Abstract: Embodiments provide a video camera that can be configured to allow tagging of recorded video and/or capture of video segments or sequences of images in response to user actuation of a camera control identifying an event of interest. For example, a user may press a button on the camera when an event of interest occurs, and in response the camera may tag a captured video file at a timestamp corresponding to the event. In another example, the user may initiate capture of video segments or sequences of images at an occurrence of an event of interest by pressing a button. The camera may include an image data buffer that may enable capture of video segments and/or sequences of images occurring before the user initiates capture of the event. User interfaces may enable the user to quickly review the captured video or sequences of images of the events of interest.

Abstract: Disclosed is a housing for a portable handheld electronic device such as a cellphone. The device has a housing, having a left side and right side. At least one of the left side and right side is provided with integral surface features or surface structures to enhance gripping the cellphone, preferably along the entire length of the phone or within about the top half or one third of the phone.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an electronic device for compressing video image data includes a housing, an image sensor, a memory device, and one or more processors. The image sensor can generate image data from light incident on the image sensor. The one or more processors can transform the image data to obtain transform coefficients, quantize the transform coefficients, encode the quantized transform coefficients, and store the quantized transform coefficients to the memory device. The one or more processors can encode the quantized transform coefficients at least by determining a range of multiple ranges in which one transform coefficient is included, determining a value within the range to which the one transform coefficient corresponds, encoding using a first algorithm the range as a range code, and encoding using a second algorithm the value as a value code.

Abstract: Modular digital camera systems are disclosed. The modular digital camera system can include a brain module configured to be releasably coupled to one or more of a port extender module, power module, display module, and handle module. The brain module and other accessory modules can be structured according to some embodiments to increase an ease of coupling and decoupling the modules.

Abstract: Disclosed is a housing for a portable handheld electronic device such as a cellphone. The device has a housing, having a left side and right side. At least one of the left side and right side is provided with integral surface features or surface structures to enhance gripping the cellphone, preferably along the entire length of the phone or within about the top half or one third of the phone.

Abstract: Embodiments provide a video camera that can be configured to allow tagging of recorded video and/or capture of video segments or sequences of images in response to user actuation of a camera control identifying an event of interest. For example, a user may press a button on the camera when an event of interest occurs, and in response the camera may tag a captured video file at a timestamp corresponding to the event. In another example, the user may initiate capture of video segments or sequences of images at an occurrence of an event of interest by pressing a button. The camera may include an image data buffer that may enable capture of video segments and/or sequences of images occurring before the user initiates capture of the event. User interfaces may enable the user to quickly review the captured video or sequences of images of the events of interest.

Abstract: Disclosed is a housing for a portable handheld electronic device such as a cellphone. The device has a housing, having a left side and right side. The housing can be layered, such as in a sandwich configuration. The layers can be secured together via one or more fasteners that extend through at least front and rear plates of the housing.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a camera includes an image sensor within a camera housing that converts light entering the camera housing through an optical filter into digital image data. The optical filter can have a variable opacity. A processor in communication with the image sensor identifies operation settings for the optical filter and adjusts an opacity level of the optical filter over an exposure period in accordance with the operation settings for the optical filter. In addition, the processor modifies values of the digital image data based at least on the operation settings for the optical filter.

Abstract: According to some aspects, a method for assisting the adjusting of a focus of an image includes providing a graphical representation of a detected image. The method can also include receiving an indication of a user selection of a region of the image and providing a magnified graphical representation of the selected image region. The method may further include providing a graphical indication of a degree of focus for at least a portion of the selected image region. The graphical indication in some instances is visually correlated with the magnified graphical representation of the selected image region. The size, shape, and/or color of the graphical indication in some instances can be correlated with the degree of focus for at least a portion of the selected image region.

Abstract: Modular digital camera systems are disclosed. The modular digital camera system can include a brain module configured to be releasably coupled to one or more of a port extender module, power module, display module, and handle module. The brain module and other accessory modules can be structured according to some embodiments to increase an ease of coupling and decoupling the modules.

Abstract: Disclosed is a housing for a portable handheld electronic device such as a cellphone. The device has a housing, having a left side and right side. The housing can be layered, such as in a sandwich configuration. The layers can be secured together via one or more fasteners that extend through at least front and rear plates of the housing.

Abstract: Certain cameras and systems described herein produce enhanced dynamic range still or video images. The images can also have controlled or reduced motion artifacts. Moreover, the cameras and systems in some cases allow the dynamic range and/or motion artifacts to be tuned to achieve a desired cinematic effect.

Abstract: Disclosed is a housing for a portable handheld electronic device such as a cellphone. The device has a housing, having a left side and right side. At least one of the left side and right side is provided with integral surface features or surface structures to enhance gripping the cellphone, preferably along the entire length of the phone or within about the top half or one third of the phone.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a camera includes an image sensor within a camera housing that converts light entering the camera housing through an optical filter into digital image data. The optical filter can have a variable opacity. A processor in communication with the image sensor identifies operation settings for the optical filter and adjusts an opacity level of the optical filter over an exposure period in accordance with the operation settings for the optical filter. In addition, the processor modifies values of the digital image data based at least on the operation settings for the optical filter.

Abstract: Disclosed is a housing for a portable handheld electronic device such as a cellphone. The device has a housing, having a left side and right side. At least one of the left side and right side is provided with integral surface features or surface structures to enhance gripping the cellphone, preferably along the entire length of the phone or within about the top half or one third of the phone.

Abstract: Disclosed is a housing for a portable handheld electronic device such as a cellphone. The device has a housing, having a left side and right side. At least one of the left side and right side is provided with integral surface features or surface structures to enhance gripping the cellphone, preferably along the entire length of the phone or within about the top half or one third of the phone.

Abstract: According to some aspects, a method for assisting the adjusting of a focus of an image includes providing a graphical representation of a detected image. The method can also include receiving an indication of a user selection of a region of the image and providing a magnified graphical representation of the selected image region. The method may further include providing a graphical indication of a degree of focus for at least a portion of the selected image region. The graphical indication in some instances is visually correlated with the magnified graphical representation of the selected image region. The size, shape, and/or color of the graphical indication in some instances can be correlated with the degree of focus for at least a portion of the selected image region.

Abstract: Modular digital camera systems, such as modular digital still and motion cameras are disclosed. Individual modules may be removed from the system and replaced, such as to benefit from upgraded technology, while preserving the remaining modules in the system. The modules may be disassembled and reconstructed to convert the physical form of the camera, such as between still configurations, motion configurations, ENG configurations, DSLR configurations and studio configurations. The modules may be used to add wireless capabilities employing standard wireless protocols to allow a variety of devices to control or communicate with the modular digital camera system. The wireless capabilities may also be used to present a soft interface for camera control to the user, exposing a variety of variables and controls to the user that may otherwise be difficult or impossible to access.

Abstract: Embodiments provide a video camera that can be configured to allow tagging of recorded video and/or capture of video segments or sequences of images in response to user actuation of a camera control identifying an event of interest. For example, a user may press a button on the camera when an event of interest occurs, and in response the camera may tag a captured video file at a timestamp corresponding to the event. In another example, the user may initiate capture of video segments or sequences of images at an occurrence of an event of interest by pressing a button. The camera may include an image data buffer that may enable capture of video segments and/or sequences of images occurring before the user initiates capture of the event. User interfaces may enable the user to quickly review the captured video or sequences of images of the events of interest.