Electronic camera with memory card interface to a computer

• US 5,475,441 A
• Filed: 12/10/1992
• Issued: 12/12/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Tredwell, Timothy J., Smith, David A., Parulski, Kenneth, Bouvy, Raymond J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Razavi, Michael T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHRISTENSEN, ANDREW BRUCE
• Application Number:
  US07/988,517
• Time in Patent Office: 1,097 Days
• Field of Search: 358/209, 358/41, 354/412, 348/207, 348/552, 348/158, 395/425
• US Class Current: 348/552
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/145 Handheld terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0051 Card-type connector, e.g. PCMCIA card interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0077 Types of the still picture apparatus

Abstract

An electronic camera operates with a small, portable computer having a card interface of the type used for communicating with a removable memory card. The camera includes an image sensor for converting an image into an electrical signal, an A/D converter for converting the electrical signal into a digital signal, and a signal processor for interfacing the digital signal to the card interface, ordinarily a slot receptacle, on the computer. By defining the interface to include a mechanical extender that physically interconnects the camera to the card slot on the computer, the camera and computer are linked in a high speed interface as a convenient, hand-held unit.

Claims

1. An electronic camera system comprising:

a computer having a card interface slot of the type used for communicating with a removable card containing a semiconductor memory, wherein the card interface slot includes an internal connector;

a camera including means for converting an image into an electrical signal, means for converting the electrical signal into a digital signal, and interfacing means for interfacing the digital signal to the internal connector of the card interface slot of the computer;

wherein the interfacing means includes a structural element that fits into the card interface slot of the computer, and physically connects to the internal connector to provide a link for transferring the digital signal from the camera to the computer; and

wherein the card interface slot is a PCMCIA interface slot wherein said image converting means and said signal coverting means are contained within an enclosure, and wherein said interfacing means further includes a cable for connecting said structural element to said enclosure.

2. A camera system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the computer is portable and the structural element connects the computer an camera together as a hand-held unit.

3. An electronic camera for operation with a computer having a card slot for interfacing with a removable memory card, said camera comprising:

an optical system for forming an image of a scene;

an image sensor for converting the image into an electrical signal;

an A/D converter for generating a digital signal from the electrical signal;

a signal processor for generating a processed digital signal from the digital signal; and

an adaptor for conveying the processed digital signal through the card slot to the computer;

wherein the adaptor includes an extender board dimensioned to fit into the card slot of the computer and a connector for physically connecting the adaptor to the card slot, wherein the adaptor provides a link for transferring the processed digital signal from the camera to the computer, wherein the card slot and said adaptor use a PCMCIA standard electrical interface specification and wherein said image converting means and said signal converting means are contained within an enclosure, and wherein said interfacing means further includes a cable for connecting said structural element to said enclosure.

4. An electronic camera as claimed in claim 3 wherein said signal processor provides gamma correction and/or white balancing.

5. An electronic camera as claimed in claim 3 wherein said signal processor is a look-up memory having a transfer function that provides gamma correction and/or white balancing.

6. An electronic camera as claimed in claim 5 wherein said look-up memory also stores information concerning the camera, such as the camera serial number, or a sensor defect map.

7. An electronic camera as claimed in claim 6 wherein said look-up table contains software utilizable by the computer for processing the images.

8. An electronic camera as claimed in claim 3 wherein said extender board supports the camera against a side of the computer having the card slot.

9. An electronic camera as claimed in claim 3 wherein said extender board is removable from the camera.

10. An electronic camera as claimed in claim 3 wherein said extender board may be folded along a side of the camera.