Available Memory Space Detection Patents (Class 348/231.1)
  • Patent number: 8659677
    Abstract: A digital camera comprises an imaging device; an internal memory; an attachment device that attaches a storage medium; a medium detector that detects whether the storage medium attached to the attachment device is a storage medium limiting overwrite; and a record control device that controls so as to store image data taken by the imaging device in the storage medium attached to the attachment device. When the medium detector detects that the storage medium attached to the attachment device is the storage medium limiting overwrite, the record control device controls so as to store data management information of the image data recorded in the storage medium limiting overwrite in the internal memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Hirotake Nozaki, Akira Ohmura
  • Patent number: 8629918
    Abstract: There is provided an image processing apparatus including a representative image extraction unit for extracting a predetermined number of representative images from a series of images belonging to each scene, a representative image classification unit for, when two or more representative images are extracted from each scene, classifying the representative images into a main image and a sub-image, a degraded display image generation unit for generating a degraded display image by operating the sub-image in order to degrade and display the sub-image, and a representative image display unit for displaying the representative images of a plurality of scenes side by side in a scene transition sequence, and displaying the main image and the degraded display image when two or more representative images are extracted from each scene and the representative image when one representative image is extracted from each scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshinori Takagi
  • Patent number: 8629920
    Abstract: An image capture apparatus connects to a first battery unit and a second battery unit. The image capture apparatus includes a counting unit and a calculation unit. The counting unit counts the number of shots (PN). The calculation unit divides the number of shots (PN) to PN1 and PN2 based on a first battery consumption and a second battery consumption. The PN1represents the number of shots allotted to the first battery unit, and the PN2 represents the number of shots allotted to the second battery unit. The first battery consumption represents a consumption of the first battery unit, and the second battery consumption represents a consumption of the second battery unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoichi Sato
  • Patent number: 8629922
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises an imaging unit which performs an imaging process of an object image; an image storage unit which stores the image data linked with album data; a layout storage unit which stores layout information representing a position where the image data linked with the album data is displayed on a page of the album data; an album display unit which displays an image frame at the position on the page of the album data represented by the layout information; and a designation unit which receives a designation of an arbitrary position on the displayed page, wherein when a region outside the image frame is designated, the album display unit displays the captured image data on a background of the page as a live view, and the image storage unit stores the image data linked as the background of the page of the album data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiro Iwasaki, Yoshihiro Mizuo
  • Patent number: 8629913
    Abstract: Certain embodiments disclosed herein relate to an image signal processing system includes overflow control logic that detects an overflow condition when a destination unit when a sensor input queue and/or front-end processing unit receives back pressure from a downstream destination unit. In one embodiment, pixels of a current frame are dropped when an overflow condition occurs. The number of dropped pixels may be tracked using a counter. Upon recovery of the overflow condition, the remaining pixels of the frame are received and each dropped pixel may be replaced using a replacement pixel value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Guy Côté, Jeffrey E. Frederiksen
  • Patent number: 8624984
    Abstract: An electronic camera includes a wireless communication means for connecting to a wireless network; a transfer control means for transferring a captured image to a server through the wireless network connected by the wireless communication means; a power supply judgment means for judging whether or not power supply from outside has started; and a power source switching means for switching a power source of the electronic camera to ON or OFF. When the power source of the electronic camera has been switched to OFF by the power source switching means and if it has been judged by the power supply judgment means that supply of the power has started, the transfer control means transfers the captured image to the server, and when the power source of the electronic camera has been switched to ON by the power source switching means and if it has been judged by the power supply judgment means that supply of the power has started, the transfer control means prohibits transfer of the captured image to the server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Seiichi Azuma, Toshiyuki Nakamura, Mio Nagisa
  • Patent number: 8599277
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a plurality of sequential image data samples for display, is disclosed. A first one of the image data samples is accessed and then a second one of the image data samples is accessed. The first and second image data samples may then be provided for display, where one or more further data samples are provided in the event that the first and second image data samples are not contiguous. These further data samples indicate that image data samples are not available between the first and second image data samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hayden Graham Fleming
  • Patent number: 8587693
    Abstract: A method, programmed medium and system are disclosed which provide for enabling a user to set the number of images/video that needs to be recorded prior to storing them in memory. The system is configured to manage the resolution and quality of the images/video, either automatically or manually, so that the images or video recordings are stored with the highest possible quality aspects within the free memory space available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Andrew Bockus, Derek Ryan Brewer, Robert Dale Wilhelm, Jeffrey Owen Manthei
  • Patent number: 8589699
    Abstract: A storage media device includes a user-data storage section that is capable of storing encrypted user data; a key-information storage section that is capable of storing key information for decrypting the encrypted user data; a key-information deleting section that performs electrical processing for deleting the key information stored by the key-information storage section; a first switch that is manually operated by a user to issue an instruction for operating the key-information deleting section; a battery that supplies power for operating the key-information deleting section; and a display section that displays that the key-information deletion performed by the key-information deleting section is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hideki Arai
  • Patent number: 8581988
    Abstract: The data transfer apparatus includes a recording unit which records image files on a first recording medium, a communication unit which communicates with a recording apparatus which records an image file on a second recording medium, and receives medium information associated with the second recording medium from the recording apparatus, a search unit which searches a plurality of image files recorded on the first recording medium for image files which are recordable on the second recording medium, based on the medium information, and a display control unit which displays representative images of the plurality of image files recorded on the first recording medium, and the display control unit displays, together with the representative images, information indicating a range of image files recordable on the second recording medium of the plurality of image files recorded on the first recording medium, based on a search result of the search unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 8570400
    Abstract: When a key for directly transferring from the screen of a “video mode” of tape reproduction to the screen of memory stick reproduction is separately arranged, the ratio of an occupation area of the key on the screen is increased. Therefore, a setting operation is performed such that a stop key (11a) is displayed when the “video mode” is set and no memory stick is mounted as shown in FIG. 1A, and when the tape is being reproduced as shown in FIG. 1C. In contrast to this, the setting operation is also performed such that a switching key (11f) for transferring to the reproducing screen of the memory stick of FIG. 1D is displayed when the “video mode” is set and no tape is being reproduced and the memory stick is mounted as shown in FIG. 1B.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroki Tanaka, Masako Muro, Ryo Nagahashi
  • Patent number: 8570397
    Abstract: An image pickup device includes an image processing unit which processes an image input through the plurality of image pickup units, a plurality of microphones which are spaced apart from each other, an audio processing unit which senses a voice of a photographer using the plurality of microphones, and a control unit which, when the voice of a photographer is sensed through the audio processing unit, controls the image processing unit to combine an image of an image pickup unit corresponding to a location of the photographer with an image of an image pickup unit currently performing photographing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Soo-man Jeong, Dae-gyu Kang
  • Patent number: 8570398
    Abstract: In an image processing apparatus which can store a pickuped image file in a new folder, the user's convenience is improved, and the creation of unnecessary folders is suppressed. If a preset condition for the creation of a new folder is satisfied, a new folder is created when a next shooting instruction is issued (S125). Creating a new folder when a shooting is actually performed prevents the creation of an empty folder. In addition, since a folder creation condition can be set in advance, there is no need to execute a sequence of creating a folder for every shooting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuichi Nakase, Nobukazu Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8558916
    Abstract: An electronic still camera includes: a detection unit that detects whether or not a detachable recording medium has a cache function; and a validating unit that validates the cache function when the detection unit detects that the recording medium has the cache function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Masaki Hayashi, Morihiro Takagi
  • Patent number: 8553937
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a video sensing device, a velocity vector estimator (VVE) coupled to the video sensing device, a controller coupled to the velocity vector estimator, and an orthogonal transfer charge-coupled device (OTCCD) coupled to the controller. The video sensing device transmits a plurality of image frames to the velocity vector estimator. The controller receives a location of an object in a current frame, stores locations of the object in one or more previous frames, predicts a motion trajectory and the predicted location of the object on it in a subsequent frame as a function of the locations of the object in the current frame and the one or more previous frames, and transmits the predicted location of the object to the OTCCD. The OTCCD shifts its image array of pixels as a function of the predicted location of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Jan Jelinek, Sharath Venkatesha, Vincent Jacobson
  • Patent number: 8537244
    Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides an image processing apparatus and method capable of reducing power consumption by controlling supply of a clock to a memory when correction is performed on image data. The image processing apparatus includes an image correction unit including a plurality of line memories to maintain image data line-by-line and perform correction on the image data, a number-of-line-memories determination unit for determining the number of line memories necessary for the correction performed by the image correction unit line-by-line, and a line memory control unit for controlling supply of a clock to the plurality of line memories based on the number of line memories determined by the number-of-line-memories determination unit to supply a clock to the line memories used for the correction performed by the image correction unit line-by-line and stop supply of the clock to line memories not used for the correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mineki Taoka
  • Patent number: 8537243
    Abstract: A camera which can accurately inform a photographer of the number of times image taking is possible is disclosed. The camera comprises an image-pickup device which photoelectrically converts an object image to an electric signal, an image processing circuit which applies image processing to the image data obtained by using the image-pickup device and generates processed image data, a recording circuit which records the processed image data in a recording medium, a control circuit which causes the image processing circuit to perform image processing on the image data obtained through one-time image taking under a plurality of different conditions to generate a plurality of the processed image data, and an information output unit which outputs information on the remaining number of times image taking is possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Keisuke Aoyama
  • Patent number: 8537242
    Abstract: An interface for receiving data from an image sensor having an imaging array and a clock generator and for transferring the data to a processor system is described. The interface comprises a memory for storing the imaging array data and the clocking signals at a rate determined by the clocking signals. In response to the quantity of data in the memory, a signal generator generates a signal for transmission to the processor system and a circuit controls the transfer of the data from the memory at a rate determined by the processor system. The memory may be a first-in first-out (FIFO) buffer or an addressable memory. The interface is preferably integrated on the same die as the image sensor. The signal generator may generate either an interrupt signal for transmission to the processor system or a bus request signal for transmission to a bus arbitration unit for the processor system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Harusaki Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Mark Suska
  • Patent number: 8531552
    Abstract: Charging of a camera and backup of data are concurrently executed to enable picking up an image regardless of a remaining available memory. As the camera is attached to a cradle, image data for the image picked up by a camera module of the camera is directly transferred to and recorded in a HDD of the cradle. Image data, already recorded in the flash memory of the camera, is backed up by the HDD of the cradle. Further, the cradle allows a charging circuit to charge a rechargeable battery of the camera using electric power supplied via an AC cord. Also, the cradle has a tripod bore through which the camera is fixed to a tripod for picking up the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Ayumi Senda
  • Patent number: 8488021
    Abstract: An image positioning method, a POI tagging method and an apparatus therefor are described. The method is particularly to define a range corresponding to a positioning value translated by a global positioning system. Further, a point-of-interest (POI) is tagged according to the defined range. In an exemplary example, if there is no positioning signal detected as photographing an image, a previously received positioning signal is used to be the positioning value for the image. According to the preferred embodiment of the tagging method, an image is taken firstly, and then it's to determine a positioning value for the image. In which the positioning value may be determined on the instant of photographing. Alternatively, the positioning value may be retrieved from the image's attribute through playback software. Thereby, a range associated with the positioning value is defined. A corresponding point-of-interest is tagged to the image's attribute afterward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Altek Corporation
    Inventor: De-Wei Yang
  • Patent number: 8477213
    Abstract: A lens unit 1 acquires identification information for an attached lens unit from the lens unit and stores the acquired identification information in a second memory 37. In a case in which correction information for the stored identification information is not registered, a CPU 36 reads the correction information for the stored identification information out from an external memory 39 and registers it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masami Sugimori
  • Patent number: 8432480
    Abstract: A camera body to which an interchangeable lens is mountable includes a receiving unit operable to receive speed information, a first controller unit operable to select a shooting mode from a moving image shooting mode and a still image shooting mode, a second controller unit capable of setting whether to operate in a silent mode provided for a situation where a drive sound of a drive unit in the interchangeable lens is desired to be at a low level during the moving image shooting mode, a third controller unit operable to generate a control signal for changing light amount which is changed by a diaphragm in the interchangeable lens, at a constant speed based on the speed information, when the moving image shooting mode is selected and the silent mode is not set, and a body transmitting unit operable to transmit the generated control signal to the interchangeable lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Abe, Koji Shibuno
  • Patent number: 8405734
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus being capable of generating a frame for a moving image at a desired timing using a still image captured during capturing a moving image is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Atsushi Misawa
  • Patent number: 8405753
    Abstract: An electronic device includes: a display element that displays a numeral; an auxiliary display element that displays an expression other than a numeral; an arithmetic operation device that executes an arithmetic operation to obtain an integer; and a display control device that implements control so as to display the integer obtained through the arithmetic operation executed by the arithmetic operation device by using the display element and the auxiliary display element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Tsutomu Wakabayashi, Kosho Miura, Koichiro Kawamura
  • Patent number: 8400530
    Abstract: A communication device that can simplify various settings of a display device, such as a TV, that provides information regarding an object (communication device) is provided. An image capturing device (1) has a RF-ID unit (47) for performing proximity wireless communication with a RF-ID reader/writer (46) connected via an infrared communication path to a TV (45). The image capturing device (1) includes: an antenna (21) for the proximity wireless communication; a data receiving unit (105) receiving an input signal from the RF-ID reader/writer (46); a nonvolatile second memory (52) storing at least UID (75) and an execution program (116); and a data transmission unit (108) transmitting the UID (75) and the execution program (116) to the RF-ID reader/writer (46) via the antenna (21) according to the input signal. The UID (75) is used to identify the communication device, and the execution program (116) is executed by the TV (45) with reference to the UID (75).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichi Ikeda, Mitsuaki Oshima, Masaru Yamaoka, Tsutomu Mukai, Takahiro Sato, Ikuo Fuchigami, Tadanori Tezuka, Shohji Ohtsubo, Yosuke Matsushita
  • Patent number: 8384794
    Abstract: An image sensing device is configured as follows. Namely, the device includes a recording unit configured to record correspondence data formed by making an action state of the object and voice information recorded prior to the shooting to correspond to each other, a voice determination unit configured to determine whether the voice acquired by a voice acquisition unit contains the voice information which forms the correspondence data, an action state determination unit configured to, when the voice acquired by the voice acquisition unit contains the voice information which forms the correspondence data, determine whether the action state of the object that corresponds to the voice information and an actual action state of the object match each other, and a control unit configured to, when the action state of the object that corresponds to the voice information and the actual action state of the object match each other, control shooting processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Olympus Imaging Corp.
    Inventors: Yuka Ichikawa, Norihiko Ozaki
  • Patent number: 8385171
    Abstract: According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an information recording apparatus, such as a digital camera, arranged to record information on a detachably mountable storage medium, such as for example to record video data on the storage medium. In one version of the apparatus, when a connection of an AC adapter is cancelled, the storage medium is detected by a storage medium detection unit, and in a case where the storage medium is not mounted to the mounting unit, a warning is issued, for example in an audio output unit or a display unit. Accordingly, the user can find out that the storage medium is not mounted before the digital camera has been brought outside for use. Thus, it may be possible to prevent a failure in which the user first realizes that they forgot to mount the storage medium only when they are already away from home.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuichiro Matsushima, Yasushi Kasai, Hirofumi Honda
  • Patent number: 8380045
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for generating unique signatures for digital video files to locate video sequences within a video file comprising calculating a frame signature for each frame of a first video; and for a second video: calculating a frame signature for each frame of the second video for corresponding first video frame signatures, calculating a frame distance between each of the corresponding video frame signatures, determining video signature similarity between the videos, and searching within a video signature similarity curve to determine a maximum corresponding to the first video within the second video. The method further applies area augmentation to the video signature similarity curve to determine a maximum from among a plurality of maxima corresponding to the first video file within the second video file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Inventors: Matthew G. Berry, Schuyler E. Eckstrom
  • Patent number: 8373770
    Abstract: In order to solve a problem in which a stable and continuous photographing operation cannot be realized, for example, the continuous photographing operation stops irregularly or the like in an imaging device, the imaging device includes imaging means for generating image data, a first buffer for storing the image data, and control means for controlling an interval of photographing by the imaging means to maintain a constant or according to a continuous function which decreases monotonically with respect to a remaining capacity of the first buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignees: NEC Casio Mobile Communications, Ltd., NTT Docomo, Inc.
    Inventor: Satoshi Hosokawa
  • Patent number: 8345123
    Abstract: A lens unit 1 acquires identification information for an attached lens unit from the lens unit and stores the acquired identification information in a second memory 37. In a case in which correction information for the stored identification information is not registered, a CPU 36 reads the correction information for the stored identification information out from an external memory 39 and registers it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masami Sugimori
  • Patent number: 8346915
    Abstract: A method of recording activity at a wireless device is provided. The method includes receiving a record command, determining a user activity at the wireless device, and determining available memory at the wireless device. The method further includes recording the user activity to create a device recording at least partially based on the user activity and the available memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Jonathan K. Kies, Jee Y. Park, Giridhar D. Mandyam
  • Patent number: 8330967
    Abstract: A host on the World Wide Web acquires a variety of facilities as subscribers and then proceeds to undertake control of the printing of images captured at the various subscribing facilities. A user is enabled to select the quality of image content captured by a digital camera. An implementation for capturing said image content at a facility controlled by a facility host includes a user computer station connected to said Web, apparatus for printing the captured image content associated with the user computer station, the user is enabled to select a level of image print quality for said captured image, the user computer station controlling the printing is connected to the remote facility host and a control implementation enables the facility host to permit said printing means to print the captured image at the user selected image print quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Debbie Ann Anglin, Howard Neil Anglin, Frank Anthony Nuzzi, Jan Rogoyski
  • Patent number: 8319849
    Abstract: An image capture device is provided that can playback and output a desirable file of multiple files accumulated in an external storage device. The image capture device of the present invention has a camera body including: a memory controller for writing an image file obtained by image shooting to an external memory card, or for reading a file from the external memory card; a USB interface for making connection to an external hard disk drive; a USB host controller for controlling transmission and receipt of data through the interface; and a CPU for controlling the operations of the memory controller and the USB host controller in order to transmit data between the external memory card and the external hard disk drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Shioji
  • Patent number: 8253821
    Abstract: In one aspect, a method related to data management includes but is not limited to accepting input for designation of a first portion of a data stream for retention at a first resolution, wherein the data stream represents video and/or audio information: and accepting input for designation of a second portion of the data stream for retention at a second resolution, wherein the second resolution is less than the first resolution, and wherein the retention of the second portion of the data stream at the second resolution is to be performed if a condition is met. In addition, other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and/or text forming a part of the present application. Related systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, LLC
    Inventors: Edward K. Y. Jung, Royce A. Levien, Robert W. Lord, Mark A. Malamud, John D. Rinaldo, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8228393
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus capable of recording a moving image and a still image includes a recording unit for recording image data of the moving image or the still image generated by an imaging unit in a recording medium, and a display unit for displaying first capacity information related to recordable time of the moving image to the recording medium when recording the moving image and displaying second capacity information related to number of still images recordable in the recording medium when recording the still image. Even after the recording of the moving image is completed, the display unit continuously displays the first capacity information until a predetermined time passes. Even after the recording of the still images is completed, the display unit continuously displays the second capacity information until the predetermined time passes. After the predetermined time passes, the display unit displays either one of the first capacity information and the second capacity information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Taizo Aoki, Yuki Ueda
  • Publication number: 20120162468
    Abstract: A digital camera comprises an imaging device; an internal memory; an attachment device that attaches a storage medium; a medium detector that detects whether the storage medium attached to the attachment device is a storage medium limiting overwrite; and a record control device that controls so as to store image data taken by the imaging device in the storage medium attached to the attachment device. When the medium detector detects that the storage medium attached to the attachment device is the storage medium limiting overwrite, the record control device controls so as to store data management information of the image data recorded in the storage medium limiting overwrite in the internal memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hirotake NOZAKI, Akira OHMURA
  • Patent number: 8203619
    Abstract: A method of deciding a target bit rate for wavelet-based image encoding based on the wavelet coefficients is described. The target bit rate is used for maintaining a high quality image. A minimum target bit rate and a maximum target bit rate are determined. A pseudo code length corresponding to the minimum target bit rate is calculated. The pseudo code length is calculated as a function of the wavelet coefficients. The corresponding pseudo code length is calculated for the maximum target bit rate. A curve between the pseudo code length and target bit rate is derived. Slope of the curve depends on buffer fullness. Using the curve, for a given pseudo code length, an appropriate target bit rate is derived. The derived target bit rate depends on the image content, and computing resources are able to be optimally used to attain similar quality for each image block of an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Yushin Cho, Daisuke Hiranaka, Jeongnam Youn
  • Patent number: 8189227
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is disclosed. The image forming apparatus includes plural image output units, plural output image data converting units disposed for the corresponding image output units for converting image data of a predetermined format into image data of a format for the corresponding image output units, a first memory unit which is used in common for storing image data in processes by the image output units and the output image data converting units, and a memory area adjusting unit which adjusts a memory area in the first memory unit for memory area obtaining requests from the image output units and the output image data converting units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Fukutoshi Uchida, Yuzo Oshima, Masateru Kumagai, Tatsushi Machida
  • Publication number: 20120120268
    Abstract: A method, programmed medium and system are disclosed which provide for enabling a user to set the number of images/video that needs to be recorded prior to storing them in memory. The system is configured to manage the resolution and quality of the images/video, either automatically or manually, so that the images or video recordings are stored with the highest possible quality aspects within the free memory space available.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Andrew Bockus, Darek Ryan Brewer, Robert Dale Wilhelm, Jeffrey Owen Manthei
  • Patent number: 8174711
    Abstract: In a printing system in which a digital camera (DSC) and photo-direct (PD) printer apparatus are directly connected via a USB, and image data is transmitted from the DSC to the PD printer apparatus and printed, Capability of the PD printer apparatus is transmitted from the PD printer apparatus to the DSC after communication procedures are established by an application New Camera Direct Print (NCDP) installed in the PD printer apparatus and DSC. The PD printer apparatus is caused to execute a print operation in accordance with print conditions set by the DSC on the basis of the transmitted Capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Cannon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kentaro Yano, Kazuya Sakamoto, Takao Aichi, Fumihiro Goto, Akitoshi Yamada, Tatsuya Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8149295
    Abstract: A digital camera comprises an imaging device; an internal memory; an attachment device that attaches a storage medium; a medium detector that detects whether the storage medium attached to the attachment device is a storage medium limiting overwrite; and a record control device that controls so as to store image data taken by the imaging device in the storage medium attached to the attachment device. When the medium detector detects that the storage medium attached to the attachment device is the storage medium limiting overwrite, the record control device controls so as to store data management information of the image data recorded in the storage medium limiting overwrite in the internal memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Hirotake Nozaki, Akira Ohmura
  • Patent number: 8063972
    Abstract: An image capture device includes an image capture unit, a signal processing circuit a control unit, and a display. The image capture unit captures image information of the object and forms an imaging plane. The signal processing circuit receives analog image signals and converts them to digital image signals. The control unit locates a target sector, frames a square area within the sector, defines a central point of the square area, forms reference points, calculates a distance from the central point to each of the reference points, duplicates the square area to locate the central point at each of the reference points, and calculates an actual movement distance required for the image capturing device to relocate to the reference points according to a relationship of the distance. The display displays a layout of the reference images and the information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kuo-Chun Chiu
  • Patent number: 8064097
    Abstract: A plurality of images stored in a storage medium are classified into image groups. The number of images stored in the storage medium is compared with a threshold value determined based on the number of classified image groups and the number of images included in each image group. An image group selection sheet or a print specification sheet is printed depending on a result of the comparison. Thus, it is possible to automatically determine an optimum type of sheet for use by a user to select images and print the determined type of sheet without printing a large number of sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shigeki Hachiro
  • Publication number: 20110273586
    Abstract: A video recording apparatus is provided that can provide the user with information as to whether or not scheduled image captures will fit into a recording medium or information as to how many retakes are possible. The apparatus obtains, for each scene to be captured, the duration of a cut to be captured from scenario information in which the duration of each of the cuts constituting the scene is specified. The recordable duration is calculated from the remaining capacity of the recording medium in which video data is to be recorded and a recording bit rate of the video data, and the number of image captures that can be taken for the cut to be captured is calculated from the calculated recordable duration and the obtained duration. The calculated recordable duration and the calculated number of image captures that can be taken are displayed on a display unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shinji Ohnishi
  • Patent number: 8049792
    Abstract: An image capture apparatus includes an image capture unit, a writing unit, a calculation unit, and a determination unit. The image capture unit captures an image. The writing unit writes the captured image in a recording medium. The calculation unit calculates a number of free clusters in the recording medium. The determination unit determines whether the recording medium has been removed from the image capture apparatus. If the determination unit determines that the recording medium has been removed from the image capture apparatus, a free space in the recording medium is calculated from the calculated number of free clusters. If the determination unit determines that the recording medium has not been removed from the image capture apparatus, the number of free clusters from a predetermined area in the recording medium is acquired and the free space in the recording medium is calculated from the acquired number of free clusters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinji Hisamoto
  • Patent number: 8035699
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises an image capturing unit which has an image sensor, a storage unit which stores foreign substance information of a foreign substance adhering to an optical element arranged in front of the image sensor, a buffer unit which temporarily stores the image signal output from the image capturing unit, a correction unit which corrects, based on the foreign substance information, an image signal corresponding to a shadow of the foreign substance among image signals output from the buffer unit and outputs a corrected image signal, and a control unit which controls the buffer unit and the correction unit to change, in accordance with a free area of the buffer unit, an amount of the image signal corresponding to the shadow of the foreign substance that is to be corrected among image signals output from the image capturing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuyuki Ikeda
  • Publication number: 20110242360
    Abstract: In a frame recording mode for shooting a moving image including the predetermined number of frames in one shot or an interval recording mode, if a time length available for recording a moving image becomes less than predetermined time, not the recordable time but the number of times capable of shooting a moving image including the predetermined number of frames is displayed as information about a remaining capacity of a recording medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kurumi Mori
  • Patent number: 8026957
    Abstract: An image-capturing apparatus is provided having a storage control device, a writing speed measuring device, and a selecting device. The storage control device writes image data into memory devices. The writing speed measuring device measures the writing speed of the memory devices by writing dummy data into the memory devices. The selecting device compares the writing speeds of the memory devices, and selects the memory device having the fastest writing speed. The storage control device stores image data in the selected memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventor: Hirokazu Maeda
  • Patent number: 8009205
    Abstract: An imaging device to which a portable storage medium is attachable, includes: a portable storage medium attachment section which attaches the portable storage medium; an inside storage medium which links image data imaged to information of imaging date and time and stores the data; and a transfer control section which controls a transfer of the image data from the inside storage medium to the portable storage medium, the portable storage medium having a data area which stores the image data transferred and a system area which stores management data generated corresponding to the image data stored in the data area, the transfer control section setting time stamp information of the management data generated in the portable storage medium corresponding to the image data transferred from the inside storage medium to the portable storage medium as the information of imaging date and time linked to the image data transferred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Kajiyama
  • Patent number: 8004593
    Abstract: A digital image apparatus includes: a storage unit in which digital image information is stored; a display unit that displays the digital image information stored in the storage unit; a setting unit that sets a recipient of the digital image information; and a communication unit that transmits the digital image information stored in the storage unit to a recipient set through the setting unit, and further includes: an updating unit that updates transmission history information including recipient information indicating a recipient of the digital image information each time the digital image information is transmitted by the communication unit and stores the updated transmission history information into the storage unit in correspondence to the digital image information, and when the digital image information stored in the storage unit is displayed, the display unit also displays transmission history information pertaining to the digital image information in correspondence to the digital image information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Yosuke Kusaka