Frame selection to provide for a zero shutter lag in a digital camera
AssigneeResearch In Motion Limited
InventorsDmitry Denisenkov, Gang Xue, Sung Ho Hong, Qian Wang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus, and an associated method, facilitates capturing an image in an electronic camera without having to wait for an image to settle or the camera to stabilize. Image frames are captured continuously. Data representing captured images is compressed. The compressed files are stored continuously, such that even before a shutter button is actuated, one or compressed image frames have already been recorded. When the shutter button is actuated, the largest of the compressed data files is selected for use, such as display, printing or transmission. Selection is made based on the size of the compressed image file.
Claims20
A camera comprising:
- an image detector configured to be capable of continuously capturing and generating image frames and capable of generating data representing each captured image frame, prior to actuation of a camera picture capture switch;
- an image frame data converter coupled to the image detector and configured to convert data representing each captured image frame into a corresponding, reduced-size image frame data file using an image frame data conversion process, prior to actuation of the camera picture capture switch;
- a reduced-size image frame data file selector configured to select at least one reduced-size image frame data file from a plurality of reduced-size image frame data files, after actuation of the camera picture capture switch, the selected reduced-size image frame being used by the camera to generate a facsimile of a corresponding captured image.
A method of selectively displaying a captured image on a display device, the method comprised of:
- sequentially capturing at least first and second image frames on an image detector, prior to a picture capture switch actuation;
- for each captured first image frame, generating a first-type of image data file representing the first and second captured image frames;
- converting each first-type image data file into a second-type reduced-size, image data file;
- and
- after a picture capture switch actuation occurs, selecting at least one of the first and second, second-type image data files to produce a facsimile of the corresponding first and second image frames.
A portable communications device comprising:
- a processor;
- an image detector coupled to the processor;
- a display device coupled to the processor;
- a picture capture switch;
- a first memory device coupled to the processor and having executable instructions, which when executed cause the processor to:
- continuously capture image frames on the image detector, prior to actuation of the picture capture switch, the captured image frames being similar to each other;
- for each captured image frame, generate a first-type of image data file representing the captured image;
- convert each first-type image data file into a reduced size, second-type image data file, thereby producing a plurality of reduced size, second-type image data files, data in each of the second-type image data files representing a facsimile of a corresponding captured image frame;
- and
- after actuation of the picture capture switch, select the largest second-type image data files to use to generate a facsimile of the corresponding captured image.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.