Patent US4853785A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4853785A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Electronic camera including electronic signal storage cartridge
Assignee: Energy Conversion Devices Inc
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Filing: 1988-05-23
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Granted: 1989-08-01
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Expires: 2008-05-23
Abstract
Abstract An electronic camera system, which system comprises the combination of an image digitizer media and a digital signal storage media. The camera includes an x-y matrix formed of a thin film photosensor array of small area photosensitive elements capable of providing high resolution digitized electrical signal corresponding to an image projected thereon. The storage media is preferably formed as a layer of phase change optical memory material deposited upon an elongated tape or disc-like number and disposed in a cartridge-like housing which is removably positioned in the camera adjacent a writing mechanism such as a multi-headed laser. By utilizing multiple lasers, it is possible to simultaneously write on the entire width of the tape or disc for increasing processing speed.
Inventors
- 👤 Stanford R. Ovshinsky
- 👤 Lawrence G. Norris
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 11:06
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10F; H10F39/00; H10F39/10; H10F39/12; H10F39/191; H04; H04N; H04N25/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
An electronic imaging system, said system including a camera for (1) sensing and digitizing images and (2) writing said digitized images onto a storage media; said camera including: a two dimensional thin film photosensor array for reading a pattern of information corresponding to an image incident thereupon and generating detectable electrical signals corresponding thereto; said array including a plurality of small area photoresponsive elements, each of said elements capable of photogenerating an electrical signal in response to illumination incident thereupon and including at least one layer of a semiconductor alloy material chosen from the group consisting essentially of: amorphous silicon alloy materials, amorphous germaium alloy materials, amorphous silicon carbon alloy materials and amorphous silicon germanium alloy materials; lens means for optically projecting a pattern of information corresponding to an image onto said photosensor array; means for triggering the reading of the pattern of information projected onto said photosensor array; means for storing said detectable electrical signals generated by said photosensor array, said storing means including optical storage media; and means for writing said detectable electrical signals onto said storing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
180 words
An electronic imaging system, said system including a camera for (1) sensing and digitizing images and (2) writing said digitized images onto a storage media; said camera including: a two dimensional thin film photosensor array for reading a pattern of information corresponding to an image incident thereupon and generating detectable electrical signals corresponding thereto; said array including a plurality of small area photoresponsive elements, each of said elements capable of photogenerating an electrical signal in response to illumination incident thereupon and including at least one layer of a semiconductor alloy material chosen from the group consisting essentially of: amorphous silicon alloy materials, amorphous germaium alloy materials, amorphous silicon carbon alloy materials and amorphous silicon germanium alloy materials; lens means for optically projecting a pattern of information corresponding to an image onto said photosensor array; means for triggering the reading of the pattern of information projected onto said photosensor array; means for storing said detectable electrical signals generated by said photosensor array, said storing means including optical storage media; and means for writing said detectable electrical signals onto said storing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system as in claim 1, wherein said optical storage media includes a layer of chalcogenide phase change optical memory material selected from the group consisting essentially of selenium, tellurium, and combinations thereof.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
15 words
A system as in clam 2, wherein said chalcogenide element is a tellurium sub-oxide composition.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
15 words
A system as in clam 2, wherein said chalcogenide element is a tellurium sub-oxide composition.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system as in claim 3, wherein said chalcogenide element is a selenium germanium tin composition.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system as in claim 2, wherein said phase change optical memory material is erasable.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system as in claim 2, wherein said phase change optical memory material is write only.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system as in claim 2, wherein said phase change optical memory material is directly over-writable.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system as in claim 2, wherein said phase change optical memory material is deposited onto an elongated tape.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system as in claim 8, wherein said tape is of a length sufficient to store at least 25 color images.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system as in claim 2, wherein said phase change optical memory material is deposited onto a disc-like member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system as in claim 10, wherein said disc is of a diameter sufficient to store at least 25 color images.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system as in claim 1, wherein said writing means includes at least one laser, said laser being selectively activatable to write digitized electrical signals onto said storage media.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system as in claim 12, wherein multiple lasers are provided so as to simultaneously write multiple signals onto said storage media.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system as in claim 1, wherein said writing means and said storage media are movable relative to one another.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system as in claim 14, wherein said writing means is stationary and said storage media moves relative thereto.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system as in claim 1, wherein said plurality of photoresponsive elements are chosen from the group consisting essentially of: photodiodes, phototransistors, photoresistors, photovoltaic devices, or combinations thereof.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
47 words
A system as claim 16, wherein each of said photoresponsive elements is a photodiode which includes two oppositely doped layers of semiconductor alloy material, and a layer of substantially intrinsic semiconductor alloy material interposed between said oppositely doped layers so as to form a p-i-n type photodiode.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system as in claim 16, wherein said thin film photosensor array further includes addressing means for accessing discrete ones of the plurality of photoresponsive elements.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system as in claim 18, wherein said addressing means includes a plurality of electrically conductive lines arranged in an x-y matrix.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
40 words
A system as in claim 19, wherein said addressing means further includes a current blocking element associated with each photoresponsive element, said blocking element and said conductive lines cooperating to provide electrical communication with pre-selected ones of said photoresponsive elements.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system as in claim 20, wherein each of said blocking elements is a p-i-n type diode.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system as in claim 16, wherein said thin film photosensor array is fabricated as a rectangular matrix dimensioned to be at least 35 mm on a side.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system as in claim 22, wherein the image resolution of said photosensor array is at least 20 lines/mm.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system as in claim 16, wherein said photosensor array is fabricated as a rectangular matrix dimensioned to be at least 5.7 cm on a side and including at least 1.4 million discrete photoresponsive elements.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system as in claim 16, wherein each array includes at least two groups of photoresponsive elements; and each of said groups of photoresponsive elements includes an optical filter for providing sensitivity to different portions of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system as in claim 1, wherein said triggering means comprises electrical means adapted to initiate the reading and storing of said pattern of information.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system as in claim 26, wherein said electrical means includes address circuitry for accessing said photosensor array.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system as in claim 26, wherein at least a portion of said address circuitry is integrated on a single substrate with said photosensor array.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system as in claim 1, further including a video display terminal adapted to receive the electrical signal corresponding to the projected pattern and provide a visual display thereof.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system as in claim 1, wherein said storage media is provided in cartridge form for facilitating the loading thereof in said camera.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-07-31 | 1993-01-30 | 1993-08-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-07-31 | 1997-01-30 | 1997-08-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-07-31 | 2001-01-30 | 2001-08-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |