Image encoding and recording apparatus

Abstract

An image coding apparatus comprises: a) first means for fixing or limiting quantity of code produced by compressively coding a given image data, independent of the image; and b) second means for conducting valiable length compression of which quantity of code produced varies according to the image; and selection means for selecting the first and second means.

1 . An image coding apparatus comprising: 
 a) first means for fixing or limiting quantity of code produced by compressively coding a given image data, independent of the image; and    b) second means for conducting variable length compression of which quantity of code produced varies according to the image; and    selection means for selecting the first and second means.    
     
     
         2 . An image coding apparatus according to    claim 1   , wherein 
 both of said first and second means compress the image data of image data for one frame.    
     
     
         3 . An image coding apparatus according to    claim 1   , wherein 
 said image data is multi-value image data.    
     
     
         4 . An image coding apparatus according to    claim 1   , wherein 
 said image data is binary image data.    
     
     
         5 . An image coding apparatus according to    claim 1   , wherein 
 said first means performs DCT transformation coding.    
     
     
         6 . An image coding apparatus according to    claim 1   , wherein 
 said selection means selects one of said first and second means, according to an operator's instruction.    
     
     
         7 . An image coding apparatus according to    claim 1   , further comprising generation means for generating the image data.  
     
     
         8 . An image coding apparatus according to    claim 7   , wherein 
 said generation means is one for transforming a symmetrical image into the image data.    
     
     
         9 . An image coding apparatus according to    claim 1   , wherein 
 said selection means selects said first means when the operator's instruction is given.    
     
     
         10 . An image recording apparatus comprising: 
 a) first means for transforming a symmetrical image into an image signal, and performing variable length coding to produce a variable length coded data;    b) recording means for recording the variable length coded data on a medium; and    c) second means for transforming the symmetrical image to produce a value according to a quantity of the valiable length coded data, prior to the recording by said recording means.    
     
     
         11 . An image recording apparatus according to    claim 10   , wherein 
 said first means comprises    generation means for photoelectrically converting the symmetrical image to produce the image signal; and    transforming means for transforming the image signal produced by said generation means into a variable length code.    
     
     
         12 . An image recording apparatus according to    claim 10   , wherein 
 said medium is a semiconductor memory.    
     
     
         13 . An image recording apparatus according to    claim 10   , wherein 
 said medium is a disk memory.    
     
     
         14 . An image recording apparatus according to    claim 10   , further comprising control means for controlling said apparatus according to a value relating to a quantity of the variable length coded data produced by said second means.  
     
     
         15 . An image recording apparatus according to    claim 14   , wherein 
 said controlling means controls said recording means based on a value according to the quantity of data.    
     
     
         16 . An image recording apparatus according to    claim 10   , further comprising generation means for generating an information indicating data quantity capable of being recorded in the medium, and third means for generating data of number of frames capable of being recorded in said medium, based on a value relating to quantity of data capable of being recorded in said medium and to the coding data.  
     
     
         17 . An image recording apparatus for variable length coding comprising: 
 first means for generating an information relating to capacity of recording of a memory means; and    second means for generating an information concerned with number of frames capable of being recorded in said memory means based on the information from said generation means and on a representative value of code quantity-subjected to variable length coding.    
     
     
         18 . An image recording apparatus according to    claim 17   , further comprising a display means for displaying according to the information generated by said second means.  
     
     
         19 . An image recording apparatus according to    claim 18   , wherein 
 said display means display, a number of frames capable of being recorded.    
     
     
         20 . An image recording apparatus according to    claim 17   , further comprising third means for generating an image data to be subjected to the variable length coding.  
     
     
         21 . An image recording apparatus according to    claim 20   , wherein 
 said third means is means for photoelectrically converting the symmetrical image.    
     
     
         22 . An image recording apparatus according to    claim 21   , wherein 
 said representative value is a standard for variable length coding.    
     
     
         23 . A recording apparatus comprising: 
 a) generation means for generating an information concerned with a capacity of recording of a recording means;    b) maintaining means for provisionally maintaining data to be stored in the memory means;    c) generation means for generating signal indicating data quantity in case of a variable length coding of data maintained in said maintaining means; and    d) control means for controlling said maintaining means based on a comparison between the information generated by said generation means and said data quantity.    
     
     
         24 . A recording apparatus according to    claim 23   , wherein 
 said control means make said maintaining means continuously maintain the data to be stored in said maintaining means when the data quantity is greater than the capacity of storing.    
     
     
         25 . A recording apparatus according to    claim 23   , wherein 
 said image data is an image data.    
     
     
         26 . A recording apparatus according to    claim 25   , wherein 
 said image data is a multi-value image data.    
     
     
         27 . A recording apparatus further comprising: 
 an image data generation means for generating said image data.    
     
     
         28 . A recording apparatus according to    claim 27   , wherein. 
 said image data generation means generates data photoelectrically converted from the symmetrical image.