First-in-first-out intermediate image storage
View Patent ↗Images are captured within a camera. Upon preliminary image capturing being initiated, color balancing and auto-focus is performed and a predetermined number of images are captured for storage in a first-in-first-out buffer. This is repeated until capture is terminated. Upon a final image capture being initiated, a first image is transferred from the first-in-first-out buffer to a long-term memory within the camera.
1. A method for capturing an image within a camera, the method comprising:
upon preliminary image capturing being initiated, repeating the following until capture is terminated:
performing color balancing and auto-focus;
capturing a predetermined number of images;
storing the predetermined number of images in a first-in-first-out buffer; and
upon a final image capture being initiated, performing the following:
detecting a picture quality of each of the predetermined number of images stored in the first-in-first-out buffer;
choosing one of the images stored in the first-in-first-out buffer based on the detected picture quality of the stored images; and
transferring the chosen image from the first-in-first-out buffer to a long-term memory within the camera.
2. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the chosen image is a last image stored in the first-in-first-out buffer.
3. A method as in claim 1 , further comprising determining a location within the first-in-first-out buffer from which the chosen image is transferred to the long-term memory by selecting between an automatic mode in which the camera automatically chooses the location and a manual mode in which a user manually chooses the location.
4. A method as in claim 1 , wherein upon the final image capture being initiated, additional images are transferred along with the chosen image from the first-in-first-out buffer to the long-term memory within the camera.
5. A method as in claim 1 , wherein preliminary image capturing is initiated upon one of the following actions:
a user turning on the camera;
the camera being placed in a picture capturing mode; or
the user depressing a button on the camera.
6. A method as in claim 1 , wherein capturing the predetermined number of images includes encoding each image before storage of the respective image in the first-in-first-out buffer.
7. A camera comprising:
an image capture mechanism;
capture initiation mechanism that initiates capturing of images by the image capture mechanism;
an intermediate buffer into which images captured by the image capture mechanism are initially stored;
long-term image storage; and
a trigger mechanism, responsive to: (1) a selection between (i) an automatic mode in which an image of the initially stored images is chosen by the camera as a selected image, and (ii) a manual mode in which the same or a different image of the initially stored images is chosen by a user as the selected image, triggering a transfer of the selected image stored within the intermediate buffer to the long-term image storage, wherein when the intermediate buffer is full, images stored within the image capture mechanism are discarded in a first-in-first-out order to make room for new images, discarded images not being saved in the long-term image storage.
8. A camera as in claim 7 , wherein the capture initiation mechanism includes a first button and the trigger mechanism include a second button.
9. A camera as in claim 7 , wherein the capture initiation mechanism and the trigger mechanism are implemented to use a same button.
10. A camera as in claim 7 , wherein the intermediate buffer can store only a single image.
11. A camera as in claim 7 , wherein the selected image is a last image stored in the intermediate buffer.
12. A camera as in claim 7 , additionally comprising:
an encoder that encodes the images captured by the image capture mechanism before the images are stored in the long-term image storage.
13. A camera as in claim 7 , additionally comprising:
an encoder that encodes the images captured by the image capture mechanism before the images are stored in the intermediate buffer; and
a decoder that decodes the selected image before the selected image is placed in the long-term image storage.
14. A camera comprising:
means for capturing images and placing the images in an intermediate buffer;
means for triggering, responsive to: (1) a selection between (i) an automatic mode in which an image of the images placed in the intermediate buffer is chosen by the camera as a selected image, and (ii) a manual mode in which the same or a different image of the images placed in the intermediate buffer is chosen by a user as the selected image, triggering a transfer of the selected image stored within the intermediate buffer to the long-term image storage; and
means for discarding images within the intermediate buffer in a first-in-first-out order to make room for new images, discarded images not being saved in the long-term image storage.
15. A camera as in claim 14 , wherein the intermediate buffer can store only a single image.
16. A camera as in claim 14 , wherein the selected image is a last image stored in the intermediate buffer.
17. A camera as in claim 14 , additionally comprising:
means for encoding the images captured by the means for capturing before the images are stored in the long-term image storage.
18. A camera as in claim 14 , additionally comprising:
means for encoding the images captured by the means for capturing before the images are stored in the long-term image storage; and
means for decoding the selected image before the selected image is placed in the long-term image storage.
19. A method as in claim 3 ,
wherein responsive to the selection of the automatic mode, the camera selects the chosen image.