Image sensing apparatus

• US 5,748,339 A
• Filed: 03/03/1997
• Issued: 05/05/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Matoba, Kazuyuki, Nanba, Norihiro, Suzuki, Masao
• Primary Examiner(s): Coles, Sr., Edward L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, ANH-VINH THI
• Application Number:
  US08/810,259
• Time in Patent Office: 428 Days
• Field of Search: 358/473, 358/471, 358/474, 358/482, 358/483, 250/559.06, 250/559.46, 382/312, 382/313
• US Class Current: 358/473
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00281 with a telecommunication apparatus, e.g. a switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information, a selective call terminal details of transmission H04N1/00095; establishing a communication with one of a facsimile machine or another apparatus sharing a single line H04N1/32704; interfacing cordless telephone terminals with an accessory to increase the functionality of user interface H04M1/72409
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00315 with a radio transmission apparatus with a cordless telephone H04N1/00305; systems or arrangements for the transmission of a picture signal specially adapted for transmission via radio H04N1/00103; H04N1/00307 takes precedence; radio transmission systems H04B7/00; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0034 Details of the connection, e.g. connector, interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0051 Card-type connector, e.g. PCMCIA card interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0063 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/60 Control of cameras or camera modules

Abstract

Provided is an image sensing apparatus in which it is possible to use an optical system having a large aperture and an image sensing system such as an image sensing element in an image sensing cartridge docked with a portable image device. The image sensing apparatus includes a portable information device and an image sensing cartridge, which has at least an image sensing system, capable of being loaded in and unloaded from the information device. An image sensing operation becomes possible by docking the information device and the image sensing cartridge. The image sensing cartridge has an opening, which is for introducing light to the image sensing system, the aperture of which is designed to be larger than the shortest portion of an insertion port, which is provided in the information device, for inserting the image sensing cartridge.

Claims

1. An image sensing apparatus comprising:

an information device having an insertion port at its predetermined surface; and

an image sensing cartridge, which has at least an image sensing system, capable of being loaded in and unloaded from the information device by being inserted in the insertion port, where an image sensing operation becomes possible by connecting said information device with said image sensing cartridge;

said image sensing cartridge having an image sensing opening for introducing light to the image sensing system, the diameter of which is larger than the shortest side of said insertion port.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said image sensing cartridge is inserted in said information device and said portion has a card-shaped configuration.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image sensing cartridge is inserted in said information device and a light-transmitting opening is provided in said information device in such a manner that the image sensing opening of said image sensing cartridge is exposed.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a portion of said image sensing cartridge is inserted in said information device and a portion of said sensing cartridge projects from said information device so as to expose the image sensing opening of said image sensing cartridge.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of image sensing system having different optical-axis directions are provided inside said image sensing cartridge.

6. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein parts that produce a large amount of heat within said image sensing cartridge are placed in the vicinity of the image sensing opening of said image sensing cartridge and the image sensing opening of said information device is enlarged until it reaches the vicinity at which said parts are placed.

7. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a second optical system separate from said image sensing cartridge is attached to a first optical system possessed by said image sensing cartridge.

8. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a pin-array converting adapter is attached to said image sensing cartridge for converting a pin array of a connector of said image sensing cartridge into an exactly opposite array, whereby a method of mounting said image sensing cartridge is capable of being changed selectively.

9. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the portion of said image sensing cartridge projecting from said information device is thicker than the portion of said image sensing cartridge inserted into said information device.

10. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the portion of said image sensing cartridge projecting from said information device is made movable, thereby making it possible to selectively change the optical-axis direction of said image sensing system.

11. An image sensing apparatus comprising:

an information device having an insertion port at a predetermined surface; and

an image sensing cartridge, which has at least an image sensing system, capable of being loaded in and unloaded from the information device by being inserted in the insertion port, wherein an image sensing operation becomes possible by connecting said information device with said image sensing cartridge;

said image sensing cartridge having an image sensing opening for introducing light to image sensing system, the diameter of which is larger than the shortest side of said insertion port, wherein a portion of said image sensing cartridge is inserted in said information device and a portion of said image sensing cartridge projects from said information device so as to expose the image sensing opening of said image sensing cartridge.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein at least a portion of said image sensing cartridge is inserted in said information device and said portion has a card-shaped configuration.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said image sensing cartridge is inserted in said information device and a light-transmitting opening is provided in said information device in such a manner that the image sensing opening of said image sensing cartridge is exposed.

14. An image sensing apparatus comprising:

an information device having a connection port at a predetermined surface; and

an image sensing cartridge, which has at least an image sensing system, capable of being attached to and detached from the information device by being connected with the connection port, wherein an image sensing operation becomes possible by connecting said information device with said image sensing cartridge,

said image sensing cartridge being connected to an image sensing opening for introducing light to an image sensing means, the minimum length of the image sensing opening being larger than the shortest side of said connection port.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein at least a portion of said image sensing cartridge is connected with said information device and said portion has a card-shaped configuration.

16. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein a portion of said image sensing cartridge is connected with said information device and a portion of said image sensing cartridge projects from said information device so as to expose the image sensing opening of said image sensing cartridge.

17. An image sensing apparatus comprising:

an image sensing cartridge, which has at least an image sensing system, capable of being attached to and detached from an information device having a connection port at a predetermined surface by being connected with the connection port, wherein an image sensing operation becomes possible by connecting said image sensing cartridge with said information device;

said image sensing cartridge being connected to an image sensing opening for introducing light to image sensing means, the minimum length of the image sensing opening being larger than the shortest side of said connection port.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein at least a portion of said image sensing cartridge is connected with said information device and said portion has a card shaped configuration.

19. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein a portion of said image sensing cartridge is connected with said information device and a portion of said image sensing cartridge projects from said information device so as to expose the image sensing opening of said image sensing cartridge.

20. An image sensing apparatus comprising:

an image sensing cartridge, which has at least an image sensing system, capable of being attached to and detached from an information device having a connection port at a predetermined surface by being connected with the connection port, wherein an image sensing operation becomes possible by connecting said image sensing cartridge with said information device;

said image sensing cartridge having an image sensing opening for introducing light to an image sensing means, the minimum length of the image sensing opening being larger than the shortest side of said connection port.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein at least a portion of said image sensing cartridge is connected with said information device and said portion has a card-shaped configuration.

22. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein a portion of said image sensing cartridge is connected with said information device and a portion of said image sensing cartridge projects from said information device so as to expose the image sensing opening of said image sensing cartridge.

23. An image sensing cartridge capable of being loaded in and unloaded from an information device having an insertion port at a predetermined surface by being inserted in the insertion port, wherein an image sensing operation becomes possible by connecting said information device with said image sensing cartridge, comprising:

an image sensing system; and

an image sensing opening for introducing light to the image sensing system, the diameter of which is larger than the shortest side of said insertion port.

24. The cartridge according to claim 23, wherein at least a portion of said image sensing cartridge is inserted in said information device and said portion has a card-shaped configuration.

25. The cartridge according to claim 23, wherein said image sensing cartridge is inserted in said information device and a light-transmitting opening is provided in said information device in such a manner that the image sensing opening of said image sensing cartridge is exposed.

26. The cartridge according to claim 23, wherein a portion of said image sensing cartridge is inserted in said information device and a portion of said image sensing cartridge projects from said information device so as to expose the image sensing opening of said image sensing cartridge.

27. The cartridge according to claim 23, wherein a plurality of image sensing systems having different optical-axis directions are provided inside said image sensing cartridge.

28. The cartridge according to claim 25, wherein parts that produce a large amount of heat within said image sensing cartridge are placed in the vicinity of the image sensing opening of said image sensing cartridge and the image sensing opening of said information device is enlarged until it reaches the vicinity at which said parts are placed.

29. The cartridge according to claim 25, wherein a second optical system separate from said image sensing cartridge is attached to a first optical system possessed by said image sensing cartridge.

30. The cartridge according to claim 26, wherein a pin-array converting adapter is attached to said image sensing cartridge for converting a pin array of a connector of said image sensing cartridge into an exactly opposite array, whereby a method of mounting said image sensing cartridge is capable of being changed selectively.

31. The cartridge according to claim 26, wherein the portion of said image sensing cartridge projecting from said information device is thicker than the portion of said image sensing cartridge inserted into said information device.

32. The cartridge according to claim 26, wherein the portion of said image sensing cartridge projecting from said information device is made movable, thereby making it possible to selectively change the optical-axis direction of said image sensing system.

33. An image sensing cartridge capable of being loaded in and unloaded from an information device having an insertion port at a predetermined surface by being inserted in the insertion port, wherein an image sensing operation becomes possible by connecting said information device with said image sensing cartridge, comprising:

an image sensing system; and

an image sensing opening for introducing light to image sensing system, the diameter of which is larger than the shortest side of said insertion port, wherein a portion of said image sensing cartridge is inserted in said information device and a portion of said image sensing cartridge projects from said information device so as to expose the image sensing opening of said image sensing cartridge.

34. The cartridge according to claim 33, wherein at least a portion of said image sensing cartridge is inserted in said information device and said portion has a card-shaped configuration.

35. The cartridge according to claim 33, wherein said image sensing cartridge is inserted in said information device and a light-transmitting opening is provided in said information device in such a manner that the image sensing opening of said image sensing cartridge is exposed.

36. An image sensing cartridge, which has at least an image sensing system, capable of being attached to and detached from an information device having a connection port at a predetermined surface by being connected with the connection port, wherein an image sensing operation becomes possible by connecting said information device with said image sensing cartridge,

said image sensing cartridge being connected to an image sensing opening for introducing light to an image sensing means, the minimum length of the image sensing opening being larger than the shortest side of said connection port.

37. The cartridge according to claim 36, wherein at least a portion of said image sensing cartridge is connected with said information device and said portion has a card-shaped configuration.

38. The cartridge according to claim 36, wherein a portion of said image sensing cartridge is connected with said information device and a portion of said image sensing cartridge projects from said information device so as to expose the image sensing opening of said image sensing cartridge.

39. An image sensing cartridge, which has at least an image sensing system, capable of being attached to and detached from an information device having a connection port at a predetermined surface by being connected with the connection port, wherein an image sensing operation become possible by connecting said image sensing cartridge with said information device;

said image sensing cartridge being connected to an image sensing opening for introducing light to image sensing means, the minimum length of the image sensing opening being larger than the shortest side of said connection port.

40. The cartridge according to claim 39, wherein at least a portion of said image sensing cartridge is connected with said information device and said portion has a card shaped configuration.

41. The cartridge according to claim 39, wherein a portion of said image sensing cartridge is connected with said information device and a portion of said image sensing cartridge projects from said information device so as to expose the image sensing opening of said image sensing cartridge.

42. An image sensing cartridge capable of being attached to and detached from an information device having a connection port at a predetermined surface by being connected with the connection port, wherein an image sensing operation becomes possible by connecting said image sensing cartridge with said information device, comprising:

an image sensing system; and

an image sensing opening for introducing light to an image sensing means, the minimum length of the image sensing opening being larger than the shortest side of said connection port.

43. The cartridge according to claim 42, wherein at least a portion of said image sensing cartridge is connected with said information device and said portion has a card-shaped configuration.

44. The cartridge according to claim 42, wherein a portion of said image sensing cartridge is connected with said information device and a portion of said image sensing cartridge projects from said information device so as to expose the image sensing opening of said image sensing cartridge.