Camera picture printing user interface and method

• US 6,238,111 B1
• Filed: 07/10/1998
• Issued: 05/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia
• Primary Examiner(s): Hilten, John S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nolan, Jr., Charles H.
• Application Number:
  US09/113,085
• Time in Patent Office: 1,054 Days
• Field of Search: 400/70, 347/109, 347/101
• US Class Current: 400/70
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/70 cutting perpendicular to the direction of paper feed
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 15/04 Supporting, feeding, or guiding devices; Mountings for web rolls or spindles
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16585 for paper-width or non-reciprocating print heads
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17596 Ink pumps, ink valves
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/36 for portability , i.e. hand-held printers or laptop printers B41J3/4075 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/445 Printers integrated in other types of apparatus, e.g. printers integrated in cameras

Abstract

In a camera system comprising an image sensor device for sensing and storing an image; a processing means for processing the sensed image; a print media supply means provided for the storage of print media; a print head for printing the sensed image on print media stored internally to the camera system; a first button and second button each interconnected to the processing means; a method is disclosed of operation of the camera system comprising utilizing the first button to activate the image sensor device to sense an image; and utilizing the second button to activate the print head to print out a copy of the image on the print head. Preferably, the utilization of the first button also results in the printing out of the sensed image on the print media using the print head.

Claims

1. A recyclable, one-time use, print on demand, digital camera comprising:

an image sensor device for sensing and storing an image;

a processing means coupled to the image sensor device for processing said sensed image;

a print media supply means containing a supply of print media;

a pagewidth printhead coupled to the processing means for printing said sensed image on the print media;

a first actuator for causing the image sensor device to capture the image and to print out a first copy of said captured image on the print media to be output from the camera; and

a second actuator for causing the image sensor device to print out a second, stored copy of the captured image using the same supply of print media.

2. The camera according to claim 1 wherein said first actuator is coupled to the processing means and activates the image sensor device to both capture said image and activate the printhead to print said first copy of the captured image on the print media.

3. The camera according to claim 1 and further including:

an activation indicator coupled to said processing means for displaying an indication of a predetermined time period in which said captured image is stored to allow for the printing out of said second copy of the captured image on the print media upon actuation of the second actuator, the processing means causing the activation indicator to change state after the predetermined time period and deleting the stored image from the image sensor device.

4. The camera according to claim 3 wherein said processing means is arranged to extend said predetermined time period if said second actuator is activated.

5. The camera according to claim 3 wherein said activation indicator comprises a light emitting diode.

6. The camera according to claim 1 wherein the first actuator comprises a first button and the second actuator comprises a second button.