First-in-first-out intermediate image storage

• US 7,471,318 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2004
• Issued: 12/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aptina Imaging Corporation (ON Semiconductor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Aptina Imaging Corporation (ON Semiconductor Corporation)
• Inventors: Butterworth, Mark Melvin
• Primary Examiner(s): Hannett; James M
• Application Number:
  US10/948,505
• Publication Number:
  US 20060061670A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,559 Days
• Field of Search: 348/231.99
• US Class Current: 348/231.99
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/676 Bracketing for image capture at varying focusing conditions
• 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

Abstract

Images are captured within a camera. Upon preliminary image capturing being initiated, color balancing and auto-focus is performed and a predetermined number of images are captured for storage in a first-in-first-out buffer. This is repeated until capture is terminated. Upon a final image capture being initiated, a first image is transferred from the first-in-first-out buffer to a long-term memory within the camera.

Claims

1. A method for capturing an image within a camera, the method comprising:

upon preliminary image capturing being initiated, repeating the following until capture is terminated;

performing color balancing and auto-focus;

capturing a predetermined number of images;

storing the predetermined number of images in a first-in-first-out buffer; and

upon a final image capture being initiated, performing the following;

detecting a picture quality of each of the predetermined number of images stored in the first-in-first-out buffer;

choosing one of the images stored in the first-in-first-out buffer based on the detected picture quality of the stored images; and

transferring the chosen image from the first-in-first-out buffer to a long-term memory within the camera.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein the chosen image is a last image stored in the first-in-first-out buffer.

3. A method as in claim 1, further comprising determining a location within the first-in-first-out buffer from which the chosen image is transferred to the long-term memory by selecting between an automatic mode in which the camera automatically chooses the location and a manual mode in which a user manually chooses the location.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein upon the final image capture being initiated, additional images are transferred along with the chosen image from the first-in-first-out buffer to the long-term memory within the camera.

5. A method as in claim 1, wherein preliminary image capturing is initiated upon one of the following actions:

a user turning on the camera;

the camera being placed in a picture capturing mode;

or

the user depressing a button on the camera.

6. A method as in claim 1, wherein capturing the predetermined number of images includes encoding each image before storage of the respective image in the first-in-first-out buffer.

19. A method as in claim 3,

wherein responsive to the selection of the automatic mode, the camera selects the chosen image.

7. A camera comprising:

an image capture mechanism;

capture initiation mechanism that initiates capturing of images by the image capture mechanism;

an intermediate buffer into which images captured by the image capture mechanism are initially stored;

long-term image storage; and

a trigger mechanism, responsive to;

(1) a selection between (i) an automatic mode in which an image of the initially stored images is chosen by the camera as a selected image, and (ii) a manual mode in which the same or a different image of the initially stored images is chosen by a user as the selected image, triggering a transfer of the selected image stored within the intermediate buffer to the long-term image storage, wherein when the intermediate buffer is full, images stored within the image capture mechanism are discarded in a first-in-first-out order to make room for new images, discarded images not being saved in the long-term image storage.

8. A camera as in claim 7, wherein the capture initiation mechanism includes a first button and the trigger mechanism include a second button.

9. A camera as in claim 7, wherein the capture initiation mechanism and the trigger mechanism are implemented to use a same button.

10. A camera as in claim 7, wherein the intermediate buffer can store only a single image.

11. A camera as in claim 7, wherein the selected image is a last image stored in the intermediate buffer.

12. A camera as in claim 7, additionally comprising:

an encoder that encodes the images captured by the image capture mechanism before the images are stored in the long-term image storage.

13. A camera as in claim 7, additionally comprising:

an encoder that encodes the images captured by the image capture mechanism before the images are stored in the intermediate buffer; and

a decoder that decodes the selected image before the selected image is placed in the long-term image storage.

14. A camera comprising:

means for capturing images and placing the images in an intermediate buffer;

means for triggering, responsive to;

(1) a selection between (i) an automatic mode in which an image of the images placed in the intermediate buffer is chosen by the camera as a selected image, and (ii) a manual mode in which the same or a different image of the images placed in the intermediate buffer is chosen by a user as the selected image, triggering a transfer of the selected image stored within the intermediate buffer to the long-term image storage; and

means for discarding images within the intermediate buffer in a first-in-first-out order to make room for new images, discarded images not being saved in the long-term image storage.

15. A camera as in claim 14, wherein the intermediate buffer can store only a single image.

16. A camera as in claim 14, wherein the selected image is a last image stored in the intermediate buffer.

17. A camera as in claim 14, additionally comprising:

means for encoding the images captured by the means for capturing before the images are stored in the long-term image storage.

18. A camera as in claim 14, additionally comprising:

means for encoding the images captured by the means for capturing before the images are stored in the long-term image storage; and

means for decoding the selected image before the selected image is placed in the long-term image storage.