Hybrid Imaging System FIFO Buffer for Seamless Still Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Digital cameras that capture both still images and movies require users to manually switch modes, interrupting movie recording when capturing a still image, resulting in lost frames due to mode switching delays.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that continuously capture and store digital images in a FIFO buffer, compressing them, and then copy higher resolution images to a separate memory upon user activation, allowing for seamless movie recording and higher resolution still image capture without interrupting the movie filming process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the camera captures still images during movie capture mode, then still image quality is improved, but movie recording is interrupted causing loss of frames
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by continuously capturing and buffering image data at high resolution before a still image capture is requested. The FIFO buffer stores multiple frames in advance, so when the user triggers still image capture, the highest quality image is already available in the buffer, eliminating the need to interrupt movie recording to capture the still image.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the image processing pipeline into separate functional blocks: a movie capture block that continuously records compressed video, a still image capture block that accesses the FIFO buffer for high-resolution still images, and a buffer management block that handles data flow. This segmentation allows both movie and still image capture to operate independently without interfering with each other.
2Manufacturing precision
If high resolution images are stored during movie recording, then still image quality is improved, but memory usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by storing high-resolution image data only in the FIFO buffer for potential still image extraction, while the movie recording uses compressed lower-resolution data. The buffer holds a limited number of high-resolution frames locally, and when a still image is captured, only that specific high-resolution image is extracted and stored, not the entire movie sequence.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the necessary high-resolution still image data from the continuous image stream in the FIFO buffer when a still image capture is triggered. Instead of storing all captured images at full resolution, the system extracts only the specific frame(s) needed for still image output, leaving the rest of the movie data in compressed form.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the camera switches between movie and still image modes, then still image capture is enabled, but operation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements multi-functionality by designing a single camera system that can simultaneously perform both movie recording and still image capture without mode switching. The dual-functional architecture allows the camera to record movies continuously while also capturing high-resolution still images from the same image sensor and processing pipeline, eliminating the need to change operational modes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the movie capture and still image capture functions into a unified system. Both functions share common components including the image sensor, FIFO buffer, and processing unit. The merging allows the camera to operate in a single continuous mode where movie recording and still image capture coexist without requiring manual mode transitions.
Data Source
AI summary
The present application relates to a method and system for storing higher resolution images during capture and storage of a movie comprising lower resolution images.