Photocard that is inserted into a non-digital camera to enable the non-digital camera to take digital photographic images

Claim 2

A digital camera that fits within a film cavity of a non-digital camera having a lens adapted to deliver radiated energy reflective of an image onto an imaging area of the non-digital camera and a shutter aperture positioned between the lens and the imaging area, comprising: a light detector for detecting lights due to the opening of the shutter aperture of the non-digital camera; and a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) integrated circuit chip coupled to the light detector and positionable in the film cavity without a card extending substantially throughout the film cavity and occupying the same area as the imaging area, the chip comprising: an on-chip CMOS imager located adjacent to the shutter aperture of the non-digital camera, said imager sensing radiated energy reflective of the image received through the lens and shutter aperture of the non-digital camera when the light detector detects lights due to the opening of the shutter aperture of the non-digital camera, said on-chip imager generating signals reflective of the image, an on-chip CMOS analog-to-digital (A/D) converter coupled to the imager to convert the signals reflective of the image into digital signals, an on-chip CMOS processor coupled to the on-chip A/D converter to perform color processing on the digital signals and to compress the digital signals from the on-chip A/D converter, and an on-chip high density CMOS memory array coupled to the on-chip processor to store the compressed digital signals.

Claim 3

The digital camera as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising a clock input coupled to the imager, and a passgate coupled to the light detector located between the imager and the clock input to the imager, said passgate controlled by the light detector such that when the light detector detects light due to the opening of the shutter aperture of the non-digital camera, the passgate is switched to permit clock signals to reach the imager to drive the imager to output signals reflective of the image.

Claim 4

The digital camera as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the light detector controls power to the imager such that when the light detector detects light due to the opening of the shutter aperture of the non-digital camera, power is supplied to the imager to generate the signals reflective of the image.

Claim 5

The digital camera as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the light detector controls an output from the imager such that when the light detector detects light due to the opening of the shutter aperture of the non-digital camera, output signals reflective of the image are output from the imager.

Claim 6

The digital camera as set forth in claim 1 wherein the lens located between the shutter aperture of the non-digital camera and the imager to focus the image received through the shutter aperture onto the imager.

Claim 7

The digital camera defined in claim 1 further comprising adjustable rails coupled to the IC chip and the light detector to adjust the digital camera within the film cavity.

Claim 8

The digital camera defined in claim 1 wherein the memory array comprises a random access memory.

Claim 9

The digital camera defined in claim 1 wherein the memory array comprises a flash memory.

Claim 10

The digital camera defined in claim 1 wherein the processor performs image processing.

Claim 11

The digital camera defined in claim 9 , wherein the image processing comprises edge detection.

Claim 12

The digital camera defined in claim 9 , wherein the image processing comprises image sharpening.

Claim 13

The digital camera defined in claim 13 , wherein the image processing comprises cropping.

Claim 14

The digital camera as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising at least one output port on the IC chip for outputting image data from the digital camera to an external device.

Claim 15

The digital camera as set forth in claim 13 , wherein the at least one output port comprises a wireless transmitter for transmitting image data to a wireless receiver of the external device.

Claim 16

The digital camera as set forth in claim 13 , wherein the at least one output port is coupled to a substantially flat cable that extends outside of the body of the non-digital camera when a film door of the non-digital camera is closed and connects to the external device.

Claim 17

The digital camera as set forth in claim 13 , wherein the at least one output port outputs the image data in a format compatible with the RS-232 standard.

Claim 18

The digital camera as set forth in claim 13 , wherein the at least one output port couples to a monitor, said digital camera further comprising circuitry that drives the monitor to display the image data on the monitor.

Claim 19

The digital camera as set forth in claim 13 , wherein the external device drives a monitor to display the image data.

Claim 20

The digital camera as set forth in claim 13 , wherein the external device drives a printer to generate a print of the image data.

Claim 21

The digital camera as set forth in claim 13 , wherein the at least one output port operates in accordance with a telephone standard, said digital camera further comprising logic to generate a facsimile transmission that is output through the at least one output port to a coupled telephone line.

Claim 22

The digital camera as set forth in claim 13 , wherein the at least one output port couples to the internet.

Claim 23

The digital camera as set forth in claim 13 , wherein the at least one output port couples to the world wide web site.

Claim 24

The digital camera defined in claim 13 wherein the at least one output outputs the image in a computer compatible format.

Claim 25

A digital camera that fits within a film cavity of a non-digital camera having a lens adapted to deliver radiated energy reflective of an image onto an imaging area of the non-digital camera, a shutter aperture positioned between the lens and the imaging area, and a film compartment adapted to receive a power source, the camera comprising: a light detector for detecting light due to the opening of the shutter aperture of the non-digital camera; and a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) integrated circuit (IC) chip coupled to the light detector and the power source, the IC chip is positionable in the film cavity without a card extending substantially throughout the film cavity and occupying the same area as the imaging area, the IC chip comprising: an on-chip CMOS imager located adjacent to the shutter aperture of the non-digital camera, said imager sensing radiated energy reflective of the image received through the lens and shutter aperture of the non-digital camera when the light detector detects light due to the opening of the shutter aperture of the non-digital camera, said on-chip imager generating signals reflective of the image, an on-chip CMOS analog-to-digital (A/D) converter coupled to the imager to convert the signals reflective of the image into digital signals, an on-chip CMOS processor coupled to the on-chip A/D converter to perform signal processing on the digital signals, and an on-chip high density CMOS memory array coupled to the on-chip processor to store the processed digital signals.

Claim 26

A digital camera that fits within a film cavity of a non-digital camera having a lens adapted to deliver radiated energy reflective of an image onto an imaging area of the non-digital camera, a shutter aperture positioned between the lens and the imaging area, and a film compartment adapted to receive a power source, the camera comprising: a light detector for detecting light due to the opening of the shutter aperture of the non-digital camera; and a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) integrated circuit (IC) chip coupled to the light detector and the power source, the IC chip is positionable in the film cavity without a card extending substantially throughout the film cavity and occupying the same area as the imaging area, the IC chip comprising: an on-chip CMOS imager located adjacent to the shutter aperture of the non-digital camera, said imager sensing radiated energy reflective of the image received through the lens and shutter aperture of the non-digital camera when the light detector detects light due to the opening of the shutter aperture of the non-digital camera, said on-chip imager generating signals reflective of the image, an on-chip CMOS analog-to-digital (A/D) converter coupled to the imager to convert the signals reflective of the image into digital signals, an on-chip CMOS processor coupled to the on-chip A/D converter to perform signal processing on the digital signals, and an on-chip high density CMOS memory array coupled to the on-chip processor to store the processed digital signals.

Claim 27

The digital camera defined in claim 24 further comprising adjustable rails coupled to the IC chip and the light detector to adjust the digital camera within the film cavity to compensate for different camera dimensions.

Claim 28

The digital camera defined in claim 24 wherein the IC chip drives a monitor to display the image data.

Claim 29

The digital camera defined in claim 24 wherein the memory array comprises a random access memory.

Claim 30

The digital camera defined in claim 24 wherein the memory array comprises a flash memory.

Claim 31

The digital camera defined in claim 24 wherein the processor performs image processing.

Claim 32

The digital camera defined in claim 29 wherein the image processing comprises edge detection.

Claim 33

The digital camera defined in claim 29 wherein the image processing comprises image sharpening.

Claim 34

The digital camera defined in claim 24 further comprising at least one output port on the IC chip for outputting image data from the digital camera.

Claim 35

The digital camera defined in claim 32 wherein the at least one output port comprises a wireless transmitter for transmitting image.

Claim 36

The digital camera defined in claim 32 wherein the at least one output outputs the image in a computer compatible format.

Claim 37

The digital camera defined in claim 32 wherein the at least one output port operates in accordance with a telephone standard.

Claim 38

The digital camera as set forth in claim 32 wherein the at least one output port couples to a world wide web site.