Abstract: A digital camera comprising; a user controlled camera system; an orientation sensor for sensing whether the camera is in one of a horizontal or vertical positions; a user actuated switch located on the side of the camera when the camera is in the horizontal position; and means for selectively enabling/disabling said user controlled camera system as a function of the orientation of said orientation sensor.

Abstract: A digital camera comprising; a user controlled camera system; an orientation sensor for sensing whether the camera is in one of a horizontal or vertical positions; a user actuated switch located on the side of the camera when the camera is in the horizontal position; and means for selectively enabling/disabling said user controlled camera system as a function of the orientation of said orientation sensor.

Abstract: Apparatus for determining when a moving vehicle passes a fixed point characterized by a magnetic field. The apparatus includes first and second magnetic-field sensors spaced apart on the vehicle for producing first and second outputs when the sensors move in the magnetic field past the point. The outputs are validated based on the time span between the outputs and the spacing between the sensors. According to certain more specific features, the fixed point is a magnetic buoy, the vehicle is a boat expected to move past the buoy at a speed within an acceptable range, the first and second magnetic-field sensors are electrical coils spaced apart a known distance in the direction of movement, and the validating means uses the sensor spacing and the acceptable range for validating the outputs. According to other features, the elapsed time for the vehicle to travel between two fixed points is determined using only validated outputs.

Abstract: A multipoint digital automatic white balance system is provided that automatically compensates for changes in illumination conditions. Three color channels are balanced by measuring the relative output of the red to green channels and the blue to green channels at many different illumination levels. Base line measurements obtained in the green channel are used to create calibrated green channel data that is stored in a green channel LUT, which in turn is used to create corresponding red and blue channel data that is stored in red and blue LUTs. In operation, digitized red, green and blue input signals are applied to the red, green and blue LUTs to generate white balance corrected red, green and blue output signals.