Digital camera having multiple image capture systems

Abstract

A digital camera system providing two different image capture systems, comprising a camera body including a first surface having an image display; a second surface opposite to the first surface; a third surface transverse to the first and second surfaces and having a smaller surface area than the first and second surfaces; and a fourth surface opposite to the third surface. A first image capture system has a first optical axis directed outward from the second surface, and a second image capture system has an optical axis directed outward from the third surface. Camera mounts are provided on the fourth and first or second surfaces to facilitate mounting the digital camera system such that either the first optical axis or the second optical axis can be oriented in a substantially horizontal direction.

1 . A digital camera system providing two different image capture systems, comprising:
 a camera body including:
 a first surface; 
 a second surface opposite to the first surface; 
 a third surface transverse to the first and second surfaces and having a smaller surface area than the first and second surfaces; and 
 a fourth surface opposite to the third surface; 
   a first image capture system including a first optical system for forming an image of a scene, the first optical system having a first optical axis directed outward from the second surface;   a second image capture system including a second optical system for forming an image of a scene, the second optical system having a second optical axis directed outward from the third surface;   a first camera mount positioned on the third surface or the fourth surface to facilitate the camera being mounted to a support such that the first optical axis is oriented in a substantially horizontal direction;   a second camera mount positioned on the first surface or the second surface to facilitate the camera being mounted to a support such that the second optical axis is oriented in a substantially horizontal direction;   a user interface including a first user control for selecting between the first image capture system and the second image capture system, and a second user control for initiating an image capture operation using the selected first or second image capture system; and   a storage memory for storing digital images captured using the selected first or second image capture system.   
     
     
         2 . The digital camera system of  claim 1  wherein the first image capture system includes a first image sensor and the second image capture system includes a second image sensor, the first optical system forming an image of the scene onto the first image sensor and the second optical system forming an image of the scene onto the second image sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The digital camera system of  claim 1  wherein the first optical system and the second optical system are adapted to form images of the scene onto a common image sensor, and wherein a switchable optical element is provided to select whether light from the first optical system or the second optical system is directed onto the image sensor. 
     
     
         4 . The digital camera system of  claim 1  further including an image display disposed on the first surface for displaying captured digital images. 
     
     
         5 . The digital camera system of  claim 4  further including 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. 
     
     
         6 . The digital camera system of  claim 5  wherein the power management system automatically sets the digital camera system to operate in the low-power image capture mode when the second image capture system is selected. 
     
     
         7 . The digital camera system of  claim 5  wherein the user interface further includes a user control for enabling the user to select between the normal image capture mode and the low-power image capture mode. 
     
     
         8 . The digital camera system of  claim 1  wherein the camera body has a streamlined profile having reduced wind resistance when it is positioned such that the second optical axis is oriented in a substantially horizontal direction. 
     
     
         9 . The digital camera system of  claim 1  wherein the first and second camera mounts are tripod sockets adapted to connect to a tripod screw. 
     
     
         10 . The digital camera system of  claim 1  further including a wireless modem for receiving control signals from a remote control module using a wireless interface. 
     
     
         11 . The digital camera system of  claim 10  wherein the remote control module includes a status display for displaying status information pertaining to the digital camera system. 
     
     
         12 . The digital camera system of  claim 11  wherein the displayed status information includes time information, battery level information pertaining to a charge level for a battery in the digital camera system, or signal strength information pertaining to the wireless interface, memory fullness information pertaining to the fullness of the storage memory. 
     
     
         13 . The digital camera system of  claim 10  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. 
     
     
         14 . The digital camera system of  claim 13  wherein the user controls on the remote control module include an imaging system selection control for selecting between the first image capture system and the second image capture system, an image capture control for initiating an image capture operation using the selected first or second image capture system, 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. 
     
     
         15 . The digital camera system of  claim 13  wherein the remote control module enters a low-power state when none of the user controls have been activated for a predefined time interval. 
     
     
         16 . The digital camera system of  claim 10  wherein the remote control module includes a strap for attaching the remote control module to another object. 
     
     
         17 . The digital camera system of  claim 1  wherein the first optical system the second optical system have different focal lengths for capturing different fields-of-view of the scene. 
     
     
         18 . The digital camera system of  claim 1  wherein the first image capture system the second image capture system include respective first and second image sensors, and wherein the first and second image sensors have different resolutions.