Electronic still camera with printing capability

• US 5,946,031 A
• Filed: 10/22/1996
• Issued: 08/31/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures I LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Polaroid Corporation (PLR IP Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Douglas, Lawrence M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Garber, Wendy
• Assistant Examiner(s): WHITE, MITCHELL
• Application Number:
  US08/735,409
• Time in Patent Office: 1,043 Days
• Field of Search: 348/333, 348/231, 348/233, 348/207, 348/373, 358/906, 396/30, 396/345, 396/346, 396/347, 396/348, 396/350, 396/351, 396/352, 396/457, 355/402, 355/403, 355/404
• US Class Current: 348/207.99
• 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 1/2158 using a detachable storage unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras

Abstract

A photographic apparatus combines an image capturing apparatus with an image rendering apparatus, where the image capturing apparatus operates as an electronic camera and has an integral liquid crystal display panel for viewing acquired images prior to printing the images onto a photosensitive medium. The images are individually selectable to adjust image properties prior to transmittal of the image to a high-resolution liquid-crystal display in the image rendering apparatus. The image rendering apparatus produces an image on the photosensitive medium by projecting illumination through the image present in the high-resolution liquid-crystal display, through a copy lens, and onto the medium.

Claims

1. A photographic apparatus for capturing an image, comprising image bearing light reflected from a subject, and subsequently projecting the image onto a photosensitive medium to produce a photographic print, said photographic apparatus comprising:

image capturing means for capturing the image bearing light and translating the image bearing light into electronic image signals representative of the image;

image rendering means in electrical communication with said image capturing means, for projecting the image onto said photosensitive medium, said image rendering means comprising

a high-resolution liquid crystal display,

a light source for illuminating said high-resolution liquid-crystal display, and,

a copy lens disposed between said high-resolution liquid-crystal display and the photosensitive medium so as to project an image formed with said high-resolution liquid-crystal display onto the photosensitive medium; and

selection means for selectively actuating the image rendering means to produce a photographic print corresponding to the image.

2. The photographic apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a display in electronic communication with said image capturing means, said display being adapted to display the image corresponding to said image signals.

3. The photographic apparatus of claim 2 wherein said display is a color liquid crystal display.

4. The photographic apparatus of claim 2 wherein said display is a low-resolution liquid-crystal display.

5. The photographic apparatus of claim 1 wherein said photographic apparatus further comprises image control means for modifying print characteristics prior to printing the image via said image rendering means.

6. The photographic apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a socket adapted to receive external memory means.

7. The photographic apparatus of claim 6 wherein said external memory means comprises an electronic data storage device.

8. The photographic apparatus of claim 1 wherein said image-rendering means further comprises:

a housing having a proximal edge and a lateral surface integral with said edge, said lateral surface disposed substantially transverse to said edge, said high-resolution liquid-crystal display being disposed in said lateral surface and said light source being disposed in said edge; and

a plurality of light-reflective devices disposed within said housing, said light-reflective devices opposed to said high-resolution liquid crystal display such that said light is redirected through said high-resolution liquid crystal display.

9. The photographic apparatus of claim 1 wherein said light source emits white light and said image rendering means further comprises a color filter wheel rotatably disposed to selectively modulate a color of said light projected onto said photosensitive medium.

10. The photographic apparatus of claim 1 wherein said light source comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes which selectively project a single color of light onto said photosensitive medium.

11. The photographic apparatus of claim 1 wherein said photographic apparatus comprises a portable, hand-held device.

12. The photographic apparatus of claim 1 further comprises a housing having a viewing projection extending laterally therefrom within which a viewfinder is disposed, said viewing projection extending outward said housing such that the nose of a user is positioned adjacent said housing when the user views the subject through said viewfinder.

13. A camera-printer combination comprising

an electronic camera adapted to record as electronic signals image bearing light representative of an image;

and

a film recorder in electronic communication with said electronic camera, said film recorder being selectively actuatable to record the image on photosensitive media,

said camera-printer combination exhibiting an imaging mode and a printing mode, said imaging mode enabling recording of the image by said electronic camera while disabling printing by said film recorder, and said printing mode disabling recording of the image by said electronic camera while enabling printing by said film recorder.

14. The camera-printer combination of claim 13 further comprising a display in electronic communication with said electronic camera, said display adapted to project the image recorded by said electronic camera.

15. The camera-printer combination of claim 14 further comprising control means for selectively altering properties of the image in said display such that the image in said display is modified according to changes made in the image properties.

16. The camera-printer combination of claim 13 further comprising selection means for selectively actuating said film recorder for printing the image represented by said electronic signals.

17. The camera-printer combination of claim 14 further comprising a housing selectively movable between a closed position and an open position, said closed position enabling said electronic camera to record the image, and said open position enabling printing of the image by said film recorder.

18. The camera-printer combination of claim 17 further comprising a display for viewing the image wherein said open position is angularly adjustably to accommodate viewing said display.

19. A method of recording an image of a subject on photosensitive media within a photographic apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:

capturing at least one image electronically within said photographic apparatus;

viewing said image on a display disposed upon said photographic apparatus;

selecting said image for printing;

forming said image in a high-resolution liquid crystal display;

illuminating said high-resolution liquid-crystal display to project an image-bearing illumination through a copy lens; and

projecting said image-bearing illumination from said copy lens onto a photosensitive medium within said photographic apparatus such that said image is printed onto said photosensitive medium.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of adjusting properties of said image on said display prior to printing.