Patent ID: 6177958
Filing Date: 2001-01-23
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
A system for capturing salient still images in an electronic imaging device having a display, said system comprising:means for allowing a user to turn on a salient still capture mode;means for automatically detecting a high contrast image;means for notifying said user of the presence of said high contrast image using at least one of a warning light, an audio signal, or text displayed in said display;means for determining whether an automatic salient still capture mode or a manual salient still capture mode has been selected;means responsive to a shutter button depression for capturing a bright image of an object at a first exposure level, and capturing a dark image of said object at a second exposure level;means for combining said bright and dark images into a single image to thereby increase the dynamic range of said electronic imaging device;means for appending a tag to said bright image and to said dark image to mark said images as salient still images; andmeans for storing said bright and dark images in a salient still capture image folder.