Patent Application
20060146140
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an apparatus for wirelessly operating and controlling a digital camera and, more particularly, to an apparatus for wirelessly providing viewfinder and other control functions to a remotely located digital camera.
2. Background Information
One of the most significant technological changes occurring over the last two decades or so has been the increasing use of digital information (represented by 1s and 0s or bits) in devices as opposed to conventional analog information (represented by gradually fluctuating waves). In recent years, this technological change has lead to a growing shift in the photography and videography field, particularly among recreational users, from conventional (film) cameras that depend entirely on chemical and mechanical processes to produce an image to digital cameras that record images in an entirely electronic form. In a digital camera, an image is stored as a long string of bits (1s and 0s) that represent all of the tiny colored dots, or pixels, that collectively make up the image. As used herein, the term “camera” shall refer to both still cameras for capturing static images and video cameras for capturing moving images.
One problem that exists in the field of photography and videography is that often times the most desirable location from which to capture an image does not lend itself well to the operation of the camera. In other words, it is often the case that it is not practical or possible to look through the camera's viewfinder and operate the camera to capture a desired image from a particular desired location or angle. For example, a user may want to capture an image from on top of a wall or other location that is not conveniently or safely reachable, or may want to capture an image above and over a crowd, such as at a sporting event like a golf tournament. With current cameras, both conventional and digital, a user would typically have to stretch their arm with the camera in hand and blindly capture the image (the user is unable to look through the viewfinder). Some cameras include wired remote control devices that enable the cameras to be placed and operated in locations remote from the user, but again, in such cases, the user must blindly capture the image.
Thus, there is a need for an apparatus that would enable a user to remotely view possible images that may be captured by a digital camera and remotely control the operation of the digital camera.
The invention relates to a camera system including a digital camera and a wireless control apparatus. The digital camera captures an image, such as with a CCD or other imaging element, and creates a digital signal representative of the image. The digital camera includes a first wireless communications device that receives the digital signal and wirelessly transmits the digital signal to the wireless control apparatus. The wireless control apparatus has a second wireless communications device for wirelessly receiving the transmitted digital signal. The wireless control apparatus also includes a display device, such as an LCD, for displaying a displayed image based on the digital signal. The wireless control apparatus also preferably includes a processor in electronic communication with the second wireless communications device and the display device that causes the displayed image to be displayed on the display device.
Furthermore, the wireless control apparatus also preferably includes an input apparatus used to generate one or more control signals for controlling the digital camera that are wirelessly transmitted by the second wireless communications device to the digital camera. In one embodiment, the digital camera includes a memory and the one or more control signals cause the digital signal to be saved in the memory (for later printing or viewing).
In one embodiment, the wireless communications device is selectively attachable to the digital camera, such as to the rear surface thereof. In another embodiment, the wireless control apparatus is a handheld electronic device having an application for operating and controlling the digital camera and at least one other application, such as a phone application, an address book application, a messaging application, or a calendar application. Furthermore, the digital camera may be a digital still camera or a digital video camera.
The invention also relates to a method of operating a digital camera, including the following steps: capturing an image and creating a digital signal representative of the image using the digital camera; wirelessly transmitting the digital signal to a wireless control apparatus in a location removed from the digital camera; receiving the digital signal at the wireless control apparatus and displaying a displayed image based on the digital signal; generating one or more control signals for controlling the digital camera using the wireless control apparatus; wirelessly transmitting the one or more control signals to the digital camera; and causing the digital camera to execute a function associated with the one or more control signals, such as saving the digital signal in memory, when the digital camera receives the one or more control signals.
A full understanding of the invention can be gained from the following Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
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In operation, digital camera 5 is able to capture light images using lens 10 and imaging element 15, convert the light images to digital signals using A/D 20 and, through cooperation of processor 20 and wireless communications device 35, wirelessly transmit the digital signals to wireless control apparatus 40 via wireless communications device 45. The digital signals are, in turn, sent to processor 50 and images represented by the digital signals are displayed by display device 55. Wireless control apparatus 40 is able to, from a location removed from digital camera 5, continuously receive and display the images being captured by digital camera 5. In addition, input apparatus may be used to input into processor 50 various signals for controlling the operation of digital camera 5, including, but not limited to, signals that would cause a particular image (or images in the case of a digital video camera) to be saved in memory 30 (i.e., snap a picture), cause lens 10 to be selectively focused, cause lens 10 to zoom in and out, change aperture selections, and control a flash. Thus, as will be appreciated, wireless control apparatus 40 is able to function as a remote viewfinder for digital camera 5, thereby enabling digital camera 5 to be placed in a first location, such as a location that is not easily accessible, with the viewing of images and control of digital camera 5 taking place at a second, removed location. For example, a user could hold digital camera 5 above his or her head in a crowd, such as in a gallery at a golf tournament, and view the images being captured and perform various control functions using wireless control apparatus 40 at eye level. In addition, the fact that wireless control apparatus 40 may be used separately from digital camera 5 will eliminate vibrations and the resulting distorted images that often occur when a user holds a digital camera while capturing images.
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Preferably, digital camera 5 and wireless control apparatus 40 are provided with a security system to ensure that only the particular control apparatus 40 associated with a particular digital camera 5 is able to communicate with and control the particular digital camera 5, and in turn to ensure that a particular wireless control apparatus 40 will only display images from a particular, associated digital camera 5. In other words, a security system is preferably provided that makes sure that a particular digital camera 5 will not respond to signals from apparatuses other than the associated wireless control apparatus 40 and that makes sure that a particular wireless control apparatus 40 will not display images captured by other, non-associated digital cameras 5. This may be accomplished in a number of known ways, including dedicating a particular frequency to the paired devices or requiring the two devices to become a matched pair, such as by exchanging and verifying pre-stored personal identification numbers (PINs) or the like, before cooperative operation between the two can occur.
In addition, according to another aspect of the invention, a wireless control apparatus 40 may be adapted to selectively pair with and control more than one digital camera 5. This may be accomplished by assigning a different PIN or a different frequency to each digital camera 5 to be controlled, and enabling wireless control apparatus 40 to selectively operate using one of the PINs or frequencies. In this case, a user may use a single wireless control apparatus 40 in connection with a number of digital cameras 5 that the user owns (e.g., two digital still cameras and a digital video camera).
According to one particular embodiment of the invention, wireless control apparatus 40 may be a handheld electronic device such as, for instance, a personal data assistant (PDA), a handheld computer, a two-way pager, a cellular telephone, and the like, that provides access to a number of integrated applications, including, without limitation, email, telephone, short message service (SMS), multimedia messaging service (MMS), browser, calendar and address book applications, such that a user can easily manage information and communications from a single, integrated device. These applications are typically selectively accessible and executable through a user interface that allows a user to easily navigate among and within these applications. Examples of such handheld electronic devices are included in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,452,588 and 6,489,950, which are incorporated by reference herein.
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While specific embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention which is to be given the full breadth of the claims appended and any and all equivalents thereof.
