Electronic camera system with detachable printer
First Claim
1. A readily portable electronic imaging system comprising:
- a camera housing of a size that is conveniently carried by hand;
a printer housing distinct from said camera housing and also of a size that is conveniently carried by hand;
an objective lens operatively disposed with respect to said camera housing to receive and focus incident image defining scene light;
a solid state light responsive array disposed within said camera housing for receiving incident scene light by way of said objective lens and converting such scene light into an image defining electronic information signal;
storage means releasably and operatively connectable to said camera and printer housings for storing the image defining electronic information signals;
complimentary releasable connecting means operatively associated with respect to said camera and printer housings for effecting a releasable fixed connection between said camera and printer housings, said fixed connection also operating to effect an electrical connection between said camera and printer housings;
hard copy printing means disposed within said printer housing for making a hard copy of select images from said image defining electronic information signals; and
signal control and processing means having portions disposed respectively within said camera and printer housings and responsive to user selection for effecting an exposure interval and thereafter processing said image defining electronic information signal to effect a select transformation thereof, said control means thereafter responding to user selection for directing said transformed electronic information signals to either said storage means for storage therein or said hard copy printing means for printing said hard copy wherein said portion of said signal control and processing means disposed within said printer housing is responsive to user selection when said printer housing is disconnected from said camera housing and said storage means is operatively connected to said printer housing for directing image defining electronic information signals from said storage means to said hard copy printing means in order to print hard copies of select images.
11 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A compact, handheld portable electronic imaging system including both an electronic imaging camera and hard copy printer are separately housed with respect to each other and readily interconnectable with respect to each other for use either in combination or apart. Means for storing electronic images may be connected to the camera and/or printer housings so that when used apart image defining electronic image information signals may be initially directed for storage by the electronic imaging camera and the storage device thereafter connected to the printer for the making of hard copies therefrom. Alternatively, the electronic imaging camera and printer may be used in combination to provide an immediate hard copy of the image sensed in a manner analogous to that of an instant photographic camera of the self-processing type.
749 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A readily portable electronic imaging system comprising:
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a camera housing of a size that is conveniently carried by hand; a printer housing distinct from said camera housing and also of a size that is conveniently carried by hand; an objective lens operatively disposed with respect to said camera housing to receive and focus incident image defining scene light; a solid state light responsive array disposed within said camera housing for receiving incident scene light by way of said objective lens and converting such scene light into an image defining electronic information signal; storage means releasably and operatively connectable to said camera and printer housings for storing the image defining electronic information signals; complimentary releasable connecting means operatively associated with respect to said camera and printer housings for effecting a releasable fixed connection between said camera and printer housings, said fixed connection also operating to effect an electrical connection between said camera and printer housings; hard copy printing means disposed within said printer housing for making a hard copy of select images from said image defining electronic information signals; and signal control and processing means having portions disposed respectively within said camera and printer housings and responsive to user selection for effecting an exposure interval and thereafter processing said image defining electronic information signal to effect a select transformation thereof, said control means thereafter responding to user selection for directing said transformed electronic information signals to either said storage means for storage therein or said hard copy printing means for printing said hard copy wherein said portion of said signal control and processing means disposed within said printer housing is responsive to user selection when said printer housing is disconnected from said camera housing and said storage means is operatively connected to said printer housing for directing image defining electronic information signals from said storage means to said hard copy printing means in order to print hard copies of select images. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A readily portable electronic imaging system comprising:
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a camera housing of a size that is conveniently carried by hand; a printer housing distinct from said camera housing and also of a size that is conveniently carried by hand; an objective lens operatively disposed with respect to said camera housing to receive and focus incident image defining scene light; a solid state light responsive array disposed within said camera housing for receiving incident scene light by way of said objective lens and converting such scene light into an image defining electronic information signal; storage means releasably and operatively connectable to said camera and printer housings for storing the image defining electronic information signals; complimentary releasable connecting means operatively associated with respect to said camera and printer housings for effecting a releasable fixed connection between said camera and printer housings, said fixed connection also operating to effect an electrical connection between said camera and printer housings; hard copy printing means disposed within said printer housing for making a hard copy of select images from said image defining electronic information signals; and signal control and processing means having portions disposed respectively within said camera and printer housings and responsive to user selection for effecting an exposure interval and thereafter processing said image defining electronic information signal to effect a select transformation thereof, said control means thereafter responding to user selection for directing said transformed electronic information signals to either said storage means for storage therein or said hard copy printing means for printing said hard copy wherein said portion of said signal control and processing means disposed within said camera housing is responsive to user selection when said camera housing is disconnected from said printer housing and said storage means is operatively connected to said camera housing for directing image defining electronic information signals from said light responsive array to said storage means immediately subsequent to each exposure interval and wherein;
said camera housing comprises substantially planar major bottom and top wall members interconnected by substantially planar minor side, front and back wall portions to define a substantially parallelepiped structure wherein said objective lens is disposed in said front wall portion of said camera housing, said printer housing comprises substantially planar major top and bottom wall members interconnected by substantially planar minor side wall portions to define a substantially parallelepiped structure, said complimentary releasable connecting means operatively associated with said camera and printer housings comprises portions for connecting the major bottom wall member of the camera housing to a minor side wall portion of the printer housing. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification