Instant electronic camera

• US 4,074,324 A
• Filed: 07/14/1975
• Issued: 02/14/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jon S. Barrett
• Original Assignee: Jon S. Barrett
• Inventors: Barrett, Jon S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Habecker, Thomas B.
• Application Number:
  US05/595,628
• Time in Patent Office: 946 Days
• Field of Search: 178/6.6 R, 358/296
• US Class Current: 358/296
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2154 the still video camera incorporating a hardcopy reproducing device, e.g. a printer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/40056 Circuits for driving or energising particular reading heads or original illumination means H04N1/401, H04N1/407 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 358/908 Pause control, i.e. "commercial killers"

Abstract

A conventional lens system projects an image on a planar array of light sensitive elements of a charge coupled device from which digital signals containing the picture information are produced and stored for reproduction by a mechanical printer.

Claims

1. An instantaneous camera comprising a lens system;

a solid state array imaging device having discrete light sensitive points whose accumulated charge is a function of the incident light;

means for positioning said imaging device in predetermined relationship with said lens system;

means for sensing charges at said points and generating in predetermined order a sequence of pulses whose amplitudes are a function of the respective instantaneous charges at said points;

a printer responsive to said pulses and having means for direct production of visible marks; and

means coupling said last-said means to said printer.

2. A camera as described in claim 1 including means maintaining the said imaging device substantially below ambient temperature.

3. A camera as described in claim 1 wherein said coupling means includes an analog-to-digital converter and a solid state memory device whereby said pulses are stored as digital data for a time sufficient to permit effective recording of said data by said printer.

4. A camera as described in claim 3 wherein said memory has a retention time significantly in excess of the printing time of said printer for one complete image.