Camera which compresses digital image data in correspondence with the focus control or the stop value of the camera
First Claim
1. A camera comprising:
- an imaging and digitizing device;
a photographic optical system which forms a subject image on the imaging and digitizing device, the imaging and digitizing device converting the subject image into digital signals;
a focus detection device, coupled to the photographic optical system, which focuses the photographic optical system and provides a corresponding focus output signal; and
a compression unit which receives the digital signals from the imaging and digitizing device and the focus output signal from the focus detection device and compresses the digital signals at a compressibility corresponding to the focus output signal.
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Abstract
A camera in which the compressibility of digital image data is controlled by a focus signal. The camera includes an imaging device and a photographic optical system which forms a subject image on the imaging device, the imaging device converting the subject image into electrical signals. A focus detection device is coupled to the photographic optical system and focuses the photographic optical system. The focus detection device also provides a corresponding focus output signal. An analog-to-digital conversion unit receives the electric signals from the imaging device and converts the electric signals into digital signals. A compression unit receives the digital signals from the analog-to-digital conversion unit and the focus output signal from the focus detection device and compresses the digital signals at a compressibility corresponding to the focus output signal.
107 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A camera comprising:
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an imaging and digitizing device; a photographic optical system which forms a subject image on the imaging and digitizing device, the imaging and digitizing device converting the subject image into digital signals; a focus detection device, coupled to the photographic optical system, which focuses the photographic optical system and provides a corresponding focus output signal; and a compression unit which receives the digital signals from the imaging and digitizing device and the focus output signal from the focus detection device and compresses the digital signals at a compressibility corresponding to the focus output signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of forming compressed subject image data, the method comprising:
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forming a subject image; focusing the subject image and providing a corresponding focus signal; converting the subject image into digital signals, the focus signal being a different signal from the digital signals and not derived from the digital signals; and compressing the digital signals at a compressibility corresponding to the focus signal. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A method of forming compressed subject image data, the method comprising:
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forming a subject image; focusing the subject image and providing a corresponding focus signal; converting the subject image into digital signals; and compressing the digital signals at a compressibility corresponding to the focus signal, wherein the subject image contains high frequency components and the focus signal contains high frequency components which indicate the quantity of high frequency components in the subject image, the method further comprising filtering the focus signal to provide a high pass output signal passing the high frequency components contained in the focus signal, integrating the high pass output signal, selecting a compression coefficient in response in the integrated high pass output signal, and the step of compressing includes compressing the digital signal in correspondence with the selected compression coefficient so that the compressibility indirectly corresponds to the focus signal.
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15. An apparatus comprising:
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an imaging and digitizing device; an optical system which forms a subject image on the imaging and digitizing device, the imaging and digitizing device converting the subject image into digital signals; a detection device which detects information for use in forming the subject image and provides a corresponding output signal, the output signal being a separate signal from, and not derived from, the digital signals; and a compression unit which receives the digital signals from the imaging and digitizing device and the output signal from the detection device and compresses the digital signals at a compressibility corresponding to the output signal of the detection device. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A camera comprising:
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a release switch having a half push state and a full push state; an imaging and digitizing device; an optical system which forms a subject image on the imaging and digitizing device, the imaging and digitizing device converting the subject image into digital signals; a detection device which, when the release switch is in the half push state, detects information for use in forming the subject image and provides a corresponding output signal, the output signal being a separate signal from, and not derived from, the digital signals; and a compression unit which receives the digital signals from the imaging and digitizing device and the output signal from the detection device and, when the release switch is in the full push state, compresses the digital signals at a compressibility corresponding to the output signal of the detection device. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification