Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
  • H04N1/00127—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
  • H04N1/00281—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture with a telecommunication apparatus, e.g. a switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information, a selective call terminal
  • H04N1/00283—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture with a telecommunication apparatus, e.g. a switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information, a selective call terminal with a television apparatus
  • H04N1/00286—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture with a telecommunication apparatus, e.g. a switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information, a selective call terminal with a television apparatus with studio circuitry, devices or equipment, e.g. television cameras
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
  • H04N1/40—Picture signal circuits
  • H04N1/40093—Modification of content of picture, e.g. retouching
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N23/00—Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof

Definitions

• the present invention relates in general to photographic apparatus and is particularly directed to a simplified, compact electronic camera that can be operated by a child and which provides a direct hard copy print out of a captured image.
• the present invention is directed to a compact photo-imaging and printout device, which is configured in the form of a quasi toy camera capable of being operated by a child.
• the electronic response of the image capture unit is coupled directly to the print-out unit, either 'as is 1 or via a selectively inserted contrast discriminator or gradient circuit.
• a captured image is printed out by the printer in accordance with its grey scale content; in the latter instance the printer will generate an outline or line drawing of the captured image based upon prescribed differences in contrast of the captured image.
• the image capture unit comprises a charge coupled image sensor array.
• the contents of the respective imaging cells of the sensor array are read out through analog signal processing circuitry to a compact printer, so that the user (e.g. child) is immediately presented with a hard copy or picture of the scene of interest.
• the output of the sensor array will be amplified and coupled directly to the printer as a full grey scale image, or will be amplified and passed to the printer through a contrast filter as a contrast- representative image.
• the contrast filter is implemented as an analog gradient circuit, which generates a pulse when those contents of the captured image signals meet a prescribed change in contrast, so that what the printer receives are signals representative of borders or outlines of the captured scene.
• This latter capability enables the printer to provide a hard copy image similar to that found in a child's coloring book, so that the child may color or otherwise fill in the printed image.
• Figure 1 diagrammatically shows a compact camera in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention
• Figure 2 shows the circuit configuration of a gradient circuit
• Figure 3 is a timing diagram for illustrating the operation of the gradient circuit of Figure 2. and Figures 4 and 5 respectively illustrate the two modes of operation of the printer.
• the present invention resides primarily in a novel structural combination of conventional camera optics, reproduction components and imagery signal processing circuits, rather than in the particular detailed configurations thereof. Accordingly, the structure, control and arrangement of these conventional optics, circuits and components have been illustrated in the drawings by readily understandable block diagrams which show only those specific details that are pertinent to the present invention, so as not to obscure the disclosure with structural details which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the description herein. Thus, the block diagram illustrations of the Figures do not necessarily represent the mechanical structural arrangement of the exemplary system, but are primarily intended to illustrate the major elements of the system in a convenient functional grouping, whereby the present invention may be more readily understood.
• a compact camera in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is diagrammatically shown as comprising a hand-held housing 10 in which all of the components, of the camera are integrated as a unitary image capture and reproduction system, as will be described below. Since a description of the configuration of the camera housing, per se, is unnecessary for gaining an understanding of the present invention, no further description of the same will be presented here.
• the system includes an imaging lens 11 which projects an image of a scene, observed through a viewfinder 12, onto an image plane 13.
• image plane 13 Coincident with image plane 13 is electronic image sensor array 14, having an associated image sensor driver 16.
• Array 14 and its associated driver 16 are preferably commercially available components and may comprise an integrated unit, such as a KAI-0280 ccd imager, manufactured by Eastman Kodak.
• the output of the image sensor array 14 is coupled through an amplifier 18 to a pair of parallel signal processing paths 21 and 22.
• Signal coupling path 21 is connected to a first input 31 of a print mode selector switch 30.
• the output 33 of selector switch 30 is coupled to the input of an image print unit 40 (comprised for example of a Ricoh MCBO compact copier) , containing a print controller 41 and a printer 43 driven thereby.
• Signal coupling path 22, on the other hand, is connected to a gradient circuit 24, the output of which is coupled to a second input 32 of print mode selector switch 30.
• Gradient circuit 24 operates as a contrast filter, passing only those contents of the captured image signals which are associated with a prescribed change in contrast. Consequently, when print mode switch couples input 32 to output 33, what the printer 43 receives are signals representative of borders or outlines of the captured scene. As noted earlier, this 'border only' capability enables the printer to provide a hard copy image similar to that found in a child's coloring book.
• system sequencing logic circuit 50 containing an internal clock generator, combinational logic and flip-flop circuits and is preferably implemented in the form of programmable array logic components.
• system sequencing logic circuit 50 effectively performs clock source and state machine functions, cycling through the operation of sensor array 14 and printer unit 40 in response to the activation (depression) of a camera shutter button 52.
• the discussion set forth below will detail the sequence of operations of the image sensor array and the printer to which the image signals generated by the sensor array are coupled in the course of the generation of a hard copy print.
• Camera shutter button 52 is coupled in a conventional manner with a power source (battery unit) 54 and power on switch 56.
• camera shutter button 52 initiates an image capture and print sequence. Specifically, the sequence begins with controller enabling array driver 16 which, in turn, causes imaging array 14 to capture whatever image is currently projected through lens 11 onto the array.
• array driver 16 which, in turn, causes imaging array 14 to capture whatever image is currently projected through lens 11 onto the array.
• image array 14 is scanned, the captured i age- representive contents of the successive cells or sequentially rows of the image array 14 are successively sampled and read out through output amplifier 18 to each of parallel video signal paths 21 and 22.
• the continuous grey scale video samples output by array 14 are coupled, as is, or through gradient circuit 24 to print unit 40.
• Print controller 41 is supplied with the clocking signals from system sequence logic circuit 50 that drive the imaging array, so as to synchronize the print out with the scanning of the successive rows of the image array.
• a schematic circuit diagram of gradient circuit 24 is shown as including operational amplifier 18 to which the output of CCD image signal is coupled.
• the output of amplifier 18 is coupled to first and second signal paths 61 and 62, respectively coupled to the source-drain paths of selectively enabled FETs 64 and 66, the outputs of which are coupled to respective clamp and sampling storage capacitors 71, 72 and to opposite polarity inputs of a differential amplifier 75.
• Sampling storage capacitor 72 is further coupled to the source-drain path of a selectively enabled FET 76, the output of which is coupled to one end of resistor 81 of a voltage divider 80 comprised of resistors 81, 82.
• the other end of resistor 81 is coupled to a first polarity input of a Schmitt trigger 90 and to one end of resistor 82, the second end of which is coupled to the output of Schmitt trigger 90.
• a second polarity input of Schmitt trigger 90 is coupled to the output of differential amplifier 75.
• the output of Schmitt trigger 90 is coupled to input 32 of print mode selector switch 30.
• gradient circuit 24 may be understood with reference to Figure 3, which contains a timing diagram showing the relationship of video input signals derived from ccd sensor array 14, enable signals referenced to a system clock, and the output of the gradient circuit 24.
• Signal trace 100 corresponds to the video output derived from a row of charge coupled devices within array 14.
• Clamp clock CLK turns on FET 64 during the reset interval so that capacitor 71 stores a reference or clamp value associated with the reset interval 101 of a ccd cell against which changes in the response of the ccd cells are measured.
• strobe signal STB samples the magnitude of image-representative component 102 of the ccd signal 100 following the reset interval 101, so that capacitor 72 stores the magnitude of the actually sampled image signal.
• Differential amplifier 75 outputs the difference between these successive values to one input of Schmitt trigger 90.
• the second input of Schmitt trigger 90 is referenced to a prescribed fraction of the magnitude of the previously sample image signal, as coupled through FET 76 during the clamp interval.
• the prescribed fraction which is employed as a trigger reference or threshold for Schmitt trigger 90 is established by the settings of resistors 81 and 82 of voltage divider network 80.
• Schmitt trigger 90 employs a dynamic reference based upon the most recently sampled ccd cell in a particular row. As a result, only sharp changes in contrast (as — o —
• Figures 4 and 5 respectively illustrate the two modes of operation of the printer.
• Figure 4 shows a full grey scale image resulting from the outputs of the ccd cells of image array 14 being amplified and coupled directly to print unit 40.
• Figure 5 shows a line or border image resulting from the contrast filtering operation of gradient circuit 24 on the same image.
• the compact photo-imaging and print-out camera system of the present invention by making efficient use of commercially available miniaturized imaging and print components, without image memory and microprocessor elements, is able to provide a relatively inexpensive, quasi toy camera that a child can operate and obtain a hard copy print of a captured image.
• a selectively switched gradient circuit in the image signal flow path from the imaging array to the printer the user is able to obtain a hard copy of the image 'as is' in continuous grey scale, or as an outline or line drawing similar to that found in a child's coloring book.

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• 1991
  • 1991-12-19 JP JP92504346A patent/JPH05506139A/ja active Pending
  • 1991-12-19 WO PCT/US1991/009521 patent/WO1992011731A2/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1991-12-19 EP EP92903982A patent/EP0522132A1/de not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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