Abstract: A digital camera includes a CCD imager which outputs 640 pixels×480 lines of camera signal in a raster scan scheme. The camera signal outputted from the CCD imager is subjected to a predetermined signal processing whereby created are 640 pixels×480 lines of original image data and 80 pixels×60 lines of thumbnail image data. Both the created original image data and thumbnail image data are written to a SDRAM. The writing of the thumbnail image data is performed during a horizontal blanking period of the original image data. As a result, image data writing operation completes within a 1-frame period of time.

Abstract: Before a moving image is picked up, a data write speed of set recording media 20 is measured or acquired (steps S2-S5, S6). The speed performance of the recording media (represented by “high”, “medium” and “low”) is determined based on the measured or acquired data write speed (step S7). In the moving-image pickup, when the determined write speed performances are low, medium and high, respectively, control passes to a buffer data lump recording mode, a ring buffer recording mode and a stream recording mode, respectively, and then the moving-image data is recorded on recording media 20 in different moving-image recording methods (steps S11, S12 and S13), respectively. Thus, the settable upper limit of recording quality need not be set to that of recording media having low write speed performance.

Abstract: Provided is an information recording apparatus having a mode SW for selecting a first mode of starting photographing after operations of a unit for detecting whether or not there is a disk and a unit for detecting remaining recording capacity of the disk when an instruction is given to start photographing through a photographing SW, or a second mode of starting photographing and operating a unit for detecting whether or not there is a disk and a unit for detecting the remaining recording capacity of the disk when the instruction is given to start the photographing through the photographing SW. The information recording apparatus is convenient in that stress given to a user in a case where the photographing cannot be performed immediately or data cannot be recorded even though photographing has started can be suppressed to a minimum.

Abstract: A digital camera (10) includes an SDRAM (26). When 40 frames of image signals are accumulated in the SDRAM (26), a combined file including the 40 frames of image signals is created in a data area of a magnetooptical disk (36), and FAT information of the combined file is written into an FAT area of the magnetooptical disk (36). When a predetermined condition is satisfied, image data of the combined file is read out by each 1 frame, and an image file including the read image data is created in the data area of the magnetooptical disk (36), and the FAT information of the image file is written into the FAT area of the magnetooptical disk (36). Such the process is repeated for 40 times, and the combined file is later deleted.

Abstract: An image processing device for performing image processing for an image signal output from an image sensor and outputting the results, including: an internal memory having line memories for storing an image by row or column; an image processing section for performing the image processing using the internal memory; and a CPU for controlling the image processing section. The image processing section includes a plurality of processing circuits each performing predetermined processing as the image processing. At least one of the plurality of processing circuits is configured to allow use of an external memory provided outside the image processing device as required.

Abstract: On the external packing film 124 of the memory card insertion section vicinity of the bottom surface of the digital camera 100, the ROM chip and the print wiring 131 are surface-mounted, and one end of the print wiring 131 is connected to the ROM chip 130, and the other end is connected to the external connecting terminal 132 provided on the bottom surface of the digital camera 100. The identifying information in the ROM chip 130 is read out at the time of the operation of the digital camera 100, and is collated with the identifying information inside the camera, and when it can not be collated or it is not coincident, the power source of the camera is compulsively turned off.

Abstract: An accessory is provided for use with an image capture device is provided. The accessory has a trigger button and an image capture system adapted to capture an image in response to actuation of the trigger button. The accessory also has a body adapted to be detachably connectable to the image capture device with the body including, a holding unit for receiving a removable metadata source having metadata stored therein; a communication interface for communicating with the removable metadata source; and a trigger sensor for generating a trigger signal when the trigger button of said image capture device is depressed. The communication interface obtains metadata from the removable metadata source in response to the trigger signal and stores the metadata in a metadata memory so that the metadata is associated with the captured image.

Abstract: A data recording apparatus for recording data on a recording medium includes an acceleration detector configured to detect an acceleration which the apparatus is undergoing; a use mode detector configured to detect which one of fixed and non-fixed modes the apparatus is used in; a fall state determination unit configured to determine a fall state of the apparatus by switching fall detection algorithms for detecting a fall of the apparatus on the basis of an acceleration detected by the acceleration detector and the history of acceleration changes in accordance with the detection result by the use mode detector; and a preventive operation controller configured to cause an operation for preventing damage to the recording medium to be performed in accordance with the determination result of the fall state of the apparatus by the fall state determination unit.

Abstract: An interface card for a device with image output capabilities. The interface card includes a connector for connecting to the device and a controller. The controller sends data for output of an image of a quick-start guide from the interface card to the device through the connector. The controller sends the data once without error and does not send the data to the device again unless the interface card is reset with respect to whether the data has been sent. In the preferred embodiment, the interface card further includes a non-volatile memory, and the controller stores an indication that the data has been sent without error in the non-volatile memory in a case that the data has been sent without error. The controller uses the indication to determine if the data has been sent once without error, and the interface card is reset with respect to whether the data has been sent by resetting the indication.

Abstract: A digital video camera may include a digital video image sensor for capturing digital video footage to be stored on an internal memory. The digital video image sensor and internal memory may be housed in a camera body. A retractable arm having a data connector may be attached to the camera body. The arm can be extended from and retracted into the camera body, while the data connector can be used to transfer digital video footage to an external device, such as a computer. The data connector may conform to a standard for connecting peripheral devices, such as the Universal Serial Bus (USB) standard or the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 1394 (IEEE 1394) standard.

Abstract: A system and method for three-axis stabilization of focal plane data. The system and method include performing a two-dimensional vertical shear transformation and a two-dimensional horizontal shear transformation. The system and method further incorporate a SIMD computer architecture and an array of addressable processing elements that process the field-of-view for a target image received by a focal plane array of detector elements. Each processing element includes a calculation device that calculates the row and column address of virtual pixels for a virtual field-of-view. The system and method further include a plurality of memory modules configured to store data in a plurality of addressable storage locations by column and row, and each memory module is identified with a different processing element. A dedicated memory routing network for the processing elements and memory modules permits the exchange of information between processing elements and memory modules associated with each processing element.

Abstract: An image data processing device includes: a basic image data acquisition device that acquires basic image data; a simplified image data generation device that generates simplified image data corresponding to the basic image data which has been acquired, a size of the simplified image data being smaller than that of the basic image data; a transmission device that transmits at least the basic image data to an external storage device; and an internal storage device that stores the simplified image data without storing the basic image data.

Abstract: Digital camera is connected to personal computer via communication cable. When a user operates a key to delete any one of images recorded on memory card of the digital camera, digital camera requests personal computer to delete an image which links to the deleted image and is stored in personal computer. When receiving this command, personal computer deletes the image linked to the image deleted from digital camera. These processes ensure consistency between an original image stored in the digital camera and a copy image stored in the personal computer.

Abstract: An image capture device using a memory array that is directly addressed and non-volatile is disclosed. The memory array can be used to replace and emulate multiple memory types such as DRAM, SRAM, non-volatile RAM, a non-volatile memory card, and FLASH memory, for example. The memory array may be randomly accessed. Data stored in the memory array is retained in the absence of electrical power. One or more memory arrays may be used in the image capture device. At least one of the memory arrays may be in the form of a removable memory card.

Abstract: An electronic camera for capturing images that can be transferred to a service provider includes an image sensor for capturing a plurality of images of scenes and for producing image signals representative of the corresponding scenes; an analog-to-digital converter for digitizing the image signals to produce corresponding digital images; and a memory for storing a plurality of digital images. The electronic camera further includes a display coupled to the memory for displaying at least one digital image from the plurality of stored digital images; and a user interface for scrolling through the plurality of digital images stored in the memory in order to display and select a particular digital image to be transferred to the service provider and to select a user, wherein the selected user is provided permission to view the particular digital image when the particular digital image is transferred to the service provider.

Abstract: A system which utilizes the processing capabilities of the graphics processing unit (GPU) in the graphics controller. Each frame of each video stream is decoded. After decoding the compressed image is separated into an image representing the luminance and an image representing the chroma. The chroma image is resampled as appropriate using the GPU to provide chroma values corresponding to each luminance value at the proper locations. The resampled chroma image and the luminance image are properly combined to produce a 4:4:4 image, preferably in the RGB color space, and provided to the frame buffer for final display. Each of these operations is done in real time for each frame of the video.

Abstract: A device for recording customers' AV data including for example, preferential styles of the customers is disclosed. Prior to serving a seated customer, a hairdresser can access AV data of the customer by inserting a memory card into the device and then visually observe it.

Abstract: Group keys and image group names of image groups to which the owner of a digital camera belongs are transmitted from a server to the digital camera. The image group names are displayed in list form and an image group name is selected from the list. The group key of the selected image group is transmitted from the digital camera to the server. The server sends the digital camera access information for accessing the user computer of another user who belongs to the image group identified by the received group key. The digital camera accesses the user computer based upon the access information and receives the image file desired.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus comprises a slot to insert an external memory. An information file in which a fixed form phrase is inputted in the external memory is defined. The imaging apparatus comprises functions to select the fixed form phrase from the information file designated by an operation from the imaging apparatus and register the information data selected at the time of photographing into an Exif file. The information file can be attached to the Exif file only by selecting the information data corresponding to a content provided in the external memory. A screen display of the imaging apparatus can be switched automatically in accordance with defined attribute by a switching operation or a content of work from the imaging apparatus.

Abstract: The invention relates to a disk recording apparatus for recording image data obtained by photographing an object image on a disk, a disk recording method and a program. When completion of photographing, if recording image data onto a disk is not still completed, a notice is made to the effect that image data is being recorded onto the disk.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and a program for implementing the image processing method have a capability of recording/playing back a digital image, and the capability can be extended without a significant increase in load imposed on software. On the basis of camera information and picture-taking information, a XML generator produces a XML file to be written in a maker note area. The XML file is input to a maker note generator to produce maker note data including maker note IFD tags. The maker note is input together with the picture-taking information and the camera information to an Exif IFD generator to produce Exif IFD data. Finally, the Exif IFD data and compressed image data are input to an Exif generator to produce a Exif file. In this manner, the Exif file including the maker note area in which image attribute information is described in the XML language is produced.

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.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus including an image pickup unit, a memory which stores moving image data output from the image pickup unit, a detection circuit which detects that free space of a storage capacity of the memory becomes not more than a predetermined amount, a communicating unit which transmits the moving image data to an external device, and a controller which according to output of the detection circuit provided during photographing the series of moving image data, starts to transmit the moving image data stored in the memory to the external device while photographing the moving image data.

Abstract: An external program supplied from an external unit in order to process an image sensed by a camera is prevented from causing a malfunction in the camera. An external program supplied by an personal computer is stored in an EEPROM of the camera. The external program contains version information giving the version of the camera that is capable of using the external program, the name of the program for control, and parameter information corresponding to the program name. A CPU compares each of these items of information with corresponding information that has been set in the camera, thereby determining whether the external program is capable of being used. If the external program cannot be used by the camera, a warning display is presented on a display unit.

Abstract: A data storage device with a camera function comprises a device body, a camera unit, and a storage unit. One side of the device body is formed with a first electrical connector, the camera unit is provided in the device body, and the storage unit is provided in the device body. Thus, this invention features data storage and camera functions so that a single connection port can be used for both functions, a limited number of connection ports can be used effectively, the inconvenience of having to separate purchase a camera and a data storage device is avoided, and expenses and storage space can be reduced.

Abstract: A digital camera has an image sensor, a capture trigger, a processing system, and a capture buffer having multiple buffer locations. When the capture trigger is activated, a corresponding image frame is received by the processing system from the image sensor and stored in an available buffer location. Image processing is performed on the image frame. The buffer location is unavailable for storage of other image data until the image processing is complete. Auxiliary Image frames are stored in the remaining buffer locations not designated as unavailable.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for inputting a moving image file containing moving image data representing a series of moving images, and still image data of a plurality of pictures related to the moving image data, selecting representative still image data from the still image data of the plurality of pictures of the inputted moving image file, recording identification information for identifying the selected representative still image data in the moving image file.

Abstract: An image capture device includes a first memory, a second memory and an icon changing unit. The first memory stores a plurality of icons. The second memory stores an icon representing the image capture device of which the second memory is a part. The icon is read by an external electronic device through an address space. The address space is accessed by the external electronic device though a serial bus. The icon changing unit changes the icon stored in the second memory to a selected icon that is selected from the plurality of icons stored in the first memory.

Abstract: When a communication device sends an image pickup instruction signal to an image pickup device by remote control, positional information obtained by the communication device is also sent. Upon reception of the image pickup instruction signal, the image pickup device performs image pickup. When storing a taken image, the positional information received is stored in the header of the image. Moreover, when searching an image stored in the image pickup device from the communication device, the image pickup device informs the communication device of search conditions (time information, positional information, and keyword) added to the image and positional information attribute (GPS information, base station ID, and character data). The communication device performs search by using the search condition and the positional information attribute informed by the image pickup device.

Abstract: An electronic device comprises an image-capturing device that captures an image of a subject, a recording device that records image files of images captured by the image-capturing device into a recording medium, a specifying information forming device that forms image specifying information for specifying an image file in the recording medium separately from the image files, a communication device that transfers image files recorded in the recording medium to an external recording device, a transfer instruction operation unit that issues an instruction for the communication device to transfer the image file specified in the image specifying information and a processing device that processes the image files differently depending upon whether or not image specifying information has been formed in the recording medium with respect to the recorded image files.

Abstract: A digital camera includes a CPU (34). The CPU (34) is a multitasking CPU for executing in parallel an imaging task, a file recording task, and a file transmitting task. When a shutter button (32) is operated, JPEG data corresponding to an object scene is written to an SDRAM (22) by the imaging task. An image file including the JPEG data stored in the SDRAM (22) is recorded in a CF memory of a memory/LAN cartridge (30) by the file recording task. The image file recorded in the CF memory is applied to a wireless LAN card of the memory/LAN cartridge (30) by the file transmitting task.

Abstract: An image capture apparatus includes an internal recording unit and a communication unit. The internal recording unit starts recording AV data including image and sound data on a recording medium in response to a record start instruction, and stops recording the AV data on the recording medium in response to a record stop instruction. If the image capture apparatus determines that an external storage device is connected to the communication unit, the image capture apparatus starts outputting the AV data to the external storage device in response to the record start instruction. If the image capture apparatus determines that the internal recording unit becomes unable to record the AV data on the recording medium and the communication unit is outputting the AV data, the image capture apparatus stops outputting the AV data to the external storage device in response to the record stop instruction.

Abstract: An image signal processor 12 inputs digital picture data 101 into a compressor 13 and into a resolution changer 16 in parallel. The compressor 13 outputs compressed data 102, which is compressed digital picture data 101, to an output 14 through a buffer 17. Meanwhile, a resolution changer 16 outputs the new digital picture data 104, which is the digital picture data 101 with reduced resolution, to the output 14. In accordance with the instruction of a selection signal 108, the output 14 selectively outputs either one of digital picture data 104 with reduced resolution and the buffered compression data 105 as output data 106 through the same signal line at the same signal timing. By this means it is possible to provide a camera apparatus which can simplify circuit configurations of external apparatus that receive digital picture data and compression data and simplify the circuit control.

Abstract: The invention provides an image processing apparatus that can reduce the memory capacity of a memory forming part of the image processing apparatus and can correct the optical axis misalignment of a video camera in a simple manner. The image processing apparatus 10, which comprises a video camera 11, a memory 13 for storing an image signal supplied from the video camera, and a CPU 14 for performing prescribed processing on the image signal read out of the memory, includes a selective writing means 12 for selecting only a designated portion of the image signal in accordance with a select command C from the CPU, and for writing only the selected portion as a selected image signal S? into the memory 13. The image processing apparatus further includes a switching means for selecting the pixel data to be stored in the memory by switching between high-density pixel data covering a designated range centralized in a horizontal direction of the image and relatively low-density pixel data covering a full image range.

Abstract: A wireless communication unit of the present invention comprises: an interface portion signally connected to a connector of a main device, the connector being dedicated to a recording-medium; a recording portion performing non-volatile recording; a wireless communication portion performing wireless communication; and a control portion transmitting information to be recorded through the wireless communication portion to an external destination and generating a backup of the information in the recording portion, the information being inputted from the main device to the control portion through the interface portion. Consequently, obtained is a wireless communication unit capable of being readily fitted even to a main device without a general-purpose card connector provided therein, and also capable of preventing important information from being lost even if the wireless communication fail.

Abstract: When it is ascertained that continuous photography has been terminated, the recording to an external recording medium, via an image recording circuit, of image data stored in an internal memory is initiated. When an instruction is issued to start the recording of data onto the external recording medium, the state of a protection cover detection switch is detected. When the detection result of the protection cover detection switch indicates the protection cover is open, the recording of the image data onto the external recording medium is halted, and data stored in the external recording medium are protected. While when image data is still present in the internal memory, the conductive state of the internal memory is maintained following the halting of the data recording performed for the external recording medium, so that the loss of the image data in the internal memory is prevented.

Abstract: An electronic camera apparatus comprises: an A/D unit 4 obtaining captured image data by A/D converting an image signal obtained by capturing an image; a preprocessing unit A 5a executing a preprocess for generating image data to be recorded from the captured image data; a preprocessing unit B 5b, which is allowed to execute a process in parallel with the preprocess executed by the preprocessing unit A 5a, executing a preprocess that includes a filter process and a pixel number conversion process in order to generate image data to be displayed, whose data amount is smaller than the image data to be recorded, from the captured image data; a buffer memory 9 temporarily storing both image data for which the preprocess is executed by the preprocessing unit A 5a, and image data for which the preprocess is executed by the preprocessing unit B 5b; and a processing unit 5c executing an image process for making recording and a display, which are related to the captured image data, based on the image data to be recorde

Abstract: Even if the digital camera is inexpensive without the function of reproducing images, it can effectively use a memory capacity and has the function of responding to quick image-capturing, and important images can be recorded with higher priority. The digital camera comprises a priority selection switch for selecting priority of an image, and information about selected priority is recorded in association with the image when the image is recorded. For example, priority is ranked on three stages of “important”, “normal”, and “memo”. When a recording medium for storing image data has an insufficient memory capacity, control is exercised such that an image with priority lower than a newly captured image is automatically erased to record the new image. Further, a recorded image may be analyzed to automatically assign a low priority value to an image that may be damaged.

Abstract: A system for controlling original image data of an object captured thereby and a method using the system. The system includes a digital camera and an image display terminal. The digital camera forms image line data having a plurality of image line data units representing the original image to generate inverted unit images, and combines the inverted unit images to generate a partly inverted image file. In this case, the digital camera generates each inverted unit image by reversely storing the image line data by a predetermined number of the image line data units. Also, the digital camera reduces each of the image signals by a predetermined size. The image display terminal is rotatably connected with the digital camera. The image display terminal reversely recombines the inverted unit images included in the partly inverted image file, and generates a new image file including an inverted image to be displayed.

Abstract: A method and related system for managing data compression activities within a removable storage device that is receivable by a host device. An exemplary embodiment of the storage device typically includes a storage medium for storing received and compressed data. The storage device further includes a processor for managing data compression functions and writing received and compressed data to the storage medium.

Abstract: A photographing operation control device comprises a buffer memory in which image data is temporarily stored. In a blank photographing mode, when a release switch is turned ON, image data obtained through a photographing optical system is stored in the buffer memory. In the blank photographing mode, the image data stored in the buffer memory is not recorded in a PC card. In a normal photographing mode, when the release switch is turned ON, the image data is stored in the buffer memory and then transmitted to the PC card, in which the image data is recorded.

Abstract: A control system for an image file eliminating saving of an overlapped image data part and saving files in a short time and in a power-saving manner. When a digital camera and a personal computer are connected with each other for data communication, the system compares record unit information to identify an image file that the digital camera has with record unit information to identify an image file that the personal computer has, and transfers to save the image file, which includes the record unit information that the digital camera has and the personal computer does not have, from the digital camera to the personal computer. After completing transfer of the image file from the digital camera to the personal computer, the personal computer generates record unit information newer than the record unit information of the acquired image file and transmits the newer record unit information to the digital camera, which can be recorded in the header of the image file newly photographed by the digital camera.

Abstract: A digital camera further includes a compression/multiplex section for providing compressed motion picture data by compressing the respective frames constituting a motion picture in a predetermined operation mode, a communication interface for outputting the compressed motion picture data in an appropriate format, and a picture selection unit which permits a user to select a picture. When the user selects a picture, the compression/multiplex section outputs the selected picture instead of compressed motion picture data.

Abstract: An electronic camera system including an electronic camera having a recording medium which records image information obtained by shooting an image, a detection arrangement which detects that a memory capacity of the recording medium becomes a predetermined value, and a first interface which transmits and receives information, and a communication unit including a wireless communication arrangement which can transmit an image file, a transmission control arrangement to transmit the image information recorded on the recording medium by the wireless communication arrangement based on a detection signal from the detection arrangement, and a second interface which transmits and receives the information with the first interface of the electronic camera.

Abstract: Described is a system having a digital camera and a docking unit which permits the docking unit to receive images over a channel and direct them to a viewable display in the digital camera.

Abstract: An image memory used for processing signals from a camera can be released within a short period of time. Specifically, when all of the image data are transmitted to a buffer memory, a control circuit in a camera relinquishes processing control of an imaging circuit, an encode buffer memory, a frame memory, an image codec and an IC card interface circuit, so that these sections are released when the communication circuit initiates communication with the exterior.

Abstract: In a digital camera in which a photographic field is photographed and which has an image pick-up device 102 for outputting an image signal corresponding to a photographic field, an analog signal processing circuit 106 for processing the image signal, a digital signal processing circuit 108 and an image data processing section 110, a detachable memory card 112 for storing so that the image information processed by the processing means can be read out, and a CPU 111 for controlling an operation of each section, the digital camera has a program by which the ID information previously stored in the memory card 112 is read out, and stored in a digital camera main body side.

Abstract: On the external packing film 124 of the memory card insertion section vicinity of the bottom surface of the digital camera 100, the ROM chip and the print wiring 131 are surface-mounted, and one end of the print wiring 131 is connected to the ROM chip 130, and the other end is connected to the external connecting terminal 132 provided on the bottom surface of the digital camera 100. The identifying information in the ROM chip 130 is read out at the time of the operation of the digital camera 100, and is collated with the identifying information inside the camera, and when it can not be collated or it is not coincident, the power source of the camera is compulsively turned off.

Abstract: An electronic video camera temporarily records and saves motion video in a relatively high-resolution form in a frame aging buffer. While video frames are saved in high-resolution form, it is possible to extract a relatively high-resolution still image from the buffer. The camera holds the video data in high-resolution form a limited time, eventually “aging” it as more frames are captured. The motion video is stored in persistent storage in a lower resolution form. At the user's option, relatively higher resolution frames from the buffer can also be saved.

Abstract: A system and method for using scripts and selectable feature parameters to configure digital camera device features. The digital camera includes memory storing scripts for providing digital camera device features, an interface enabling a user to modify feature settings, a port connectable to a host computer for modifying or adding scripts to the memory, and a script manager for interpreting the scripts and the feature settings. The digital camera further includes an imaging device for generating a digitized image, and image processors for enhancing the digitized image according to the scripts and the selected feature settings. The digital camera still further includes command handlers for configuring the imaging device and the image processors according to the scripts and the feature settings.