Patent ID: 6278481
Filing Date: 2001-08-21
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
A digital camera that fits within a film cavity of a non-digital camera having a lens adapted to deliver radiated energy reflective of an image onto an imaging area of the non-digital camera and a shutter aperture positioned between the lens and the imaging area, comprising:a light detector for detecting lights due to the opening of the shutter aperture of the non-digital camera; anda complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) integrated circuit chip coupled to the light detector and positionable in the film cavity without a card extending substantially throughout the film cavity and occupying the same area as the imaging area, the chip comprising:an on-chip CMOS imager located adjacent to the shutter aperture of the non-digital camera, said imager sensing radiated energy reflective of the image received through the lens and shutter aperture of the non-digital camera when the light detector detects lights due to the opening of the shutter aperture of the non-digital camera, said on-chip imager generating signals reflective of the image,an on-chip CMOS analog-to-digital (A/D) converter coupled to the imager to convert the signals reflective of the image into digital signals,an on-chip CMOS processor coupled to the on-chip A/D converter to perform color processing on the digital signals and to compress the digital signals from the on-chip A/D converter, andan on-chip high density CMOS memory array coupled to the on-chip processor to store the compressed digital signals.