Patent Application
20050012824
The present invention relates generally to photography.
A common inconvenience in consumer photography is that the photographer cannot easily be included in the scene being photographed. Some cameras provide a “self-timer” that allows the photographer to compose a photograph, activate the timer, and place herself in the scene in time to be included in a photograph taken by the camera upon expiration of the timer. However, this solution requires considerable preparation and lacks spontaneity.
Other cameras include a remote control device that can activate the camera from a distance. The photographer can position the camera, place herself in the scene, and use the remote control to take photographs whenever she desires. However, this method gives the photographer no feedback about or control over the composition of the photograph, and does not adapt well to changing scenes.
The inconvenience is particularly acute in video photography. The videographer must typically choose between letting the camera run unattended during an activity, resulting in an unartful recording, or must remove himself from the activity for the duration of the recording to tend to the camera.
Other photographic situations may be envisioned wherein the photographer or videographer wishes to compose and take photographs or video recordings of a scene without the need to tend to the camera continually, whether or not the photographer or videographer wishes to be included in the resulting photograph or recording. What is needed is a system and method for conveniently and artfully photographing or video recording a scene, which scene may include the photographer, while the camera operator is separated from the camera.
A photography system includes a digital camera and a remote control that wirelessly communicates with the camera. The remote control includes controls for causing the camera to select a region from its field of view to photograph. The selected region may include the entire field of view of the camera or a portion thereof. The remote control also includes a display screen that shows the photographer the selected region, thus providing feedback that the photographer can use to adjust the selection. The camera may optionally be a still camera, a video camera, or may be capable of taking both still photographs and video recordings.
Camera 100 may be placed on a tripod 101 or otherwise held substantially stationary. Camera 100 is directed at a scene to be photographed. Photographer 102 holds a remote control 103, which communicates wirelessly with camera 100.
Camera 100 may have a zoom lens or a lens with a fixed focal length. If camera 100 has a zoom lens, it may be configured to a relatively short focal length so as to give the camera a relatively wide field of view. A relatively short focal length is one that is near the shortest focal length the camera is capable of. For example, in a camera with a focal length range of 6 to 18 mm, a focal length near 6 mm would be relatively short. As shown in
Camera 100 may transmit its preview information to remote control 103, which shows the information on display 301. The transmission may be accomplished with a wireless communication interface such as one using the Bluetooth standard or the IEEE 802.11 standard. Each of these communication interfaces uses radio communication operating in a frequency band between 2.4 and 2.4835 gigahertz, often referred to as simply 2.4 gigahertz, and has sufficient bandwidth and power to transmit and receive compressed video across distances of several meters. Chipsets for implementing either of these interfaces are readily available. Other interfaces may also be used within the scope of the appended claims.
Remote control 103 also comprises various controls operated by the photographer 102. The controls allow photographer 102 to perform digital framing of photographs to be taken by camera 100. Digital framing is the selection and sizing of a region from the field of view of camera 100.
A digital camera such as camera 100 typically uses a lens to project an image of a scene onto an electronic array light sensor. The electronic array light sensor typically comprises many light-sensitive elements sometimes called “pixels”. Each pixel measures the brightness of light emanating from a corresponding location in the scene. The electronic array light sensor typically accumulates electrical charge in each pixel in proportion to the brightness of light falling on the pixel. This charge quantity is then measured to determine a numerical value. The numerical value is also often called a “pixel”. The meaning of the term “pixel” is generally clear from the context of the reference. The set of numerical values resulting from the measurement of the charges from the pixels of the electronic array light sensor may be collected into a numerical array. The numerical array may be called a digital image, a digital photograph, or sometimes simply an image or a photograph. When properly interpreted and displayed, the digital image reproduces the scene photographed by the camera.
In some cases, fewer than all of the pixels on the electronic array light sensor need be measured to determine numerical values. For example, if a photograph of lower resolution than the camera is capable of is desired, or if a photograph of only a portion of the camera's field of view is desired, some accumulations of electrical charge may be discarded without being measured.
In
The size and location of subarray 402 may be specified and controlled by the photographer 102 using remote control 103. In an example embodiment, remote control 103 may comprise a four-way rocker switch that allows the photographer 102 to simulated “pan” and “tilt” motions of the camera. For example, the photographer 102 may press the right-pointing arrow of four-way rocker switch 303. In response, remote control 103 may send a signal to camera 100 indicating that the logic of camera 100 should “move” subarray 402 (or, more accurately, select a different subarray) so that it corresponds to a farther-right region of the camera's field of view 201. Camera 100 may select the new subarray, and use only that portion of field of view 102 as the preview image transmitted to remote control 103 and displayed on remote control 103. In this way, the photographer can select a preferred portion of the scene to photograph—that portion encompassed by the selected region of field of view 102. As subarray 402 “moves” across the array 401, the preview image on screen 301 of remote control 103 appears to pan across the scene, even though the camera remains stationary. This simulation of a panning motion of the camera may be called a “digital pan”.
Similarly, the photographer 102 may execute a “digital tilt” by pressing the upward or downward pointing arrows on four-way rocker switch 303. In reaction, the camera logic may select a different subarray 402, and transmit the resulting preview image to remote control 103. The preview image shown on display 301 appears to move as if the camera were being tilted up or down.
A “digital zoom” may also be provided. For example, the photographer may press one side of rocker switch 302. In response, remote control 103 sends a signal to camera 100 indicating that a larger or smaller subarray 402 is to be selected. In response, the camera logic may select more or fewer pixels to be used to provide a preview image. For example, if the photographer 102 presses the “T” (for “telephoto”) side of switch 302, the camera may reduce the size of subarray 402 without moving the center of subarray 402 in relation to the entire array 401. The resulting digital image derived from the subarray may then resized appropriately for showing on display 301, and transmitted to remote control 103. The resulting display on remote control 103 makes it appear as if the camera's lens focal length were changed.
This functions of digital pan, digital tilt, and digital zoom, performed individually or in any combination, may be referred to as digital framing. Other kinds of controls may be used to implement these functions. For example, digital panning and tilting may be controlled by separate rocker switches on remote control 103 rather than by a four-way rocker switch. Simple individual buttons may be used for each control direction. One of skill in the art will recognize that many other control layouts may be used within the scope of the appended claims.
In an alternative example embodiment, camera 100 may send to the remote control a preview image that includes the entire field of view 201, and the remote control itself may perform the digital framing. In this alternative example embodiment, the controls on the remote control 103 cause the remote control 103 to simply display a selected portion of the camera's field of view 201. When the photographer 102 is satisfied with the composition and indicates, using a control on remote control 103, that a photograph should be taken, remote control 103 sends a signal to camera 100 indicating both that a photograph should be taken and what portion of field of view 201 should be included.
The display 301 of remote control 103 as depicted in
Once the desired digital framing has been accomplished, the photographer 102 may cause a final photograph to be taken by pressing another control on remote control 103. For example, button 304 may cause a signal to be transmitted to camera 100, instructing camera 100 to take a photograph including only the selected region of the camera's field of view. Camera 100 may scale the resulting digital image to a larger or smaller size, for example to make it appear as if it were taken with the camera's full resolution, or to conserve image storage capacity.
The system may be similarly used for video recording. The photographer 102 may select a region to be recorded using digital framing, and then may activate recording by using a control on remote control 103. For example, button 305 may be cause camera 100 to start recording video, and button 306 may cause it to stop. Further digital framing may occur during video recording, allowing for substantial creativity and control on the part of the photographer 102.
The foregoing description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and other modifications and variations may be possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the appended claims be construed to include other alternative embodiments of the invention except insofar as limited by the prior art.
