Camera system capable of storing compressed data

• US 6,487,366 B1
• Filed: 12/29/1994
• Issued: 11/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd. (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd. (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Morimoto, Yasuhiro, Itoh, Hisanori
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, THAI Q
• Application Number:
  US08/366,372
• Time in Patent Office: 2,889 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.576, H04/N.578, H04/N.5781, H04/N.5782, H04/N.5783, H04/N.979, H04/N.5225, 358/335, 358/310, 358/906, 358/909.1, 348/207, 348/231, 348/233, 348/333, 348/335, 348/340, 348/341, 348/344, 360/33.1, 360/35.1, 386/46, 386/117, 386/38, 386/109
• US Class Current: 386/225
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 involving data reduction

Abstract

A camera includes an image sensor for sensing an image of an object to be photographed and producing an image data, a first memory for storing information concerning compression, a setting device for setting a compression ratio based on the information stored in the first memory, a compression device for compressing the image data at the set compression ratio, and a second memory for storing the compressed image data. Also, This camera includes a displaying device for displaying an image corresponding to the compressed image data in the viewfinder system so that the photographer can observe the image quality deterioration caused by the compression.

Claims

1. A camera for use with a memory medium detachably attachable to said camera, said memory medium being capable of storing compressed image data and information to be used for image data compression, said camera comprising:

(a) an image sensor which senses an image of an object and produces image data;

(b) a connector which connects the memory medium to the camera in order to read out the information from said memory medium;

(c) a processor which automatically sets a compression ratio based on the read-out information; and

(d) a data processor which compresses the image data produced by the image sensor at the set compression ratio.

2. A camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein said camera further comprises a varying device which varies the compression ratio which is to be set by said processor.

3. A camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein said processor sets the compression ratio when said memory medium is attached to said camera.

4. A camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein said memory medium includes a setting device which sets a compression ratio.

5. A camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein the information is information about the storage capacity of said memory medium.

6. A camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein the information is a compression ratio.

7. A camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein said processor sets the compression ratio when the camera is actuated to start its operation.

8. A camera system comprising:

(a) a camera main body;

(b) an image sensor which senses an image of an object and produces image data, said image sensor being provided in said camera main body;

(c) a storing medium detachably attached to the camera main body, and including;

first storing means for storing information to be used for compression, and

second storing means for storing compressed image data;

(d) a connector which connects the storing medium to the camera main body in order to read out the information stored in said first storing means;

(e) a processor which automatically sets a compression ratio based on the read out information; and

(f) a data processor which compresses the image data produced by the image sensor at the set compression ratio.

9. A camera system as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a varying device which varies the compression ratio which is to be set by said processor.

10. A camera system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said processor sets the compression ratio when said storing medium is attached to the camera main body.

11. A camera system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said information to be used for compression is information about the storage capacity of said second storing means.

12. A camera system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said information to be used for compression is a compression ratio.

13. A camera system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said storing medium includes a setting device which sets a compression ratio.

14. A camera system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said processor sets the compression ratio when the camera system is actuated to start its operation.

15. A camera comprising:

an image sensing means for sensing an image of an object and producing image data;

compression means for compressing the image data;

setting means for setting a compression ratio for said compression means;

displaying means for displaying an image which is provided without using the compressed image data but which has an equivalent image quality of the image data having undergone compression, said displaying means including a mechanism for changing the quality of the displayed image in proportion to the set compression ratio; and

storing means for storing the compressed image data.

16. A camera as claimed in claim 15, further comprising a main body carrying said image sensing means, wherein said storing means is detachably attached to the main body.

17. A camera as claimed in claim 15, wherein said displaying means includes an electronic viewfinder for displaying the image.

18. A camera as claimed in claim 15, wherein said mechanism includes a filter for decreasing the quality of the displayed image in proportion to the set compression ratio.

19. A camera as claimed in claim 15, wherein said mechanism includes a medium having variable refractive index thereof, and varying means for varying the refractive index of said medium in proportion to the set compression ratio.

20. A camera as claimed in claim 15, further comprising an optical system, and wherein said displaying means includes means for displacing said optical system.

21. A camera as claimed in claim 15, further comprising means for expanding a portion of an image representative of the image data having undergone compression, wherein said displaying means displays the expanded portion.

22. A system comprising:

first storing means for storing image data;

compression means for compressing the image data;

setting means for setting a compression ratio for said compression means;

displaying means for displaying an image which is provided without using the compressed image data but which has an equivalent image quality of the image data having undergone compression, said displaying means including a mechanism for changing the quality of the displayed image in proportion to the set compression ratio; and

second storing means for storing the compressed image data.

23. A system as claimed in claim 22, wherein said system includes:

a camera body; and

an image storing medium detachably attachable to the camera body;

said camera body carrying said first storing means, said compression means, said setting means, and said displaying means; and

said image storing medium carrying said second storing means.

24. A camera system comprising:

(a) a camera main body;

(b) a storing medium detachably attached to the camera main body, and including;

first storing means for storing information to be used for compression of image data, and

second storing means for storing compressed image data;

(c) a connector which connects the storing medium to the camera main body in order to read out the information stored in said first storing means;

(d) a processor which automatically sets a compression ratio based on the read out information; and

(e) a data processor which compresses image data at the set compression ratio.

25. A system comprising:

(a) a main body;

(b) a storing medium detachably attached to the main body, and including;

first storing means for storing information to be used for compression of image data, and

second storing means for storing compressed image data;

(c) a connector which connects the storing medium to the main body in order to read out the information stored in said first storing means;

(d) a processor which automatically sets a compression ratio based on the read out information; and

(e) a data processor which compresses image data at the set compression ratio.

26. A camera for use with a memory medium detachably attachable to said camera, said memory medium being capable of storing compressed image data and information to be used for image data compression, said camera comprising:

(a) a connector which connects the memory medium to the camera in order to read out the information from said memory medium;

(b) a processor which automatically sets a compression ratio based on the read out information; and

(c) a data processor which compresses image data at the set compression ratio.

27. A device for use with a memory medium detachably attachable to said device, said memory medium being capable of storing compressed image data and information to be used for image data compression, said device comprising:

(a) a connector which connects the memory medium to the device in order to read out the information from said memory medium;

(b) a processor which automatically sets a compression ratio based on the read out information; and

(c) a data processor which compresses image data at the set compression ratio.

28. Apparatus comprising a controller which is suitable for association with a first memory having image data stored therein, a digital processor for compressing image data received from said first memory, and a display means;

said controller having capabilities of;

receiving information and setting a set compression ratio for compression of said image data received from said first memory responsive to thus received information;

controlling said digital processor so as to effect compression of the image data, received from said first memory, at the set compression ratio;

causing said display means to display an image without using the compressed image data but which has an equivalent image quality of the image data having undergone compression; and

controlling said display means so as to change a quality of the displayed image in proportion to the set compression ratio.

29. Apparatus in accordance with claim 28, wherein said digital processor has an ability for processing of image data received from said first memory for at least one of color separation, gamma correction, white balance adjustment, and matrix processing to produce Y, R-Y, and B-Y signals, as well as being able to compress the thus processed image data;

and wherein said controller has a further capability of controlling said digital processor so as to control said processing of image data received from said first memory.

30. Apparatus in accordance with claim 28, further comprising said first memory, said digital processor, and said display means.

31. Apparatus in accordance with claim 28, wherein said controller is suitable for association with a second memory for storing thus compressed image data, wherein the capability of receiving information comprises the capability of receiving the information from the second memory, and wherein said controller has the further capability of causing compressed image data to be transmitted to said second memory for storage in said second memory.

32. Apparatus in accordance with claim 31, further comprising said first memory, said digital processor, and said display means.

33. Apparatus comprising:

a controller, said controller having capabilities for;

receiving information and setting a compression ratio responsive to thus received information;

controlling a reading of stored image data from a first storing means;

controlling a compressing of thus read image data at thus set compression ratio;

controlling a displaying of an image representative of thus compressed image data without using the thus compressed data, wherein the image representative of the compressed image data changes according to the compression ratio and

controlling a storing of said compressed image data in a second storing means.

34. Apparatus comprising a device which is suitable for association with a first memory having image data stored therein, a digital processor for compressing image data received from said first memory, and a display means;

said device having capabilities for effecting;

a receipt of information and a setting of a set compression ratio for compression of said image data received from said first memory responsive to thus received information;

a controlling of said digital processor so as to effect compression of the image data, received from said first memory, at the set compression ratio;

a display by said display means of an image without using the compressed image data but which has an equivalent image quality of the image data having undergone compression; and

a controlling of said display means so as to change a quality of the displayed image in proportion to the set compression ratio.

35. Apparatus comprising:

a device, said device having capabilities for;

effecting a receiving of information;

effecting a setting of a compression ratio responsive to thus received information;

effecting a reading of stored image data from a first storing means;

effecting a compressing of thus read image data at thus set compression ratio;

effecting a displaying of an image representative of thus compressed image data without using the thus compressed image data, wherein the image representative of the compressed image data changes according to the compression ratio and

effecting a storing of said compressed image data in a second storing means.