Device and method for photo and video capture

Abstract

A single user input element in an image capture device is used for both photo and video capture. Based on a first user interface activity, a timing reference is engaged at a first reference time. In a first case, photo capture is performed. In the first case, a second reference time is based on a second user interface activity, and the timing reference indicates a passage of time between the two reference times is shorter than a particular time interval. In a second case, video capture is performed. In the second case, the timing reference indicates a passage of time since the first reference time is equal to or longer than the particular time interval. Video capture is stopped based on a subsequent user interface activity. The user interface activities may comprise detecting actions based on the same type of physical manipulation of the single user input.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for image capture comprising:
 one or more image sensors;   one or more timing references;   a single user input element,   a processor block configured to control steps of:
 engaging the one or more timing references at a reference time R1 based on a user interface activity U1 at the single user input element, the user interface activity U1 occurring at a time T1; 
 performing still image capture with an image sensor of the one or more image sensors in a first case that the one or more timing references indicates a passage of time from the reference time R1 to a reference time R2 is shorter than a time interval X, wherein the reference time R2 is based on a user activity U2 at the single user input element, the user interface activity U2 occurring at a time T2 after the time T1; 
 starting video capture with an image sensor of the one or more image sensors in a second case that the one or more timing references indicates a passage of time since the reference time R1 is equal to or longer than the time interval X; 
 stopping the video capture based on a user interface activity UN at the single user input element after the step of starting video capture in the second case. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the reference time R1 is equal to or later than the time T1 and the reference time R2 is equal to or later than the time T1. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein all of the user interface activities U1, U2, and UN respectively comprise detecting an action based on the same type of physical manipulation of the single user input element. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface activity U1 comprises detecting a press action on the single user input element, and wherein each of the user interface activity U2 and the user interface activity UN comprises detecting a release action from the single user input element. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface activity U1 comprises a change in the state of the single user input element from OFF to ON, and wherein each of the user interface activity U2 and the user interface activity UN comprises a change in the state of the single user input element from ON to OFF. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the image sensor of the step of performing still image capture is the same image sensor of the step of starting video capture. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the single user input element is one of a button, a key, a screen area of an input display, and a touch-sensitive area of a touchscreen. 
     
     
         8 . A machine-readable storage medium for an image capture device comprising one or more image sensors, one or more timing references, and a single user input element, the machine-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the image capture device to perform a method comprising:
 engaging the one or more timing references at a reference time R1 based on a user interface activity U1 at the single user input element, the user interface activity U1 occurring at a time T1;   performing still image capture with an image sensor of the one or more image sensors in a first case that the one or more timing references indicates a passage of time from the reference time R1 to a reference time R2 is shorter than a time interval X, wherein the reference time R2 is based on a user activity U2 at the single user input element, the user interface activity U2 occurring at a time T2 after the time T1;   starting video capture with an image sensor of the one or more image sensors in a second case that the one or more timing references indicates a passage of time since the reference time R1 is equal to or longer than the time interval X;   stopping the video capture based on a user interface activity UN at the single user input element after the step of starting video capture in the second case.   
     
     
         9 . The machine-readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein the reference time R1 is equal to or later than the time T1 and the reference time R2 is equal to or later than the time T1. 
     
     
         10 . The machine-readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein all of the user interface activities U1, U2, and UN respectively comprise detecting an action based on the same type of physical manipulation of the single user input element. 
     
     
         11 . The machine-readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein the user interface activity U1 comprises detecting a press action on the single user input element, and wherein each of the user interface activity U2 and the user interface activity UN comprises detecting a release action from the single user input element. 
     
     
         12 . The machine-readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein the user interface activity U1 comprises a change in the state of the single user input element from OFF to ON, and wherein each of the user interface activity U2 and the user interface activity UN comprises a change in the state of the single user input element from ON to OFF. 
     
     
         13 . The machine-readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein the image sensor of the step of performing still image capture is the same image sensor of the step of starting video capture. 
     
     
         14 . The machine-readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein the single user input element is one of a button, a key, a screen area of an input display, and a touch-sensitive area of a touchscreen. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for image capture comprising:
 one or more image sensors;   one or more timing references;   a single user input element,   a processor block configured to control steps for performing photo capture and to control steps for performing video capture,
 the steps for performing photo capture comprising:
 engaging the one or more timing references at a reference time R1 based on a user interface activity U1 at the single user input element, the user interface activity U1 occurring at a time T1; 
 engaging the one or more timing references at a reference time R2 based on a user interface activity U2 at the single user input element, the user interface activity U2 occurring at a time T2 after the time T1; 
 determining a determination D1 that the one or more timing references indicates a passage of time from the reference time R1 to the reference time R2 is shorter than a time interval X; and 
 performing still image capture with an image sensor of the one or more image sensors based on the determination D1; 
 
 the steps for performing video capture comprising:
 engaging the one or more timing references at a reference time R3 based on a user interface activity U3 at the single user input element, the user interface activity U3 occurring at a time T3; 
 determining a determination D2 that the one or more timing references indicates a passage of time since the reference time R3 is equal to or longer than the time interval X; 
 starting video capture with an image sensor of the one or more image sensors based on the determination D2; 
 stopping the video capture based on a user interface activity U4 at the single user input element after the step of starting video capture. 
 
   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the reference time R1 is equal to or later than the time T1, the reference time R2 is equal to or later than the time T1, and the reference time R3 is equal to or later than the time T3. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein all of the user interface activities U1, U2, U3, and U4 respectively comprise detecting an action based on the same type of physical manipulation of the single user input element. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein each of the user interface activity U1 and the user interface activity U3 comprises detecting a press action on the single user input element, and wherein each of the user interface activity U2 and the user interface activity U4 comprises detecting a release action from the single user input element. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein each of the user interface activity U1 and the user interface activity U3 comprises a change in the state of the single user input element from OFF to ON, and wherein each of the user interface activity U2 and the user interface activity U4 comprises a change in the state of the single user input element from ON to OFF. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the image sensor of the step of performing still image capture is the same image sensor of the step of starting video capture. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the single user input element is one of a button, a key, a screen area of an input display, and a touch-sensitive area of a touchscreen. 
     
     
         22 . A machine-readable storage medium for an image capture device comprising one or more image sensors, one or more timing references, and a single user input element, the machine-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the image capture device to perform a method comprising:
 steps for performing photo capture comprising:
 engaging the one or more timing references at a reference time R1 based on a user interface activity U1 at the single user input element, the user interface activity U1 occurring at a time T1; 
 engaging the one or more timing references at a reference time R2 based on a user interface activity U2 at the single user input element, the user interface activity U2 occurring at a time T2 after the time T1; 
 determining a determination D1 that the one or more timing references indicates a passage of time from the reference time R1 to the reference time R2 is shorter than a time interval X; and 
 performing still image capture with an image sensor of the one or more image sensors based on the determination D1; 
   steps for performing video capture comprising:
 engaging the one or more timing references at a reference time R3 based on a user interface activity U3 at the single user input element, the user interface activity U3 occurring at a time T3; 
 determining a determination D2 that the one or more timing references indicates a passage of time since the reference time R3 is equal to or longer than the time interval X; 
 starting video capture with an image sensor of the one or more image sensors based on the determination D2; and 
 stopping the video capture based on a user interface activity U4 at the single user input element after the step of starting video capture. 
   
     
     
         23 . The machine-readable storage medium of  claim 22 , wherein the reference time R1 is equal to or later than the time T1, the reference time R2 is equal to or later than the time T1, and the reference time R3 is equal to or later than the time T3. 
     
     
         24 . The machine-readable storage medium of  claim 22 , wherein all of the user interface activities U1, U2, U3, and U4 respectively comprise detecting an action based on the same type of physical manipulation of the single user input element. 
     
     
         25 . The machine-readable storage medium of  claim 22 , wherein each of the user interface activity U1 and the user interface activity U3 comprises a press action on the single user input element, and wherein each of the user interface activity U2 and the user interface activity U4 comprises a release action from the single user input element. 
     
     
         26 . The machine-readable storage medium of  claim 22 , wherein each of the user interface activity U1 and the user interface activity U3 comprises a change in the state of the single user input element from OFF to ON, and wherein each of the user interface activity U2 and the user interface activity U4 comprises a change in the state of the single user input element from ON to OFF. 
     
     
         27 . The machine-readable storage medium of  claim 22 , wherein the image sensor of the step of performing still image capture is the same image sensor of the step of starting video capture. 
     
     
         28 . The machine-readable storage medium of  claim 22 , wherein the single user input element is one of a button, a key, a screen area of an input display, and a touch-sensitive area of a touchscreen.