Apparatus and method for increasing a digital camera image capture rate by delaying image processing
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for increasing a digital camera image capture rate, comprising the steps of:
- capturing an image upon detecting an image capture request;
storing the image in a memory device;
repeating the capturing and storing steps if another image capture request is detected;
performing image processing and compression on the image;
halting the image processing/compression step and returning to the capturing step if another image capture request is detected; and
resuming the image processing/compression step after the capturing, storing and repeating steps have been performed.
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Abstract
An apparatus for increasing a digital camera image capture rate comprises an imaging device for capturing raw image data, a frame buffer for receiving the image data, a first RAM spooler for transferring the raw image data to a RAM disk, a first flash spooler for transferring the raw image data from the RAW disk to a flash memory, an image processor for processing and compressing the raw data, a second RAM spooler for storing the compressed image data into the RAM disk, and a second flash spooler for transferring the compressed image data from the RAM disk to the flash memory.
62 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A method for increasing a digital camera image capture rate, comprising the steps of:
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capturing an image upon detecting an image capture request;
storing the image in a memory device;
repeating the capturing and storing steps if another image capture request is detected;
performing image processing and compression on the image;
halting the image processing/compression step and returning to the capturing step if another image capture request is detected; and
resuming the image processing/compression step after the capturing, storing and repeating steps have been performed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 20, 21)
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6. An apparatus for increasing a digital camera image capture rate, comprising:
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means for capturing an image upon detecting an image capture request;
means for storing the image in a memory device;
means for repeating the capturing and storing if another image capture request is detected;
means for performing image processing and compression on the image;
means for halting the image processing and compression means and returning to the capturing means if another image capture request is detected; and
means for resuming the image processing and compression means after the capturing, storing and repeating means have been performed. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 22, 23)
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11. A computer readable medium comprising program instructions for:
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capturing an image upon detecting an image capture request;
storing the image in a memory device;
repeating the capturing and storing steps if another image capture request is detected;
performing image processing and compression on the image;
halting the image processing and compression step and returning to the capturing step if another image capture request is detected; and
resuming the image processing and compression step after the capturing, storing and repeating steps have been performed. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus for increasing a digital camera image capture rate, comprising:
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an imaging device for generating raw image data responsive to an image capture request;
a digital memory buffer for initially storing the raw image data;
first routines for conveying the initially stored raw image data away from the frame digital memory buffer to a second memory location to provide space for storing additional, subsequently captured images, wherein the raw image data is stored in uncompressed form in the second memory location and wherein the second memory has the capacity to store complete raw image data for multiple raw images;
second routines for conveying said raw image data from the second memory to a processor for processing said raw image data and for storing said processed image data; and
a central processing unit coupled to the imaging device and to the digital memory buffer, for executing according to a predetermined set of priorities the first and second routines;
wherein the first routines are assigned priority over the second routines to thereby facilitate the rapid conveyance of raw image data away from the frame digital memory buffer. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 31, 32)
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19. An apparatus for increasing image capture rate, comprising:
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an imaging device for generating raw image data responsive to an image capture request;
a digital memory buffer for storing the raw image data; and
a central processing unit coupled to the imaging device and the digital memory buffer, for transferring the raw image data to a second memory that is external to any processing chip, transferring the raw image data from the second memory to a processor for processing the raw image data and storing the processed image data according to a predetermined set of priorities, wherein transferring the raw image data to the second memory has a higher priority than transferring the raw image data to a processor.
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24. An apparatus for increasing a digital camera capture rate comprising:
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a first spooler routine which moves raw image data out of a digital frame buffer and into a second memory that is external to any processor, the first spooler routine having a highest priority;
a processing/compression routine which compresses raw image data from the second memory, the processing/compression routine having a middle priority;
a second spooler routine which moves compressed image data into flash memory, the second spooler routine having a lowest priority; and
a processor for executing the routines according to their priority and according to available processor time. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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27. A method for increasing a digital camera capture rate comprising the steps of:
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transferring raw image data out of a digital frame buffer and into a second independent memory;
processing and compressing raw image data from the second independent memory if either the transferring raw image data step is complete or processor time is available during the transferring raw image data step; and
transferring compressed image data from the second independent memory to flash memory if either the processing and compressing step is complete or processor time is available during the processing and compressing step.
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28. An apparatus for increasing image capture rate comprising:
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a raw-image input coupled to a raw-image storage, the raw-image input for capturing a raw image and storing it in the raw image storage;
a processor that compresses a raw image only when either the raw-image input is no longer capturing and storing raw images, or processor time becomes available; and
pauses the compression of raw images if the raw image input begins to capture new raw images, and resumes compressing raw images when either the raw-image input is no longer capturing and storing raw images, or processor time becomes available. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 33, 34)
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35. An apparatus for increasing image capture rate, comprising:
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an imaging device for generating raw image data responsive to an image capture request;
a digital memory buffer for initially storing the raw image data;
first routines for conveying the initially stored raw image data to a second memory to provide space for storing additional, subsequently captured images in the digital memory buffer, wherein the second memory has the capacity to store complete raw image data for multiple raw images;
second routines for compressing said raw image data, wherein the second routines are not conducted until there are no pending image capture requests and the first routines have conveyed all initially stored raw image data away from the digital memory buffer.
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36. An apparatus for increasing image capture rate, comprising:
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an imaging device for generating raw image data responsive to an image capture request;
a digital memory buffer for receiving and storing the raw image data; and
a central processing unit coupled to the imaging device and the digital memory buffer, for transferring the raw image data to a second memory, processing the raw image data without the assistance of a second processor and storing the processed image data according to a predetermined set of priorities, wherein transferring the raw image data has a higher priority than processing the raw image data.
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Specification