Electronic still camera utilizing image compression and digital storage

United States Patent m

Sasson et al.

[ii]

[45]

Patent Number: Date of Patent:

5,016,107 May 14, 1991

[54] ELECTRONIC STILL CAMERA UTILIZING IMAGE COMPRESSION AND DIGITAL STORAGE

[75] Inventors: Steven J. Sasson, Hilton; Robert G.

Hills, Spencerport, both of N.Y.

[73] Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company,

Rochester, N.Y.

[21] Appl. No.: 349,566
[22] Filed: May 9,1989

[51] Int. CI.' H04N 5/225; H04N 5/30

[52] U.S. CI 358/209; 358/909;

358/906; 358/961.3

[58] Field of Search 358/479, 906, 909, 261.3,

358/427, 229, 335, 209; 360/32, 35.1

[56] References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

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4,489,351 12/1984 d'Alayer de Costemore

d'Are 358/213

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4,647,975 3/1987 Alston et al 358/209

4,651,227 3/1987 Yunoki et al 358/310

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4,772,956 9/1988 Roche et al 358/85

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FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS

0204626 12/1986 European Pat. Off. .
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INPUT SECTION (I)

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

Digital Still Video Camera Using Semiconductor Memory Card, Izawa et al., IEEE 1989, pp. 184-185. Hashiguchi, Sumihisa, "Picture Recording and Electric Power Consumption" Shashim Kogyo, Apr. 1988, pp. 94-95.

Hashiguchi, Sumihisa, "Possibilities of the Digital Electronic Still Camera", Shashin Kogaku, Feb. 1988, pp. 110-111.

Prototype Announcement, Fijix DS-IP digital still camera, Fuji Photo Film Co., Sep. 20, 1988. "Camera Uses E2 PROM Film", Electronic Engineering Times, Apr. 10, 1989, p. 457. "Ic Card Camera System-Toshiba & Fuji Photo Film" Dempa daily newspaper technical report, Mar. 20, 1989.

"Toshiba & Fuji Photo Film's Joint Development of
Digital Still Camera System" Dempa Daily Newspaper,
Mar. 24, 1989.

Primary Examiner—James J. Groody
Assistant Examiner—Kim Yen Vu
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—David M. Woods

An electronic still camera employs digital processing of image signals corresponding to a still image and storage of the processed image signals in a removable static random access memory card. An image sensor is exposed to image light and the resultant analog image information is converted to digital image signals. A control processor controls the exposure section and the A/D converter, delivering digital signals to a multiimage buffer at a rate commensurate with normal operation of the camera. A digital processor operates on the stored digital signals, transforming blocks of the digital signals and encoding the signals into a compressed stream of processed image signals, which are downloaded to the memory card. The digital processor operates at a throughput rate different than the input rate for better image capture and optimum utilization of the camera.

18 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets