throbber

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`(19) United States
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`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2006/0023083 A1
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` Yoo (43) Pub. Date: Feb. 2, 2006
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`US 20060023083A1
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`(54) METHOD OF CONTROLLING DIGITAL
`PHOTOGRAPHING APPARATUS FOR
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`EFFICIENT REPRODUCTION OPERATION
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`AND DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHING
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`APPARATUS ADOPTING THE SAME
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`.
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`(75) mentor: Hyun'soo Y00> Seongnam'51(KR)
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`Correspondence Address:
`GARDNER CARTON & DOUGLAS LLP
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`ATTN: PATENT DOCKET DEPT.
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`191 N. WACKER DRIVE, SUITE 3700
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`CHICAGO, IL 60606 (US)
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`(73) Assignee: Samsung TechWin Co., Ltd., Chang-
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`won-city (KR)
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`(21) Appl. No.:
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`Filed:
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`(22)
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`10/966,521
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`Oct. 15, 2004
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`(30)
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`Foreign Application Priority Data
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`Jul. 27, 2004
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`(KR) ....................................... 2004-58796
`_
`_
`_
`_
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`Pubhcatm“ C'aSS‘ficatm“
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`
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`(51)
`Int. Cl.
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`H04N 5/76
`2006.01
`(52) US. Cl.
`......................(................).................. 348/231.99
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`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
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`Amethod of controlling a digital photographing apparatus in
`
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`a moving-image photographing mode is provided. The
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`method includes creating a moving-image file in a storage
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`medium, storing moving-image data in the moving-image
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`file, and reproducing the moving-image data stored in the
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`moving-image file When in a reproducing mode. The method
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`further includes the operations of storing frame data of the
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`moving-image data in the moving-image file as still-image
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`data When in the moving-image photographing mode and
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`displaying a still image of the frame data stored in the
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`moving-image file as a representative image of the moving-
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`image file When in the reproducing mode.
`
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`Oi
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`511
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`FLASH
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`CONTROLLER
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`CDS-—ADC
`
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`501
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`5‘32
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`507
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`DSP
`
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`503
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`RTC
`
`1
`
`/
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`- - -
`DRAM
`EEPROM
`MCI
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`«5w
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`
`
`LENS DRIVER
`
`
`
`FLASH
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`19
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`
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`USER
`
`INPUT UNIT
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`21
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`21 a
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`21 0
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`VIDEO FILTER
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`
`MICRO
`512
`
`CONTROLLER
`514
`513
`
`
`
`I
`I
`
`
`
`
`
`LCD
`DRIVER
`
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`SP COLOR LCD PANEL
`
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`LAMP
`
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`LIGHT
`SOURCE
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`AUDIO
`PROCESSOR
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`Mle-fi
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`509
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`
`35
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`APPL-1042/ Page 1 of 16
`Apple v. Corephotonics
`
`APPL-1042 / Page 1 of 16
`Apple v. Corephotonics
`
`

`

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`Patent Application Publication Feb. 2, 2006 Sheet 1 0f 9
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`US 2006/0023083 A1
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`APPL-1042/ Page 2 of 16
`Apple v. Corephotonics
`
`APPL-1042 / Page 2 of 16
`Apple v. Corephotonics
`
`

`

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`Patent Application Publication Feb. 2, 2006 Sheet 2 0f 9
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`US 2006/0023083 A1
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`FIG. 2
`
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`
`
`17b
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`83 3414L 14 MW 39w 39T
`
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`
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`APPL-1042/ Page 3 of 16
`Apple v. Corephotonics
`
`APPL-1042 / Page 3 of 16
`Apple v. Corephotonics
`
`

`

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`Patent Application Publication Feb. 2, 2006 Sheet 3 0f 9
`
`
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`US 2006/0023083 A1
`
`
`
`\\OE00¢?on,
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`_.mom5mOwOm.UHmmn_O
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`
`APPL-1042/ Page 4 of 16
`Apple v. Corephotonics
`
`APPL-1042 / Page 4 of 16
`Apple v. Corephotonics
`
`
`
`

`

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`Patent Application Publication Feb. 2, 2006 Sheet 4 0f 9
`
`FIG. 4
`
`
`
`
`
`US 2006/0023083 A1
`
` INITIALIZE
`
`
`
`
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`PERFORM PREVIEW MODE
`
`
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`
`
`
`
`SI
`82
`
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`
`
`
`PHOTOGRAPHING
`
`MODE?
`
`
`
`33 MOVING
`
`
`
`IMAGE
`
`
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`
`PERFORM STILL—IMAGE
`
`
`PHOTOGRAPHING MODE
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`PERFORMMOVING—IMAGE
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`PHOTOGRAPHINGMODE
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`PERFORM SETTING MODE
`
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`S7
`
`
`
`
`
`-
`
`TERMINATION
`
`SIGNAL?
`
`
`NO
`
`
`88
`
`
`
`
`IS SIGNAL
`
`
`GENERATED BY REPRODUCING
`
`
`
`MODE BUTTON?
`
`
`
`
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`
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`
`
`P
`
`
`
`39
`
`APPL-1042/ Page 5 Of 16
`Apple v. Corephotonics
`
`APPL-1042 / Page 5 of 16
`Apple v. Corephotonics
`
`

`

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`Patent Application Publication Feb. 2, 2006 Sheet 5 0f 9
`
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`US 2006/0023083 A1
`
`
`FIG. 5
`
`/82
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`
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`PERFORM AWB
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`8201
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`PERFORM AE
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`PERFORM AF
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`8202
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`8203
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`GAMMA CORRECTION
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`8204
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`SCALING
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`8205
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`CONVERT IMAGE DATA
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`8206
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`PROCESS IMAGE DATA
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`8207
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`STORE
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`8208
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`SYNTHESIZE OSD DATA
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`S209
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`CONVERT IMAGE DATA
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`I S210
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`OUTPUT IMAGE DATA
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`821 1
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`
`
`END
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`
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`APPL-1042/ Page 6 of 16
`Apple v. Corephotonics
`
`APPL-1042 / Page 6 of 16
`Apple v. Corephotonics
`
`

`

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`Patent Application Publication Feb. 2, 2006 Sheet 6 0f 9
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`US 2006/0023083 A1
`
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`FIG 6
`
`
`/s41
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`IS RECORDABLE
`
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`CAPACITY AVAILABLE?
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`841 02
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`S4103
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`DRIVE APERTURE AND SET EXPOSURE TIME
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`AUTOMATIC FOCUSING MODE?
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`S4107
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`N0
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`SET WHITE BALANCE
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`S4105
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`INDICATE LACK OF
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`AUTOMATIC EXPOSURE MODE?
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`CAPACITY OF
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`MEMORY CARD
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`NO
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`PERFORM AUTOMATIC FOCUSING
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`CREATE MOVING-IMAGE FILE IN MEMORY CARD
`
`YES
`
`.
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`CAPTURE STILL IMAGE
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`COMPRESS STILL-IMAGE DATA
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`STORE STILL-IMAGE DATA IN STIU.-IMAGE FILE
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`APPL-1042/ Page 7 of 16
`Apple v. Corephotonics
`
`APPL-1042 / Page 7 of 16
`Apple v. Corephotonics
`
`

`

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`Patent Application Publication Feb. 2, 2006 Sheet 7 0f 9
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`US 2006/0023083 Al
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`
`FIG 7
`
`START
`
`S4201
`
`
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`HAS OSD BEEN SYNTHESIZED?
`
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`/ S42
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`NO
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`NO
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`S4204
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`S4205 INDICATE LACK
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`OF CAPACITY OF
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`MEMORY CARD
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`DELETE OSD
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`'
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`STORABLE TIME > 0?
`
`YES
`
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`S4203
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`DISPLAY SYMBOL OF MOVING-IMAGE
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`PHOTOGRAPHING MODE AND STORABLE TIME
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`SET WHITE BALANCE ACCORDING TO SET PHOTOGRAPHING CONDITION
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`DRIVE APERTURE AND SET EXPOSURE TIME ACCORDING
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`TO SET PHOTOGRAPHING CONDITION
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`PERFORM AUTOMATIC FOCUSING ACCORDING TO
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`SET PHOTOGRAPHING CONDITION
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`STOP STORING AND COMPLETE FILE
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`APPL-1042/ Page 8 of 16
`Apple v. Corephotonics
`
`APPL-1042 / Page 8 of 16
`Apple v. Corephotonics
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`

`

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`Patent Application Publication Feb. 2, 2006 Sheet 8 0f 9
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`US 2006/0023083 A1
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`FIG. 8
`
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`FILE STARTER
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`HEAD DATA
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`81
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`82
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`83
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`84
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`85
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`86
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`APPL-1042/ Page 9 of 16
`Apple v. Corephotonics
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`87
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`MOVING-IMAGE DATA
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`AUDIO DATA
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`MISCELLANEOUS DATA
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`FILE TERMINATOR
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`APPL-1042 / Page 9 of 16
`Apple v. Corephotonics
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`

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`Patent Application Publication Feb. 2, 2006 Sheet 9 0f 9
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`US 2006/0023083 A1
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`FIG. 9
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`39
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`/
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`890
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`TYPE OF
`MOVING IMAGE
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`LATEST FILE?
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`DISPLAYIMAGEO
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`STILLilMAG‘EPATASTQBE
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`N CORRESPONDING-I
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`M.9_v.III9.:.I.MA9§.EIIE
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`
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`DISPLAY IMAGE OF
`CORRESPONDING
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`STILL-IMAGE FILE
`RErFéRfigAIIDITEI'IISDNN
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`SIGNAL?
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`TYPE OF
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`CORRESPONDING
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`FILE?
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`REPRODUCE MOVING-IMAGE DATA
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`AND AUDIO DATA STORED IN THE
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`CORRESPONDING MOVING-IMAGE FILE
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`a 8905
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`REWIND
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`‘
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`AS SIGNAL
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`BEEN GENERATED B
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`REPRODUCING MODE
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`
`BUTTON?
`YES
`3908
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`FAST FORWARD
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`REPRODUCTION/
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`TERMINATION SIGNAL?
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`YES
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`8910
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`TERMINATE REPRODUCTION
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`
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`APPL-1042/ Page 10 of 16
`Apple v. Corephotonics
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`APPL-1042 / Page 10 of 16
`Apple v. Corephotonics
`
`

`

`
`
`US 2006/0023083 A1
`
`
`Feb. 2, 2006
`
`
`
`METHOD OF CONTROLLING DIGITAL
`
`
`
`PHOTOGRAPHING APPARATUS FOR EFFICIENT
`
`
`REPRODUCTION OPERATION AND DIGITAL
`
`
`
`
`PHOTOGRAPHING APPARATUS ADOPTING THE
`
`
`SAME
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`
`
`
`
`
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`[0001] This application claims the priority of Korean
`
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`
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`
`
`Patent Application No. 2004-58796, filed on Jul. 27, 2004,
`
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`
`
`
`
`
`
`in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of
`
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`
`
`
`
`which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
`
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`
`
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
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`
`
`[0002]
`
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`
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`[0003] The present invention relates to a method of con-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`trolling a digital photographing apparatus and a digital
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`photographing apparatus using the same, and more particu-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`to a method of controlling a digital photographing
`larly,
`
`
`
`
`
`apparatus, which, in a moving-image photographing mode,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`creates a moving-image file in a storage medium and, when
`
`
`
`
`
`
`in a reproducing mode,
`reproduces moving-image data
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`stored in the moving-image file, and a digital photographing
`
`
`
`
`apparatus using the same.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`2. Description of the Related Art
`[0004]
`
`
`
`
`
`[0005] A conventional digital photographing apparatus
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`filed by the present applicant in 2004 is disclosed in US.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Patent Publication No. 119,876, “Method of Notification of
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Inadequate Picture Quality.” When in a reproducing mode,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the digital photographing apparatus reproduces files from a
`
`
`storage medium.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`[0006] Files stored in the storage medium are divided into
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`two types: still-image and moving-image. In the reproducing
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`mode, an image of a still-image file or an image of an initial
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`frame of a moving-image file are displayed by a user. In a
`
`
`
`
`
`conventional digital photographing apparatus,
`loading a
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`moving-image file and then finding an initial frame is
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`required in order to display an image of the initial frame as
`
`
`
`
`
`
`a representative image of the moving-image file.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`[0007] Therefore, it takes time to display the initial frame
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`In
`as the representative image of a moving-image file.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`addition, errors may occur when finding an initial frame of
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`a moving-image file and displaying the initial frame con-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`secutively in response to file select signals consecutively
`
`
`generated by a user.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`[0008] The present invention provides a method of con-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`trolling a digital photographing apparatus for displaying a
`
`
`
`
`
`
`representative image of a moving-image file quickly and
`
`
`
`
`
`
`stably in a reproducing mode, and a digital photographing
`
`
`
`
`apparatus using the method.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`[0009] According to an aspect of the present invention,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`there is provided a method of controlling a digital photo-
`
`
`
`
`
`graphing apparatus in a moving-image photographing mode.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`The method includes creating a moving-image file in a
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`storage medium, storing moving-image data in the moving-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`image file, and reproducing the moving-image data stored in
`
`
`
`
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`the moving-image file when in a reproducing mode. The
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`method also includes storing frame data of the moving-
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`still image of the frame data stored in the moving-image file
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`as a representative image of the moving-image file when in
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`[0010]
`In the method, an image of still-image data stored
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`in advance in the moving-image photographing mode is
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`file when in the reproducing mode. Further,
`loading the
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`moving-image file and finding a set frame so as to display
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`the representative image of the moving-image file are not
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`required. Consequently,
`the representative image of the
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`moving-image file can be displayed quickly and stably in the
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`[0011] According to another aspect of the present inven-
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`tion, there is provided a digital photographing apparatus
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`adopting the method.
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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`[0012] The above and other features and advantages of the
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`present invention will become more apparent by describing
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`in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to
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`the attached drawings in which:
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`[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a digital
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`photographing apparatus according to the present invention;
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`[0014] FIG. 2 is a back view showing the back of the
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`digital photographing apparatus of FIG. 1;
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`[0015] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the entire con-
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`figuration of the digital photographing apparatus of FIG. 1;
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`[0016] FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a main algorithm
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`of a digital signal processor of FIG. 3;
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`[0017] FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating an algorithm of
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`performing a preview mode of FIG. 4;
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`[0018] FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an algorithm of
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`performing a still-image photographing mode of FIG. 4;
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`[0019] FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an algorithm of
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`performing a moving-image photographing mode of FIG. 4;
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`[0020] FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the structure of a
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`moving-image file obtained by performing the moving-
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`image photographing mode of FIG. 4; and
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`[0021] FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an algorithm of
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`performing a reproducing mode of FIG. 4.
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
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`INVENTION
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`the front part of a digital
`[0022] Referring to FIG. 1,
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`photographing apparatus 1 according to the present inven-
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`tion includes a microphone MIC, a self-timer lamp 11, a
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`flash 12, a shutter release button 13, a viewfinder 17a, a flash
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`light intensity sensor 19, a power switch 31, a lens unit 20,
`and a remote receiver 41.
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`[0023]
`In a self-timer mode, the self-timer lamp 11 oper-
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`ates for a set period of time from when the shutter release
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`button 13 is pressed to when an image starts to be captured.
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`When the flash 12 operates, the flash light intensity sensor
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`19 senses the intensity of the light generated by the flash 12
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`and relays the sensed intensity of the light to a digital signal
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`processor (DSP) 507 of FIG. 3 via a micro-controller 512 of
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`FIG. 3. The remote receiver 41 receives command signals,
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`APPL-1042/ Page 11 of 16
`Apple v. Corephotonics
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`APPL-1042 / Page 11 of 16
`Apple v. Corephotonics
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`

`

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`US 2006/0023083 A1
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`Feb. 2, 2006
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`for example, a photographing command signal, and relays
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`the photographing command signal to the micro-controller
`512.
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`[0024] The shutter release button 13 has two levels. In
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`other words, referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, after operating a
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`wide angle-zoom button 39W and a telephoto-zoom button
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`39T when a user lightly depresses the shutter release button
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`13 'to a first level, a first level signal $1 from the shutter
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`release button 13 is turned on. When the user fully depresses
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`the shutter release button 13 to a second level, a second level
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`signal S2 of the shutter release button 13 is turned on.
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`[0025] Referring to FIG. 2, the back of the digital camera
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`1 according to the present invention includes a mode dial 14,
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`functional buttons 15, a manual focusing/deleting button 36,
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`a manual adjusting/reproducing/terminating button 37, a
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`reproducing mode button 42, a speaker SP, a monitor button
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`32, an automatic focusing lamp 33, a viewfinder 17b, a flash
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`standby lamp 34, a color LCD panel 35, the wide angle-
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`zoom button 39W, the telephoto-zoom button 39T, and an
`external interface unit 21.
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`[0026] The mode dial 14 is used for selecting any one of
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`the operating modes of the digital camera 1 such as a simple
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`photographing mode, a program photographing mode, a
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`character photographing mode, a night view photographing
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`mode, a manual photographing mode, a moving-image
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`photographing mode 14MP, a user setting mode 14My, and
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`a recording mode 14V.
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`[0027] After selecting the moving-image photographing
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`mode 14MP, when a user presses the shutter release button
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`13, a moving-image file is created in a storage medium, i.e.,
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`a memory card. The data of the initial frame, which is used
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`to display a representative image, and moving-image data
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`are stored in the moving-image file. When the user presses
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`the shutter release button 13 again, the moving-image data
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`being input stops being stored, and the moving-image file is
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`set. The moving-image photographing mode 14MP will be
`described in detail later with reference to FIG. 7.
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`[0028] The user setting mode 14MY indicates an operating
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`mode for specifying the photographic settings for a still-
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`image or moving-image photographing mode. The recording
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`mode 14V is for recording only sounds, such as a user’s
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`voice. After selecting the recording mode 14V, when a user
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`presses the shutter release button, an audio file is created in
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`the memory card and input audio data is stored in the audio
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`file. When the user presses the shutter release button 13
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`again, the audio data stops being stored, and the audio file is
`set.
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`[0029] The functional buttons 15 are used for operating
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`specific functions of the digital camera 1. The functional
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`buttons 15 are also used as control buttons to manage the
`movement of an active cursor on the menu screen of the
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`color LCD panel 35. For example, in the still mode or the
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`moving-image photographing mode 14MP, a user may set
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`automatic proximity focusing by pressing a macro/move
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`down button 151,. Also, after selecting a specific option from
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`a menu/select-confirm button 15M, the macro/move-down
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`button 15P can be used to move the cursor down.
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`[0030] When a user presses a voice-memo/move-up but-
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`ton 15R, a 10 second recording is possible upon consecutive
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`photographing. Also, after selecting a specific option from
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`the menu/select-confirm button 15M, the voice-memo/move-
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`up button 15R can be used to move the cursor up. If the user
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`presses the menu/select-confirm button 15M when the active
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`cursor is on a selection menu, the operation corresponding
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`to the selection menu is performed.
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`[0031] The manual
`adjusting/reproducing/terminating
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`button 37 is used for manual adjustment of specific condi-
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`tions. In addition, when a user presses the manual adjusting/
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`reproducing/terminating button 37, a selected moving-im-
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`age file may be reproduced or its reproduction may be
`terminated.
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`[0032] The manual focusing/deleting button 36 is used for
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`manual focusing or deleting in the photographing mode.
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`[0033] The monitor button 32 is used for controlling the
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`operation of the color LCD panel 35. For example, in the
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`photographing mode, when the user presses the monitor
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`button 32, an image of a subject and photographing infor-
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`mation are displayed on the color LCD panel 35. When the
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`user presses the monitor button 32 again, the color LCD
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`panel 35 is turned off. In the reproducing mode, when the
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`user presses the monitor button 32 while an image file is
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`being reproduced, photographing information about
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`image file is displayed on the color LCD panel 35. When the
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`user presses the monitor button 32 again, only pure images
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`are displayed.
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`[0034] The reproducing mode button 42 is used for
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`switching between a reproducing mode and a preview mode.
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`[0035] The automatic focusing lamp 33 operates when a
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`focus is well adjusted. The flash standby lamp 34 operates
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`when the flash 12 of FIG. 1 is in a standby mode. A mode
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`indicating lamp 14L indicates a selection mode of the mode
`dial 14.
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`[0036] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the entire con-
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`figuration of the digital camera 1 of FIG. 1. The entire
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`configuration and operation of the digital camera 1 of FIG.
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`1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 3 in
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`the following.
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`[0037] An optical system (OPS) including the lens unit 20
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`and a filter unit optically processes light. The lens unit 20 of
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`the OPS includes a zoom lens, a focus lens, and a compen-
`sation lens.
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`[0038] When the user presses the wide angle-zoom button
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`39W or the telephoto-zoom button 39T included in a user
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`input unit (INP), a signal corresponding to the wide angle-
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`zoom button 39W or the telephoto-zoom button 39T is
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`relayed to the micro-controller 512. The micro-controller
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`512 controls a lens driver 510, thereby running a zoom
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`motor MZ, which, in turn, moves the zoom lens. In other
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`words, when the user presses the wide angle-zoom button
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`the focal
`length of the zoom lens becomes short,
`39W,
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`thereby widening the angle of view. When the user presses
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`the telephoto-zoom button 39T, the focal length of the zoom
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`lens becomes long, thereby narrowing the angle of view.
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`Since the position of the focus lens is adjusted in a state
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`where the position of the zoom lens is set, the angle of view
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`is hardly affected by the position of the focus lens.
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`[0039]
`In the automatic focusing mode, a main controller
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`built into the DSP 507 controls the lens driver 510 through
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`the micro-controller 512, thereby driving a focus motor MF.
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`Accordingly, the focus lens is moved, and, in this process,
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`the position of the focus lens, having the largest high
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`APPL—1042/ Page 12 of 16
`Apple v. Corephotonics
`
`APPL-1042 / Page 12 of 16
`Apple v. Corephotonics
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`

`

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`US 2006/0023083 A1
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`Feb. 2, 2006
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`frequency component of an image signal is set. This position
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`may, for example, correlate to a certain number of driving
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`steps of the focus motor MF.
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`[0040] The compensation lens in the lens unit 20 of the
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`OPS is not separately operated because the compensation
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`lens compensates for the entire refractive index. Areference
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`numeral MA indicates a motor for driving an aperture (not
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`shown).
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`[0041] An optical low pass filter included in the filter unit
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`of the OPS eliminates high frequency optical noise. An
`infrared cut filter included in the filter unit of the OPS blocks
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`the infrared component of incident light.
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`[0042] Aphotoelectric conversion unit (OEC) of a charge
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`coupled device or a complementary metal oxide (CMOS)
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`semiconductor converts light from the OPS into an analog
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`electrical signal. Here, the DSP 507 controls a timing circuit
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`502 to control the operations of the OEC and a correlation-
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`(CDS-
`double-sampler-and-analog-to-digital
`converter
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`ADC) 501. The CDS-ADC 501 processes an analog signal
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`from the OEC, eliminates high frequency noise, adjusts
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`amplitude, and then converts the analog signal into a digital
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`signal.
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`[0043] A real time clock (RTC) 503 provides time infor-
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`mation to the DSP 507. The DSP 507 processes the digital
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`signal from the CDS-ADC 501 and generates a digital image
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`composed of luminance and chromaticity values.
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`[0044] A light source (LAMP) is operated by the micro-
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`controller 512 in response to a control signal generated by
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`the DSP 507 including the main controller. The light source
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`(LAMP) includes the self-timer lamp 11,
`the automatic
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`focusing lamp 33, the mode indicating lamp 14L, and the
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`flash standby lamp 34. The INP includes the shutter release
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`button 13, the mode dial 14, the functional buttons 15, the
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`monitor button 32, the manual focusing/deleting button 36,
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`the manual adjusting/reproducing/terminating button 37, the
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`wide angle-zoom button 39W, and the telephoto-zoom button
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`39T.
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`[0045] A dynamic random access memory (DRAM) 504
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`temporarily stores a digital image signal from the DSP 507.
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`An electrically erasable and programmable read only
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`memory (EEPROM) 505 stores algorithm and setting data.
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`A user’s memory card is inserted or removed in a memory
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`card interface (MCI) 506. The digital image signal from the
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`DSP 507 is input to an LCD driver 514, thereby displaying
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`an image on the color LCD panel 35.
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`[0046] The digital image signal from the DSP 507 can be
`transmitted as serial communications via a universal serial
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`bus (USB) connector 21a or via an RSZ32C interface 508
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`and an RSZ32C connector 21b. The digital image signal
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`from the DSP 507 can also be transmitted as a video signal
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`via a video filter 509 and a video output unit 21C. Here, the
`DSP 507 includes the main controller.
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`[0047] An audio processor 513 can relay sound from the
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`microphone MIC to the DSP 507 or to speaker SP. In
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`addition, the audio processor 513 can output an audio signal
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`from the DSP 507 to the speaker SP. The micro-controller
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`512 controls the operation of a flash controller 511 in
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`response to a signal from the flash light intensity sensor 19,
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`thereby driving the flash 12.
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`[0048] A main algorithm of the DSP 507 of FIG. 3 will
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`now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 4.
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`[0049] When power is applied to the digital photographing
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`apparatus 1,
`the DSP 507 is initialized (Sl). After the
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`initialization ($1), the DSP 507 performs a preview mode
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`(S2). In the preview mode, an image input is displayed on
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`the display panel 35. An operation related to the preview
`mode will be described in detail later with reference to FIG.
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`5.
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`[0050] When the first level signal $1 from the shutter
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`release button 13 is on after a user pressed the shutter release
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`button 13 to the first level, the DSP 507 identifies a current
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`operating mode (S3). Hereinafter, a description of the
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`recording mode will be omitted. The DSP 507 performs the
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`still-image photographing mode or the moving-image pho-
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`tographing mode depending on the chosen current operation
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`mode (Steps S41 or S42). The still-image photographing
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`mode (S41) algorithm will be described with reference to
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`FIG. 6. The moving-image photographing mode (S42)
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`algorithm will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and
`8.
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`[0051] When INP generated signals corresponding to a
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`setting mode are input (SS), the setting mode, wherein an
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`operating condition is set in response to the input signals
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`from the INP, is performed (S6). In the next step (S7), it is
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`determined whether a termination signal has been generated.
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`When a termination signal is not generated, the DSP 507
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`continues to perform the following step.
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`[0052] When a signal is generated by the reproducing
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`mode button 42 in the INP (SS), a reproducing mode is
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`performed (S9). In the reproducing mode, reproducing is
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`performed in response to input signals from the INP. The
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`reproducing mode (S9) algorithm will be described later
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`with reference to FIG. 9. When the reproducing mode is
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`terminated, the above steps are repeated.
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`[0053] The preview mode (S2) algorithm of FIG. 4 will
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`now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 3 and
`FIG. 5.
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`[0054] The DSP 507 performs automatic white balancing
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`(AWB) and sets parameters related to the white balance
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`(S201). In the automatic exposure mode (S202), the DSP
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`507 calculates the exposure by measuring incident lumi-
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`nance, drives the aperture driving motor MA according to the
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`calculated exposure, and sets a shutter speed (S203).
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`[0055] The DSP 507 performs gamma correction on input
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`image data (S204) and scales the gamma corrected image
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`data to meet display standards (S205). The DSP 507 con-
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`verts the scaled input image data from an RGB (red, green,
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`and blue)
`format
`into a luminance-chromaticity format
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`(S206). The DSP 507 processes the input
`image data
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`depending on resolution and display location and also filters
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`the input image data (S207).
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`[0056] The DSP 507 temporarily stores the input image
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`data in the DRAM 504 of FIG. 3 (S208). The DSP 507
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`synthesizes the data temporarily stored in the DRAM 504 of
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`FIG. 3 and on-screen display (OSD) data (S209). The DSP
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`507 converts the synthesized image data from the RGB
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`format into the luminance-chromaticity format (S210) and
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`outputs the image data in the converted format via the LCD
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`driver 514 of FIG. 3 (S211).
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`APPL—1042/ Page 13 of 16
`Apple v. Corephotonics
`
`APPL-1042 / Page 13 of 16
`Apple v. Corephotonics
`
`

`

`
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`US 2006/0023083 A1
`
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`Feb. 2, 2006
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`[0057] FIG. 6 illustrates an algorithm of performing the
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`still-image photographing mode of FIG. 4 (S41). The still-
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`image photographing mode (S41) algorithm will now be
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`described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 3 and FIG. 6.
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`Here, the present position of the zoom lens is alread

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