Apple patent references a digital camera. Will Apple surprise us at Macworld?
Posted by Dennis Sellers 
Dec 1, 2005 at 5:13am
On Nov. 29, the US Patent & Trademark Office revealed that Apple was granted a reissue patent number “RE38,896” for “Apparatus and method for rotating the display orientation of a captured image.” This Reissue Patent makes clear reference to Apple’s QuickTake digital camera that was discontinued in 1997.
Could Apple be preparing to reintroduce a digital camera in 2006, or better yet, at MacWorld in January? On Oct. 19, Apple introduced Aperture, “the first all-in-one post production tool that provides everything photographers need after the shoot. Aperture offers an advanced and incredibly fast RAW workflow that makes working with a camera’s RAW images as easy as JPEG. So the timing for Apple to introduce a next generation digital camera could be just right.
Furthermore, in April of this year, it was reported that Apple had signed a contract to use the powerful video, image and music chips by Alphamosaic (now a part of Broadcom), which furthers the argument that this has been in the works for some time now. Time will tell.
The following is a brief Summary and detailed description of only two of the figures presented in the patent for the purposes of this report. See Notice Below.
Summary of Apple’s invention
The present invention is an apparatus and method for rotating the display orientation of a captured image. The apparatus of the present invention preferably comprises an image sensor, an orientation sensor, a memory and a processing unit. The image sensor is used for capturing image data. The orientation sensor is coupled to the image sensor, and is used for generating a portrait signal if the image sensor is positioned in a portrait orientation relative to the object. The memory, has an auto-rotate unit comprising program instructions for transforming the captured image data into rotated image data in response to the portrait signal. The processing unit, is used for executing program instructions stored in the memory, and is coupled to the image sensor, the orientation sensor and the memory.
The method of the present invention preferably comprises the steps of: generating image data representative of an object with an image sensor; identifying an orientation of the image sensor relative to the object during the generating step; and selectively transferring the image data to an image processing unit in response to the identifying step.
Detailed description of the preferred embodiments
The present invention is an apparatus and method for rotating the display orientation of a captured image.
Referring now to FIG. 2, a block diagram is shown illustrating a camera 200 for rotating a display orientation of a captured image. In the preferred embodiment, the camera 200 is a digital camera, such as a QuickTake 150, by Apple Computer of Cupertino, California. The camera 200 preferably comprises an imaging subsystem 204, a bus 206 and a processing and storage subsystem 208. Reflected light from an object 202 is conventionally captured by the imaging subsystem 204 via a button press or some other action. The captured image data is transferred over the bus 206 to the processing and storage subsystem 208, which stores the data in internal memory. The bus 206 also passes various status and control signals between the imaging subsystem 204 and the processing and storage subsystem 208, as will be further discussed below.
Referring now to FIG. 3A, a block diagram is shown illustrating the imaging subsystem 204 of the present invention. The imaging subsystem 204 preferably comprises a lens 300 having an iris, an optical filter 302, an image sensor 304, a timing generator 306, an analog signal processor (ASP) 308, an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter 310, a digital signal processor (DSP) 320, a right/left orientation sensor (RLOS) 324, an up/down orientation sensor (UDOS) 326 and one or more motors 312. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/355,031, entitled A System and Method For Generating a Contrast Overlay as a Focus Assist For An Imaging Device, filed on Dec. 13, 1994 is incorporated herein by reference and provides a detailed discussion of the preferred elements in the imaging subsystem 204, with the exception of the RLOS 324 and the UDOS 326. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/384,012, entitled Apparatus and Method for Camera image and Orientation Capture, filed on Feb. 6, 1995 is incorporated herein by reference and provides a detailed discussion of various embodiments of the RLOS 324 and the UDOS 326, which are further discussed below. Briefly, the imaging subsystem 204 captures an image of the object 202 via light impacting the image sensor 304 along an optical path 314. The image sensor 304 in turn generates a set of pixel signals representative of the captured image data. After being processed by the ASP 308, the A/D converter 310 and the DSP 320; the captured image data passes over the bus 206 to the processing and storage subsystem 208. The functions performed by the DSP 320 may alternatively be performed in the processing and storage subsystem 208.
NOTICE:
Macsimum News presents only a brief summary of patents with associated graphic(s) for journalistic news purposes as each such patent application and/or grant is revealed by the U.S. Patent & Trade Office. Readers are cautioned that the full text of any patent applications and/or grants should be read in its entirety for further details.
The sole inventor listed on patent RE38,896 is Eric C. Anderson for application number 040249 dated January 2002.
Macsimum note
An Apple digital camera is long overdue, isn’t it. With Apple’s iPhoto, Aperture and iPod photo now in place, market timing for a cool new Apple digital camera is just right. However, the questions are many. What kind of camera could Apple be preparing to launch? Will it be marketed to the pro community, or begin as a general consumer product? Could Apple be thinking of AVC video in any way and/or is it simply going to be built-in to Apple’s next iteration of their iPod photo—sometime in 2006?
So, do you think the timing is right for MacWorld? Keep in mind that Apple’s patent that Macsimum News reported on in mid-September, in fact played out in mid October with Apple launching their new iMac with a built-in camera. Is Apple planning on timing more patent revelations prior to coming events such as MacWorld? Was this an anomaly or trend? Time will tell.
For now, it’s about what you think. Polish up your crystal ball, and let us know what your predictions are for an Apple digital camera in 2006!
neo@macsimumnews.com
For the sake of all guests of Macsimum News who wish to participate in this discussion, please keep your comments on topic. Thanks.
Also, the photo of the QuickTake camera is courtesy of Jared Benedict.
D.M. Says:
Seems more like a reissue of an old patent that they didn’t feel like updating. Doesn’t seem to hint at a new camera to me.
Adding a camera to an iPod feels like a bad idea to me, but I guess we’ll see. iPods have been getting SMALLER. Adding any type of camera with reasonable optics is going to make it too bulky.
Posted on November 30, 2005
Cats Says:
The patent clearer refers to the “preferred embodiment” being that QuickTake camera, which of course isn’t related to the iPod. So the impression is that of a stand alone camera. A lot of sessions at MacWorld in fact are all about photography, so that’s interesting.
For timing, I can’t see it until June or Oct 2006, in any form that it takes. A natural it is though, so we could see this being the year of the camera. It started with building them into the iMac and it will continue in 2006 in other hardware, for sure.
Posted on November 30, 2005
Neo Says:
Certain patent URLs give us a problem for some reason. So here’s the proper URL to check out. Thanks for your patience guys!
Posted on November 30, 2005
Lee Says:
Reissue patents are rare, so if Apple bothered to go through that process, there must be something contained therein that they wanted to protect.
I think what’s coming will be unique. Yes, it will be a regular consumer camera for volume that doubles as an iPod. Kind of reverse thinking here that the market wouldn’t expect. One of neo’s links in this report demonstrates a Kyocera camera with iTunes built in and I think that was Apple testing it out, as it never came State side.
I agree with DM that the iPod is out to be slicker, smaller and a camera would over complicate the iPod. But in reverse, it works. If you could put iTunes in a phone, why not any digital device? Who buys the most cameras? Youth. So combining iTunes with a camera would be the way I see this going. When on vacation, you lug the camera along and it doubling as an iPod nano or shuffle or whatever, would be a way to get youth to choose the Apple camera. Believe me, it’ll sell big time.
Posted on November 30, 2005
ken2 Says:
Apple could come out with a camera, but I would be surprised it they did. There is a significant engineering effort required that is outside of Apple’s current knowledge environment and some very good products on the market that are rather advanced. It would be a different challenge to come out with a leading product than when they delivered the iPod.
I can see Apple licensing the patent to another company and, maybe, jointly developing a camera with someone like Sony or Canon. That seems like a more realistic effort - leveraging the talents of two companies to produce a product that is leading edge in terms of hardware and software.
The other problem Apple faces is that, while an Apple camera would work well with iLife the iPod has shown that adding the Windows market results in huge sales increases. An Apple camera would put pressure on Apple to add at least iPhoto to the Win world, and that is one of the key selling points for moving to a Mac.
Posted on November 30, 2005
mcloki Says:
iPod with consumer 3-5 megapixel camera, Large screen as viewfinder. That would sell like hotcakes.
Maybe a bit too much tech in an ipod but what the hey.
Posted on November 30, 2005
Frank Petrie Says:
At what point does Apple design the iPod to make a b&%chin’ Caffe Mocha?
Posted on November 30, 2005
Coremac Says:
Maybe the renewal has nothing to do with a camera but the tech will be used to determine the orientation of a widescreen iPod and adjust the interface accordingly.
Posted on November 30, 2005
Vermit Says:
What about an iSight in the iPod? They seem to be putting them in everything else. The iMac has one, and the rumors point to the Powerbook having one soon enough. An iPod that takes stills, has wireless capability and does video conferencing.
I just feel as though that would be taking the device further into the future...Making it more revolutionary than a simple cell phone or camera feature. But I don’t see that happening at macworld january 2005....... Just a thought.
Posted on November 30, 2005
Terry Grosenheider Says:
Apple should just buy Kodak, strip out what they don’t want, and move forward. They could own the photography market period.
Posted on November 30, 2005
paul Says:
archos gmini 402 camcorder
http://www.shoparchos.com/product.aspx?sku=2776955&culture=fr-FR
Posted on November 30, 2005
ROB DUNFORD Says:
I did notice that the chip in the video iPod has the option to take a 5mp camera input as well as everything else. I could easily see a phone type camera on the back of an iPod.
Posted on November 30, 2005
Robert Svihla Says:
I like the idea of an Apple digital camera. They’ve obviously shown their skills in creating easy to use devices that are technologically sound. And more importantly, they know how to market the device. It boggles my mind just how synonomous iPod has come to be with “mp3 playing device”.
That said, I think the chances are pretty slim that an Apple digital camera could ever hope to dominate the way the iPod does, for a plethora of reasons. This leads me to like the idea of an iPod that has a camera feature. It does seem a bit over the top, but there’s no reason to doubt Apple’s abilities at pulling it off.
In tandem with this, I wouldn’t be too terribly surprised to see iPhoto make an appearance in a Windows OS. There may have been a time where you could argue that iPhoto would be a great reason to switch teams, but with the advent and popularity of free software like Picasa, I think that reason is dwindling, if not already dead. Still plenty of other lovely reason to own a Mac anyway.
Posted on November 30, 2005
Bob Says:
Given that Aperture is very good with RAW images and the storage space necessary to make capturing RAW images is huge… And
Given that Apple has the ability to get discounts on small hard drives because of its bulk buys… isn’t a camera with a hard drive in just an extention of their current supply chain?
Posted on November 30, 2005
Brian Says:
Apple doesn’t normally bring something to market unless they can make it better. I don’t see them coming out with a stand alone camera, since the market is already saturated with good cameras. Most, however, are not super easy to use. Now, an iPod, with a built in 3-5 megapixel camera would be awesome, and with the gobs of storage capacity, you don’t have to worry about running out of space on a flash memory card. It would sync right intoyour iPhoto when you dock it. I think the perfect all in one device would be an ipod/cell phone/ camera. Then there’s no need to carry any other device for most people.
Posted on November 30, 2005
Chris Says:
Perhaps a taller screen on a gen 6 iPod that can be turned sideways for automatic widescreen viewing? (That would be sweet...)
Posted on November 30, 2005
Joey Says:
I think the key point in this patent is it takes an image and “rotates” it. Why would you rotate it? To display it on an iPod screen after having to orient your iPod to take a picture?
Posted on November 30, 2005
J. Scott Anderson Says:
I personally like Terry Grosenheider’s idea about Apple buying out Kodak. That company has been floundering under the onslaught of digital cameras and has not had a lot of great stuff in recent years. Apple could be a great save for it. However, there is a lot more to Kodak than simply cameras. A challenge would be what to do with the rest of the business.
Posted on November 30, 2005
Lance W Says:
Seems pretty clear with the inclusion of iSight on the new iMacs, and with Aperture, that Apple is getting more into imaging. But a full-on new digital camera is out of their depth. Clearly theyll add a camera to the iPod eventually. I imagine a camera/iPod that can orient the picture on the screen automatically by sensing the position you are holding it--like the sensor in the Powerbooks that can sense if it’s being dropped.
Posted on November 30, 2005
MacManic Says:
Nooooooo.
Buying Kodak is a Bad idea.
Kodak are far too diverse to be under the wing of Apple. Also why would Apple need to buy Kodak to design a camera?
And before I start ranting about film and digital and professional movie making.
JUST NO.
---------------------------
MacManic
In Jobs We Trust
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Posted on November 30, 2005
Lermentov Says:
What’d really be nice is if Apple came out with an HD Quicktime native motion progressive camera with nice interchangable lenses and, since they have such a large contract, flash memory for recording it instead of tape (like the forthcoming Panasonic P2). While they’re at it, they could add some sort of connectivity for a surround mic with 8 discrete channels like the Holophone H2 pro. :--)
Posted on November 30, 2005
Spider Says:
I wrote about Apple possibly coming out with a new camera for AppleXNet before the iPod Video and Aperture announcement.
http://applexnet.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1630
Was posted October 17th.
Posted on November 30, 2005
sarl Says:
>Will it be marketed to the pro community, or begin as a
>general consumer product?
As always, it will be marketed general consumer product and priced for the pro community.
Steve knows that there is a great market out there that is willing to overpay.
Posted on November 30, 2005
Matt Says:
Dear 95% of you.
Many cameras already have an internal sensor that automatically rotates the picture for regular viewing when it is taken as a vertical portrait. This is not new. My money is on a taller screen ipod that autodetects the viewing angle of the device and compensates or they are going to enforce their patent on camera vendors such as canon who employ such a technology on their cameras…
Posted on November 30, 2005
Larry Says:
That’s nice spider, and neo wrote about it in April. but it’s nice to see the patent that was just granted as a potential sign that Apple is gearing up for a camera of sorts.
From what little I get from the patent, it sure sounds more complicated than an iPod add on. I think it was lee who said it would be a camera that happens to include iPod functionality. That’s what Kyocera did, and I’d like to see that. It’s one less gadget to carry on vacation. With cameras these days already having built in screens for photos and even video, it’s a natural extension for Apple. If a consumer is buying a camera that doubles as a limited ipod, which do you think they’d choose. The one with or without iTunes.
Posted on November 30, 2005
miscblogger Says:
man! will apple ever slow down on their new products? i saw a really funny sketch on SNL where steve jobs intoduced 3 new ipods and the last one ended up being microscopic. it was really funny!
Posted on November 30, 2005
brandon Says:
yes and no - it could be for the ipod, but more likely it’s for the camera built into the new imac. does anyone remember the vertical monitors apple made like 15 years ago? apple is going to build either new external displays, a new version of the imac, or the next powerbook/tablet (ugh) with the capability to rotate from landscape to portrait mode. i could see this making the most sense for the powerbook/tablet since you’d be more likely to use the thing in a vertical orientation, the way you hold a paper notebook… fringies not included.
Posted on November 30, 2005
tom gallagher Says:
I am a patent attorney. Patents are “re-issued” to correct a mistake in the original patent. People often re-issue a patent before they begin enforcing it, i.e. suing people for infringement.
Posted on November 30, 2005
Neo Says:
This is how the US Patent office defines Reissue Patent:
When the patent is defective in certain respects, the law provides that the patentee may apply for a reissue patent. Following an examination in which the proposed changes correcting any defects in the original patent are evaluated, a reissue patent may be granted to replace the original for the balance of the unexpired term. However, the nature of changes that can be made by means of the reissue are rather limited; new matter cannot be added. Reissue patents are designated by a RE prefix before the patent number, for example, RE 37,514.
Thanks for reminding me Tom. This was to go into the report this morning.
Posted on November 30, 2005
Jason Says:
If apple is introducing a new camera, it’s going to have to be something else. There will be style cultists that get it because it goes with their iPod, but other than that.... The thing about the iPod is it is the best at what it does, including iTunes, the whole experience. This is going to have to be an amazing product if it will outshoot the likes of Sony, Canon, et. al. If it can, hey I want one...but I’m not betting on it.
Posted on November 30, 2005
a aa Says:
i believe this could be a patent for their upcoming iPhone?
or better, maybe Apple WILL innovate that new mini-portable living device that does OSX, with integrated phone/camera/VoIP etc..
Posted on December 01, 2005
John Says:
Hmmm, my Canon digital SLR seems like it does exactly this. Maybe they just want to assert their rights.
Posted on December 01, 2005
Charlie Says:
Huh? It’s a reissue clearly to redefine or correct an earlier patent. Don’t expect an icamera ever. Apple is great but it’s the LENS that matters and for the most part not the box it is attached to. Apple will never make lenses. Canon is great because of their lenses and bodies. I have had my lenses for many years but keep swapping bodies. I doubt they will water down the experience of photography with a camera/ipod thing.
Posted on December 01, 2005
Cats Says:
What? They also don’t make flash memory. What’s your point Charlie? Doesn’t Apple have camera’s in new iMacs? I’m sure they didn’t “make the lens” - but they’re still working with cameras.
Posted on December 01, 2005
Quicktake Says:
I seriously doubt Apple will jump into the intensely competitive digital still camera market.
The lawyer above is right.
But also, the iSight is a video camera. Photo Booth uses iSight as a still camera. This is where Apple has gone. No one but Jobs knows where Apple is going to go, but footprints lead the way.
Digitally, video and still cameras are converging. Apple will certainly leverage ANY patent it has to its advantage. It also has a constant need to protect itself. Like Microsoft and the iPod interface, if Apple doesn’t patent it, or enforce its patents, someone will try to take it away.
Posted on December 03, 2005
Robert Sharl Says:
I too read this as Apple intending to enforce their patent on other camera manufacturers. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love an Apple camera, and I’d buy an iPod with (a decent and properly integrated) camera in a heartbeat. I’m just not going to hold my breath.
Posted on December 04, 2005
Andrew Purvis Says:
While buying Kodak might not be a great idea, buying Kodak’s digital imaging group would be. Think about digital camera’s for a moment. Most are slight variations on a theme, with the major differences being visible in menus, screen sizes, and minor features.
Now think about Apple. Put an iPod-style menu control and image review system into a digital camera, place the resolution in the upper-mid portion of the range (5 megapixels or there about), and put some of that huge chunk of flash memory Apple recently contracted to buy inside.
The Kodak proposal looks good from another perspective: Kodak is one of the companies that uses Quicktime for its video, but the light management stinks. Add sensors and correction like what we have the iSight, and life gets much better.
One more point. While the patent lists orientation, it also lists a sensor. One does not need a sensor to rotate a picture 90 degrees, but imagine what that might do when built into a camera and allowed to function as a firmware steady-cam. We could go from jiggly hand-held video to almost stable video. Placed at the right price point, this would have the potential to kill most consumer cameras with video capability since Little Johnny’s birthday party could look steady and clear without a tripod of gyroscopic mount.
Posted on December 05, 2005
Henk Schotel Says:
I hope and trust :) it’s gonna be
a mobile PHONE - including a
3 megapixel CAMERA (not too high tech for a camera),
iPod features and last but not least
internet capabilities (preferably iMode).
Posted on December 08, 2005
amanda hump Says:
this is a cool camera
i like cameras
Posted on December 20, 2005
lalit kumar sharma Says:
GMDigitalCameraReview.com digital camera reviews, latest digital camera reviews, review digital camera,digital camera review rating, best digital camera review,digital camera review comparison, sony digital camera reviews, kodak digital camera reviews,digital camera and reviews.
Posted on January 26, 2006
Ganiyu Gasper Says:
Your always better of with an slr.
http://www.contactphotographer.com
Posted on July 22, 2006
Henk Says:
In the mean time there are Sony Ericsson K800i (own it since a week)
and Nokia N80, phones with a 3.x MPx camera. The first one seems a bit better
camerawise, but a SLR definitely beats both, especially in low light
conditions where the stabilizer can’t really solve movements of the hands.
Henk
Posted on July 23, 2006
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Dennis Sellers
Dennis has been a newspaper editor/reporter (seven years) and teacher (seven years). He has over 4,000 magazine, newspaper and online articles to his credit. He has also covered the Mac and tech industries for over a decade for such online publications as MacCentral, MacMinute and now MacsimumNews.
MacManic Says:
Mirror mirror on the wall…
The video iPod making movies at video iPod resolution and taking mega-pixel photos? I believe it’s inevitable, as will as cellphone / wireless internet functionality for that matter.
But when oh when?
In the near term I can see your point that a camera would be a logical step for Apple but I think a full blown pro camera would be too ambitious. A domestic camera would have a hell of a lot of competition but an iPod with a camera? Can’t really argue with that.
--------------------------------
MacManic
In Jobs We Trust
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Posted on November 30, 2005