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US 7,620,304 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for reducing shutter lag in a digital imaging device
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsJoel B. Larner, Gregory V. Hofer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A digital imaging device, such as a digital camera, minimizes shutter lag by determining some capture parameters, such as focus and exposure settings, before a user of the device has indicated that a photograph is to be taken. The parameters are updated when the device becomes substantially still before the indication that a photograph is to be taken.
Claims17
A method of reducing shutter lag, comprising:
- at a time before an indication that a photograph is to be taken imminently, selecting at least one capture parameter of a digital imaging device when it is determined that the digital imaging device is substantially still;
- and
- locking the at least one capture parameter so long as the digital imaging device remains substantially still;
- and
- when an indication that a photograph is to be taken imminently is received with the capture parameter locked, determining whether a photographic subject has moved since the capture parameter was selected before the indication was received;
- and
- re-selecting at least one capture parameter if the subject has so moved.
4 more elements
A digital imaging device, comprising:
- a shutter button having an S1 position and an S2 position;
- memory;
- and
- logic, the logic configured to
- sense motion of the digital imaging device before S1 is reached;
- determine, based on the sensed motion, that the digital imaging device is substantially still;
- select at least one capture parameter upon determining that the digital imaging device is substantially still;
- and
- store in the memory an indication that the at least one capture parameter has been selected;
- when the S1 position is reached and the indication has been stored in memory that the at least one capture parameter has been selected:
- determine that the digital imaging device has not moved since the at least one capture parameter was selected before S1 was reached;
- determine that a photographic subject has not moved since the at least one capture parameter was selected before S1 was reached;
- detect that the S2 position has been reached;
- and
- upon these determinations, take a final photograph without re-determining the at least one capture parameter.
12 more elements
A digital camera, comprising:
- an electronic array light sensor;
- a lens that projects an image of a scene onto the electronic array light sensor;
- a shutter button having an S1 and an S2 position;
- logic, the logic configured to, before the S1 position is reached,
- sense motion of the camera;
- perform automatic focus of the lens when it is determined, based on the sensed motion, that the camera is substantially still;
- and
- re-perform automatic focus only upon a determination that the camera has moved since automatic focus was last performed and that the camera has once again become substantially still;
- after the S1 position is reached, take a final photograph without re-performing automatic focus upon a determination that:
- automatic focus was performed before S1 was reached;
- the camera has not substantially moved since automatic focus was performed before S1 was reached;
- and
- a photographic subject has not substantially moved since automatic focus was performed before S1 was reached;
- and
- the S2 position has been reached.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.