US6567119B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Digital imaging system and file format for storage and selective transmission of processed and unprocessed image data
Assignee: Monument Peak Ventures LLC
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Filing: 1998-03-26
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Granted: 2003-05-20
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Expires: 2018-03-26
Abstract
Abstract An electronic still imaging system employs an image sensor comprised of discrete light sensitive picture elements overlaid with a color filter array (CFA) pattern to produce color image data corresponding to the CFA pattern, an A/D converter for producing digital CFA image data from the color image data, and a memory for storing the digital CFA image data from the picture elements. A processor enables the processing of the digital CFA image data to produce finished image data, and the digital CFA image data and the finished image data are both stored together in an image file. This enables image processing from raw camera data to final output data to be completed in a single, integrated process to provide improved image quality when printing.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth A. Parulski
- 👤 J. Scott Houchin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 11:20
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/32; H04N1/32101; H04N1/32128; H04N5/00; H04N5/76; H04N5/765; H04N5/77; H04N5/772; H04N2101/00; H04N2201/00; H04N2201/32; H04N2201/3201; H04N2201/3225; H04N2201/325; H04N2201/3274; H04N2201/3277; H04N2201/333; H04N2201/33307; H04N2201/33378; H04N5/907; H04N5/91; H04N5/92; H04N5/926; H04N5/9261
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
An electronic still imaging system employing a color capture device to capture a color image, said system comprising: an image sensor comprised of discrete light sensitive picture elements overlaid with a color filter array (CFA) pattern to produce color image data corresponding to the CFA pattern; an A/D converter for producing uninterpolated digital CFA image data from the color image data; a memory for storing the uninterpolated digital CFA image data from the picture elements; a processor for processing the uninterpolated digital CFA image data to produce interpolated image data; means for storing both the uninterpolated digital CFA image data and the interpolated image data together in an image file; and means for processing the uninterpolated digital CFA image data stored in the image file to produce final output image data.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
131 words
An electronic still imaging system employing a color capture device to capture a color image, said system comprising: an image sensor comprised of discrete light sensitive picture elements overlaid with a color filter array (CFA) pattern to produce color image data corresponding to the CFA pattern; an A/D converter for producing uninterpolated digital CFA image data from the color image data; a memory for storing the uninterpolated digital CFA image data from the picture elements; a processor for processing the uninterpolated digital CFA image data to produce interpolated image data; means for storing both the uninterpolated digital CFA image data and the interpolated image data together in an image file; and means for processing the uninterpolated digital CFA image data stored in the image file to produce final output image data.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an electronic camera including at least the image sensor, and wherein the processor is also located within the camera.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising (a) an electronic camera including at least the image sensor and the A/D converter and (b) a computer separate from the camera, wherein the processor is located in the computer and the digital CFA image data is transferred from the camera to the computer prior to processing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system as claimed in claim 1 further including compression and decompression stages, wherein the uninterpolated digital CFA image data is compressed in the compression stage prior to storage in the memory and decompressed in the decompression stage prior to processing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the uninterpolated digital CFA image data stored in the memory is contained within an image file that also describes the type of color filter array pattern used on the image sensor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
100 words
The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the memory stores uninterpolated digital CFA image data from a fixed number of picture elements corresponding to a fixed image size, and wherein the system further comprises; user operated means for selecting at least one output image size different from said fixed image size, said output image having a different number of picture elements than said fixed number of picture elements; and an interpolation processor for interpolating full color data for each picture element from said different number of picture elements and producing an interpolated output image having said output image size.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system as claimed in claim 6 wherein the interpolation processor also sharpens the output image.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
96 words
A single image file for storing images obtained from a color camera having an image sensor overlaid with a color filter array (CFA) pattern to produce uninterpolated CFA image data corresponding to the CFA pattern, the CFA image data subject to further processing to form interpolated image data, said single image file comprising: a first file area for storing the interpolated image data; a second file area for storing the uninterpolated CFA image data; and a third file area for storing data that describes the type of color filter array pattern used on the image sensor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
96 words
A single image file for storing images obtained from a color camera having an image sensor overlaid with a color filter array (CFA) pattern to produce uninterpolated CFA image data corresponding to the CFA pattern, the CFA image data subject to further processing to form interpolated image data, said single image file comprising: a first file area for storing the interpolated image data; a second file area for storing the uninterpolated CFA image data; and a third file area for storing data that describes the type of color filter array pattern used on the image sensor.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
104 words
A method for capturing and processing color images, said method comprising the steps of: (a) capturing an array of picture elements through a color filter array (CFA) pattern to produce uninterpolated color image data corresponding to the CFA pattern; (b) converting the uninterpolated color image data into uninterpolated digital CFA image data; (c) processing the uninterpolated digital CFA image data to produce interpolated image data; (d) storing both the uninterpolated digital CFA image data and the interpolated image data together in an image file; and (e) processing the uninterpolated digital CFA image data stored in the image file to produce final output image data.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
104 words
A method for capturing and processing color images, said method comprising the steps of: (a) capturing an array of picture elements through a color filter array (CFA) pattern to produce uninterpolated color image data corresponding to the CFA pattern; (b) converting the uninterpolated color image data into uninterpolated digital CFA image data; (c) processing the uninterpolated digital CFA image data to produce interpolated image data; (d) storing both the uninterpolated digital CFA image data and the interpolated image data together in an image file; and (e) processing the uninterpolated digital CFA image data stored in the image file to produce final output image data.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method as claimed in claim 9 in which (a) an electronic camera includes at least the capturing and converting steps and (b) a computer separate from the camera includes the processing and storing steps, wherein the method further includes the step of transferring the uninterpolated digital CFA image data from the camera to the computer prior to processing in the processing and storing steps.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method as claimed in claim 9 further including (a) the step of storing the uninterpolated digital CFA image data from the picture elements in a memory and (b) the steps of compression and decompression, wherein the uninterpolated digital CFA image data is compressed in the compression step prior to storage in the memory and decompressed in the decompression stage prior to processing in the processing step.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method according to claim 9 wherein processing in step (e) includes CFA interpolation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method according to claim 9 wherein processing in step (e) includes cropping.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method according to claim 9 wherein processing in step (e) includes spatial interpolation.
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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) | 2006-05-19 | 2006-11-18 | 2007-05-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-05-19 | 2010-11-18 | 2011-05-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-05-19 | 2014-11-18 | 2015-05-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |