Digital camera having low power capture mode

Abstract

A digital camera system providing a low-power image capture mode includes an image capture system, an image display and a power management system. The power management system is used to provide a normal image capture mode wherein captured digital images are displayed on the image display as they are captured, and a low-power image capture mode wherein captured digital images are not displayed on the image display as they are captured. A user interface includes a first user control for selecting between the normal image capture mode and the low-power image capture mode, and a second user control for initiating a video capture operation. The system is configured such that if the first user control is activated while a digital video is being captured, the power management system switches between the normal image capture mode and the low-power image capture mode without interrupting the video capture operation.

1 . A digital camera system providing a low-power image capture mode, comprising:
 a first image capture system including:
 an image sensor for capturing a digital image; and 
 an optical system for forming an image of a scene onto the image sensor; 
   an image display;   a power management system providing a normal image capture mode wherein captured digital images are displayed on the image display as they are captured and a low-power image capture mode wherein captured digital images are not displayed on the image display as they are captured;   a user interface including a plurality of user controls, including a first user control for selecting between the normal image capture mode and the low-power image capture mode, and a second user control for initiating a video capture operation;   a data processing system;   a storage memory for storing captured images; and   a program memory communicatively connected to the data processing system and storing instructions configured to cause the data processing system to implement a method for capturing digital images, wherein the method includes:
 setting the digital camera system to operate in either the normal image capture mode or the low-power image capture mode in response to user activation of the first user control; 
 initiating a video capture operation in response to user activation of the second user control; and 
 capturing a sequence of digital images and recording the sequence of digital images in the storage memory; 
 wherein if the digital camera system is set to operate in the normal image capture mode the sequence of captured digital images is displayed on the image display as it is captured, and if the digital camera system is set to operate in the low-power image capture mode the sequence of captured digital images is not displayed on the image display as it is captured, and wherein if the first user control is activated while the sequence of digital images is being captured, the power management system switches between the normal image capture mode and the low-power image capture mode without interrupting the video capture operation. 
   
     
     
         2 . The digital camera system of  claim 1  wherein if the digital camera system is set to operate in the normal image capture mode a sequence of preview images is displayed on the image display before the video capture operation is initiated, and if the digital camera system is set to operate in the low-power image capture mode the sequence of preview images is not displayed on the image display before the video capture operation is initiated. 
     
     
         3 . The digital camera system of  claim 1  further including:
 a second image capture system including a second image sensor and a second optical system, wherein the second image capture system is oriented in a different capture direction from the first image capture system; and 
 a third user control for selecting between the first image capture system and the second image capture system. 
 
     
     
         4 . The digital camera system of  claim 3  wherein the digital camera system is automatically placed in the low-power image capture mode in response to user activation of the third user control to select the second image capture system. 
     
     
         5 . The digital camera system of  claim 3  wherein if the digital camera system is operating in the low-power image capture mode and the user activates the third user control, the digital camera system is automatically set to operate in the normal image capture mode. 
     
     
         6 . The digital camera system of  claim 1  wherein the digital camera system automatically enters the low-power image capture mode when a video capture operation is not being performed and if none of the user controls have been activated for a predefined time interval. 
     
     
         7 . The digital camera system of  claim 1  wherein the digital camera system includes a battery operated power supply, and wherein the digital camera system automatically enters the low-power image capture mode when the battery power falls below a predefined threshold. 
     
     
         8 . The digital camera system of  claim 1  further including a wireless modem for receiving control signals from a remote control unit using a wireless interface, and wherein at least some of the first and second user controls are on the remote control unit. 
     
     
         9 . The digital camera system of  claim 8  wherein the remote control module includes a status display for displaying status information pertaining to the digital camera system. 
     
     
         10 . The digital camera system of  claim 9  wherein the displayed status information includes battery level information pertaining to a charge level for a battery in the digital camera system, signal strength information pertaining to the wireless interface, memory fullness information pertaining to the fullness of the storage memory, or time information pertaining to a time provided by a real-time clock in the digital camera system. 
     
     
         11 . The digital camera system of  claim 8  wherein the remote control module includes one or more user controls enabling a user to control one or more aspects of the digital camera system. 
     
     
         12 . The digital camera system of  claim 11  wherein the user controls on the remote control module include an image capture control for initiating an image capture operation, a status control for requesting status information pertaining to the digital camera system, or a bookmark control for marking important portions of a captured video. 
     
     
         13 . The digital camera system of  claim 11  wherein the remote control module enters a low-power state when none have the user controls have been activated for a predefined time interval. 
     
     
         14 . The digital camera system of  claim 8  wherein the remote control module includes a wrist strap for attaching the remote control module to the user's wrist.