Photocard that is inserted into a non-digital camera to enable the non-digital camera to take digital photographic images

• US 6,278,481 B1
• Filed: 10/03/1996
• Issued: 08/21/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Airify Communications, Inc.
• Inventors: Schmidt, Dominik J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Garber, Wendy R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vu, Ngoc-Yen, VU, NGOC YEN T
• Application Number:
  US08/723,623
• Time in Patent Office: 1,783 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.718, H04/N.947, H04/N.576, H04/N.5225, 396/429, 396/511, 396/535, 348/64, 348/207, 348/222, 348/231, 348/232, 348/233, 348/362, 348/363, 348/373, 348/375, 348/376, 348/552, 348/220, 358/906, 358/909.1
• US Class Current: 348/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00129 with a display device, e.g. CRT or LCD monitor with a television apparatus H04N1/00283; arrangements for control of display devices G09G
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2116 Picture signal recording combined with imagewise recording, e.g. photographic recording photographic cameras G03B19/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0049 By wire, cable or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0053 Optical, e.g. using an infrared link
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0055 By radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0086 Image transceiver H04N2201/0093 and H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0087 Image storage device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof

Abstract

A digital camera that operates inside and in conjunction with a non-digital camera, enabling the user to continue to use the non-digital camera, controls and associated lens, flashes, etc. The digital camera includes an imager which senses the image to be recorded and a light detector which detects the existence of light due to the opening of the shutter aperture of the non-digital camera. The light detector controls the imager such that an image is recorded and output from the imager when the light detector detects the opening of the shutter aperture which occurs when the photographer depresses the shutter button to take a picture. Preferably the digital camera includes a memory for storage of the images recorded. These images can then be subsequently output to an external device for further processing or display.

Claims

1. A digital camera that fits within a film cavity of a non-digital camera having a lens adapted to deliver radiated energy reflective of an image onto an imaging area of the non-digital camera and a shutter aperture positioned between the lens and the imaging area, comprising:

a light detector for detecting lights due to the opening of the shutter aperture of the non-digital camera; and

a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) integrated circuit chip coupled to the light detector and positionable in the film cavity without a card extending substantially throughout the film cavity and occupying the same area as the imaging area, the chip comprising;

an on-chip CMOS imager located adjacent to the shutter aperture of the non-digital camera, said imager sensing radiated energy reflective of the image received through the lens and shutter aperture of the non-digital camera when the light detector detects lights due to the opening of the shutter aperture of the non-digital camera, said on-chip imager generating signals reflective of the image,

an on-chip CMOS analog-to-digital (A/D) converter coupled to the imager to convert the signals reflective of the image into digital signals,

an on-chip CMOS processor coupled to the on-chip A/D converter to perform color processing on the digital signals and to compress the digital signals from the on-chip A/D converter, and

an on-chip high density CMOS memory array coupled to the on-chip processor to store the compressed digital signals.

2. The digital camera as set forth in claim 1, further comprising

a clock input coupled to the imager, and

a passgate coupled to the light detector located between the imager and the clock input to the imager, said passgate controlled by the light detector such that when the light detector detects light due to the opening of the shutter aperture of the non-digital camera, the passgate is switched to permit clock signals to reach the imager to drive the imager to output signals reflective of the image.

3. The digital camera as set forth in claim 1, wherein the light detector controls power to the imager such that when the light detector detects light due to the opening of the shutter aperture of the non-digital camera, power is supplied to the imager to generate the signals reflective of the image.

4. The digital camera as set forth in claim 1, wherein the light detector controls an output from the imager such that when the light detector detects light due to the opening of the shutter aperture of the non-digital camera, output signals reflective of the image are output from the imager.

5. The digital camera as set forth in claim 1 wherein the lens located between the shutter aperture of the non-digital camera and the imager to focus the image received through the shutter aperture onto the imager.

6. The digital camera defined in claim 1 further comprising adjustable rails coupled to the IC chip and the light detector to adjust the digital camera within the film cavity.

7. The digital camera defined in claim 1 wherein the memory array comprises a random access memory.

8. The digital camera defined in claim 1 wherein the memory array comprises a flash memory.

9. The digital camera defined in claim 1 wherein the processor performs image processing.

10. The digital camera defined in claim 9, wherein the image processing comprises edge detection.

11. The digital camera defined in claim 9, wherein the image processing comprises image sharpening.

12. The digital camera defined in claim 13, wherein the image processing comprises cropping.

13. The digital camera as set forth in claim 1, further comprising at least one output port on the IC chip for outputting image data from the digital camera to an external device.

14. The digital camera as set forth in claim 13, wherein the at least one output port comprises a wireless transmitter for transmitting image data to a wireless receiver of the external device.

15. The digital camera as set forth in claim 13, wherein the at least one output port is coupled to a substantially flat cable that extends outside of the body of the non-digital camera when a film door of the non-digital camera is closed and connects to the external device.

16. The digital camera as set forth in claim 13, wherein the at least one output port outputs the image data in a format compatible with the RS-232 standard.

17. The digital camera as set forth in claim 13, wherein the at least one output port couples to a monitor, said digital camera further comprising circuitry that drives the monitor to display the image data on the monitor.

18. The digital camera as set forth in claim 13, wherein the external device drives a monitor to display the image data.

19. The digital camera as set forth in claim 13, wherein the external device drives a printer to generate a print of the image data.

20. The digital camera as set forth in claim 13, wherein the at least one output port operates in accordance with a telephone standard, said digital camera further comprising logic to generate a facsimile transmission that is output through the at least one output port to a coupled telephone line.

21. The digital camera as set forth in claim 13, wherein the at least one output port couples to the internet.

22. The digital camera as set forth in claim 13, wherein the at least one output port couples to the world wide web site.

23. The digital camera defined in claim 13 wherein the at least one output outputs the image in a computer compatible format.

24. A digital camera that fits within a film cavity of a non-digital camera having a lens adapted to deliver radiated energy reflective of an image onto an imaging area of the non-digital camera, a shutter aperture positioned between the lens and the imaging area, and a film compartment adapted to receive a power source, the camera comprising:

a light detector for detecting light due to the opening of the shutter aperture of the non-digital camera; and

a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) integrated circuit (IC) chip coupled to the light detector and the power source, the IC chip is positionable in the film cavity without a card extending substantially throughout the film cavity and occupying the same area as the imaging area, the IC chip comprising;

an on-chip CMOS imager located adjacent to the shutter aperture of the non-digital camera, said imager sensing radiated energy reflective of the image received through the lens and shutter aperture of the non-digital camera when the light detector detects light due to the opening of the shutter aperture of the non-digital camera, said on-chip imager generating signals reflective of the image,

an on-chip CMOS analog-to-digital (A/D) converter coupled to the imager to convert the signals reflective of the image into digital signals,

an on-chip CMOS processor coupled to the on-chip A/D converter to perform signal processing on the digital signals, and

an on-chip high density CMOS memory array coupled to the on-chip processor to store the processed digital signals.

25. The digital camera defined in claim 24 further comprising adjustable rails coupled to the IC chip and the light detector to adjust the digital camera within the film cavity to compensate for different camera dimensions.

26. The digital camera defined in claim 24 wherein the IC chip drives a monitor to display the image data.

27. The digital camera defined in claim 24 wherein the memory array comprises a random access memory.

28. The digital camera defined in claim 24 wherein the memory array comprises a flash memory.

29. The digital camera defined in claim 24 wherein the processor performs image processing.

30. The digital camera defined in claim 29 wherein the image processing comprises edge detection.

31. The digital camera defined in claim 29 wherein the image processing comprises image sharpening.

32. The digital camera defined in claim 24 further comprising at least one output port on the IC chip for outputting image data from the digital camera.

33. The digital camera defined in claim 32 wherein the at least one output port comprises a wireless transmitter for transmitting image.

34. The digital camera defined in claim 32 wherein the at least one output outputs the image in a computer compatible format.

35. The digital camera defined in claim 32 wherein the at least one output port operates in accordance with a telephone standard.

36. The digital camera as set forth in claim 32 wherein the at least one output port couples to a world wide web site.