Television – Camera – system and detail – Camera connected to computer
Reexamination Certificate
1998-05-29
2003-06-10
Garber, Wendy R. (Department: 2712)
Television
Camera, system and detail
Camera connected to computer
C348S231200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06577336
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to digital cameras. More particularly, improved digital camera architectures and components are described.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, digital cameras have become very popular. The digital camera converts an optical image to electronic image data and digitally records the image data on a storage medium. When the image is reproduced, the recorded digital data is retrieved from the storage medium and displayed on a display device or printed out as a hard copy image.
Referring initially to
FIG. 1
, conventional digital camera systems
100
typically include a digital camera
102
having an optical lens
104
for focusing light rays onto an imaging capture unit
106
. The imaging capture unit
106
typically relies upon an array of light sensitive photo optic cells
108
, capable of converting the light rays received from the optical lens
104
into representative analog signals. Most commonly, the photo optic cells take the form of charge-coupled devices (CCDs), although other devices such as CMOS receptors may be used as well. As is well known in the art, each CCD array
108
must have associated with it a specific color filter array (CFA). In most applications, the CFA is an empirically derived pattern of individual color filters each associated with a specific CCD cell in the CCD array. A color converter circuit
110
then uses a particular interpolation algorithm associated with the specific CFA to generate the analog signals representing the CCD manufacturer's predetermined concept of the proper color scheme of the image. Manual input controls
103
(i.e., push-buttons, for example) provide manual inputs to a step controller
105
suitably disposed to provide control signals to the imaging capture unit
106
. Such control signals are used to control such imaging parameters as f-stop, exposure, zoom, focus, and flash attachments, if appropriate.
The imaging capture unit
106
sends the analog signals representing the image first to an analog-to-digital (AID) converter unit
112
. The A/D converter unit
112
converts the representative analog signals into digital signals representative of the image. The digital signals are then passed to a digital signal processor (DSP)
114
where they are converted to appropriate digital formats. An image compression circuit
116
as well as a memory
118
both receive the appropriately formatted digital signals. The image compression circuit
116
operates to digitally compress the received digital images in order to -reduce the amount of resources required to further process the digital signals. One such formatting scheme referred to as JPEG is commonly used, although there are a wide variety of suitable picture formats. Once the image has been digitally compressed, it is sent by way of a memory interface
120
to a memory slot
122
capable of receiving a memory card
124
suitable for storing the compressed digital signals. Such memory cards
124
include “floppy” disks, flash EPROM cards, R/W compact disc (CD), SmartMedia and the like.
Unfortunately, conventional digital cameras have several important limitations. One such limitation is the fact that the conventional digital camera may only use the color filter array (CFA) and its associated color interpolation algorithms. Any subsequent improvements in CCD array technology cannot easily be incorporated into the conventional digital camera system.
Lack of integration also provides for expensive and cumbersome digital cameras. As can be readily seen, the conventional digital camera system
100
has many discrete functional blocks encompassing many different circuits. It is therefore relatively expensive for conventional digital cameras to provide image correction, color correction, image compression, as well as provide all appropriate control and timing signals in one unit.
In addition, each CCD or CMOS imager has different clocking requirements, resolution, etc. That requires dedicated ASICs, or other dedicated logic, to properly drive them. This results in higher manufacturing cost and an inflexible camera architecture.
It would be advantageous and therefore desirable to have available components that can be used by a variety of digital camera manufacturers, regardless of their specific image sensor, color interpolation scheme, etc.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Digital cameras and methods for using digital cameras that are capable of authenticity stamping captured images are disclosed. In one aspect, the digital camera includes an image capture unit arranged to output analog signals that represent a captured image. The digital camera also includes a converter unit for converting the analog representations of the captured image to a digital representation of the image and an image processor arranged to create an image file from the digital representations of the image. The digital camera further includes an authentication stamper for inserting authentication stamps in the image file.
In another aspect of the invention, a method of authentication stamping a digital image is disclosed. In this embodiment, an authentication stamper attaches to the captured image information useful in authenticating the source of the captured image. The captured image is authenticity stamped within the digital camera by attaching to the captured image information useful in authenticating the source of the captured image.
In one preferred embodiment, an image digest, which is a function of the captured image and identification information that is useful in authenticating the source of the captured image, is created. In some implementations, the image digest is formed using a one-way HASH algorithm, and the encrypting is done using a secure key that is a private key.
In yet another aspect of the invention, a method is disclosed for authenticating the source of a digital image that has an authentication stamp that has been attached to the image by a digital camera that originally captured the digital image. A first image digest is formed from the digital image being authenticated. A second image digest is created from the attached authentication stamp. Finally, the first image digest is compared to the second image digest to determine whether the first image digest and the second image digest are the same. When the first image digest and the second image digest are the same, the source of the digital image is considered to be authenticated.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3744390 (1973-07-01), Clark
patent: 3820133 (1974-06-01), Adorney et al.
patent: 3852602 (1974-12-01), Gramm et al.
patent: 3864708 (1975-02-01), Allen
patent: 3974329 (1976-08-01), Zenzefilis
patent: 4005261 (1977-01-01), Sato et al.
patent: 4013876 (1977-03-01), Anstin
patent: 4092654 (1978-05-01), Alasia
patent: 4097893 (1978-06-01), Camras
patent: 4423934 (1984-01-01), Lambeth et al.
patent: 4544960 (1985-10-01), Konishi
patent: 4546380 (1985-10-01), Knop
patent: 4587633 (1986-05-01), Wang et al.
patent: 4591900 (1986-05-01), Heeb et al.
patent: 4713686 (1987-12-01), Ozaki et al.
patent: 4811043 (1989-03-01), Ishimura et al.
patent: 4819059 (1989-04-01), Pape
patent: 4833533 (1989-05-01), Augusti et al.
patent: 4985911 (1991-01-01), Emmons et al.
patent: 5021811 (1991-06-01), Maurinus et al.
patent: 5062136 (1991-10-01), Gattis et al.
patent: 5164831 (1992-11-01), Kuchta et al.
patent: 5164982 (1992-11-01), Davis
patent: 5185671 (1993-02-01), Lieberman et al.
patent: 5202767 (1993-04-01), Dozier et al.
patent: 5264935 (1993-11-01), Nakajima
patent: 5264944 (1993-11-01), Takemura
patent: 5282025 (1994-01-01), Sato
patent: 5402170 (1995-03-01), Parulski et al.
patent: 5438359 (1995-08-01), Aoki
patent: 5440699 (1995-08-01), Farrand et al.
patent: 5466560 (1995-11-01), Sowinski et al.
patent: 5471383 (1995-11-01), Gobush et al.
patent: 5477264 (1995-12-01), Sarbadhikari et al.
patent: 5485370 (1996-01-01), Moss et al.
patent: 5499294 (1996-03-01), Friedman
patent: 5500700 (1996-03-01), Massarsky
patent: 5517265 (1996-05-01), Zander et al.
Agilent Technologie,s Inc.
Garber Wendy R.
Tillery Rashawn N.
LandOfFree
Authentication stamping in a digital camera does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Authentication stamping in a digital camera, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Authentication stamping in a digital camera will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3118311