Triple-mode camera system and method of using the same
A capture device and method, the capture device comprising: a camera ensemble, comprising one or more cameras, the camera ensemble adapted to obtain high resolution images and low resolution images; one or more processors configured to receive the high resolution images and the low resolution images from the camera ensemble and process the high resolution images and the low resolution images, and to output images or metadata; and a three-way switch, having an “off” state, an “auto” state and a “stream” state, wherein when the three-way switch is in “Off” state, no image or metadata is output by the processor, when the three-way switch is in “Auto” state, only metadata is output by the processor, and when the three-way switch is in “Stream” state, metadata and high resolution images can be output by the processor.
1. A capture device, comprising:
a camera ensemble, comprising at least one camera, the camera ensemble adapted to obtain high resolution images and low resolution images;
at least one processor configured to receive the high resolution images and the low resolution images from the camera ensemble and process the high resolution images and the low resolution images, and to output images or metadata; and
a three-way switch, having an “Off” state, an “Auto” state and a “Stream” state, wherein when the three-way switch is in “Off” state, no image or metadata is outputted by the processor,
when the three-way switch is in “Auto” state, only metadata resulting from the high resolution images and/or low resolution images is outputted by the processor, and
when the three-way switch is in “Stream” state, metadata resulting from the high resolution images and/or low resolution images and high resolution images can be outputted by the processor.
2. The capture device of claim 1 , wherein the “Auto” state is a default state of the three-way switch.
3. The capture device of claim 1 , wherein the “Off” state is physically located as a middle state of the three-way switch, between the “Auto” state and the “Stream” state.
4. The capture device of claim 1 , further comprising an indicator, wherein the indicator is active when the three-state switch is in the “Stream” state.
5. The capture device of claim 4 , wherein the indicator is visual.
6. The capture device of claim 5 , wherein the indicator is a Light Emitting Diode (LED).
7. The capture device of claim 1 , wherein in the “Off” state a physical shutter covers the camera ensemble of part thereof.
8. The capture device of claim 1 , wherein in the “Off” or “Auto” state a physical shutter covers the camera ensemble of part thereof.
9. The capture device of claim 1 , wherein in the “Off” state or “Auto” state no access is enabled to a memory device of the capture device.
10. The capture device of claim 1 , wherein in the “Auto” state, a controller of the processor sets parameters such that the processor cannot output images nor data sufficient for reconstructing images.
11. The capture device of claim 1 , wherein in the “Off” state, a controller of the processor sets parameters such that the processor cannot output data, nor images, nor data sufficient for reconstructing images.
12. The capture device of claim 1 , wherein the metadata is used for an operation selected form the group consisting of: allowing access to the device or a function or a file thereof, forbidding access to the device or a function or a file thereof, dimming a display of the capture device, brightening a display of the capture device, turning a video on or off, blocking a person other than a user from gazing at a screen of the display device.
13. A method for operating a capture device, comprising:
obtaining a high resolution image or a low resolution image;
obtaining a state of a three-way switch;
subject to the state being an “Off” state, disabling all output from the capture device;
subject to the state being a “Stream” state, enabling all output from the capture device, including the high resolution image; and
subject to the state being an “Auto” state, enabling only metadata output from the capture device, and disabling outputting images from the device.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
turning on a LED when the switch is in “Stream” state; and
turning off the LED when the switch is in “Off” state or “Auto state”.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein in the “Off” state a physical shutter covers the camera ensemble of part thereof.
16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the “Auto” state is a default state of the three-way switch.
17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the “Off” state is physically located as a middle state of the three-way switch, between the “Auto” state and the “Stream” state.
18. The method of claim 13 , wherein the metadata is used for an operation selected form the group consisting of: allowing access to the device or a function or a file thereof, forbidding access to the device or a function or a file thereof, dimming a display of the capture device, brightening a display of the capture device, turning a video on or off, blocking a person other than a user from gazing at a screen of the display device.