Importance

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Abstract

In a filmless digital camera, each image is individually evaluated and the compression applied in such manner as to retain maximum quality while fitting the data into the pre-assigned memory. For example, such a camera may have a stated image storage capacity for designated number of images, for example, thirty-two black and white images. In one embodiment of this invention, the image data is generated as analog data and converted into digital data. These data representing one complete image, are divided into small discrete blocks. Each of these blocks is compressed using one of the standard compression methods such as the discrete cosine transform (DCT). Each block of compressed data is then examined and a determination made as to the quality of an image resulting from such compression. If the quality falls below a pre-set standard, the block of data is compressed by an alternate method, for example, by differential coding. The blocks of data that meet the quality requirement, without use of the alternate compression method, are recorded by the first compression method without further processing. Each block of data is coded to indicate the method by which it is compressed. After compression, of the entire image, a computation is mad of the memory storage capacity required for the image. If the required memory is appreciably less than the amount of memory allocated for each image, the compression parameters are adjusted accordingly and the image compressed again. When the memory requirement falls within the established tolerance, the image is recorded. Each block of data is encoded to indicate the method by which it was compressed prior to recording.

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First Claim