US6292218B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic camera for initiating capture of still images while previewing motion images
Assignee: Apple Inc
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Filing: 1997-07-16
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Granted: 2001-09-18
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Expires: 2017-07-16
Abstract
Abstract An electronic camera uses a relatively more complex digital image processing technique in a still image mode to produce high quality still images, and a relatively more simple image processing technique in a motion preview mode to produce preview images of acceptable quality prior to initiation of the still image mode. The more complex digital technique is done in software in a general purpose processor section 35 , while the more simple digital technique is implemented in a fixed digital circuit in an application specific integrated circuit 27 , which also implements timing and control functions. The motion preview mode uses a shorter image readout period than the still mode and further involves mapping image sensor pixels into a fewer number of color display pixels on a color LCD display 10 . The mapping further converts color pixel signals from a mosaic array into a different color pattern on the color LCD display 10.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth A. Parulski
- 👤 Timothy J. Tredwell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 18:19
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/60; H04N23/667; H04N1/00; H04N1/0035; H04N1/00405; H04N1/00408; H04N1/0044; H04N1/21; H04N1/2104; H04N1/2112; H04N1/2158; H04N23/63; H04N23/631; H04N23/632; H04N25/00; H04N25/10; H04N25/11; H04N25/13; H04N25/134; H04N25/135; H04N25/136; H04N25/40; H04N25/44; H04N25/443; H04N25/445; H04N25/447; H04N25/70; H04N25/71; H04N25/713; H04N2101/00; H04N2209/00; H04N2209/04; H04N2209/041; H04N2209/042; H04N2209/045; H04N2209/046
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
246 words
An electronic still camera for initiating capture of a still image while previewing motion images on a display, comprising: (a) an image sensor having a two-dimensional array of photosites covered by a mosaic pattern of color filters including at least three different colors for capturing images of a scene, each captured image having a first number of color pixel values provided in a first color pattern; (b) motion processing means for generating from the captured images, a second number of color pixel values provided in a second color pattern having at least three different colors and representative of a series of motion images to be previewed, the second number of color pixel values being less than the first number of color pixel values, and the second color pattern being different from the first color pattern; (c) a color display for presenting at least some of the motion images of the series of motion images corresponding to the captured images of the scene, the color display having an arrangement of color display pixels including at least three different colors in a pattern different from the first color pattern; (d) a capture button for initiating capture of a still image while previewing the motion images presented on the color display; (e) still processing means for generating a third number of color pixel values including at least three different colors representative of a processed captured still image; and (f) a digital memory for storing the processed captured still image.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
246 words
An electronic still camera for initiating capture of a still image while previewing motion images on a display, comprising: (a) an image sensor having a two-dimensional array of photosites covered by a mosaic pattern of color filters including at least three different colors for capturing images of a scene, each captured image having a first number of color pixel values provided in a first color pattern; (b) motion processing means for generating from the captured images, a second number of color pixel values provided in a second color pattern having at least three different colors and representative of a series of motion images to be previewed, the second number of color pixel values being less than the first number of color pixel values, and the second color pattern being different from the first color pattern; (c) a color display for presenting at least some of the motion images of the series of motion images corresponding to the captured images of the scene, the color display having an arrangement of color display pixels including at least three different colors in a pattern different from the first color pattern; (d) a capture button for initiating capture of a still image while previewing the motion images presented on the color display; (e) still processing means for generating a third number of color pixel values including at least three different colors representative of a processed captured still image; and (f) a digital memory for storing the processed captured still image.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
The electronic still camera of claim 1 further including a multiplexer having first and second inputs and an output, wherein the first input is coupled to the first processing means, the second input is coupled to the second processing means, and the output is coupled to the display so that a captured still image can be viewed on the display.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The electronic still camera of claim 1 wherein the first processing means and the second processing means are integrated into a single integrated circuit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The electronic still camera of claim 1 wherein the motion processing means and the still processing means produce the second number of pixels and the third number of pixels, respectively, prior to transferring the image pixels to the display and the digital memory, respectively.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The electronic still camera of claim 1 wherein the second number of pixel values representative of the series of motion images are transferred to the display in a digital format.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The electronic still camera of claim 1 wherein the second number of pixel values representative of the series of motion images are mapped into a form suitable for display.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The electronic still camera of claim 6 wherein after the second number of pixel values representative of the series of motion images are mapped into a form suitable for display, the signals representing the captured images are converted back into an analog form.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
The electronic still camera of claim 1 further including a firmware memory, a processor, and an application specific integrated circuit, and wherein the first processing means is provided in the application specific integrated circuit, and the second processing means is provided using the processor which implements software procedures stored in the firmware memory.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
The electronic still camera of claim 1 wherein the image sensor includes a color filter array to produce color image data, the second processing means processes the color image data and performs JPEG image compression on the captured still image, and the JPEG compressed still image is stored in the digital memory.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electronic still camera of claim 9 wherein the digital memory is a removable memory card.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The electronic still camera of claim 1 wherein the first color pattern includes substantially one-half green color filters.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The electronic still camera of claim 11 wherein the color display pixels are arranged in a pattern having substantially one-third green color filters.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The electronic still camera of claim 1 wherein the first color pattern is a Bayer checkerboard pattern.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
64 words
The electronic still camera of claim 1 wherein the distance between adjacent image sensor photosites in the horizontal direction are substantially equal to the distance between the adjacent image sensor photosites in the vertical direction, and wherein the distance between the adjacent color display pixels in the horizontal direction is different than the distance between the adjacent color display pixels in the vertical direction.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
245 words
An electronic still camera for initiating capture of a still image while previewing motion images on a display, comprising: (a) an image sensor having a two-dimensional array of photosites covered by a mosaic pattern of color filters including at least three different colors for capturing images of a scene, each captured image having a first number of color pixel values provided in a first color pattern; (b) a motion processor for generating from the captured images, a second number of color pixel values provided in a second color pattern having at least three different colors and representative of a series of motion images to be previewed, the second number of color pixel values being less than the first number of color pixel values, and the second color pattern being different from the first color pattern; (c) a color display for presenting at least some of the motion images of the series of motion images corresponding to the captured images of the scene, the color display having an arrangement of color display pixels including at least three different colors in a pattern different from the first color pattern; (d) a capture button for initiating capture of a still image while previewing the motion images presented on the color display; (e) a still processor for generating a third number of color pixel values including at least three different colors representative of a captured still image; and (f) a digital memory for storing the processed captured still image.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
245 words
An electronic still camera for initiating capture of a still image while previewing motion images on a display, comprising: (a) an image sensor having a two-dimensional array of photosites covered by a mosaic pattern of color filters including at least three different colors for capturing images of a scene, each captured image having a first number of color pixel values provided in a first color pattern; (b) a motion processor for generating from the captured images, a second number of color pixel values provided in a second color pattern having at least three different colors and representative of a series of motion images to be previewed, the second number of color pixel values being less than the first number of color pixel values, and the second color pattern being different from the first color pattern; (c) a color display for presenting at least some of the motion images of the series of motion images corresponding to the captured images of the scene, the color display having an arrangement of color display pixels including at least three different colors in a pattern different from the first color pattern; (d) a capture button for initiating capture of a still image while previewing the motion images presented on the color display; (e) a still processor for generating a third number of color pixel values including at least three different colors representative of a captured still image; and (f) a digital memory for storing the processed captured still image.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
58 words
The electronic still camera of claim 15 further including a multiplexer having first and second inputs and an output, wherein the first input is coupled to the first processor, the second input is coupled to the second processor, and the output is coupled to the display so that a captured still image can be viewed on the display.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electronic still camera of claim 15 wherein the first processor and the second processor are integrated into a single integrated circuit.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
42 words
The electronic still camera of claim 15 wherein the motion processor and the still processor produce the second number of pixels and the third number of pixels, respectively, prior to transferring the image pixels to the display and the digital memory, respectively.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
The electronic still camera of claim 15 wherein the second number of pixel values representative of the series of motion images are transferred to the display in a digital format.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
The electronic still camera of claim 15 wherein the second number of pixel values representative of the series of motion images are mapped into a form suitable for display.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
43 words
The electronic still camera of claim 20 wherein after the second number of pixel values representative of the series of motion images are mapped into a form suitable for display, the signals representing the captured images are converted back into an analog form.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
43 words
The electronic still camera of claim 15 further including a firmware memory, and an application specific integrated circuit, and wherein the first processor is provided in the application specific integrated circuit, and the second processor implements software procedures stored in the firmware memory.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
51 words
The electronic still camera of claim 15 wherein the image sensor includes a color filter array to produce color image data, the second processor processes the color image data and performs JPEG image compression on the captured still image, and the JPEG compressed still image is stored in the digital memory.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electronic still camera of claim 23 wherein the digital memory is a removable memory card.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
The electronic still camera of claim 15 wherein the first color pattern includes substantially one-half green color filters.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
23 words
The electronic still camera of claim 25 wherein the color display pixels are arranged in a pattern having substantially one-third green color filters.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
The electronic still camera of claim 15 wherein the first color pattern is a Bayer checkerboard pattern.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
64 words
The electronic still camera of claim 15 wherein the distance between adjacent image sensor photosites in the horizontal direction are substantially equal to the distance between the adjacent image sensor photosites in the vertical direction, and wherein the distance between the adjacent color display pixels in the horizontal direction is different than the distance between the adjacent color display pixels in the vertical direction.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-09-17 | 2005-03-19 | 2005-09-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-09-17 | 2009-03-19 | 2009-09-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-09-17 | 2013-03-19 | 2013-09-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |