Intuitive camera user interface methods and apparatus
First Claim
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.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method of controlling a camera, the method comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A camera system, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification