Hybrid cameras that download electronic images with reduced metadata and methods

• US 6,501,911 B1
• Filed: 10/12/2001
• Issued: 12/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Malloy Desormeaux, Stephen G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Adams, Russell
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, MICHELLE P
• Application Number:
  US09/976,973
• Time in Patent Office: 445 Days
• Field of Search: 396/311, 396/429, 348/64
• US Class Current: 396/311
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00132 in a digital photofinishing system, i.e. a system where digital photographic images undergo typical photofinishing processing, e.g. printing ordering
• 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 1/32101 Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3214 of a date
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3215 of a time or duration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3274 Storage or retrieval of prestored additional information

Abstract

In cameras and methods, a plurality of image pairs are captured. Each image pair has an archival image of a scene and an electronic image of the same scene. The electronic images are stored in camera memory. Photofinishing metadata and image metadata is generated for the image pairs. One or more of the electronic images are downloaded to provide downloaded files. Photofinishing metadata is excluded from the downloaded files.

Claims

1. A method for handling images in a hybrid camera, for use with a film unit, said method comprising the steps of:

capturing a plurality of image pairs in the camera, each said image pair having an archival image of a scene and an electronic image of the same scene;

storing said electronic images in memory disposed in said camera;

generating photofinishing metadata and image metadata for said image pairs;

downloading from said memory in said camera to provide one or more downloaded files, each said downloaded file including one of said electronic images and respective said image metadata; and

excluding said photofinishing metadata from said downloading.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising, during said downloading, deleting from said memory said electronic images corresponding to said downloaded files.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said photofinishing metadata includes print quantity selection and said image metadata includes time and date of said capturing.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said generating includes displaying said electronic images and receiving user input following said displaying.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising loading a film unit in said camera prior to said capturing and writing said photofinishing metadata and said image metadata to said film unit in association with respective said archival images.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising, following said downloading, retaining said photofinishing metadata and image metadata in said film unit.

7. A method for handling images in a hybrid electronic-film camera, for use with a film unit having photographic film, said method comprising the steps of:

capturing a plurality of image pairs in the camera, each said image pair having a latent image of a scene on the photographic film and an electronic image of the same scene;

storing said electronic images in memory disposed in said camera;

generating photofinishing metadata and image metadata for said image pairs;

combining each of said electronic images and respective said photofinishing and image metadata to provide image files;

downloading one or more of said image files as downloaded files; and

prior to said downloading, revising said image files to exclude respective said photofinishing metadata from said downloaded files.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising, during said downloading, deleting said image files from said memory.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said photofinishing metadata includes print quantity selection and said image metadata includes time and date of said capturing.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein said generating includes displaying said electronic images and receiving user input following said displaying.

11. The method of claim 7 further comprising loading a film unit in said camera prior to said capturing and writing said photofinishing metadata and said image metadata to said film unit in association with respective said latent images.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising, following said downloading, retaining said photofinishing metadata and image metadata in said film unit.

13. A method for handling images in a hybrid electronic-film camera, said method comprising the steps of:

loading a film unit in the camera, said film unit having a photographic filmstrip;

capturing a series of light images as latent images on said film;

capturing said series of light images as electronic images in said camera;

storing said electronic images in memory disposed in said camera;

generating photofinishing metadata and image metadata for said images;

adding said metadata to respective said electronic images in said memory to provide image files;

revising selected said image files to delete respective said photofinishing metadata to provide revision files, and

downloading said revision files.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising repeating said loading step, said capturing steps, said storing step, said generating step, and said adding step.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein said photofinishing metadata includes print quantity selection and said image metadata includes time and date of said capturing.

16. A hybrid camera for use with a film unit, said camera comprising:

a body having a film space holding the film unit;

a capture system disposed in said body, said capture system being selectively actuable to capture a series of light images as image pairs, each said image pair having an archival image and electronic image of the same light image, said capture system having an archival capture unit capturing said archival images in the film unit, said capture system having an electronic capture unit capturing said electronic images;

a photofinishing metadata designator selectively switchable, in relation to each said image pair, among a plurality of different photofinishing metadata designations;

memory disposed in said body, said memory being operatively connected to said electronic capture unit and said metadata designator, said memory storing said electronic images, said memory storing said metadata in association with respective said electronic images;

a communication port operatively connected to said memory; and

a controller operatively connected to said photofinishing metadata designator, said memory, and said communication port, said controller selectively downloading said electronic images via said communication port to provide corresponding downloaded files, said controller automatically excluding said photofinishing metadata from said downloading.

17. The camera of claim 16 further comprising a film writer writing said metadata to said film unit in association with respective said archival images.

18. The camera of claim 16 wherein said controller assigns image metadata to each said image pair.

19. A hybrid camera for use with a film unit, said camera comprising:

a body having a film space holding the film unit;

a capture system disposed in said body, said capture system being selectively actuable to capture a series of light images as image pairs, each said image pair having an archival image and electronic image of the same light image, said capture system having an archival capture unit capturing said archival images in the film unit, said capture system having an electronic capture unit capturing said electronic images;

a photofinishing metadata designator selectively switchable, in relation to each said image pair, among a plurality of different photofinishing metadata designations;

memory disposed in said body, said memory being operatively connected to said electronic capture unit and said metadata designator, said memory storing said electronic images, said memory storing said metadata in association with respective said electronic images;

a communication port operatively connected to said memory; and

a controller operatively connected to said photofinishing metadata designator, said memory, and said communication port, said controller selectively downloading said electronic images via said communication port to provide corresponding downloaded files, said controller automatically excluding said photofinishing metadata from said downloading;

wherein said memory stores each of said electronic images and respective said metadata in a single image file and said controller revises said image files upon said downloading, to exclude said photofinishing metadata and include said image metadata.

20. The camera of claim 19 wherein said photofinishing metadata designations include designations of print quantity and said image metadata designations include time and date of said capture of said image pairs.

21. A method for handling images in a hybrid electronic-film camera, said method comprising the steps of:

loading a first film unit in the camera, said first film unit having a first photographic filmstrip;

capturing a first series of light images as first series latent images on said first filmstrip;

capturing said first series of light images as first series electronic images in said camera;

storing said first series electronic images in memory disposed in said camera;

generating photofinishing metadata and image metadata for said first series images;

adding said metadata to respective said first series electronic images in said memory to provide first series image files;

loading a second film unit in the camera, said second film unit having a second photographic filmstrip;

capturing a second series of light images as second series latent images on said second filmstrip;

capturing said second series of light images as second series electronic images in said camera;

storing said second series electronic images in memory disposed in said camera;

generating photofinishing metadata and image metadata for said second series images;

adding said metadata to respective said second series electronic images in said memory to provide second series image files;

revising selected said image files to delete respective said photofinishing metadata to provide revision files; and

generating revisions of said selected image files, said revisions each having respective image metadata and lacking respective photofinishing metadata;

downloading said revision files.