Camera image stabilization method, apparatus and computer program

• US 7,969,496 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2003
• Issued: 06/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Pilu, Maurizi
• Primary Examiner(s): SELBY, GEVELL V
• Application Number:
  US10/426,038
• Publication Number:
  US 20030234885A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,981 Days
• Field of Search: 348/333.02, 348/208.99, 396/55
• US Class Current: 348/333.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/68 for stable pick-up of the scene, e.g. compensating for camera body vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/6812 based on additional sensors, e.g. acceleration sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/682 Vibration or motion blur correction

Abstract

A camera comprises a user interface for the input of information indicative of the activity of a user. A control unit controls at least one function of the camera in response to the information.

Claims

1. A camera, comprising:

a user interface for the input of information indicative of the activity of a user wherein said user interface comprises a user selection unit for the manual selection of at least one activity from a predetermined group of manually selectable activities;

a control unit arranged to control at least one function of the camera in dependence upon said information; and

a user activity determination unit arranged to estimate the activity of a user, the camera being arranged to utilize the estimated activity if, for a predetermined interval, said estimated activity differs from the manually selected activity indicated by the input information.

2. The camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control unit is arranged to store said information with at least one image captured by the camera for subsequent processing of said image.

3. The camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein said function comprises an image stabilization mode of the camera.

4. The camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein said function comprises an image capture mode of the camera.

5. The camera as claimed in claim 4, wherein said information is utilized to determine what images are captured and subsequently stored by the camera.

6. The camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein said information is indicative of at least one of the type of motion likely to be undergone by the user;

the type of motion likely to be undergone by the camera;

the attention of the user;

the behavior of the user; and

the surrounding environment.

7. The camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein said camera is a wearable camera.

8. A camera comprising:

a control unit arranged to control at least one function of the camera in dependence upon information indicative of a manual selection of an activity from among a plurality of manually selectable activities by user manual input from a user interface; and

,

a user activity determination unit arranged to estimate the activity of a user, the camera being arranged to utilize the estimated activity if, for a predetermined interval, said estimated activity differs from the activity indicated by the input information.

9. A camera comprising:

a user interface for the manual selection of an activity from a selection of selectable activities and associated input of information indicative of at least one of a manually selectable motion of the user and a manually selectable motion of the camera;

a control unit arranged to control at least one function of the camera in dependence upon said information; and

a user activity determination unit arranged to estimate the activity of a user, the camera being arranged to utilize the estimated activity if, for a predetermined interval, said estimated activity differs from the manually selectable activity indicated by the input information.

10. A method of controlling a camera comprising the steps of:

causing a user of the camera to manually supply information to the camera indicative of a manual selection of manually selectable mode of activity of the user;

controlling at least one function of the camera as a function of said information;

estimating the activity of a user; and

utilizing the estimated activity if, for a predetermined interval, said estimated activity differs from the manually selected mode of activity indicated by the supplied information.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein each one of the activities in said group being associated with at least one predetermined parameter, the method further comprising the step of controlling said function of the camera by utilizing a parameter associated with the selected activity.

12. A non-transitory storage medium storing a computer program arranged to control a camera, the program being arranged to cause the camera to:

receive information manually input from a user indicative of a selection of an activity from a plurality of selectable activities by the user;

control at least one function of the camera in dependence upon said information;

estimate the activity of a user; and

utilize the estimated activity if, for a predetermined interval, said estimated activity differs from the activity indicated by the supplied information.