Patent Publication Number: US-11659272-B2

Title: Device and method for capturing images and switching images through a drag operation

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/060,105, filed Oct. 1, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/532,508, filed Aug. 6, 2019, (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,812,726), which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/081,230, filed Mar. 25, 2016, (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,419,677), which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/907,214, filed May 31, 2013 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,319,589), the entire contents of each are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Field of the Disclosure 
     This disclosure relates to a method of capturing a series of successive images and efficiently selecting a desired image from the series of captured images. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
     Mobile devices, such digital still-cameras, phones and tablets are examples of devices that are adapted to capture a series of images and perform certain processing based on a user&#39;s input. 
     Traditionally, while using such devices, it is not easy to capture a photograph of an image at a desired time instant. This occurs primarily due to the inherent time-lag in a user&#39;s operation such as activating a shutter control or the like. Furthermore, a delay associated with the processing of an image makes it difficult for the user to capture the desired image at a certain time instant. Thus, a series of images is usually captured in a fixed time interval which starts before activating a shutter operation and ends at a pre-determined time after the activation of the shutter button. The images captured in this manner are then displayed in a pre-determined fashion (either displaying the last image captured or the first image captured of the series of images) and a particular image is selected based on the user&#39;s input. 
     However, to select the desired image, a series of complicated user instructions is usually performed. The selection process may be time-consuming and thus provides a discontented experience to the user. Accordingly, there is a requirement to select a desired image from a series of images in an efficient and rapid manner. 
     SUMMARY 
     Devices and methods for successively capturing a plurality of continuous time-stamped images and efficiently selecting a desired image from the plurality of images are discussed herein. 
     According to one exemplary embodiment, the disclosure is directed to an image capturing apparatus comprising: comprising: one or more image sensors configured to capture a plurality of images at a capture rate; a memory configured to store the plurality of captured images; and circuitry configured to: detect an input trigger, capture a number of new images in response to detecting the input trigger, the number of new images being equal to a predetermined value, tag a first image, of the number of new images captured after detecting the input trigger, as a reference image, deactivate the sensor in response to capturing the number of new images, and control a display panel to display the reference image in response to deactivating the sensor. 
     According to another exemplary embodiment, the disclosure is directed to a method performed by an image capturing apparatus, the method comprising: capturing, by one or more image sensors, a plurality of images at a capture rate; detecting, by circuitry, an input trigger and continuing to capture a number of new images following the input trigger detection, the number of new images being equal to a predetermined value; tagging, by the circuitry, a first image, of the number of new images captured after the detecting, as a reference image; deactivating, by the circuitry, the one or more image sensors in response to capturing the number of new images; and controlling a display panel, by the circuitry in response to deactivating the one or more sensors, to display the reference image thereon. 
     According to another exemplary embodiment, the disclosure is directed to a non-transitory computer-readable medium including instructions stored therein, which when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to execute a method comprising: capturing, by one or more image sensors, a plurality of images at a capture rate; detecting, by circuitry, an input trigger and continuing to capture a number of new images following the input trigger detection, the number of new images being equal to a predetermined value; tagging, by the circuitry, a first image, of the number of new images captured after the detecting, as a reference image; deactivating, by the circuitry, the one or more image sensors in response to capturing the number of new images; and controlling a display panel, by the circuitry in response to deactivating the one or more sensors, to display the reference image thereon. 
     The foregoing general description of the illustrative implementations and the following detailed description thereof are merely exemplary aspects of the teachings of this disclosure, and are not restrictive. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein. 
         FIG.  1    illustrates schematically an exemplary digital camera device; 
         FIG.  2 A - FIG.  2 G  illustrate a non-limiting example depicting a series of time dependent images; 
         FIG.  3    illustrates an exemplary ring buffer memory according to one aspect of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  4    illustrates a triggering operation performed on the camera device; 
         FIG.  5    shows a non-limiting example depicting a user interface that is used to select a desired image; 
         FIG.  6    shows an input operation to select a desired image according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  7    shows an exemplary three-dimensional coordinate axis of the camera device and a corresponding three dimensional reference axis system; 
         FIG.  8    illustrates an exemplary switching operation performed to select a desired image from a series of continuous images; 
         FIG.  9 A  and  FIG.  9 B  show a non-limiting example of images displayed on the display panel during a capturing mode; 
         FIG.  10    illustrates an exemplary switching operation performed on the images as depicted in  FIG.  9 B ; 
         FIG.  11 A  and  FIG.  11 B  illustrate exemplary direction indicators that are used in a viewing mode of the camera device; 
         FIG.  12    shows another input operation to select a desired image according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  13    is an exemplary flowchart illustrating the steps performed by the camera device according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG.  14    is an exemplary flowchart illustrating the steps of displaying an image on the display panel according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  15    is an exemplary flowchart illustrating the steps of displaying an image on the display panel according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  16    shows an exemplary interface to select a desired image according to a another embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  17 A - FIG.  17 D  depict an exemplary touch operation to select a desired image frame; 
         FIG.  18 A  and  FIG.  18 B  show another exemplary touch operation to select a desired image; 
         FIGS.  19 A- 19 C  show another example depicting a touch operation to select a desired image from a series of captured images; 
         FIG.  20    is an exemplary flowchart illustrating the steps of displaying an image using the touch interface according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG.  21    is an exemplary flowchart illustrating the steps of displaying an image using the touch interface according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
       FIG.  1    illustrates schematically an exemplary digital camera device  100 . The digital camera  100  can include an image sensor  10 , a memory  20 , an image processing unit  30 , a control unit  40 , an inclination sensor  50 , a touch panel  60 , a display panel  70 , and a communication bus  80 . 
     The image sensor  10  may include an optical lens and an image pickup element such as a CMOS sensor or a charged coupled device (CCD) sensor. The image sensor projects the image of the object to be photographed by using an optical lens that passes the image onto an image pickup element and acquires the data thereof. 
     The control unit  40  may comprise one or more processors that control each element of the digital camera device  100  based on data detected either by a touch panel  60  or an input received from the inclination sensor  50 . Thus, the inclination sensor and a touch sensor (configured to detect a touch on the touch panel  60 ) provide various interfaces to accept input commands in order to perform some processing on the images that are captured by the camera device  100 . The controller may further execute instructions stored in memory  20  wherein the memory  20  may be a non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored therein for controlling the camera device  100 . Further, the controller may utilize one or more processors for executing the instructions that are stored in memory  20 . The control unit may also be configured to perform functions on captured images such as an autofocus function (AF) or an auto exposure function (AE). 
     According to an embodiment of the present disclosure the image sensor  10  may include a function which enables the camera device  100  to capture a series of images at a fixed frame (image) rate in a fixed total of time. The memory unit  20  can include an image memory which is utilized to store the data of the images captured by the image sensor  10 . Further, the memory  20  may also include a dedicated memory unit that stores a computer program that is used by the control unit  40  in processing a certain set of instructions. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the image memory may be a buffer memory such as a ring buffer which stores image frames in a sequential cyclic manner. Further, the image memory may be a nonvolatile memory such as a read-only memory (ROM), a flash memory, a ferroelectric RAM (FRAM) or the like. 
     The image processing unit  30  performs storage functions, readout functions, or the like to memory unit  20 , of image data that is captured by the image sensor  10 . Accordingly, the image processing unit  30  can also display the captured image onto the display unit (viewer)  70 . The control unit  40  is a central processing unit (CPU), that performs the overall control and management of the digital still camera device  100 . The CPU achieves the desired control and process by reading and executing the computer program that is stored in memory  20 . 
     The inclination sensor  50  detects an inclination of the camera device  100  (e.g., as a result the inclination of the display panel  70 ) and may be a triaxial acceleration sensor, a gyro, a tilt meter, a tilt indicator, a slope sensor, a gradient meter or the like. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure the inclination sensor  50  is configured to measure inclinations (tilts) in both the positive and the negative direction (to be described later with reference to  FIG.  7   ). 
     The camera device  100  may include a display unit,  70 . The display unit  70  may be, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, an organic electroluminescent (OLED) display panel, a plasma display panel or the like. The display unit  70  may display an image that is captured by the image sensor or may also be configured to function as a viewfinder which displays the image of an object to be photographed. 
     The digital camera device  100  may include a touch panel  60  that can detect a touch operation on the surface of the display  70 . For example, the touch panel  60  can detect a touch operation performed by an instruction object such as a finger or a stylus. Touch operations may correspond to a user&#39;s input such as a selection of an icon that is displayed on the display panel  70 . The touch panel  60  may be an electrostatic capacitance type device, a resistive type touch panel device or other such type of devices that are used for detecting a touch on the display panel. 
     The touch panel  60  may perform processing related to touch operation classification. For example, the touch panel  60  may assign a predetermined function to be performed when a tap operation is detected. Similarly, the touch panel unit may analyze a touch operation in which the instruction object makes continuous contact with the display panel  70  while moving the instruction object around the display, e.g., a swipe or a drag operation. The touch panel  60  may output a signal based on a classification of the touch operation performed. The signal may, for example, include information indicating the touch operation classification, the location on the display panel  70  where the touch operation was performed and the operation to be performed based on the touch operation. Alternatively, the touch panel  60  may also be configured to detect an intensity of a user&#39;s touch and to use the corresponding intensity to select a particular image from a series of time-stamped images. The digital still camera device  100  can include a communication bus  80  that may include a control line (CL) and a data line (DL) as internal bus lines for communication. The CL can be used to transmit control data from the control unit  40 . The DL may be used for transmission of data corresponding to an image or the like, throughout the various elements of the camera device  100 . 
     The digital still camera device  100  may optionally include a short distance wireless communication unit. The short distance wireless communication unit may enable the camera device  100  to communicate wirelessly with other devices over a network such as the internet, a local area network or a wide area network (WAN). The communication unit may include an antenna such as a Wi-Fi transceiver to achieve wireless connectivity. The wireless connectivity enables the camera device  100  to transfer a selected (desired) image captured by the image sensor to another mobile device or a laptop device or the like. Note that the imaging device as described above is not restricted necessarily to a digital still camera. For example, portable devices, such as a smart phone, a tablet device or the like that include the functionality of the above described digital camera may also suffice. 
       FIG.  2 A  to  FIG.  2 G  illustrate a non-limiting example depicting a series of images that are captured by the camera device  100  in a fixed interval of time. Specifically.  FIGS.  2 A to  2 G  depict a chameleon preying on an insect. While capturing images, wherein the object continuously changes with respect to time, it is usually difficult to capture the object at a decisive instant of time. For example, it is typically difficult to capture an image that depicts the chameleon preying on the insect as shown in the image of  FIG.  2 C . Furthermore, even if a series of images are captured wherein one of the images corresponds to the desired image, it is typically very cumbersome to select the desired image from the series of images. This usually requires many input instructions to select the desired image. Note that the object to be photographed is moving with respect to the still camera (high-speed movement). In what follows, the example of the chameleon is used to explain various embodiments of the present disclosure. Note that the example of the chameleon is in no way limiting the scope of the present disclosure. Specifically, a high-speed image processing capability of the digital still camera device  100  may be applicable to any photographed object. 
       FIG.  3    illustrates an exemplary ring buffer memory  23  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The ring buffer memory  23  is a circular shaped memory unit which including n-memory slots, each capable of storing one frame of the captured image. The value of n is preferably a positive integer that is greater than 3; however, the skilled artisan may select other values of n depending on, e.g., particulars of an application. When digital still camera device  100  is in an imaging capture mode the device continuously captures a sequence of images according to a predetermined frame rate. For the sake of simplicity a frame rate of 30 frames per second is assumed. Corresponding to this frame rate the value of n should be 60 memory slots or more in the present example. This corresponds to a length of time equal to 2 seconds or more. Specifically, the capacity of the ring buffer memory  23  should be such that it has a number of slots equal to at least twice the magnitude of the frame capture rate. 
     In the capture mode the successive images of the photographed object are stored sequentially (one by one) in the ring buffer memory  23 . Further, note that if the capture mode is performed for a time which is greater than the length of n slots of the ring buffer memory  23 , the new images may be overwritten into the past stored images. 
     In what follows the example described in  FIG.  3    is used to explain how a user operation (e.g., pressing of a shutter button, a release button or the like) is used in capturing images. Further, the user&#39;s trigger (e.g., the shutter operation) may originate by the user touching a specific button displayed on the touch screen. However, the user&#39;s trigger is not restricted simply to a touch operation. Any mechanism that corresponds to a user initiating a shutter operation will be sufficient. 
       FIG.  4    illustrates an example in which the initiation of a triggering operation that is performed while using the camera device  100 .  FIG.  4    depicts a series of successive frames (images) that are stored in each memory slot of the ring buffer memory  23 . Upon a trigger being initiated, the image that is captured immediately after the trigger is tagged as a reference frame. Specifically, the first image acquired after pressing the shutter button is referred to as a reference image and the corresponding frame is called as a reference frame. For example, referring to  FIG.  4   , the image stored in slot ‘i’ is the reference frame. Note that even after the initiation of the triggering operation the capture mode of the camera device  100  is continued until the number of memory slots greater than n/2 are filled by newly captured images. Specifically, the image sensor is kept on after the triggering operation to continue capturing images. In the example of  FIG.  4   , the imaging operation is kept on until slot ‘i’ to ‘i+(n/2)−l’ are filled. Accordingly, the frames that were captured before the user&#39;s trigger operation are stored at memory locations ‘i−1’, ‘i−2’ and so on. Further, when the capture mode is completed (when n/2 slots after the trigger operation have been filled) the reference frame is automatically displayed on the display unit  70  of the camera device  100 . 
     It is important to note that the initiation of a trigger operation may correspond to an instant of time wherein a desired image of the time-dependent object is to be captured. Further, initially displaying the reference image increases the possibility that the desired image is within a few images that are either captured earlier or later than the reference image. Hence few input operations are required to display the desired image. Contrary to this approach, typically, a series of images are captured by an imaging device and either the last image captured or the first image captured is displayed first. This results in many complicated input operations (such as continuously pressing a button to scroll through the images) to be performed in order to display the desired image. 
       FIG.  5    shows a non-limiting example depicting a user interface for selecting a desired image(s) from a series of captured images, and displaying the desired image(s) on the display panel. 
       FIG.  5    depicts a series of images that are stored at memory locations ‘i−4’, ‘i−3’, ‘i−2’ . . . ‘i+1’, ‘i+2’, ‘i+3’, ‘i+4’ and so on. Note that the image stored in memory location ‘i’ has been tagged as a reference frame. This corresponds to a trigger operation which is initiated at an instant of time, when the previously captured image was stored in memory location ‘i−1’. Hence the images which are stored in slots ‘i’, ‘i+1’, ‘i+2’ and so on are the images which are captured after the trigger operation was initiated. The images which are stored at locations ‘i−1’, ‘i−2’ and so on are the images that are captured before the trigger operation was initiated. 
     Upon completion of the capture mode, which corresponds to a an instant of time wherein n/2 new image frames have been captured, the control unit  40  reads the image which is tagged as a reference image and immediately displays the reference image on the display unit  70 . Further, based on several user interfaces (UI) such as a tilt sensor that is configured to detect an inclination of the camera device (e.g., inclination sensor  50 ), or a touch panel which is configured to detect an input touch operation (e.g., touch panel  60 ), a desired image can be selected and correspondingly displayed on the display unit  70 . Specifically, the input operation (e.g., touching or inclining the device based on a reference frame) is detected by the control unit  40 . Upon detecting the input operation, the frame is switched and a target frame (in this example frame i+2) is read out and displayed on the display panel  70 . In what follows, several input operations to select a desired image out of a series of images and to correspondingly display it on the display unit  70  are described. 
       FIG.  6    depicts, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, an exemplary inclination operation performed on the camera device  100  to select a desired image from a series of captured images. As shown in  FIG.  6    a series of images are stored in the ring buffer memory  23 , with reference frame ‘i’ indicating the frame that is captured immediately after the triggering operation was performed. Assuming an initial horizontal position of the camera device, image frame ‘i’ is depicted immediately on the display unit  70  upon the completion of the capturing mode. Further, to select, for instance, frame image i+2, the camera device is inclined (e.g., in the rightward direction) and the corresponding image that is stored at memory location ‘i+2’ can be selected to be displayed on the display unit  70  based on the direction of the inclination. Similarly, upon further inclining the camera device  100  at an angle value theta (θ), a corresponding image frame ‘i+4’ can be selected to be displayed on the display panel. That is, an image frame of the plurality of image frames stored in the ring buffer memory  23  may be selected for display based, e.g., on the magnitude of the angle θ. For example, due to the images&#39; relative position in the ring buffer memory  23 , the corresponding angle of inclination for image ‘i+4’ may be greater than the corresponding angle of inclination for image ‘i+2’. 
     Consequently, tilting the camera device  100  in the opposite direction (e.g., leftward direction) for this example may result in an image that is stored at location ‘i−2’ being selected and displayed on the display unit  70 . Note that the images corresponding to locations ‘i−1’, ‘i−2’ and so on, are images that are captured prior to the initiation of the triggering operation. The inclination angle (θ) may be computed by the control unit  40  based on a certain set of 3-dimensional axes described with reference to  FIG.  7   . 
       FIG.  7    depicts an exemplary 3-dimensional coordinate axis of the camera device  100  (i.e., axes x, y, z), and also depicts a corresponding 3-dimensional reference axis system (X, Y, Z) of the real space surrounding the camera device  100 . 
     The local axes x, y, z of the camera device  100  are defined as follows: an axis x is an axis that is generally parallel to the direction along the long side of the display screen. Similarly, axis y is defined as an axis that is generally parallel to the direction along the short side of the display screen. The axis z is an axis which is orthogonal to the x and y axes. This is depicted as z(N) in  FIG.  7   . Further, axis G depicts an axis that generally points towards the center of gravity of the camera device  100  (gravity vector). 
     According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, either the x axis or the y axis can be used to detect the inclination of the camera device  100  with regard to the gravity vector G. Usually there exists a landscape to which either the x axis becomes horizontal or the y axis becomes horizontal. The axis which is horizontal among the x and the y axes at the time of image capturing is referred to as axis h. Further, the inclination of the camera device  100  (eventually the inclination of the display panel  70 ) can be devised based on the axis h and the gravity vector G. 
     Referring back to  FIG.  6   , note that in the example of  FIG.  6    the axis x is judged to be axis h. Further, the angle that the straight line axis h makes to the gravity vector G is denoted as θ in  FIG.  6   . 
     Further, the camera device  100  can be configured such that an initial horizontal position (when the reference image is displayed) corresponds to a 0° movement. Consequently, if the camera device  100  is inclined in a rightward direction, it results in the angle value of θ to be a positive value greater than 0°. This may correspond to a clockwise angle of the camera device. 
     Conversely, if the camera is inclined in a leftward direction, the θ value assumes a negative value which is lower than 0°. This corresponds to an anti-clockwise angle motion of the camera device  100 . Further, note that the computation of angle θ is not limited to the above-description of the local axes x, y, and z. In other words, the inclination angle θ can also be computed with reference to a 3-dimensional reference axis system (X, Y and Z axes system) that is based on a reference that surrounds the camera device  100 . 
     In the example of  FIG.  6    an angle value of θ equaling 0 corresponds to the reference frame being displayed on the display unit  70 . Accordingly, based on the magnitude (and sign of the angle θ) the image frame to be displayed is switched to the frame based on the direction in which the camera device is tilted. Specifically, if the camera device is inclined in a rightward direction, images which are stored in location ‘i+1’, ‘i+2’ and so on are consequently displayed on the display unit  70 . Contrarily, if the angle θ assumes values which are lower than 0° (corresponding to a leftward motion of the camera device) image frames ‘i−1’, ‘i−2’ and so on are consequently displayed. Note that in the example as described in  FIG.  6   , there exist a one-to-one relationship between a magnitude of θ and a corresponding image in the series of captured images. 
       FIG.  8    illustrates an exemplary switching operation performed to select a desired image from a series of continuous images. Specifically the three upper blocks in  FIG.  8    depict the image capturing mode wherein an image sensor is activated to start the capturing mode of acquiring a series of images. Note that the captured images are stored in the memory slot of the frame buffer that is included in the memory unit  20 . Upon detection of an input trigger, such as the initiation of a shutter, a predetermined time period starts wherein at least n/2 further new images are captured and stored sequentially in the frame buffer. Upon storing the last image, the image capturing mode is deactivated (image sensor is deactivated) and the viewer (display) mode is activated automatically. The viewer operation is depicted in the bottom half of  FIG.  8   . In this mode the reference frame is immediately displayed on the display panel  70 . Further, according to the present embodiment, upon inclining (tilting) the device, subsequent images may be selected to be displayed on the display panel. Thereby, according to the present embodiment, one of several captured images that are stored in a nonvolatile memory of the memory unit  20  can be selected based on a user&#39;s operation to be displayed on the display panel  70 . 
       FIG.  9 A  depicts an example according to the present embodiment of the disclosure that illustrates a display on the camera device  100  during the capturing mode of the camera device  100 . In this capturing mode the display unit  70  can function as a viewfinder. 
     Specifically, the image that is shot in a fixed time interval is continuously displayed on the display screen. Furthermore, the consequently obtained images are stored in a sequential manner in the ring buffer memory  23 . Further,  FIG.  9 A  also depicts a shutter button  71  that is displayed on the display unit  70 . By tapping this shutter button  71  a user can generate the shutter operation as described above with reference to  FIG.  8   . Note that when the shutter operation is initiated the camera device  100  continues the capturing mode and acquires n/2 further new images that are stored in the ring buffer memory  23 . It is only upon the completion of capturing the new n/2 frames that the capture mode of the camera device  100  is deactivated. Upon deactivation the view mode of the camera device is automatically triggered wherein the reference frame (as shown in  FIG.  9 B ) is automatically displayed on the display unit  70 . Further, in this mode the camera device  100  is also configured to depict an outline of the number of images that are captured by the capturing process. This is denoted as element  73  in  FIG.  9 B . Alternately, the camera device  100  may also be configured to numerically display a value corresponding to the total number of images that are captured by the capturing mode of the camera device  100 . 
       FIG.  10    depicts a non-limiting example in which the switching operation is used to selectively switch one of the several contiguous images and display it on the display panel. Note that the switching operation is described with reference to the state of the camera device as depicted in  FIG.  9 B . Initially, the display unit  70  displays the reference image. As shown in  FIG.  10    the camera device  100  may be configured to display a time-stamp  74 , corresponding to an instant in time that the image was captured. According to one embodiment of the disclosure the reference frame is assigned a time value of 0:00. Thereafter, images which are captured after the triggering operation are assigned positive integer values. For example, as shown in  FIG.  10   , an image which is captured after the triggering operation is denoted by +0:30. Similarly, images that are captured (in the pre-triggering mode) are assigned a time-stamp that has a negative value based on the time-stamp of the reference image value. 
     Accordingly, by tilting the camera device  100  in either the rightward or the leftward direction a desired image can be selected from the series of images and displayed on the display unit  70 . Note that presenting the time-stamp  74  is not essential to the processing of the present disclosure. However, it is a useful parameter that can assign a relationship between the continuous images that are captured by the camera device  100 . 
       FIGS.  11 A and  11 B  illustrate an example of using direction indicators in the viewing mode of the camera device  100 . As described above, by input operation that corresponds to tilting or inclining the device  100 , a particular image from a series of images can be displayed on the display panel  70 . To further improve the quality of display, a display icon  75 , as shown in  FIG.  11 A  and  FIG.  11 B , that corresponds to a leftward motion and a rightward motion, respectively, can be displayed on the display unit  70 . Note that although such direction indicators are not essential to the processing of the camera device  100 , it provides an useful indication to recognize whether the input operation has been accepted by the camera device  100 . 
       FIG.  12    depicts, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, another non-limiting example illustrating how a tilting angle (angle of inclination (θ)) may be used to select a particular image from the series of images stored in memory. 
     The images are stored in the ring buffer memory  23  in a similar manner as that depicted in  FIG.  6   . Note that in  FIG.  6    a displacement angle θ had a one-to-one relationship between the images which are stored in the memory. Specifically, each position of the device corresponded to an image in the ring buffer memory  23 . Contrary to the example of  FIG.  6   , in the current example a magnitude of tilting the camera device  100  corresponds to a rate of switching of the images in the memory. Specifically, as shown in  FIG.  12   , reference frame ‘i’ corresponds to the initial position of the camera device  100  (exactly horizontal). In the present example the camera is tilted at a greater angle (higher value of θ) to switch rapidly between the currently displayed frame and the desired frame that is to be displayed on the display panel. Correspondingly, a smaller displacement of the camera device  100  would indicate a slow switching between the image frames. In other words, to switch from the reference frame to a desired frame which lies close to the reference frame a small displacement of the camera device is sufficient. 
     Upon the desired image being displayed in the tilted position on the camera device  100 , the desired (target) image may be maintained on the display following the camera device  100  being returned to a substantially horizontal position. Further extensions to this example are possible such as “locking in” the target image in response to maintaining the camera device  100  at a desired angle θ (when it displays the target image) for a fixed amount of time, whereupon further displacement (e.g., tilting of the device  100 ) will not result in further switching of the displayed image. 
       FIG.  13    is an exemplary flowchart illustrating the steps performed by the camera device  100  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     The process starts at step S 11 , wherein the image sensor  10  is activated to capture images of an object. In steps S 12  and S 13  the information pertaining to the images of the photographed object are received by the image sensor  10 , and the images are consecutively stored as frames into memory slots of the ring buffer memory  23 . 
     In step S 14  a query is made to check if a shutter button has been pressed (i.e., if a shutter operation has been triggered). If the response to the query is negative, the process simply loops back to step S 12  wherein the camera device continues to capture image frames of the photographed object. Note that steps S 12  and S 13  indicate a capture mode operation of the camera device  100 . If the response to the query in step S 14  is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S 15  wherein the camera device  100  continues to receive image frames from the image sensor  10 . Herein the camera device  100  may also be configured to tag the first image frame captured after the shutter operation has been activated as a reference frame. The image frames consecutively captured are stored into successive entries of a ring buffer as shown in step S 16 . A skilled artisan will also appreciate that another input operation (i.e., other than shutter operation) may be used as a trigger event at step S 14 . 
     In step S 17 , a query is made to check if the number of new frame images (captured after the trigger operation has been initiated) is equal to half the number of memory slots of the ring buffer memory  23 . 
     If the response to the query in step S 17  is negative, the process simply loops back to S 15 , wherein the camera device  100  continues to capture newer image frames of the photographed object. If the response to the query is affirmative, the process moves to step S 18  wherein the image sensor  10  is deactivated. At this step, the image capturing mode of the camera is completed. Further, the camera device  100  may be configured to automatically activate the viewing mode as depicted in step S 19 . 
     In step S 20 , a desired image from the series of images captured by the camera device  100  is displayed on the display unit  70  based on a user operation (to be discussed with reference to  FIG.  14   ). In step S 21 , the viewing mode of the camera device  100  is completed and the process thereby ends. 
       FIG.  14    is a flowchart depicting an exemplary procedure of displaying an image according to an inclining operation of the camera device  100  (using the inclination sensor  50  to detect the angle of inclination). Specifically, the flowchart of  FIG.  14    corresponds to the example illustrated in  FIG.  6   . The process starts in step S 201  wherein the reference frame is displayed on the display unit  70 . The process then proceeds to step S 202  wherein a query is made to check if an inclination of the camera has been detected by the inclination sensor  50 . If the response to the query is negative, the process proceeds to step S 205 . If the response to the query in step S 202  is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S 203  wherein, based on the inclination (and taking the direction of inclination into account), the control unit  40  computes the number of frames to move from the reference frame in order to display a desired (target frame) on the display unit  70 . Note that in this process there is a one-to-one relationship between the magnitude of the angle of inclination and an image frame that is stored in the ring buffer memory. 
     Upon locating the desired image of the target frame, it is displayed on the display unit  70  in step S 204 . In step S 205 , a query is made to check if any user operation has been initiated to terminate the processing (switching of image frames). If the response to the query is negative, the process loops back to step S 202  wherein the inclination sensor  50  continuously monitors to check if an inclination of the camera is detected. If the response to the query in step S 205  is affirmative, the process merely ends. 
       FIG.  15    is an exemplary flowchart illustrating the steps of displaying an image on the display unit  70  of the camera device  100  based on an operation initiated by a user according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. Specifically, the flowchart depicted in  FIG.  15    corresponds to the example illustrated in  FIG.  12   . 
     In step S 211 , the reference frame is displayed on the display unit  70  of the camera device  100 . In step S 212  a query is made to check if any inclination of the camera has been detected by the inclination sensor  50 . If the response to the query is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S 213 , else if the response to the query is negative, the process proceeds to step S 214 . 
     In step S 213 , based on the amount of inclination of the camera (that is, the magnitude of θ) and accounting for the direction of inclination (rightward inclination or leftward inclination), the control unit  40  computes the number of frames per unit time that need to be switched in order to reach the desired image. In step S 214  a given frame image is displayed on the display unit  70 . Note that this frame image that is displayed may either be the reference frame of step S 212  if no camera inclination is detected initially or may be the target frame based on the inclination of the camera. 
     In step S 215 , a query is made to check if a time interval corresponding to the computed number of frames per unit time (of step S 213 ) has elapsed. If the response to the query is negative, the process moves to step S 218 , else the process proceeds to step S 216 . In step S 216 , another query is made to check if there is a next image frame (future frame) in the designated direction of inclination. If the response to this query of step S 216  is affirmative, the next frame is selected (as shown in step S 217 ), else if the response to the query (of step S 216 ) is negative, the process proceeds to step S 218  wherein a final query is made to check if there is a user operation initiated to terminate the processing of switching of image frames. If the response to the query of step S 218  is negative, the process merely loops back to step S 212  wherein the inclination sensor  50  continuously monitors if an inclination of the camera device  100  is detected. However, if the response to the query in step S 218  is affirmative, the process ends. 
     Furthermore, in the embodiments discussed so far, the direction of switching an image, a moving distance, an angle and direction of camera inclination can be displayed on the display unit  70  of the camera device  100 . Thus, a desired image frame can be found in a rapid and easy manner. 
       FIG.  16    depicts an exemplary touch operation to select a desired image within a series of images captured by the camera device  100  according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     Note that the top three blocks of  FIG.  16    are similar to those as described in  FIG.  8   , and the blocks explain the activation of the image sensor  10  (specifically the capture mode and the activation of the viewing mode) that is automatically initiated upon completion of the capture mode. 
     In the viewing mode initially the reference frame is depicted on the display unit  70 . In order to select a particular image a touch operation is used to selectively switch the images which are stored in the ring buffer memory  23 . For example, one can initiate a downward touch operation to select an image which is located further in the ring buffer memory  23 . Alternately, an upward touch operation can be used to select an image which is stored prior to the initiation of the trigger (activation of shutter). In what follows, various examples of implementing the touch operation are described in detail to select a desired image from the plurality of images captured by the camera device  100 . 
       FIG.  17 A  shows an example of an image being displayed on the display unit  70  in the imaging process (capture mode of the camera device  100 ). Note that this is similar to the capture mode as depicted in  FIG.  9 A . Further note that the display unit  70  continues to sequentially display the image that is shot in a fixed time interval. A shutter button  71  is also displayed on the screen whereby a user can tap the button  71  to indicate a shutter trigger operation. Upon completion of the capture mode the reference image is automatically displayed on the display unit  70  as shown in  FIG.  17 B . Note that this is similar to the depiction as shown in  FIG.  9 B . A pile of images  73  that are captured in the capturing mode of the camera device  100  is also displayed as shown in  FIG.  17 B . 
       FIGS.  17 C and  17 D  illustrate an example of using the touch operation for switching between the images in order to display a desired image from the series of images captured by the camera device  100 . 
     In  FIG.  17 C  a belt-shaped area  76 , is displayed on the right-hand side of the display screen to provision for the selectively between the captured frames. Note that the belt area as depicted in  FIG.  17 C  is merely for explanatory purposes. It is in no way limiting the scope of the present disclosure. The belt-shaped area  76  alternately could be placed at any desired position on the display unit  70 . The display arrow  77  indicates the direction of switching between the image frames that are stored in the ring buffer memory  23  of the camera device  100 . This may be accomplished by implementing a drag operation (performed by a finger, stylus or the like) along the belt-shaped area  76  in order to select a desired target frame. Further, a ring-shaped marker  78  may optionally be displayed on the belt-shaped area  76  to indicate the position of a the touch operation. Further, as shown in  FIG.  17 D  the time stamp  74  for every image may also be displayed along with the image frame on the display unit  70 . Note that the indication of the time stamp  74  is not necessary to the processing of the present disclosure. However, displaying the time stamp  74  provides an association between the different frames captured by the camera device  100 . 
       FIGS.  18 A and  18 B  show a modification of the example depicted in  FIGS.  17 C and  17 D . 
     Note that in  FIGS.  17 C and  17 D  the displayed belt-shaped area  76  was located generally parallel to the right edge of the display unit  70 . In  FIG.  18 A  an operation area  76   a  wherein the touch operation is initiated is of an arc shape. Such an operational area as depicted by  18 B is suitable for a user to rotationally move a finger along the circularly shaped arrow  77   a  to selectively switch a desired image frame. Further, similar to  FIG.  17 D , in  FIG.  18 B  the time stamp  74  corresponding to an individual image frame is also displayed on the display unit  70 . 
       FIGS.  19 A to  19 C  show another example depicting the touch operation to select a desired image from a series of captured images. Specifically, in  FIG.  19 A  the entire display unit  70  is assumed to be an operational touch area used by the user to selectively switch image frames. 
     As shown in  FIG.  19 A  a user can initiate the capture mode of the camera device  100  by simply tapping a location on the display unit  70 , as shown by marker  78 . 
     Further, as shown in  FIG.  19 B , image switching can be accomplished by touching the finger in an arbitrary position of the display unit  70  shown by the ring-shaped marker  78 . Specifically, the image frame switching is performed by implementing a drag operation (dragging of finger or stylus) along a side that is substantially parallel to the X-axis direction. 
     Further, note that although the present embodiment assumes that the drag operation is substantially linear a curved route may also be sufficient to implement this switching functionality of image frames. Alternately a moving distance of the finger&#39;s touch may also correspond to the number of frames (e.g., based on the present frame) to a target frame to be selectively switched in order to display the target frame on the display unit  70 . Note that the direction in which the finger moves may either be a positive direction (direction of switching image frames that are captured latter to the initiation of the shutter trigger) or in a negative direction (that is, the direction of switching image frames that are captured prior to the initiation of the shutter trigger). Furthermore, note that the movement of the finger/stylus may also be performed along a Y-axis direction (that is, parallel to the short side of the display panel); or any other axis and/or area therebetween. Further, as shown in  FIG.  19 C  the time stamp  74  may also be displayed on the display unit  70  that corresponds to a specific image within the series of images captured by the imaging device. 
     Alternatively, the touch panel of the camera device  100  may also be configured to detect an intensity or elapsed time interval of the touch operation to switch images captured by the device. Specifically, a prolonged touch may be one of a higher touch intensity and result in switching frames at a faster rate, whereas a touch operation that lasts for a short time duration may correspond to slow switching rate. It is to be noted that the method of implementing the touch operation is in no way limiting the scope of the present invention. 
       FIG.  20    is an exemplary flowchart illustrating the steps of displaying an image using the touch panel interface (touch operation) according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The process starts in step S 221  wherein a reference frame is displayed on the display unit  70 . In step S 222  a query is made to check if a touch has been detected on the touch panel. If the response to the query is affirmative, the process moves to step S 223 . If the response to the query is negative, the process proceeds to step S 225 . 
     In step S 223 , based on a value defined with respect to the touch operation, the number of frames that are to be switched from the reference frame are calculated by the control unit  40 . Note that the value that corresponds to the number of frames to be switched may be computed based on the amount of the finger&#39;s drag on the display unit  70  of the camera device  100 . Alternatively, the display belt wherein the touch operation is performed (sliding of finger or a stylus) to selectively switch between the frames may be calibrated in a manner such that a point on the display belt corresponds to a specific frame that is stored in the ring buffer memory  23 . 
     In step S 224  the target frame as selected by the user is displayed on the display unit  70 . Further, in step S 225  a query is made to check if there is a user initiated operation that indicates if the processing should be terminated. If the response to the query is negative, the process merely loops back to step S 221  wherein the reference frame is displayed on the display panel. However, if the response to the query in step S 225  is affirmative, the process merely ends. 
       FIG.  21    is an exemplary flowchart that illustrates the steps of displaying a target image using the touch interface according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. Note that the steps as depicted in  FIG.  21    (steps S 231  to S 235 ) are similar to the processing steps S 221  to S 225  as shown in  FIG.  20   . However, in this embodiment using the touch operation a user can switch from a current frame that is displayed on the display panel to a target frame from the series of image frames captured by the imaging device. Note that the currently displayed frame on the display frame may potentially be any one of the image frames that is stored in the ring buffer memory  23 . 
     Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. For example, aspects of the present disclosure may be executed on a smart phone, a tablet, a general purpose computer, a laptop, an electronic reading device, or other such image capturing and displaying devices. 
     The above disclosure also encompasses the embodiments noted below.
         (1) An image capturing apparatus comprising: one or more image sensors configured to capture a plurality of images at a capture rate; a memory configured to store the plurality of captured images; and circuitry configured to: detect an input trigger, capture a number of new images in response to detecting the input trigger, the number of new images being equal to a predetermined value, tag a first image, of the number of new images captured after detecting the input trigger, as a reference image, deactivate the sensor in response to capturing the number of new images, and control a display panel to display the reference image in response to deactivating the sensor.   (2) The image capturing apparatus of (1), wherein the circuitry is further configured to display, on the display panel based on a detection of a predetermined input operation, a target image of the plurality of captured images.   (3) The image capturing apparatus of (2), wherein: the circuitry is configured to calculate an inclination of the image capturing apparatus based on an input from one or more inclination sensors, and the input operation is an inclining operation, the inclining operation being performed on the image capturing apparatus with respect to a pair of reference axes.   (4) The image capturing apparatus of (3), wherein the pair of reference axes include a first axis that is substantially parallel to a first edge of the image capturing apparatus, and a gravity axis that is orthogonal to the first axis.   (5) The image capturing apparatus of (3), wherein in response to detecting the inclining operation, the circuitry calculates a magnitude of the inclination and a direction of the inclination of the image capturing apparatus.   (6) The image capturing apparatus of (5), wherein the direction of the inclination is based on a reference position of the image capturing apparatus, and is one of a first direction and a second direction, the first direction and the second direction being directed in a direction that is substantially opposite from one another.   (7) The image capturing apparatus of (5), wherein the circuitry associates a particular image of the plurality of captured images with the magnitude of inclination.   (8) The image capturing apparatus of (1), wherein: the predetermined value of the number of new captured images is equal in magnitude to half of a magnitude of a capacity of the memory, and the magnitude of the capacity of memory is at least twice a magnitude of the image capture rate.   (9) The image capturing apparatus of (1), wherein the circuitry is further configured to assign a time stamp to one or more of the plurality of captured images, the time stamp corresponding to a time the image was captured by the image capturing apparatus.   (10) The image capturing apparatus of (9), wherein the time stamp assigned to the one or more of the plurality of captured images is based on a predetermined time stamp assigned to the reference image.   (11) The image capturing apparatus of (1), wherein: the display panel is a touch panel including one or more touch sensors configured to detect a touch operation performed with an instruction object on a surface of the display panel, the input trigger corresponds to a touch operation performed at a corresponding position to a displayed position of a shutter button that is displayed on the display panel, and an instant of time when the shutter button is pressed corresponds to an instant of time of capturing a desired image, of the plurality of captured images.   (12) The image capturing apparatus of (1), wherein the memory is a ring buffer that is configured to store the plurality of captured images at sequential memory locations.   (13) The image capturing apparatus of (1), wherein the circuitry is further configured to: calculate, based on an input from one or more inclination sensors, a magnitude of inclination and a direction of inclination of the image capturing apparatus compute a rate of switching images on the display panel based on the magnitude of inclination of the apparatus, sequentially switch images based on the computed switching rate in a direction that corresponds to the direction of inclination of the apparatus, and control the display panel to display a target image when the inclination of the apparatus returns to a reference value of inclination.   (14) The image capturing apparatus of (13), wherein when the magnitude of inclination is less than a predetermined threshold, the circuitry controls the display panel to switch the images at a first switching rate, and when the magnitude of inclination is greater than the predetermined threshold, the circuitry controls the display panel to switch the images at a second switching rate that is faster than the first switching rate.   (15) The image capturing apparatus of (1), wherein: the display panel is a touch panel including one or more touch sensors configured to detect a touch operation performed with an instruction object on a surface of the display panel, the input operation is a touch operation detected by the circuitry on a surface of the display panel based on an output from the one or more touch sensors.   (16) The image capturing apparatus of (15), wherein the circuitry is further configured to: compute a value based on the touch operation, calculate a number of images to switch from a reference image displayed on the display panel based on the computed value, and control the display panel to display a particular image of the plurality of captured images, the particular image corresponding to the computed value of the touch operation.   (17) The image capturing apparatus of (16), wherein a touch region is displayed at a predetermined location on the display panel, the touch region including a marker that indicates a direction of movement of the touch operation.   (18) An image capturing method performed by an image capturing apparatus, the method comprising: capturing, by one or more image sensors, a plurality of images at a capture rate; detecting, by circuitry, an input trigger and continuing to capture a number of new images following the input trigger detection, the number of new images being equal to a predetermined value; tagging, by the circuitry, a first image, of the number of new images captured after the detecting, as a reference image; deactivating, by the circuitry, the one or more image sensors in response to capturing the number of new images; and controlling a display panel, by the circuitry in response to deactivating the one or more sensors, to display the reference image thereon.   (19) The method of (18), further comprising computing, by the circuitry, a target image to be displayed on the display panel based on an input operation.   (20) A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions that when executed by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to execute a method comprising: capturing, by one or more image sensors, a plurality of images at a capture rate; detecting, by circuitry, an input trigger and continuing to capture a number of new images following the input trigger detection, the number of new images being equal to a predetermined value; tagging, by the circuitry, a first image, of the number of new images captured after the detecting, as a reference image; deactivating, by the circuitry, the one or more image sensors in response to capturing the number of new images; and controlling a display panel, by the circuitry in response to deactivating the one or more sensors, to display the reference image thereon.