Abstract:
In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to an imaging device. The imaging device comprises a near-eye viewfinder that is operable to display an image using image data associated with the imaging device; and a viewing structure that is adapted to be placed over the near-eye viewfinder, wherein the viewing structure comprises a screen member that is operable to partially scatter light associated with the displayed image thereby permitting the image to be viewed from a greater field of view than the near-eye viewfinder provides.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0001]    The present invention is related to displaying an image to a user and more particularly to displaying an image to multiple users from a digital imaging device utilizing a display adapter structure.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    [0002]FIG. 1 depicts digital imaging device  100  (e.g., a digital camera or a digital camcorder) capturing an image of object  101  according to the prior art. Light is reflected from object  101  and is received by optical subsystem  102 . Optical subsystem  102  optically reduces the image of object  101  to focus the image on Charge-Coupled Device (CCD)  103 . CCD  103  is typically implemented as a two-dimensional array of photosensitive capacitive elements. When light is incident on the photosensitive elements of CCD  103 , charge is trapped in a depletion region of the semiconductor material of the elements. The amount of charge associated with the photosensitive capacitive elements is related to the intensity of light incident on the respective elements received over a sampling period. Accordingly, the image is captured by determining the intensity of incident light at the respective photosensitive capacitive elements via sampling the elements.  
           [0003]    The analog information produced by the photosensitive capacitive elements is converted to digital information by analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion unit  104 . A/D conversion unit  104  may convert the analog information received from CCD  103  in either a serial or parallel manner. The converted digital information may be stored in memory  105  (e.g., random access memory). The digital information is then processed by CPU  106  according to control software stored in ROM  107  (e.g., Programmable Read Only Memory (PROM), Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EPROM), Electronically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM), and/or the like). For example, the digital information may be compressed according to the Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) standard. Additionally or alternatively, other circuitry (not shown) may be utilized to process the captured image such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). User interface  108  (e.g., buttons, toggles, keys, and/or the like) may be utilized to edit the captured and processed image. The image may then be provided to output port  109 . For example, the user may cause the image to be downloaded to a personal computer (not shown) via output port  109 .  
           [0004]    Additionally, digital imaging device  100  may present digital images to a user. Digital information defining a respective digital image or images may be stored in memory  105 . Under the control of CPU  106 , the digital information may be provided to video driver  110 . Video driver  110  may drive display  111  to present a respective image to a user. The user may utilize user interface  108  to scroll through a number of images, to edit images, to delete images, to transfer selected images to another system via output port  109 , and/or the like.  
           [0005]    Display  111  may be implemented as a “near-eye viewfinder.” FIG. 2A depicts digital camera  200  that includes near-eye viewfinder display  201  and FIG. 2B provides an enlarged depiction of near-eye viewfinder display  201 . Near-eye viewfinder display  201  is typically implemented utilizing an array of light emitting diodes (LEDs), although a small liquid crystal display (LCD) may also be utilized. Near-eye viewfinder display  201  may be associated with a plastic frame or the like to shield the display from ambient light. A user typically views a captured image by locating near-eye viewfinder  201  proximate to the user&#39;s eye. Because near-eye viewfinder is utilized in this manner, the size of the array of LEDs is reduced. Accordingly, the cost of the array is reduced and the power consumption of the array is minimized.  
           [0006]    However, this arrangement is problematic. Specifically, the design of the near-eye viewfinder display  201  necessarily limits its use to one user at a time. However, digital cameras and other digital image devices (e.g., camcorders) are frequently utilized at social events where several individuals may wish to view the captured images. In these situations, the digital imaging device must be passed from individual to individual.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to an imaging device. The imaging device comprises a near-eye viewfinder that is operable to display an image using image data associated with the imaging device; and a viewing structure that is adapted to be placed over the near-eye viewfinder, wherein the viewing structure comprises a screen member that is operable to partially scatter light associated with the displayed image thereby permitting the image to be viewed from a greater field of view than the near-eye viewfinder provides. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram of a digital imaging device according to the prior art.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2A depicts a digital camera including a near-eye viewfinder according to the prior art.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2B depicts an enlarged portion of the digital camera shown in FIG. 2A.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3A depicts a “side” view of a near-eye viewfinder adapter according to embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3B depicts a “rear” view of a near-eye viewfinder adapter according to embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 depicts a digital camera with a near-eye viewfinder adapter according to embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 depicts a near-eye viewfinder that is adapted to operate with the near-eye viewfinder adapter depicted in FIGS. 3A and 3B according to embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3A depicts a “side” view of near-eye viewfinder adapter  300  according to embodiments of the present invention. Near-eye viewfinder adapter  300  may comprise aperture  304  which is approximately sized according to a selected near-eye viewfinder. Near-eye viewfinder adapter  300  may be mounted such that aperture  304  is disposed adjacent to the selected near-eye viewfinder of a digital imaging device.  
         [0016]    Near-eye viewfinder adapter  300  may further comprise screen  301 . Screen  301  may be implemented utilizing translucent plastic, glass, or other suitable material. The material selected for screen  301  preferably possesses an opacity that is similar to frosted glass. Specifically, the selected material preferably transmits a significant proportion of incident optical energy. However, the selected material preferably scatters or diffuses incident optical energy to a degree. The amount of scattering or diffusion preferably is sufficient to permit the image to be viewed from a wider field of view than permitted solely by the near-eye viewfinder. However, the amount of scattering or diffusion is preferably balanced to avoid overly reducing the quality of the image view via screen  301 . Various techniques may be utilized to achieve the desired optical qualities. For example, etching techniques may be utilized if glass is selected as the material for screen  301 . Alternatively, various thermoplastic polymers or the like may be utilized in the selected plastic material. In other embodiments, dielectric or other suitable thin-film coatings  306  may be provided to screen  301  to provide the desired optical properties. Moreover, dielectric or other suitable thin-film coatings  306  may additionally provide scratch resistance and/or an anti-reflective quality.  
         [0017]    Screen  301  is preferably larger than aperture  304  to provide a larger viewing area than the viewing area defined the near-eye viewfinder. Accordingly, near-eye viewfinder adapter  300  may further comprise optic  302  that is adapted to magnify or optically enlarge light emitted from light emitting diodes (LEDs) of a digital imaging device&#39;s near-eye viewfinder. Optic  302  may also focus the emitted light onto screen  301 . Additionally, optic  302  may be adapted to correct or address any optical distortion associated with the emitted light.  
         [0018]    Near-eye viewfinder adapter  300  may further comprise opaque frame  303 . Frame  303  preferably shields screen  301  from ambient light to increase the image quality associated with an image projected on screen  301 . Frame  303  may be constructed utilizing any suitable material. Preferably, the selected material of frame  303  may possess sufficient structural rigidly to maintain screen  301  in a fixed position relative to optic  302  and aperture  304 . Suitable materials include metallic materials and suitable thermoplastic resins.  
         [0019]    Near-eye viewfinder adapter  300  may further comprise attaching members  305 . Attaching members  305  are preferably adapted to snap over or attach to the periphery of the selected near-eye viewfinder of a digital imaging device. Attaching members  305  are preferably deformable subject to a spring force to permit attaching members  305  to be selectively affixed to the near-eye viewfinder as desired by a user. Attaching members  305  may extend over peripheral edges of near-eye viewfinder adapter  300  or may be disposed at selected portions (e.g., the corners).  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 3B depicts a “rear” view of near-eye viewfinder adapter  300  according to embodiments of the present invention. Near-eye viewfinder adapter  300  is shown with aperture  304 . Frame  303  is shown as extending (into the page) from aperture  304  toward the front portion of near-eye viewfinder adapter  300 . As depicted in FIG. 3B, near-eye viewfinder adapter  300  is implemented as possessing attaching members  305  above and below aperture  304 .  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 4 depicts near-eye viewfinder adapter  300  attached to digital camera  200 . Because screen  301  is preferably implemented to possess the desired optical properties and is a larger size than the viewing area of near-eye viewfinder  201 , the image projected onto screen  301  is simultaneously viewable by a number of individuals. Moreover, the projected image is viewable from different angles. Accordingly, with near-eye viewfinder adapter  300 , digital camera  200  need not be passed from individual to individual to view its captured digital images.  
         [0022]    It shall be appreciated that some amount of image degradation does occur when the light emitted from the LED array is projected onto screen  301 . However, the amount of degradation is not significant in light of the common uses of the instant viewing functionality of digital imaging devices. Consumers typically utilize the instant viewing functionality to determine whether digital images satisfy some minimum characteristics (e.g., every person of a group photograph is visible in the image). Users typically prefer to view the final digital images on another device (e.g., a television or personal computer screen). Accordingly, the image quality associated with screen  301  is more than sufficient to permit users to determine whether additional images should be captured to obtain their desired results.  
         [0023]    In embodiments of the present invention, near-eye viewfinder adapter  300  may be used with preexisting digital imaging devices. In other embodiments, a digital imaging device may be adapted for use with near-eye viewfinder adapter  300 . FIG. 5 depicts near-eye viewfinder  201  that is adapted according to embodiments of the present invention. Near-eye viewfinder  201  may comprise LED array  501 . In preferred embodiments of the present invention, near-eye viewfinder  201  may operate in two different modes. In a first mode, near-eye viewfinder  201  operates at a first power level when it is being viewed by a single user. In a second mode, near-eye viewfinder  201  operates at a second higher power level when it is being used in conjunction with near-eye viewfinder adapter  300 . The second mode may be initiated autonomously by providing sensor  502  to detect when said adapter is placed over near-eye viewfinder  201  or may be initiated in response to user input. The higher power level increases the intensity of the emitted light to increase the image quality associated with screen  301 . The higher power level may be implemented by driving the existing LEDs at a higher level. Additionally, the higher power level may be facilitated by utilizing a greater density of LEDs in LED array  501  than is typically utilized.  
         [0024]    By implementing near-eye viewfinder adapter  300  according to embodiments of the present invention, several advantages are presented. For example, digital camera  200  need not possess a relatively large liquid crystal display (LCD) to permit multiple individuals to simultaneously view digital images. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention may effect an increase in functionality without incurring as a significant cost as employing a relatively large LCD screen. Moreover, embodiments of the present invention utilize appreciably less power than digital imaging devices that employ such LCD screens.