Eastman-kodak Company

Carl Zeiss Ag

James E McGarvey

Michael Venturino

Kenneth Alan Parulski

Bruce Harold Pillman

Craig M Smith

Harshesh Valera

Todd A Jackson

William M Jackson

Michael A Vaughn

Claude A LaRoche

Y Timothy Tsai

Steven G Welk

A method, an image pre-processing apparatus, and a camera system for processing large images are provided. The method includes receiving from an image sensor an image frame at an image pre-processing apparatus, the image frame having a frame pixel resolution substantially equal to a sensor pixel resolution of the image sensor, dividing the image frame into first and second image subframes to be sequentially processed by an image signal processor, each of the first and the second image subframes having a subframe pixel resolution smaller than the sensor pixel resolution and a region in which the first and second image subframes overlap with each other. The subframe pixel resolution is predetermined by a processing capacity of the image signal processor, and the first and the second image subframes are consecutively processed by the image signal processor.

Method, apparatus, and system for processing digital images

A digital camera captures high quality long exposure images by capturing and summing several images of the same scene. The effective ISO of the camera is reduced by scaling the summed image, thus reducing image noise and improving long exposure quality.

Method and apparatus for capturing high quality long exposure images with a digital camera

A method of cropping a digital image and preserving a reserve for subsequent use includes cropping the digital image to produce a first cropped digital image, the first cropped digital image having a first size and a first aspect ratio; determining, based on the location of the cropping, at least one reserve portion of the image adjacent to at least one edge of the first cropped digital image; and storing, in an image file, the first cropped digital image and the reserve(s).

Cropping a digital image and preserving reserves

A digital camera which captures digital images comprising: a display for displaying an image(s) captured by the digital camera; a user actuatable switch assembly having a plurality of spatially arrayed actuatable positions; and means for displaying a menu overlay over an image(s) displayed on the display, wherein the menu overlay displays selectable options spatially arrayed in the same pattern as the plurality of spatially arrayed actuatable positions, such that actuation of the switch at one of the plurality of positions selects the option displayed at a like position of the menu overlay.

Display overlay containing spatially-distributed menu options for a digital camera user interface

A digital information/imaging system comprising: a first display for selectively displaying images and information; a second display for selectively displaying system information; and a control for controlling the first and second displays in one or more modes in which the content displayed by each of the displays mutually support each other; wherein the control includes a user interface including at least a first switch and a second navigation switch; wherein when the first switch is not activated the second switch is operable to select items displayed on the first display and the second display displays information in support of items selected on the first display; and wherein when the first switch is activated the second switch is operable to select items displayed on the second display and the first display displays information in support of items selected on the second display.

Mutual display support for a digital information/imaging system

A method of improving a digital image captured by a digital camera includes using the digital camera to capture a first image of a scene and having a display to display the first captured image; identifying a portion of the displayed image of the first captured image, which has exposure critical scene content; producing exposure information from such portion and displaying such information on the display which will permit a camera user to adjust the exposure of the image; and adjusting the exposure of the camera based on such exposure information and capturing a second image of the scene.

Digital camera using exposure information acquired from a scene

An electronic camera for capturing and storing images includes an image capture section and an image processing section. The image capture section includes an image sensor for capturing an image and producing pixel data representative of the captured image, an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter for digitizing the pixel data, and a horizontal shift register responsive to applied vertical clock signals for receiving lines of the pixel data from the image sensor and responsive to applied horizontal clock signals for sequentially transferring the lines of pixel data to the A/D converter, the time between the application of horizontal and vertical clock signals providing for a vertical transfer interval wherein pixel data is prevented from being output from the horizontal shift register. The image processing section includes a first-in-first-out (FIFO) memory coupled to the A/D converter for temporarily storing the digitized pixel data, a digital signal processor coupled to the FIFO memory for processing the digitized pixel data, and a storage device coupled to the digital signal processor for storing the processed digitized pixel data. The electronic camera further includes a clock generator for producing the vertical and horizontal clock signals and a FIFO write signal for causing the digitized pixel data from the A/D converter to be transferred to storage locations in the FIFO memory at a first frequency, and a master pixel clock signal. The camera further includes circuitry for producing a FIFO read signal in response to the master pixel clock signal for transferring the digitized pixel data from the FIFO memory to the digital signal processor at a second frequency for processing the digitized pixel data, and after processing, for transferring the processed pixel data to the storage device. The second frequency is selected to be lower than the first frequency.

Electronic camera having dual clocked line memory

An improved automatic exposure control system for an electronic still camera which uses a variable amplifier to amplify the output signal of an image sensor. A low electrical gain is used when the scene is bright enough to provide a sufficiently fast shutter speed and depth of field in order to keep from blurring the image to be captured. The gain is increased as the scene illumination decreases. Some amount of increased gain is preferably used even before the aperture of the camera is fully opened. The gain of the variable gain amplifier is adjusted as the user changes the focal length (zoom) setting, as the required shutter speed and f-number needed to provide a blur-free image depends on the lens focal length. The gain may also be adjusted as a function of focus distance setting.

Automatic camera exposure control using variable exposure index CCD

A microprocessor system, including a central processing unit (CPU), data source device and data destination device electrically interconnected by first data bus lines, address bus lines and control bus lines of a system bus, is implemented with a transfer signal control line, and second data bus lines interconnecting the data source and data destination devices for direct background transfer of data between the devices. At least one of the devices includes individually sequentially addressable storage locations, and associated address and count registers. The data source device includes 'ready' and 'enable output' terminals, and the data destination device includes 'ready' and 'enable input' terminals, all connected in AND-gate configuration so that the devices are enabled for data transfer through the second data bus lines only when both device 'ready' signals and the transfer control signal are all present. A starting address is loaded in the address register and a total data unit count is loaded in the count register using the first data bus lines. The transfer control signal is then given, with the address and count registers incremented after each data unit is transferred. Once the process is started, data is transferred data unit-by-data unit and without the need for direct CPU involvement, in synchronism with the system clock, until the count register indicates completion of transfer of the entire block.

Method and apparatus for transferring data in portable image processing

An exposure feedback apparatus is disclosed that includes a comparison unit for receiving and comparing image data with a predetermined exposure level and generating a comparison signal indicative thereof, and a multiplexing unit responsive to the comparison signal for supplying the image data to a display output line when the image data is within a desired exposure range and for alternatingly supplying the image data and preselected display data to the output line when the image data is outside of a desired exposure range. In operation, the alternating supply of the image data and preselected display data to the display output line causes portions of a display unit coupled thereto to 'blink' when areas of the imaged scene exceed the predetermined exposure level. Thus, the user is supplied with visual feedback that is indicative of the exposure conditions of the captured image.

Visual exposure feedback apparatus for electronic imaging system

Method and circuit for converting a conventional camera into an electro-optical camera. The camera, in accordance with the method and circuit of the present invention, can retain all of its original structural components, for example, lens, viewfinder, exposure control and focus mechanism, and be readily converted to provide an electro-optical capability, as an advantageous alternative to a traditional film-based capability. To this end, the invention features techniques for detecting a camera's function, status and timing, in order to synchronize and initiate the required electro-optical functions.

Growing community of inventors

Hamlin, NY, United States of America

James E McGarvey