Multi-mode camera and method therefor

• US 6,680,748 B1
• Filed: 09/27/2001
• Issued: 01/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pixim, Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Pixim, Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Monti, John Mario
• Primary Examiner(s): Christensen, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): WISDAHL, ERIC D
• Application Number:
  US09/967,255
• Time in Patent Office: 845 Days
• Field of Search: 348/220.1, 348/231, 348/233, 348/231.2, 348/231.6, 348/231.99, 348/143
• US Class Current: 348/220.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/667 Camera operation mode switching, e.g. between still and video, sport and normal or high- and low-resolution modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/589 with different integration times, e.g. short and long exposures
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/76 Addressed sensors, e.g. MOS or CMOS sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/772 comprising A/D, V/T, V/F, I/T or I/F converters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 3/155 Control of the image-sensor operation, e.g. image processing within the image-sensor

Abstract

An image acquisition system that is used to acquire digital images of objects or scenes is disclosed. The image acquisition system supports multiple modes of operation. The image acquisition system can be used to acquire and store not only video images but also still images. The image acquisition system is typically part of, or within, a digital camera, but could also itself be a digital camera.

Claims

1. A method for operating an electronic image capturing system having a single image sensor array, said method comprising:

capturing a first series of video images and storing data of the first series of video images in a first resolution in a data memory of the image sensor array, wherein the data of the first series of video images is read out in accordance with a second resolution;

capturing a first still image and storing data of the first still image in the first resolution in the data memory of the image sensor, wherein the data of the first still image is read out in accordance with the first resolution;

capturing a second series of video images and storing data of the second series of video images in the first resolution in the data memory of the image sensor array, wherein the data of the second series of video images is read out in accordance with the second resolution;

capturing a second still image and storing data of the second still image in the first resolution in the data memory of the image sensor, wherein the data of the second still image is read out in accordance with the first resolution, and

wherein the single image sensor array is a digital image sensor including an on-chip memory partitioned as at least the data memory and an index memory, and directly producing video images or still images in digital form, each of the video images or still images composed from multiple frames representing sequentially increased exposures to a scene within a predetermined exposure time in accordance with time index values in the index memory.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the electronic image capturing system includes at least a first data storage device associated therewith, and

wherein the data of the first and second series of video images are stored in the first data storage device.

3. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the electronic image capturing system further includes at least a second data storage device associated therewith, and

wherein the data of the first and second still images are stored in the second data storage device.

4. A method as recited in claim 3, wherein the first data storage device is a magnetic disk drive or tape storage device.

5. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein the second data storage device is a portable semiconductor storage device.

6. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein the second data storage device is a portable magnetic storage device.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the electronic image capturing system includes at least a data storage device associated therewith,

wherein the data of the first and second series of video images are stored in the data storage device, and

wherein the data of the first and second still images are stored in the data storage device.

8. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein as stored in the data storage device, the data of the first series of video images, the first still image, the second series of video images and the second still image are contiguously stored in the data storage device with one of the first and second still images interlaced between the first and second series of video images.

9. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the data storage device is a magnetic tape storage device.

10. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the electronic image capturing system is a camera.

11. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the electronic image capturing system is provided within a camera.

12. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein the camera is used in a security environment to monitor the scene,

wherein the data of the first and second still images are periodically stored to provide high resolution and/or high quality still images of the scene, and

wherein the second resolution and quality of the first and second series of video images being stored are low or moderate resolution and/or quality video representations of the scene.

13. A method for operating an electronic image capturing system having a single image sensor array, said method comprising:

(a) operating the electronic image capturing system in a first mode so that data of video images in a data memory of the single image sensor array is read out in a first resolution;

(b) periodically switching the electronic image capturing system to a second mode;

(c) operating the electronic image capturing system in the second mode so that data of a still image in the data memory of the single image sensor array is read out in a second resolution;

(d) thereafter switching the electronic image capturing system back to the first mode; and

wherein the single image sensor array is a digital image sensor including an on-chip memory partitioned as at least the data memory and an index memory, and directly producing video images or still images in digital form, each of the video images or still images composed from multiple frames representing sequentially increased exposures to a scene within a predetermined exposure time in accordance with time index values in the index memory.

14. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein said method further comprises:

(e) repeating said operating (a) through said switching (d).

15. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein said method causes the electronic image capturing system to mainly be in the first mode and only periodically and temporarily be in the second mode.

16. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the electronic image capturing system is provided within a camera.

17. A single-chip image acquisition system having a video mode and a still mode, comprising:

a digital sensor array having a plurality of pixel sensors, each of the pixel sensors configured to generate an analog signal and convert the analog signal to a digital signal, digital signals from the pixel sensors forming sensor digital image information; and

an image processor operatively connected to said digital sensor array, said image processor operating to produce video images in a first resolution from a data memory of said digital sensor array when in the video mode, and operating to produce still images in a second resolution from the data memory of said digital sensor array when in the still mode,

wherein said digital sensor array and said image processor are provided on a single integrated circuit chip and said digital sensor array includes an on-chip memory partitioned as at least the data memory and an index memory, each of the video images or still images composed from multiple frames representing sequentially increased exposures to the scene within a predetermined exposure time in accordance with time index values in the index memory.

18. A single-chip image acquisition system as recited in claim 17, wherein the still images have greater resolution and/or quality than video images.

19. A single-chip image acquisition system as recited in claim 17, wherein said image processor produces the video images in a first format and produces the still images in a second format.

20. A single-chip image acquisition system as recited in claim 17, wherein said image processor performs at least one of resolution quality and intensity reduction in producing the video images.

21. A single-chip image acquisition system as recited in claim 17, wherein said single-chip image acquisition system further comprises:

a memory operatively connected to said digital sensor array and said image processor, said memory stores at least said sensor digital image information, and

wherein said digital sensor array, said image processor, and said memory are all provided on a single integrated circuit chip.

22. A single-chip image acquisition system as recited in claim 17, wherein said single-chip image acquisition system is provided within a camera.