Dual film image and electronic image capture camera capable of selecting film images to be combined in a single print

• US 6,408,137 B1
• Filed: 08/01/2000
• Issued: 06/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Fields, Roger A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Perkey, W. B.
• Application Number:
  US09/629,506
• Time in Patent Office: 686 Days
• Field of Search: 396/311, 396/374, 396/429, 348/64, 348/333.02, 348/333.05, 348/333.11, 348/333.12, 348/231, 348/232, 348/233, 348/333.01
• US Class Current: 396/311
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/48 adapted for combination with other photographic or optical apparatus

Abstract

A dual image capture camera for capturing successive film images and electronic images that correspond to the respective film images has an image-combining selector capable of being manually operated to select an identical print designation for at least two captured film images which indicates that these captured film images should be combined to make a single print, and a display that shows the captured electronic images to permit one to view them in order to decide which captured film images are to be combined to make a single print.

Claims

1. A dual image capture camera for capturing successive film images and electronic images that correspond to the respective film images comprises:

an image-combining selector capable of being manually operated to select an identical print designation for at least two captured film images which indicates that these captured film images should be combined to make a single print; and

a display that shows the captured electronic images to permit one to view them in order to decide which captured film images are to be combined to make a single print.

2. A dual image capture camera as recited in claim 1, wherein a memory which stores the captured electronic images corresponding to the respective film images is connected to said display to permit said display to show the captured electronic images and is connected to said image-combining selector to store an identical print designation for at least two captured film images when said image-combining selector has been manually operated to select the identical print designation for these captured film images.

3. A dual image capture camera as recited in claim 2, wherein said display shows an identical print designation that is stored in said memory for at least two captured film images when said display shows a captured electronic image corresponding to any one of these captured film images.

4. A dual image capture camera for capturing successive film images on a filmstrip and electronic images that correspond to the respective film images comprises:

a memory that stores the captured electronic images corresponding to the respective film images;

an image-combining selector connected to said memory and capable of being manually operated to assign to said memory an identical print designation for at least two captured film images which indicates that these captured film images should be combined to make a single print; and

a recorder connected to said memory to record an identical print designation which is assigned to said memory for at least two captured film images on the filmstrip adjacent each of these captured film images.

5. A dual image capture camera as recited in claim 4, wherein a display shows the captured electronic images to permit one to view them in order to decide which captured film images are to be combined to make a single print and shows an identical print designation that is assigned to said memory for at least two captured film images when said display shows a captured electronic image corresponding to any one of these captured film images.

6. A dual image capture camera for simultaneously capturing successive film images of a subject on a filmstrip and electronic images of the subject that correspond to the respective film images comprises:

a memory that stores the captured electronic images corresponding to the respective film images;

a display connected to said memory to show the captured electronic images that are stored in said memory;

an image-viewing selector connected to said memory and said display and capable of being manually operated to change a captured electronic image shown in said display to another captured electronic image; and

an image-combining selector connected to said memory and said display capable of being manually operated to assign to said memory an identical print designation for at least two captured film images which indicates that these captured film images should be combined to make a single print, when each captured electronic image corresponding to the respective film images to be combined to make a single print is shown in said display.

7. A dual image capture camera as recited in claim 6, wherein a recorder is connected to said memory to record an identical print designation which is assigned to said memory for at least two captured film images on the filmstrip adjacent each of these captured film images.

8. A dual image capture camera as recited in claim 6, wherein an image-combining cancellation is connected to said memory and said display and is capable of being manually operated to cancel assignment of an identical print designation to said memory for at least two captured film images when said display shows a captured electronic image corresponding to any one of these captured film images.

9. A method in a dual image capture camera that captures successive film images on a filmstrip and electronic images corresponding to the respective film images, of designating captured film images to be combined to make a single print, comprises the steps of:

showing captured electronic images corresponding to captured film images in a display to permit one to view captured electronic images in order to decide which film images are to be combined to make a single print; and

assigning an identical print designation for at least two captured film images which indicates that these captured film images should be combined to make a single print, when each captured electronic image corresponding to the respective film images to be combined to make a single print is shown in the display.

10. A method as recited in claim 9, further comprising the step of:

recording an identical print designation which is assigned for at least two captured film images on the filmstrip adjacent each of these captured film images.