Method for simultaneously recording motion and still images in a digital camera

Abstract

A method for simultaneously recording motion and still images, includes the steps of: capturing a motion image sequence and accompanying audio of a scene with a digital video camera adapted to record both motion and higher resolution still images; simultaneously capturing a still image sequence having a higher resolution and lower frame rate than the motion capture sequence; compressing the motion image sequence using interframe compression and the accompanying audio and storing the compressed motion image and audio data; and compressing the still images using intraframe coding and storing the compressed still image data.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) [0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 685,998, filed Oct. 11, 2000, entitled “A DIGITAL CAMERA FOR CAPTURING A SEQUENCE OF FULL AND REDUCED RESOLUTION DIGITAL IMAGES AND STORING MOTION AND STILL DIGITAL IMAGE DATA” by Loui et al., the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The invention relates generally to the field of photography, and in particular to combine motion and still image capture. More specifically, the invention relates to a motion / still image capture system which captures image sequences including both full and reduced resolution images and stores digital image data to provide both motion video sequences and digital still pictures. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Currently, it is common for consumers to use camcorders to capture motion video images, which are viewed on a TV display, and film cameras to capture still images which are dev...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a method for recording both motion and still images simultaneously. This is done by capturing a motion image sequence and accompanying audio, as well as a still image sequence with higher resolution and lower frame rate. The motion image sequence is then compressed using interframe compression and the accompanying audio, while the still images are compressed using intraframe coding. This allows for the storage of both the motion and still images in a compact way. The technical effect of this invention is the ability to capture and record more complete and detailed information about a scene in a single recording.

Problems solved by technology

Carrying both types of devices is burdensome, however.

Although these cameras allow one to capture motion and still images, they do not provide adequate still image quality.

This is difficult to do with these prior art systems, where the user must press a special button to obtain a “still” image, rather than deciding at a later time what images they would like to have as high resolution prints.

The amount of data that would need to be processed and stored per second (e.g. 1280×960×30 pixels) would be excessive, requiring a high cost, power-hungry design having a limited recording time.

Images