Patent ID: RE41069

Claim:
An Apparatus apparatus for acquiring an image, said apparatus comprising: an image sensor for converting the image to an electrical signal responding to a trigger signal; an amplifier for amplifying power of said electrical signal, said amplified electrical signal being of analog format; analog-to-digital converting means for converting said amplified electrical signal from said analog format to digital format responding to a reference voltage, wherein said analog-to-digital converting means outputs said digitized electrical signal in series; and processing means for storing said digitized electrical signal in a memory, said trigger signal being generated by said processing means responding to said digitized electrical signal, said reference voltage being generated corresponding to a reference digit, wherein said reference digit is generated responding to said digitized electrical signal, said digitized electrical signal being transmitted to said processing means in series, wherein said processing means comprises: a serial-in parallel-out register for arranging said digitized electrical signal transmitted by said analog-to-digital converting means in parallel transmission responding to an analog-to-digital clock pulse and a clock pulse, wherein said serial-in parallel-out register comprises: first serial connected delay flip flops for arranging said digitized electrical signal transmitted by said analog-to-digital converting means in parallel transmission responding to said clock pulse; and second serial connected delay flip flops for arranging an output signal from said first serial connected delay flip flops in parallel transmission responding to said analog-to-digital clock pulse; and a processor for storing said digitized electrical signal in said memory, wherein said processor generates said analog-to-digital clock pulse and said clock pulse.