Apparatus and method for increasing a digital camera image capture rate by delaying image processing

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 RAW 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.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application relates to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08 / 355,031, entitled “A System and Method For Generating a Contrast Overlay as a Focus Assist for an Imaging Device,” filed on Dec. 13, 1994, and also relates to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08 / 588,210, entitled “Apparatus and Method for Rotating the Display Orientation of a Captured Image,” filed on Jan. 19, 1996.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for managing digital image data. More particularly, the present invention is an apparatus and method for increasing the image capture rate of a digital camera by delaying image processing and compression.[0004]2. Description of the Background Art[0005]Still-cameras are often required to capture images at rates which vary depending on their selected photographic targets. For example, during a fast-moving sporting eve...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011]The present invention is a method and apparatus for increasing the image capture rate of a digital camera by delaying image processing and compression of the captured image data. In the present invention, an imaging device captures an image in response to an image capture request and responsively produces corresponding raw image data which is temporarily stored into a frame buffer.

Problems solved by technology

Photographers, however, may want to capture another image before the camera has completed the time-consuming image processing and compression of raw image data.

Typically, up to three relatively expensive ASICs may be required to perform the image processing and compression operations.

While such ASIC-based cameras perform the required image processing and compression operations very quickly, their increased cost may render such cameras less attractive to the mainstream consumer market.

Software-based cameras, however, typically require an inordinately long time to perform the image processing and compression operations.

This results in slower successive image capture rates and limits the marketability of the software-based digital still-cameras.

Images