Abstract:
A camera includes an image capture unit, a storage unit, a selection unit, and a processing unit. The image capture unit captures images. The storage unit stores a number of detection modules. The selection unit selects one or more detection modules. The processing unit executes one or more detection modules according to the selection unit, to detect specified features within the images captured by the image capture unit.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a camera. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Cameras usually cannot discern specific features, such as faces, in images. To detect such features in the images, the images must be transferred to a computer system for software-based processing, which is inconvenient. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a camera including a storage unit and a selection unit. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a schematic block diagram of the storage unit of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a schematic block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the selection unit of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a schematic block diagram of another exemplary embodiment of the selection unit of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0009]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary embodiment of a camera  1  includes an image capture unit  10 , a storage unit  20 , a processing unit  30 , a selection unit  40 , and an update port  50 . 
         [0010]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the storage unit  20  stores a face detection module  200 , a license plate detection module  210 , and a flame detection module  220 . 
         [0011]    The image capture unit  10  is operable to capture images of objects. The selection unit  40  is operable to select the face detection module  200 , the license plate detection module  210 , or the flame detection module  220  via the processing unit  30 . It can be understood that the processing unit  30  executes the face detection module  200 , which, in turn, seeks the designated features, in this case, faces, within images from the image capture unit  10 . The processing unit  30  executes the license plate detection module  210 , which, in turn, seeks the designated features, in this case, license plates within images from the image capture unit  10 . The processing unit  30  executes the flame detection module  200 , which, in turn, seeks the designated features, in this case, flames, within images from the image capture unit  10 . A known recognition technology can be employed by the face detection module  200 , the license plate detection module  210 , and the flame detection module  220  to locate and acquire the designated images. 
         [0012]    The selection unit  40  transmits a signal according to the selection thereof to the processing unit  30 . The processing unit  30  is operable to execute face detection module  200 , license plate detection module  210 , or flame detection module  220  accordingly. 
         [0013]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , it can be understood that the selection unit  40  can be an user interface providing a plurality of keys, such as a “face detecting” key, a “license plate detecting” key, and a “flame detecting” key. When the “face detecting” key is selected, the selection unit  40  transmits a first signal to the processing unit  30 , and the processing unit  30  executes the face detection module  200 . When the “license plate detecting” key is selected, the selection unit  40  transmits a second signal to the processing unit  30 , and the processing unit  30  executes the license plate detection module  210 . When the “flame detecting” key is selected, the selection unit  40  transmits a third signal to the processing unit  30 , and the processing unit  30  executes the flame detection module  220 . 
         [0014]    While designated features to be detected here include, as examples, faces, license plates, and flames, storage unit  20  can equally store other detection modules, such as a movement detection module, or any other, while remaining well within the scope of the disclosure. 
         [0015]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the selection unit  40  may include a plurality of switches  400 . Each combination status of the plurality of switches  400  corresponds to one of the first, second, and third signals. For example, when a first switch is turned on, and a second switch is turned on, a first combination status of the switches  400  is “11”. The first combination status corresponds to the first signal. The processing unit  30  implements the face detection module  200  according to the first signal. When the first switch is turned off, and the second switch is turned off, a second combination status of the switches  400  is “00”. The second combination status corresponds to the second signal. The processing unit  30  implements the license plate detection module  210  according to the second signal. 
         [0016]    The update port  50  is operable to connect to a computer system  2 . As a result, other detection modules can be downloaded to the storage unit  20  to add functions of the camera  1 . 
         [0017]    The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the disclosure has been presented only for the purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the disclosure and their practical application so as to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the disclosure and various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those of ordinary skills in the art to which the present disclosure pertains without departing from its spirit and scope. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description and the exemplary embodiments described therein.