Eastman-kodak Company

Clay A Dunsmore

Kenneth Alan Parulski

J David Cocca

Masaki Izumi

Christopher A Ludden

Dale Frederick McIntyre

Dennis R Zander

Joel S Lawther

Dwight John Petruchik

Seiichi Mizukoshi

Dana W Wolcott

Glenn W Johnson

Bryan D Bernardi

Thomas A Napoli

Kyoichi Omata

Brett Vansprewenburg

Eugene R Rinas

John H Minnick

John J Uebelacker

Michael J May

Richard William Lourette

David S Madziarz

Carolyn A Bussi

Frederick T Lucas

Bruce A Alexander

John K Lynch

Colleen E Vermillion

An electronic camera includes a sensor for capturing an image, an electronic image display for displaying the captured image, and a user interface for selectively enabling a quick view feature in which the image display is automatically turned on for a set period of time after an image is captured, and then automatically turned off, in order to quickly review the captured image. The camera further includes a processor for performing processing on the captured image and generating a processed image file therefrom, and a memory for storing the processed image file. When an erase command is provided to the processor, the processing of the image file is terminated and the partially completed image file is deleted from the second memory.

Electronic camera with quick view and quick erase features

A panoramic digital image is produced by providing a digital camera having a memory and which is operable in a first mode for producing individual still digital images, and in a second mode for capturing a series of overlapping digital images to be used in constructing the panoramic digital image. The digital camera is mounted on a stand, rotated on the stand through a series of predetermined positions, and operated in the second mode to capture the series of overlapping digital images. The series of overlapping digital images corresponding to the panoramic digital image is stored in a predetermined location in the memory, and processed to stitch such images together to produce the panoramic digital image.

Producing panoramic digital images by digital camera systems

A camera metering mechanism discriminates between 1) adjacent perforations in a set, which trigger said metering mechanism to interrupt the film advance, and 2) adjacent perforations between sets, which do not trigger the interruption. The mechanism uses a difference in spacing between the perforations, which alternates between a first distance within a set and a second longer distance between sets. The mechanism is triggered to interrupt film advance when the space between detected perforations is less than a predetermined distance. If the space exceeds the predetermined distance, then film advance continues until the next successive perforation. According to more specific features, the perforation detector initiates electrical transitions at the leading and trailing edges of the perforations, and film distances are a determined from the time difference between selected transitions.

Apparatus and method for synchronizing film metering

A flash quench controller for a camera having a flash unit includes a light detector for producing a signal, an integrator for integrating the signal from the detector and producing an integrated signal, a comparator for comparing the integrated signal to a reference value, and means for quenching the flash unit when the integrated signal reaches the reference value. By using a pulse signal having a variable pulse width to programmably set the reference value, many different quench time values can be easily established. The flash unit may also be quenched by setting a maximum flash time value. The flash is automatically quenched if this flash time value is reached before the integrated signal level reaches the programmed reference value.

Digitally controlled quench flash circuit

A light metering device incorporates a light dependent resistor as a light sensing element, a network including a plurality of circuit elements, and a selection mechanism for selectively connecting the light dependent resistor to one of the plurality of circuit elements in the network. The selection mechanism is controlled to set a voltage measured at an output terminal of the light dependent resistor within a predetermined threshold level. The light metering device can be readily incorporated in both photographic and electronic cameras.

Light metering device with adjustable output

An electronic flash device including a self-oscillating charging circuit, a momentary trigger for initiating oscillations of the circuit to charge a flash capacitor, and a voltage sensing device coupled directly between the circuit and the flash capacitor for arresting the oscillations when the capacitor is fully charged. The voltage sensor includes a zener diode in series with a neon ready-light, and switches on a transistor to ground the charging circuit and arrest the oscillations when the capacitor is fully charged. Actuation of the flash device automatically restarts the oscillations and recharges the flash capacitor. A process for recycling a single use camera having such an electronic flash device also is disclosed.

Single touch flash charger control

In a camera, apparatus and methods for recording or storing voiced in messages in message memory associated with an exposed image frame for reproduction as an annotation with prints made from the exposed image frames. The camera includes a voice recognition system for voice recognition of words spoken by the user before the words are stored in message memory. Fixed and adjustable vocabularies are provided for use in the voice recognition. The adjustable vocabulary may be loaded into the camera by a vocabulary memory card or through an interface with a docking station of a personal computer or vending machine so that an adjustable vocabulary of words of interest to the camera user or related to a scene or event of photographic interest may be employed in the voice recognition. The messages may be recorded on magnetic film layers or stored in camera on-board memory or in detachable message memory modules to be forwarded with the exposed film strip to a photofinisher for read out and printing on the prints. The messages may be stored or recorded by the user in real time with each exposure or at an earlier or later time.

Camera on-board voice recognition

A camera including a photoelectric diode operated as an emitter in a first mode and a sensor in a second mode. The camera includes a first circuit that operates the diode to emit visible radiation and a second circuit that operates the diode to sense scene illumination. The diode is switched between the respective circuits selectively to operate in its first and second modes. The first circuit preferably is a timing circuit in a self-timing camera, but also might provide other functions including reduction of red-eye effects. The second circuit preferably is a photometer for controlling exposure.

Camera with LED photometer

When an exposure counter in a single-use camera indicates that the maximum number of exposures on a roll of film in the camera have been exposed, a function of the camera such as an electronic flash capability is disabled to prevent unauthorized recycling of the camera. A reset code must be inputted to the camera to initialize the exposure counter and to enable the electronic flash capability, to permit authorized reuse of the camera with another roll of film. If an invalid code is inputted to the camera, the electronic flash capability is permanently disabled or cannot be re-enabled for a period of time.

Method and apparatus for preventing unauthorized recycling of single-use

A method of test firing an electronic flash in a camera during manufacturing assembly of the camera, in which the flash capacitor is pre-charged to an intermediate voltage level which is insufficient to test fire the flash using an external power supply. According to the present invention, the flash capacitor is then fully-charged to a level which is sufficient to test fire the flash, using the battery contained for the camera, and the flash is test fired. According to a preferred embodiment, the flash assembly is mounted within a camera body, and a front cover covers the flash. A set of holes in the front cover are accessible to allow fast charging of the flash capacitor during assembly of the camera.

Test firing of a photographic flash assembly

In a photographic camera having a plurality of opto-sensors and a microprocessor-based controller, the opto-sensor output signals are coupled via a common bus connection to an input terminal of the controller. A programmably variable output impedance common to the opto-sensors is selectably set for each corresponding selected opto-sensor such that the output signal for each of the selected opto-sensors is at or above a predetermined threshold value at the input to the controller irrespective of differing current output performance of the individual opto-sensors.

Control system for camera with multiple opto-sensors

When an exposure counter in a single-use camera indicates that the maximum number of exposures on a roll of film in the camera have been exposed, a function of the camera such as an electronic flash capability is disabled to prevent unauthorized recycling of the camera. A reset code must be inputted to the camera to initialize the exposure counter and to enable the electronic flash capability, to permit authorized reuse of the camera with another roll of film.

A camera power supply system includes a controller that reduces power consumption by modifying the operation of the camera system clock circuit after the completion of each exposure taking sequence. The clock circuit operation is modified either by bypassing current drains, thereby reducing the accuracy of the clock circuit as well as its power consumption, or by reducing the frequency of the clock pulses produced by the system clock. Modifying the operation of the system clock in this way does not adversely affect operation of systems such as information displays, but does reduce power consumption. The clock circuit operation is restored at the beginning of an exposure sequence.

Camera power supply system

A camera in accordance with the invention includes a display circuit that uses the decay voltage of a storage capacitor to determine the time interval during which an information display of the camera will be illuminated. When the storage capacitor decay voltage falls below a predetermined value, power to the information display is removed. The storage capacitor is used to power another camera system and therefore is not an additional component necessary for the display circuit alone.

Camera display circuit

A DC-to-DC converter is operated in accordance with a predetermined primary circuit ON time and a sensed predetermined secondary circuit current level to provide improved charging performance and extended battery life. Energy is stored in the primary of a coupled inductor when power in the primary, provided by a battery having an internal impedance which varies over the battery's lifetime, is switched ON for a predetermined time t.sub.ON. Upon expiration of time t.sub.ON, power is switched OFF, whereupon stored energy is transferred to the secondary via a flyback type process, thus charging a storage capacitor. A preventing means prevents a premature switching ON of power in the primary subsequent to the expiration of time t.sub.ON. The energy storage cycle repeats when current sensed in the secondary decreases below a predetermined minimum current threshold.

Growing community of inventors

Fairport, NY, United States of America

Clay A Dunsmore