- Number
- 10027884
- Published
- 2018-07-17
- Filed
- 2014-03-05
- Assignee
- Disney Enterprises, Inc.
- Inventors
- Kalama; Asa
- CPC
- H04N23/632; H04N23/64
- Verdict
- Set aside mobile camera-capture UX feature, generic
- Source
- Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline
Abstract
A client device for image capture in an eyes-free manner or without ongoing observance of the device's display screen to ensure proper framing and focusing. The client device may take the form of a smartphone, tablet, or the like. The client device includes an image capture application run by a processor to select a target to be included in a digital image captured by the client device's camera. The image capture application causes the processor to operate feedback mechanisms to prompt an operator of the client device to move the device so as to move the camera or its lens, before or during the capturing of the digital image, from a first orientation to a second orientation relative to the target. The image capture application urges the operator of the client device to hold their client device so as to better frame or focus on the selected target.
Background
BACKGROUND(1) 1. Field of the Description(2) The present invention relates, in general, to digital cameras and other portable devices configured for capturing digital photographs and videos such as smartphones, tablets, handheld video games, and the like, and more particularly, to a method and corresponding apparatus for allowing an operator of a digital device to capture a desired shot, image, video, or the like of an event without having to look at a display screen or touchscreen of their portable digital device.(3) 2. Relevant Background.(4) Today, with advances in technologies and the lowering of prices, nearly everyone uses or at least has access to digital devices that are adapted to perform numerous tasks. For example, many digital devices are designed to perform one main task such as to act as a cellular telephone, to allow an operator to read books and other publications that are in digital form (e.g., electronic books or ebooks), to access the Internet to allow the user to download and watch videos or play games and access numerous websites, and the like. Further, though, it has been common for the digital device, such as a smartphone, tablet, or the like, to also be configured to digitally capture still photographs and/or videos (“digital images”) or, in other cases, the user may use a handheld device specifically designed to be a digital camera to take such digital images. This collection of digital devices may be collectively thought of as or labeled “handheld cl
Claims
1. A client device adapted for enhanced image capture, comprising: a processor; memory accessible by the processor; a camera with a lens, the camera capturing a digital image via the lens and storing the captured digital image in the memory; a body containing the processor, the memory, and the camera; and an image capture application run by the processor to select a target item to be included in the captured digital image, wherein the image capture application causes the processor to operate one or more feedback mechanisms to prompt an operator of the client device to move the body to move the lens of the camera, before or during the capturing of the digital image, from a first orientation to a second orientation relative to the target item, wherein the image capture application determines the first orientation and the second orientation using orientation sensing components in the client device, wherein the first orientation comprises a first pitch and a first azimuth and the second orientation comprises a second pitch and a second azimuth, wherein the image capture application further acts to determine a present location of the client device, wherein, when the second orientation is within a range of acceptable orientations for capturing an image of the target item from the present location, the image capture application automatically initiates the capturing of the digital image, and wherein the image capture application further acts to determine a first height of the lens of the camera, to compare the first height of the camera to an acceptable range of heights for capturing the image of the target item at the present location of the client device, and when the first height is outside of the acceptable range of heights to operate the one or more feedback mechanisms to prompt the operator to move the camera from the first height to a second height within the acceptable range of heights.
8. A client device adapted for enhanced image capture, comprising: a processor; memory accessible by the processor; a camera with a lens, the camera capturing a digital image via the lens and storing the captured digital image in the memory; a body containing the processor, the memory, and the camera; and an image capture application run by the processor to select a target item to be included in the captured digital image, wherein the image capture application causes the processor to operate one or more feedback mechanisms to prompt an operator of the client device to move the body to move the lens of the camera, before or during the capturing of the digital image, from a first orientation to a second orientation relative to the target item, wherein the image capture application responds to user input to retrieve from the memory and to augment, and then store in the memory, the captured digital image previously captured during the capturing by the camera using augmentation layers selected or modified based on at least one of an orientation of the lens of the camera relative to the target item, a distance between the lens of the camera and the target item, and a height of the lens of the camera during the capturing of the digital image.
9. A device for recording digital images, comprising: a digital camera; a location sensor sensing a present location of the device; a display screen; and an image capture module retrieving a set of potential targets for imaging from the present location, generating a prompt page displayed on the display screen, receiving user input, via the prompt page on the display screen, selecting one of the potential targets for use as a target item, determining a range of orientations for the digital camera for use during image capture for the target item and for the present location, prompting a user to move the digital camera into an orientation within the range of orientations, and automatically initiating operation of the digital camera to capture a digital image of the target item without additional user input, wherein the receiving of the user input is performed prior to focusing of the digital camera on the target item, and wherein the image capture module responds to additional user input to retrieve from the memory and to augment, and then store in the memory, the captured digital image previously captured during the capturing by the digital camera using augmentation layers selected or modified based on at least one of an orientation of lens of the digital camera relative to the target item, a distance between the lens of the digital camera and the target item, and a height of the lens of the digital camera during the capturing of the digital image.
13. An image capture method, comprising: determining a location of a digital camera; based on the location, selecting a target for image capture; determining a first orientation of the digital camera; and based on the target for image capture, providing feedback to move the digital camera from the first orientation to a second orientation within a range of orientations for image capture of the target from the location, wherein the providing feedback is performed during operations of the digital camera to capture of a video image of the target and the providing feedback comprises providing tactile or audio cues to the user via feedback mechanisms of the digital camera, and wherein the method further comprises responding to user input to retrieve from memory and to augment and then store in the memory, the video image previously captured using augmentation layers selected or modified based on at least one of an orientation of a lens of the digital camera relative to the target, a distance between the lens of the digital camera and the target, and a height of the lens of the digital camera during the operations of the digital image to capture the video image of the target.