Abstract:
A digital camera and automatic mode detection method that eliminates the need for a user to select between video recording mode and still image mode while using the camera. The appropriate mode is automatically selected by the digital camera based upon the length of time its shutter button is depressed.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to digital cameras and methods relating thereto, and more specifically, to a digital camera having automatic mode detection and automatic mode detection method.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     The assignee of the present invention develops digital cameras, and the like. Such digital cameras may be used to record still (photographic) images and full motion video images.  
         [0003]     Prior solutions to the problem of providing mode detection require pre-selecting the desired image capture mode of the digital camera. This can cause user confusion and can add to the time to required to change modes.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     An embodiment of the present invention provides a digital camera employing a methodology that eliminates the need for a user to select between video recording mode and still image mode during use of the digital camera. The appropriate mode is automatically selected by the digital camera based upon the length of time the shutter button is depressed. The digital camera includes a processor containing an algorithm that implements the automatic mode detection method.  
         [0005]     An exemplary method is as follows. A user presses a shutter button on the digital camera. The digital camera takes a photograph immediately upon detection of the shutter button press. After taking the photograph, the camera automatically switches to video mode and starts recording. If the shutter button remains depressed for more than one second, for example, then the photograph that was taken may be deleted (at the user&#39;s option) since the user intends to record video. If the shutter button is released before one second, for example, then the recorded video (which is less than one second) is deleted since the user only intends to capture a still image.  
         [0006]     The present invention eliminates the need for the user to pre-select video or still image mode thereby making camera operation simpler and quicker. The problem of quickly and easily switching between still image and video in a digital camera is thus solved by the present invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]     The various features and advantages of embodiments of the present invention may be more readily understood with reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like structural elements, and in which:  
         [0008]      FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b  show front and back views, respectively, that illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a digital camera that implements automatic mode detection in accordance with the principles of the present invention; and  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is a flow diagram that illustrates an exemplary automatic mode detection method in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0010]     Referring to the drawing figures,  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b  show front and back views, respectively, that illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a digital camera  10  in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The exemplary digital camera  10  implements an automatic mode detection method  50  ( FIG. 2 ) in accordance with the principles of the present invention.  
         [0011]     The exemplary digital camera  10  comprises a handgrip section  20  and a body section  30 . The handgrip section  20  includes a power button  21  having a lock latch  22 , a shutter button  23  (or record button  23 ), and a battery compartment  26  for housing batteries  27 . A metering element  43  and microphone  44  are disposed on a front surface  42  of the digital camera  10 . A pop-up flash  45  is located adjacent the top surface  46  of the digital camera  10 .  
         [0012]     As is shown in  FIG. 1   b , a rear surface  31  of the exemplary digital camera  10  includes a liquid crystal display (LCD)  32 , a rear microphone  33 , a joystick pad  34 , a zoom control dial  35 , a plurality of buttons  36  for setting functions of the camera  10  and an output port  37  for downloading images to an external display device or computer, for example.  
         [0013]     The digital camera  10  also comprises a lens or imaging optics  12 , and an image sensor  13  for receiving images transmitted by the imaging optics  12 . A processor  14  is coupled to the image sensor  13  (and other control and input/output components) that implements the present automatic mode detection method  50 . The image sensor  13  receives optical images transmitted by the imaging optics  12  and captures digital images thereof. The processor  14  comprises an automatic mode detection algorithm  15  that implements the automatic mode detection method  50  shown in  FIG. 2 . The automatic mode detection algorithm  15  automatically selects between video recording mode and still image (photographic) mode of the digital camera  10 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a flow diagram that illustrates an exemplary automatic mode detection method  50  in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The automatic mode detection method  50  is embodied in the processor  14  of the digital camera  10 . Details of the exemplary mode detection method  50  are as follows.  
         [0015]     A digital camera is provided  51  that comprises a mode detection algorithm  15  that automatically switches between photographic image and video image mode. A user of the digital camera  10  presses  52  the shutter button  23  (or record button  23 ) on the camera  10 . The camera  10  records  53  a photograph immediately upon detection of pressing of the shutter button  23 . After the photograph is taken, the camera  10  (processor  14 ) automatically switches  54  to video mode and starts recording full motion video. If the shutter button  23  remains depressed for a predetermined time period, such as for more than one second, for example, the photograph may be deleted  55  (at the users option) since the user intends to record video. If the shutter button  23  is released before the end of the predetermined time period, one second, for example, then the recorded video (which is less than one second, for example) is deleted  56  since the user intends to capture a still image or photograph.  
         [0016]     Thus, an improved digital camera and automatic mode detection method have been disclosed. It is to be understood that the above-described embodiments are merely illustrative of some of the many specific embodiments that represent applications of the principles of the present invention. Clearly, numerous and other arrangements can be readily devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.