Hybrid cameras that revise stored electronic image metadata at film unit removal and methods

• US 6,505,003 B1
• Filed: 10/12/2001
• Issued: 01/07/2003
• 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:
  US09/976,489
• Time in Patent Office: 452 Days
• Field of Search: 396/311, 396/429, 348/64
• US Class Current: 396/429
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00251 with an apparatus for taking photographic images, e.g. a camera
• 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 1/2158 using a detachable storage unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32122 in a separate device, e.g. in a memory or on a display separate from image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3222 of processing required or performed, e.g. forwarding, urgent or confidential handling

Abstract

In cameras and methods, a plurality of image pairs are captured. Each image pair has an archival image in a film unit and a corresponding electronic image. The electronic images are stored in memory disposed in the camera independent of the film unit. Photofinishing metadata is generated for the image pairs. The metadata is written to both the film unit and the memory, in association with corresponding images. The film unit is removed from the camera. The metadata in the memory is irreversibly erased concurrent with the removal. The corresponding electronic images are retained following the erasing.

Claims

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

capturing a plurality of image pairs, each said image pair having an archival image in said film unit and a corresponding electronic image;

storing said electronic images in memory disposed in said camera independent of said film unit;

generating photofinishing metadata for said image pairs;

writing said metadata to both said film unit and said memory, in association with corresponding said images;

removing said film unit from said camera; and

irreversibly erasing said metadata in said memory concurrent with said removing; and

retaining said electronic images corresponding to said metadata following said erasing.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising said retaining irreversibly erasing said electronic images.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the steps of

generating image metadata for said image pairs;

writing said image metadata to both said film unit and said memory in association with corresponding said images; and

retaining said image metadata in said memory until said erasing of corresponding said electronic images.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising following said removing, retaining said metadata in said film unit.

5. A method for capturing and storing 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;

writing said photofinishing metadata and said image metadata to both said film unit and said memory;

removing said film unit from said camera;

irreversibly erasing said electronic images and said image metadata from said memory; and

irreversibly deleting said photofinishing metadata from said memory between said removing and erasing steps.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said erasing follows said removing and deleting steps.

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

8. The method of claim 5 further comprising downloading said electronic images from said camera prior to said erasing.

9. The method of claim 5 wherein said photofinishing metadata includes print quantity selection and said image metadata includes time and date of said capturing.

10. A method for capturing and storing 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;

writing said photofinishing metadata and said image metadata to both said film unit and said memory;

removing said film unit from said camera;

assigning said photofinishing metadata to the head of a first in-first out overwriting queue concurrent with said removing;

assigning said electronic images and said image metadata to the tail of a first in-first out overwriting queue concurrent with said removing.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the steps of:

overwriting said photofinishing metadata; and

overwriting said electronic images and said image metadata following said overwriting of said photofinishing metadata.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising repeating said loading step for another film unit prior to said overwriting steps.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising downloading at least some of said electronic images from said camera.

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

a body having a film space holding the film unit;

a signaler disposed in said body, said signaler transmitting a removal signal when said film unit is removed;

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 archival image in said film unit and a separate electronic image of the same scene, said capture system having a archival capture unit capturing said archival images in said film unit, said capture system having an electronic capture unit capturing said electronic images;

memory disposed in said body, said memory being operatively connected to said electronic capture unit, said memory storing said electronic images;

a designator mounted to said body, said designator generating photofinishing metadata and image metadata corresponding to each said image pair; and

a memory writer writing said photofinishing metadata and said image metadata to said memory in association with respective said electronic images, said memory writer, responsive to said removal signal, irreversibly deleting said photofinishing metadata while retaining respective said electronic images.

15. The camera of claim 14 further comprising a communications port operatively connectable to said memory to download said electronic images.

16. The camera of claim 14 further comprising an assignment unit operatively connected to said designator and said memory writer, said assignment unit maintaining said electronic images and said metadata in a first in-first out overwriting queue, said assignment unit assigning said photofinishing metadata to the head of said queue responsive to said removal signal.

17. The camera of claim 14 wherein said film unit includes photographic film and said archival images are latent images.

18. The camera of claim 17 further comprising a film writer writing said metadata in association with respective said latent images.

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

a body having a film space holding the film unit;

a signaler disposed in said body, said signaler transmitting a removal signal when said film unit is removed,

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 archival image in said film unit and a separate electronic image of the same scene, said capture system having a archival capture unit capturing said archival images in said film unit, said capture system having an electronic capture unit capturing said electronic images;

memory disposed in said body, said memory being operatively connected to said electronic capture unit, said memory storing said electronic images;

a designator mounted to said body, said designator generating photofinishing metadata and image metadata corresponding to each said image pair; and

a memory writer writing said photofinishing metadata and said image metadata to said memory in association with respective said electronic images, said memory writer deleting said photofinishing metadata responsive to said removal signal; and

an assignment unit operatively connected to said designator and said memory writer, said assignment unit maintaining said electronic images and said metadata in a first in-first out overwriting queue, said assignment unit assigning said photofinishing metadata to the head of said queue responsive to said removal signal.

20. The camera of claim 19 wherein said assignment unit assigns said electronic images and said image metadata to the tail of said queue concurrent with said removal signal.