U.S. patent application number 11/464555 was filed with the patent office on 2007-01-04 for camera having a removable display provided on an image bearing medium.
Invention is credited to John R. Fredlund, Raymond E. Wess.
Application Number | 20070003270 11/464555 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37423241 |
Filed Date | 2007-01-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070003270 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fredlund; John R. ; et
al. |
January 4, 2007 |
CAMERA HAVING A REMOVABLE DISPLAY PROVIDED ON AN IMAGE BEARING
MEDIUM
Abstract
A memory device including a connector enabling the memory device
to be coupled to a power source; a display including a bar
indicator that indicates an amount of remaining storage space
available in the memory device, wherein the display responds to the
power source when the memory device is coupled to the power source
to display information related to storage space availability on the
bar indicator and continues to display such information after the
memory device is uncoupled from the power source so that no power
is applied to the display.
Inventors: |
Fredlund; John R.;
(Rochester, NY) ; Wess; Raymond E.; (Holley,
NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Pamela R. Crocker;Patent Legal Staff
Eastman Kodak Company
43 State Street
Rochester
NY
14650-2201
US
|
Family ID: |
37423241 |
Appl. No.: |
11/464555 |
Filed: |
August 15, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
09669178 |
Sep 25, 2000 |
7139027 |
|
|
11464555 |
Aug 15, 2006 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
396/284 ;
348/E5.025; 348/E5.047 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 5/232411 20180801;
H04N 2101/00 20130101; H04N 5/225251 20180801; H04N 1/00129
20130101; H04N 2201/0084 20130101; H04N 1/2158 20130101; H04N
2201/0087 20130101; H04N 5/232939 20180801; G09G 2300/0486
20130101; G09G 3/16 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
396/284 |
International
Class: |
G03B 1/66 20060101
G03B001/66 |
Claims
1. A memory device comprising: a connector enabling the memory
device to be coupled to a power source; a display including a bar
indicator that indicates an amount of remaining storage space
available in the memory device, wherein the display responds to the
power source when the memory device is coupled to the power source
to display information related to storage space availability on the
bar indicator and continues to display such information after the
memory device is uncoupled from the power source so that no power
is applied to the display.
2. A memory device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the display is
removable from the memory device.
3. A memory device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the display
includes memory material comprising chiral doped nematic liquid
crystal.
4. A memory device as claimed in claim 1 wherein neither the memory
device nor the display includes a separate power source to power
the bar indicator when the memory device is uncoupled from the
power source.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 09/669,178 filed Sep. 25, 2000.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to cameras having removable
image bearing media.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Current silver halide film cameras have displays for
indicating settings and status conditions, such as frame number, of
the camera. Often, the display uses twisted nematic liquid crystals
that that requires continuous electrical drive to display
information. Cameras with this type of display are usually turned
on only for short periods of time to preserve battery life. When
the cameras are turned off, the liquid crystal display goes blank.
An operator must turn on the camera to determine the status of the
camera. These cameras typically incorporate a high voltage supply
to drive an electronic flash built into the camera, and utilize
cartridges that contain the film in a light tight environment.
[0004] Many digital cameras use liquid crystal displays to display
a captured image. Displays in these cameras are also nematic liquid
crystals displays that can drain an electronic camera power supply
in a short period of time.
[0005] Many digital cameras also use removable memory cards to
store images. There is no way to tell how much capacity remains or
what images reside on these memory cards without turning the camera
on.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to
provide a convenient way for a viewer to view a display on an image
bearing medium whether in the camera or removed from the camera for
viewing.
[0007] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
convenient way to view the display on image bearing medium that
presents an indication of camera status to the user.
[0008] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
camera with a display on the image bearing medium that presents the
indication of camera status to the user.
[0009] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
means for changing the display on the image bearing medium prior to
removal from the camera such that the display reflects the status
of the image bearing media and not necessarily the camera.
[0010] These objects are achieved by a memory device
comprising:
[0011] a connector enabling the memory device to be coupled to a
power source;
[0012] a display including a bar indicator that indicates an amount
of remaining storage space available in the memory device, wherein
the display responds to the power source when the memory device is
coupled to the power source to display information related to
storage space availability on the bar indicator and continues to
display such information after the memory device is uncoupled from
the power source so that no power is applied to the display.
[0013] It is a feature of the present invention that a display is
provided on a removable image bearing medium and can be viewed
either in the camera or after removal from the camera.
[0014] Another feature of the invention that the display itself can
be made detachable from the image bearing medium and reused.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a top sectional view of a silver halide camera
with a film cartridge with a memory display;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a top sectional view of an electronic capture
camera with a removable memory card with a memory display;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the memory display of
FIG. 1;
[0018] FIG. 4 is a top view of the memory display of FIG. 3;
[0019] FIG. 5 shows an electrical circuit which drives the display
of FIG. 3 by selectively coupling the flash unit high voltage
supply to the display;
[0020] FIG. 6A is a partial top view of the memory display of the
electronic capture camera of FIG. 2;
[0021] FIG. 6B is a magnified view of the memory display of FIG.
6A;
[0022] FIG. 7 is an electrical schematic circuit which drives the
memory display of FIGS. 6A and 6B;
[0023] FIG. 8A is a waveform to drives a memory material to a
reflecting, or bright condition;
[0024] FIG. 8B is a waveform to drives a memory material to a
transmitting, or dark condition;
[0025] FIG. 8C is a waveform to drive a memory material to an
intermediate condition between transmission and reflection;
[0026] FIG. 9 is a view of a memory card with a memory display;
[0027] FIG. 10 is a view of a film camera with a visible memory
display on the image bearing medium;
[0028] FIG. 11 is a view of an electronic camera with a visible
memory display on the image bearing medium; and
[0029] FIG. 12 depicts a memory card which incorporates a
detachable display.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0030] A top sectional view of a silver halide film camera 10 is
shown in FIG. 1. A film cassette 20 with a memory display 37 in
camera 10 holds a strip of film 22 that captures images from optic
26. Film 22 is sequentially taken up onto take-up spool 24 to
capture a set of images. After image exposure is complete, film 22
is returned to film cassette 20. Camera controller 30 receives
commands from an operator and controls the sequential motion of
film 22 and optic 26. Camera controller 30 can provide supplemental
illumination to a scene by discharging a high voltage pulse through
flash tube 42 in a flash unit. Flash tube 42 requires a flash
capacitor 40 to store energy for flash tube 42. Flash capacitor 40
typically stores energy in a capacitor having over 50 micro-farads
capacitance at over 100 volts.
[0031] The status of camera 10 is shown on a display 35 in camera
10. Typically, display 35 shows the number of the current frame of
film, the operational mode of flash tube 42, and operating
parameters of optic 26. The status of the camera 10 can also be
shown on the memory display 37. In more complex cameras, display 35
is a conventional nematic liquid crystal display. Nematic liquid
crystal fluids act in conjunction with polarizing filters to act as
a shutter to reflect or transmit light. Transmitted light is
selectively reflected from a surface behind the display to provide
light indicia. The reflected light provides a white indicia. When
light is blocked by the polarizing filters, the imager area is
dark. Nematic liquid crystals must have a continuous electrical
field across the display to display information.
[0032] FIG. 2 is a top sectional view of an electronic camera 12.
Many of the components operate as in conventional camera 10. Film
22 is replaced by electronic sensor 50. Electronic sensor 50
captures a scene and camera controller 30 stores a captured image
in removable memory card 52 with memory display 54. The status of
the electronic camera 12 can be shown on the memory display 37.
Display 35 in electronic camera 12 displays the status of
electronic camera 12, and in certain cases displays images from
removable memory card 52. The flash tube 42 is often provided in
electronic camera 12 to supply additional light to a scene at the
time of image capture. Flash tube 42 requires the flash capacitor
40 to store energy for flash tube 42. Flash capacitor 40 typically
stores energy in a capacitor having over 50 micro-farads
capacitance at over 100 volts.
[0033] FIG. 3 is a diagram of display 35 in accordance with the
present invention. Memory material 60 is disposed between a
transparent top conductor 62 and a bottom conductor 64. Bottom
conductor 64 can be a transparent electrical conductor such as
Indium-Tin-Oxide or a light absorbing conductor formed by an oxide
of a metal such as platinum or nickel. Memory material 60 can be a
chiral doped nematic liquid crystal such as those disclosed in U.S.
Pat. No. 5,695,682. Applied fields of various intensity and
duration change the condition of chiral doped nematic materials
from a reflective to a transmissive condition. In this way, the
display 35 is actuated to convey useful information.
[0034] The chiral doped nematic liquid crystal materials have the
advantage of maintaining a given condition indefinitely after the
field is removed. Ambient light striking memory material can be
reflected light 70, providing a "light" image or can become
absorbed light 72 which provides a "dark" image. The light
modulation is effective in two conditions, which will be described
in more detail below. Cholesteric liquid crystal materials can be
Merck BL112, BL118 or BL126 which are available from EM Industries
of Hawthorne, N.Y. In one experiment, two glass plates were coated
with transparent Indium-Tin-Oxide (ITO) to form transparent top
conductor 62 and bottom conductor 64. A laser beam was used to
pattern the ITO coatings and 4 micron spacer beads were applied to
one of the plates. The two plates were bonded together, with the
spacer beads providing a 4 micron gap between the two plates. Black
paint was applied to the back of the display over bottom conductor
64 to absorb light passing through memory material 60. The gap
between the plates was filled with E. M. Industries (Hawthorne,
N.Y.) chiral nematic fluid BL126 to act as memory material 60. A 3
millisecond pulse at 100 volts across areas on transparent top
conductor 62 and bottom conductor 64 would convert the BL126 memory
material 60 to a reflective "bright" areas. A 3 millisecond pulse
at 40 volts would clear memory material 60 so that incident light
was absorbed by the black paint and create "dark" areas. Such a
display can be used to display camera status on memory display 37
for conventional camera 10 or display 54 for electronic camera 12.
The memory display 37 includes the memory material 60 which is
selected to be effective in a first condition for changing the
state of the memory material 60 to display an image and effective
in a second condition for preventing the display of the image. The
memory material 60 is selected so that after displaying the image
the memory material 60 continues to display the image after the
removal of the applied high voltage. As will be seen shortly when a
voltage less than the high voltage is applied to the memory
material 60, the memory material 60 is caused to be in its second
condition.
[0035] FIG. 4 shows such display 35 having memory material 60. A
reflecting segment 80 has had a 100 volt pulse applied to memory
material 60. A transparent segment 82 has received a 40 volt pulse.
Transparent segment 82 passes incident light to a light absorbing
surface to create a dark. The individual segments retain a given
condition indefinitely after being pulsed. A camera with an
electronic flash charging unit provides the source of high voltage.
As will be discussed in FIG. 5 a camera 10 or 12 with an electronic
flash charging unit provides the source of high voltage that can be
shut off and the image-bearing medium will continue to have an
visible display.
[0036] FIG. 5 is a schematic for driving memory display 37 in
conventional camera 10. Flash capacitor 40 is used as a source of
high voltage for pulsing memory display 37. Flash capacitor 40
stores power at well over 100 volts. Voltage regulator 90 converts
a voltage from flash capacitor 40 to either a high or low voltage.
In one case, voltage regulator 90 is resistor network that changes
330 volts on flash capacitor 40 to either 100 or 40 volts in
response to high-low voltage select line 92 which is used by camera
controller 30 to select a pulse voltage for memory display 37.
Using the pre-existing high voltage on flash capacitor 40
eliminates the need for an additional high voltage generating
system in conventional camera 10.
[0037] Camera controller 30 uses high-low voltage select line 92 to
changes the voltage applied to memory display 37. Memory display 37
contains chiral nematic liquid crystal memory material 60 to hold
either a reflective or transmissive condition for each segment of
memory display 37.
[0038] FIG. 8A show the voltage forms applied by camera controller
30 to a segment of memory display 37 to write the segment into the
reflective mode. Camera controller 30 sets voltage regulator 90 to
a low voltage and pulses all segment switches 94 to clear all the
segments with low voltage pulse P.sub.L. Voltage regulator 90 is
then set to a high voltage, and selected ones of segment drivers 94
are pulsed with a high voltage pulse P.sub.H to convert those
segments to the reflective mode.
[0039] FIG. 8B is a waveform across a segment that has been kept in
the transmissive mode. Because P.sub.H was not applied across that
segment, the segment remains in a transmissive, dark condition from
P.sub.L. After the write pulses P.sub.L and P.sub.H are applied,
memory display 37 will continue to display status information
indefinitely without the use of additional power. Conventional
camera 10 can be de-energized and memory display 37 will continue
to display information such as the number of images left on film 22
or dates of exposure of frames on film 22 or other information
pertinent to images on film 22. If film camera 10 was a hybrid
camera with the capacity to capture electronic images as well as
film images, a representation of the at least one image
electronically captured could also be displayed on memory display
37 on film cassette 20.
[0040] FIG. 6A is a partial top view and FIG. 6B is a magnified
view of display 35 in electronic capture camera 12. A substrate 61
supports a plurality of transparent row traces 100. A second set of
transparent traces form column traces 105. These traces provide for
electrical conduction to the display 35 and coupled selectively the
high voltage in the flash unit and the low voltage to the display
as discussed above. The memory material 60 is disposed between row
traces 100 and column traces 105. Memory material 60 is a chiral
nematic material that can be written into either a reflective or
transmissive condition. Chiral nematic materials can be tuned to
red green and blue wavelengths of reflection and three color planes
can be stacked to create a full color display.
[0041] FIG. 7 is a schematic for driving display 54 in an
electronic camera 12. Flash capacitor 40 is used as a source of
high voltage for pulses to display 35. Flash capacitor 40 stores
power at well over 100 volts. Voltage regulator 90 converts a
voltage from flash capacitor 40 to either a high or low voltage. In
one case, voltage regulator 90 is resistor network that changes 330
volts on flash capacitor 40 to either 100 or 40 volts in response
to high-low voltage select line 92. Using the pre-existing high
voltage on flash capacitor 40 eliminates the need for a high
voltage generating system in electronic camera 12.
[0042] FIG. 8C is the drive signals applied across a single color
plane of display 35 when used as to display a color, gray scale
image stored in removable memory card 52 using the electrical drive
of FIG. 7. Camera controller 30 selects a first column using column
selector 120. Camera controller 30 sets voltage regulator 90 to a
low voltage, and row drivers 115 write a first clearing pulse
P.sub.L to all pixels in the row. Camera controller 30 then sets
voltage regulator 90 to a high voltage. Row drivers 115 are
energized for various gray level times tg. A chiral nematic
material changes condition from the transmissive to the reflective
condition progressively over time. By selecting an appropriate
drive time tg for each pixel 110, a column of pixels can be written
to various degrees of reflection, creating a column of pixels
actuated to various gray levels. Camera controller 30 uses to
column selector 120 to select the next column of pixels for
writing. The process is repeated for each column, and each color
plane to create a full-color, gray scale image on display 35. Other
driving schemes can be used such as one proposed by Hashimoto et
al, "Reflective Color Display Using Cholesteric Liquid Crystals",
SID 98 Digest, Article 31.1, 1998, pp. 897-900.
[0043] FIG. 9 is a view of a removable memory card 52 with a memory
display 54. Memory card connector 125 mates with the electronic
camera 12 to transfer image data for storage as is traditional in
electronic cameras. Memory display connector 130 is provided so
that the high voltages necessary to update memory display 54 may be
applied. One skilled in the art will understand that both the
memory card and the memory display can be actuated using a single
connector.
[0044] Bar indicator 135 is a display that indicates the remaining
storage space on the memory card. Time or date display 140 is an
indication of the date of capture of at least one of the images
stored on the card. Image display 145 is a representation of at
least one image file stored on the card. Image display 145 can be a
small image that depicts many image files stored on the card, or
could be a portion of one image.
[0045] Battery status indicator 150 shows an indication of camera
battery condition. Electronic camera 12 can access the memory
display 54 on removable memory card 52 to indicate this and other
conditions of the electronic camera 12. Resolution indicator 155
shows the result of a user selection for resolution and resulting
file size. Memory display 54 can be used to this and other
selections made by the user.
[0046] FIG. 10 shows a view of a film camera 10 where changeable
display 37 is visible through window 160. Note that display 37 is
disposed relative to the removable image bearing medium 20 so that
display 37 is removable from camera 10 with removable image bearing
medium 20. For clarity of illustration the display 35 has been
omitted.
[0047] FIG. 11 shows a view of electronic camera 12 where
changeable display 54 is visible through window 160. Note that
display 54 is disposed relative to the removable image bearing
medium 52 so that display 54 is removable from camera 12 with
removable image bearing medium 52. For clarity of illustration the
display 35 has been omitted.
[0048] When removable memory card 52 is inserted into electronic
camera 12, communication is initiated by which an indicia of the
capabilities of display 54 are communicated to camera 12. In this
way, electronic camera 12 can format signals sent to the display as
desired for effective communication to the user. Alternately, if
the display is pre-formatted such that certain icons are provided,
the communication between electronic camera 12 and removable memory
card 52 can establish this fact.
[0049] Upon power-down of camera 12 or upon indication of removal
of removable memory card 52,electronic camera 12 can change display
54 to indicate only the condition of removable memory card 52
thereby removing all camera status indication prior to removal of
the image bearing medium 52. There is little value in displaying
the condition of electronic camera 12 if removable memory card 52
is separated from electronic camera 12. Mechanical interlocks or
warning lights or sounds can be employed to prevent the user from
removing card 52 from electronic camera 12 before the pre-removal
writing process is complete.
[0050] Display 54 can be integrally secured to the removable memory
card 52. However, it can also be detachable and thus a user can
detach it from the removable memory card 52. This feature permits
the display 54 to be reusable on different memory cards and can
provide significant cost advantages. FIG. 12 shows a clip 200
formed on the removable memory card 52 which permits the display 54
to be attached and removed from the removable memory card 52. An
alignment feature 210 facilitates proper location of display 54 on
removable memory card 52. Also, if the separable display 54 is not
constructed of a memory material such as chiral doped nematic
liquid crystals, it can be necessary to include battery 220 which
is electrically connected to display 54.
[0051] The invention has been described in detail with particular
reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be
understood that variations and modifications can be effected within
the spirit and scope of the invention.
PARTS LIST
[0052] 10 conventional camera [0053] 12 electronic camera [0054] 20
film cassette [0055] 22 film [0056] 24 take-up spool [0057] 26
optic [0058] 30 camera controller [0059] 35 display [0060] 37
memory display [0061] 40 flash capacitor [0062] 42 flash tube
[0063] 50 sensor [0064] 52 removable memory card [0065] 54 memory
display [0066] 60 memory material [0067] 61 substrate [0068] 62
transparent top conductor [0069] 64 bottom conductor [0070] 70
reflected light [0071] 72 absorbed light [0072] 80 reflecting
segment [0073] 82 transmitting segment [0074] 90 voltage regulator
[0075] 92 high-low voltage select line [0076] 94 segment switch
[0077] 100 row traces [0078] 105 column traces List Cont'd [0079]
110 pixel [0080] 115 row drivers [0081] 120 column selector [0082]
125 memory card connector [0083] 130 memory display connector
[0084] 135 bar indicator [0085] 140 time or date indicator [0086]
145 image display area [0087] 150 battery status indicator [0088]
155 resolution indicator [0089] 160 window [0090] 200 clip [0091]
210 feature [0092] 220 battery
* * * * *