Methods for user selectable digital mirror

Abstract

In one embodiment of the invention, a digital mirror is disclosed including an enclosure; a display device mounted in the enclosure to display images at a front side of the enclosure; an image capture device mounted in the enclosure adjacent the display device to reduce parallax error; lights mounted in the enclosure adjacent the display device; and a light diffuser mounted to the enclosure around the display device over the one or more lights. The one or more lights provide lighting in front of the display device and the image capture device captures images in the field of view in the front. The light diffuser diffuses and softens the light emitted by the one or more lights. Alternatively, the image capture device may be mounted on an articulated arm that may be used to capture and display various angles in the filed of view of the digital mirror.

1 - 42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . A method comprising:
 concurrently powering on an image sensor, a display device, and one or more lights around the display device;   capturing one or more frames of images of a user with the image sensor, wherein each frame includes an M by N array of pixel data; and   displaying the one or more captured frames of images on the display device.   
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , further comprising:
 selecting to display true images or mirrored images of the frames of images on the display device; and   in response to the selection of mirrored images, displaying mirrored images of the frames of images with the display device.   
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 43 , further comprising:
 selecting to display true images or mirrored images of the frames of images on the display device; and   in response to the selection of true images, displaying true images of the frames of images with the display device.   
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein
 the selectively powering on includes
 sensing the presence of a user within the field of view of the display device; and 
 automatically powering on the image sensor and the display device in response to sensing the presence of the user. 
   
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 43 , further comprising:
 sensing a level of ambient lighting with the image sensor; and   selectively powering on one or more lights around the display device to improve the capturing of the one or more frames of images of the user.   
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein
 the selectively powering on includes
 coupling direct current (DC) power of one or more batteries to the image sensor and the display device. 
   
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein
 the one or more batteries are rechargeable batteries, and   the selectively powering on includes
 generating direct current (DC) power from alternating current (AC) power; and 
 coupling the direct current power into the one or more rechargeable batteries to charge them. 
   
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein
 the selectively powering on includes
 generating direct current (DC) power from alternating current (AC) power; and 
 coupling the direct current power to the image sensor and the display device. 
   
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein
 the displaying of mirrored images of the frames of images with the display device includes
 writing the M by N pixel data into a storage device in a left-to-right order, and 
 reading out pixel data from the storage device in a right-to-left order for display by pixels on the display device in a left-to-right order to horizontally flip the image. 
   
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein
 the displaying of true images of the frames of images with the display device includes
 writing the M by N pixel data into a storage device in a left-to-right order, and 
 reading out pixel data from the storage device in a left-to-right order for display by pixels on the display device in a left-to-right order. 
   
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 43 , further comprising:
 selectively magnifying a portion of the one or more frames of images of the user for display as the mirrored images or true images with the display device.   
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein
 the selectively magnifying is selected by pressing a button of a user interface.   
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein
 the display device includes a touch screen; and   the selectively magnifying includes touching a finger on the touch screen on the portion of the image to magnify.   
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 43 , further comprising
 extending the image sensor away from the display device to capture one or more left side images, right side images, or back side images of the user.   
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 43 , further comprising
 diffusing the light generated by the one or more lights to produce a softer light for the object or user in the target viewing area.   
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 43 , further comprising:
 optically zooming in and out on the user to select a view for the capture of images for display on the display device.   
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 43 , further comprising:
 sensing initial ambient lighting; and   selecting a light intensity for light generated by the one or more lights in response to the initial ambient lighting.   
     
     
         60 . A method comprising:
 concurrently powering an image sensor, a display device, and one or more lights around the display device;   capturing one or more frames of images of a user with the image sensor at a first time, wherein each frame includes an M by N array of pixel data; and   in response to a first user selection,
 storing a first frame of pixel data of a first image of the user associated with the first time; and 
 repeatedly displaying the first stored frame of pixel data on the display device, wherein the first image of the user appears to be frozen on the display device. 
   
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 60 ,
 capturing one or more frames of second images of a user with the image sensor at a second time differing from the first time;   in response to a second user selection,
 storing a second frame of pixel data of a second image of the user associated with the second time; and 
 repeatedly displaying the second stored frame of pixel data on the display device of the second image of the user near the first image of the user, wherein the first image and the second image of the user appear to be frozen on the display device for comparison. 
   
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 60 , further comprising:
 sensing a level of ambient lighting with the image sensor to be below a predetermined level; and   selectively powering on more lights around the display device to improve the capturing of the one or more frames of images of the user.   
     
     
         63 . A method comprising:
 sensing the presence of a user within the field of view of a display device with an image sensor;   automatically powering on the display device in response to sensing the presence of the user;   capturing one or more frames of images of the user with the image sensor, wherein each frame includes an M by N array of pixel data; and   displaying the one or more captured frames of images on the display device.   
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 63 , further comprising:
 sensing a level of ambient lighting with the image sensor to be below a predetermined level; and   automatically powering on one or more lights around the display device to improve the capturing of the one or more frames of images of the user.