Patent Grant
7827508
This invention relates in general to a digital information/imaging system, such as a digital camera, and more particular to a digital information/imaging system having a dedicated switch for quickly accessing user-specified functions that are frequently changed.
Handheld digital information/imaging systems, such as digital cameras, cell phones, personal digital assistants, etc. have become widespread in use in recent years. In order to present images and systems information to a system user, the system is usually provided with at least one display for displaying images and/or information useful to the user. User interface switches are also usually provided to navigate among items displayed on the display. In digital cameras, it is typical to have a large LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) display for displaying an image or images captured by the digital camera. The display can also display image capture related functions and menus of camera features that are user selectable (See: U.S. patent application Publication U.S. Ser. No. 2002/0030754 A1, published Mar. 14, 2002, inventor Sugimoto; U.S. patent application Publication U.S. Ser. No. 2002/0024604 A1, published Feb. 28, 2002, inventors Fjima et al.; U.S. patent application Publication U.S. Ser. No. 2002/0057351 A1, published May 16, 2002, inventors Suzuki et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,313,877 B1, issued Nov. 6, 2001, inventor Anderson).
It would be desirable to provide a user with means to access frequently changed functions without having to scroll through several screens before the function is accessed. None of the former or following patents disclose such a capability: U.S. Pat. No. 6,154,210, issued Nov. 28, 2000, inventor Anderson; U.S. Pat. No. 5,565,935, issued Oct. 15, 1996, inventors Miura et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,982,291, issued Jan. 1, 1991, inventors Kurahashi et al.; and U.S. patent application Publication U.S. Ser. No. 2002/0024608A1, published Feb. 28, 2002, inventors Ejina et al.
According to the present invention, there is provided a solution to the problems of the prior art.
According to a feature of the present invention, there is provided a digital camera comprising: a display; means for displaying on said display a menu of user selectable options; first user activated means for sequentially navigating through said displayed menu of user selectable options; and second user activated means for directly choosing a predetermined one of said options without having to navigate sequentially through said options.
The invention has the following advantages.
1. A digital information/imaging system is provided having a dedicated switch for quickly accessing user-specified functions that are frequently changed.
2. Multiple user-specified functions can be accessed with a dedicated switch used in combination with a navigation switch assembly.
Although in the following description, the present invention will be described incorporated into a digital camera, it will be understood that the invention is also applicable to other hand held or portable digital information/imaging systems such as cell phones, personal digital assistants, portable computers and the like.
The control interface processor 62 receives inputs from the Photo Systems Interface 37. The analog output signal from the image sensor 40 is amplified and converted to digital data by the analog signal processing (ASP) 50 and analog-to-digital (A/D) converter circuit 52. The ASP 50 and A/D 52 include a programmable electrical gain that can be used to adjust the effective ISO speed setting of the camera. This can be done as described in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,610,654, issued Mar. 11, 1997, inventors Parulski et al. The digital data is stored in a DRAM buffer memory 64 and subsequently processed by a digital image processor 66 controlled by the firmware stored in the firmware memory 70, which can be flash EPROM memory. Alternatively, the digital image processor 66 can be provided by custom circuitry (e.g., by one or more custom integrated circuits [ICs] designed only for use in digital cameras), or by a combination of programmable processor(s) and custom circuits.
The processed digital image file is provided to a memory card interface 72 which stores the digital image file on the removable memory card 74. Removable memory cards 74 are known to those skilled in the art. For example, the removable memory card 74 can include memory cards adapted to the PCMCIA card interface standard, as described in the PC Card Standard, Release 2.0, published by the Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA), Sunnyvale, Calif., September 1991, or to the CompactFlash Specification Version 1.3, published by the CompactFlash Association, Palo Alto, Calif., Aug. 5, 1998. Other types of removable memory cards, including Smart Memory cards, Secure Digital (SD) cards, and Memory Stick cards, or other types of digital memory devices, such as magnetic hard drives, magnetic tape, or optical disks, could alternatively be used to store the digital images.
In some embodiments, the digital image processor 66 performs color interpolation followed by color and tone correction, in order to produce rendered sRGB image data. The rendered sRGB image data is then JPEG compressed and stored as a JPEG image file on the removable memory card 74. In other embodiments, the processor directly compressed data on the removable memory card 74, and the image is later “finished” by processing the compressed Bayer color image data using the host PC 80.
The processor 66 also creates a “thumbnail” size image that is stored in RAM memory 68 and supplied to the color image LCD 78, which displays the captured image for the user to review. A digital status dot matrix LCD 82 is also provided. The mutual display support between LCDs 78 and 82 is described in more detail later. Instead of a color LCD image display, the digital camera 30 could use an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, or many other types of image displays. The thumbnail image can be created as described in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,164,831, issued Nov. 17, 1992, inventors Kuchta et al., the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference. The graphical user interface displayed on the color LCD image display 78 and on the digital status LCD 82 is controlled by the user interface portion of the firmware stored in the firmware memory 70 and by digital buttons 84-100. A third display (not shown) can be provided on the top of the camera 10 to show camera body settings such as aperture, shutter speed, exposure mode, etc.
After a series of images have been taken and stored on the removable memory card 74, the removable memory card 74 can be inserted into a card reader (not shown) in host PC 80. Alternatively, an interface cable 77 can be used to connect between the interface 76 in the digital camera 30 and the host PC 80. The interface cable 77 can conform to, for example, that well known IEEE 1394 interface specification, the universal serial bus (USB) interface specification, or other wired or wireless interface specifications.
Alternatively, the digital camera 30 could be comprised of a digital back for a 35 mm or medium format film camera. In this case, the lens 32, aperture 34, shutter 36 are provided as part of the film camera body, and the other components, including the image sensor 40, image processor 66 and color LCD image display 78, are provided as part of a separate digital camera back that is connected to the film camera body. The connection preferably includes an electrical connector (not shown), so that the lens 32, aperture 33, and shutter 36 can be controlled by the control processor and timing generator 60 in the digital back.
Referring now to
Following is a more detailed description of the components of the digital user interface.
Image LCD-78
A color Image LCD 78 serves as the display for interfacing with the camera menu system containing features and functions (e.g., image review, setting/changing settings). The Image LCD 78 displays three classes of information
Digital Status LCD-82
The Digital Status LCD 82 is a programmable dot matrix display. The Digital Status LCD 82 portrays three classes of information, including:
With respect to its role in image capture, the Status LCD 82 assumes an enhanced interaction capability that will allow efficient access to these capture-related digital functions (white balance, etc).
The following describes the behavior of the digital buttons 84-102:
4-Way Switch
The 4-way switch 102 is composed of a single 4-directional rocker switch located on the back panel 202 of the camera 30. When pressed at one of the 12, 3, 6, or 9 o'clock positions 104, 106, 108, 110, the switch will result in an appropriate signal to the digital camera 30 and its associated firmware 70. The 4-way switch 102 controls different aspects of the camera depending on the state of the Image LCD 78.
4-Way Switch: LCD On
When the Image LCD 78 is on, the 4-way switch 102 is captured by the digital firmware and is used to control the information displayed on the Image LCD 78. The 4-way switch 102 operates in the following manner:
The 4-way switch 102 may be used in a discrete or continuous manner. That is, images or menu options may be navigated one at a time by pressing and releasing one side of the 4-way switch 102. Alternatively, images or menu options may be navigated continuously by pressing and holding (for longer than 500 milliseconds) one side of the 4-way switch 102.
4-Way Switch 102: Digital Status Button 90 Active
When the Digital Status button 90 is pressed and held, the 4-way switch 102 is captured, taking control from either of the other camera functions (i.e., autofocus, Image Display) currently using the 4-way switch 102. When under the control of the Digital Status button 90, the 4-way switch 102 is used to sequence among the functions displayed on the Digital Status Display 82.
When the Digital Status button 90 has control of the 4-way switch 102, the switch 102 operates in the following manner:
OK Button-92
The OK button 92 is a push button located on the right side of the camera's back panel 202, just to the left of the 4-way switch 102 and above the Cancel button 94. The OK button 92 serves a number of functions:
Cancel Button-94
The Cancel button 94 is a push button located on the upper right side of the camera's back panel 202, just to the left of the 4-way switch 102 and below the OK button 92. The Cancel button 94 will serve a number of functions:
Menu Button-84
The Menu button 84 is a push button located on the left side of the camera's back panel 202, just to the left of the Image LCD 78 and above the Navigate button 86. The Menu button 84 will serve the following functions:
Tabbed Menu
The Menu Tabs on display 78 portray the various icons for setting/selecting various digital functions as well as controlling the LCD's image contrast. Each icon is highlighted as it is selected, and its associated menu screen is displayed. Icons not selected are not highlighted. The Menu Tab items are grouped according to function, and include the following functional groups:
Capture Screen
Review
Image Parameters
Camera Tools
Tabbed Menu Behavior
Tabbed Menu Screens are the fundamental organization architecture for presenting the digital features as well as for changing the values and settings associated with those features.
The Tabbed Menu structure consists of three levels, and it illustrated using the White Balance option on the Capture screen.
The following description of control-display behavior applies to all tabbed menu screens.
Tabbed Menu Onset/Offset
The Tabbed Menu screen is displayed whenever the Menu button 84 is pressed or when the Digital Status display function is selected.
Tabbed Menu Screen Icons
The order of Menu tab icons (left-to-right) are: Capture, Image Settings and Camera Tools.
Tabbed Menu Navigation
Navigating among the Tabbed Menu Screen icons is accomplished by pressing and holding the Menu button 84 and pressing the right or left side of the 4-way switch 102.
Options on each of the Tabbed Menu screens are arranged vertically and are navigated vertically by a top-bottom manipulation of the 4-way switch 102. A highlighting bar indicates that an option is selected. This highlighting bar extends the width of the option name and its associated ellipsis, but excludes the current value for that option.
Capture Screen
The Capture Screen has 8 options related to image capture:
Review Screen (
Image Parameters Screen (
The Image Parameters screen allows the setting of various image parameters that are applied during the rendering and finishing of the different file types. This allows the image appearance of the different file types (e.g., DCR, JPEG) to be similar when viewed using the host software (e.g., Photo Desk, Capture Studio). The Image Parameters screen has 7 options that are applied during the rendering of raw and finished file parameters. For DCR files, the parameters are applied (except JPEG quality) when the images arc rendered and opened in Photo Desk or Capture Studio. For JPEG files, the parameters are applied as this file type is finished in-camera. The 7 options are:
Camera Tools Screen (
The Camera Tools screen is home to a number of settings that can be used to control and manage various aspects of the camera. This screen has 12 options for setting and changing camera settings:
Nav+ Button-86
The Nav+ button 86 allows a method of quickly and efficiently navigating among folders and images within a folder. The Nav+ button 86 is located on the left side of the Image LCD 78, below the Menu button 84. The Nav+ button 86 works in conjunction with the 4-way switch 102 to accomplish the following functions:
Hotkey Button-88
The Hotkey button 88 is a push button located on the left side of the camera's back panel, to the left of the Image Display and below the navigate button 86. The Hotkey button 88 is used in conjunction with the 4-way switch 102 to allow quick access to user-specified functions. The Hotkey button 88 serves as a shortcut to a (user defined) frequently-changed function so that the function's current value may be changed. One or more functions can be set for use with the hotkey button.
When pressed, the Hotkey button 88 accomplishes the following:
Setting Hotkey Functions
There are several settings. Hotkey positions can be assigned in the factory, while the other 3 are assigned. Hotkey assignments may be made via the Hotkey option in the Tools screen. Selecting the Hotkey option and pressing on the right side 106 of the 4-way switch 102 displays a cascaded menu containing the Hotkey options (
Digital Status Button-90
The Digital Status button 90 is a push button located above the top left corner of the Digital Status display 82. This button functions to control access to capture-related functions portrayed on the Digital Status display 82.
Digital Status LCD-82
The Digital Status LCD 82 is a programmable display that portrays three different classes of information: (1) the current status and settings that pertain to various capture-critical digital functions, (2) the information properties of images being reviewed on the Image LCD 78, and (3) text-based messages to support and help interpret information displayed on the Image LCD 78. With respect to its role in image capture, the Digital Status LCD 82 assumes an enhanced interaction capability that will allow efficient access to these capture-related digital functions (white balance, etc.). With respect to its roles in menu screen navigation, the Digital Status LCD 82 assumes an interpretive support role (e.g., “help messages”, and “tool tip messages”) for the content on the Image Display 78.
Capture-Related Information: Interactive Display-Control Elements
The capture functionality of the Digital Status display 82 will be interactive in nature and will serve two functions:
The nature of the interaction is such that when a display element is highlighted by the user, the highlighted function on the Digital Status Display calls and portrays its associated Tabbed Menu screen function on the Image Display 78. The user may then interact directly with the Menu options associated with that function.
As shown in
The highlighted Digital Status Display function 400 on display 82 has a corresponding menu option 402 displayed on Image Display 78 (
Review Display Elements (Read Only)
The review functionality of the Digital Status Display will be non-interactive in nature and will serve a single purpose: it displays a set of image-based information that existed at the time of capture for the image.
When the review-related information is displayed, the Digital Status Display reverts to the capture-related information when the shutter button is pressed to S1. In
Context-Sensitive Text Messages (Read Only)
The Digital Status Display 82 also provides a supporting role to the Image LCD 78. The nature of this support will be a combination of a “mini-help” and a “tool tips” function. The design intent behind this mutual display support is to provide an on-camera help system to aid the less experienced digital user.
The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4982291 | Kurahashi et al. | Jan 1991 | A |
| 5164831 | Kuchta et al. | Nov 1992 | A |
| 5565935 | Miura et al. | Oct 1996 | A |
| 5610654 | Parulski et al. | Mar 1997 | A |
| 5784059 | Morimoto et al. | Jul 1998 | A |
| 5808610 | Benson et al. | Sep 1998 | A |
| 6154210 | Anderson | Nov 2000 | A |
| 6313877 | Anderson | Nov 2001 | B1 |
| 6894718 | Sato | May 2005 | B2 |
| 6952229 | Takahashi et al. | Oct 2005 | B1 |
| 20010043279 | Niikawa et al. | Nov 2001 | A1 |
| 20020024604 | Ejima et al. | Feb 2002 | A1 |
| 20020030754 | Sugimoto | Mar 2002 | A1 |
| 20020057351 | Suzuki et al. | May 2002 | A1 |
| 20020123368 | Yamadera et al. | Sep 2002 | A1 |
| 20020145633 | Ohmura | Oct 2002 | A1 |
| 20030206239 | Battles | Nov 2003 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 1164770 | Dec 2001 | EP |
| 2001-136418 | May 2001 | JP |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20040051741 A1 | Mar 2004 | US |
