Digital camera with memory format initialization

• US 6,496,222 B1
• Filed: 11/27/2000
• Issued: 12/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: St Clair Intellectual Property Consultants Incorporated
• Original Assignee: St Clair Intellectual Property Consultants Incorporated
• Inventors: Speasl, Jerry A., Roberts, Marc K., Chikosky, Matthew A.
• Primary Examiner(s): HO, TUAN V
• Application Number:
  US09/724,375
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.5225, 348/207, 348/220, 348/221, 348/222, 348/231, 348/232, 348/233, 348/373, 386/117, 386/118
• US Class Current: 348/231.99
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00236 using an image reading or reproducing device, e.g. a facsimile reader or printer, as a local input to or local output from a computer image input to or image output from a computer via a network H04N1/00209
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00241 using an image reading device as a local input to a computer input via network, e.g. network scanners H04N1/00225
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2137 with temporary storage before final recording, e.g. in a frame buffer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/00 Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0065 Converting image data to a format usable by the connected apparatus or vice versa
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0068 Converting from still picture data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/33378 Type or format of data, e.g. colour or B/W, halftone or binary, computer image file or facsimile data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/01 Conversion of standards , e.g. involving analogue television standards or digital television standards processed at pixel level
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 358/906 Hand-held camera with recorder in a single unit

Abstract

A digital camera includes a digital memory system having a control unit for checking for proper format initialization of a removable digital memory element and for performing format initialization of the memory element when necessary.

Claims

1. In a digital camera including a memory element for storing digitized image data, the improvement comprising:

memory formatting means for formatting the memory element for use with an information handling system utilizing the same memory element format; and

means for selecting a memory element format used In formatting the memory element from one of a plurality of different memory element formats.

2. In a digital camera including a memory element for storing digitized image data, the improvement comprising:

means for checking a format of the memory element for agreement with a specific format;

means for formatting the memory element whenever agreement with the specific format is not found by the means for checking; and

means for selecting a specific format from one of a plurality of different specific formats.

3. In a digital camera including a removably coupled memory element for storing digitized image data, the improvement comprising;

means for checking a format of the memory element for agreement with a particular format; and

means for selecting a particular format from one of a plurality of different memory element formats.

4. In a digital camera including a removably coupled memory element for storing digitized Image data, the improvement comprising:

memory formatting means for formatting the memory element for use with an information handling system utilizing the same memory element format; and

means for selecting a memory element format used in formatting the memory element from one of a plurality of different memory element formats.

5. For use in a digital camera utilizing an IBM compatible memory format, a method for changing the format of a digital storage medium formatted in an Apple compatible memory format to the IBM compatible memory format, comprising:

checking in the camera a boot area of the storage medium to determine if the storage medium Is formatted in the IBM compatible memory format;

providing a format error indication to an operator of the camera if the checking determines that the storage medium Is not formatted in the IBM compatible memory format; and

formatting the storage medium in the camera in the IBM compatible memory format in response to an operator control of the camera.

6. A method as in claim 5, wherein the storage medium is removably coupled to the camera.

7. In a digital camera including a digital storage medium, the storage medium formatted for use with a first information handling system utilizing an Apple compatible memory format, the improvement comprising;

a control unit for formatting the storage medium for use with a second information handling system utilizing an IBM compatible memory format.

8. In a digital camera including a digital storage medium, the storage medium formatted for use with a first information handling system utilizing an IBM compatible memory format, the improvement comprising:

a control unit for formatting the storage medium for use with a second information handling system utilizing an Apple compatible memory format.

9. In a digital camera utilizing an IBM compatible memory format, the improvement comprising:

a controller operative to change the format of a digital storage medium from an Apple compatible memory format to the IBM compatible memory format.

10. A digital camera, comprising:

an assembly operative to receive a digital storage medium, the storage medium having a boot area including information identifying an Apple compatible memory format of the storage medium; and

a control unit operative to (a) check the boot area, and (b) format the storage medium in an IBM compatible memory format for use with the camera.

11. For use in a digital camera, a method for changing the format of a digital storage medium from an Apple compatible memory format to an IBM compatible memory format, the method comprising:

determining in the camera if the storage medium is formatted in the IBM compatible memory format; and

formatting the storage medium in the camera in the IBM compatible memory format.

12. A process for use in a digital camera utilizing an IBM compatible memory format, comprising:

coupling a removable digital storage medium with the camera, the storage medium formatted in one of a plurality of memory formats;

determining in the camera if the storage medium is formatted in the IBM compatible memory format; and

formatting the storage medium In the camera in the IBM compatible memory format.