Electronic still camera for capturing and categorizing images
First Claim
1. An electronic camera for capturing images representing a variety of subjects, said camera comprising:
- an image sensor for capturing the images;
a converter stage for converting the images into digital image data;
a memory for storing a plurality of categories providing classification of the images by subject;
a processor having the capability of assigning the plurality of categories to the images captured by the image sensor, each category providing subject classification of one or more images;
a user control for selecting one or more categories for the images before the images are captured by the image sensor; and
means for generating an output image signal comprising an image file including both the digital image data corresponding to the images and separate category data including the one or more categories selected by the user control, wherein the category data is separately accessible for each image apart from the image data.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic camera captures images representing a variety of subjects and categorizes the image according to subject matter. The camera comprises an image sensor for capturing an image, a converter stage for converting the image into digital image data, and a memory for storing a plurality of categories providing classification of the images by subject. A processor in the camera has the capability of assigning the plurality of categories to the images captured by the camera, with each category providing a subject classification for the images. A user selects one or more categories for a plurality of images prior to capture, and an output image signal is then generated including the digital image data corresponding to a captured image and the particular category selected by the user. The categories can be default identifiers stored in the memory, or can be names, text (i.e., account number), and/or graphics overlays (i.e., company logo) entered via a host computer and uploaded to the camera memory before the pictures are taken.
737 Citations
30 Claims
-
1. An electronic camera for capturing images representing a variety of subjects, said camera comprising:
-
an image sensor for capturing the images; a converter stage for converting the images into digital image data; a memory for storing a plurality of categories providing classification of the images by subject; a processor having the capability of assigning the plurality of categories to the images captured by the image sensor, each category providing subject classification of one or more images; a user control for selecting one or more categories for the images before the images are captured by the image sensor; and means for generating an output image signal comprising an image file including both the digital image data corresponding to the images and separate category data including the one or more categories selected by the user control, wherein the category data is separately accessible for each image apart from the image data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 26, 27, 28)
-
-
17. An electronic camera for capturing images representing a variety of subjects, said camera comprising:
-
an image sensor for capturing a particular image; a converter stage for converting the particular image into digital image data; a signal port for receiving at least one externally generated category providing classification of the image by subject; a memory for storing each category provided by the signal port; a processor having the capability of assigning said at least one category stored in the memory to the images captured by the camera, each category providing subject classification of one or more images; a user control for selecting a particular category for the selected image; and means for generating an output image signal comprising an image file including both the digital image data corresponding to the particular image and separate category data including the particular category selected by the user control, wherein the category data is separately accessible for each image apart from the image data. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
-
29. An electronic camera for capturing images representing a variety of subjects, said camera comprising:
-
an image sensor for capturing the images; a converter stage for converting the images into digital image data; a memory for storing a plurality of categories providing classification of the images by subject; a processor having the capability of assigning the plurality of categories to the images captured by the image sensor, each category providing subject classification of one or more images; a user control for selecting one or more categories for the images before the images are captured by the image sensor; means for storing the digital image data in image files; and means for grouping the image files according to the plurality of categories.
-
-
30. A method using an electronic camera for capturing images representing a variety of subjects, said method comprising the steps of:
-
storing a plurality of categories providing classification of the images by subject; assigning at least one of the plurality of categories to the images before the images are captured by the electronic camera, each category providing subject classification of one or more images; capturing the images with the electronic camera; converting the images into digital image data; and generating an output image signal comprising in image file including both the digital image data corresponding to the images and separate category data including the one or more categories selected by the user control, wherein the category data is separately accessible for each image apart from the image data.
-
Specification