Method and apparatus for capture of sensory data in association with image data

• US 7,209,167 B2
• Filed: 01/15/2003
• Issued: 04/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ASML Netherlands BV (ASML Holding NV), Carl Zeiss AG (Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung), Tarsium B.V.
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Thorland, Miles K., Pyle, Norman C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu; Ngoc-Yen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Durnford-Geszvain; Dillon
• Application Number:
  US10/342,586
• Publication Number:
  US 20040135900A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,560 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 348/231.4
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00912 Arrangements for controlling a still picture apparatus or components thereof not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3264 of sound signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/60 Control of cameras or camera modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/7921 for more than one processing mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 involving data reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8047 using transform coding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8205 involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the colour video signal

Abstract

Method and apparatus for capturing a variable length of sensory data in association with still image data. Manipulation of the camera is detected prior to image-capture, and sensory data are generated in response to detecting the manipulation. The sensory data are stored in temporary storage. When a control signal to capture a still image is active, still image data are generated and stored in non-volatile storage. A subset of the sensory data in temporary storage is selected and stored in non-volatile storage in association with the still image data.

Claims

1. A method of operating a digital camera, comprising:

placing the camera into a wait state in response to powering-up the camera;

detecting manipulation of the camera prior to image-capture;

wherein the detecting manipulation is performed while the camera is in the wait state and comprises sensing focus adjustments by the camera and sensing activation of a viewfinder display of the digital camera;

generating sensory data from a sensor signal responsive to detecting manipulation of the camera;

storing the sensory data in temporary storage;

generating still image data in response to a control signal to capture a still image, and storing the still image data in non-volatile storage;

selecting a subset of the sensory data from the temporary storage; and

storing the subset of the sensory data in non-volatile storage in association with the still image data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting manipulation comprises sensing a user'"'"'s eye in proximity to a viewfinder of the digital camera.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting manipulation comprises sensing movement of a lens cover of the digital camera.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting manipulation comprises detecting a shutter-release button of the digital camera at an S1 position.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the camera includes a lens having an adjustable focal length and detecting manipulation comprises detecting focal length adjustments of the lens.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the camera is configured with a plurality of program modes, wherein detecting manipulation comprises detecting selection of a program mode.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the temporary storage is a circular buffer and further comprising ceasing to store the sensory data in the circular buffer after a selected period of time that begins upon detecting manipulation of the camera.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensory data comprises audio data.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensory data comprises video data.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensory data comprises audio data and video data.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the subset of the sensory data includes all the sensory data in the temporary storage.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising overwriting the sensory data in temporary storage when sensory data capture commences for another image.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the subset of the sensory data includes a user-selected subset of the sensory data in the temporary storage.

14. A digital camera, comprising:

means for detecting manipulation of the camera prior to image-capture

wherein the means for detecting includes means for sensing focus adjustments by the camera while the camera is powered-up and in a wait state, for sensing activation of a viewfinder display of the digital camera and for generating the trigger signal in response to detection of a focus adjustment;

means for generating sensory data from a sensor signal responsive to detecting manipulation of the camera;

means for storing the sensory data in temporary storage;

means for generating still image data in response to a control signal to capture a still image, and storing the still image data in non-volatile storage;

means for selecting a subset of the sensory data from the temporary storage; and

means for storing the subset of the sensory data in non-volatile storage in association with the still image data.

15. A digital camera, comprising:

a processing unit;

a detection circuit coupled to the processing unit, the detection circuit configured to generate a trigger signal when the camera is manipulated prior to image-capture;

wherein the detection circuit is configured to sense focus adjustments by the camera while the camera is powered-up and in a wait state, sense activation of a viewfinder display of the digital camera, and generate the trigger signal in response to detection of a focus adjustment;

a memory arrangement coupled to the processing unit;

an image-capture circuit arrangement coupled to the processing unit and configured to capture still image data in response to user control actions;

a sensory-data-capture circuit arrangement coupled to the processing unit and configured to capture sensory data; and

wherein the processing unit is configured to initiate capture of sensory data responsive to the trigger signal, temporarily store the sensory data, select a subset of the sensory data, and retentively store the subset of the sensory data in association with the still image data.

16. The camera of claim 15, wherein the detection circuit is configured to sense a user'"'"'s eye in proximity to a viewfinder of the digital camera.

17. The camera of claim 15, wherein the detection circuit is configured to sense movement of a lens cover of the digital camera.

18. The camera of claim 15, wherein detecting manipulation comprises detecting a shutter-release button of the digital camera at an S1 position.

19. The camera of claim 15, wherein the camera includes a lens having an adjustable focal length and the detection circuit is configured to detect focal length adjustments of the lens.

20. The camera of claim 15, wherein the processing unit is configured with a plurality of program modes, and the detection circuit is configured to detect selection of a program mode.

21. The camera of claim 15, further comprising:

a circular buffer coupled to the sensory-data-capture circuit arrangement; and

wherein the processing unit is configured to stop the sensory-data-capture circuit from storing the sensory data in the circular buffer after a selected period of time that begins upon detecting manipulation of the camera.

22. The camera of claim 15, wherein the sensory data comprises audio data.

23. The camera of claim 15, wherein the sensory data comprises video data.

24. The camera of claim 15, wherein the sensory data comprises audio data and video data.

25. The camera of claim 15, wherein the subset of the sensory data includes all the sensory data in the temporary storage.

26. The camera of claim 15, wherein the processing unit is configured to overwrite temporarily stored sensory data responsive to the trigger signal.

27. The camera of claim 15, wherein the subset of the sensory data includes a user-selected subset of the sensory data in the temporary storage.