Electronic camera for processing image segments

Claim 2

An electronic still camera for capturing an original image and performing image processing on the original image, said camera comprising: an image sensor for capturing the original image and generating image signals corresponding to the captured original image having rows and columns of pixels; an A/D converter for converting the image signals into original digital image data representative of the captured original image; an image processor for processing a series of segments of the original digital image data to generate processed image data segments, each segment having a plurality of rows and columns of pixels wherein the number of rows or columns of pixels of each segment is less than the number of rows or columns of pixels in the captured original image; and a non-volatile memory for storing each processed image data segment as the processing of each segment is completed.

Claim 3

A camera as claimed in claim 1 wherein the original image data is stored in a first file format and the processed image data is stored in a second file format.

Claim 4

A camera as claimed in claim 2 wherein the original image data is stored in a TIFF file format and the processed image data is stored in a JPEG file format.

Claim 5

A camera as claimed in claim 1 wherein the image processor can be interrupted in order to capture another image while retaining the stored processed image data segments in the non-volatile memory.

Claim 6

A camera as claimed in claim 4 wherein after capture of the subsequent image, the image processor completes processing of the unprocessed segments of the captured original image and stores such processed segments in the non-volatile memory.

Claim 7

A camera as claimed in claim 1 wherein the processed segments are stored in a JPEG interchange format bitstream separated by restart markers.

Claim 8

A camera as claimed in claim 1 wherein the non-volatile memory is also removable.

Claim 9

A camera as claimed in claim 7 wherein the results of each segment are stored in the removable memory as the processing for each segment is completed.

Claim 10

A camera as claimed in claim 7 wherein the non-volatile memory is either solid-state or magnetic media.

Claim 11

A camera as claimed in claim 7 wherein the removable memory is either solid-state or magnetic media.

Claim 12

A camera as claimed in claim 1 wherein the number of rows and columns of pixels of each segment of the original digital image data are each less than the number of rows and columns of pixels in the captured original image.

Claim 13

A camera as claimed in claim 1 wherein the non-volatile memory also temporarily stores the original digital image data at least until the image processor completes image processing of the series of segments of the original digital image data.

Claim 14

An electronic still camera for capturing an original image and performing image processing on the original image, said camera comprising: a capture switch actuated by a user to generate a capture signal in order to initiate an image capture of an image; image sensor responsive to the capture signal for capturing the original image and generating image signals corresponding to the captured original image having rows and columns of pixels; an A/D converter for converting the image signals into original digital image data representative of the captured original image; an image processor for processing a series of segments of the original digital image data such that each processed image data segment of the original digital image data is stored as processing of each segment is completed, each segment having a plurality of rows and columns of pixels wherein the number of rows or columns of pixels of each segment is less than the number of rows or columns of pixels in the captured original image; a removable memory for storing each processed image data segment as the processing of each segment is completed; and means responsive to the capture signal for suspending the processing of the series of segments of the original digital image data in order to capture a new image whereby the processed image data for the completed segment(s) of the captured original image is saved in the removable memory.

Claim 15

An electronic still camera for capturing an original image and performing image processing on the original image, said camera comprising: a capture switch actuated by a user to generate a capture signal in order to initiate an image capture of an image; image sensor responsive to the capture signal for capturing the original image and generating image signals corresponding to the captured original image having rows and columns of pixels; an A/D converter for converting the image signals into original digital image data representative of the captured original image; an image processor for processing a series of segments of the original digital image data such that each processed image data segment of the original digital image data is stored as processing of each segment is completed, each segment having a plurality of rows and columns of pixels wherein the number of rows or columns of pixels of each segment is less than the number of rows or columns of pixels in the captured original image; a removable memory for storing each processed image data segment as the processing of each segment is completed; and means responsive to the capture signal for suspending the processing of the series of segments of the original digital image data in order to capture a new image whereby the processed image data for the completed segment(s) of the captured original image is saved in the removable memory.

Claim 16

A camera as claimed in claim 13 wherein the number of rows and columns of pixels of each segment of the original digital image data are each less than the number of rows and columns of pixels in the captured original image.

Claim 17

A camera as claimed in claim 13 wherein the removable memory also temporarily stores the original digital image data at least until the image processor completes image processing of the series of segments of the original digital image data.

Claim 18

A camera as claimed in claim 13 wherein after capture of the new image, the image processor returns to the suspended processing to complete processing of the unprocessed segments of the original digital image data and stores such processed segments in the removable memory.

Claim 21

A method as claimed in claimed in claim 17 wherein the processing of the unprocessed segments of the original digital image data for the captured original image resumes after the new image is captured.

Claim 22

A method as claimed in claim 17 wherein the number of rows and columns of pixels of each segment of the original digital image data are each less than the number of rows and columns of pixels in the captured original image.

Claim 23

A method as claimed in claim 17 wherein the removable memory also temporarily stores the original digital image data at least until the image processing of the series of segments of the original digital image data is completed.

Claim 24

A method as claimed in claim 17 further including the step of returning to the interrupted processing after capture of the new image to complete processing of the unprocessed segments of the original digital image data and storing such processed segments in the removable memory.