Patent ID: 6803948
Filing Date: 2004-10-12
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
An image camera comprising:an image sensor for generating image signals representative of images picked-up by said image sensor; a signal processor for processing said image signals to obtain an adjusted video signal (V) in accordance with electric adjustment parameters (EPS); means for generating and supplying said electric adjustment parameters to the signal processor; wherein the image camera comprises a memory circuit connected between said image sensor and said signal processor, wherein the memory circuit is arranged to store the image signals in response to a first user-operable control command and repeatedly apply the stored image signals to the signal processor until receipt of a second user-operable control command, wherein the memory circuit includes a memory device for storing the image signals and a memory controller for the memory device, the adjustment parameter generating means comprises a microprocessor for control of the memory device independently of the electric adjustment parameters and for control of the signal processor via the adjustment parameters, and wherein user-operable input control means are coupled to the microprocessor by which the adjustment parameters can be modified by the camera operator, the microprocessor supplies a freeze control signal to the memory controller to establish a freeze mode, wherein, in the freeze mode, the adjustment parameters are adjustable by the camera operator based upon a frozen input image in the memory device, and in the absence of the freeze control signal, the memory controller establishes a connection between the image sensor and the signal processor that bypasses the memory device.