U.S. patent application number 09/851102 was filed with the patent office on 2002-11-14 for reusable camera.
Invention is credited to Carau, Frank P. SR..
Application Number | 20020167599 09/851102 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25309987 |
Filed Date | 2002-11-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020167599 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Carau, Frank P. SR. |
November 14, 2002 |
Reusable camera
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.
Inventors: |
Carau, Frank P. SR.;
(Loveland, CO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HEWLETT-PACKARD COMPANY
Intellectual Property Administration
P.O. Box 272400
Fort Collins
CO
80527-2400
US
|
Family ID: |
25309987 |
Appl. No.: |
09/851102 |
Filed: |
May 8, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
348/231.9 ;
348/222.1; 348/231.3; 386/E5.072 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 5/772 20130101;
H04N 1/0018 20130101; H04N 2101/00 20130101; H04N 1/00132
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
348/231.9 ;
348/231.3; 348/222.1 |
International
Class: |
H04N 005/76; H04N
005/228 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
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.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] 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.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] 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.
[0005] Digital cameras are expensive, and some types of digital
cameras often become obsolete after a few years in view of rapid
technological developments.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] 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.
[0007] 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.
[0008] 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.
[0009] 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.
[0010] 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.
[0011] 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.
[0012] 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.
[0013] 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.
[0014] 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.
[0015] 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.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a reusable camera in
accordance with the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of a method of using a
plurality of cameras, such as the camera 100 of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] 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. Those of ordinary skill in the art
will appreciate that 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. In one embodiment, the camera 100
is a `digital camera.`
[0019] 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 the memory 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 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.
[0020] 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 and second sections 110A, 110B shown in FIG. 1 (referred
to herein individually as `section 110` or collectively as
`sections 110`). In one embodiment, 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.
[0021] Other embodiments of the camera 100 may use other types of
memory. For example, the memory 102 may have a relatively small
capacity memory. As another example, the memory 102 may be
removable. As another example, the memory 102 may be erased and
written with new data. In one embodiment, the camera 100 further
comprises a separate memory (not shown) to store firmware used by
the image processing unit 106.
[0022] 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. For example, the image processing unit 106
may comprise a microcontroller or microprocessor, a lens, a zoom
unit, a flash and other components.
[0023] 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 the
memory 102. For example, 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.
[0024] 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. In one
embodiment, the display controller 106 is integrated with the image
processing unit 106.
[0025] The display 104 of FIG. 1 may comprise any suitable display
for displaying images stored in the memory 102 to a user. In one
embodiment, the display 104 is a color liquid crystal display
(LCD). 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. In one
embodiment, regardless of whether the camera 100 has a display 104,
the user may invalidate the last N number of images, for example,
by pressing a key on the camera 100.
[0026] 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 the memory 102 and capture a
predetermined number of new images to be stored in other sections
of the memory 102. For example, 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.
[0027] Thus, 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.
[0028] 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.
[0029] 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 the memory 102 during a pre-determined time
period, such as a month.
[0030] 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.
[0031] In one embodiment, when an image is read out of a section
110 of the memory 102, the image processing unit 106 invalidates
(blanks out) the particular section 110 where the image was
retrieved. When a user captures new images with the camera 100, the
image processing unit 106 is configured to store the images in
unused sections 110 of the memory 102.
[0032] FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of a method of using a
plurality of cameras, such as the camera 100 of FIG. 1. In a block
200 of FIG. 2, 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. In a block 202 of FIG. 2, the
first user captures and stores images up to the first configured
limit with the first reusable camera.
[0033] 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.
[0034] 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.
[0035] 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 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.
[0036] 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.
[0037] 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 a block 214 of FIG. 2, the print developer develops
images captured by user with the second reusable camera for a
price.
[0038] In another method of using the camera 100, the camera
manufacturer provides unlimited use of the memory 102 to a user of
the camera 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. 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.
[0039] 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.
* * * * *