Method and apparatus for capturing images

Abstract

A first set of image data is acquired based on a first frame of light entering the camera before receiving an instruction to capture an image from a user. The first set of image data is then used to test the performance of at least one hardware component in the camera.

1 . A method in a camera, the method comprising: 
 acquiring a first set of image data based on a first frame of light entering the camera before receiving an instruction to capture an image from a user; and    testing the performance of at least one hardware component in the camera using the first set of image data.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein testing the performance of at least one hardware component comprises determining if the camera has enough available memory to store the first set of image data.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising determining that the camera does not have enough available memory to store the first set of image data and indicating to the user that there is insufficient memory before acquiring a second set of image data.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising determining that the camera does not have enough available memory to store the first set of image data and reallocating memory before acquiring the second set of image data.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein reallocating memory comprises terminating a software component.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4  wherein reallocating memory comprises minimizing a software component.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4  wherein reallocating memory comprises remapping virtual address space.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein testing the performance of at least one hardware component comprises determining if a light sensor is working.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein testing the performance of at least one hardware component comprises determining if each light sensor in an array of light sensors is working.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising providing an indication of which light sensors are not working before acquiring a second set of image data.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising receiving a pre-capture event before acquiring the first set of image data.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the pre-capture event is an indication that a user has pressed a capture button half-way down.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the pre-capture event is produced by a software routine.  
     
     
         14 . A camera having processor-executable components for capturing images, the components comprising: 
 an image acquisition component capable of acquiring image data representing a first frame of light; and    a hardware testing component capable of testing a hardware component in the camera based on image data acquired by the image acquisition component for the first frame of light.    
     
     
         15 . The camera of  claim 14  wherein the hardware testing component comprises a memory availability component capable of performing a memory resource function to determine if there is sufficient available memory to store the image data.  
     
     
         16 . The camera of  claim 15  further comprising a user notification component capable of notifying the user when there is insufficient memory to store the image data before the image acquisition component acquires image data for a second frame of light.  
     
     
         17 . The camera of  claim 15  further comprising a memory management component that is capable of reallocating memory resources before the image acquisition component acquires image data for a second frame of light.  
     
     
         18 . The camera of  claim 17  wherein the memory management component reallocates memory resources by terminating components.  
     
     
         19 . The camera of  claim 17  wherein the memory management component reallocates memory by remapping a virtual address space.  
     
     
         20 . The camera of  claim 14  wherein the hardware testing component comprises a defective pixel detection component that is capable of identifying defective light sensors in the camera based on image data acquired for the first frame of light.