User-controlled exposure method and system with visual feedback
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorNorman C. Pyle
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A camera is provided with a mechanism for supporting a user-controlled exposure mode in which a user can control the exposure time for the picture. A user first places the camera into the user-controlled exposure mode. Then, a user initiates the picture taking process, for example, by depressing a shutter button. The user then reviews the picture on a display as the picture develops. When the picture has the desired exposure, the user terminates the picture taking process by, for example, releasing the shutter button. In this manner, the user obtains a picture with the desired exposure without the delay, additional equipment, and guesswork involved in prior art approaches.
Claims20
A method for controlling exposure time in a digital image capture device comprising the steps of:
- when a user-controlled exposure mode is selected and a start exposure signal is asserted,
- a) capturing a first image and assigning the first image to a running total image;
- b) displaying the running total image;
- c) capturing a next image;
- d) adding the next image to the running total image;
- e) displaying the running total image;
- and
- f) repeating steps (c) to (e) until a terminate exposure signal is asserted.
A digital image capture device that has a user-controlled exposure mode comprising:
- a) a display for displaying images;
- and
- b) a user-controlled exposure mechanism coupled to the display for receiving a start exposure signal and a terminate exposure signal, responsive to the start exposure signal for beginning an exposure, for providing visual feedback during the exposure through the display, and responsive to a terminate exposure signal for terminating the exposure.
A digital image capture device that has a user-controlled exposure mode comprising:
- a) means for displaying images;
- and
- b) user-controlled exposure means coupled to the display for receiving a start exposure signal and a terminate exposure signal, responsive to the start exposure signal for beginning an exposure, for providing immediate visual feedback during the exposure through the display, and responsive to a terminate exposure signal for terminating the exposure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.