System and method for providing an integrated album of stored images in a digital camera

Abstract

A camera incorporates a working memory ( 124 ) for storing a working image corresponding to the last captured image. The working image is displayed on a display screen ( 36 ) in a quick review mode of operation in response to a quick review signal entered by the camera operator via a camera control interface ( 74 ) to control processing circuitry ( 68,72 ) of the camera. The processing circuitry controls the display screen to keep it in an inactive state until the quick review signal is entered, and returns it to an inactive state after a predetermined time period or when the quick review signal is discontinued to conserve energy. In addition, the working image is displayed in the quick review mode regardless of whether a non-volatile memory is available in the camera or, in the case of a hybrid camera, whether a film cartridge is contained in a film chamber ( 98 ) of the camera.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A camera comprising: 
 digital imaging means for generating a digital image representative of a subject scene;    fixed working memory means for receiving and storing the digital image generated by the digital imaging means as a working image;    a non-volatile memory for storing digital images;    a display screen; and    control processing means for controlling the operation of the digital imaging means, the fixed working memory means and the display screen;    wherein the control processing means generates a digital mode image from the working image stored in the working memory and transfers of the digital mode image to the non-volatile memory while retaining the working image in the working memory;    wherein the control processing means selectively generates a display image from a digital mode image stored in the non-volatile memory and transfers the display image to the display screen for display; and    wherein the control processing means selectively generates a quick review image from the working image stored in the working memory and supplies the quick review image to the display screen for display without requiring availability of the non-volatile memory.    
     
     
         2 . A camera as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the digital imaging means generates a plurality of digital images under control of the control processing means, and wherein each subsequent one of the plurality of digital images replaces a preceding one of the plurality of digital images as the working image stored in the working memory, whereby the working image is representative of the last subject scene imaged by the camera.  
     
     
         3 . A camera as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising photographic imaging means for imaging the subject scene onto a photographic film plane of the camera under control of the control processing means.  
     
     
         4 . A camera as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the control processing means includes a camera operator interface that includes an image mode selector for selecting one of a film imaging mode, a hybrid imaging mode and the digital imaging mode of operation.  
     
     
         5 . A camera as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the photographic imaging means images the subject scene onto the photographic image plane in the film imaging mode and the hybrid imaging mode to generate a corresponding photographic film image on a photographic film located at the photographic imaging plane that corresponds with the digital image generated by the digital imaging means.  
     
     
         6 . A camera as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the control processing means generates a film mode digital image from the working image in the film imaging mode of operation and stores the film mode digital image in an internal fixed base camera memory of the camera, and wherein the control processing means selectively generates a display image from the film mode digital image and transfers the display image to the display screen for display.  
     
     
         7 . A camera as claimed in  claim 5 , further comprising a removable interface connection means for receiving a removable memory device; wherein the non-volatile memory is comprised in a removable memory card coupled to the interface connection means.  
     
     
         8 . A camera as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the control processing means generates a hybrid mode digital image from the working image in the hybrid mode of operation and transfers the hybrid mode digital image to the removable memory interface connection means for storage on the memory card.  
     
     
         9 . A camera as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the control processing means selectively generates a display image from a hybrid mode digital image stored on the memory card coupled to the memory interface connection means and transfers the display image to the display screen for display.  
     
     
         10 . A camera as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the digital imaging means generates a plurality of digital images under control of the control processing means, and wherein each subsequent one of the plurality of digital images replaces a preceding one of the plurality of digital images as the working image stored in the working memory, whereby the working image is representative of the last subject scene imaged by the camera.  
     
     
         11 . A camera as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the control processing means activates the display screen for a predetermined time period to display the quick review image.  
     
     
         12 . A camera as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the camera operator interface includes a quick review switch, and wherein the control processing means activates the display screen to display the quick review image as long as the quick review switch is activated.  
     
     
         13 . A camera as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising means for storing the quick review image in the non-volatile memory.