Patent US6748398B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US6512540B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6512540B2
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Electronic camera for processing image segments
Assignee: Monument Peak Ventures LLC
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Filing: 2001-05-21
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Granted: 2003-01-28
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Expires: 2021-05-21
Abstract
Abstract An electronic still camera includes an image sensor for capturing an original image and generating image signals corresponding to the captured original image, an A/D converter for converting the image signals into original digital image data representative of the captured original image, an image processor for incrementally processing the original digital image data to generate processed image data as each increment is processed and completed, and a non-volatile memory for storing the processed image data, wherein the non-volatile memory also temporarily stores the original digital image data until the incremental processing is completed. The incremental processing of the original image data can then be interrupted in order to capture a new image, while the processed image data for the completed increments of the original image is saved in the non-volatile memory.
Inventors
- 👤 George E. Lathrop
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 11:40
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/21; H04N1/2104; H04N1/2112; H04N1/2137; H04N2201/00; H04N2201/0077; H04N2201/0087
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
An electronic still camera for capturing original images and performing image processing on the original images, said camera comprising: (a) an image sensor for capturing original images and generating image signals corresponding to each original image, each original image having a like number of rows and columns of pixels; (b) an A/D converter for converting the image signals from each original image into digital image data representative of each original image; (c) a first memory for storing the digital image data representative of at least a portion of an original image; (d) an image processor for receiving from the first memory a series of incremental segments of digital image data of an original image, each incremental segment having at least eight rows of pixels not previously provided to the image processor but having less than one half the number of rows of pixels in the original image, and for generating processed image data segments; and (e) a second memory for storing the processed image data segment as the processing of each incremental segment is completed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
175 words
An electronic still camera for capturing original images and performing image processing on the original images, said camera comprising: (a) an image sensor for capturing original images and generating image signals corresponding to each original image, each original image having a like number of rows and columns of pixels; (b) an A/D converter for converting the image signals from each original image into digital image data representative of each original image; (c) a first memory for storing the digital image data representative of at least a portion of an original image; (d) an image processor for receiving from the first memory a series of incremental segments of digital image data of an original image, each incremental segment having at least eight rows of pixels not previously provided to the image processor but having less than one half the number of rows of pixels in the original image, and for generating processed image data segments; and (e) a second memory for storing the processed image data segment as the processing of each incremental segment is completed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
An electronic still 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
Dependent Claim
33 words
An electronic still 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
Dependent Claim
34 words
An electronic still 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 second memory.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
An electronic still camera as claimed in claim 4 wherein after capture of the subsequent image, the image processor completes processing of the unprocessed segments of the original image and stores such processed segments in the second memory.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
An electronic still camera as claimed in claim 1 wherein the processed segments are stored in a JPEG interchange format bitstream separated by restart markers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
An electronic still camera as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first and second memories are provided by a removable memory card.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
An electronic still camera as claimed in claim 7 wherein the results of each incremental segment are stored in the removable memory card as the processing for each incremental segment is completed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
An electronic still camera as claimed in claim 1 wherein the memory is either solid-state or magnetic media.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
An electronic still camera as claimed in claim 1 wherein each incremental segment of digital image data of the original image has an equal number of rows and columns of pixels.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
An electronic camera as claimed in claim 10 wherein each incremental segment of digital image data of the original image has sixty four rows and sixty four columns of pixels.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
An electronic still camera as claimed in claim 1 wherein the processing of the series of incremental segments of digital image data of the original image provides color correction.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
An electronic still camera as claimed in claim 1 wherein the processing of the series of incremental segments of digital image data of the orginal image provides edge enhancement.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
An electronic still camera as claimed in claim 1 wherein the processing of the series of incremental segments of digital image data of the original image provides color correction, edge enhancement, and JPEG compression.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
An electronic still camera as claimed in claim 1 wherein the processing of the series of incremental segments of digital image data of the original image provides JPEG compression.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
An electronic still camera as claimed in claim 1 wherein the processing of the series of incremental segments of digital image data of the original image provides CPA interpolation.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
221 words
A method utilizing an electronic still camera for capturing original images and performing image processing on the original images, said method comprising the steps of: (a) generating a capture signal in order to initiate an image capture of an original image; (b) capturing original images and generating image signals corresponding to each original image, each original image having a like number of rows and columns of pixels; (c) converting the image signals from each original image into digital image data representative of each original image; (d) storing the digital image data representative of at least two original images in a first memory; (e) processing a series of segments of digital image data of a first original image to generate first processed image data segments, each segment having a plurality of rows or 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 first original image, respectively, (f) storing the first processed image data segments in a second memory as the processing of each segment is completed; and (g) interrupting the processing of the first original image in order to capture and store a second original image into the first memory, and then resume processing of the unprocessed segments of the first original image.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
221 words
A method utilizing an electronic still camera for capturing original images and performing image processing on the original images, said method comprising the steps of: (a) generating a capture signal in order to initiate an image capture of an original image; (b) capturing original images and generating image signals corresponding to each original image, each original image having a like number of rows and columns of pixels; (c) converting the image signals from each original image into digital image data representative of each original image; (d) storing the digital image data representative of at least two original images in a first memory; (e) processing a series of segments of digital image data of a first original image to generate first processed image data segments, each segment having a plurality of rows or 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 first original image, respectively, (f) storing the first processed image data segments in a second memory as the processing of each segment is completed; and (g) interrupting the processing of the first original image in order to capture and store a second original image into the first memory, and then resume processing of the unprocessed segments of the first original image.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as claimed in claim 17 wherein each segment of digital image data of the first original image has an equal number of rows and columns of pixels.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as claimed in claim 18 wherein each segment of digital image data of the first original image has sixty four rows of pixels and sixty four columns of pixels.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as claimed in claim 17 wherein the processing step provides color correction.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as claimed in claim 17 wherein the processing step provides edge enhancement.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as claimed in claim 17 wherein the processing step provides JPEG compression.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as claimed in claim 17 wherein the processing step further provides color correction, edge enhancement, and JPEG compression.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as claimed in claim 17 wherein the processing step provides CFA interpolation.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
214 words
An electronic still camera for capturing original images and performing image processing on the original images, said camera comprising: (a) an image sensor for capturing original images and generating image signals corresponding to each original image, each original image having a like number of rows and columns of pixels; (b) an A/D converter for converting the image signals from each original image into digital image data representative of each original image; (c) a first memory for storing the digital image data representative of at least two original images; (d) an image processor for processing a series of segments of digital image data of a first original image to generate first 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 first original image, respectively, and (e) a second memory for storing the processed image data segments as the processing of each segment is completed; (f) wherein the image processor interrupts the processing of the first original image in order to capture and store a second original image into the first memory, and then resumes processing of the unprocessed segments of the first original image.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
214 words
An electronic still camera for capturing original images and performing image processing on the original images, said camera comprising: (a) an image sensor for capturing original images and generating image signals corresponding to each original image, each original image having a like number of rows and columns of pixels; (b) an A/D converter for converting the image signals from each original image into digital image data representative of each original image; (c) a first memory for storing the digital image data representative of at least two original images; (d) an image processor for processing a series of segments of digital image data of a first original image to generate first 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 first original image, respectively, and (e) a second memory for storing the processed image data segments as the processing of each segment is completed; (f) wherein the image processor interrupts the processing of the first original image in order to capture and store a second original image into the first memory, and then resumes processing of the unprocessed segments of the first original image.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
29 words
An electronic still camera as claimed in clam 25 wherein the processing of the series of incremental segments of digital image data of the original image provides JPEG compression.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
29 words
An electronic still camera as claimed in claim 25 wherein the processing of the series of incremental segments of digital image data of the original image provides CFA interpolation.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
40 words
An electronic still camera as claimed in claim 25 wherein the digital image data of the first original image is stored in a first file format and the first processed image data segments are stored in a second file format.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
40 words
An electronic still camera as claimed in claim 28 wherein the digital image data of the first original image is stored in a TIFF file format and the first processed image data segments are stored in a JPEG file format.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
28 words
An electronic still camera as claimed in claim 25 wherein the first processed image data segments are stored in a JPEG interchange format bitstream separated by restart markers.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
22 words
An electronic still camera as claimed in claim 25 wherein the first and second memories are provided by a removable memory card.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
31 words
An electronic still camera as claimed in claim 25 wherein each segment of digital image data of the first original image has an equal number of rows and columns of pixels.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
31 words
An electronic still camera as claimed in claim 32 wherein each segment of digital image data of the first original image has sixty four rows and sixty four columns of pixels.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
29 words
An electronic still camera as claimed in claim 25 wherein the processing of the series of segments of digital image data of the first original image provides color correction.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
29 words
An electronic still camera as claimed in claim 25 wherein the processing of the series of segments of digital image data of the first original image provides edge enhancement.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
34 words
An electronic still camera as claimed in claim 25 wherein the processing of the series of segments of digital image data of the first original image provides color correction, edge enhancement, and JPEG compression.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-01-27 | 2006-07-29 | 2007-01-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-01-27 | 2010-07-29 | 2011-01-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-01-27 | 2014-07-29 | 2015-01-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |