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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, an imaging system and method for operating an imaging system is provided. The imaging system has a metadata source adapted to generated a metadata signal in response to a manual metadata input action and a trigger system for generating a trigger signal in response to a trigger condition. An image capture system adapted to capture images is provided. A processor is operable to cause an image to be recorded only when the processor receives both a trigger signal and a metadata signal that uniquely correspond to the image.

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

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

Abstract: A method for determining one or more defective pixels in an area array image sensor wherein such defects can form a defective cluster and for producing a defect map which can be used in a digital camera for image correction includes capturing a digital image using the image sensor and storing such digital image in a memory; identifying a plurality of defective pixels which form a defective cluster in the digital image by processing the digital image data using a localized averaging filter; and forming a map identifying the location of the defective cluster in the digital image.

Abstract: Electronic imaging apparatus having an image sensor for capturing an image \and for transferring such image to an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter which produces a digital image signal representative of the captured image is disclosed. The electronic imaging apparatus comprises an analog section including circuitry for producing an oscillator driven clock signal, a timing generator for controlling the operation of the image sensor and the A/D converter, and circuitry responsive to the oscillator driven clock signal for producing a master clock signal. The electronic imaging apparatus further includes a digital processing section including a control processor responsive to the master clock signal for producing a plurality of image sensor control signals; and the timing generator being responsive to the image sensor control signals and the oscillator driven clock signal for producing timing signals to control the operation of the image sensor and the A/D converter.

Abstract: An electronic camera for capturing and storing images includes an image capture section and an image processing section. The image capture section includes an image sensor for capturing an image and producing pixel data representative of the captured image, an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter for digitizing the pixel data, and a horizontal shift register responsive to applied vertical clock signals for receiving lines of the pixel data from the image sensor and responsive to applied horizontal clock signals for sequentially transferring the lines of pixel data to the A/D converter, the time between the application of horizontal and vertical clock signals providing for a vertical transfer interval wherein pixel data is prevented from being output from the horizontal shift register.

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

Abstract: A digital camera system is described that allows a user to capture an image including a white balance reference for a particular picture taking venue. The reference is used to determine a white balance setting for the venue. The white balance setting can be used for pictures taken at the venue at that time or saved for future picture taking sessions at that venue. The setting is saved in a removable, non-volatile memory that can be removed from and inserted into the digital camera. The memory can also be used to store the pictures captured at the venue associated with the saved setting. The white balance setting is saved in a file folder having a name allowing the user to correlate the file name with the particular venue. Several folders can be stored in the memory for different venues. The white balance setting can be determined by the digital camera or in an associated computer. The captured images can be white balance corrected in the digital camera or in the associated computer.

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