Abstract:
An electronic camera for capturing, viewing and manipulating electronic image data includes a processor for operating the camera in a plurality of modes, a display device for generating image components including one or more captured images derived from the electronic image data and a set of graphical elements, and a single controller that intuitively allows the user to cycle through the available displayed choices and options with a minimum of hassle. The controller includes a control element separated into four directional components arranged around a central axis and operative with the display device for navigating among the image components and a mode dial coaxial with the control element for selecting one of the modes.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     Reference is made to commonly assigned copending applications Ser. No. 08769,573, entitled “Electronic Camera with Image Review” and filed Dec. 19, 1996 in the names of Michael E. Miller and Richard E. Lourette; and Ser. No. 08/928,146, entitled “User Interface for Electronic Image Viewing Apparatus” and filed Sep. 12, 1997 in the names of Michael E. Miller, Richard W. Lourette, Peter C. Fellegara, Carolyn A. Bussi, Michael J. Telek, Matthew E. Hunter, and Duncan R. Kerr; and Ser. No. 08/803,338, entitled “Electronic Camera with Internal Fixed Album Memory” and filed Feb. 20, 1997 in the names of Richard W. Lourette, Peter Fellegara, Michael E. Miller, and Linda M. Antos, each of which are assigned to the assignee of this application. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates generally to the field of electronic photography, and in particular to a user interface for an electronic camera that is connectable to a computer and capable of image viewing and editing. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     When designing an electronic camera, the human interface with the camera must support the operational functions of the camera, as well as the selection and viewing of captured images. As used herein, the human (or user) interface refers to the totality of the human interaction with the system, and the means for enabling such interaction, e.g., including the information presented by the system to the user, and by the user to the system, as well as the devices that enable such presentations. The system must also provide the ability to select among operational functions, as well as apply actions against these images, such as magnifying the images, deleting the images, or sharing the images via a display device. Such a system will often employ a very small display and limited area for user controls; therefore, it is important for the user interface to have as few buttons and switches as possible, to present images that are visible on the small display, and to encourage interaction that is as intuitive as possible so as to tie usage of the buttons and switches on the camera to the graphics on the display. 
     In copending Ser. No. 08/928,146, a user interface, including on screen graphics and user controls, is shown in relation to a digital electronic camera. Referring to FIG. 1, the digital camera  10  is seen from a rear view, and includes an optical viewfinder  12 , a zoom lens control switch  14 , a handgrip area  18 , and a screen operation control unit  20 , all mounted on a camera housing  21 . More specifically, the screen operation control unit  20  includes a liquid crystal display (LCD)  22 , first user interface controls comprising respective forward and backward image scroll buttons  24 ,  26  and second user interface controls comprising respective previous and next menu select buttons  28 ,  30 , and an enter button  31 . 
     The forward, backward image scroll buttons  24 ,  26  are positioned such that the direction of user engagement is oriented parallel to a first set of graphical elements  32 , which in the preferred embodiment include a strip of captured images retrieved from a list of images stored in the camera&#39;s memory. The previous and next menu select buttons  28 ,  30  are positioned such that the direction of user engagement is oriented parallel to a second set of graphical elements  34 , which in the preferred embodiment is a menu bar including a number of operations or functions  1  . . .  4  that may be performed on a selected one of the images displayed in the image strip. Consequently, the direction of user engagement of the forward, backward buttons  24 ,  26  and the previous, next buttons  28 ,  30  are oriented substantially orthogonal to each other so as to intuitively integrate user interaction with the visual presentation of the first and second sets of graphical elements  32 ,  34 . Relatively lower resolution images are displayed in the frame areas of the first set of graphical elements  32 , and a single relatively higher resolution image is displayed in the display area  35  that is not obscured by the graphical elements  32 ,  34 . It is preferable to have the higher resolution image in the display area  35  to be as large as possible, and at least as large as fifty per cent of the whole area of the display  22 . Furthermore, a lower resolution image corresponding to the higher resolution image is shown in a preferred position  33  in the first set of graphical elements  32 . A known camera of the type described in Serial No. 08/928,146 further includes a dial  36  for selecting one of a plurality of operational modes, which are identified in FIG. 1 as modes “A”, “B”, “C”, and “D”. Such modes may include the functions of capturing an image, reviewing captured images, connecting to a computer, and so on. 
     In copending Ser. No. 08/803,338, a color display unit is provided on the back of the camera housing, and an edit switch and a directional switch unit is provided adjacent to the display unit. The directional switch unit is a four directional thumbpad segmented into four different individual directional switches. The user can then manually scroll through digital film images in forward and reverse directions by utilizing the right and left directional segments of the thumbpad. In this mode, each image is shown individually as the user scrolls through the stored images. In a separate edit level, the edit switch is activated and a functional icon group is displayed. Then the user can utilize the up and down directional segments of the thumbpad to advance through the displayed function icons until the desired icon is highlighted. 
     In copending Ser. No. 08/769,575, an electronic camera stores captured images and allows a user to relatively rapidly review any desired stored image, and to do so without repetitive actions. The camera displays a large image on its display device and a strip of low resolution images, including one in a preset strip position corresponding to the large image. The user can then navigate backwards and forward through the strip of images in the camera&#39;s storage device by pressing a forward button or a reverse button arrayed adjacent to the display device. If the user simply presses and releases the forward or reverse buttons, the low resolution images in the strip advance or reverse by one image, and the next corresponding large image is displayed. 
     None of the foregoing systems integrate mode selection, such as capture, connect (to a host computer), and review (of captured images), with directional navigation, such as up/down and left/right, into a single control presentation that intuitively allows the user to cycle through the available choices and options with a minimum of hassle. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above. Briefly summarized, according to one aspect of the present invention, an electronic camera for capturing, viewing and manipulating electronic image data includes a processor for operating the camera in a plurality of modes, a display device for generating image components including one or more captured images derived from the electronic image data and a set of graphical elements, and a single controller that intuitively allows the user to cycle through the available displayed choices and options with a minimum of hassle. The controller includes a control element separated into four directional components arranged around a central axis and operative with the display device for navigating among the image components and a mode dial coaxial with the control element for selecting one of the modes. 
     Despite the simplicity of the interface, the invention provides the advantage of optimizing one-hand (e.g., right-hand) one-finger (e.g., thumb) access to each of the directional and mode controls without compromising access to any one of them. It reduces crowding, visual clutter, and perceived complexity, as well as maximizing the ‘clear’ area on the camera back to minimize risk of the other (e.g., left) hand interfering with a control while gripping the camera. This interface can be applied to both electronic cameras with an electronic display, as well as any device that can be used for image viewing and editing. 
     The invention further provides the advantage of a user interface that includes a minimal set of controls which are integrated with on-back callouts and on-screen graphics in a manner as to reduce the apparent complexity and to increase the ease of using the device employing the interface. The interface provides strong spatial cues that line up the on-screen graphics with the user controls. This association of graphics and callouts with user controls provides an intuitive method of interacting with an image viewing and editing device. 
     These and other aspects, objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood and appreciated from a review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and appended claims, and by reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a view of a back of an electronic camera employing a user interface according to the prior art. 
     FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a digital camera including a combination four-way directional and mode control according to the invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a view of an electronic camera using the four-way control shown in FIG. 2 according to the invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a cross section of the combination four-way directional and mode control as shown in FIGS.  2  and  3 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Because digital cameras employing electronic sensors, as well as electronic processing and storage, are well known, the present description will be directed in particular to elements forming part of, or cooperating more directly with, apparatus in accordance with the present invention. Elements not specifically shown or described herein may be selected from those known in the art. Certain aspects of the embodiments to be described may be provided in software. Given the system as described in the following materials, all such software implementation needed to practice the invention is conventional and within the ordinary skill in such arts. 
     Referring now to FIG. 2, a digital camera  40  includes a zoom lens section  42  for directing image light toward an image sensor  44 , a processing section  46 , and a removable output memory  48 , such as a flash memory card. The image sensor  44  is typically a color sensor, and includes a color filter array, such as the well-known Bayer pattern (see U.S. Pat. No. 3,971,065). The processing section  46  includes an analog signal processing and A/D converter  50 , a DRAM buffer memory  52 , an image processing section  54  (which may be a programmable DSP capable processor, such as a Hitachi SH-DSP processor), and an output interface  56  to the removable memory  48 . In addition, the camera includes a host computer interface  57  for directly connecting the camera  40  to a host computer, for example, to download images. 
     The DRAM buffer memory  52  has sufficient memory space for at least one full resolution image captured by the image sensor  44 . The camera  40  also includes a zooming optical viewfinder  58 , an image liquid crystal display (LCD)  60 , a control section  62  including a control processor and timing generator  64 , a flash unit  66 , a status LCD  68 , and a user interface comprising a group of user controls including a combination control  70 . The control processor and timing generator  64 , either by itself or in combination with the processing section  46 , operates the camera in a variety of modes, e.g., to capture images, to review captured images, to connect to an external computer, and so on, and provides a set of graphical elements for the user interface (e.g., the elements  32  and  34  described in connection with FIG.  1 ), which may change depending on the mode selected. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the combination control  70  includes a disk-shaped select button  78  surrounded by a mode dial  72 , which further includes a knob  74  and a pointer  76 . One of the aforementioned modes, including “capture”, “review”(of captured images), “connect”(to a host computer), is selected by positioning the pointer  76  opposite the selected mode. The mode dial  72  comprises an outer ring surrounding the inner select button  78 , which includes markers  80  for selection of four separate directions. As shown in cross section in FIG. 4, the mode dial  72  is captured between a rear cover  82  of the camera and a socket  84  such that switch contacts  86  engage a switching pattern (not shown) on a printed circuit board (PCB)  88  in order to enable a selected mode. The select button  78  is mounted atop a multi-function tactile switch  90  so as to be tilted in different directions and provide a different output signal to the PCB  88  for each direction of movement. 
     Nearby, or within, the optical viewfinder is a ready light  92  that is connected to the control processor and timing generator  64 . A set of autofocus and autoexposure detectors  94  provide data to the control processor and timing generator  64  for driving zoom and focus motors  96  connected to the zoom lens  42 , and for initiatng an exposure by enabling clock drivers  98  in order to activate the image sensor  44 . 
     The control section  62  further includes a power management controller  100 , which is connected to the control processor and timing generator  64  for conserving power demands by the various components of the camera  40 . Power supplied by batteries  102  is applied on demand to the clock drivers  98 , the processing section  46 , and the image LCD  60 . More specifically, a capture power enable line  104  supplies power to the clock drivers  98  and the analog signal processing and A/D converter  50  and a separate process power enable line  106  supplies power to the DRAM buffer memory  52 , the image processing section  54 , and the memory card interface  56 . The power management controller  100  also enables LCD drivers  108  to input data from the DRAM buffer memory  52  to the image LCD  60 , and further enables an LCD backlight  110  to provide a variable amount of backlight to the image on the image LCD  60 . In the preferred embodiment, the image LCD  60  is a color LCD for displaying color images. 
     FIG. 3 shows a view of a back surface  40 ′ of the digital camera  40  showing the combination four way directional and mode control interface according to the invection (features common to FIGS. 1,  2  and  3  retain the same reference characters). The back of the camera  40  includes a right-hand grip  120  and a left thumbgrip  122 . The combination control  70  is positioned relative to the right-hand grip  120  so as to optimize right-hand thumb access to the mode dial  72  and to the select button  78 . The combination control  70  is also positioned in a rightward location to maximize a clear area  124  on the camera back  40  to minimize the risk of the left hand interfering with one of the controls while gripping the camera  40 . 
     The mode dial  72  constitutes an outer ring mounted on the circumferential exterior of the combination control  70 . This outer ring may be plastic or metal with, e.g., a bright, metallic finish. The ring may be narrow or wide, but would preferably feature two protrusions: the knob  74  to serve as a ‘lever’ to facilitate turning the mode dial, particularly by use of the right thumb; and the pointer  76  to indicate the mode selection from a group of mode callouts  126 . The mode callouts  126  would preferably be printed on the camera back  40 ′, and possibly color-coded as well. The select button  78  includes four raised actuation points: left/right actuation points  128 / 130  and up/down actuation points  132 / 134 . These points may be formed on a single select button, such as shown in FIG. 4, or may constitute separate button segments; in either case, the actuation points  128 / 130  and  132 / 134  are used to navigate among the image components displayed on the display  60 , that is, among the captured images or the graphical elements. The button area may be plastic (hard) or elastomeric (soft) material. The actuation points  128 / 130  and  132 / 134  would be biased toward the outer perimeter of the circular inner area to ensure adequate tactile separation between contact points. Color and finish of the select button(s)  78  might be anything desirable, but would be designed so as not to supersede the visual dominance of the mode dial. 
     The camera back  40 ′ also includes a display button  136 , which is pressed in order to turn on the display  60 , and a menu button  138 , which is pressed to cycle among various menus for a given mode selected by the mode dial  72 . Three soft keys  140 ,  142  and  144  are provided on the camera back  40 ′, and access changeable functions dependent upon the menu selection. Text describing the functions is written in a bar  146  along the bottom of the display  60 . For instance, FIG. 3 shows the left key  140  active as a delete function in the info mode (i.e., all keys are not used in each menu selection). 
     The left/right actuation points  128 / 130  are positioned such that the direction of user engagement is oriented parallel to the first set of graphical elements  32 , which may include a strip of captured images retrieved from a list of images stored in the camera&#39;s memory. The up/down actuation points  132 / 134  are positioned such that the direction of user engagement is oriented parallel to the second set of graphical elements  34 , which may be a menu bar including a number of operations or functions  1 ...  4  that may be performed on a selected one of the images displayed in the image strip. Consequently, the direction of user engagement of the left/right actuation points  128 / 130  and the up/down actuation points  132 / 134  are oriented substantially orthogonal to each other so as to intuitively integrate user interaction with the visual presentation of the first and second sets of graphical elements  32 ,  34 . Relatively lower resolution images are displayed in the frame areas of the first set of graphical elements  32 , and a single relatively higher resolution image is displayed in the display area  35  that is not obscured by the graphical elements  32 ,  34 . Furthermore, a lower resolution image corresponding to the higher resolution image is shown in a preferred position  33  in the first set of graphical elements  22 . 
     The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment. However, it will be appreciated that variations and modifications can be effected by a person of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     PARTS LIST 
       10  camera 
       12  optical viewfinder 
       14  zoom lens control switch 
       18  handgrip area 
       20  screen operation control unit 
       21  camera housing 
       22  LCD 
       24  forward image scroll button 
       26  backward image scroll button 
       28  up menu select button 
       30  down menu select button 
       31  enter button 
       32  first set of graphical elements 
       33  preferred position 
       34  second set of graphical elements 
       35  display area 
       36  dial 
       40  digital camera 
       42  zoom lens section 
       44  image sensor 
       46  processing section 
       48  removable output memory 
       50  analog signal processor and A/D converter 
       52  RAM buffer memory 
       54  image processing section 
       56  card interface 
       57  host computer interface 
       58  zooming optical viewfinder 
       60  image LCD 
       62  control section 
       64  control processor and timing generator 
       66  flash unit 
       68  status LCD 
       70  combination control 
       72  mode dial 
       74  knob 
       76  pointer 
       78  select button 
       80  markers 
       82  rear cover 
       84  socket 
       86  switch contacts 
       88  printed circuit board 
       90  multi-function tactile switch 
       92  ready light 
       94  autofocus and autoexposure detectors 
       96  zoom and focus motors 
       98  clock drivers 
       100  power management controller 
       102  batteries 
       104  capture power enable line 
       106  process power enable line 
       108  LCD drivers 
       110  LCD backlight 
       120  right-hand grip 
       122  left-thumb grip 
       124  clear area 
       126  mode callouts 
       128  left actuation point 
       130  right actuation point 
       132  up actuation point 
       134  down actuation point 
       136  display button 
       138  menu button 
       140  soft key 
       142  soft key 
       144  soft key 
       146  bar