Electronic imaging apparatus
First Claim
1. An electronic imaging apparatus comprising:
- a photographic lens;
an imaging element that converts an optical image input through the photographic lens to an electric signal;
a processing circuit that processes the electric signal and outputs an image signal;
a memory circuit that stores the image signal;
a control circuit that controls operation of the processing circuit and write-read operations involving the memory circuit;
a bus connected to each of the processing circuit, the memory circuit, and the control circuit; and
a main housing that houses the photographic lens, the imaging element, the processing circuit, the memory circuit, the control circuit and the bus, the main housing comprising an opening that can simultaneously mount within the opening a plurality of function cards independently of each other, and a plurality of data communication couplings disposed in the opening, wherein each of the data communication couplings is adapted to make a data coupling between the bus and a plurality of types of the function cards.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic imaging apparatus is convenient to operate and can be easily configured according to interface, communication, and memory capacity requirements. The electronic imaging apparatus is constructed so that the imaging device, processing circuit, memory circuit, and central processing unit (CPU) are located within a main housing. The main housing includes an opening for receiving a plurality of PC cards of different types including memory cards and I/O cards. Accordingly, PC cards can be chosen and mounted in the opening to provide the electronic imaging apparatus with desired capacities and capabilities. Within the opening are a plurality of connection terminals that electrically connect to the PC cards. Each connection terminal can receive the different types of PC cards. The imaging device, processing circuit, memory circuit, CPU and each of the plurality of connection terminals are connected to a data bus. The CPU controls the activation of the processing circuit as well as the transfer of information to and from the PC cards connected to the bus via the connection terminals. The electronic imaging apparatus can further include a switching device for specifying information to the CPU about a PC card connected to the bus.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. An electronic imaging apparatus comprising:
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a photographic lens;
an imaging element that converts an optical image input through the photographic lens to an electric signal;
a processing circuit that processes the electric signal and outputs an image signal;
a memory circuit that stores the image signal;
a control circuit that controls operation of the processing circuit and write-read operations involving the memory circuit;
a bus connected to each of the processing circuit, the memory circuit, and the control circuit; and
a main housing that houses the photographic lens, the imaging element, the processing circuit, the memory circuit, the control circuit and the bus, the main housing comprising an opening that can simultaneously mount within the opening a plurality of function cards independently of each other, and a plurality of data communication couplings disposed in the opening, wherein each of the data communication couplings is adapted to make a data coupling between the bus and a plurality of types of the function cards. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An electronic imaging apparatus comprising:
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an image signal generator;
a control circuit that controls memory operations and transfer and transmissions of an image signal generated by the image signal generator;
a bus that connects the image signal generator and the control circuit;
an opening for receiving a plurality of function cards each having a thickness, wherein a width of the opening corresponds to a sum of the thicknesses of the plurality of function cards; and
a plurality of connectors corresponding to the plurality of function cards, wherein the connectors connect the plurality of function cards to the bus, and each connector is adapted to receive each of a plurality of kinds of function cards. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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15. An electronic imaging method comprising the steps of:
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providing an electronic imaging apparatus having;
an image signal generator;
a control circuit that controls memory operations and transfer and transmissions of an image signal generated by the image signal generator;
a bus that connects the image signal generator and the control circuit;
an opening for housing a plurality of function cards having a unit thickness, wherein a width of the opening corresponds to a sum of the unit thicknesses of the plurality of function cards; and
a plurality of connectors corresponding to the plurality of function cards, wherein the connectors connect the plurality of function cards to the bus, and each connector is adapted to receive each of a plurality of kinds of function cards;
connecting at least one function card to a corresponding one of the plurality of connectors; and
transferring image signal data between the bus and the at least one function card.
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20. An electronic imaging apparatus comprising:
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image signal generating means for generating an image signal;
control means for controlling memory operations and transferring and transmitting the image signal generated by the image signal generator;
a bus that connects the image signal generating means and the control means;
an opening for receiving a plurality of function cards having a unit thickness, wherein a width of the opening corresponds to a sum of the unit thicknesses of the plurality of function cards; and
a plurality of connectors, each connector adapted to connect a plurality of kinds of function cards to the bus. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification