# US 5,703,628 A · Image data store device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,703,628 A - Document ID: US5703628A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/288,716 - Filed: 1994-08-12 - Granted: 1997-12-30 - Earliest claimed: 1993-08-16 - Assignees: Ricoh Company, Ltd. - Inventors: Kiyoharu Nishiyama - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5703628A ## CPC - G09G 5/393: Arrangements for updating the contents of the bit-mapped memory - G09G 2360/12: Frame memory handling - G09G: ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION (arrangements for transferring data between digital computers and displays G06F3/14; static indicating arrangements comprising an association of a number of separate sources or light control cells G09F9/00; static indicating arrangements comprising integral associations of a number of light sources H01J, H01K, H10H, H05B33/12; scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission, details thereof H04N1/00) ## Abstract An image data store device for storing image data in a memory includes a memory gauging unit for gauging an amount of unused space remaining in the memory, a comparison unit for making a comparison of the noted amount with a memory volume needed to store one image in the memory and for providing information on the comparison, and a display unit for displaying the information. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image data store device, used in a video printer, for receiving, sampling and storing image data in a memory, comprising: a) memory gauging means for gauging an amount of unused space remaining in said memory based on a sampling clock for sampling said image data; b) comparison means for (b1) making a comparison of: 1) said amount of said unused space with 2) a memory volume needed to store one image in said memory; and for (b2) providing information on said comparison; and c) display means for displaying said information on said comparison so as to indicate whether said image data store device can store one image in said memory. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image data store device as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said display means displays said information when said amount of said unused space is smaller than said memory volume. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The image data store device as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said memory gauging means gauges said amount of said unused space by using an address of a current writing location in said memory and a total memory volume of said memory. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The image data store device as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said comparison means makes a comparison of said amount of said unused space with a memory volume needed for each of a plurality of predetermined image store modes to store corresponding single images in said memory, and said information is numbers, each of which indicates a number of images possible to be stored in said unused space by using corresponding one of said plurality of predetermined image store modes. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The image data store device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said memory gauging means gauges said amount by using an address of a current writing location in said memory and a total memory volume of said memory. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The image data store device as claimed in claim 5, further comprising selecting means for selecting one of said plurality of predetermined image store modes, so that a user can select one of said plurality of predetermined image store modes by referring to said information. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The image data store device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said selecting means automatically selects one of said plurality of predetermined image store modes when said one is the only one possible to be used in consideration of a size of said unused space. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The image data store device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said plurality of predetermined image store modes are a non-compression mode and at least one compression mode. ### Claim 9 An image data store device, used in a video printer, for receiving, sampling and storing image data in a memory, comprising: a) memory gauging means for gauging an amount of unused space remaining in said memory based on counting pulses in a horizontal clock signal for sampling said image data and pulses in a horizontal synchronous signal; b) comparison means for (b1) making a comparison of: 1) said amount of said unused space with 2) a memory volume needed to store one image in said memory; and for (b2) providing information on said comparison; and c) display means for displaying said information on said comparison so as to indicate whether said image data store device can store said one image in said memory. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The image data store device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said display means displays said information when said amount is smaller than said memory volume. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The image data store device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said comparison means makes a comparison of said amount with a memory volume needed for each of a plurality of predetermined image store modes to store corresponding one image in said memory, and said information is numbers, each of which indicates a number of images possible to be stored in said unused space by using corresponding one of said plurality of predetermined image store modes. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The image data store device as claimed in claim 11, further comprising selecting means for selecting one of said plurality of predetermined image store modes, so that a user can select one of said plurality of predetermined image store modes by referring to said information. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The image data store device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said selecting means automatically selects one of said plurality of predetermined image store modes when said one is the only one possible to be used in consideration of a size of said unused space. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The image data store device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said plurality of predetermined image store modes are a non-compression mode and at least one compression mode.