Camera with swipe printer

• US 7,573,501 B2
• Filed: 02/12/2003
• Issued: 08/11/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia
• Primary Examiner(s): Ye, Lin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hernandez Hernandez, Nelson D
• Application Number:
  US10/503,897
• Publication Number:
  US 20050088527A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,372 Days
• Field of Search: 348/207.2, 348/373, 348/552, 347/2, 358/906, 358/909.1, 358/296, 399/25
• US Class Current: 348/207.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00278 with a printing apparatus, e.g. a laser beam printer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/107 with manual scanning
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2154 the still video camera incorporating a hardcopy reproducing device, e.g. a printer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0063 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera

Abstract

A digital camera has a built-in printer to enable the printing of a stored image upon a page external to the camera as the camera traverses the page. The camera can be maintained compact and lightweight as no paper storage or paper feed mechanism need be provided. A replaceable ink cartridge that detachable connects to the printhead reduces the costs of ongoing consumables.

Claims

1. A digital camera comprising:

a housing having seven major surfaces, including a front surface, a rear surface, a base surface and an inclined surface adjoining the rear and base surfaces, the base surface being the surface on which the digital camera is supported at rest;

an image sensor for capturing an image, the image sensor provided on the front surface;

a digital storage device for digitally storing the image captured by the image sensor;

a printer located within the housing, the printer for printing the captured image on media external to the camera as the camera traverses the media, wherein a printhead of the printer is provided on the inclined surface and at an angle normal thereto;

a replaceable ink cartridge located within the housing and detachable therefrom, the replaceable ink cartridge being detachably inserted into the housing from the rear surface;

a speed sensor for sensing a speed at which the camera traverses the media, wherein the speed sensor comprises;

an optical encoder wheel protruding from the inclined surface at a normal thereto, and having a plurality of markings disposed circumferentially thereon;

an optical sensor for sensing the markings; and

an idle wheel protruding from the inclined surface at a normal thereto and provided at an opposite end of the inclined surface from the optical encoder wheel, the idle wheel for assisting the digital camera to traverse the media.

2. The camera of claim 1 wherein the camera further comprises a lens and wherein the image is captured by the image sensor via the lens.

3. The camera of claim 1 wherein the printer comprises a drop-on-demand color inkjet printhead.

4. The printer of claim 1 wherein the rear surface includes an elongate receptacle into which the ink cartridge is received, the elongate receptacle having resilient collars at one end thereof, and the cartridge including ink outlets for slidably engaging with the collars.

5. The camera of claim 1 wherein the digital storage device comprises a removable memory card.

6. The camera of claim 5 wherein the memory card is stored within a chassis having an integrally formed battery housing adapted to receive and retain a battery for powering the camera.

7. The camera of claim 1 wherein the printer is adapted to be synchronized with the speed sensor such that the printer ejects ink onto the media at rate which is proportional to the speed at which the camera traverses the media in order to produce a faithful reproduction of the captured image.

8. The camera of claim 1, wherein the replaceable ink cartridge comprises an authentication chip which, when received within the printer, communicates with the camera to indicate that the replaceable ink cartridge is suitable for use with the camera and at least one of indicating a type and quality of ink remaining in the cartridge.