Electronic camera and integral ink jet printer

Claim 2

Apparatus for capturing and printing images on a receiver sheet comprising: a) a camera for electronically storing an image of a subject and having a display effective in a first condition for displaying such stored image and effective in a second condition for permitting image transfer and including alignment means; b) an ink jet printer including means for receiving the receiver sheet, an ink jet print head including a plurality of colored inks and means for providing relative movement between the print head and the receiver sheet, such ink jet printer further including: i) means for coupling the ink jet printer to the alignment means to provide a unitary camera printer unit; iii) means for transferring image signals to the ink jet print head to cause the ink jet print head to deliver ink to a receiver sheet to form an image corresponding to the stored image on the receiver sheet; and wherein the alignment means further includes an active socket which includes electronic sensing circuitry for communicating with the ink jet printer.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 further including means for preventing the ink jet printer from being detached from the camera when there is electronic communication between the display and the ink jet print head.

Claim 4

Apparatus for capturing and printing images on a receiver sheet comprising: (a) a camera for electronically storing an image of a subject and having a display for displaying such stored image and including alignment means; (b) a printer including means for receiving the receiver sheet, a print head and means for providing relative movement between the print head and the receiver sheet, such printer further including: (i) means for coupling the printer to the alignment means to provide a unitary camera printer unit; (ii) means for providing electronic communication between the display and the print head to transfer image to the print head; (iii) means for causing the print head to form an image of the stored image on the receiver sheet; wherein the alignment means further includes an active socket which includes electronic sensing circuitry for communicating with the printer; and further including means for preventing the printer unit from being detached from the camera when there is electronic communication between the display and the print head.

Claim 5

Apparatus for capturing and printing images on a receiver sheet comprising: (a) a camera for electronically storing an image of a subject and having a display for displaying such stored image and including alignment means; (b) a printer including means for receiving the receiver sheet, a print head and means for providing relative movement between the print head and the receiver sheet, such printer further including: (i) means for coupling the printer to the alignment means to provide a unitary camera printer unit; (ii) means for providing electronic communication between the display and the print head to transfer image to the print head; (iii) means for causing the print head to form an image of the stored image on the receiver sheet; wherein the alignment means further includes an active socket which includes electronic sensing circuitry for communicating with the printer; and further including means for preventing the printer unit from being detached from the camera when there is electronic communication between the display and the print head.