Analog/multi-level memory for digital imaging

Abstract

A digital imaging system uses an analog/multi-level memory to store image data. The stored analog/multi-level data can then be accessed directly by an analog device or the data can be accessed by an A/D converter for conversion to a digital format. The digital data is then routed to any number of desired digital devices. By using an analog/multi-level memory instead of a digital memory to store image data, problems associated with storing large amounts of digital data are minimized or eliminated, such as loss of information from image compression and high costs of large digital memories and signal processing and compression circuits.