Back to results
US 6,680,748 B1Granted
Multi-mode camera and method therefor
AssigneePixim, Inc.
InventorJohn Mario Monti
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An image acquisition system that is used to acquire digital images of objects or scenes is disclosed. The image acquisition system supports multiple modes of operation. The image acquisition system can be used to acquire and store not only video images but also still images. The image acquisition system is typically part of, or within, a digital camera, but could also itself be a digital camera.
Claims22
A method for operating an electronic image capturing system having a single image sensor array, said method comprising:
- capturing a first series of video images and storing data of the first series of video images in a first resolution in a data memory of the image sensor array, wherein the data of the first series of video images is read out in accordance with a second resolution;
- capturing a first still image and storing data of the first still image in the first resolution in the data memory of the image sensor, wherein the data of the first still image is read out in accordance with the first resolution;
- capturing a second series of video images and storing data of the second series of video images in the first resolution in the data memory of the image sensor array, wherein the data of the second series of video images is read out in accordance with the second resolution;
- capturing a second still image and storing data of the second still image in the first resolution in the data memory of the image sensor, wherein the data of the second still image is read out in accordance with the first resolution, and
- wherein the single image sensor array is a digital image sensor including an on-chip memory partitioned as at least the data memory and an index memory, and directly producing video images or still images in digital form, each of the video images or still images composed from multiple frames representing sequentially increased exposures to a scene within a predetermined exposure time in accordance with time index values in the index memory.
2 more elements
A method for operating an electronic image capturing system having a single image sensor array, said method comprising:
- (a) operating the electronic image capturing system in a first mode so that data of video images in a data memory of the single image sensor array is read out in a first resolution;
- (b) periodically switching the electronic image capturing system to a second mode;
- (c) operating the electronic image capturing system in the second mode so that data of a still image in the data memory of the single image sensor array is read out in a second resolution;
- (d) thereafter switching the electronic image capturing system back to the first mode;
- and
- wherein the single image sensor array is a digital image sensor including an on-chip memory partitioned as at least the data memory and an index memory, and directly producing video images or still images in digital form, each of the video images or still images composed from multiple frames representing sequentially increased exposures to a scene within a predetermined exposure time in accordance with time index values in the index memory.
3 more elements
A single-chip image acquisition system having a video mode and a still mode, comprising:
- a digital sensor array having a plurality of pixel sensors, each of the pixel sensors configured to generate an analog signal and convert the analog signal to a digital signal, digital signals from the pixel sensors forming sensor digital image information;
- and
- an image processor operatively connected to said digital sensor array, said image processor operating to produce video images in a first resolution from a data memory of said digital sensor array when in the video mode, and operating to produce still images in a second resolution from the data memory of said digital sensor array when in the still mode,
- wherein said digital sensor array and said image processor are provided on a single integrated circuit chip and said digital sensor array includes an on-chip memory partitioned as at least the data memory and an index memory, each of the video images or still images composed from multiple frames representing sequentially increased exposures to the scene within a predetermined exposure time in accordance with time index values in the index memory.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.