Electronic still video camera with direct personal computer (PC) compatible digital format output

• US 6,233,010 B1
• Filed: 02/19/1999
• Issued: 05/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: St Clair Intellectual Property Consultants Incorporated
• Original Assignee: St Clair Intellectual Property Consultants Incorporated
• Inventors: Roberts, Marc K., Chikosky, Matthew A., Speasl, Jerry A.
• Primary Examiner(s): HO, TUAN V
• Application Number:
  US09/253,831
• Time in Patent Office: 816 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.5225, 348/207, 348/220, 348/221, 348/222, 348/230, 348/232, 348/233, 348/239, 358/909, 358/906.1
• US Class Current: 348/240.99
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00236 using an image reading or reproducing device, e.g. a facsimile reader or printer, as a local input to or local output from a computer image input to or image output from a computer via a network H04N1/00209
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00241 using an image reading device as a local input to a computer input via network, e.g. network scanners H04N1/00225
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2137 with temporary storage before final recording, e.g. in a frame buffer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/00 Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0065 Converting image data to a format usable by the connected apparatus or vice versa
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0068 Converting from still picture data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/33378 Type or format of data, e.g. colour or B/W, halftone or binary, computer image file or facsimile data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/01 Conversion of standards , e.g. involving analogue television standards or digital television standards processed at pixel level
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 358/906 Hand-held camera with recorder in a single unit

Abstract

A digital camera includes a digital memory system having a control unit for checking for proper format initialization of a removable digital memory element and for performing format initialization of the memory element when necessary

Claims

1. A digital camera for taking pictures and storing them in a removable storage device in the camera, said digital camera apparatus comprising:

an image pick-up unit for generating and outputting a digital image signal photoelectrically converted from an image incident thereon, and

a digital control unit for formatting said digital image signal in one of a plurality of computer formats.