System and method for manual selection of multiple evaluation points for camera control
View Patent ↗A method and system for additively, manually sequentially or manually in parallel, selecting multiple points or regions of interest in the analog or digital viewfinder of a photo or video camera with automatic controls like auto-focusing, auto-metering and auto white-balancing. Points or regions capable of being selected, within a grid of elements comprising a camera's evaluative matrix and represented to the user in a viewfinder or other display, may be hard-coded (pre-defined, selectable regions) or any point, pixel, or group of pixels. Data from the selected regions is used to simultaneously, dynamically adjust focus related parameters, light metering and white balancing of the camera and is tied into these features. Point selection may be via touch screen or by holding down a lock button. The selected points or regions may be applied to focus and aperture related adjustments or for any other camera function related to measurement of the scene.
1. A method for processing of data from multiple measurement points on a viewfinder of a camera, the method comprising:
receiving a manual selection of a first measurement point on the viewfinder at a first time;
receiving a manual selection of a second measurement point on the viewfinder at a second time; and
at a third time, simultaneously processing data from a scene, being viewed through the viewfinder, corresponding to the first measurement point and to the second measurement point,
wherein the simultaneously processing is responsive to a current situation of the scene at locations corresponding to the first measurement point and to the second measurement point, the current situation corresponding to the third time.
2. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein the first time and the second time are capable of being equal or different, and
wherein the third time is capable of being equal to the second time or different from the second time.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first measurement point and the second measurement point on the viewfinder are selected from predetermined hard-coded points.
4. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein the viewfinder includes a touch-sensitive screen, and
wherein the first measurement point and the second measurement point are selected by the user by touching the touch-sensitive screen.
5. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein the camera includes a multi-lock button, and
wherein the first measurement point and the second measurement point are selected by the user by actuating the multi-lock button.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the camera is selected from a digital still camera, an analog still camera, a digital motion camera or an analog motion camera.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first measurement point and the second measurement point are selected points and wherein the method is tied into an automatic focus feature of the camera, the method further comprising:
automatically adjusting a focus distance of the camera according to the selected points; and
automatically adjusting an aperture of the camera according to the focus distance.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first measurement point and the second measurement point are selected points and wherein the method is tied into a light metering feature of the camera, the method further comprising:
automatically adjusting exposure of the camera according to light detected at each of the selected points.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first measurement point and the second measurement point are selected points and wherein the method is tied into a white balance feature of the camera, the method further comprising:
automatically adjusting white balance of an image generated by the camera according to white balance detected at each of the selected points.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first measurement point and the second measurement point are selected points, the method further comprising:
de-selecting one of the selected points when the selected point is re-selected by the user.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first measurement point and the second measurement point are regions each including a plurality of contiguous points.
12. A device comprising:
a screen for showing an image to a user;
an input interface for receiving multiple inputs from the user, the multiple inputs indicating selected points on the device; and
a locking means for locking the selected points,
wherein the multiple inputs are provided to the device manually by the user, and
wherein data corresponding to the multiple inputs are processed in parallel by the device.
13. The device of claim 12 , wherein the selected points are selected from among autofocus points presented by the device.
14. The device of claim 12 ,
wherein the selected points correspond to regions on the device, the regions being within a grid of elements comprising an evaluative matrix of the camera and represented to the user in the viewfinder.
15. The device of claim 12 ,
wherein the input interface includes a touch-sensitive screen, and
wherein the selected points are selected when the user touches the touch-sensitive screen.
16. The device of claim 12 ,
wherein the device is included in a camera, the camera including a multi-lock button, and
wherein the selected points are selected by actuating the multi-lock button.
17. The device of claim 12 , further comprising:
wherein one or more of the selected points are de-selected by being re-selected by the user.
18. The device of claim 12 ,
wherein the device is capable of being included in a camera, and
wherein the camera is selected from a digital or analog still camera, a digital or analog motion camera, or any combination.
19. The device of claim 12 ,
wherein the device is included in a camera, and
wherein the device is coupled to an output of at least one sensor of the camera.
20. The device of claim 12 , wherein the device is tied into a light metering feature of the camera.
21. The device of claim 12 , wherein the device is tied into a white balance feature of the camera.
22. The device of claim 12 , wherein the device is a viewfinder.
23. A camera including the device of claim 22 .