Abstract: A method and system for displaying a series of images captured by a digital camera, which includes a user interface that includes a view finder. The method and system first stores each of the captured images in memory, and then displays a plurality of image cells in the view finder, wherein each of the image cells corresponds to one of the captured images. The method and system further provides at least one of the image cells with an image area for displaying the corresponding captured image, and further provides the at least one image cell with an icon area for displaying additional information regarding the corresponding captured image.

Abstract: An apparatus for increasing a digital camera image capture rate comprises an imaging device for capturing raw image data, a frame buffer for receiving the image data, a first RAM spooler for transferring the raw image data to a RAM disk, a first flash spooler for transferring the raw image data from the RAM disk to a flash memory, an image processor for processing and compressing the raw data, a second RAM spooler for storing the compressed image data into the RAM disk, and a second flash spooler for transferring the compressed image data from the RAM disk to the flash memory.

Abstract: A method and system for managing a removable memory used in a digital camera. The method and system includes creating a camera folder on the removable memory corresponding to the digital camera when the removable memory is first inserted into the digital camera. When images are captured, the images are stored only in the folder, such that the removable memory can be used with more than one digital camera without image name conflicts.

Abstract: A method and means for allocating memory for a multiple program structure is described. The present invention includes a method and means for specifying a connection between the programming structures. The present invention also includes a method and means for connecting the programming structures by pointing the input data location of one of the programming structures to the output data location of the preceding programming structure, such that the buffer location used for storing data output from one programming structure becomes the buffer location used to input data into the next programming structure. The present invention also includes a method and means for creating an inter-task buffer. The inter-task buffer is created by first adding a first task which opens the inter-task buffer. The inter-task buffer is completed by adding another task directly after the first task. This second task closes the inter-task buffer.

Abstract: The present invention provides an interrupt register for handling interrupt requests received from external devices at a common interrupt terminal of a CPU. The invention provides inputs, outputs, and storage means as part of the interrupt register. The interrupt register inputs and outputs are used for communication with both the external devices and CPU to prevent mishandling of the interrupt requests.

Abstract: A method and system for creating a slide show with real-time audio in a digital camera. First audio is recorded that implicitly includes a time-based time-line. While the audio is being recorded, a plurality of images are captured, where each one of the plurality of images is captured at some time along the time-line. After capturing images, the recording of the audio is ended. The method and system further includes presenting a slide show from the plurality of images and the recorded audio by playing the recorded audio, while displaying each one of the plurality of images on a display device at the time that the image was captured along the time-line of the recorded audio.

Abstract: A method and system eliminates visible quantizing artifacts in a digital image. The present invention eliminates visible artifacts by determining a function descriptive of a noise model for an input source of image data, utilizing a critical noise/quantizing factor in conjunction with the noise model function to determine a quantization function, and deriving optimum coding for the image data from the quantization function to produce digital image data lacking visible quantization artifacts. The critical noise/quantizing factor is a constant value found to be a value of 3/8. The present invention further includes deriving inverse coding for the optimum coding to allow processing of the digital image.

Abstract: A method for compressing digital image of more than a first predetermined number into the first predetermined number of bits in a substantially lossless manner includes determining a plurality of ranges in which input image data falls and comparing current image data with the plurality of ranges. The method further includes preserving a second predetermined number of bits of the current image data based upon which of the plurality of ranges the current image data falls to encode the current image data as an image value comprising the first predetermined number of bits.A system includes means for determining a plurality of ranges in which input image data falls and means for comparing current image data with the plurality of ranges, the means for comparing coupled to the means for determining.

Abstract: A system and method for recovering from a power failure in a digital camera comprises a power manager for detecting power failures, an interrupt handler for responsively incrementing a counter device, service routines which register to receive notification of the power failure, and a processor for evaluating the counter and providing notification of the power failure to the service routines which then assist the digital camera to recover from the power failure.

Abstract: A system and method for conserving power within a backup battery device comprises a main battery for generating a main operating voltage and a secondary operating voltage, a switching device for connecting the main operating voltage to a secondary power bus which powers a memory device, and a power manager for sensing whenever the main battery drops to a first threshold voltage, whereupon the power manager connects the secondary operating voltage to the secondary power bus if the memory device contains data, and disconnects the main operating voltage from the secondary power bus. The backup battery generates the secondary operating voltage whenever the power manager senses that the main battery has reached a second threshold voltage.

Abstract: A method and system provides for increasing the throughput of serial data in a computer system when a data packet is of unknown length. The method and system includes initializing a first count register to count a length field of the data packet, the length field including a value indication of the length of the data packet. The method and system further includes storing a count for a minimum data portion in a second count register and receiving the data packet from a serial device of the computer system. The method and system further provides for transferring the length value to the RAM of the computer system and loading the count for the minimum data portion into the first count register to provide primary chaining of the first count register to the second count register. The method and system finally provides for comparing a minimum data packet length to the length value in the RAM to determine whether to utilize secondary chaining of the first count register with the second count register.

Abstract: A method and system for automatically focusing an image within a still camera is disclosed. The method and system comprises providing initial focus and exposure values of the image, calculating an exposure setting for the image, and determining a plurality of focus zones for the image. The method and system includes moving the lens through the plurality of focus zones of the image to obtain exposure and focus information about the image. Through a method and system in accordance with the present invention, a digital still camera can produce a three-dimensional like data set of a scene.

Abstract: The audio system having a master clock, a serial port clocked according to a serial clock from the audio system, a programmable audio functional circuitry programmable and operable at a plurality of sample rates, and a rate selection control logic which sense a ratio between the serial clock and the master clock. The serial clock is derived from the master clock. The rate selection control logic reprograms the audio functional circuitry based on the ratio, to operate at one of the plurality of sample rates in response to a change in the clock rate of the serial clock, such that the audio functional circuitry operates at another of the plurality of sample rates.

Abstract: A fixed lens camera comprises a fixed focus lens, an infrared filter, and an optical low pass filter, all disposed in succession within a housing, coaxial with an optical axis. Light from a target passes through an aperture in the housing, and then through the lenses and filters. An image sensor receives the filtered light, and outputs a two-dimensional array signal of corresponding voltages proportional to the incident light striking each sensing element. The voltage signal from the image sensor is filtered using a high pass filter, and the high frequency components of the signal are measured to determine the relative focus of the light from the target. The signal measurement is displayed on a bar LCD to enable focusing of the lens by moving the camera along the optical axis while observing the LCD output.

Abstract: A fixed-focus camera having a retractable close-up lens, fixed-focus lens, infrared filter, and optical low-pass filter disposed along an optical axis within a housing. The close-up lens is switchable between a close-up position coaxial with the optical axis and a far position not coaxial with the optical axis. Light received from a target passes through an aperture in the housing and then through the lenses and filters. An image sensor receives the filtered light and outputs a two-dimensional array signal of corresponding voltages proportional to the energy of light striking each sensing element. The voltage signal from the image sensor is filtered using a high-pass filter and the high-frequency components of the signal are measured to determine a relative focal value for the light received from the target.

Abstract: In a computer system having a digital signal processor for processing tasks in real-time within a series of frames, a method is described for determining whether there is enough processing time available within each frame to process the task such that the frame's total processing time is not exceeded. First, the task's processing time requirement is determined. The time for executing the current task list is then calculated. Next, the remaining amount of processing time available in the frame is determined. This is accomplished by subtracting the current task list execution time from the frame's total processing time. The new task is installed in the task list if the frame's available processing time is at least as great as the task's required processing time. Otherwise, the task is not installed in the task list and an error indication is generated.

Abstract: A seine for collecting bait from a body of water having a bed. The seine comprises a mesh receptacle having an intake portion and a collection portion. A frame is operably connected to the mesh receptacle and has a first portion for holding the intake portion of the mesh receptacle in a receiving state and a second portion for holding the collection portion of the mesh receptacle in a receiving state. An anchor is operably connected to the frame and has a prong capable of penetrating into the bed of the body of water thereby securing the seine to the bed. A handle is operably connected to the frame.

Abstract: In a computer system having two processors both of which are used to process frames, a method for synchronizing a first set of frames corresponding to the first processor with a second set of frames corresponding to the second processor. A value stored in a register is initialized at frame boundaries of the second set of frames. This register value is repeatedly incremented during the frames of the second set of frames so that it increases within the frames. The value in the register is read. A timer value which provides a timing reference for each frame of the first set of frames is read. The value stored in the register when a frame boundary of the second set of frames had occurred is computed, based on the read register value and the read timing value. Based on the computed values, a frame length of the first set of frames is adjusted to maintain or improve frame synchronization between the two frame sets. Furthermore, data synchronization is provided in a similar fashion.

Abstract: A computer system having a processor and a coprocessor, a method and apparatus for developing and executing tasks on a coprocessor. A teamwork operating system for utilizing the coprocessor, e.g. a digital signal processor, resides in part on the processor and in part on the coprocessor. Such a teamwork operating system provides for optimum throughput of work through the coprocessor. An Application Programming Interface (API) is provided to facilitate the development of host application programs that will utilize the coprocessor. A Task Programming Interface (TPI) and a Task Unit Definition Language (TUDL) are provided to facilitate the development of coprocessor code for execution on the coprocessor.

Abstract: A protocol for transferring audio data and control/status data between audio functional units. The protocol involves multiplexing the audio data and control/status data. The multiplexed data is then transferred between a first audio unit and a second audio unit on two wires, each corresponding to the direction of data flow, and according to a clock rate and a synchronization pattern on third and fourth wires respectively.