Digital camera including a printer for receiving a cartridge having security control circuitry

• US 6,163,361 A
• Filed: 04/23/1999
• Issued: 12/19/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Monument Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Patton, David L., McIntyre, Dale F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Adams, Russell
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bindingnavele, Raghuveer
• Application Number:
  US09/298,532
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• Field of Search: 355/18, 355/1, 355/2, 355/133, 348/207, 348/441, 380/30, 380/54, 380/4, 380/80, 713/719, 347/214, 346/76, 399/366, 340/825.54, 340/568.1, 340/572.7
• US Class Current: 355/18
• 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 1/00278 with a printing apparatus, e.g. a laser beam printer
• 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 2101/00 Still video cameras

Abstract

A digital camera is disclosed which includes a printer for printing images onto a receiver having preformed authenticating information, the receiver being formed in a cartridge which is insertable into the printer. The camera captures and digitizes an image of a scene and stores the captured digitized scene image. The cartridge includes security control circuitry having a predetermined code for enabling the printer. The printer includes a print station adapted to print the captured digitized scene image in relation to the preformed authenticating information on the receiver; and receives the cartridge having the receiver and advances the receiver past the print station; logic and control circuitry is responsive to the inserted cartridge for receiving the predetermined code to enable the printer, and is also responsive to the captured digitized scene image for causing the receiver to advance past the print station and for providing signals to the enabled printer in response to the captured digitized scene image for causing the printer to print an image on the receiver in relation to the preformed authenticating information on the receiver.

Claims

1. A digital camera including a printer for printing images onto a receiver having preformed authenticating information, the receiver being formed in a cartridge which is insertable into the printer, comprising:

(a) the camera including;

capturing means for capturing and digitizing an image of a scene, and

storing means for storing the captured digitized scene image;

(b) the cartridge including security control circuitry having a predetermined code for enabling the printer;

(c) the printer including;

(i) a print station adapted to print the captured digitized scene image in relation to the preformed authenticating information on the receiver; and

(ii) means for receiving the cartridge having the receiver and for advancing the receiver past the print station; and

(d) logic and controlling means for performing logic and control and including;

enabling means responsive to the inserted cartridge for receiving the predetermined code to enable the printer, and

advancing means responsive to the captured digitized scene image for causing the advancing means to advance the receiver past the print station and for providing signals to the enabled printer in response to the captured digitized scene image for causing the printer to print an image on the receiver in relation to the performed authenticating information on the receiver.

2. The digital camera of claim 1 wherein a plurality of images of the captured digitized scene image are formed on the receiver.

3. The digital camera of claim 2 wherein the receiver includes an image receiving structure to which a series of user viewable images of the captured digitized image scene are formed such as postal stamps, the image receiving structure further comprising:

(e) a support having first and second surfaces including preformed authenticating information;

(f) a barrier layer formed on the first surface of the support; and

(g) a colorant receiving layer formed on the barrier layer to which a series of images can be transferred.

4. The digital camera of claim 1 further including an antenna and RF transponder for sending and receiving radio signals and wherein the cartridge includes a cartridge RF transponder for sending and receiving radio signals and in response to a received signal from the RF transponder the cartridge RF transponder sends a signal having the predetermined code to the antenna which transmits such signal to the RF transponder, and wherein the logic and control means includes means coupled to the RF transponder for receiving the predetermined code to enable the printer.

5. The digital camera of claim 4 wherein the cartridge RF transponder includes a counter having a number corresponding to the number of receivers included in the cartridge and wherein the counter is decremented each time the printer is actuated.

6. A digital camera including a printer for printing images onto a receiver, the receiver being provided in a cartridge which is insertable into the printer having preformed authenticating information on peelable stickers, comprising:

(a) the camera including

capturing and storing means for capturing and digitizing an image of a scene and for storing the captured digitized scene image;

(b) the cartridge including security control circuitry having a predetermined code for enabling the printer;

(c) the printer including;

(i) a print station adapted to print the captured digitized scene image in relation to the preformed authenticating information on the receiver; and

(ii) means for receiving the receiver and for advancing the receiver past the print station; and

(d) logic and controlling means for performing logic and control and including;

enabling means responsive to the inserted cartridge for receiving the predetermined code to enable the printer, and

advancing means responsive to the captured digitized scene image for causing the advancing means to advance the receiver past the print station and for providing signals to the enabled printer in response to the captured digitized scene image for causing the printer to print an image on one or more stickers on the receiver in relation to the preformed authenticating information on one or more stickers on the receiver.

7. The digital camera of claim 6 further including an antenna and RF transponder for sending and receiving radio signals and wherein the cartridge includes a cartridge RF transponder for sending and receiving radio signals and in response to a received signal from the RF transponder the cartridge RF transponder sends a signal having the predetermined code to the antenna which transmits such signal to the RF transponder, and wherein the logic and control means includes means coupled to the RF transponder for receiving the predetermined code to enable the printer.

8. The digital camera of claim 7 wherein the cartridge RF transponder includes a counter having a number corresponding to the number of peelable stickers included in the cartridge and wherein the counter is decremented each time the printer is actuated.

9. A digital camera, comprising:

a sensor capturing and digitizing an image of a scene and storing the captured digitized scene image;

a cartridge comprising;

security control circuitry with a predetermined code; and

a receiver being formed in the cartridge and having preformed authenticating information formed on the receiver;

a printer printing images on to the receiver, the cartridge being insertable into the printer, the printer being enable by the predetermined code and comprising;

a print station printing the captured digitized scene image in relation to the preformed authenticating information on the receiver; and

a mechanism receiving the cartridge and advancing the receiver past the print station; and

a logic and control unit responsive to the inserted cartridge, receiving the predetermined code to enable the printer, causing the advancing means to advance the receiver past the print station, providing signals to the enabled printer in response to the captured digitized scene image and causing the printer to print an image on the receiver in relation to the performed authenticating information on the receiver.