Electronic camera having a printer

• US 5,894,326 A
• Filed: 08/26/1996
• Issued: 04/13/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: McIntyre, Dale F., Stephenson, Stanley W. III, Meyers, Mark M., McBride, John K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Garber, Wendy
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILSON, JACQUELINE B
• Application Number:
  US08/703,289
• Time in Patent Office: 960 Days
• Field of Search: 348/231, 348/357, 348/350, 348/346, 348/239, 348/333, 348/334, 348/375, 348/376, 348/207, 361/681, 345/901, 345/903, 345/905, 379/433, 455/550, 455/566, 396/374, 396/287, 396/429
• US Class Current: 348/333.06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0044 for image preview or review, e.g. to help the user position a sheet
• 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 2101/00 Still video cameras

Abstract

In an electronic camera including optics for focusing an image of a subject at an image plane; an area image sensor disposed at the image plane for receiving the image subject and producing a digital image representing the subject; storage memory coupled to the area image sensor for storing the digitized image of the subject; and a moveable display being moveable between a user viewable position to a print position and adapted to be selectively coupled to the storage means for displaying an image of the subject. The camera further includes an optical printer being adapted to be optically coupled to the display when in its print position for producing a hard copy output of the subject represented by the display; and logic and control circuitry being responsive to the display moving to its print position for deenergizing the display after an image to be printed is selected and for reenergizing the display means when in its print position.

Claims

1. In an electronic camera, the improvement comprising:

a) means for focusing an image of a subject at an image plane;

b) area image sensor means disposed at the image plane for receiving the image subject and producing a digital image representing the subject;

c) storage means coupled to the area image sensor for storing the digitized image of the subject;

d) moveable display means being moveable between a user viewable position to a print position and adapted to be selectively coupled to the storage means for displaying an image of the subject; and

e) optical printer being adapted to be optically coupled to the display means when in its print position for producing a hard copy output of the subject represented by the display means.

2. In an electronic camera having a camera body, the improvement comprising:

a) means for focusing an image of a subject at an image plane in the camera body;

b) area image sensor means disposed at the image plane for receiving the image subject and producing a digital image representing the subject;

c) storage means coupled to the area image sensor for storing the digitized image of the subject;

d) moveable display means being moveable between a user viewable position spaced from the camera body to a stored print position wherein it is in the camera body and adapted to be selectively coupled to the storage means for displaying an image of the subject;

e) optical printer means being adapted to be optically coupled to the display means when in its print position for producing a hard copy output of the subject represented by the display means; and

f) logic and control means being responsive to the display means moving to its print position for deenergizing the display means after an image to be printed is selected and for reenergizing the display means when in its print position.

3. In an electronic camera having a camera body, the improvement comprising:

a) means for focusing an image of a subject at an image plane in the camera body;

b) area image sensor means disposed at the image plane for receiving the image subject and producing a digital image representing the subject;

c) storage means coupled to the area image sensor for storing the digitized image of the subject;

d) moveable display means being moveable between a user viewable position spaced from the camera body to a stored print position wherein it is in the camera body and adapted to be selectively coupled to the storage means for displaying an image of the subject; and

e) optical printer means being adapted to be optically coupled to the display means when in its print position for producing a hard copy output of the subject represented by the display means; and

f) logic and control means being responsive to the display means moving to its print position for deenergizing the display means after an image to be printed is selected and for reenergizing the display means when in its print position, such logic and control means being coupled to the storage means and including means for adjusting the digitized image of the subject and for applying such adjusted digitized image to the printer means when in its print position.