Analog/digital camera and method

• US 20020076218A1
• Filed: 12/15/2000
• Published: 06/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Jones, Michael J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,553,187 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 396/429
• 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 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/60 Control of cameras or camera modules

Abstract

A camera having a digital image transducer and a film transport mechanism operable to advance film across a film focal plane. An imaging system generates an image on the image transducer, and generates an image on the film focal plane. A triggering system may operate to generate the images simultaneously, and the imaging system may include separate lenses having optical properties selected to generate images of essentially the same scene.

Claims

1. A camera comprising:

a digital image transducer;

a film transport mechanism operable to advance film across a film focal plane; and

imaging means for generating an image on the image transducer, and for generating an image on the film focal plane.

2. The camera of claim 1 including a trigger connected to a shutter associated with the film focal plane, and connected to circuitry associated with the digital image transducer.

3. The camera of claim 2 wherein actuation of trigger simultaneously exposes the film focal plane to an image, and generates an image at the transducer.

4. The camera of claim 1 wherein the imaging means comprises a first lens associated with the digital image transducer, and a second lens associated with the film focal plane.

5. The camera of claim 4 wherein the first and second lens are oriented with essentially-parallel optical axes so as to present substantially the same field of view to both the film focal plane and the digital image transducer.

6. The camera of claim 4 wherein the first and second lens each have optical characteristics selected to generate images of substantially the same field of view.

7. The camera of claim 4 wherein the first lens generates a smaller image than does the second lens.

8. The camera of claim 4 wherein the first lens generates a lower resolution image than does the second lens.

9. The camera of claim 1 including a single camera body containing the transducer and the film transport mechanism.

10. The camera of claim 1 including a data imager proximate to the film focal plane and connected to circuitry associated with the digital image transducer, and operable to imprint film with data associated with generation of a digital image.

11. The camera of claim 10 wherein the data associated with generation of a digital image further comprises a unique camera identifier code.

12. The camera of claim 10 wherein the data associated with generation of a digital image further comprises a unique image identifier code.

13. The camera of claim 10 wherein the data associated with generation of a digital image further comprises camera exposure data.

14. The camera of claim 10 wherein the data associated with generation of a digital image further comprises a clock indication of the time of camera exposure.

16. The camera of claim 15 wherein the analog image generator is operable to expose conventional photographic film.

17. The camera of claim 15 wherein the digital and analog image generators each include separate lenses.

18. The camera of claim 17 wherein the lenses have characteristics selected to generate images with a common field of view.

20. The method of claim 19 including forming images of the same scene on the film and on the digital transducer.

21. The method of claim 19 including storing data associated with the image.

22. The method of claim 21 including recording the data on the film.

23. The method of claim 19 including providing a first lens generating a first image on the transducer, and a second lens generating a second image on the film.

24. The method of claim 23 including adjusting the optical properties of the lenses in concert to generate images of the same scene with the same image properties.

15. A camera comprising:

a body;

a digital image generator in the body;

an analog image generator in the body; and

a control element operable to trigger simultaneous generation of a digital image and an analog image.

19. A method of generating images comprising:

providing a camera with a conventional film transport and a digital image transducer;

in response to triggering of an actuator on the camera, exposing film in the film transport to generate an analog image; and

while exposing film, generating a digital image on the transducer.