Patent ID: 6930707

Claim:
A digital camera, comprising: a housing; a digital optical sensing apparatus mounted within said housing, said digital optical sensing apparatus sensing optical images; a first optical member focusing light representing a biometric parameter of a user of said digital camera for capture by said digital optical sensing apparatus, said light representing a biometric parameter of a user traversing a first light path through said camera from said first optical member to said digital optical sensing apparatus; a second optical member focusing light from images of interest to be captured by said digital optical sensing apparatus, said light from images of interest to be captured traversing a second light path through said camera from said second optical member to said digital optical sensing apparatus, said second light path not being coincident in any segment with any segment of said first light path, said second light path encountering said digital optical sensing apparatus at a non-zero angle with respect to said first light path; a processor for controlling operation of said digital camera, said processor operating said digital camera in at least two modes of operation, including: (a) a first mode of operation, wherein said digital optical sensing apparatus senses a biometric parameter of a user of said camera, said processor identifying said user from said biometric parameter; and (b) a second mode of operation, wherein said digital optical sensing apparatus captures and records an image of an object of interest.