Digital instant printing camera with image processing capability

• US 6,750,901 B1
• Filed: 07/10/1998
• Issued: 06/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia
• Primary Examiner(s): HO, TUAN V
• Application Number:
  US09/113,060
• Time in Patent Office: 2,167 Days
• Field of Search: 348/207, 348/373, 348/374, 348/375, 348/376, 348/207.99, 348/222.1, 348/207.2, 347/2, 347/3, 347/4, 347/225, 347/80, 400/693
• US Class Current: 348/207.2
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/14314 Structure of ink jet print heads with electrostatically actuated membrane
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/14427 Structure of ink jet print heads with thermal bend detached actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16585 for paper-width or non-reciprocating print heads
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17503 Ink cartridges
• 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 2202/21 Line printing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/79 in semiconductor storage media, e.g. directly-addressable memories
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/86 Secure or tamper-resistant housings
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2129 Authenticate client device independently of the user
• 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: H04N 1/0044 for image preview or review, e.g. to help the user position a sheet
• 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 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 portable, hand held camera has at least one area image sensor for imaging a scene and a processor for processing said image in accordance with a set of programmable rules. An internal printer prints out said processed image on media stored in a detachable module inside said camera.

Preferable, the internal printer is an ink jet printer and the detachable print media module incorporates an ink supply and a chip to identify the module as authentic.

Claims

1. A portable hand held camera comprising:

at least one area image sensor for imaging a scene;

a camera processor adapted to process said imaged scene in accordance with a programmable scene transformation requirement; and

a printer for printing out said processed imaged scene on print media, utilizing print media and printing ink stored in a detachable print roll inside said camera system, the print roll being adapted to store the print media and the printing ink for utilization by said printer, said print roll being detachable from said camera;

said camera comprising a unit for the imaging of scenes by said area image sensor and printing said scenes directly out of said camera via said printer.

2. A portable hand held camera as claimed in claim 1 wherein said print roll includes an authentication chip containing authentication information and said camera process or means is adapted to interrogate said authentication chip to determine the authenticity of said print roll when inserted within said camera.

3. A portable hand held camera as claimed in claim 1 wherein said printer comprises a drop on demand inkjet printer.

4. A portable hand held camera as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a guillotine means for the separation of printed scenes.

5. A portable hand held camera as claimed in claim 1 wherein the number of area image sensors is at least 2 and said camera processor means includes means for deriving a stereoscopic image from said area image sensors and said print media includes means for stereoscopic imaging of said stereo images so as to produce a three dimensional effect.