US20020167599A1 - Reusable camera - Google Patents
Reusable camera Download PDFInfo
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- US20020167599A1 US20020167599A1 US09/851,102 US85110201A US2002167599A1 US 20020167599 A1 US20020167599 A1 US 20020167599A1 US 85110201 A US85110201 A US 85110201A US 2002167599 A1 US2002167599 A1 US 2002167599A1
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- Prior art keywords
- camera
- memory
- processing unit
- image processing
- images
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- 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
- H04N1/00132—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 in a digital photofinishing system, i.e. a system where digital photographic images undergo typical photofinishing processing, e.g. printing ordering
- H04N1/00169—Digital image input
- H04N1/0018—Digital image input of images captured using a loaned, rented or limited-use still digital camera, e.g. recyclable or disposable camera
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- 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
- H04N1/00132—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 in a digital photofinishing system, i.e. a system where digital photographic images undergo typical photofinishing processing, e.g. printing ordering
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N5/00—Details of television systems
- H04N5/76—Television signal recording
- H04N5/765—Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
- H04N5/77—Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus between a recording apparatus and a television camera
- H04N5/772—Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus between a recording apparatus and a television camera the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N2101/00—Still video cameras
Definitions
- the present invention relates to cameras, and more particularly to a reusable camera that has some of the business advantages of a single-use camera.
- Disposable single-use cameras do not allow users to review, erase and re-take undesirable exposures before printing the exposures. Users must pay for every exposure to be printed. Disposable cameras are also a problem for the environment because each disposable camera is destroyed after its single use.
- Digital cameras may be built as reusable cameras with flash memory. But flash memory is expensive, limited in capacity and may be illicitly modified (‘hacked’) by a user to bypass any restrictions on reuse that are installed by the camera's manufacturer.
- a reusable camera with a special memory is provided in accordance with the present invention.
- the special memory may be a write-once, non-volatile memory.
- the special memory has an almost unlimited capacity to store captured images.
- one embodiment of the special memory may store 10,000 or more images.
- Another aspect of the reusable camera is the relatively low cost of manufacturing and implementing the special memory, compared to other types of memory (e.g., compact flash memory) that are currently being used in digital cameras.
- Another aspect of the reusable camera is the special memory provides a convenient way for camera manufacturers, camera dealers and photograph/print developers to control the use of reusable cameras and resulting print developments.
- Another aspect of the reusable camera is the special memory may be recycled and does not have to be discarded after a customer develops a single set of pictures.
- One aspect of the invention relates to a reusable camera comprising an image processing unit configured to capture images and a Permanent Inexpensive Removable Memory (PIRM) coupled to the image processing unit.
- the memory is configured to store a plurality of images to be captured by the image processing unit.
- Another aspect of the invention relates to a reusable camera comprising an image processing unit configured to capture images and a built-in, non-volatile memory coupled to the image processing unit.
- the memory is configured to store images to be captured by the image processing unit.
- the memory is unable to overwrite an image currently being stored in a section of the memory with a new image.
- Another aspect of the invention relates to a method of using a reusable camera.
- the method comprises providing a reusable camera with an image processing unit and a memory coupled to the image processing unit.
- the memory is configured to store a plurality of images to be captured by the image processing unit.
- the memory is unable to overwrite an image currently being stored in a section of the memory with a new image.
- Another aspect of the invention relates to another method of using a reusable camera.
- the reusable camera comprises an image processing unit and a memory coupled to the image processing unit.
- the memory is configured to store a plurality of images to be captured by the image processing unit.
- the method comprises retrieving at least one image captured by the image processing unit and stored within the memory.
- the memory is unable to overwrite an image currently being stored in a section of the memory with a new image.
- FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a reusable camera in accordance with the present invention.
- FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of a method of using a plurality of cameras, such as the camera 100 of FIG. 1.
- FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a reusable camera 100 in accordance with the present invention.
- the camera 100 in FIG. 1 comprises a memory 102 , a display 104 , an image processing unit 106 and a display controller 108 .
- the camera 100 in FIG. 1 may comprise other components in addition to or instead of the components described herein, such as a microprocessor, a power supply, a lens, filters and input and output data ports.
- the camera 100 is a ‘digital camera.’
- the memory 102 of FIG. 1 comprises a relatively large capacity, built-in, non-volatile, write-once memory.
- the memory 102 comprises a Permanent Inexpensive Removable Memory (PIRM), which is being developed by Hewlett-Packard.
- PIRM Permanent Inexpensive Removable Memory
- the term “PIRM” includes the adjective “Removable”
- one embodiment of the camera 100 has a built-in, non-removable PIRM.
- “PIRM” may also be referred to as a Portable Inexpensive Removable Memory.
- One embodiment of a PIRM is described in a co-assigned U.S. Patent Application, entitled “NON-VOLATILE MEMORY” (Hewlett Packard Docket No. 10002367) and filed on Apr. ______, 2001, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
- a PIRM may be made from large sheets of a thin material such as plastic (e.g., mylar) with circuits formed in or on the material. The sheets may be cut, laminated and stacked in multiple layers.
- a relatively small PIRM unit may have a large memory capacity, such as 1 Gigabyte, and be able to store a large number of images, such as 1000 or 10,000 images.
- the memory 102 comprises sections, such as first and second sections 110 A, 110 B shown in FIG. 1 (referred to herein individually as ‘section 110 ’ or collectively as ‘sections 110 ’).
- each section 110 may store image data once (write once) and cannot be effectively rewritten with new image data because of the properties of the memory 102 .
- the memory 102 may have a relatively small capacity memory.
- the memory 102 may be removable.
- the memory 102 may be erased and written with new data.
- the camera 100 further comprises a separate memory (not shown) to store firmware used by the image processing unit 106 .
- the image processing unit 106 in FIG. 1 comprises hardware and firmware that captures, encodes and stores images in sections 110 of the memory 102 .
- the image processing unit 106 may comprise a microcontroller or microprocessor, a lens, a zoom unit, a flash and other components.
- a manufacturer of the camera 100 configures hardware and/or firmware within the image processing unit 106 (or associated with the image processing unit 106 ) to limit the number of images that a user may capture and store in the memory 102 .
- the camera manufacturer may configure the image processing unit 106 to only allow a user to capture and store 24 images before the user brings the camera 100 to a print developer to print some or all of the captured images.
- the manufacturer may set higher prices for cameras 100 configured with higher limits of captured images.
- the display controller 108 of FIG. 1 may comprise any suitable controller or microprocessor for controlling the display 104 .
- the display controller 106 may comprise hardware, such as an application specific circuit (ASIC), and firmware.
- ASIC application specific circuit
- the display controller 106 is integrated with the image processing unit 106 .
- the display 104 of FIG. 1 may comprise any suitable display for displaying images stored in the memory 102 to a user.
- the display 104 is a color liquid crystal display (LCD).
- LCD liquid crystal display
- the display 104 allows a user to invalidate undesirable images in the memory 102 such that the user does not have to pay for developing undesirable images into hard copy prints.
- the user may invalidate the last N number of images, for example, by pressing a key on the camera 100 .
- the camera manufacturer may configure the camera 100 to allow a user to invalidate a pre-determined number of captured images stored in the memory 102 and capture a predetermined number of new images to be stored in other sections of the memory 102 .
- the camera manufacturer may configure the camera 100 to allow a user to invalidate up to 10 captured images stored in the memory 102 and capture 10 new images to be stored in other sections of the memory 102 .
- the camera 100 may be configured to allow a user to invalidate any number of captured images stored in the memory 102 .
- the camera manufacturer may pre-configure at least three limits for each camera 100 : (1) the total number of images that a user may capture and store in the memory 102 , e.g., 100, (2) the number of captured images that a user may print, e.g., 30, (3) the number of images a user may invalidate, e.g., a user may invalidate some or all of the captured images stored in the memory 102 .
- the camera manufacturer may sell the camera 100 at different prices depending on these three limits.
- the camera manufacturer may set anti-tampering hardware or software in the camera 100 to prevent users from changing any of the three pre-configured limits described above without the authorization of the camera manufacturer or its licensee.
- the camera manufacturer may sell software and/or hardware to licensees or end-users to change one or more of the pre-configured limits.
- the camera 100 may be configured to limit the total number of images that a user may capture and store in the memory 102 during a pre-determined time period, such as a month.
- only special software controlled by the camera manufacturer and its licensees such as photograph/print developers, may decode and retrieve images encoded and stored in the memory 102 .
- the image processing unit 106 invalidates (blanks out) the particular section 110 where the image was retrieved.
- the image processing unit 106 is configured to store the images in unused sections 110 of the memory 102 .
- FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of a method of using a plurality of cameras, such as the camera 100 of FIG. 1.
- a camera manufacturer or authorized dealer sells, leases or otherwise provides a first reusable camera, such as the camera 100 in FIG. 1, with a first configured limit of captured images, e.g., 30, to a first user.
- the first user captures and stores images up to the first configured limit with the first reusable camera.
- the first user brings the first reusable camera to a print developer to develop the images captured by the first user for a price.
- the print developer may use authorized software from the camera manufacturer or authorized dealer to retrieve the images stored in the memory 102 (FIG. 1) of the first reusable camera.
- the print developer may sell, lease or otherwise provide a second reusable camera with a second configured limit of captured images to the first user.
- the second configured limit may be higher, lower or equal to the first configured limit.
- the print developer may use software, hardware or both software and hardware to reconfigure the first reusable camera.
- the printer developer may send the first reusable camera to the camera manufacturer or dealer to reconfigure the first reusable camera.
- the print developer, camera manufacturer or dealer may invalidate sections of the memory that stored images, which have been retrieved by the print developer.
- the print developer, camera manufacturer or dealer configure the image processing module 106 in the camera to store images in unused sections of the memory 102 .
- the print developer, camera manufacturer or dealer may perform other functions to prepare the first reusable camera to be used by the first user or another user.
- the printer developer, camera manufacturer or dealer may sell, lease or otherwise provide the first reusable camera with a third configured limit of captured images to the first user or a second user.
- the third configured limit may be higher, lower or equal to the first and second configured limits.
- the first user captures and stores images up to the second configured limit with the second reusable camera.
- the print developer develops images captured by user with the second reusable camera for a price.
- the camera manufacturer provides unlimited use of the memory 102 to a user of the camera 100 .
- the camera manufacturer or a licensee charges the user for a number of prints and a number of deleted images, e.g., $2.00 for each print and $0.25 for each deleted (non-printed) image.
- the camera 100 allows the customer to take a very large (almost unlimited) number of pictures with a single camera without buying film, which may be particularly useful while the user is on vacation. Also, the user will only have to pay a small charge for bad images.
Abstract
A reusable camera is provided. The camera comprises an image processing unit configured to capture images and a memory coupled to the image processing unit. The memory is configured to store a plurality of images to be captured by the image processing unit.
Description
- 1. Field of the Invention
- The present invention relates to cameras, and more particularly to a reusable camera that has some of the business advantages of a single-use camera.
- 2. Description of the Related Art
- Disposable single-use cameras do not allow users to review, erase and re-take undesirable exposures before printing the exposures. Users must pay for every exposure to be printed. Disposable cameras are also a problem for the environment because each disposable camera is destroyed after its single use.
- Digital cameras are expensive, and some types of digital cameras often become obsolete after a few years in view of rapid technological developments.
- Digital cameras may be built as reusable cameras with flash memory. But flash memory is expensive, limited in capacity and may be illicitly modified (‘hacked’) by a user to bypass any restrictions on reuse that are installed by the camera's manufacturer.
- A reusable camera with a special memory is provided in accordance with the present invention. In one embodiment, the special memory may be a write-once, non-volatile memory.
- One aspect of the reusable camera is the special memory has an almost unlimited capacity to store captured images. For example, one embodiment of the special memory may store 10,000 or more images.
- Another aspect of the reusable camera is the relatively low cost of manufacturing and implementing the special memory, compared to other types of memory (e.g., compact flash memory) that are currently being used in digital cameras.
- Another aspect of the reusable camera is the special memory provides a convenient way for camera manufacturers, camera dealers and photograph/print developers to control the use of reusable cameras and resulting print developments.
- Another aspect of the reusable camera is the special memory may be recycled and does not have to be discarded after a customer develops a single set of pictures.
- One aspect of the invention relates to a reusable camera comprising an image processing unit configured to capture images and a Permanent Inexpensive Removable Memory (PIRM) coupled to the image processing unit. The memory is configured to store a plurality of images to be captured by the image processing unit.
- Another aspect of the invention relates to a reusable camera comprising an image processing unit configured to capture images and a built-in, non-volatile memory coupled to the image processing unit. The memory is configured to store images to be captured by the image processing unit. The memory is unable to overwrite an image currently being stored in a section of the memory with a new image.
- Another aspect of the invention relates to a method of using a reusable camera. The method comprises providing a reusable camera with an image processing unit and a memory coupled to the image processing unit. The memory is configured to store a plurality of images to be captured by the image processing unit. The memory is unable to overwrite an image currently being stored in a section of the memory with a new image.
- Another aspect of the invention relates to another method of using a reusable camera. The reusable camera comprises an image processing unit and a memory coupled to the image processing unit. The memory is configured to store a plurality of images to be captured by the image processing unit. The method comprises retrieving at least one image captured by the image processing unit and stored within the memory. The memory is unable to overwrite an image currently being stored in a section of the memory with a new image.
- FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a reusable camera in accordance with the present invention.
- FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of a method of using a plurality of cameras, such as the
camera 100 of FIG. 1. - FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a
reusable camera 100 in accordance with the present invention. Thecamera 100 in FIG. 1 comprises amemory 102, adisplay 104, animage processing unit 106 and adisplay controller 108. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that thecamera 100 in FIG. 1 may comprise other components in addition to or instead of the components described herein, such as a microprocessor, a power supply, a lens, filters and input and output data ports. In one embodiment, thecamera 100 is a ‘digital camera.’ - In one embodiment, the
memory 102 of FIG. 1 comprises a relatively large capacity, built-in, non-volatile, write-once memory. For example, one embodiment of thememory 102 comprises a Permanent Inexpensive Removable Memory (PIRM), which is being developed by Hewlett-Packard. Even though the term “PIRM” includes the adjective “Removable,” one embodiment of thecamera 100 has a built-in, non-removable PIRM. “PIRM” may also be referred to as a Portable Inexpensive Removable Memory. One embodiment of a PIRM is described in a co-assigned U.S. Patent Application, entitled “NON-VOLATILE MEMORY” (Hewlett Packard Docket No. 10002367) and filed on Apr. ______, 2001, which is hereby incorporated by reference. - In general, one embodiment of a PIRM may be made from large sheets of a thin material such as plastic (e.g., mylar) with circuits formed in or on the material. The sheets may be cut, laminated and stacked in multiple layers. A relatively small PIRM unit may have a large memory capacity, such as 1 Gigabyte, and be able to store a large number of images, such as 1000 or 10,000 images. In one embodiment, the
memory 102 comprises sections, such as first andsecond sections memory 102. - Other embodiments of the
camera 100 may use other types of memory. For example, thememory 102 may have a relatively small capacity memory. As another example, thememory 102 may be removable. As another example, thememory 102 may be erased and written with new data. In one embodiment, thecamera 100 further comprises a separate memory (not shown) to store firmware used by theimage processing unit 106. - The
image processing unit 106 in FIG. 1 comprises hardware and firmware that captures, encodes and stores images in sections 110 of thememory 102. For example, theimage processing unit 106 may comprise a microcontroller or microprocessor, a lens, a zoom unit, a flash and other components. - In one embodiment, a manufacturer of the
camera 100 configures hardware and/or firmware within the image processing unit 106 (or associated with the image processing unit 106) to limit the number of images that a user may capture and store in thememory 102. For example, the camera manufacturer may configure theimage processing unit 106 to only allow a user to capture and store 24 images before the user brings thecamera 100 to a print developer to print some or all of the captured images. The manufacturer may set higher prices forcameras 100 configured with higher limits of captured images. - The
display controller 108 of FIG. 1 may comprise any suitable controller or microprocessor for controlling thedisplay 104. Thedisplay controller 106 may comprise hardware, such as an application specific circuit (ASIC), and firmware. In one embodiment, thedisplay controller 106 is integrated with theimage processing unit 106. - The
display 104 of FIG. 1 may comprise any suitable display for displaying images stored in thememory 102 to a user. In one embodiment, thedisplay 104 is a color liquid crystal display (LCD). Thedisplay 104 allows a user to invalidate undesirable images in thememory 102 such that the user does not have to pay for developing undesirable images into hard copy prints. In one embodiment, regardless of whether thecamera 100 has adisplay 104, the user may invalidate the last N number of images, for example, by pressing a key on thecamera 100. - In one embodiment, the camera manufacturer may configure the
camera 100 to allow a user to invalidate a pre-determined number of captured images stored in thememory 102 and capture a predetermined number of new images to be stored in other sections of thememory 102. For example, the camera manufacturer may configure thecamera 100 to allow a user to invalidate up to 10 captured images stored in thememory 102 and capture 10 new images to be stored in other sections of thememory 102. Thecamera 100 may be configured to allow a user to invalidate any number of captured images stored in thememory 102. - Thus, the camera manufacturer may pre-configure at least three limits for each camera100: (1) the total number of images that a user may capture and store in the
memory 102, e.g., 100, (2) the number of captured images that a user may print, e.g., 30, (3) the number of images a user may invalidate, e.g., a user may invalidate some or all of the captured images stored in thememory 102. The camera manufacturer may sell thecamera 100 at different prices depending on these three limits. - In one embodiment, the camera manufacturer may set anti-tampering hardware or software in the
camera 100 to prevent users from changing any of the three pre-configured limits described above without the authorization of the camera manufacturer or its licensee. The camera manufacturer may sell software and/or hardware to licensees or end-users to change one or more of the pre-configured limits. - In one embodiment, in addition to or instead of the three pre-configured limits described above, the
camera 100 may be configured to limit the total number of images that a user may capture and store in thememory 102 during a pre-determined time period, such as a month. - In one embodiment, only special software controlled by the camera manufacturer and its licensees, such as photograph/print developers, may decode and retrieve images encoded and stored in the
memory 102. - In one embodiment, when an image is read out of a section110 of the
memory 102, theimage processing unit 106 invalidates (blanks out) the particular section 110 where the image was retrieved. When a user captures new images with thecamera 100, theimage processing unit 106 is configured to store the images in unused sections 110 of thememory 102. - FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of a method of using a plurality of cameras, such as the
camera 100 of FIG. 1. In ablock 200 of FIG. 2, a camera manufacturer or authorized dealer sells, leases or otherwise provides a first reusable camera, such as thecamera 100 in FIG. 1, with a first configured limit of captured images, e.g., 30, to a first user. In ablock 202 of FIG. 2, the first user captures and stores images up to the first configured limit with the first reusable camera. - In a
block 204 of FIG. 2, the first user brings the first reusable camera to a print developer to develop the images captured by the first user for a price. The print developer may use authorized software from the camera manufacturer or authorized dealer to retrieve the images stored in the memory 102 (FIG. 1) of the first reusable camera. - In a
block 206 of FIG. 2, the print developer may sell, lease or otherwise provide a second reusable camera with a second configured limit of captured images to the first user. The second configured limit may be higher, lower or equal to the first configured limit. - In a
block 208 of FIG. 2, the print developer may use software, hardware or both software and hardware to reconfigure the first reusable camera. Alternatively, the printer developer may send the first reusable camera to the camera manufacturer or dealer to reconfigure the first reusable camera. For example, the print developer, camera manufacturer or dealer may invalidate sections of the memory that stored images, which have been retrieved by the print developer. The print developer, camera manufacturer or dealer configure theimage processing module 106 in the camera to store images in unused sections of thememory 102. The print developer, camera manufacturer or dealer may perform other functions to prepare the first reusable camera to be used by the first user or another user. - In a
block 210 of FIG. 2, the printer developer, camera manufacturer or dealer may sell, lease or otherwise provide the first reusable camera with a third configured limit of captured images to the first user or a second user. The third configured limit may be higher, lower or equal to the first and second configured limits. - In a
block 212 of FIG. 2, the first user captures and stores images up to the second configured limit with the second reusable camera. In ablock 214 of FIG. 2, the print developer develops images captured by user with the second reusable camera for a price. - In another method of using the
camera 100, the camera manufacturer provides unlimited use of thememory 102 to a user of thecamera 100. But the camera manufacturer or a licensee charges the user for a number of prints and a number of deleted images, e.g., $2.00 for each print and $0.25 for each deleted (non-printed) image. Thecamera 100 allows the customer to take a very large (almost unlimited) number of pictures with a single camera without buying film, which may be particularly useful while the user is on vacation. Also, the user will only have to pay a small charge for bad images. - The above-described embodiments of the present invention are merely meant to be illustrative and not limiting. Various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. The appended claims encompass such changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims (20)
1. A reusable camera comprising:
an image processing unit configured to capture images; and
a Permanent Inexpensive Removable Memory (PIRM) coupled to the image processing unit, the memory being configured to store a plurality of images to be captured by the image processing unit.
2. The camera of claim 1 , wherein the camera comprises a digital camera.
3. The camera of claim 1 , wherein the PIRM is built into the camera.
4. The camera of claim 1 , wherein the PIRM is removable from the camera.
5. The camera of claim 1 , wherein the PIRM comprises a non-volatile memory.
6. The camera of claim 1 , wherein the PIRM is configured to store over a hundred images.
7. The camera of claim 1 , wherein the PIRM is not configured to overwrite an image, which is currently being stored in a section of the PIRM, with a new image.
8. The camera of claim 1 , wherein the PIRM is configured to overwrite an image, which is currently being stored in a section of the PIR, with a new image.
9. The camera of claim 1 , wherein the image processing unit encodes image data before storing the image data in the PIRM.
10. The camera of claim 1 , wherein the image processing unit is configured to store a predetermined number of images in the PIRM.
11. The camera of claim 10 , further comprising a security system to prevent users from changing the pre-determined number.
12. The camera of claim 10 , wherein the image processing unit is configurable by an external system to store more than the pre-determined number of images in the PIRM.
13. The camera of claim 1 , further comprising a display coupled to the PIRM, the display being configured to display images stored in the PIRM.
14. The camera of claim 1 , wherein the image processing unit is configured to allow a user to invalidate a pre-determined number of images stored in the PIRM.
15. The camera of claim 1 , wherein the image processing unit is configured to allow a user to select a pre-determined number of images stored in the PIM to be retrieved from the PIRM.
16. A reusable camera comprising:
an image processing unit configured to capture images; and
a built-in, non-volatile memory coupled to the image processing unit, the memory being configured to store images to be captured by the image processing unit, the memory being unable to overwrite an image currently being stored in a section of the memory with a new image.
17. The reusable camera of claim 16 , wherein the image processing unit is configured to store a pre-determined number of images in the memory.
18. A method of using a reusable camera, the method comprising providing the reusable camera, the reusable camera comprising an image processing unit and a memory coupled to the image processing unit, the memory being configured to store a plurality of images to be captured by the image processing unit, the memory being unable to overwrite an image currently being stored in a section of the memory with a new image.
19. A method of using a reusable camera, the reusable camera comprising an image processing unit and a memory coupled to the image processing unit, the memory configured to store a plurality of images to be captured by the image processing unit, the memory being unable to overwrite an image currently being stored in a section of the memory with a new image, the method comprising retrieving at least one image captured by the image processing unit and stored within the memory.
20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising invalidating a section of the memory that stores an image captured by the image processing unit.
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US09/851,102 US20020167599A1 (en) | 2001-05-08 | 2001-05-08 | Reusable camera |
JP2002125747A JP2003032530A (en) | 2001-05-08 | 2002-04-26 | Reusable camera |
US10/319,225 US7280137B2 (en) | 2001-05-08 | 2002-12-12 | Reusable camera including write-once non-volatile memory |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
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US09/851,102 US20020167599A1 (en) | 2001-05-08 | 2001-05-08 | Reusable camera |
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US10/319,225 Continuation-In-Part US7280137B2 (en) | 2001-05-08 | 2002-12-12 | Reusable camera including write-once non-volatile memory |
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Cited By (3)
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US20030052975A1 (en) * | 2001-09-06 | 2003-03-20 | Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. | Digital camera, customer authentication communication terminal equipment, and encoding service system |
WO2004114638A1 (en) * | 2003-06-10 | 2004-12-29 | Zoran Corporation | Digital camera with reduced image buffer memory and minimal processing for recycling through a service center |
EP2362628A1 (en) * | 2010-02-18 | 2011-08-31 | Win How Chen | Single use digital camera |
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JP2005142799A (en) * | 2003-11-06 | 2005-06-02 | Konica Minolta Photo Imaging Inc | Digital camera, printer, print system, and program |
US7106639B2 (en) * | 2004-09-01 | 2006-09-12 | Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. | Defect management enabled PIRM and method |
HK1085885A2 (en) * | 2005-05-06 | 2006-09-01 | Yet Chan | Camera |
US20080259112A1 (en) * | 2007-04-20 | 2008-10-23 | David Olsen | Printing device having supply of colorant that is non-refillable and at least substantially non-removable from end user perspective |
Family Cites Families (5)
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US5828406A (en) * | 1994-12-30 | 1998-10-27 | Eastman Kodak Company | Electronic camera having a processor for mapping image pixel signals into color display pixels |
NO315728B1 (en) * | 2000-03-22 | 2003-10-13 | Thin Film Electronics Asa | Multidimensional addressing architecture for electronic devices |
US6424581B1 (en) * | 2000-08-14 | 2002-07-23 | Matrix Semiconductor, Inc. | Write-once memory array controller, system, and method |
US7003619B1 (en) * | 2001-04-09 | 2006-02-21 | Matrix Semiconductor, Inc. | Memory device and method for storing and reading a file system structure in a write-once memory array |
US6646912B2 (en) * | 2001-06-05 | 2003-11-11 | Hewlett-Packard Development Company, Lp. | Non-volatile memory |
-
2001
- 2001-05-08 US US09/851,102 patent/US20020167599A1/en not_active Abandoned
-
2002
- 2002-04-26 JP JP2002125747A patent/JP2003032530A/en active Pending
- 2002-12-12 US US10/319,225 patent/US7280137B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Cited By (7)
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US20030052975A1 (en) * | 2001-09-06 | 2003-03-20 | Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. | Digital camera, customer authentication communication terminal equipment, and encoding service system |
US7450152B2 (en) * | 2001-09-06 | 2008-11-11 | Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. | Digital camera, customer authentication communication terminal equipment, and encoding service system |
WO2004114638A1 (en) * | 2003-06-10 | 2004-12-29 | Zoran Corporation | Digital camera with reduced image buffer memory and minimal processing for recycling through a service center |
US7612803B2 (en) | 2003-06-10 | 2009-11-03 | Zoran Corporation | Digital camera with reduced image buffer memory and minimal processing for recycling through a service center |
US20100020199A1 (en) * | 2003-06-10 | 2010-01-28 | Zoran Corporation | Digital camera with reduced image buffer memory and minimal processing for recycling through a service center |
US8120669B2 (en) | 2003-06-10 | 2012-02-21 | Zoran Corporation | Digital camera with reduced image buffer memory and minimal processing for recycling through a service center |
EP2362628A1 (en) * | 2010-02-18 | 2011-08-31 | Win How Chen | Single use digital camera |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US20030133023A1 (en) | 2003-07-17 |
US7280137B2 (en) | 2007-10-09 |
JP2003032530A (en) | 2003-01-31 |
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Owner name: HEWLETT-PACKARD COMPANY, COLORADO Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:CARAU, FRANK P., SR.;REEL/FRAME:012137/0752 Effective date: 20010607 |
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