Abstract: Disclosed is an eye-start system that includes a light source adapted to be housed within a viewfinder of a device, and a light sensor also adapted to be housed within the device viewfinder, the light sensor being configured to sense light from the light source that reflects off of a user looking into the viewfinder. With this system, light reflected off of the user is sensed by the light sensor and, upon such an occurrence, a device action is activated.

Abstract: A digital image processing apparatus automatically alters a digital image based on metadata stored with the digital image. The metadata may comprise one or more dwell locations on which a user's gaze lingered as the user was composing the digital image.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for controlling a display. In one embodiment, a system and a method pertain to monitoring the state of a computing device associated with the display, determining if pixel reduction is warranted in view of the monitoring, and, if pixel reduction is warranted, displaying a reduced-pixel, whole image that comprises fewer active pixels than an original, complete image previously presented in the display.

Abstract: Control methods, a digital camera and a digital camera user interface that respond to arm, hand and/or finger gestures. The digital camera recognizes the arm, hand and/or finger gestures as inputs to its user interface and responds to implement predetermined tasks or operations.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electrical device that incorporates retina tracking. In one embodiment, the device includes a viewfinder that houses a microdisplay, and a retina tracking system that is configured to determine the direction of a user's gaze upon the microdisplay.

Abstract: A digital imaging device produces and stores multiple video streams from a single imaging sensor array. The stored video streams may be post-processed using video editing software to create a combined video presentation.

Abstract: Viewfinder apparatus, methods, and digital cameras that provide autofocus using retroreflected eye focus measurements. When a user looks at a part of a scene that is the intended subject of the image, his or her eye is correctly focused. The present invention measures the focus distance of the eye when the eye is focused on the desired location in the scene, and then uses the measured distance to set the focus of the camera.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, accelerometers are used as the input devices for an appliance user interface. A first accelerometer is positioned with an orientation substantially different from the orientation of a second accelerometer. The users may either tilt, tap, or tilt and tap on an appliance to invoke different operations of the appliance.

Abstract: Apparatus comprising an appliance having three appliance contacts disposed on its bottom surface and an appliance docking tray that allows transfer of power and data. The appliance docking tray has a grid of electrical contacts disposed on its top surface, and switching apparatus, such as a processor and switch matrix, coupled to the electrical contacts of the grid. The switching apparatus electronically switches between the electrical contacts to determine which of the electrical contacts touch the appliance contacts when the appliance is disposed on the top surface of the docking tray.

Abstract: A digital camera delays the capture of a digital image after image capture has been requested until the motion of the digital camera satisfies a motion criterion. The digital camera thereby reduces image blur that would otherwise occur due to camera motion.

Abstract: A camera measures camera motion. Near the time of taking a photograph, the camera uses an actuator to accelerate an inertial element in a direction that counters the motion of the camera. The direction and duration of the acceleration are selected to momentarily reduce the camera rotation so that a photograph may be taken while the camera is relatively stable. Energy for actuating the inertial element may be stored in a capacitor. Several example means of monitoring the camera motion are disclosed, including an accelerometer, a rate gyroscope, and analysis of successive digital images. The inertial element may optionally be the rotor of a motor. The inertial element may optionally be the core of a solenoid. The camera may optionally use multiple actuators and masses to control shake in more than one degree of freedom. Methods of adapting the system to camera panning are disclosed.

Abstract: A digital video camera and method that employs a motion detection algorithm to keep the camera locked onto an image when recording digital video images, particularly when using digital zoom features of the camera. The digital video camera comprises a record button, a lens, an image sensor for receiving images viewed by the lens, a viewfinder for viewing the images received by the image sensor, a zoom control for digitally zooming the image received by the image sensor, and processing circuitry coupled to the image sensor. The motion detection algorithm extracts video frames from the sensor images, such that the resulting video image substantially tracks the scene, despite motion of the camera.

Abstract: A video thumbnail for use as an icon of a digital video file and method of generating same. The video thumbnail is preferably a relatively short, low resolution, animated video thumbnail. The video thumbnail is extracted from a preferred sequence of the video file and embedded as a header of the file. The video thumbnail preferably plays automatically, and acts as a pointer to the file and the preferred point within it.

Abstract: An input device that has controls on more than one side is disclosed. The user orients the input device such that the controls to he used are in a predetermined orientation. A sensor detects which controls are in the predetermined orientation and enables those controls.

Abstract: A portable electronic imaging device, in performing digital zoom, exploits barrel distortion in the original digital image to produce higher quality digitally zoomed images than can be obtained by simple cropping and rescaling. Such a portable electronic imaging device may be implemented using a moderately wide-angle lens of fixed focal length.

Abstract: An electronic imaging device produces higher quality digitally zoomed images than can be obtained by simple cropping and resealing. An array of imaging sensors that places more resolution near the center of the image than at the edges combined with geometrical distortion correction achieves the increase in image quality.

Abstract: A method for the equalization of white space around multiple placements of photographs or other placement items with optional, associated captions on a medium such as a page or a computer screen. The method provides techniques for creating aesthetically pleasing layouts for a set of items to be displayed, as for example printed on a sheet of paper by a printer.

Abstract: A digital image capture and processing system, comprising a lens coupled to a lens control element is disclosed. The image capture system includes an image sensor configured to capture images from the lens, and a memory element and a processor coupled to the lens control element. The memory element includes image capture software, where the image capture software causes the lens and the image sensor to capture at least two images, each of the at least two images captured using a varying parameter and stored as a single file where the at least two images are combined to form a new image having at least one characteristic different from corresponding characteristics of the at least two images.

Abstract: An image browsing user interface provides convenient viewing of both individual images and groups of images. The user interface provides a convenient way to view both individual images and a preferred image from each group of images. The individual and preferred images may be uploaded to an external device or selectively processed by the external device.

Abstract: A digital camera simulates the use of fill flash. The camera takes a series of photographs of a scene at various focus distances. The photographs are stored, along with their corresponding focus distances. The photographs are analyzed to determine the distance to objects at various locations of the scene. Regions of a final photograph are selectively adjusted in brightness based on the distance information to simulate the effect that would have resulted had fill flash been used.