Electronic imaging system using a removable software-enhanced storage device

An electronic camera for capturing and storing images in a removable digital storage device also containing preloaded software, said camera comprising:

• an optical section for establishing
• optical parameters of image capture;
• an image sensing section for electrically capturing an image provided by the optical section;
• a signal processing section for processing the electrically captured image;
• a programmable processor for controlling one or more of said sections of the camera, said programmable processor including a firmware memory for storing firmware for operating the processor;
• and
• means for loading the programmable processor with the software preloaded in the removable digital storage device for operation of the camera, said software substituting for some or all the firmware in the firmware memory.

An electronic camera for capturing and storing images in a removable digital memory device also containing stored operating code, said camera comprising:

• an image sensor for capturing an image and generating an image signal therefrom;
• a programmable processor for operating upon the image signal;
• a firmware memory for storing operating firm for the programmable processor;
• a memory interface for electrically attaching the removable digital memory device to the camera;
• and
• means for uploading the stored operating code from the digital memory device through the memory interface to the firmware memory, whereby the stored operating code substitutes for some or all the firmware in the firmware memory and the operation of the programmable processor can accordingly be modified from the code stored in the memory device.

An electronic imaging system including an electronic camera for capturing and storing images, and a computer for processing the images, said camera comprising:

• a storage device for storing images captured by the camera;
• an interface for transferring stored images from the camera to the computer, said interface also capable of uploading software from the computer to the camera for operating the camera;
• an optical section for establishing optical parameters of image capture;
• an image sensing section for electrically capturing an image provided by the optical section;
• a signal processing section for processing the electrically captured image;
• a programmable processor for controlling said sections of the camera, said processor including an electrically erasable firmware memory for storing firmware for operating the processor;
• and
• means for loading the programmable processor with the software uploaded from the computer through the interface for substituting for some or all the firmware in the firmware memory and affecting operation of one or more of said sections of the camera.

An electronic imaging system including an electronic camera for capturing and storing images, and a computer for processing the images, said electronic camera comprising:

• a storage device removable from the camera for storing the images captured by the camera, said device also preloaded with software for affecting processing of the images captured by the camera;
• an optical section for establishing optical parameters of image capture;
• an image sensing section for electrically capturing an image provided by the optical section;
• a signal processing section for processing the electrically captured image;
• a programmable processor for controlling said sections of the camera;
• and
• said computer comprising
• an interface for receiving said removable storage device;
• a software driven processing unit for processing the images downloaded through said interface;
• a RAM memory that stores firmware for operating the processing unit;
• and
• means for loading the processing unit with the software preloaded in the removable storage device for affecting processing of the images, wherein the software preloaded in the removable storage device substitutes for some or all the firmware in the RAM memory.

An electronic camera for capturing and storing images in a removable digital storage device also containing preloaded software, said camera comprising:

• an optical section for establishing optical parameters of image capture;
• an image sensing section for electrically capturing an image provided by the optical section;
• a signal processing section for processing the electrically captured image;
• a viewfinder for displaying the captured image;
• a programmable processor for controlling said sections of the camera;
• and
• means for loading the programmable processor with the software preloaded in the removable digital storage device for operation of the camera, wherein the software preloaded in the removable digital storage device includes at least one pre-existing image file that is to be combined with the electrically captured image in the signal processing section, and wherein the pre-existing image file comprises an image overlay with at least one opening through which the captured image is displayed on the viewfinder.

An electronic camera for capturing and storing images in a removable digital storage device also containing preloaded software for subsequent processing by a computer, said camera comprising:

• an optical section for establishing optical parameters of image capture;
• an image sensing section for electrically capturing an image provided by the optical section;
• a signal processing section for processing the electrically captured image;
• a programmable processor for controlling said sections of the camera;
• means for loading the programmable processor with the software preloaded in the removable digital storage device for operation of the camera, wherein the software preloaded in the removable digital storage device includes at least one pre-existing image file that is to be combined with the electrically captured image;
• and
• means for selecting at least one pre-existing image file for combination with the captured image.

An electronic camera for capturing and storing images in a removable digital storage device also containing preloaded software, said camera comprising:

• an optical section for establishing optical parameters of image capture;
• an image sensing section for electrically capturing an image provided by the optical section;
• a signal processing section for processing the electrically captured image;
• a viewfinder for displaying the captured image;
• a programmable processor for controlling said sections of the camera;
• and
• means for loading the programmable processor with the software preloaded in the removable digital storage device for operation of the camera, wherein the software preloaded in the removable digital storage device includes at least one pre-existing image file that is to be combined with the electrically capture image in the signal processing section, and wherein the pre-existing image file includes a plurality of pre-existing images;
• and
• means for selecting one of the plurality of pre-existing images for display in the viewfinder and for combination with the captured image.