera motion.

10. The camera system of claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to control the camera, as part of enabling one of the acceleration based zoom control mode of operation or the acceleration based focus control mode of operation, to:

enable the zoom control mode of operation in response to detecting concurrent activation of both the zoom control user input and the focus control user input.

11. The camera system of claim 10, wherein said zoom control user input is a first button on a camera holder into which said camera is inserted and a second touch sensor is a second button on the camera holder.

12. The camera system of claim 10, wherein said zoom control user input is a first touch sensor and said focus control user input is a second touch sensor.

13. The camera system of claim 12, wherein said first and second touch sensors are touch sensors of a handle of a camera holder into which said camera is inserted.

14. The camera system of claim 8, further comprising:

a register storing information indicating the state of the zoom control user input used for controlling the zoom control function; and

a register storing information indicating the state of the focus control user input used for controlling the focus control function.