Method of operating a camera timing module

• US 7,605,851 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2004
• Issued: 10/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Walmsley, Simon Robert, Silverbrook, Kia
• Primary Examiner(s): Ye, Lin
• Assistant Examiner(s): HERNANDEZ, NELSON D
• Application Number:
  US10/982,833
• Publication Number:
  US 20050157176A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,807 Days
• Field of Search: 348/207.2, 348/231.8, 348/207.1, 348/207.11, 348/143, 348/231.1, 348/231.9, 348/231.2, 348/231.99
• US Class Current: 348/231.8
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/008 Controlling printhead for accurately positioning print image on printing material, e.g. with the intention to control the width of margins
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 13/02 Rollers roller platens B41J11/04
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 13/103 for the sheet feeding section
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 13/12 specially adapted for small cards, envelopes, or the like , e.g. credit cards, cut visiting cards
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 19/207 Encoding along a bar
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/01 Ink jet
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/155 for line printing
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16508 connected with the printer frame
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16579 Detection means therefor, e.g. for nozzle clogging
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17503 Ink cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1752 Mounting within the printer
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17523 Ink connection
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17553 Outer structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17566 Ink level or ink residue control
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 23/02 Mechanical power drives
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/02 Framework
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/023 with reduced dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/393 Devices for controlling or analysing the entire machine ; Controlling or analysing mechanical parameters involving printing of test patterns
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/36 for portability , i.e. hand-held printers or laptop printers B41J3/4075 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/44 : Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms having dual functions or combined with, or coupled to, apparatus performing other functions
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/445 : Printers integrated in other types of apparatus, e.g. printers integrated in cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/46 : Printing mechanisms combined with apparatus providing a visual indication
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/05 : Combinations of cameras with electronic flash apparatus; Electronic flash units
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/02 : Bodies
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/50 : with both developing and finishing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2215/05 : Combinations of cameras with electronic flash units
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 29/00 : Combinations of cameras, projectors or photographic printing apparatus with non-photographic non-optical apparatus, e.g. clocks or weapons; Cameras having the shape of other objects combinations with flash apparatus G03B15/03
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 : for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3232 : wherein the operator is informed
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3262 : Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00249 : with a photographic apparatus, e.g. a photographic printer or a projector photographic apparatus per se G03B, G03D
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00265 : with a photographic printing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00278 : with a printing apparatus, e.g. a laser beam printer
• 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 1/00397 : Switches, knobs or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00538 : Modular devices, i.e. allowing combinations of separate components, removal or replacement of components
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00541 : with detachable image reading apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00557 : Connection or assembly of components or elements H04N1/00538 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0083 : Arrangements for transferring signals between different components of the apparatus, e.g. arrangements of signal lines or cables for control or supervision between image input and output device H04N1/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00962 : Input arrangements for operating instructions or parameters, e.g. updating internal software program loading in general G06F9/445; network-specific protocols involving the movement of software or configuration parameters H04L67/34
• 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 1/32358 : using picture signal storage, e.g. at transmitter H04N1/17 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32598 : Bus based systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/387 : Composing, repositioning or otherwise geometrically modifying originals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/405 : Halftoning, i.e. converting the picture signal of a continuous-tone original into a corresponding signal showing only two levels
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/52 : Circuits or arrangements for halftone screening
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/60 : Colour correction or control H04N1/54 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/6019 : using look-up tables H04N1/6025 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/62 : Retouching, i.e. modification of isolated colours only or in isolated picture areas only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 : Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/001 : Sharing resources, e.g. processing power or memory, with a connected apparatus or enhancing the capability of the still picture apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0081 : Image reader H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 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 2201/0096 : Portable devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 : Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 : Housings

Abstract

A timer module is arranged to be mechanically and electronically coupled to a digital image capture camera module and one or more memory modules. A method of operating the timer module includes initially querying the one or more memory modules to determine available memory storage locations. Once the available memory locations are determined the timer module instructs the image capture module to capture images and transfer them to the memory modules a number of times on the basis of the available digital image storage locations. The elapsed time between the image captures may be set as desired by a user of the module.

Claims

1. A method of operating a timer module in communication with an image capture module and a non-volatile memory module to store digital images generated by the image capture module, the method comprising the steps of:

querying the non-volatile memory module to determine available digital image storage locations, each storage location having assigned thereto an image number;

receiving as user input a selection selecting one of the available digital image storage location as a starting location, and assigning an image number corresponding to the starting location as a starting image number;

determining a number of image storage locations having an image number equal to or greater than the starting image number; and

instructing the image capture module to capture and transfer images to the memory module a number of times equal to the number of image storage locations having an image number equal to or greater than the starting image number;

wherein a time interval between the capture of consecutive images is set by means of a remote computational device in communication with the timer module; and

wherein when a plurality of non-volatile memory modules are provided, a memory module closest to the image capture module is completely filled first before a memory module that is next closest to the image capture module is filled.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the timer module instructs the image capture module to capture images at a user selected rate.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the timer module issues image capture instructions to the image capture module at the user selected rate.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein a time interval between the capture of consecutive images is set by means of a control located on the timer module.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the images transferred from the image capture module are sequentially stored in the memory module at locations beginning from the location corresponding to the starting image number.