Digital camera using an express zooming mode to provide expedited operation over an extended zoom range

1. An electronic camera having an express zoom mode for producing an output image of a scene, said electronic camera comprising:

a first image sensor for generating a first sensor output;

a first zoom lens for forming a first image of the scene on the first image sensor;

a first zoom positioner for adjusting the first zoom lens through a first plurality of discrete zoom positions between a minimum focal length and a maximum focal length to provide the first image;

a second image sensor for generating a second sensor output;

a second zoom lens for forming a second image of the scene on the second image sensor;

a second zoom positioner for adjusting the second zoom lens through a second plurality of discrete zoom positions between a minimum focal length and a maximum focal length to provide the second image, wherein the maximum focal length of the first zoom lens is less than or equal to the minimum focal length of the second zoom lens;

a user control for selecting a zoom setting, whereby the zoom positioners are responsive to the user control for adjusting the zoom lenses through the first plurality of discrete zoom positions for the first zoom lens and through the second plurality of discrete zoom positions for the second zoom lens; and

a zoom controller for controlling the zoom positioners and enabling an express mode when a user initiated change in the user control specifies a zoom transition from a present zoom setting within one said plurality of discrete zoom positions to a target zoom setting within the other said plurality of discrete zoom positions, whereupon the controller causes the zoom positioner for the target position to immediately move the corresponding zoom lens to the target zoom position without powering the other zooming positioner through any intervening discrete zoom positions, thereby enabling an express zooming sequence in which the zoom positioners do not have to traverse all of the intervening zoom positions between the present zoom setting and the target zoom setting.

2. The electronic camera as claimed in claim 1 wherein the maximum focal length of the first zoom lens is less than the minimum focal length of the second zoom lens, thereby leaving a focal length gap therebetween.

3. The electronic camera as claimed in claim 2 wherein the focal length gap is equal to one or more discrete zoom positions.

4. The electronic camera as claimed in claim 1 wherein the camera further includes a processing section having an electronic zooming capability for electronically zooming over at least a portion of the focal length gap based on settings of the user control.

5. An electronic camera for producing an output image of a scene, said electronic camera comprising:

a first image sensor for generating a first sensor output;

a first zoom lens forming a first image of the scene on the first image sensor;

a first zoom positioner for adjusting the first zoom lens through a first plurality of zoom positions between a minimum focal length and a maximum focal length to provide the first image;

a second image sensor for generating a second sensor output;

a second zoom lens pointing in the same direction as the first zoom lens and forming a second image of the same scene on the second image sensor;

a second zoom positioner for adjusting the second zoom lens through a second plurality of zoom positions between a minimum focal length and a maximum focal length to provide the second image, wherein the maximum focal length of the first zoom lens is less than or equal to the minimum focal length of the second zoom lens;

start up means for powering up the camera at start up in preparation for taking a picture; and

a zoom controller for controlling the zoom positioners responsive to said start up means and driving the first zoom lens to its minimum focal length and the second zoom lens to its maximum focal length at start up.

6. The camera as claimed in claim 5 further comprising:

a control element for selecting either the first sensor output from the first image sensor or the second sensor output from the second image sensor, thereby providing a selected sensor output; and

a processing section for producing the output image from the selected sensor output.

7. The camera as claimed in claim 5 further comprising:

a user control for selecting a zoom setting, whereby the zoom positioners are responsive to the user control for adjusting the zoom lenses through the first plurality of discrete zoom positions for the first zoom lens and through the second plurality of discrete zoom positions for the second zoom lens; and

wherein the zoom controller controls the zoom positioners and enables an express mode when a user initiated change in the user control specifies a zoom transition from a present zoom setting within one said plurality of discrete zoom positions to a target zoom setting within the other said plurality of discrete zoom positions, whereupon the controller causes the zoom positioner for the target position to immediately move the corresponding zoom lens to the target zoom position without powering the other zooming positioner through any intervening discrete zoom positions, thereby enabling an express zooming sequence in which the zoom positioners do not have to traverse all of the intervening zoom positions between the present zoom setting and the target zoom setting.