Abstract: A camera includes software to compute a measure of focus at a plurality of focal distances. The camera includes an indicator of the measure of focus as a function of focal distance. The camera may also include an indication of present focal position. The camera may also include an indication of present depth of field.

Abstract: A framing aid for a handheld document capture device such as a digital camera, comprising two pattern generators (10,20) generating convergent patterns (14, 24) that are in register on a target object plane. Triangulation between the two pattern generators (10,20) and using superimposed or complementary patterns (14,24) ensures that the hand held device (1) is correctly arranged at a predetermined range and orientation above a document to be captured, such that the document is accurately framed within the field of view of the capture device (1).

Abstract: A digital camera has a removable nonvolatile memory for storing compressed images. The camera is capable of performing advanced image processing, and has a second nonremovable nonvolatile memory for storing intermediate results of advanced processing. The intermediate results are saved upon the nonremovable, nonvolatile, memory periodically, upon detection of low battery, or both. If batteries are replaced or external power is connected, under some conditions the camera's image processing subsystem can restart advanced processing. When advanced processing is restarted, these saved intermediate results are used to save processing time by avoiding the need to repeat some previously performed portions of advanced processing. In an alternative embodiment, the camera is capable of storing intermediate results upon the removable nonvolatile memory also used for storing compressed images.

Abstract: An electronic camera has a battery, a battery charge-monitor circuit for monitoring battery charge, an embedded image-processing system, and a nonvolatile memory coupled to the embedded image-processing system for recording compressed images. The camera is capable of performing an initial compression and of performing advanced processing of images. The camera is capable of saving partially processed and/or intermediate images on nonvolatile memory, and suspending advanced processing, when the battery charge-monitor circuit detects that battery charge is less than a minimum or a reserve level. In an alternative embodiment, the camera is capable of reducing a clock rate at which advanced processing is performed to conserve battery charge.

Abstract: An electronic camera capable of performing an initial compression and advanced processing of images has a user interface with an indicator that warns a user when the camera is about to write to removable nonvolatile memory. In an alternative embodiment, also provided are menus for setting an adjustable battery reserve level at which advanced processing is suspended such that battery charge is conserved for capturing new images. In another alternative embodiment, also provided are menus through which particular type of advanced processing may be selected. A variation of this embodiment has a mode where the camera holds raw data necessary for advanced processing in RAM for a few seconds to allow a user to request advanced processing of images selected by the user. In yet another alternative embodiment, the user interface can display a list of images with status of advanced processing. The user can change this list of images, including dropping images from and reordering the list.

Abstract: A system and method for analyzing a captured image is disclosed. In one embodiment, a system for analyzing a digital image comprises an image sensor including a plurality of image capture elements, each of the image capture elements configured to capture image data. The image data is captured according to at least one setting. The system also includes a memory for storing the image data and logic for dynamically analyzing the image data to determine at least one characteristic of the image data, and a display for communicating a description of the characteristic.

Abstract: A camera creates successive digital images of a scene, and computes a stability measure estimate blur in a final photograph of the scene. The camera combines information such as lens focal length, focus distance, scene brightness value, and shutter speed to determine alternate camera settings that may reduce the blur. The camera communicates to the photographer suggested camera setting changes that may reduce the blur. The communication may optionally happen before the final photograph is taken or after, and may take one of several forms. The camera may optionally be a digital camera. The setting change suggestions may optionally be stored in an image file with a final digital photograph.

Abstract: A camera computes an image stability measure by measuring the variability of an edge-detect figure of merit evaluated from several immediate past photographs.

Abstract: An integrated image sensor for acquiring and processing electrical signals representative of an object comprising a photosite array configured to convert light into the electrical signals, an A/D converter configured to convert the electrical signals into digital data, and logic integral with the image sensor configured to scale the digital data by a non-integer-scaling factor. A method for acquiring and processing image data with an integrated image sensor comprising the steps of capturing, via the image sensor, the image data representative of an image, scaling, via the image sensor, the image data by a non-integer value, and outputting from the integrated image sensor scaled image data.

Abstract: A camera includes software to compute a measure of focus at a plurality of focal distances. The camera includes an indicator of the measure of focus as a function of focal distance. The camera may also include an indication of present focal position. The camera may also include an indication of present depth of field.

Abstract: A digital camera printing user interface automatically selects and presents sets of printing options for printing parameters such as printed image size and paper size in accordance with location information. The location information may comprise the current location of the digital camera or an indication of where an image to be printed was captured.

Abstract: A camera having audio noise attenuation capability is disclosed. In one embodiment, the camera comprises a microphone and an audio noise attenuation system configured to attenuate undesired noise captured by the microphone when recording audio. In some embodiments, the audio noise attenuation system facilitates attenuation of noise generated by a motor of the camera. In other embodiments, the noise attenuation system generation facilitates attenuation of audio noise from the environment in which the camera is used.

Abstract: A manually rechargeable power system includes a generator operable to generate electrical energy. A capacitor is operable to store the electrical energy generated by the generator. The generator and/or capacitor may be housed in a housing configured to replicate a size and a shape of one or multiple batteries.

Abstract: Portable memory storage cards can be stacked together in a receiver that also serves as a player, allowing for compact and efficient storage and usage of those cards. The portable memory storage cards have at least one contact on both sides, positioned such that the cards are reversible. A receiver for the cards also serves as the player. A set of contacts is provided at one end of a storage cavity, into which an arbitrarily large number of cards may be stacked together, such that their contacts touch to form a bus. The stacked cards are biased against the set of contacts to establish physical contact between the set of contacts in the storage cavity and contacts on the adjacent card. The cards each include at least one alignment guide to restrict the motion of adjacent cards relative to one another when cards are stored in the cavity of the receiver.

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment of the present invention is disclosed that comprises the steps of acquiring a digital image, and automatically assigning an identifier to the digital image. The identifier allows the digital image to be accessed over a network.

Abstract: Portable memory storage cards can be stacked together in a receiver that also serves as a player, allowing for compact and efficient storage and usage of those cards. The portable memory storage cards have at least one contact on both sides, positioned such that the cards are reversible. A receiver for the cards also serves as the player. A set of contacts is provided at one end of a storage cavity, into which an arbitrarily large number of cards may be stacked together, such that their contacts touch to form a bus. The stacked cards are biased against the set of contacts to establish physical contact between the set of contacts in the storage cavity and contacts on the adjacent card. The cards each include at least one alignment guide to restrict the motion of adjacent cards relative to one another when cards are stored in the cavity of the receiver.

Abstract: An ergonomic “press-on-press-off” capture mode is added to an existing “press-and-hold” capture mode in a portable hand-held scanning device without adding additional control buttons or requiring the user to make a selection between which capture mode to use. Supporting both capture modes simultaneously is accomplished through monitoring the capture button and distance traveled by the device. When the capture button is pressed and released, a check is made to see if the device was moved a predetermined distance while the capture button was depressed. If yes, then the press-and-hold capture mode is confirmed, and image data capture ends. If no, then the press-on-press-off capture mode is confirmed, and image data capture continues, even though the capture button is not depressed, until a second press of the capture button or lift off. The second press of the capture button or lift off terminates the image data capture for the press-on-press-off capture mode.

Abstract: A framing aid for a handheld document capture device such as a digital camera, comprising two pattern generators (10,20) generating convergent patterns (14, 24) that are in register on a target object plane. Triangulation between the two pattern generators (10,20) and using superimposed or complementary patterns (14,24) ensures that the hand held device (1) is correctly arranged at a predetermined range and orientation above a document to be captured, such that the document is accurately framed within the field of view of the capture device (1).

Abstract: A smart charger that includes a housing with an interface for power and data transmission and adapted for connection to a communication device, with a second interface adapted for connection to a power source, and with a third interface adapted for connection to a second communication device. A charger within the housing is connected to the second interface to receive power, and connected to the first interface to provide charging power. A control module within the housing provides for communication between the first interface and the third interface.

Abstract: A compressed texture data structure is disclosed. The structure includes at least first and second compressed texture data segments. The first compressed texture data segment starts at a first segment starting memory location, ends at a first segment ending memory location, has a first segment length, and contains a first compressed texture data block having a first compressed texture data block length. The second compressed texture data segment starts at a second segment starting memory location, ends at a second segment ending memory location, has a second segment length, and contains a second compressed texture data block having a second compressed texture data block length. The first and second compressed texture data blocks contain compressed representations of first and second uncompressed blocks of an uncompressed texture map. The second segment starting memory location is disposed contiguously with the first segment ending memory location.