Digital imaging system

• US 6,937,356 B1
• Filed: 09/03/1998
• Issued: 08/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Theta Chip LLC (IP Edge LLC)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Fukushima, Tsumoru, Ito, Masanori, Sakaue, Shigeo, Uematsu, Michiharu, Yamashita, Haruo
• Primary Examiner(s): WALLERSON, MARK E
• Application Number:
  US09/146,835
• Time in Patent Office: 2,553 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.5, 358/1.12, 358/1.13, 358/1.14, 358/1.15, 358/1.16, 358/400, 358/402, 358/406, 358/474, 358/487, 358/496, 358/506, 345/656
• US Class Current: 358/1.16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00132 in a digital photofinishing system, i.e. a system where digital photographic images undergo typical photofinishing processing, e.g. printing ordering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00137 Transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00161 Viewing or previewing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00167 Processing or editing H04N1/00196 - H04N1/00201 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00172 directly from a still digital camera or from a storage medium mounted in a still digital camera H04N1/0018 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00188 Printing, e.g. prints or reprints H04N1/0019, H04N1/00196 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00196 Creation of a photo-montage, e.g. photoalbum H04N1/0019 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00278 with a printing apparatus, e.g. a laser beam printer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00281 with a telecommunication apparatus, e.g. a switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information, a selective call terminal details of transmission H04N1/00095; establishing a communication with one of a facsimile machine or another apparatus sharing a single line H04N1/32704; interfacing cordless telephone terminals with an accessory to increase the functionality of user interface H04M1/72409
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0044 for image preview or review, e.g. to help the user position a sheet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00453 arranged in a two dimensional array
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00461 marking or otherwise tagging one or more displayed image, e.g. for selective reproduction
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0013 Arrangements for the control of the connected apparatus by the still picture apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0087 Image storage device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3242 : of processing required or performed, e.g. for reproduction or before recording H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/633 : for displaying additional information relating to control or operation of the camera

Abstract

When a shutter button of a digital camera is pressed, a picture signal fetched from a CCD is converted to a digital signal and compressed and written into a nonvolatile memory means like a flash memory card as a picture file which can be identified uniquely. By turning on a reproduction switch, a picture file is read out from the nonvolatile memory means, the compressed data is expanded and converted to an analog signal, and the converted picture is displayed on a liquid crystal display. By pressing a display feed key, another picture file is read out and displayed. A user can produce a control file for controlling print processing, display processing, transmission processing and the like for the picture file by selecting a particular picture file using an operation key. The nonvolatile memory means can be removed. By mounting this memory means on a printer unit, display unit or picture transmission unit, the digital camera also can be used during print, display or transmission of the picture. If multi-screen print is carried out on the printer unit, a vertical direction of each picture is unified. Further, upon reprint operation for multiple order persons, sorting work after the print is facilitated by providing with an identification means for identifying each order person.

Claims

1. A digital camera comprising:

a memory receptor operable to receive a memory which is separable from said digital camera;

a picture capturing unit operable to capture picture information corresponding to an image and store the picture information in the memory while the memory is attached to said digital camera via said memory receptor;

a display unit operable to display an image of the picture information stored in the memory;

a key adapted to be manipulated by a user of said digital camera and operable to rotate an angle of the image displayed on said display unit in response to user manipulation; and

a control information processor operable to obtain the angle of rotation and, according to the obtained angle of rotation, signal to the memory how the image of the picture information stored in the memory and displayed on said display unit is to be rotated.

2. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said display unit is operable to display the rotated image of the picture information after said control information processor signals to the memory how the image of the picture information stored in the memory and displayed on said display unit is to be rotated.

3. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said control information processor is operable to signal to the memory how the image of the picture information stored in the memory and displayed on said display unit is to be rotated during imaging thereof, the imaging being processed after the memory is separated from said digital camera.

4. A digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said display unit is integrated into said digital camera.

5. A digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said display unit is disposed in a landscape orientation during the display of the image of the picture information and during the display of the rotated image of the picture information.

6. A digital camera comprising:

a memory receptor operable to receive a memory which is separable from said digital camera;

a picture capturing unit operable to capture picture information corresponding to an image and store the picture information in the memory while the memory is attached to said digital camera via said memory receptor;

a display unit operable to display an image of the picture information stored in the memory;

a key adapted to be manipulated by a user of said digital camera and operable to rotate an angle of the image displayed on said display unit in response to the user manipulation; and

a control information processor operable to obtain the angle of rotation and, according to the obtained angle of rotation, store processing control information in the memory, the processing control information being indicative of how the image of the picture information stored in the memory and displayed on said display unit is to be rotated.

7. A digital camera according to claim 6, wherein said display unit is operable to display the rotated image of the picture information after said control information processor stores the processing control information in the memory.

8. A digital camera according to claim 6, wherein said display unit is integrated into said digital camera.

9. A digital camera according to claim 6, wherein said display unit is disposed in a landscape orientation during the display of the image of the picture information and during the display of the rotated image of the picture information.

10. A digital camera comprising:

a memory receptor operable to receive a memory which is separable from said digital camera;

a picture capturing unit operable to capture picture information corresponding to an image;

a rotation device operable to rotate a display angle of the picture information;

a display unit operable to display a rotated image of the picture information according to the rotated display angle;

a control information processor operable to obtain the rotated display angle and, according to the rotated display angle, store in the memory how an image of the picture information is to be rotated.

11. A digital camera according to claim 10, wherein said display unit is operable to display the rotated image of the picture information after said control information processor stores in the memory how the image of the picture information is to be rotated.

12. A digital camera according to claim 10, wherein said control information processor is operable to store in the memory how the image of the picture information is to be rotated during imaging thereof, the imaging being processed after the memory is separated from said digital camera.

13. A digital camera according to claim 10, wherein said display unit is integrated into said digital camera.

14. A digital camera according to claim 10, wherein said display unit is disposed in a landscape orientation during a display of the image of the picture information and during the display of the rotated image of the picture information.

15. A digital camera according to claim 10, wherein said rotation device is a key which enables a user to rotate the display angle of the picture information.

16. A digital camera according to claim 15, wherein a rotation angle of the picture information displayed on said display unit is changed by 90 degrees upon manipulation of said key by a user of said digital camera.

17. A digital camera according to claim 10, wherein said picture capturing unit is operable to store the captured picture information in the memory while the memory is attached to said digital camera via said memory receptor.

18. A digital camera according to claim 10, wherein the memory is a memory card.

19. A digital camera according to claim 10, wherein the rotated display angle is automatically set according to a posture of said digital camera.

20. A digital camera according to claim 10, wherein said rotation device is a posture detection device operable to automatically obtain a posture of said digital camera and automatically set the rotated display angle according to the posture of said digital camera.

21. A digital camera according to claim 10, wherein a size of an image displayed on said display unit is automatically adapted to a size of said display unit when changing a rotation angle of the image.