Patent US7126629B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US7126629B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Recyclable, digital one time use camera
Assignee: Cisco Technology Inc
•
Filing: 2001-09-07
•
Granted: 2006-10-24
•
Expires: 2021-09-07
Abstract
Abstract A digital camera having a limiting-use component to limit use of the digital camera to a single use-cycle.
Inventors
- 👤 Ariel Braunstein
- 👤 Jonathan Kaplan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 13:16
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N5/00; H04N5/76; H04N5/765; H04N5/77; H04N5/772; G; G11; G11B; G11B27/00; G11B27/02; G11B27/031; G11B27/034; G11B27/10; G11B27/19; G11B27/28; G11B27/32; G11B27/322; H04N1/00; H04N1/00127; H04N1/00132; H04N1/00169; H04N1/0018; H04N1/00912; H04N1/00925; H04N2101/00; H04N2201/00; H04N2201/0008; H04N2201/0074; H04N23/00; H04N23/50; H04N5/775; H04N5/78; H04N5/781; H04N5/84; H04N5/85; H04N5/907; H04N9/00; H04N9/79; H04N9/7921; H04N9/80; H04N9/804; H04N9/8042; H04N9/8047; H04N9/82; H04N9/8205
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
An apparatus, comprising: a digital camera having a limiting-use component to limit use of the digital camera to a single use-cycle, one or more sensors to capture data associated with one or more images, and a communication port; a memory within the digital camera to store raw image sensor data, wherein the communication port to transfer the raw image sensor data to an external processing unit that performs image-processing operations on the raw image sensor data to convert the raw image sensor data into a graphics file of a captured image.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
91 words
An apparatus, comprising: a digital camera having a limiting-use component to limit use of the digital camera to a single use-cycle, one or more sensors to capture data associated with one or more images, and a communication port; a memory within the digital camera to store raw image sensor data, wherein the communication port to transfer the raw image sensor data to an external processing unit that performs image-processing operations on the raw image sensor data to convert the raw image sensor data into a graphics file of a captured image.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising: a reset mechanism to refurbish the use of the digital camera for another use-cycle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising: a proprietary communication port on the digital camera.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the reset mechanism comprises an actuator accessed through the proprietary communication port.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the reset mechanism comprises a software program resident in the digital camera that receives a reset signal through the proprietary communication port.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the limiting-use component comprises a power supply with a non-extendable capacity to operate the digital camera for a preset amount of time.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the limiting-use component comprises a memory having a preset capacity to store data corresponding to a preset amount of pictures.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein a software program limits the preset capacity of the memory to a preset amount of pictures to be taken.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the limiting-use component comprises an inaccessible portion of the digital camera covered by an external casing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein a reset mechanism is located within the inaccessible portion of the digital camera covered by the external casing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein a power supply is located within the inaccessible portion of the digital camera covered by the external casing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein a memory to store image data is located within the inaccessible portion of the digital camera covered by the external casing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the limiting-use component comprises a unique identifier associated with each individual digital camera.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the limiting-use component comprises a clock actuated to allow operation of the digital camera to occur for a preset time period per use-cycle.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein refurbishing comprises resetting a component contained in the digital camera to facilitate another use-cycle of the digital camera.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein refurbishing comprises replacing a component contained in the digital camera to facilitate another use-cycle of the digital camera.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising: a first casing and a second casing associated with the digital camera, the second casing being exterior to the first casing, the second casing having a tamper-prevention mechanism.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
63 words
A method, comprising: limiting the employ of a digital camera for a single use-cycle; configuring the digital camera to transfer raw image sensor data to an external processing unit that performs image processing operations on the raw image sensor data to convert the raw image sensor data into a graphics file of a captured image; and refurbishing the digital camera for another use-cycle.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
63 words
A method, comprising: limiting the employ of a digital camera for a single use-cycle; configuring the digital camera to transfer raw image sensor data to an external processing unit that performs image processing operations on the raw image sensor data to convert the raw image sensor data into a graphics file of a captured image; and refurbishing the digital camera for another use-cycle.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 18 , further comprising: covering portions of the digital camera with an external casing, the covered portions being inaccessible to a consumer.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 18 , wherein refurbishing comprises making the digital camera functional for another use-cycle.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 18 , wherein refurbishing comprises resetting a component contained in the digital camera to facilitate another use-cycle of the digital camera.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 18 , further comprising: limiting a power supply of the digital camera to a non-extendable capacity in order to operate the digital camera for a preset amount of use.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 18 , further comprising: selling the same digital camera two or more times.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 23 , wherein a manufacturer sells the digital camera to a retailer.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
69 words
An apparatus, comprising: means for limiting the employ of a digital camera for a single use-cycle; means for configuring the digital camera to transfer raw image sensor data to an external processing unit that performs image processing operations on the raw image sensor data to convert the raw image sensor data into a graphics file of a captured image; and means for refurbishing the digital camera for another use-cycle.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
69 words
An apparatus, comprising: means for limiting the employ of a digital camera for a single use-cycle; means for configuring the digital camera to transfer raw image sensor data to an external processing unit that performs image processing operations on the raw image sensor data to convert the raw image sensor data into a graphics file of a captured image; and means for refurbishing the digital camera for another use-cycle.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 25 , further comprising: means for covering portions of the digital camera with an external casing, the covered portions being inaccessible to a consumer.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 25 , further comprising; means for communicating image data stored in the digital camera to a processing unit external to the digital camera through a proprietary connection.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 25 , further comprising: means for limiting a power supply of the digital camera to a non-extendable capacity to operate the digital camera for a preset amount of time.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 25 , further comprising: means for selling the same digital camera two or more times.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 29 , wherein a manufacturer sells the digital camera to a retailer.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein refurbishing comprises making the digital camera functional for another use-cycle.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein refurbishing comprises resetting a component contained in the digital camera to facilitate another use-cycle of the digital camera.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4442462A
Cited
US4641182A
Cited
US4651233A
Cited
US4626106A
Cited
US4896178A
Cited
US4954858A
Cited
US5086311A
Cited
US5170199A
Cited
US5278701A
Cited
US5315332A
Cited
US5235364A
Cited
US5361111A
Cited
US5337099A
Cited
US5826112A
Cited
US5353076A
Cited
US5610730A
Cited
US5534962A
Cited
US6006036A
Cited
US5878283A
Cited
US5655156A
Cited
WO1998026586A1
Cited
US6078756A
Cited
US6231148B1
Cited
US6567119B1
Cited
US6021277A
Cited
US6356357B1
Cited
US6433818B1
Cited
JP2000228740A
Cited
JP2000253283A
Cited
US20010040625A1
Cited
US20010030773A1
Cited
US6950129B1
Cited
US20020191066A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2009-10-23 | 2010-04-24 | 2010-10-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2013-10-23 | 2014-04-24 | 2014-10-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2017-10-23 | 2018-04-24 | 2018-10-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |