EP0860981A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic camera with internal fixed album memory
Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
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Filing: 1998-02-07
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2018-02-07
Abstract
Abstract A convenient and practical apparatus for transporting digital images for display is achieved by incorporating an internally fixed base camera memory into an electronic or hybrid camera. Specifically, a camera includes a digital imaging system (16, 70) for generating a first digital image of first resolution in response to an exposure signal, a first storage memory (124) for receiving and storing the first digital image generated by the digital imaging system, a fixed memory or a removable memory interface connector (130) for receiving a removable memory device, and a processor (120) for controlling the transfer of the first digital image from the first storage memory to the fixed memory or removable memory interface connector for subsequent storage in a removable memory device, when a removable memory device is coupled to the removable memory interface connector. The processor selectively generates a second digital image of a second resolution lower than the first resolution from the first digital image stored in at least one of the first storage memory or a fixed memory or a removable memory device coupled to the removable memory interface connector in response to a display signal. A display screen (36) is provided in the camera for receiving and displaying the second digital image generated by the processor. The second digital image displayed on the display screen is selective stored in a second storage memory (126) in response to a storage signal entered via an operator interface (74). The images stored in the second storage memory constitute album images that remain with the camera until specifically deleted by the camera operator.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard William c/o Eastman Kodak Co. Lourette
- 👤 Peter c/o Eastman Kodak Co. Fellegara
- 👤 Michael Eugene c/o Eastman Kodak Co. Miller
- 👤 Linda M. c/o Eastman Kodak Co. Antos
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 12:22
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/21; H04N1/2104; H04N1/2158; H04N1/2112; H04N2101/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
A camera comprising: digital imaging means for generating a first digital image of a first
resolution in response to an exposure signal; a first storage means for receiving and storing the first digital image
generated by the digital imaging means; processing means for selectively generating, in response to a
display signal, a second digital image from the first digital image stored in the first
storage means; a display screen for receiving and displaying the second digital
image generated by the processing means; a second storage means for selectively storing the second digital
image generated by the processing means and displayed on the display screen in
response to a storage signal; and an operator interface means for generating the exposure signal, the
display signal and the storage signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
53 words
A camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein the digital imaging means generates an additional first
digital image in response to each of a plurality of subsequent exposure signals
received from the operator interface; and wherein each additional first digital image replaces a previously
stored first digital image in the first storage means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
A camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operator interface means includes means for generating
and supplying scroll signals to the processing means; wherein the processing means, in response to the scroll signals,
selectively generates a plurality of second images corresponding to the first digital
images; and wherein the screen display means displays the second digital
images.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A camera as claimed in claim 1, further comprising
photographic imaging means for imaging a subject scene onto a photographic film
plane of the camera under control of the processing means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
A camera as claimed in claim 4, wherein the operator interface
includes an image mode selector for selecting one of a film imaging mode, a
hybrid imaging mode and the digital imaging mode of operation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
A camera as claimed in claim 5, wherein the photographic
imaging means images the subject scene onto the photographic image plane in the
film imaging mode and the hybrid imaging mode to generate a corresponding
photographic film image on a photographic film located at the photographic
imaging plane that corresponds with the first digital image.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
104 words
A camera as claimed in Claim 1, further comprising: a removable memory interface connection means for receiving a
removable memory device; and wherein the processing means also controls transfer of the first
digital image from the first storage means to the removable memory interface
connection means for subsequent storage in a removable memory device when a
removable memory device is coupled to the removable memory interface means;
and the processing means generates the second digital image from the first digital
image stored in at least one of the first storage means and a removable memory
device coupled to the removable memory interface connection means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
108 words
A camera as claimed in claim 7, wherein the digital imaging means generates an additional first
digital image in response to each of a plurality of subsequent exposure signals
received from the operator interface; wherein each additional first digital image replaces a previously
stored first digital image in the first storage means; and wherein the processing means controls the transfer of each
additional first digital image to the removable memory interface means for
subsequent storage in the removable memory device, when the removable memory
device is coupled to the removable memory interface means, such that a plurality
of first digital images are stored in the removable memory device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
A camera as claimed in claim 7, wherein the operator interface means includes means for generating
and supplying scroll signals to the processing means; wherein the processing means, in response to the scroll signals,
selectively generates a plurality of second images corresponding to the first digital
images; and wherein the screen display means displays the second digital
images.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
A camera as claimed in claim 7, further comprising
photographic imaging means for imaging a subject scene onto a photographic film
plane of the camera under control of the processing means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
A camera as claimed in claim 10, wherein the operator
interface includes an image mode selector for selecting one of a film imaging
mode, a hybrid imaging mode and the digital imaging mode of operation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
55 words
A camera as claimed in claim 11, wherein the photographic
imaging means images the subject scene onto the photographic image plane in the
film imaging mode and the hybrid imaging mode to generate a corresponding
photographic film image on a photographic film located at the photographic
imaging plane that corresponds with the first digital image.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
A camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second
storage means are sections of a single base memory.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
A camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operator interface
means also is for deleting images from the first storage means without deleting
corresponding images from the second storage means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
A camera as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a display
mode selection switch for selecting the first digital image or the second digital
image for display.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
A camera as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a display
mode selection switch for selecting the first digital image or the second digital
image for display.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
328 words
A camera comprising: mode selection means for selecting at least one of a film capture
mode, a digital capture mode or a hybrid capture mode of operation; digital imaging means for generating a first digital image of a first
resolution in the digital capture mode, the film capture mode and the hybrid
capture mode in response to an exposure signal; a photographic film transport mechanism; photographic film imaging means for imaging scene light onto an
image plane of the film transport mechanism in response in the film capture mode
or the hybrid capture mode of operation in response to an exposure signal; a first storage means integrated with the camera for receiving and
storing the first digital image generated by the digital imaging means; a second storage means integrated with the camera, wherein the
second storage means includes an album image storage section and a film image
storage section; first processing means for generating from the first digital image a
second digital image of a second resolution smaller than the first resolution,
wherein the second resolution corresponds to an aspect ratio of the photographic
imaging means, and for generating from the first digital image a third digital
image of a third resolution lower than the first resolution and the second resolution
in the film capture mode and storing the third digital image in the film image
storage section of the second storage means; display means for selectively displaying at least one of the first
digital image, the second digital image and the third digital image in response to a
display signal; second, album image processing means for selecting at least one of
the first digital image, the second digital image and the third digital image as an
album image and for storing the album image in the album storage section of the
second memory in response to an album select signal; and operator interface means for generating the exposure signal, the
display signal and the album select signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
44 words
A camera as claimed in claim 17, wherein the album image
storage section is divided into sub-album image storage sections, and the album
processing means stores the selected digital image in a sub-album storage section
corresponding to a characteristic of the selected digital image.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
43 words
A camera as claimed in claim 17, wherein the album
processing means selectively supplies the album image stored in the album image
storage section to the display means for display in response to an album display
signal supplied by the operator interface means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
52 words
A camera as claimed in claim 17, wherein a plurality of album
images are stored in the album image storage section and the album processing
means sequentially supplies the plurality of album images to the display means for
display in response to an album display signal supplied by the operator interface
means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
82 words
A camera as claimed in claim 17, further comprising: a removable memory interface means for receiving a removable
memory device; and wherein the first processing means also controls transfer of the first
digital image from the first storage means to the removable memory interface in
the digital capture mode for subsequent storage in a removable memory device
and transfers the second digital image to the removable memory interface means
in the hybrid capture mode for subsequent storage in a removable memory device.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
44 words
A camera as claimed in claim 21, wherein the album image
storage section is divided into sub-album image storage sections, and the album
processing means stores the selected digital image in a sub-album storage section
corresponding to a characteristic of the selected digital image.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
43 words
A camera as claimed in claim 21, wherein the album
processing means selectively supplies the album image stored in the album image
storage section to the display means for display in response to an album display
signal supplied by the operator interface means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
52 words
A camera as claimed in claim 21, wherein a plurality of album
images are stored in the album image storage section and the album processing
means sequentially supplies the plurality of album images to the display means for
display in response to an album display signal supplied by the operator interface
means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
A camera as claimed in claim 17, wherein the first and second
storage means are sections of a single base memory.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
31 words
A camera as claimed in claim 17, wherein the operator
interface means also is for deleting images from the first storage means without
deleting corresponding images from the second storage means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
27 words
A camera as claimed in claim 17, further comprising a display
mode selection switch for selecting the first digital image or the second digital
image for display.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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