Photographer's guidance systems

• US 20110050909A1
• Filed: 09/01/2009
• Published: 03/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Geovector Corporation
• Original Assignee: Geovector Corporation
• Inventors: Ellenby, Peter, Ellenby, Thomas, Page, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 8,228,413 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/207.1
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/24 with means for separately producing marks on the film, e.g. title, time of exposure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/64 Computer-aided capture of images, e.g. transfer from script file into camera, check of taken image quality, advice or proposal for image composition or decision on when to take image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices

Abstract

A photographer'"'"'s guidance system is formed of a computer-based processor made responsive to location, time of day, manual user inputs, among others to provide photo exposure suggestions based upon information stored as photo set-up descriptors. In response to user requests in combination with present conditions such as time, location weather, etc., a database request is executed against stored photo set-up data to produce a result set of photo set-up descriptors. These descriptors are used both manually and automatically to assist a photographer user in setting up a photo exposure in agreement with the prescribed parameters. These systems may be directly coupled with a DSLR type camera and may operate via user controls and interfaces thereof. In alternative versions, these system have independent control and user interfaces with outputs coupled to a DSLR control. In still further other versions, an entirely manual system leaves it to the photographer to set up a camera of the art in agreement with parameters presented in resultsets.

Claims

1. ) Electronic photographer'"'"'s guidance systems comprising:

a programmed computer;

a photo set-up library;

an interactive control module; and

a display type user interface,

said photo set-up library is coupled to said programmed computer whereby stored photo set-up descriptors may be recalled and presented at said display type user interface, whereby said recalled photo descriptors characterize and express shooting states of a prescribed and predefined photo opportunity.

2. ) Electronic photographer'"'"'s guidance systems of claim 1, said programmed computer comprises application specific code arranged to administer a photography tour.

3. ) Electronic photographer'"'"'s guidance systems of claim 2, said photography tour is characterized as presentation of a series of photo set-up descriptors in a logical manner.

4. ) Electronic photographer'"'"'s guidance systems of claim 3, said logical manner includes an orderly spatial plan.

5. ) Electronic photographer'"'"'s guidance systems of claim 3, said logical manner includes a plurality of photo vantage sites all coupled by a common landmark in a ‘

walking tour’

.

6. ) Electronic photographer'"'"'s guidance systems of claim 4, said orderly plan is either from the group:

city bus route;

maps;

metro routes; and

city tour.

7. ) Electronic photographer'"'"'s guidance systems of claim 1, said programmed computer comprises application specific code arranged to administer a photography lesson.

8. ) Electronic photographer'"'"'s guidance systems of claim 7, said photography lesson is characterized as an exploration of variable camera settings.

9. ) Electronic photographer'"'"'s guidance systems of claim 8, includes a camera setting characterized as shutter speed.

10. ) Electronic photographer'"'"'s guidance systems of claim 8, includes a camera setting characterized as apperture.

11. ) Electronic photographer'"'"'s guidance systems of claim 7, said photo lesson is characterized as a shooting angle lesson.

12. ) Electronic photographer'"'"'s guidance systems of claim 11, said shooting angle is optimized for reflection images

13. ) Electronic photographer'"'"'s guidance systems of claim 11, said shooting angle is optimized for composition alternatives.

14. ) Electronic photographer'"'"'s guidance systems of claim 1, further comprising:

a query engine coupled to a position determining means whereby recalled photo set-up descriptors are dependent upon a present position of the device.

15. ) Electronic photographer'"'"'s guidance systems of claim 1, a query engine coupled to a sidereal clock whereby recalled photo set-up descriptors are dependent upon the position of the cosmos.

16. ) Electronic photographer'"'"'s guidance systems of claim 15, said cosmos more specifically include the moon and sun.

17. ) Electronic photographer'"'"'s guidance systems of claim 1, a query engine coupled to a calendar whereby recalled photo set-up descriptors are dependent upon the time of year.

18. ) Electronic photographer'"'"'s guidance systems of claim 17, time of year is further characterized as winter, fall, summer, blossom season, et cetera.

19. ) Electronic photographer'"'"'s guidance systems of claim 1, said systems further comprising a control module with tactile input systems.

20. ) Electronic photographer'"'"'s guidance systems of claim 19, said tactile input systems are those from the group including:

thumbwheels, keyswitches, buttons, and touchscreens.

21. ) Electronic photographer'"'"'s guidance systems of claim 19, said tactile input systems are used to interact with a resultset plurality of photo set-up descriptors as presented at said user interface.