Electronic camera with internal fixed album memory

• US 5,978,016 A
• Filed: 02/20/1997
• Issued: 11/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Miller, Michael E., Lourette, Richard W., Fellegara, Peter, Antos, Linda M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Garber, Wendy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Martin, Andrew D.
• Application Number:
  US08/803,338
• Time in Patent Office: 985 Days
• Field of Search: 348/231, 348/232, 348/233, 348/333, 348/334, 348/64
• US Class Current: 348/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2158 using a detachable storage unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras

Abstract

A convenient and practical apparatus for transporting digital images for display is achieved by incorporating an internally fixed base camera memory into an electronic or hybrid camera. Specifically, a camera includes a digital imaging system (16, 70) for generating a first digital image of first resolution in response to an exposure signal, a first storage memory (124) for receiving and storing the first digital image generated by the digital imaging system, a fixed memory or a removable memory interface connector (130) for receiving a removable memory device, and a processor (120) for controlling the transfer of the first digital image from the first storage memory to the fixed memory or removable memory interface connector for subsequent storage in a removable memory device, when a removable memory device is coupled to the removable memory interface connector. The processor selectively generates a second digital image of a second resolution lower than the first resolution from the first digital image stored in at least one of the first storage memory or a fixed memory or a removable memory device coupled to the removable memory interface connector in response to a display signal. A display screen (36) is provided in the camera for receiving and displaying the second digital image generated by the processor. The second digital image displayed on the display screen is selective stored in a second storage memory (126) in response to a storage signal entered via an operator interface (74). The images stored in the second storage memory constitute album images that remain with the camera until specifically deleted by the camera operator.

Claims

1. A camera comprising:

a) a digital imaging subsystem including an image sensor for producing a digital image of a scene, the digital image having a sensor aspect ratio and an image sensor resolution;

b) a photographic film subsystem for capturing a film image of the scene, the film image having a film aspect ratio different from the sensor aspect ratio;

c) a display screen having a display resolution lower than the image sensor resolution;

d) a working memory coupled to an output of the digital imaging subsystem for receiving and temporarily storing a digital image captured by the digital imaging subsystem;

e) a base memory fixed in the camera for storing digital images at the display resolution;

f) a high resolution memory for storing digital images at the image sensor resolution; and

g) a control processor coupled to the digital imaging subsystem, the photographic film subsystem, the display screen, the working memory, the base memory, and the high resolution memory for selectively operating the camera in one of three modes,

i) a digital capture mode wherein a first digital image of a scene is produced by the digital imaging subsystem, temporarily stored in the working memory, displayed on the display screen in the sensor aspect ratio and transferred to the high resolution memory, where it is stored at the sensor aspect ratio and image sensor resolution;

ii) a film capture mode wherein an image of a scene is captured on photographic film by the photographic film subsystem and a first digital image of the scene is produced by the digital imaging subsystem, the first digital image is temporarily stored in the working memory and displayed on the display screen in the film aspect ratio, and a film mode digital image having the film aspect ratio and display resolution is generated from the first digital image by the control processor and transferred to the base memory, and

iii) a hybrid capture mode wherein an image of a scene is captured on photographic film by the photographic film subsystem, a first digital image of the scene is produced by the digital imaging subsystem, the first digital image is temporarily stored in the working memory and displayed on the display screen in the film aspect ratio, and a hybrid mode digital image having the film aspect ratio and the image sensor resolution is generated from the first digital image by the control processor and transferred to the high resolution memory.

2. The camera claimed in claim 1, wherein the control processor is also adapted for selectively operating the camera in an album mode wherein an image that is being displayed on the display screen at a given aspect ratio is transferred to the base memory and stored as an album mode digital image at the display resolution and the given aspect ratio.

3. The camera claimed in claim 2, wherein the control processor erases the film mode digital images from the base memory in response to a film cartridge being removed from the camera.

4. The camera claimed in claim 2, wherein the control processor erases any hybrid mode digital images that have not been selected for storage as album mode digital images in response to the film cartridge being removed from the camera.

5. The camera claimed in claim 2, wherein the camera further comprises a removable memory interface connection and the high resolution memory is a removable memory device connected to the interface.

6. The camera claimed in claim 2, wherein the last captured digital image remains in the working memory until a new exposure operation is initiated.

7. The camera claimed in claim 6, further comprising a quick review switch connected to the control processor for causing the control processor to display the last captured digital image on the display screen.

8. The camera claimed in claim 2, wherein the control processor compresses the digital images prior to storage in the base camera memory.