# US 11,310,413 B2 · Device and method for photo and video capture > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,310,413 B2 - Document ID: US11310413B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/009,493 - Filed: 2020-09-01 - Published: 2020-12-24 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2012-08-27 - Assignees: Snap Inc. - Applicants: Snap Inc. - Inventors: Richard E. Marlin; Michael J. Mathias; Kristian D. Diakov - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11310413B2 ## CPC - H04N 23/62: Control of parameters via user interfaces - H04N 5/772: {the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure} - H04N 9/7921: {for more than one processing mode} - H04N 23/631: {Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters} - H04N 23/633: {for displaying additional information relating to control or operation of the camera} - H04N 23/661: Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet - H04N 23/667: Camera operation mode switching, e.g. between still and video, sport and normal or high- and low-resolution modes - H04N 1/212: {Motion video recording combined with still video recording (television signal recording H04N5/76)} - H04N 2101/00: Still video cameras - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract A single user input element in an image capture device is used for both photo and video capture. Based on a first user interface activity, a timing reference is engaged at a first reference time. In a first case, photo capture is performed. In the first case, a second reference time is based on a second user interface activity, and the timing reference indicates a passage of time between the two reference times is shorter than a particular time interval. In a second case, video capture is performed. In the second case, the timing reference indicates a passage of time since the first reference time is equal to or longer than the particular time interval. Video capture is stopped based on a subsequent user interface activity. The user interface activities may comprise detecting actions based on the same type of physical manipulation of the single user input. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image capture device comprising: an image sensor capable of being configured to capture an image or video; a touchscreen display configured to preview image signals from the image sensor; a single user input element comprising a touch-sensitive area of the touchscreen display and capable of detecting user activity at the single user input element; a processor coupled with the image sensor and configured to perform operations comprising: displaying, on the touch screen display, a preview of image signals from the image sensor; detecting a state change of the single user input element from a first state to a second state based on a detected user activity, the detected user activity comprising a screen touch on the touch-sensitive area of the touchscreen display during the display of the preview of image signals from the image sensor; determining a duration of the second state; storing an image from the image sensor based on the duration of the second state being less than a time interval; and capturing a video recording based on the duration of the second state being greater than the time interval, wherein the video recording is captured until a state change of the single user input element from the second state to the first state is detected. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image capture device of claim 1, further comprising: a timing reference coupled with the processor; and wherein determining the duration of the second state comprises: engaging the timing reference at a first reference time based on detecting the state change of the single user input element from the first state to the second state; and determining a passage of time since the first reference time. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The image capture device of claim 2, further comprising: providing a distinct audio signal indicating that an image capture is triggered, based on the duration of the second state being less than a time interval. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The image capture device of claim 3, wherein providing the distinct signal audio indicating that the image capture is triggered, based on the duration of the second state being less than the time interval, is based on determining that the passage of time since the first reference time is shorter than the time interval. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The image capture device of claim 2, further comprising: providing a distinct audio signal indicating that a video recording is triggered, based on the duration of the second state being greater than the time interval. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The image capture device of claim 5, wherein providing the distinct audio signal indicating that the video recording is triggered, based on the duration of the second state being greater than the time interval, is based on determining that the passage of time since the first reference time is equal to or longer than the time interval. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The image capture device of claim 1, the operations further comprising: detecting that image capture or video capture failed; and in response to detecting that the image capture or video capture failed, providing a distinct audio signal indicating failure of the image capture or video capture. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The image capture device of claim 1, further comprising: providing a distinct audio signal indicating image capture or video capture is successfully completed. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The image capture device of claim 1, the operations further comprising: detecting a state change of the single user input element from the second state to the first state; and displaying, on the touch screen display, a visual cue indicating an off state of the single user input element. ### Claim 10 A method comprising: displaying, on a touch screen display of an image capture device, a preview of image signals from an image sensor of the image capture device, the touch screen display comprising a single user input element comprising a touch-sensitive area of the touchscreen display; detecting, by the image capture device, a state change of the single user input element from a first state to a second state based on a screen touch on the touch-sensitive area of the touchscreen display during the display of the preview of image signals from the image sensor; determining, by the image capture device, a duration of the second state; storing, by the image capture device, an image from the image sensor based on the duration of the second state being less than a time interval; and capturing, by the image capture device, a video recording based on the duration of the second state being greater than the time interval, wherein the video recording is captured until a state change of the single user input element from the second state to the first state is detected. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: engaging a timing reference at a first reference time based on detecting the state change of the single user input element from the first state to the second state; and determining a passage of time since the first reference time. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: providing a distinct audio signal indicating that an image capture is triggered, based on the duration of the second state being less than a time interval. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein providing the distinct signal audio indicating that the image capture is triggered, based on the duration of the second state being less than the time interval, is based on determining that the passage of time since the first reference time is shorter than the time interval. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: providing a distinct audio signal indicating that a video recording is triggered, based on the duration of the second state being greater than the time interval. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein providing the distinct audio signal indicating that the video recording is triggered, based on the duration of the second state being greater than the time interval, is based on determining that the passage of time since the first reference time is equal to or longer than the time interval. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, the operations further comprising: detecting that image capture or video capture failed; and in response to detecting that the image capture or video capture failed, providing a distinct audio signal indicating failure of the image capture or video capture. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: providing a distinct audio signal indicating image capture or video capture is successfully completed. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, the operations further comprising: detecting a state change of the single user input element from the second state to the first state; and displaying, on the touch screen display, a visual cue indicating an off state of the single user input element. ### Claim 19 A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing therein instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause an image capture device to perform operations comprising: displaying, on a touch screen display of the image capture device, a preview of image signals from an image sensor of the image capture device, the touch screen display comprising a single user input element comprising a touch-sensitive area of the touchscreen display; detecting a state change of the single user input element from a first state to a second state based on a screen touch on the touch-sensitive area of the touchscreen display during the display of the preview of image signals from the image sensor; determining a duration of the second state; storing an image from the image sensor based on the duration of the second state being less than a time interval; and capturing a video recording based on the duration of the second state being greater than the time interval, wherein the video recording is captured until a state change of the single user input element from the second state to the first state is detected. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 19, the operations further comprising: engaging a timing reference at a first reference time based on detecting the state change of the single user input element from the first state to the second state; and determining a passage of time since the first reference time.