Digital camera

• US 6,903,776 B1
• Filed: 10/19/1999
• Issued: 06/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Xacti Corporation (Office Support KK)
• Original Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Tsujino, Kazuhiro, Kaku, Junya
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Tuan
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, LUONG TRUNG
• Application Number:
  US09/420,806
• Time in Patent Office: 2,058 Days
• Field of Search: 348/220.1, 348/221.1, 348/222.2, 348/296, 348/297, 348/312, 348/362, 348/363, 348/364, 348/365, 348/366, 348/367, 386/96
• US Class Current: 348/362
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/73 by influencing the exposure time

Abstract

A digital camera includes a timing generator. The timing generator reads shutter speed data out of a register in response to a vertical synchronizing signal outputted from a signal generator, and controls exposure by a CCD imager according to this shutter speed data. The data in the register is updated in predetermined timing based on a vertical synchronizing signal. As a result, continuous shots of a subject are performed with different exposures.

Claims

1. A digital camera for performing continuous shots of a subject with different exposures, comprising:

a signal generator for periodically generating a timing signal;

a first register for holding exposure data;

a timing generator for causing exposure according to exposure data held in said first register in response to said timing signal;

an instruction key for instructing a continuous shot operation; and

a processor for starting to count said timing signal in response to an instruction of said instruction key, and performing an update process to update said exposure data held in said first register at a first predetermined timing specified by counting the timing signal.

2. A digital camera according to claim 1, further comprising an image sensor to create charges corresponding to a subject image, wherein said timing generator controls a charge storage period on said image sensor according to said exposure data held in said first register.

3. A digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said processor starting to count said timing signal in response to said instruction of said instruction key and performs a recording process to record shot image data obtained by said exposure at a second predetermined timing specified by counting the timing signal.

4. A digital camera according to claim 3, wherein said update process includes a first detecting process to detect said first predetermined timing based on said timing signal, a set process to set succeeding exposure data in said first register in said first predetermined timing, and a retreat process to retreat current exposure data from said first register to a second register prior to setting said succeeding exposure data;

and said recording process including a second detection process to detect said second predetermined timing based on said timing signal, and a data recording process to record current shot image data obtained due to exposure according to said current exposure data and said current exposure data retreated in said second register in said second predetermined timing.

5. A digital camera according to claim 4, wherein said data recording process includes a compression process to compress said current shot image data, and a file creating process to create within a recording medium a current image file accommodating current compressed image data created by said compression process and said current exposure data.

6. A digital camera according to claim 5, wherein said processor further performs a calculation process to calculate a current compression ratio based on a preceding compression ratio upon compressing preceding shot image data and a data size of preceding compressed image data, and a storing process to store current compression ratio data representative of said current compression ratio into a third register, wherein said compression process performs compression on said current shot image data according to said current compression ratio data stored in said third register.

7. A digital camera according to claim 6, wherein said file creating process is to accommodate in said current image file said current compression ratio data stored in said third register in addition to said current compressed image data and said current exposure data.

8. A digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said processor performs an adjustment process of said exposure over a predetermined period after ending said continuous shots.

9. A digital camera which continuously shoots a subject with different exposures, comprising:

a signal generator for periodically generating a timing signal;

a first register for holding exposure data;

a timing generator for periodically causing exposure according to the exposure data held in said first register, in response to the timing signal; and

a processor for updating the exposure data held in said first register, at a first predetermined timing specified by counting the timing signal.

10. A digital camera according to claim 9, further comprising an image sensor to create charges corresponding to a subject image, wherein said timing generator controls a charge storage period on said image sensor according to the exposure data held in said first register.

11. A digital camera according to claim 9, wherein said processor records shot image data obtained by the exposure, at a second predetermined timing specified by counting the timing signal.

12. A digital camera according to claim 9, wherein said processor adjusts the exposure over a predetermined period after ending continuous shots.