Abstract:
A system includes a smart phone and an image receiving module. The smart phone includes a communication port and a camera. The image receiving module is capable of being physically coupled to the smart phone via the communication port. The image receiving module includes an iris for adjusting an aperture for rays entering the device via the aperture, based on user input, a set of lenses capable of zooming an image formed by the rays greater than a predetermined number of times an original size of the image, and a shutter whose speed is configurable based on user input.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Many different types of devices are available today for taking pictures, improving captured images, and publishing the images. For example, a user can use a smart phone to take a picture and modify the picture using an image-editing application. The user can also publish the picture using a browser. In capturing the image, the user can also use a “point and shoot” camera or a digital single-lens reflect (SLR) camera. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0002]    According to one aspect a device may include: an iris for adjusting an aperture for rays entering the device via the aperture, based on user input; a set of lenses capable of zooming an image formed by the rays, greater than a predetermined number of times an original size of the image; a shutter whose speed is configurable based on user input; and a computing device. The computing device may include: a processor for controlling the device; a memory for storing applications, data, and the image obtained via the iris, the set of lenses, and the shutter; a display for displaying the image; and a communication interface for communicating with another device over a network. 
         [0003]    Additionally, the predetermined number is 4. 
         [0004]    Additionally, the computing device may include a cellular telephone. 
         [0005]    Additionally, the processor may be configured to at least one of: modify the speed of the shutter based on a zoom of the set of lenses; change a size of the aperture by controlling the iris based on a zoom of the set of lenses; or perform a zoom via the set of lenses based on user input. 
         [0006]    Additionally, the device may further include a sensor, wherein the processor is further configured to: automatically focus the image by controlling the set of lenses prior to capturing the image. 
         [0007]    According to another aspect, a system may include a smart phone that includes a communication port and a camera, and an image receiving module configured to physically couple to the smart phone via the communication port. The image receiving module may include: an iris for adjusting an aperture for rays entering the device via the aperture, based on user input; a set of lenses capable of zooming an image formed by the rays greater than a predetermined number of times an original size of the image; and a shutter whose speed is configurable based on user input. 
         [0008]    Additionally, the communication port is a universal serial bus (USB) port. 
         [0009]    Additionally, the camera may be located on a side, of the smart phone, that includes a display, or on another side, of the smart phone, that does not include the display. 
         [0010]    Additionally, the predetermined number is 3. 
         [0011]    Additionally, the smart phone may be configured to send signals to control the set of lenses to autofocus the image. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more embodiments described herein and, together with the description, explain the embodiments. In the drawings, 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  shows an environment in which concepts described herein may be implemented; 
           [0014]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  are front and rear views, respectively, of the camera of  FIG. 1  according to one implementation; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of exemplary components of the camera of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of exemplary components of the image receive module of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram of exemplary components of the computing device of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram of exemplary functional components of the computing device of  FIG. 3 ; and 
           [0019]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  illustrate the camera of  FIG. 1  according to another implementation. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0020]    The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in different drawings may identify the same or similar elements. 
         [0021]    The term “image,” as used herein, may refer to a digital or an analog representation of visual information (e.g., a picture, a video, a photograph, an animation, etc). The term “camera,” as used herein, may include a device that may capture and store images. For example, a digital camera may include an electronic device that may capture and store images electronically instead of using photographic film. A digital camera may be multifunctional, with some devices capable of recording sound and/or images. A “subject,” as the term is used herein, is to be broadly interpreted to include any person, place, and/or thing capable of being captured as an image. 
       Exemplary Device 
       [0022]    In the following implementations, a smart camera may include a computer or components of a computer. Although many of today&#39;s smart phones provide for image capturing capabilities, the smart phones still lack the full functionalities of cameras. Cameras can capture high quality images via one or more lens assemblies that accurately reflect visual features of the subject. Furthermore, cameras are usually configurable. For some types of cameras, a user can change lenses, adjust aperture size, shutter speed, etc., to obtain digital images that smart phones cannot capture. With a smart camera, a user may capture high-quality images (some of which cannot be captured via smart phones), edit the images, and publish the images. 
         [0023]      FIG. 1  shows an environment  100  in which concepts described herein may be implemented. As shown, environment  100  includes a smart camera  102  and a subject  104 . In  FIG. 1 , subject  104  is depicted as an airplane, whose image cannot be captured by typical smart phone cameras when the plane is moving at a high speed. Given smart camera  102 , a user may capture images of moving subject  104  by increasing the shutter speed and aperture size of smart camera  102 . Once the user captures the desired images, the user may edit the images via applications stored on smart camera  102 , and publish the images directly from smart camera  102  over a network. 
         [0024]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  are front and rear views, respectively, of smart camera  102  according to one implementation. Smart camera  102  may include different types of cameras, such as a point-and-shoot camera, single-lens reflex (SLR) camera (e.g., a camera in which images that a user sees in the viewfinder are obtained from the same light rays received for capturing images). 
         [0025]    As shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , smart camera  102  may include a lens assembly  202 , display/viewfinder  204 , sensors  206 , a button  208 , a flash  210 , a computing module  212 , and a housing  214 . Depending on the implementation, smart camera  102  may include additional, fewer, different, or a different arrangement of components than those illustrated in  FIGS. 2A and 2B . 
         [0026]    Lens assembly  202  may include a device for manipulating light rays from a given or a selected range, so that images in the range can be captured in a desired manner. Display/viewfinder  204  may include a device that can display signals generated by smart camera  102  as images on a screen and/or that can accept inputs in the form of taps or touches on the screen (e.g., a touch screen). The user may interact with applications (e.g., image processing application, email client, texting program, etc.) that run on computing module  212  via display/viewfinder  204 . Sensors  206  may collect and provide, to smart camera  102 , information (e.g., acoustic, infrared, etc.) that is used to aid the user in capturing images. 
         [0027]    Button  208  may signal smart camera  102  to capture an image received by smart camera  102  via lens assembly  202  when the user presses button  208 . Flash  210  may include any type of flash unit used in cameras and may provide illumination for taking pictures. 
         [0028]    Computing module  212  may include one or more devices that provide computational capabilities of a computer. Computational module  212  may receive input/signals from different components of smart camera  102  (e.g., sensors  206 , touch screen, etc.), process the input/signals, and/or control different components of smart camera  102 . Computing module  212  may run applications, such as an image processing program, and interact with the user via input/output components.  FIGS. 2A and 2B  show computing module  212  in dotted lines, to indicate that computing module  212  is enclosed within housing  214 . 
         [0029]    Housing  214  may provide a casing for components of smart camera  102  and may protect the components from outside elements. 
         [0030]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of exemplary components of smart camera  102 . As shown, smart camera  102  may include an image receive module  302 , sensors  304 , flash  306 , and a computing device  308 . Depending on the implementations, smart camera  102  may include additional, fewer, different, or a different arrangement of components than those illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0031]    Image receive module  302  may include components that control receipt of light rays from a given or a selected range, so that images in the range can be captured in a desired manner. Image receive module  302  may be capable of manipulating images in ways that are not typically provided by smart phones (e.g., zoom&gt;4×) or capture images at different shutter speed, etc. 
         [0032]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of exemplary components of image receive module  302 . As shown image receive module  302  may include shutter  402 , iris unit  404 , and lenses  406 . Depending on the implementation, image receive module  302  may include additional, fewer, different, or a different arrangement of components than those illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0033]    Shutter  402  may include a device for allowing light to pass for a period of time. Shutter  402  may expose sensors  304  (e.g., a charge coupled device (CCD)) to a determined amount of light to create an image of a view. Iris module  404  may include a device for providing an aperture for light and may control the brightness of light on sensors  304  by regulating the size of the aperture. Lenses  406  may include a collection of lenses, and may provide a magnification and a focus of a given or selected image, by changing relative positions of the lenses. 
         [0034]    Shutter  402 , iris module  404 , and lenses  406  may operate in conjunction with each other to provide a desired magnification and an exposure. For example, when a magnification is increased by using lenses  406 , a computational component (e.g., computing device  308 ) may adjust shutter  402  and iris unit  404  to compensate for changes in the amount of light, in order to maintain the exposure relatively constant. 
         [0035]    Returning to  FIG. 3 , sensor  304  may detect and receive information about the environment (e.g., distance of a subject from camera  102 ). Flash  306  may include flash  210 , which is described above. Computing device  308  may include computing module  212 , which is described above.  FIG. 5  is a block diagram of exemplary components of computing device  308 . As shown, computing device  308  may include a processor  502 , memory  504 , storage device  506 , input component  508 , output component  510 , network interface  512 , and communication path  514 . In different implementations, computing device  308  may include additional, fewer, or different components than the ones illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0036]    Processor  502  may include a processor, a microprocessor, an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), and/or other processing logic capable of controlling computing device  308 . In one implementation, processor  502  may include components that are specifically designed to control camera components. In other implementations, processor  502  may include a general processing unit (GPU). Memory  504  may include static memory, such as read only memory (ROM), and/or dynamic memory, such as random access memory (RAM), or onboard cache, for storing data and machine-readable instructions. 
         [0037]    Storage device  506  may include a magnetic and/or optical storage/recording medium. In some embodiments, storage device  506  may be mounted under a directory tree or may be mapped to a drive. Depending on the context, the term “medium,” “memory,” “storage,” “storage device,” “storage medium,” and/or “storage unit” may be used interchangeably. For example, a “computer-readable storage device” or “computer readable storage medium” may refer to a memory and/or storage device. 
         [0038]    Input component  508  may permit a user to input information to computing device  308 . Input component  508  may include, for example, a microphone, a touch screen, voice recognition and/or biometric mechanisms, sensors, etc. Output component  510  may output information to the user. Output component  510  may include, for example, a display, a speaker, etc. 
         [0039]    Network interface  512  may include a transceiver that enables computing device  308  to communicate with other devices and/or systems. For example, network interface  512  may include mechanisms for communicating via a network, such as the Internet, a terrestrial wireless network (e.g., a WLAN), a satellite-based network, a personal area network (PAN), a WPAN, etc. Additionally or alternatively, network interface  512  may include an Ethernet interface to a LAN, and/or an interface/connection for connecting computing device  308  to other devices (e.g., a Bluetooth interface). 
         [0040]    Communication path  514  may provide an interface through which components of computing device  308  can communicate with one another. 
         [0041]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram of exemplary functional components of computing device  308 . As shown, computing device  308  may include a camera controller  602 , an image application  604 , a database  606 , and an operating system  608 . The components illustrated in  FIG. 6  may be executed by processor  302 . 
         [0042]    Camera controller  602  may control, for example, image receive module  302 , flash  306 , and/or another component of smart camera  102 . As described above, in controlling image receive module  302 , camera controller  602  may coordinate shutter  402 , iris unit  404 , and/or lenses  406  based on input from sensors  304  and user-provided parameters. 
         [0043]    Image application  604  may include, for example, a photo/picture editing or manipulation program, a video/audio editing or manipulation program, etc. Database  606  may store images, videos, audio, and/or another type of information (e.g., messages, emails, etc.). Operating system  608  may allocate computational resources (e.g., processing cycles, memory, etc.) of computing device  308  to different components of computing device  308  (e.g., allocate memory/processing cycle to a process/thread). 
         [0044]    Depending on the implementation, computing device  308  may include additional, fewer, different, or a different arrangement of components than those shown in  FIG. 6 . For example, in another implementation, computing device  308  may include software applications such as an email client, messaging program, browser, a document editing program, games, etc. 
         [0045]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  illustrate smart camera  102  according to another implementation. In this implementation, smart camera  102  may include computing device  308  and mountable camera assembly  718 . Computing device  308  may include a cellular phone (e.g., a smart phone) and/or another type of communication device whose components include some or all of those illustrated in  FIG. 5  and/or  FIG. 6 . As shown in  FIG. 7A , computing device  308  may include a display  702 , speaker  704 , microphone  706 , sensors  708 , front camera  710 , housing  712 , and communication port  714 . Depending on the implementation, computing device  308  may include additional, fewer, different, or different arrangement of components than those illustrated in  FIG. 7A . 
         [0046]    Display  702  may include similar device/components as display/viewfinder  204  and may operate similarly. Speaker  704  may provide audible information to a user of computing device  308 . Microphone  706  may receive audible information from the user. Sensors  708  may collect and provide, to computing device  308 , information (e.g., acoustic, infrared, etc.) that is used to aid the user in capturing images or in providing other types of information (e.g., a distance between a user and computing device  308 ). Front camera  710  may enable a user to view, capture and store images (e.g., pictures, video clips) of a subject in front of computing device  308 . Housing  712  may provide a casing for components of computing device  308  and may protect the components from outside elements. Communication port  714  (e.g., universal serial bus (USB) port) may send or receive information from another device  308 . 
         [0047]    Mountable camera assembly  718  may include lens assembly  720  (which may be part of image receive module  302  included in mountable camera assembly  718 ) and housing  722 . Lens assembly  720  may be configured to receive light rays and guide/direct the light rays inside housing  722  (e.g., via minors and beam splitters), such that when mountable camera assembly  718  is fitted with computing device  308  as illustrated in  FIG. 7B , the light rays enter computing device  308  via front camera  710  or a rear camera (not shown) of computing device. 
         [0048]    Mountable camera assembly  718  may include a connector or a port that fits together with or receives communication port  714  of computing device  308  when computing device  308  is inserted into mountable camera assembly  718 . In this case, communication port  714  may function as both a communication port and a connection point. When computing device  308  is turned on, computing device  308  may control a number of components of mountable camera assembly  718  via communication port  714 . In other implementations, mountable camera assembly  718  (e.g., zoom) may be controlled manually. 
         [0049]    Lens assembly  720  may include lenses or other optical components that can manipulate light rays to produce far higher quality images than those produced via only front camera  710  or the rear camera of computing device  308 . When computing device  308  is fitted with mountable camera assembly  718 , computing device  308  may capture such high quality images. Furthermore, because lens assembly  720  is configurable (e.g., change aperture size, shutter speed, zoom, etc.), the user may capture far greater types of images by using the combination of mountable camera assembly  718  and computing device  308  than with just computing device  308 . For example, lens assembly  720  may allow for zooms greater than 3× zoom (e.g., 4×, 5×, 6×, etc.). 
         [0050]    Depending on the implementation, smart camera  102  may include computing device  308  and components that are different or differently configured than those illustrated in  FIGS. 7A and 7B . For example, lens assembly  720  may be located on the rear of mountable camera assembly  718 , to allow the user to view images, on display  702 , that the user points to with lens assembly  720 . In another example, mountable camera assembly  718  may be configured to receive a different portion of computing device  308  than the top portion of computing device  308 , as illustrated in  FIG. 7B . In some implementations, mountable camera assembly  718  may be assembled/coupled with computing device  308  via a different mounting mechanism (e.g., lockable clamp). 
         [0051]    In yet another example, mountable camera assembly  718  may include a stand-alone camera, with a slot and a communication port for inserting/receiving a smart phone. In this instance, any images from the camera may be transferred to the phone via the communication port. Depending on the embodiment, a viewfinder on such camera may be kept large or small, depending on whether the camera has the capability for providing a user interface. 
         [0052]    Depending on the implementation, computing device  308  may include large memories or one or more charge coupled devices (CCDs) of sufficient resolution to capture images that are provided via mountable camera assembly  718 . 
       Conclusion 
       [0053]    The foregoing description of embodiments provides illustration, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the teachings. 
         [0054]    It will be apparent that aspects described herein may be implemented in many different forms of software, firmware, and hardware in the implementations illustrated in the figures. The actual software code or specialized control hardware used to implement aspects should not be construed as limiting. Thus, the operation and behavior of the aspects were described without reference to the specific software code—it being understood that software and control hardware can be designed to implement the aspects based on the description herein. 
         [0055]    No element, act, or instruction used in the present application should be construed as critical or essential to the invention unless explicitly described as such. Also, as used herein, the article “a” is intended to include one or more items. Where only one item is intended, the term “one” or similar language is used. Further, the phrase “based on” is intended to mean “based, at least in part, on” unless explicitly stated otherwise. 
         [0056]    It should be emphasized that the term “comprises/comprising” when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components, or groups thereof. 
         [0057]    Further, certain portions of the invention have been described as “logic” that performs one or more functions. This logic may include hardware, such as a processor, an application specific integrated circuit, or a field programmable gate array, software, or a combination of hardware and software.