Integrated camera circuit including image sensor, image processing, and printer drive circuits

• US 6,614,560 B1
• Filed: 07/10/1998
• Issued: 09/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas D.
• Application Number:
  US09/113,104
• Time in Patent Office: 1,880 Days
• Field of Search: 358/443, 358/456, 358/474, 358/482, 358/906, 358/909.1, 348/207, 348/222, 348/294, 348/308
• US Class Current: 358/443
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16585 for paper-width or non-reciprocating print heads
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17596 Ink pumps, ink valves
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/041 Electromagnetic transducer
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/14362 Assembling elements of heads
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/14419 Manifold
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2202/21 Line printing
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/36 for portability , i.e. hand-held printers or laptop printers B41J3/4075 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 1/121 by printing code marks applying code marks to labels B65C9/46; marking or coding completed packages B65B61/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/14 using light without selection of wavelength, e.g. sensing reflected white light G06K7/10831 - G06K7/1097 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 2D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 11/56 using storage elements with more than two stable states represented by steps, e.g. of voltage, current, phase, frequency
• 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 1/32101 Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
• 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 5/2628 Alteration of picture size, shape, position or orientation, e.g. zooming, rotation, rolling, perspective, translation

Abstract

A camera system is disclosed comprising an image sensor and processing device for sensing and processing an image; a print media supply means provided for the storage of print media; a print head for printing the sensed image on print media stored internally to the camera system; the image sensor and processing device comprising a single integrated circuit chip including the following interconnected components: a processing unit for controlling the operation of the camera system; a program ROM utilized by the processing unit; a CMOS active pixel image sensor for sensing the image; a memory store for storing images and associated program data; a series of motor drive units each including motor drive transistors for the driving of external mechanical system of the camera system; and print head interface unit for driving the print head for printing of the sensed image. Preferably, the motor drive transistors are located along one peripheral edge of the integrated circuit and the CMOS pixel image sensor is located along an opposite edge of the integrated circuit.

Claims

1. A camera system comprising:

an image sensor and processing device for sensing and processing an image;

a print media supply means provided for the storage of print media;

a print head for printing said sensed image on print media stored internally to said camera system;

said image sensor and processing device comprising a single integrated circuit chip including the following interconnected components;

a processing unit for controlling the operation of said camera system;

a program ROM utilized by said processing unit;

a CMOS pixel image sensor for sensing said image;

a memory store for storing images and associated program data;

a series of motor drive units each including motor drive transistors for the driving of external mechanical system of said camera system; and

print head interface unit for driving said print head for printing of said sensed image.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said motor drive transistors are located along one peripheral edge of said integrated circuit and said CMOS pixel image sensor is located along an opposite edge of said integrated circuit.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said image sensor and processing device further includes a halftoning unit for halftoning said sensed image into corresponding bi-level pixel elements for printing out by said print head.

4. A system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said halftoning unit implements a dither operation and includes a halftone matrix ROM utilized by said halftoning unit in performing said halftoning operation.

5. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said motor drive transistors are only operated whilst said image sensor is non-operational.