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.
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Contributor
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.
