Single-control image-taking apparatus

• US 10,778,883 B1
• Filed: 12/02/2018
• Issued: 09/15/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Promanthan Brains, LLC
• Original Assignee: Promanthan Brains, LLC
• Inventors: Haynold, Oliver Markus
• Primary Examiner(s): Berhan, Ahmed A
• Application Number:
  US16/207,174
• Time in Patent Office: 653 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/236 including keys on side or rear faces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera constructional features concerning the integration of cameras in portable phones H04M1/0264
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/62 Control of parameters via user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/635 Region indicators; Field of view indicators
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/67 Focus control based on electronic image sensor signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/675 comprising setting of focusing regions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/73 by influencing the exposure time

Abstract

According to one embodiment, an image-taking apparatus wherein a first actuation of a control element locks image-taking parameters and a subsequent actuation of this control element causes a picture to be taken. In one embodiment, the apparatus is a cellular telephone equipped with a camera wherein a first press on the volume up button locks focus and exposure. The photographer can then recompose the picture according to the ‘half-press’ technique and take a picture with a subsequent press on the volume up button. Other embodiments are described.

Claims

1. A portable apparatus comprising:

a volume control element primarily dedicated to lowering the volume of an audio signal,

a volume control element primarily dedicated to increasing the volume of an audio signal,

a microprocessor, and

a camera,

said microprocessor being adapted to switch between different user interaction states, and

said microprocessor further being adapted so that in some of said user interaction states a first actuation of one of said volume control elements locks an image-taking parameter of said camera and a subsequent actuation of said volume control element causes a different predetermined action not related to changing said volume.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 where said volume control element needs to be released before a new actuation is taken as a subsequent actuation.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 where actuating said volume control element for more than a predetermined time is taken as a subsequent actuation of said volume control element.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 where said different predetermined action comprises taking at least one picture by said camera using said locked image-taking parameter.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 where said different predetermined action comprises taking a plurality of pictures by said camera using said locked image-taking parameter.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 where said different predetermined action comprises taking pictures continuously for as long as said volume control element remains actuated by said camera using said locked image-taking parameter.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 where said apparatus is a mobile telephone.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 where said apparatus is a multimedia player.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 where said volume control element is a button.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 where said image-taking parameter is the camera focus.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 where said image-taking parameter is the exposure value.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 where said image-taking parameter is the white balance.

13. A portable apparatus comprising:

a volume control element primarily dedicated to lowering the volume of an audio signal,

a volume control element primarily dedicated to increasing the volume of an audio signal,

a microprocessor, and

a camera,

said microprocessor being adapted to switch between different user interaction states, and said microprocessor further being adapted so that in some of said user interaction states a first actuation of one of said volume control elements causes a predetermined action not related to changing said volume and a subsequent continuous actuation of said volume control element causes continuous taking of pictures by said camera,

said predetermined action not being continuous taking of pictures by said camera.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 where said volume control element needs to be released before a new actuation is taken as a subsequent actuation.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 where actuating said volume control element for more than a predetermined time is taken as a subsequent actuation of said volume control element.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 where said predetermined action not related to changing said volume comprises locking an image-taking parameter of said camera.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 where said apparatus is a mobile telephone.

18. The apparatus of claim 13 where said apparatus is a multimedia player.

19. The apparatus of claim 13 where said volume control element is a button.

20. A portable apparatus comprising:

a volume control element primarily dedicated to lowering the volume of an audio signal,

a volume control element primarily dedicated to increasing the volume of an audio signal, and

a microprocessor,

said microprocessor being adapted to switch between different user interaction states, and

said microprocessor further being adapted so that in some of said user interaction states a first actuation of one of said volume control elements causes a first predetermined action not related to changing said volume and a subsequent actuation of said volume control element causes a second predetermined action not related to changing said volume, said second predetermined action being different from said first predetermined action,

where actuating said volume control element for more than a predetermined time is taken as a subsequent actuation of said volume control element, and

where said predetermined time is longer than the time required to complete said first predetermined action.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 where said first predetermined action comprises locking an image-taking parameter of a camera.

22. The apparatus of claim 20 where said second predetermined action comprises taking a picture with a camera.

23. The apparatus of claim 20 where said second predetermined action comprises taking a plurality of pictures with a camera.

24. The apparatus of claim 20 where said second predetermined action comprises taking pictures with a camera continuously for as long as said volume control element is actuated.

25. The apparatus of claim 20 where said first predetermined action comprises locking an image-taking parameter of a camera and said second predetermined action comprises taking a plurality of pictures with said camera.

26. The apparatus of claim 20 where said apparatus is a mobile telephone.

27. The apparatus of claim 20 where said apparatus is a multimedia player.

28. The apparatus of claim 20 where said volume control element is a button.

29. A machine-implemented method for controlling a software-implemented function on a portable apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor controlling said apparatus

observing actuation of a volume control element primarily dedicated to changing the audio volume on a portable device, contingent upon said device being in a state where a function other than changing said volume is desirable upon actuation of said volume control element,

checking from state stored in electronic memory whether said actuation of said volume control element is to be taken as a first or as a subsequent actuation of said volume control element,

locking an image-taking parameter of a camera if said actuation is to be taken as a first actuation, and

executing a different predetermined software action not related to changing said volume if said actuation is to be taken as a subsequent actuation.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein said volume control element needs to be released before a new actuation is taken as a subsequent actuation.

31. The method of claim 29 wherein an actuation of said volume control element for more than a predetermined time is taken as a subsequent actuation.

32. The method of claim 29 where said different predetermined action comprises taking at least one picture by said camera using said locked image-taking parameter.

33. The method of claim 29 where said different predetermined action comprises taking a plurality of pictures by said camera using said locked image-taking parameter.

34. The method of claim 29 where said different predetermined action comprises taking pictures continuously for as long as said volume control element remains actuated by said camera using said locked image-taking parameter.

35. The method of claim 29 where said apparatus is a mobile telephone.

36. The method of claim 29 where said apparatus is a multimedia player.

37. The method of claim 29 where said volume control element is a button.

38. The method of claim 29 where said image-taking parameter is the camera focus.

39. The method of claim 29 where said image-taking parameter is the exposure value.

40. The method of claim 29 where said image-taking parameter is the white balance.

41. A machine-implemented method for controlling a software-implemented function on a portable apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor controlling said apparatus

observing actuation of a volume control element primarily dedicated to changing the audio volume on a portable device, contingent upon said device being in a state where a function other than changing said volume is desirable upon actuation of said volume control element,

checking from state stored in electronic memory whether said actuation of said volume control element is to be taken as a first or as a subsequent actuation of said volume control element,

executing a predetermined software action not related to changing said volume and not being continuous taking of pictures if said actuation is to be taken as a first actuation, and

taking pictures continuously by a camera for as long as said actuation lasts if said actuation is to be taken as a subsequent actuation.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein said volume control element needs to be released before a new actuation is taken as a subsequent actuation.

43. The method of claim 41 wherein an actuation of said volume control element for more than a predetermined time is taken as a subsequent actuation.

44. The method of claim 41 where said predetermined action to related to changing said volume comprises locking an image-taking parameter.

45. The method of claim 41 where said apparatus is a mobile telephone.

46. The method of claim 41 where said apparatus is a multimedia player.

47. The method of claim 41 where said volume control element is a button.

48. A machine-implemented method for controlling a software-implemented function on a portable apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor controlling said apparatus

observing actuation of a volume control element primarily dedicated to changing the audio volume on a portable device, contingent upon said device being in a state where a function other than changing said volume is desirable upon actuation of said volume control element,

checking from state stored in electronic memory whether said actuation of said volume control element is to be taken as a first or as a subsequent actuation of said volume control element,

executing a predetermined software action not related to changing said volume if said actuation is to be taken as a first actuation, and

executing a different predetermined software action not related to changing said volume if said actuation is to be taken as a subsequent actuation,

wherein an actuation of said volume control element for more than a predetermined time is taken as a subsequent actuation and where said predetermined time is longer than the time required to complete said predetermined software action caused by said first actuation of said volume control element.

49. The method of claim 48 where said first predetermined action comprises locking an image-taking parameter of a camera.

50. The method of claim 48 where said second predetermined action comprises taking a picture with a camera.

51. The method of claim 48 where said second predetermined action comprises taking a plurality of pictures with a camera.

52. The method of claim 48 where said second predetermined action comprises taking pictures with a camera continuously for as long as said volume control element is actuated.

53. The method of claim 48 where said first predetermined action comprises locking an image-taking parameter of a camera and said second predetermined action comprises taking a plurality of pictures with said camera.

54. The method of claim 48 where said apparatus is a mobile telephone.

55. The method of claim 48 where said apparatus is a multimedia player.

56. The method of claim 48 where said volume control element is a button.

57. An apparatus comprising:

a camera and at least one binary control element,

said binary control element being characterized by having exactly two mutually exclusive user interaction states, actuated and non-actuated, and being adapted so that an actuation by a user transitions said binary control element from said non-actuated state to said actuated state,

wherein a first actuation of said binary control element locks at least one image-taking parameter of said camera and a subsequent actuation of said binary control element causes a picture to be taken by said camera using said image-taking parameter locked by said first actuation, and

wherein actuating said binary control element for more than a predetermined time is taken as a subsequent actuation.

58. The apparatus of claim 57 wherein a continuous actuation of said binary control element causes the continuous taking of pictures by said camera.

59. The apparatus of claim 57 wherein said binary control element is a button.

60. The apparatus of claim 59 wherein a continuous actuation of said button causes the continuous taking of pictures by said camera.

61. The apparatus of claim 59 wherein said button is a volume button.

62. The apparatus of claim 61 wherein a continuous actuation of said volume button causes the continuous taking of pictures by said camera.

63. A method for controlling image-taking parameters and triggering the taking of an image by a camera using at least one binary control element:

said binary control element being characterized by having exactly two mutually exclusive user interaction states, actuated and non-actuated, and being adapted so that an actuation by a user transitions said binary control element from said non-actuated state to said actuated state,

wherein a first actuation of said binary control element locks at least one image-taking parameter of said camera and a subsequent actuation of said binary control element causes a picture to be taken by said camera using said image-taking parameter locked by said first actuation, and

wherein actuating said binary control element for more than a predetermined time is taken as a subsequent actuation.

64. The method of claim 63 wherein a continuous actuation of said binary control element causes the continuous taking of pictures by said camera.

65. The method of claim 63 wherein said binary control element is a button.

66. The method of claim 65 wherein a continuous actuation of said button causes the continuous taking of pictures by said camera.

67. The method of claim 65 wherein said button is a volume button.

68. The method of claim 67 wherein a continuous actuation of said volume button causes the continuous taking of pictures by said camera.