Single Shutter Button for Photo and Video Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing media applications require switching between photo and video modes, which causes delays and necessitate multiple inputs, making them inefficient for capturing scenes quickly.
Innovation Solution
A visual media application that uses a single touch-screen interface element to selectively capture photos or videos based on the duration of user engagement, configuring the mode automatically and allowing for seamless transition between photo-specific and video-specific capture settings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the application switches between photo-specific mode and video-specific mode using multiple inputs, then the capture settings can be properly configured, but it causes delays and reduces capture speed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines photo and video capture functions into a single interface element (shutter button). By merging the mode selection and capture trigger into one element, the system eliminates the time required to switch between separate photo and video modes, while still maintaining proper configuration of capture settings through duration-based detection of the same physical action.
Solution Approach 2:
The shutter button is designed to perform multiple functions: it can initiate photo capture, video capture, or video recording depending on the duration of the press. This multi-functional design allows a single element to replace what would traditionally require separate buttons or mode switches, thereby reducing capture delay while maintaining proper mode configuration.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple interface elements are used for photo and video capture, then mode selection is clear, but it increases operational complexity and requires multiple inputs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges photo and video capture initiation into a single interface element (the shutter button). By combining what would traditionally be separate buttons into one, the system reduces the number of inputs required while maintaining clear mode selection through the duration-based detection mechanism (short press for photo, long press for video).
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses parameter changes (specifically, the duration of the button press) to differentiate between photo and video capture modes. Instead of requiring separate buttons, the same physical action (button press) is interpreted differently based on its temporal parameter, thereby simplifying the interface while maintaining versatile mode selection.
3Productivity
If the application uses a single interface element with duration-based configuration, then capture speed improves and delays are reduced, but the interface element must perform multiple functions
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter button is designed as a universal interface element that can initiate photo capture, video capture, or video recording based on the duration of the press. This multi-functionality allows a single element to replace multiple specialized buttons, thereby improving capture speed while the underlying system complexity is managed through software logic that interprets the duration parameter.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses parameter changes (duration of button press) to enable a single interface element to perform multiple functions. By detecting whether the press duration exceeds a threshold, the system can distinguish between photo and video modes without requiring separate physical buttons, thus improving capture speed while using the same hardware element.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques to selectively capture media using a single user interface element are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a touch controller, a visual media capture component, and a storage component. The touch controller may be operative to receive a haptic engagement signal. The visual media capture component may be operative to be configured in a capture mode based on whether a haptic disengagement signal is received by the touch controller before expiration of a first timer, the capture mode one of a photo capture mode or video capture mode, the first timer started in response to receiving the haptic engagement signal, the first timer configured to expire after a first preset duration. The storage component may be operative to store visual media captured by the visual media capture component in the configured capture mode. Other embodiments are described and claimed.