Wireless communication system for transmitting images from an enabled electronic camera to receiver

• US 6,628,326 B1
• Filed: 06/22/1999
• Issued: 09/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Monument Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Baldino, Robert L., Manico, Joseph A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Garber, Wendy R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ye, Lin
• Application Number:
  US09/337,240
• Time in Patent Office: 1,561 Days
• Field of Search: 348/211--21, 348/207.99, 348/211.99, 348/375, 348/373, 348/374, 348/376, 348/207.2, 348/231.94, 348/333.01, 348/333.05, 455/556, 455/557
• US Class Current: 348/211.12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00347 with another still picture apparatus, e.g. hybrid still picture apparatus circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between image input and image output device H04N1/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0044 for image preview or review, e.g. to help the user position a sheet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4413 involving the use of passwords, ID codes or the like, e.g. PIN
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4426 involving separate means, e.g. a server, a magnetic card
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0055 By radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0056 Using mechanical couplings, e.g. mating elements H04N2201/0049, H04N2201/0051, H04N2201/0058 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0087 Image storage device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0089 Image display device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3264 of sound signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3278 Transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A wireless communications system for transmitting and receiving images and audio information includes a receiver including a display for displaying received images and a speaker for producing audio signals, a processing unit for storing ID code signals for decoding the received images and audio signals and receives an RF signal containing images and audio information. The receiver is responsive to the ID code signal for extracting the received image and audio signals of the images and the audio information from the RF signal. An electronic camera has an image sensor for capturing one or more images of a scene and producing image signals, and receives audio signals to produce audio information signals. A second processing unit is provided for encoding and then superimposing the image and audio signals onto an RF carrier, and transmits the RF carrier and superimposed signals. First and second interconnects respectively included in the receiver and the electronic camera are adapted when interconnected to transfer the ID code signal from the camera to the receiver where it is stored, to thereby permit the electronic camera to communicate with the receiver.

Claims

1. A wireless communications system for transmitting and receiving images and audio information, comprising:

a) a receiver module including a display for displaying received images and a speaker for producing audio signals, a processing unit for storing ID code signals for decoding the received images and audio signals and means for receiving an RF signal containing images and audio information and means responsive to the ID code signal for extracting the received image and audio signals of the images and the audio information from the RF signal, the receiver module having a first electro-mechanical junction;

b) an electronic camera module having an image sensor for capturing one or more images of a scene and producing image signals, and including means for receiving audio signals to produce audio information signals, a second processing unit for encoding and then superimposing the image and audio signals onto an RF carrier, and means for transmitting the RF carrier and superimposed signals, the electronic camera module having a second electromechanical junction for physically and electrically interconnecting the electronic camera module to the receiver module to form a linked configuration; and

c) first and second means respectively included in the receiver module and the electronic camera module for disabling the RF carrier when the receiver module and the camera module are connected and enabling direct two way communications between the camera module and the receiver module and for transferring the ID code signal from the camera module to the receiver module where it is stored, to thereby permit the electronic camera module to further communicate with the receiver module via the RF carrier after they are separated.

2. The wireless communications system of claim 1 further including a plurality of electronic camera modules which are adapted to be coupled to the receiver module which in response to transferred ID codes permits each of the camera modules to communicate with the receiver module.

3. The wireless communications system of claim 1 further including an image recording and playback module having a third electromechanical junction for physically and electrically interconnecting the memory module to the electronic camera module and the receiver module to form a linked configuration.

4. The wireless communications system of claim 1 further including a printer module having a third electromechanical junction for physically and electrically interconnecting the memory module to the electronic camera module and the receiver module to form a linked configuration.

5. The wireless communications system of claim 1 further including a plurality of receiver modules which are adapted to be coupled to the electronic camera module which in response to transferred ID codes permits each of the receivers to communicate with the electronic camera.