Electronic camera filter

Abstract

A filter for a camera lens including an electronic display configured to couple to an object side of the camera lens and configured to filter an image on an object side of the electronic display for the camera lens. A controller is configured to electrically control the filtering of the electronic display. An input is for receiving a control for controlling the controller.

1 .- 42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . A camera system comprising:
 a camera including a camera lens;   an electronic display that is coupled to the camera lens and in an optical path of the camera lens, wherein the electronic display is configured to filter an image received from an object side of the electronic display, and wherein the filtered image is passed to the camera;   a controller configure to electronically control the filtering of the electronic display.   
     
     
         44 . The camera system of  claim 43 , wherein the electronic display comprises liquid crystals disposed therein for filtering the image. 
     
     
         45 . The camera system of  claim 44 , wherein the electronic display is configured to reduce an amount of light transmitted through the electronic display, wherein light transmittance by the liquid crystals is varied electronically by the controller within a range of light transmittances. 
     
     
         46 . The camera system of  claim 43 , wherein the electronic display comprises one or more light-emitting diodes disposed therein for filtering the image. 
     
     
         47 . The camera system of  claim 46 , wherein the electronic display is configured to emit light at a variety of brightness levels and color levels by the one or more light-emitting diodes as varied electronically by the controller. 
     
     
         48 . The camera system of  claim 43 , wherein the electronic display comprises a housing, and wherein the controller is disposed within the housing and includes a one or more user input elements that are accessible from an outer surface of the housing. 
     
     
         49 . The camera system of  claim 43 , wherein the controller is configured having an input for receiving a control signal, and wherein the input is configured to vary the filtering of the electronic filter according to a variation in an optical feature of the camera system. 
     
     
         50 . The camera system of  claim 49 , wherein the optical feature of the camera system is an iris or a focus of the camera system. 
     
     
         51 . The camera system of  claim 43 , wherein the electronic display is located at an object end of the camera lens. 
     
     
         52 . The camera system of  claim 43 , wherein the electronic display is located between the camera lens and the camera. 
     
     
         53 . An electronic filter that is configured for use in a camera system comprising a camera and a camera lens, wherein the electronic filter comprises an electronic display that is disposed in an optical path of the camera system, wherein the electric filter comprises electrical elements configured to filter an image that is received by the camera for image capture, wherein a controller is configured to control the amount of filtering provided by the electrical elements of the electronic display, wherein the controller comprises an input for providing a control signal to the controller. 
     
     
         54 . The electronic filter of  claim 53 , wherein the electronic elements are liquid crystals that are configured to reduce an amount of light transmitted through the electronic display, wherein light transmittance by the liquid crystals is varied electronically by the controller within a range of light transmittances. 
     
     
         55 . The electronic filter of  claim 53 , wherein the electronic elements are light-emitting diodes that are configured to emit light at a variety of brightness levels, and color levels by the one or more light-emitting diodes as varied electronically by the controller. 
     
     
         56 . The electronic filter of  claim 53 , comprising a housing that that is in contact with the electronic display, wherein the controller is disposed within the housing. 
     
     
         57 . The electronic filter of  claim 56 , wherein the input comprises one or more input elements that are disposed along an outside surface of the housing. 
     
     
         58 . The electronic filter of  claim 56 , wherein input is configured to vary the filtering of the electronic filter according to a variation in an optical feature of the camera system. 
     
     
         59 . The electronic filter of  claim 56 , wherein the electric filter is positioned at one of camera lens object side or image side. 
     
     
         60 . A method for filtering an image for a camera system comprising a camera and a camera lens, the method comprising the steps of:
 passing an image through an electronic filter that is disposed along an optical axis of the camera system, wherein the electronic filter comprises an electronic display that comprises electrical elements that are configured to filter the image that is received for passing to the camera for image capture; and   adjusting an amount that the image is filtered by the electronic display by use of a controller that is electrically connected with the electrical elements and that is configured to receive an input from an outside source or user associated with the amount of adjusting.   
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein the electrical elements are liquid crystals that are configured to reduce an amount of light transmitted through the electronic display, wherein light transmittance by the liquid crystals is varied electronically by the controller within a range of light transmittances during the step of adjusting. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein the electronic elements are light-emitting diodes that are configured to emit light at a variety of brightness levels, and color levels by the one or more light-emitting diodes as varied electronically by the controller during the step of adjusting.