# US 2004/0070682 A1 · Digital camera > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2004/0070682 A1 - Document ID: US20040070682A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 10/269,047 - Filed: 2002-10-11 - Published: 2004-04-15 - Earliest claimed: 2002-10-11 - Assignees: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. - Inventors: James S. Voss; James W. Owens - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20040070682A1 ## CPC - H04N 23/951: by using two or more images to influence resolution, frame rate or aspect ratio - H04N 23/70: Circuitry for compensating brightness variation in the scene - H04N 23/76: by influencing the image signals - H04N 25/445: by skipping some contiguous pixels within the read portion of the array - H04N 25/46: by combining or binning pixels - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract A digital camera including a photosensor with a plurality of picture elements that define an image resolution that is adjustable. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A digital camera comprising: means for directing radiant energy into said digital camera; means for capturing an image from said radiant energy, said means for capturing comprising a plurality of elements defining an image resolution; and means for selectively and dynamically adjusting said image resolution. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The digital camera as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for sensing ambient light level and for generating a corresponding output signal to said means for selectively and dynamically adjusting. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The digital camera as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for varying at least one of exposure of said means for capturing and signal intensity from said means for capturing, said means for selectively and dynamically adjusting being independently operable of said means for varying. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The digital camera as claimed in claim 3, wherein said means for varying comprises at least one of an aperture and gain control apparatus. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The digital camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for capturing comprises a CMOS sensor and said means for directing comprises a lens. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The digital camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for selectively and dynamically adjusting comprises a resolution control selector, said resolution control selector being adjustable by a user. ### Claim 7 A digital camera comprising: a lens for directing radiant energy into said digital camera; an image capturing medium upon which said radiant energy impinges, said image capturing medium having a plurality of pixels defining an image resolution of said digital camera; and a resolution control selector in communication with said image capturing medium, said resolution control selector being operable to vary said image resolution. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The digital camera as claimed in claim 7, further comprising: a light-level sensor for sensing ambient light-level conditions and generating a corresponding output signal; and a microprocessor in communication between said light-level sensor and said image capturing medium, said microprocessor receiving said output signal from said light-level sensor, said microprocessor processing said output signal and generating a control signal based thereon for adjusting said image resolution of said image capturing medium. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The digital camera as claimed in claim 7, further comprising an image enhancement apparatus, said resolution control selector being independently operable of said image enhancement apparatus. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The digital camera as claimed in claim 9, wherein said image enhancement apparatus comprises at least one of an exposure control and a gain control. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The digital camera as claimed in claim 7, wherein said sensor is a CMOS sensor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The digital camera as claimed in claim 7, wherein said plurality of pixels include photoelectronic charges upon exposure to said radiant energy, further wherein said resolution control selector being operable to combine said plurality of pixels into predetermined groups by combining said photoelectronic charges into predetermined groups. ### Claim 13 A digital camera comprising: a lens for directing light into said digital camera; a body connected to said lens, said body comprising a CMOS sensor having an array of pixels defining an image resolution of said digital camera; a resolution selector for varying said image resolution to adjust low light performance of said digital camera, said resolution selector being attached to at least one of said lens and said body and being in communication with said CMOS sensor. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The digital camera as claimed in claim 13, wherein said body further comprises a microprocessor interposed said resolution selector and said CMOS sensor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The digital camera as claimed in claim 14, further comprising image enhancement apparatus, said resolution selector being independently operable of said image enhancement apparatus. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The digital camera as claimed in claim 14, wherein said image enhancement apparatus comprises an aperture between said CMOS sensor and said lens and further including an amplifier interposed said microprocessor and said CMOS sensor. ### Claim 17 A method of imaging comprising: directing radiant energy into a digital camera; capturing an image from said radiant energy on a plurality of elements defining an image resolution; and selectively and dynamically adjusting said image resolution. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method as claimed in claim 17, further comprising varying at least one of exposure of said plurality of elements and signal intensity from said plurality of elements, wherein said selectively and dynamically adjusting step being independent of said varying step. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein said varying step comprises varying at least one of aperture and gain control settings of said digital camera. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein said capturing step comprises using a CMOS sensor and said directing step comprises using a lens. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein said selectively and dynamically adjusting step comprises using a resolution control selector on said digital camera wherein said resolution control selector is adjustable by a user. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein said selectively and dynamically adjusting step comprises using an adjustable knob on said digital camera. ### Claim 23 A sensor assembly comprising: a CMOS photosensor having a plurality of pixels arranged in a grid; a light sensor that senses ambient light levels and generates a control signal in response thereto; and a control system that selectively groups pixels of said plurality of pixels and sums signal outputs of selectively grouped pixels of said plurality of pixels in response to said control signal. ### Claim 24 A digital camera comprising: a CMOS photosensor having a plurality of pixels arranged in a grid; a light sensor that senses ambient light levels and generates a control signal in response thereto; and a control system that selectively groups pixels of said plurality of pixels and sums signal outputs of selectively grouped pixels of said plurality of pixels in response to said control signal.