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: 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: The present invention provides a digital camera with a first trigger and a separate, dedicated second trigger. The first trigger may be used to trigger the capture of still images. The second trigger may be used to record video images. Because the digital camera has a first trigger and a separate, dedicated second trigger, a user does not have to turn a mode dial or other mode selector to select between capturing a still image and capturing one or more video images. The first and second triggers may be assigned to other capture mode operations, including a sequence image capture mode and an audio capture mode.

Abstract: The invention consists of a visual display mounted to a mechanism pivoting about a single point such that the visual display may be rocked to active switches located inside the edges of the visual display. Electronic devices where this invention may be used include, but are not limited to, digital cameras, cell phones, wristwatches, and GPS devices.

Abstract: An appliance is provided for capturing and communicating images to other devices with communication capabilities. An embodiment of the appliance comprises capturing a plurality of image data, grouping the image data into a group, receiving new image data, and attaching the new image data to the group such that the group comprises the plurality of image data and the new image data.

Abstract: An appliance is provided for capturing and communicating images to other devices with communication capabilities. An embodiment of the capturing and viewing appliance comprises displaying a page on a display, the page corresponding to one of a plurality of image data, the plurality of image data each being contiguous members of a group; displaying a flipping animation on the display in response to operating a navigation button; and displaying a new page on the display upon conclusion of the display of the flipping animation, the new page corresponding to another one of the plurality of image data.

Abstract: A digital imaging device user interface provides for the browsing of stored images using an intuitive virtual-stack-of-images metaphor. Images may be slid animatedly off or onto the virtual stack of images much as a user would flip through a stack of physical photographs. The user interface may be used in devices such as digital cameras, scanners, personal digital assistants, or palmtop computers.

Abstract: An appliance is provided for capturing and communicating images to other devices with communication capabilities. An embodiment of the capturing and viewing appliance comprises a photoelement array for acquiring at least a first image data and a second image data, a memory for saving said image data, a processor in communication with the memory, a display in communication with the processor for exhibiting one of the image data, and program code stored in the memory and executed by the processor for viewing one of the image data, the program code comprising a page view software module for viewing the image data on the display of the appliance, and for displaying an animated sequence on the display after ending display of the first image data and before displaying the second image data, wherein the animated sequence is the first image data sliding off the display.

Abstract: A hand-held image capture and communication appliance and method of using same are provided wherein images may be scanned and saved in an internal memory. The appliance includes a processor for manipulating and exhibiting the images on a built-in display screen. Program code stored in the internal memory includes a help utility module that allows the user to obtain information on operating the various features of the appliance. The help utility module includes code segments for displaying a textual dialog and/or an animation that convey information correlated with the help topics. Advantageously, animation can be used to demonstrate features that would be difficult to explain in words or would require a lengthy dialog. For those topics requiring a more extensive textual explanation or if it is desired to combine a textual discussion with an animation, the help utility module includes a code segment for scrolling the display to communicate multiple screens or pages of information to the user.

Abstract: A method for automatically cropping, rotating, and scaling a scanned image to ensure that a printed copy of the scanned image is the same size as the original, when possible. The method attempts to honor the default or operator designated orientation of the printed image, but will automatically rotate the image if that will eliminate unnecessary image reduction. Optimal orientation and scaling factors are automatically determined based on the target page size and the size and shape of the information of interest in the original image (not the boundaries of the original document). The operator selects a desired printed orientation (or accepts a default orientation) and selects a desired printed paper size (or accepts a default printed paper size). If an image will fit within the printable margins without rotation or cropping, the image is simply printed without modification. If the image will fit without rotation by cropping white space, then white space is cropped.

Abstract: A hand-held image capture and communication appliance and method of using same are provided wherein images may be scanned and saved in an internal memory. The appliance includes a processor for manipulating and exhibiting the images on a built-in display screen. Program code stored in the internal memory includes a help utility module that allows the user to obtain information on operating the various features of the appliance. The help utility module includes code segments for displaying a textual dialog and/or an animation that convey information correlated with the help topics. Advantageously, animation can be used to demonstrate features that would be difficult to explain in words or would require a lengthy dialog. For those topics requiring a more extensive textual explanation or if it is desired to combine a textual discussion with an animation, the help utility module includes a code segment for scrolling the display to communicate multiple screens or pages of information to the user.

Abstract: An appliance provides for the selection of data to be transmitted to an external device by selecting metaphoric page icons, each icon corresponding to a page of captured information. Metaphoric page icons may be selected by selecting the icons individually, by selecting a predefined group of icons, by selecting tagged icons, or by selecting all icons. A default selection includes selecting the current metaphoric page icon displayed on the display.

Abstract: A method for automatically cropping, rotating, and scaling a scanned image to ensure that a printed copy of the scanned image is the same size as the original, when possible. The method attempts to honor the default or operator designated orientation of the printed image, but will automatically rotate the image if that will eliminate unnecessary image reduction. Optimal orientation and scaling factors are automatically determined based on the target page size and the size and shape of the information of interest in the original image (not the boundaries of the original document). The operator selects a desired printed orientation (or accepts a default orientation) and selects a desired printed paper size (or accepts a default printed paper size). If an image will fit within the printable margins without rotation or cropping, the image is simply printed without modification. If the image will fit without rotation by cropping white space, then white space is cropped.

Abstract: A hand-held image capture and communication appliance and method of using same are provided wherein images may be captured and saved in an internal memory. The appliance includes a processor for manipulating and exhibiting the images on a built-in display screen. Program code stored in the internal memory and executed by the processor includes a delete page module for purging the memory of captured images when they are no longer needed. The delete page module includes a code segment for displaying an animation, which, in the preferred embodiment, is designed to convey the concept to the user that a delete operation is irreversible. One implementation of the animation shows the deleted page or group of pages turn into ashes, which is a metaphor for the permanence of the delete operation. A confirmation prompt is provided prior to carrying out the delete operation to inform the user how many pages or images will be deleted and what percentage of memory will be freed.

Abstract: A hand-held image capture and communication appliance and method of using same are provided wherein images may be captured via the appliance and saved in an internal memory. The capture and communication appliance includes a processor for manipulating and exhibiting the images on a built-in display screen. Program code stored in the internal memory includes an image attachment module that allows the user to associate captured images with one another (i.e., electronically attach the images) to form a group and provides a graphical representation of this association on the display screen. Moreover, a group of captured images is treated as a single logical unit, which allows operations (e.g., send to another device or appliance, delete, etc.) to be performed on several captured images (i.e., the entire group) at once instead of on an individual basis. According to another aspect of the invention, the program code includes an image detachment module that allows the user to disassociate scanned image(s) (i.e.

Abstract: A hand-held image capture and communication appliance and method of using same are provided wherein images may be acquired via scanning means and saved in an internal memory. The scanning appliance includes a processor for manipulating and exhibiting the images on a built-in display screen. Program code stored in the internal memory and executed by the processor includes a capture page module for processing the image data acquired through the scanning means by filtering and discarding redundant image data to form a whole image. The capture page module includes a code segment for displaying a first animation that is designed as a metaphor to signify the progression of the image data processing taking place in the appliance. The metaphor used in the preferred embodiment is a bar graph overlaying a thumbnail of the capture path followed in acquiring the image.

Abstract: A method for automatically cropping, rotating, and scaling a scanned image to ensure that a printed copy of the scanned image is the same size as the original, when possible. The method attempts to honor the default or operator designated orientation of the printed image, but will automatically rotate the image if that will eliminate unnecessary image reduction. Optimal orientation and scaling factors are automatically determined based on the target page size and the size and shape of the information of interest in the original image (not the boundaries of the original document). The operator selects a desired printed orientation (or accepts a default orientation) and selects a desired printed paper size (or accepts a default printed paper size). If an image will fit within the printable margins without rotation or cropping, the image is simply printed without modification. If the image will fit without rotation by cropping white space, then white space is cropped.

Abstract: A hand-held image capture and communication appliance and method of using same are provided wherein images may be captured and saved in an internal memory. The appliance includes a processor for manipulating and exhibiting the images on a built-in display screen. Program code stored in the internal memory and executed by the processor includes a delete page module for purging the memory of captured images when they are no longer needed. The delete page module includes a code segment for displaying an animation, which, in the preferred embodiment, is designed to convey the concept to the user that a delete operation is irreversible. One implementation of the animation shows the deleted page or group of pages turn into ashes, which is a metaphor for the permanence of the delete operation. A confirmation prompt is provided prior to carrying out the delete operation to inform the user how many pages or images will be deleted and what percentage of memory will be freed.

Abstract: An appliance and method are provided for capturing and viewing images. The capturing and viewing appliance is an instrument used to capture and communicate images to other appliances and devices with communication capabilities. The capturing and viewing appliance includes a processor for manipulating and viewing the images on a built-in display. Program code stored in internal memory includes a viewing application program which allows the user to view stored images in a variety of pixel resolutions. According to another aspect of the invention, the viewing system provides a user-friendly interface for effective graphical communication of the functioning of the appliance or other device to the user through use of animated transitions.