Pointing device for digital camera display

Abstract

A process and apparatus is described to improve a digital camera user interface and increase ease of use and functionality of a digital camera by quickly, accurately and robustly permitting cursor control and designation in a digital camera display. A digital camera is used as a pointing device such as a mouse or trackball. The motion of the camera is detected, and the motion of the camera is used to position graphic elements on the camera's own display. The camera's motion can be detected with sensors, such as gyroscopes, or the camera itself can be used as a motion sensor. One application of this involves using the camera as a computer mouse, or like a gun-sight, to select images from a sheet of low-resolution (“thumbnail”) images. The motion of the camera is tracked, and the user aims at the desired image from a sheet of thumbnail images. The thumbnails appear to be fixed relative to the world because the camera can continuously reposition them in the display based upon the motion of the camera. The user can then select a thumbnail in an intuitive manner by simply pointing the camera at the desired thumbnail. For alternative embodiments, the interface can be used to select regions of greater extent than can be viewed in the viewer or to virtually review images.

1 . A process for a camera having a display, the process comprising the steps of: 
 displaying a cursor and a plurality of icons on the display;    moving the camera;    sensing motion of the camera;    based on the motion, repositioning the icons in the display until the cursor is on a target icon of the plurality of icons; and    selecting the target icon.    
     
     
         2 . The process as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the icons is repositioned to appear to be fixed in space with regard to an image being viewed in the display.  
     
     
         3 . The process as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the at least one of the icons is repositioned in a direction opposite, and of corresponding magnitude, to the motion of the camera.  
     
     
         4 . The process as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the display is a viewfinder.  
     
     
         5 . The process as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the motion is sensed using a non-optical motion detector.  
     
     
         6 . The process as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the motion is sensed using an optical motion detector.  
     
     
         7 . The process as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the target icon is a thumbnail image.  
     
     
         8 . The process as set forth in  claim 7 , including the step of performing image manipulation on a high resolution image associated with the thumbnail image.  
     
     
         9 . The process as set forth in  claim 8 , including the step of transferring the manipulated high resolution image to a device external to the camera.  
     
     
         10 . The process as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the target icon is associated with a function to be performed when the target icon is selected.  
     
     
         11 . A process for a camera having a display, the process comprising the steps of: 
 displaying a cursor and a first portion of a scene on the display;    using the cursor to select a first location within the first portion;    moving the camera to display a second portion of a scene on the display;    sensing motion of the camera;    displaying the cursor based on the motion; and    using the cursor to select a second location within the second portion such that the first and second locations define a region of the scene, the region being of greater extent than is displayed in the display.    
     
     
         12 . The process as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein an operation is performed on the region.  
     
     
         13 . The process as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the operation includes the step of capturing a panoramic image having the extent of the region.  
     
     
         14 . The process as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the step of capturing the panoramic image includes displaying an indicator on the display to guide movement of the camera.  
     
     
         15 . The process as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the operation includes the step of zooming the camera to display the region in the display.  
     
     
         16 . A process for a camera having a display, the process comprising the steps of: 
 displaying a first portion of an image on the display;    moving the camera;    sensing motion of the camera; and    based on the motion, displaying a second portion of the image on the display.    
     
     
         17 . The process as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the image is a panoramic image.  
     
     
         18 . The process as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the image has a resolution greater than the display.  
     
     
         19 . A camera having a display, the camera comprising: 
 a motion sensor to sense motion of the camera;    circuitry to display a cursor and a plurality of icons on the display, based on the motion, the circuitry repositioning the icons in the display until the cursor is on a target icon of the plurality of icons; and    a selector to select the target icon.    
     
     
         20 . A camera having a display, the camera comprising: 
 a motion sensor to sense motion of the camera;    a selector; and    circuitry to displaying a cursor and a first portion of a scene on the display, if the cursor and selector is used to select a first location within the first portion, and the camera is moved to display a second portion of a scene on the display, the circuitry displays the cursor based on the motion so that the cursor can be used to select a second location within the second portion such that the first and second locations define a region of the scene, the region being of greater extent than is displayed in the display.    
     
     
         21 . A camera having a display, the camera comprising: 
 a motion sensor to sense motion of the camera; and    circuitry to displaying a first portion of an image on the display, and if motion of the camera is sensed, based on the motion, the circuitry displaying a second portion of the image on the display.