Digital camera with integrated inkjet printer

• US 7,551,202 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2004
• Issued: 06/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, NGOC YEN T
• Application Number:
  US10/831,235
• Publication Number:
  US 20040263640A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,884 Days
• Field of Search: 348/207.2, 348/239, 348/264, 348/266, 348/222.1, 348362-364
• US Class Current: 348/207.2
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/0005 Curl smoothing, i.e. smoothing down corrugated printing material, e.g. by pressing means acting on wrinkled printing material
• 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 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: G07F 7/08 by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/086 by passive credit-cards adapted therefor, e.g. constructive particularities to avoid counterfeiting, e.g. by inclusion of a physical or chemical security-layer for security documents G07D7/00; for the reading of record-carriers in general G06K7/00; for the design of coded credit-cards G06K19/10
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/12 Card verification
• 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 1/0044 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 23/57 : Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices

Abstract

A digital camera with an image sensor for capturing an image, an image processor for processing image data from the image sensor and transmitting processed data to a printhead, and, an effects interface for user input of one or more predetermined image manipulations; such that,

• • the processed data transmitted to the printhead incorporate the selected image manipulations. This allows the user to print manipulated images directly from the camera without first downloading to a desktop system.

Claims

1. A digital camera comprising:

an image sensor for capturing an image;

a printhead;

an image processor for processing image data from the image sensor and transmitting processed data to the printhead; and

,

an effects interface for user input of one or more predetermined image manipulations;

such that,

the processed data transmitted to the printhead incorporate the selected image manipulations;

wherein the digital camera is configured for use with a media cartridge comprising a supply of media substrates on which images can be printed, an ink reservoir, and an information store with information relating to the media substrate, and the camera further comprises a cartridge interface for accessing the information such that the image processor can utilise the information relating to the media substrate, wherein the media substrate has postcard formatting printed on its reverse surface so that the camera can produce personalised postcards, and the information store has the dimensions of the postcard formatting to allow the image processor to align printed images with the postcard formatting, wherein the supply of media substrates is wrapped around the ink reservoir storing therein an ink supply for supplying ink to the printhead.

2. A digital camera according to claim 1 wherein data relating to the image manipulations are stored on separate portable memory devices for connection to the effects interface.

3. A digital camera according to claim 1 wherein the image manipulations comprise image rotations, borders, text or clip art.

4. A digital camera according to claim 1 wherein the cartridge further comprises the ink supply for the printhead and the information store is an authentication chip that allows the image processor to confirm that the media substrate and the ink supply is suitable for use with the camera.

5. A digital camera according to claim 1 wherein the printhead is installed in the camera for receiving the media substrate and ink from the cartridge.

6. A digital camera according to claim 1 wherein an image sensor further comprises a charge coupled device (CCD) for capturing the image data, and an auto exposure setting for adjusting the image data captured by the CCD in response to the lighting conditions at image capture;

and,

the image processor is adapted to use information from the auto exposure setting relating to the lighting conditions at image capture when processing the image data from the CCD.

7. A digital camera according to claim 6 wherein the image processor uses the information from the auto exposure setting to determine a re-mapping of colour data within the image data from the CCD such that the printhead prints an amended image that takes account of the light conditions at image capture.

8. A digital camera according to claim 7 wherein the re-mapping of the colour data produces deeper and richer colours in the amended image when the light conditions at image capture are dim.

9. A digital camera according to claim 7 wherein the re-mapping of the colour data produces brighter and more saturated colours in the amended image when the light conditions at image capture are bright.

10. A digital camera according to claim 6 wherein the image processor uses the information from the auto exposure setting to add exposure specific graphics to the printed image.