Digital Camera Patent Abstract
A digital camera having image capture and processing electronics
receives a first battery for operating the image capture and processing
electronics of the digital camera and has an integral printer having
a removable cartridge for printing captured images on receivers.
The integral cartridge includes cartridge interface and printer
actuator electronics and a second battery in the cartridge for operating
the cartridge interface and printer actuator electronics. Digital Camera Patent Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A digital camera having image capture and processing electronics,
comprising:
a) means for receiving a first battery for operating the image
capture and processing electronics of the digital camera; and
b) an integral printer having a removable cartridge for printing
captured images on receivers and including:
i) cartridge interface and printer actuator electronics; and
ii) a second battery in the cartridge for operating the cartridge
interface and printer actuator electronics.
2. A digital camera having image capture and processing electronics,
comprising:
a) means for receiving a first battery for operating the image
capture and processing electronics of the digital camera; and
b) an integral printer having a removable cartridge for printing
captured images on receivers and including:
i) cartridge interface and printer actuator electronics; and
ii) a second battery in the cartridge for operating the cartridge
interface and printer actuator electronics.
c) means for selectively disabling the first battery and for coupling
the second battery to the digital camera for supplying energy from
the second battery to operate the image capture and processing electronics
of the digital camera.
3. A digital camera having image capture and processing electronics,
comprising:
a) means for receiving a first battery for operating the image
capture and processing electronics of the digital camera; and
b) an integral printer having a removable cartridge for printing
captured images on receivers and including:
i) cartridge interface and printer actuator electronics; and
ii) a second battery in the cartridge for operating the cartridge
interface and printer actuator electronics.
c) a user controlled power source switch for selectively disabling
the first battery and for coupling the second battery to the digital
camera for supplying energy from the second battery to operate the
image capture and processing electronics of the digital camera.
4. A digital camera having image capture and processing electronics,
comprising:
a) means for receiving a first battery for operating the image
capture and processing electronics of the digital camera; and
b) an integral printer having a removable cartridge for printing
captured images on receivers and including:
i) cartridge interface and printer actuator electronics; and
ii) a second battery in the cartridge for operating the cartridge
interface and printer actuator electronics.
c) means for sensing that the first battery is in a low condition
and for coupling the second battery to the digital camera for supplying
energy from the second battery to operate the image capture and
processing electronics of the digital camera.
5. The digital camera of claim 4 further including indicator means
for indicating that the first battery is low and the second battery
has been coupled to the digital camera.
6. The digital camera of claim 4 further including means for preventing
operation of the relay when a busy signal is present.
7. A digital camera having image capture and processing electronics,
comprising:
a) means for receiving a first battery for operating the image
capture and processing electronics of the digital camera; and
b) an integral printer having a removable cartridge for printing
captured images on receivers and including:
i) cartridge interface and printer actuator electronics; and
ii) a second battery in the cartridge for operating the cartridge
interface and printer actuator electronics.
c) the cartridge interface and printer actuator electronics controlling
a relay and means for sensing that the first battery is in a low
condition and for operating the relay to couple the second battery
to the digital camera for supplying energy from the second battery
to operate the image capture and processing electronics of the digital
camera.
8. The digital camera of claim 7 further including indicator means
for indicating that the first battery is low and the second battery
has been coupled to the digital camera.
9. The digital camera of claim 7 further including means for preventing
operation of the relay when a busy signal is present.
Digital Camera Patent Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to digital cameras that include integral
printers having an insertable cartridge with a battery and, more
particularly, to electively using the cartridge battery to power
the camera.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Instant photography has long supplied the consumer with rapidly
developed silver halide images. Furthermore, it is known in the
field of instant photography to supply a battery in the replaceable
cartridge of silver halide receiver sheets to insure that the camera
had a fresh power supply each time it was loaded with a film pack.
The camera used the battery to power all aspects of the camera including
flash, focus, exposure and developing. Without the film pack, the
camera wasn't functional.
One problem with the film pack for instant cameras is that the
removal of the film pack prevents further image capture. The sole
source for powering the camera is the battery within the insertable
film pack. Without a film pack in the camera, the camera has no
useful purpose since the camera does not store images except on
instant film. The camera may include features which prevent a user
from using the camera without the inserted film pack. Otherwise,
the continued of the use of the camera only serves to mislead the
consumer into thinking that an exposure had been made. In U.S. Pat.
No. 4,188,105 to Erlichman, such a film pack is shown wherein the
last sheet in the film pack causes a dielectric material to be inserted
between the battery contacts and the power receiving terminals of
the camera, effectively insulating the battery from the camera.
In this art, it is important to insure that once the film pack was
exhausted of exposures, that the consumer would be prevented from
using the camera and thus being fooled that an exposure was being
made.
Digital cameras, such as the model DC-260 manufactured by the Eastman
Kodak Co., have become increasingly popular with consumers. Such
cameras provide the consumer with instant feedback on the outcome
of the picture with the color LCD located on the rear of the camera.
Printed images from such cameras must be obtained by connecting
the camera or its removable memory to a computer with an attached
printer or to a printer capable of interfacing directly with digital
cameras. An example of such a printer which connects directly to
the camera is the DPP-M55 digital color photo printer manufactured
by SONY, Inc. It uses an infrared link to communicate with the camera.
It is quite advantageous to use a printer which is integrally formed
with the camera so that a printed image can be made without having
to connect the camera or its removable memory to a computer with
an attached printer or directly to a printer. Recently, ALPS Electric
Co., LTD of Japan introduced the PTMTL1101A resistive thermal printer
mechanism and replaceable cartridge complete with donor and receiver
sheets. The PTMTL1101A thermal printer mechanism is to be integrated
into a digital camera for providing rapidly printed images without
needing a computer.
Another problem with the prior art is that digital cameras consume
considerable amounts of battery energy to power the image capture
with a charge-coupled device (CCD), color liquid crystal display
(LCD), memory interface, and input/output (I/O) functions. The added
burden of an integrated printer such as a resistive thermal type
like the aforementioned PTMTL1101A only adds unfavorably to the
power dissipation of a digital camera as the compatible cartridge
doesn't include a battery.
A problem with integral printers in digital cameras is that they
each generally have their own source of power. Sometimes the batteries
in the digital camera will reach a low level so that they can not
effectively operate the camera and the system is effectively shut
down.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an arrangement
of an integral printer in a digital camera wherein the printer has
an insertable cartridge which contains its own battery that can
effectively be used.
A further object of the invention is when the power supply for
the digital camera is at a low level so that it can not effectively
operate the camera to use the battery of the insertable cartridge.
These objects are achieved by a digital camera having image capture
and processing electronics, comprising:
a) means for receiving a first battery for operating the image
capture and processing electronics of the digital camera; and
b) an integral printer having a removable cartridge for printing
captured images on receivers and including:
i) cartridge interface and printer actuator electronics; and
ii) a second battery in the cartridge for operating the cartridge
interface and printer actuator electronics.
ADVANTAGES
It is an advantage of the present invention to provide a digital
camera which has its own battery and an integral printer which also
has its own battery.
It is another advantage of the present invention to use a battery
in a removable cartridge to supply energy to the digital camera
when the battery in the digital camera is in a low state or when
a user desires to conserve power in the camera battery to thereby
prevent the draining of the battery of the digital camera normally
used to capture, process, store and transmit images.
It is a further advantage of the present invention to permit the
automatic coupling of the printer cartridge battery to the digital
camera when the battery in the digital camera is in a low state.
It is a further advantage of the present invention to make the
energy of the removable cartridge available to the digital camera
for any non-printing operations by allowing the user to selectively
actuate a battery selectable switch.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is perspective of an insertable cartridge for use with a
digital camera having an ink jet printer with alignment features,
cover seal, ink ports, and identifying contacts;
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the cartridge of FIG. 1 taken along
lines A--A showing the relative position of the ink ports and receivers;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the cartridge taken along lines B--B
showing receiver bay, batteries, and identifying contacts;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the cartridge taken along lines C--C
showing a side view of the receiver bay and ink reservoirs relative
to the batteries;
FIG. 5A is a block diagram of the electronic interconnection of
the cartridge to the ink jet printer and the capture and imaging
processing electronics;
FIG. 5B is another block diagram showing more details of sensing
the voltage of the digital camera battery and for automatically
coupling the battery in the insertable cartridge to the digital
camera;
FIG. 6 is a front view of a digital camera having an ink jet printer
for receiving the cartridge of FIG. 1;
FIG. 7 is a side view of the digital camera of FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along lines D--D of the printer
of FIG. 6 showing a cross sectional view of a cartridge inserted
into an ink jet printer; and
FIG. 9 is an enlarged portion of the sectional view shown in FIG.
8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The overall structure of the present invention will briefly be
reviewed with respect to FIGS. 6 and 7. The present invention uses
an insertable cartridge 10 which is inserted into a digital camera
11. The digital camera 11 includes an ink jet printer 13. Further
features of the digital camera 11 and ink jet printer 13 will be
discussed later.
Turning now to FIG. 1, a perspective view of a cartridge 10 is
shown,
having a housing 9 provided with five ink reservoirs 38. The housing
9 is provided with a removable cartridge seal 16 which protects
identifying contacts 18, 19, and 20, receivers 30 and ink ports
40 prior to use of the cartridge 10. Cartridge seal 16 can be of
a Mylar sheet held in position until use by a conventional, low
tack adhesive 22 as cartridge seal 16 is used only as protective
dust seal. The cartridge seal 16 is removed prior to inserting the
cartridge 10 into cartridge opening 10a provided in the digital
camera 11 (see FIG. 6). It will be understood that the cartridge
seal 16 can contain human readable data printed on the outer surface
(not shown) indicative of the date of manufacture, expiration date,
printer compatibility, etc.
Identifying contacts 18, 19 and 20 can be formed by the application
of an encoded and patterned metallized tape. Each identifying contact
18, 19 and 20 may be metallized or not forming a conductive or non-conductive
area. These identifying contacts 18, 19 and 20 provide information
of features of an inserted cartridge 10 to the ink jet printer 13
in the digital camera 11. These identifying contacts 18, 19 and
20 provide information (as will be discussed with reference to FIG.
5A) in a manner similar to the DX encodement of 35 mm film cassettes.
For example see commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,982,209 to Pearson.
The identifying contacts 18, 19, and 20 are used by the ink jet
printer 13 of the digital camera 11 to sense the data represented
by the encoded conductive pattern. Such data can represent the manufactured
configuration of the cartridge 10 with respect to the preloaded
media types such as plain or coated paper, ink color set such as
photographic or fluorescent, and media quantity as shown in Table
1 below.
TABLE 1 ______________________________________ Identifying Identifying
Identifying Cartridge Details Contact 20 Contact 19 Contact 18 ______________________________________
Glossy Photomedia/Ink (24) L L L Glossy Photomedia/Ink (36) L L
H Sticker Photomedia/Ink (24) L H L Sticker Photomedia/Ink (36)
L H H Matte Photomedia/Ink (24) H L L Matte Photomedia/Ink (36)
H L H Glossy Photomedia/ H H L Fluorescent Ink (24) Glossy Photomedia/
H H H Fluorescent Ink (36) ______________________________________
L = Low Level Voltage, H = High Level Voltage
Logic levels shown in Table 1 describe the identification of the
contents of cartridge 10 with respect to the type and quantity of
receivers 30 along with the style of ink contained in ink reservoirs
38. The amount of ink provided during manufacture to the reservoirs
and is determined in accordance with the number of receivers to
be printed. The identification is accomplished by identifying probe
pairs 52, 54 and 56 (see FIG. 5A) contacting identifying contacts
18, 19, and 20 respectively, for the purpose of determining the
conductivity of each identifying contact 18, 19, and 20. Identifying
probe pairs 52, 54 and 56 are electrically controlled by circuitry
(not shown) within the cartridge interface and printer actuator
electronics block 46. Typically, a small current will flow across
the discrete elements of identifying probe pairs 52, 54, and 56
causing a Low Level Voltage to be sensed by cartridge interface
and printer actuator electronics block 46 if the identifying contact
was conductive. If current does not flow across the probe pairs,
the identifying contact was not conductive and a High Level Voltage
is sensed by cartridge interface and printer actuator electronics
block 46. The identification information is used by the cartridge
interface and printer actuator electronics block 46 to produce a
superior resultant printed image.
It should be obvious to one skilled in the art that additional
identifying contacts can be used within the scope of the invention
as well as other combinations of media and ink which are likely
to be requested by users of the system.
Again with reference to FIG. 1, alignment features are formed in
the housing 9 and shown as insertion slots 24 which are used in
the positioning of cartridge 10 into ink jet printer 13. Battery
contacts 26 are formed in such a manner as to protrude into insertion
slots 24 with a shape and spring force so as to provide a further
alignment feature of the cartridge 10. The battery contacts 26 are
formed on either side of a cavity 36 provided in the housing 9 which
receives the batteries 34. The battery contacts 26 mount the batteries
and provide electrical connection to them while also providing alignment
features for the insertable cartridge 10.
Continuing with FIG. 1, the housing 9 with a receiver bay 28 is
shown containing a partial view of receivers 30 resting on a spring
loaded platen 32 which urges the receivers 30 to the top of the
cartridge 10 for access to the ink jet printer 13.
Turning now to FIG. 2 which is a cross-section of the cartridge
10, there are a plurality of ink reservoirs 38 formed in the housing
9 for receiving different colored inks. Providing access to each
of the ink reservoirs 38 are ink ports 40. A pierceable reservoir
seal 12 in the form of a plug is provided covering each of the ink
ports 40. An O-ring 14 is also provided so that when a cartridge
10 is inserted into the ink jet printer 13 and piercing probes 42
pierce the reservoir seals 12 the O-rings 14 seal the communication
between the ink reservoirs 38 and the ink jet printer 13 to prevent
ink leakage.
FIGS. 3 and 4 show four batteries 34 provided in cavity 36. As
is also shown, there are four springs 31 which urges a platen 32
that carries the receivers 30 so that the top receiver 30 can be
used by the ink jet printer 13.
Turning now to FIG. 5A, an image capture and processing electronics
block 44 is shown which is included in the digital camera 11. The
image capture and processing electronics block 44 will be understood
to include all the necessary elements to acquire and store images
electronically via an image sensor (not shown) as is found in well
known digital camera apparatus such as the aforementioned DC-260
digital camera manufactured by the Eastman Kodak Company. As shown
in FIG. 6, the digital camera 11 includes a lens 48 and an image
sensor (not shown) both of which are controlled by the image capture
and processing electronics block 44 and furthermore capture a digital
image. The image capture and processing electronics block 44 stores
the captured image in a digital format and processes such image
for use by the ink jet printer 13 which is shown generally in FIG.
6. Continuing with FIG. 5A, cartridge 10 is shown inserted into
digital camera 11 in the direction of the arrow 10b. Battery contact
26 on each side of cartridge 10 makes an electrical connection between
the cartridge 10 and the power supply voltages denoted as +Vpb and
-Vpb which are used to supply electrical power to the ink jet printer
13 of the digital camera 11 and the cartridge interface and printer
actuator electronics block 46 in the normal mode of operation. In
such a manner, the user is always assured that the necessary power
to print an image is available each time a cartridge 10 is loaded.
However, in the event that the user experiences a loss of power
to the image capture and processing electronics block 44 due to
the failure of the digital camera battery 50, the user can exercise
the option of actuating a battery selectable switch 66 located on
the external surface of the camera as depicted in FIG. 7. The battery
selectable switch 66 is a common single pole multi-throw switch
(one switch terminal currently not assigned) which allows the batteries
34 of the cartridge 10 to be additionally coupled to the image capture
and processing electronics block 44. It should be noted that the
user may choose to actuate the battery selectable switch 66 at any
time to conserve power in the digital camera battery 50. One such
relevant time would include the exhaustion of cartridge 10 of receivers
30 where power may still remain in batteries 34. Image data, addressing
data, and control data necessary for the printing operation travel
between the image capture and processing electronics block 44 and
the cartridge interface and printer actuator electronics block 46
along data bus 64.
In FIG. 5B, an alternative electrical arrangement is shown where
battery monitor circuit 72, powered by the batteries 34 of cartridge
10, monitors the digital camera battery 50. Battery monitoring circuit
72 causes indicator 68 to light when it detects a low power state
of the digital camera battery 50. The circuit details (not shown)
of battery monitor circuit 72 can easily be implemented with a simple
comparator circuit where the comparison threshold is set by a resistor
divider network. A second output of the battery monitor circuit
72 is a relay control signal 74 which controls the switching state
of a relay 70. When it is determined that the digital camera battery
is in a low power state, relay 70 switches the power supplied to
the image capture and processing electronics 44 to the batteries
34 of cartridge 10. In this arrangement, battery selectable switch
66 must be in the "NORMAL" position which is shown schematically
as position 3. The user may choose to set the battery selectable
switch to position 2 which overrides the automatic switching feature
and connects only the digital camera battery 50 to image capture
and processing electronics 44. Alternatively at any time, the user
may choose position 1 of battery selectable switch 66 to override
the automatic switching feature and connect only batteries 34 of
cartridge 10 to the image capture and processing electronics. To
prevent interrupting the power to an operation of the image capture
and processing electronics 44 or the cartridge interface and printer
actuator electronics 46, a busy signal 76 is sent from the cartridge
interface and printer actuator electronics 46 to the battery monitoring
circuit 72 causing it to suspend the relay control signal 74 until
the busy signal 76 is removed. The busy signal is present when either
the image capture and processing electronics 44 or the cartridge
interface and printer actuator electronics 46 is engaged in capturing,
processing, storing, transmitting, printing or any other operation
where a power interruption would be detrimental to the outcome of
the operation.
In FIGS. 6 and 7, piercing probes 42, which pierce the reservoir
seals 12 are shown in schematic form. The batteries 34 (see FIG.
3) provide power to the cartridge interface and printer actuator
electronics block 46. A digital camera battery 50 is shown in FIG.
5A which provides power to the digital camera 11 and the image capture
and processing electronics block 44 irrespective of whether or not
a cartridge 10 has been inserted into the cartridge opening 10a
(see FIG. 7) in the ink jet printer 13 of the digital camera 11.
FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a portion of the taken along lines
D--D of the printer of FIG. 6 showing a cross sectional view of
a cartridge inserted into an ink jet printer. FIG. 9 is an enlarged
portion of the sectional view shown in FIG. 8 and shows the reservoir
seals 12 and the piercing probes 42 in more detail. A feeding roller
58 feeds the top receiver 30 along the path shown by an arrow past
the ink jet printer 13. A back-up roller 60 presses the receiver
sheet against the ink jet printer 13 which prints a line at a time.
As shown, the batteries 34 are provided in cavity 36. In FIG. 9,
a tube 62 connects the ink reservoir 38 to the ink jet printer 13
after the reservoir seal 12 has been pierced by a piercing probe
42 which includes a sharp pointed tip.
In operation, the cartridge seal 16 is removed from the cartridge
10. The cartridge 10 is inserted into the cartridge opening 10a
which has features corresponding to the insertion slot 24 for mounting
the cartridge 10. Piercing probes 42 pierce the reservoir seals
12 providing communication between the ink reservoirs 38 and the
ink jet printer 13. Identifying contacts 18, 19 and 20 provide feature
information to the cartridge interface and printer actuator electronics
block 46 for controlling the operation of the ink jet printer 13
as shown in FIG. 5A.
The invention has been described in detail with particular reference
to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood
that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit
and scope of the invention.
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