Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~ ~3 1~4~4
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of
image recording and reproduction and, more particularly,
to a self-processing electronic imaqing camera.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Self-processing or self-developing photographic
systems are well known in the prior art. Over the years,
these systems have been continuously developed -- from
the early systems which used peel-apart film units that
provided sepia tone prints to the present day systems
that feature highly automated cameras and non-peel-apart
integral type film units which allow the user to watch a
full color photograph develop before his eyes.
One major advantage of a self-developing
photographic system oVer the more conventional systems
wherein the exposed film must be sent to a processing
laboratory for developing and printing is that the user
is able to audit his results soon after exposing the film.
Often times if he is not satisfied with his results
because of the commission of any one of a number of common
mistakes, including improper focusing, poor composition
or not being close enough to subject, he may retake the
photograph.
Unfortunately, as in any photographic system
wherein an optical image of a scene is focused on a
photosensitive film unit to form a latent image which is
subsequently rendered visible by chemical development,
the ability to audit photographic results is accompanied
by the cost of an expended film unit whlch tends to be
relatively expensive because of its silver content and the
complexity of its manufacture. ~ ~
The present invention provides a hand-held
self-processing camera based on principles that represent
a significant technological departure from the traditional
photographic process and provides the user the opportunity
to audit or view the image that he has recorded without
having to produce a hard copy print of the image.
Rather than focusing an optical image of a scene
on a photosensitive film unit to form a latent image which
is rendered visible by chemical development, the camera
embodying the present invention is configured to convert
the optical image in electronic image signals that represent
the optical image in electronic data form and to store
these signals in signal receiving and storing means. The
signal receiving and storing means preferably includes a
memory which is operative to apply the image signals to an
electro-optical display device on which the image is
displayed so that the user may audit his results and a
magnetic recording and playback device having a magnetic
recording medium such as a magnetic tape on which the image
signals are recorded, simultaneously with the image
display on the display device, and which is selectively
operative by the user to apply the recorded image signals
to a printer which prints a hard copy print of the image,
preferably in color, on a non-photosensitive image
recording sheet. Provisions are made for recording a
plurality of images in the form of electronic image
signals on the magnetic tape for later use including
displaying the image on the electro-optical display devic~
and making additional prints.
While the present invention is termed a self-
processing camera and functions as such, the most relevant
4-~4
prior art is found not in the field of photography but
rather in those fields of electronics relating to image
recording and reproduction including television and
facsimile.
U. S. Patent No. 4,057,830 issued on November 8,
1977 to Willis A. Adcock and entitled "Electronic
Photography System" is relevant in that it dislcoses a
hand held electronic imaging camera that converts an optical
image of a scene into three primary color electronic image
signals and records these signals on a magnetic tape. How-
ever, the camera does not include any device for displaying
the recorded image so the user may audit his results or
for providing a hard copy print of the recorded image.
It is intended that the magnetic tape be transferred from
the camera to a separate playback unit which feeds the
image signals to a color television receiver for display.
U. S. Patent No. 3,950,608 issued on April 13,
1976 to Katsuhiko Noda and entitled "Electronic Engraving
and Recording System" is relevant in that it discloses
a system for converting an optical image of a scene into
electronic image sig~ ls, storing the image signals in a
memory, displaying the image on a television monitor with
signals provided from the memory and using the signals from
the memory to drive or modulate an engraving unit that is
effective, by selectively cutting into a multi-color two-
layer plastic card, to render a visual facsimile of the
recorded image. However, the disclosed system is not
embodied as a portable hand-held device, but rather is
depicted as a relatively large assemblage of interconnected
individual components suitable for use at a fixed location.
Also, the system does not include provisions for storing a
plurality of recorded images which may be recalled at a later
time for display or making additional hard copies.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a hand-held, self-
processing electronic imaging camera for electronically record-
ing an image of a scene, for providing a visual display of the
recorded image on an electro-optical display device forming
part of the camera and for rendering a hard copy print of the
recorded image on a non-photosensitive image recording sheet.
According to the invention there is provided a hand
held camera of a size and weight suitable to be held in the hand
of an operator, said camera comprising: a camera housing having
a first and a second section; a substantially planar electrical-
ly energizable electro-optical display device forming in part
one wall of said first section; means within one of said sections
for receiving a source of electrical power such as a battery;
means located within said first section in communicating re-
lation with said second section for replaceably receiving at
least one sheet of an image receiving material; optical means,
carried by said first section, for viewing, by an operator, a
scene to be recorded and for focusing an image of the scene at
a given plane, said optical means including an objective lens
facing outwardly from a forward wall of said first section; an
electrically energizable photosensitive transducer, positioned
within said first section at said given plane so as to have the
optical image of the scene focused thereon by said objective
lens, for converting the optical image into electronic image
signals that represent the optical image in electronic data
form; electrically energizable means within said first section
for receiving the electronic image signals representative of
the optical image of the scene from said transducer and for
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storing the same; an electrically energizable printer, within
said second section, with which the sheet of image receiving
material is adapted to be operatively associated and being
responsive to the electronic image signals representative of
the optical image of the scene applied thereto from said signal
receiving and storing means for printing an image of the scene
on the sheet of image receiving material; and control means
within said first section and including at least one manually
actuatable actuator accessible from the exterior of said first
section for coupling components of said camera to the battery
to electrically energize said photosensitive transducer, said
signal receiving and storing means and said electro-optical
display device such that electronic image signals representative
of the optical image of the scene are provided by said trans-
ducer to said signal receiving and storing means and are applied
from said signal receiving and storing means to said electro-
optical display device to provide thereon a visual display of
the image viewable by the operator, said control means thereafter
being selectively operable by the operator for electrically
energizing the printer and applying the electronic image signals
from said signal receiving and storing means to said printer to
effect the printing of an image of the scene on the sheet of
image receiving material by said printer.
In a preferred embodiment, the signal receiving stor-
ing means includes a memory which is operable to provide the
electronic image signals to the electro-optical display device
on a repeating basis to maintain the display of the image there-
on and a magnetic recording and playback device having a magnetic
recording medium such as a magnetic tape supplied in a magnetic
tape cassette operatively associated therewith for recording
electronic image sicnals thereon simultaneously with the
, ~
display of the image on the electro-optical display device
and thereafter for playing back the recorded image signals
to apply these signals to the printer to effect the
rendering of a hard copy print. Provisions are made for
recording a plurality of images on the magnetic tape in
the form of electronic image signals and for selectively
providing the recorded signals to the memory for application
to the display device or to the printer to effect the
rendering of a hard copy print.
In a preferred embodiment, the camera is
configured to provide a full color print of the recorded
image on the image receiving sheet. To provide such a
full color print the camera additionally includes a color
separator for separating the optical image of the scene
into its red, green and blue primary color components~
These primary color components are focused on the
photosensitive transducer which in turn converts them into
three primary color electronic image signals.
The printer is configured to be responsive to
the three primary color image signals and includes means
for converting the three primary color signals into
equivalent secondary color signals which are
converted into printing signals, by three printing
transducers, in a form of energy such as pressure that
is effective to selectively transfer cyan, magenta and
yellow printing mediums from a transfer sheet to the image
receiving sheet thereby printing out the image in the
form of three overlying subtractive color dot patterns.
The printer is preferably of the scanning type
including a rotating drum on which an image receiving sheet
is wrapped for support and rotation and a printing head
assembly including the three printing transducers which is
mounted for linear axial movement along the drum in synch-
ronization therewith such that the printing transducers scan
the entire image forming area of the receiving sheet while
selectively effecting the transfer of the printing mediumsfrom
the transfer sheet to the image receiving sheet of the drum.
The image receiving sheets are preferably
provided in a cassette holding a plurality of such sheets
and the printer includes means for sequentially advancing
the sheets from the cassette into operative relationship
with the drum and thereafter at least partially through
an image sheet exit slot in the camera housing where
the sheet may be grasped by the operator for removal.
To provide such a camera that performs the
enumerated function and yet is of a size to be held in
the hand of an operator, the major camera components are
arranged for compact packaging. In a preferred embodiment
the display device is in the form of a substantially thin
planar display panel and is configured to form at least
a portion of the camera housing. The image receiving
sheets are provided in a cassette having a substantially
thin box-like portion, the magnetic tape is provided in a
substantially thin flat tape cassette and the power source
preferably takes the form of a thin flat battery. The
camera is structured such that the display screen, the
box-like portion of the cassette of image-receiving sheets,
the magnetic tape cassette and the flat battery are
arranged in substantially parallel stacked relation with a
major portion of the printer being disposed below these
components and a flat circuit box housing electronic
circuitry associated with the control being disposed above
or opposite the major portion of the printer.
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V~ ~4
Therefore it is an object of the present invention
to provide a hand held self-processing electronic imaging
camera for electronically recording an image of a scene,
for providing a visual display of the recorded image on a
display device and for providing a hard copy print of the
recorded image.
It is another object of the invention to provide
a self-processing camera that includes a camera housing
of a size that is adapted to be held in the hands of an
operator, a lens for providing an optical image of a scene,
a photosensitive transducer for converting the optical
image into electronic image signals that represent the
optical image in electronic data form, means for receiVing
and storing the electronic image signals, a display device
responsive to the electronic image signals for providing
a visual display of the image and a printer responsive to
the electronic signals for printing the image on an image
~eceiving sheet.
It is yet another object to provide such a camera
wherein the display device includes a substantially flat
display panel that forms part of the camera housing.
Other objects of the invention will in part be
obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For a fuller understanding of the nature and
objects of the invention, reference should be had to the
following detailed description taken in connection with
the accompanying drawings wherein:
Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the major
components of a hand held, self-processing electronic
imaging camera embodying the present invention;
4~
Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional
interrelation of certain carnera components during a first
cycle of camera operation wherein an image is electronically
recorded and displayed on an electro-optical display device
and a second cycle of operation wherein the recorded image
is printed on an image receiving sheet;
Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the functional
interrelationship of certain camera components during a
third cycle of camera operation wherein a magnetic tape
having recorded thereon a plurality of sequential images
in the form of electronic image signals is rewound to its
beginning;
Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing the functional
interrelationship of certain camera components during a
fourth cycle of camera operation wherein electronic image
signals recorded on the magnetic tape are applied therefrom
to the memory and from the memory to the electro-optical
display device;
Fig. 5 is a perspective view from the front of
the camera embodying the present invention showing two
piVoting housing sections in a partially open position
in phantom lines;
Fig. 6 is a perspective view from the back of
the camera of Fig. 5;
Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of the camera
embodying the present invention with certain interior
components shown in dotted lines;
Fig. 8 is the opposite side elevational view of
the camera of Fig. 7 showing certain interior components
in dotted lines;
_g_
)44~
Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the camera
embodying the present invention showing certain interior
components in dotted lines;
Fig. 10 is a front elevational view of the
camera embodying the present invention having a portion of
the housing cut away to show details of a magnetic record
and playback device;
Fig. 11 is a front sectional view of the camera
of Fig. 10 showing the details of an image receiving sheet
and transfer sheet advancing mechanism;
Fig. 12 is an enlarged side sectional view of
a portion of the camera embodying the present invention
showing the structure of certain components including a
printer;
Fig. 13 is an enlarged rear sectional view of
the lower portion of the camera of Fig. 12 showing the
details of a printer drum and its associated drum and
printing head assembly drive system;
Fig. 14 is a perspective view of a transfer sheet
adapted for use with the camera of the present invention;
Fig. 15 is a cross-sectional view of a portion
of the transfer sheet of Fig. 14;
Fig. 16 is a perspective view of a cassette for
holding a supply of image receiving sheets and a transfer
sheet;
Fig. 17 is a schematic view of a portion of the
printer showing three printing transducers in operative
relationship with a set of three secondary color bands on
the transfer sheet; and
Fig. 18 is a cross-sectional view of a printing
transducer for converting electronic image signals into
pressure printing signals.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERREI) EMBODIMENT
~ ig. 1 of the drawings shows, in block dia~lr.lm
form, the basic components of a hand-l-eld, self-proc(~ssing
electronic imaging camera 10 for electronically recording
an image of a scene, displaying the recorded image on an
electro-optical display device so the operator of the camera
may audit his results and rendering or printing out a hard
copy print of the recorded image on an image receiving
sheet.
The camera 10 includes a housing 12, an optical
system including an objective lens or lens assembly 14
for providing an optical image of a scene to be recorded,
a color separator 15 for separating the optical image into
its red, green, and blue primary color components, a
photosensitive transducer 16 for converting the primary
color components of the optical image into corresponding
analog electronic image signals that represent the optical
image in electronic data form, an analog to digital (A~D)
converter 18 for converting the analog signals into digital
signals, a memory 20 for receiving these signals and
storing the same, a D~A converter 22 for converting digital
signals from the memory 20 back to analog form, an electro-
optical display device 24 responsive to the electronic
image signals provided from memory 20 through D~A
converter 22 for providing a visual display of the image,
a magnetic recording and playback unit 26 for recording
electronic image signals provided from memory 20 through
converter 22 on a magnetic recording medium such as magnetic
tape and providing image signals from the tape when operated
in the playback mode; a printer 28 responsive to electronic
4 ~4
image signals provided from the magnetic tape for printing
out or rendering a print of the image on an image receiving
sheet, and a control logic system 30 for controlling, in a
coordinated manner, various components of camera 10.
Fig. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of
camera 10 wherein it is configured to provide a hard copy
print of the recorded image in full color.
As will become apparent later, to provide such a
color print it is necessary to drive or modulate printer 28
with three separate electronic image signals which
respectively represent the red, green and blue primary
color components of the optical image in electronic data
form. These three separate electronic image signals are
generated by separating the optical image provided by
lens 14 into its three primary color components with color
separator 15 and utiliæing photosensitive trans~ucer 16
to convert the three primary color components of the
optical image into the three corresponding electronic
image signals.
The objective lens or lens assembly 14 may be
of the variable focusing type commonly used on
photographic cameras and may also include a variable
aperture diaphragm to compensate for various scene lighting
conditions and to adjust the depth of focus. Functionally,
lens 14 provides an optical image of the scene to be
recorded and it is mounted on camera housing 12 in
operative relation with color separator 15 and photosensitive
transducer 16 such that the primary color components of
the optical image may be focused on transducer 16.
Before discussing the color separator 15, the
photosensitive transducer 16 will be considered.
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U~ ~4
Functionally the photosensitive transducer 16 converts an
optical image into electronic image signals that represent
the image in electronic data form. Suitable devices for
use in camera 10 include miniature vidicon tubes and
solid state imaging charge couple devices (CCDs) with the
CCDs being preferred because of their small size, low
power consumption and long service life.
Basically, an imaging CCD includes, integrally
formed on a single chip of silicon, a matrix array of
photosensitive elements or sites which upon exposure to
a source of light generate an electrical charge or image
signal that is proportional to the intensity of the light
incident thereupon, and a shift register having an equal
number of corresponding receptor elements or sites to which
the individual image signals are transferred after
acquisition. Once the image signals have been transferred
to the shift register, they can be read out sequentially
by applying appropriate vertical and horizontal clock
voltages or transfer pulses to the shift register array
which causes the signals to shift in bucket brigade or
cascade fashion in sequence to an output gate of the CCD.
The output of the CCD therefore comprises an
ordered sequence of discrete electronic image signals that
collectively define a single frame of image information
in electronic analog data form.
One major advantage of electronic image recording
is that there is no need for a shutter mechanism because
the CCD has the capability of being turned on and off
electronically.
In operation the CCD is initially turned off.
The photosensi-tive elements may be fully or partially
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4~
charged due to ambient light impinging thereon. Upon
initial energization of the CCD it is pulsed to transfer
the ambient light signals to the shift register thereby
clearing the photosensitive sites which began generating
image signals representing the image focused thereon by
lens 14. During this integration or exposure period, the
shift register is cleared of the ambient light signals
transferred thereto previously. At the end of the exposure
period, the image signals are transferred to the shift
register and then are clocked out therefrom to memory 20
through A~D converter 18.
As noted earlier in the preferred embodiment of
camera 10 the color separator 15 and the photosensitive
transducer 16 function to convert the optical image
provided by lens 14 into three electronic image signals
which represent the three primary color components of the
optical image.
To provide these three signals, photosensitive
transducer 16 may include three separate imaging CCDs
and the color separator lS may include an optical system
comprising dichroic mirrors disposed in a beam splitting
arrangement which separates the optical image into its
red, green and blue components and directs each of these
three components to impinge upon a different one of the
three CCDs.
Alternatively and preferably the photosensitive
transducer 16 may comprise a single CCD and the color
separator 15 may be embodied as alternating red, green
and blue filter elements thereon such that one-third of
the photosensitive elements in the array are sensitive to
-14-
11~04 ~4
each of the three primary colors and this single CCD
device provides the red, green and blue electronic image
signals.
For the balance of the description of camera 10,
it will be understood that the term electronic image
signals refers to a group of three separate signals that
respectively represent three color components of the
optical image.
The electronic image signals provided by
transducer 16 are converted from analog to digital form
by A~D converter 18 and are fed into memory 20 for
storaqe.
Memory 20 is a digital memory of the dynamic
recirculating type and may be embodied in the form of an
MOS, CCD or bubble domain memory. The initial function of
memory 20 is to provide the electronic image signals on
a repetitive basis to the electro-optical display device 24
through D~A converter 22. Because memory 20 recirculates
the electronic signals on a continuous basis and there is
a certain amount of signal loss during each recirculation,
it is preferable to use a digital memory system because
the digital signals will maintain their recognizable
character for a considerable number of cycles despite
the signal loss. The memory 20 is controlled by control
logic 30 to repetitively cycle the electronic image signals
to electro-optical display device 24 at a video rate of
approximately 30 cycles/sec.
The electro-optical display device 24 preferably
takes the form of a thin flat electro-optical display
panel or screen.
One type of display panel 24 suitable for use
in camera 10 is a thin film transistorized electroluminescent
panel. The panel com~risos a matrix array o~ separatcly
addressable and energizable picture elements disposed
between opposed glass cover sheets. Each picture element
comprises two thin film transistors, a storage capacitor
and a dot of phosphor material.
The transistors are arranged in matrix fashion
in columns and rows such that when both transistors of an
element are actuated by applying signals through appropriate
drive and scanning circuits to a designated column and
row, current flows through the picture element and causes
the dot to glow. The transistorized matrix allows separate
picture elements to be energized without activating other
picture elements in the same row or column. Other suitable
types of flat display panels may include liquid crystal
or ferroelectric ceramic picture devices.
Memory 20 also provides electronic image signals
through D~A converter 22 to the magnetic recording and
playback device 26 for recording on magnetic tape a single
frame or cycle of image information. This occurs
simultaneously with memory 20 providing the electronic
image signals to electro-optical display panel 24.
Recording and playback device 26 is of the type in which
the recording and playback rate may be varied. That is,
the electronic image signals are recorded at the relatively
fast video rate but may be played back at a relatively
slow rate when the tape is used to provide signals to the
printer 28 or alternatively may be played back at the
video rate when the tape is used to provide signals to the
-16-
memory 20 through A~D converter 18 for the purposes of
displaying previously recorded images.
As noted earlier, the term electronic image
signals includes a group of three image signals and
the recording and playback device 26 is configured
to record and playback these signals on three separate
channels.
To make a hard copy print of the recorded image
the record and playback device 26 is operated in the
playback mode at a relatively slow rate and the electronic
image signals are applied to the printer 28.
The printer 28, to be described in detail later,
operates in a subtractive color mode and forms the color
print by printing out on a re ~ ing sheet overlying
secondary color dot patterns to reproduce the light
intensities and color content of the original scene. The
dot patterns are produced by effecting the selective
transfer of secondary color (cyan, magenta and yellow)
printing medium~ from a transfer sheet to an image
receiving sheet in accordance with three secondary color
image signals that are derived from the three primary
color image signals.
In a preferred embodiment, the image receiVing
material may comprise a plain sheet of high quality
printing grade paper that is receptive to color printing
mediums such as inks and dyes that are used in commercial
printing processes.
The color printing mediums are preferably
provided on a transfer sheet having a repeating series of
three adjacent stripes or bars of secondary color inks or
dyes (cyan, magenta and yellow) thereon.
l~V'~ ~4
The printer 28 is of the scanning type and
includes means for electronically converting the three
primary color image signals into three corresponding
secondaxy color image signals, a rotatably driven drum on
which the receiving sheet is wrapped and a printing head
assembly mounted for synchronized axial movement alonq thedxum
and includinq three printinq transducers, one for each of the
three secondary color image signals, that convert the
secondary color image signals into printing signals that
are in a form of ene~gy that is effective to transfer the
secondary color mediums from the transfer sheet to the
image receiving sheet.
The control logic system 30 includes a plurality
of electronic circuits, to be described later, that provide
the various timing, gate switching, sequencing, control
and synchronization signals and signal amplification
required by the photosensitive transducer 16, A~D converter
18, memory 20, D~A converter 22, display device 24, recording
and playback device 26 and printer 28.
The control logic system also includes control
switches 32, 34, 36, 38, 40 and 42. The switches 32, 34
and 36 are button-type switches which are manually actuable
by the operator. Switch 32 is operable to initiate a cycle
of operation wherein an optical image is converted into
electronic image signals which are fed through memory 20
to display device 24 for image display and simultaneously
to record and playback device 26 for recording the signals
on magnetic tape. Switch 34 is operable to initiate a
cycle of operation wherein the magnetic tape holding a
plurality of electronically recorded imayes thereon is
rewound to the beginning of the tape. Switch 36 is operable
to initiate a cycle of operation wherein previously
recorded image information on the magnetic tape is played
back and is fed to memory 20 through A~D converter 18 and
then to the display device 24 from memory 20 through D~A
converter 22.
The switches 38, 40 and 42 are associated with
printer 28 and they are actuated by a later-to-be-described
movable printing head assembly forming part of printer 28.
Briefly, switch 38 is operable to rewind the magnetic tape
in device 26 one picture frame (i.e., one electronically
recorded image) in preparation to feed the electronic image
signals comprising the picture frame to printer 28. In
response to moving the printing head assembly to an
operative position wherein it is located to begin a printout
cycle, switch 40 is actuated and it initiates a print cycle
wherein the recorded and playback device 26 feeds the
electronic image signals to a converter in printer 28
which converts them to corresponding secondary color
signals which are fed to the printing transducers on the
printing head assembly while the printer drum is rotated
and the printing head assembly is driven along the drum
to effect the selective transfer of the secondary color
printing mediums from the transfer sheet to the image
receiving sheet on the drum. At the end of the printout
cycle, the printing head assembly has moved to a position
wherein it actuates switch 42 which is operable to initiate
a cycle of operation wherein the image receiving sheet is
advanced from the printer drum and out through a withdrawal
slot in camera housing 12 where it is accessible to the
camera operator.
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4 ~4
The various functions of control logic system 30
will be explained in more detail with reference to Figs. 2,
3 and 4 and it will be understood that circuits shown
therein which are numerically designated by sequential
even numbers 44 through 66 form part of control logic
system 30.
Fig. 2 shows in block diagram form the cycle of
camera operation wherein an image of a scene is electronically
recorded and displayed and also the cycle wherein a hard
copy print of a recorded image is produced. After focusing
lens 14 and framinq the scene to be recorded with the aid of
a later-to-be-described viewer, the electronic image
recording and display cycle is initiated by the manual
actuation or closing of the normally open button switch 32.
The closing of switch 32 causes the transducer 16, A~D
converter 18, memory 20, D~A converter 22, display device 24,
record and playback device 26 and the control logic
system 30 to be electrically energized by electrically
coupling them to a source of electrical energy such as a
battery to be described later in connection with the
physical description of camera 10.
Actuation of switch 32 provides a cycle start
signal which actuates a CLEAR THEN READ CCD 16 circuit 44
coupled to transducer 16 (preferably a CCD) that clears
and then reads CCD 16 which provides the red, green and
blue image signals that are fed into memory 20 through
A~D converter 18. As noted earlier camera 10 does not
require a shutter because the exposure interval is
controlled by the operation of CCD 16. Before the
CCD 16 is energized in response to actuating
switch 32, the photosensitive elements of the CCD may be
-20-
either fully or partially charged by ambient illumination
transmitted to CCD 16 by lens 14. Initially circuit 44
provides a clear signal to CCD 16 which is effective to
transfer the ambient light signals to the shift register
and to clock them out of the shift register to a ground
sink thereby discarding these signals. Once the
photosensitive elements are cleared the optical image
focused on CCD 16 begins to charge the photosensitive
elements in proportion to the intensity of the image
bearing light impinging thereupon. At the end of the
exposure or integration period, the duration of which may
be controlled by a photocell forming part of circuit 44
which monitors scene lighting conditions, circuit 44
provides a pulse signal to transfer the image signals
from the photosensitive elements to the shift register and
then provides the appropriate horizontal and vertical clock
voltages to the shift register to "read out" the red, green
and blue electronic image signals which are transmitted
to memory 20 through A~D converter 18.
The cycle start signal provided in response to
closing switch 32 is delayed by a DELAY circuit 46 and
then serves as an input signal for a READ MEMORY circuit 48
coupled to memory 20, an ACTUATE DISPLAY SCREEN circuit 50
coupled to display device 24,and a RECORD ONE FRAME circuit 52
coupled to the tape record and playback device 26.
DELAY circuit 46 provides a suitable delay to
allow the conversion of the optical image into the primary
color electronic image signals by CCD 16 and the subsequent
transmission of these signals into memory 20 for storage.
At the end of the delay provided by circuit 46
the READ MEMOR~ circuit 48 provides an output in the form
appropriate clock and gating signals for memory 20 to cause
the electronic image signals to be fed to display device 24
through D~A converter 22 at approximately a video rate.
At the same time the display device 24 is actuated by the
ACTUATE DISPLAY SCREEN circuit 50 which provides the appro-
priate drive and scanning signals to display device 24 such
that device 24 is responsive to the electronic image
signals from memory 20 through D~A converter 18 for
visually displaying the recorded image thereon.
As noted earlier in order to maintain the image
on display device 24 the output signals of memory 20 must
be repetitiously applied thereto. To maintain the continuous
application of these signals ana synchronous operation
of display device 24, a portion of the output of the READ
MEMORY circuit 48 is delayed by DELAY circuit 54 and then
fed back to the input of both the READ MEMORY circuit 48
and the ACTUATE DISPLAY SCREEN circuit 50 so as to repeat
the operation of these two circuits. The electronic
image signals will be fed to display device 24 on a
continuous basis until deenergization occurs in response
to releasing or opening switch 32.
During the course of the visual display on
display device 24 the electronic image signals are fed from
memory 20 through D~A converter 22 to the tape recording
and playback device 26 which is operated under the control
of the RECORD ONE FRAME circuit 52. Actuated by the delayed
signal from DELAY circuit 46, circuit 52 provides the tape
recording and playback device 26 with appropriate control
and drive signals such that device 26 operates in a
record mode at a relatively fast rate which is compatible
with the approximate video rate of the electronic
image signals being fed to device 26 and records one full
frame of image information on a ma-~nctic tape. Tl)e one
full frame of image information is of course one cycle of
the signal read out from memory 20. Even though memory 20
operates on a continuous cycle to feed display device 24,
only one full cycle or frame of the memory output is recorded
on magnetic tape by device 26. Circuit 52 also provides
appropriate signals to device 26 to cause a cue signal to
be recorded at the beginning and end of each frame as
references to separate successively recorded frames of
image information.
As noted earlier, the electronic image signals
will be provided on a continuous basis to display device 26
while switch 32 is in its closed or conducting position.
Once switch 32 is released or opened, the components and
circuits are deenergized and the electronic image signals
are automatically deleted from memory 20. However, a
record of the electronic image signals corresponding to
the optical image is recorded on the magnetic tape from
where it may be recalled for printout by printer 28 or
display on display device 24.
At the end of the first cycle of camera operation
the camera operator has an option. He can either take
another "picture", i.e. electronically record and display
another image, or he may initiate a second cycle of camera
operation during which the previously recorded image on
the magnetic tape is printed out by printer 28.
The printout cycle is initiated and controlled
in response to the sequential actuation of switches 38, 40
and 42. As will be explained in detail later, switches 38
and 40 are actuated in response to the operator's manually
resetting a printing head assembly forming part of printer 28
-23-
and switch 42 is actuatcd whcn the ~rin~in(l l~ead is driven ~o
one of its two terminal positions following the image printout.
The initial closing of switch 38 energizes tape
record and playback device 26 and control system 30 and
provides an input signal to actuate a REWIND ONE FRAME
circuit 54 forming part of system 30 and being coupled to
tape record and playback device 26. Upon actuation of
circuit 54, it provides output signals to device 26 which
reverse a later-to-be-described tape drive system and
rewinds the tape one frame at the relatively fast rate
previously used for recording. Once the tape has been
rewound one frame as defined by the previously recorded cue
signals, circuit 54 provides device 26 with an appropriate
signal to shut off the tape drive and reset it to its
forward drive mode.
As will be described later, the manual movement
of the print head assembly causes the operation of a
mechanical picking device which advances an image receiving
sheet and transfer sheet into operative relation with
printer 28. At the end of the manual movement the printing
head assembly energizes and closes switch 40 causing tape
record and playback device 26, printer 28, a READ ONE FRAME
circuit 56 coupled to device 26 and an ACTUATE PRINTER
circuit 58 coupled to printer 28 to be energized. The
closing of switch 40 also produces a signal which actuates
circuits 56 and 58. Circuit 56 provides output signals
that operates tape record and playback device 26 in a
playback mode at a relatively slow rate thereby feeding
the three primary color electronic image signals to
printer 28. Simultaneous with the operation of device 26,
circuit 58 provides output signals which energize a later-
to-be-described motor in printer 28 that rotatably drives
the drum having an image receiving sheet thereon and
-24-
,3~'~4
linearly drives the printing head assembly carrying the
three printing transducers thereon along the drum. As
noted earlier, the printer 28 includes means for electron-
ically converting the primary color electronic image
signals to corresponding secondary color signals which are
applied to the three printing transducers. The printing
transducers in turn convert the image signals in printing
signals in a form of energy, such as pressure, that is
effective to cause the selective transfer of magenta,
cyan and yellow printing mediums from the transfer sheet
to the image receiving sheet thereby printing out a full
color print of the recorded image.
At the end of its linear path of travel, the
printing head assembly engages and closes the normally
lS open switch 42 which causes the energization and actuation
of an EJECT PRINT circuit 60 coupled to the drive motor of
printer 28. Upon actuation, circuit 60 brakes the
motor thereby stopping the rotation of the drum. Circuit 60
then provides a reverse drive voltage to the motor which
causes the drum to rotate for one revolution in a direction
opposite that of its rotation during the printout mode.
As will become apparent later, this one reverse revolution
of the drum is effective to eject or advance the print
at least partially through a withdrawal slot in camera
housing 12.
Assume now that a number of images have been
recorded and are stored in sequence on the magnetic tape
and the operator wishes to review these images by having
them displayed on the display device 24.
The first step is to completely rewind the tape
to its beginning. To do this the operator manually actuates
-25-
14~
button switch 34. As best shown in Fig. 3, the closing of
switch 34 energizes the tape record and playbac~ device ~6 and
energizes and actuates a COME'LETELY REWIND TA~I, circuit (~ 7
coupled to device 26. Circuit 62,when actuated,provides output
signals to the tape record and playback device 26 causing
its drive system to be shifted to reverse and operated at
the relatively fast rate to rewind the magnetic tape back
to its beginning. Once the tape is rewound, circuit 62
causes the tape drive to shift back to the normal forward
drive mode and device 26 and circuit 62 are deenergized.
To display the images on the tape, the camera
operater manually actuates or closes the normally open
button switch 36 (See Fig. 4~ which causes tape record
and playback device 26, A~D converter 18, memory 20,
D~A converter 22, display device 24 and control logic
system 30 to be energized. The closing of switch 36
also provides a cycle start or actuating signal to
a READ ONE FRA~lE circuit 64 coupled to the tape record
and playback device 26. Circuit 64 provides appropriate
control signals to device 26 which causes device 26 to
operate in the playback mode at the relatively fast
rate thereby reading out the primary color electronic
image siqnals defining the first frame of image in
formation on the tape and feeding these signals to memory
20 through A~D converter 18. The actuating signal
provided by the closing of switch 36 is delayed by a
DELAY circuit 66 which provides a delay sufficient
to allow the first frame of image signals on the tape to
be read into memory 20. After this delay the actuating
signal is applied to the previously described READ MEMO~Y
circuit 48 and ACTUATE DISPLAY SCREEN circuit 50. As noted
earlier circuit 48 and 50 operate on a repeating basis
due to the feed back loop through DELAY circuit 54 such
that the electronic image signal in memory 20 are fed to
the display device 24 through D-A converter 22 on a repeating
basis at approximately a video rate. These signals will
continue to recirculate to maintain the image on display
device 24 while switch 36 is held in its closed position.
However, once switch 36 is released the circuits and
devices are deenergized thereby causing the image signals
to be automatically deleted from memory 20.
The images recorded on the magnetic tape
may be displayed in sequence by repeated actuations
of switch 36. ~pon each actuation of switch 36 the next
frame of image information is read from the tape into
memory 20 and then from memory 20 to the display device
24. Upon opening switch 36, this image information is
deleted from memory 20 and the system is automatically
reset to display the next frame of image information on
the tape in response to the next actuation of switch 36.
If the camera operator should decide to make
a print of the displayed image, he manually resets the
printing head assembly thereby actuating switches 38
and 40 to initiate the print out cycle described earlier
with reference to Fig. 2.
As best shown in Figs. 5 through 9 the camera
housing 12 comprises first, second and third housing
sections designated 68, 70 and 72 respectively.
The first housing section 68 is the base or
main housing section and is defined by a top wall 74,
a pair of generally L-shaped side walls 76 and 78,a bottom
4~
wall 80, a forward wall section 82 and a rear wall section 84.
The top wall 74 and the relatively narrow upper portions of
side walls 76 and 78 define three sides of a generally
vertically disposed upper rectangular frame-like section
of housing 68, the fourth side of which is bounded by the
top edge of wall section 82 while the lower portions of
side walls 76 and 78, bottom wall 80, forward wall section 82
and rear wall section 84 cooperate to define a box-like
hollow lower section of housing 68 which extends downwardly
and rearwardly of the upper vertical section.
The second housing section 70 is defined by a
generally rectangular forward wall 86 and a peripheral
section including a top wall 88, a pair of side walls 90
and 92 and an inclined bottom wall 94. As best shown in
Fig. 5, housing section 70 is pivotally coupled along its
side wall 90 to the forward edge of the upper portion of
side wall 76 of housing 68 at hinge 96 for movement between
a normally closed operative position shown in solid lines
in Fig. 5 wherein section 70 is located in alignment with
and forms an enclosing forward extension of the upper
portion of housing section 68 and an open position (beyond
that suggested by the phantom lines in Fig. 5) wherein
section 70 is spaced from the forward side of the upper
portion of housing 68 to permit a magnetic tape cassette
to be inserted into or withdrawn from a later-to-be-
described cassette receiving chamber that is formed in part
by housing section 70 located in its closed operative
position.
The third housing section 72 is defined by a
top wall 98, a pair of side walls 100 and 102 and a rear
-28-
4 ~
wall 104 that is defined in part by the display device 24.
Section 72 is pivotally coupled along its side wall 102
to the rear edge of the upper portion of side wall 78 of
housing 68 at hinge 106 for pivotal movement between its
normal operative closed position wherein it is in
alignment with and forms an enclosing rearward extension
of the upper section of housing section 68 located over the
rearwardly extended portion of the lower section of
housing 68 and an open position (beyond that shown in
phantom lines in Fig. 5) wherein section 72 is spaced from
the rear side of the upper portion of housing 68 to permit
a cassette holding a stack of image receiving sheets and
a transfer sheet to be inserted into and withdrawn from a
later-to-be-described cassette receiving chamber which is
formed in part by section 72 located in its closed position.
As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, housing section 70
is latched in its closed position by a latch member 108
on side wall 92 that engages a detent on side wall 78 of
housing section 68 and housing section 72 is similarly
latched by a latch member 110 on side wall 100 that engages
a detent on side wall 76 of housing section 68.
As best shown in Figs. 5, 8 and 9, the objective
len~ 14 is mounted in an upper corner section of housing
section 70 adjacent side wall 90 in alignment with a
lens aperture 112 in forward wall 86. Mounted directly
behind and in optical alignment with lens 14 in housing
section 68 is a module 114 housing the color separator 15
and the photosensitive transducer or solid state imaging
charge coupled device CCD 16. To move lens 14 relative
to CCD 16 for focusing purposes, the camera operator
-29-
D~ ~
manually rotates a focus wheel 116 which is coupled to
lens 14 and is accessible through an aperture 118 in the
top wall 88 of housing section 70.
The camera's optical system also includes a
viewing device for viewing and framing the scene to be
recorded. In the illustrated camera 10 the viewing device
is located on the opposite side of the upper portion of
the camera housing 12 from lens 14 and is a direct viewing
device comprising a forward lens element 120 mounted on
forward wall 86 of housing section 70 and a rear or eye
lens 122 mounted on the rear wall 104 of housing section 72
in optical alignment with forward lens element 120. Although
the Viewing device is illustrated as being the direct
viewing type, it will be understood that it is within the
scope of the present invention to provide other types of
viewing systems including a single lens reflex system
incorporating objective lens 14 therein.
Located in the upper portion of camera
housing 12 between the objective lens 14 and module
114 on one side and the viewing device on the other
is a substantially thin, planar box-like electronic
circuits module 124 (see Figs. 9 and 11) that houses a
plurality of integrated electronic circuits that define
A~D converter 18, memory 20, D~A converter 22, the control
logic system 30 (including the individual circuits and
subsystems thereof described earlier with reference to
Figs. 1 through 4) and other electronic circuits that are
to be described later in the disclosure. The electronic
circuits are appropriately interconnected and are coupled
to the devices they control by appropriate wiring and thin
flexible circuit connectors that are not shown in the
drawings for the sake of clear illustration.
-30-
4'~4
As best shown in ~igs. 7, 8 and 12, the space
below lens 14, module 114, the viewfinder de~ict? alld
electronic circuits module 124 in the upper part of
housing 12 defined by the upper portion of housing
section 68 and housing sections 70 and 72 is occupied,
from front to rear and in substantially parallel relation
to one another, by a chamber 126 for replaceably receiving
a magnetic tape cassette 128, structure defining a major
portion of the record and playback device 26, a chamber 130
for replaceably receiving a cassette 132 housing a stack
of image receiving sheets and a transfer sheet, means for
receiving and supporting a thin flat battery 134 for
powering the electrical components of camera 10 and the flat
panel display device 24. Also mounted on the upper portion
lS of camera housing 12 are the three manually actuable button
switches 32, 34 and 36 forming part of control logic
system 30. These switches are located on the upper portion
of side wall 76 of housing section 68 as best shown in
Fig. 5. The lower portion of housing section 68 is occupied
by the major components of the printer 28.
The chamber 126 for receiving magnetic tape
cassette 128 is defined by the lower portion of housing
section 70 located in its closed position and a vertically
disposed base or component mounting plate 136 of record
and playback device 26 mounted in the forward portion of
the upper section of housing section 68. Access for moving
a cassette 128 into and out of operative relation with
device 26 is provided by moving the hinged housing
section 70 to its open position.
As noted earlier, the magnetic tape record and
playback device 26 is a three channel recorder that is
adapted to record and playback at both relatively fast and
slow speeds.
As best shown in Figs. 10 and 12, record and
playback device 26 includes a three channel magnetic
record and playback head 138 mounted on the forward
side of mounting plate 136 in position to engage a
magnetic tape 139 coupled between supply and take up
reels of cassette 128. Mounted on the back side of plate
136 and extending therethrough into chamber 126 is a pair of
spindles 140 and 142 for receiving the hubs of the tape
supply and take up reels in cassette 128 and a capstan
assembly drive shaft or pin 144 which is rotatably driven and
serves to drive the tape 139 held against shaft 144 by a
rubber roller 146, past the record and playback head 138.
The rubber roller 146 is mounted on the front side of
plate 136 by means of a pivoting bracket 148 that is
urged toward capstan drive shaft 144 by means of a
spring 150 thereby providing the biasing force for rubber
roller 146 to hold the tape against shaft 144.
The capstan assembly comprises the tape drive
shaft 144 and a spindle drive pulley 152 and a flywheel 154
mounted in stacked relation on shaft 144 for rotation
therewith about a common axis. The means for driving the
capstan assembly includes a variable speed electrical
motor 156 mounted on side wall 76 of housing section 68 and
having its output shaft 158 coupled to the flywheel 154 by
means of a drive belt 160.
The rotating capstan assembly in turn serves to
alternately drive either ree,l drive spindle 140 or 142
depending on whether the tape is to be driven forwardly
for recording or playback or is to be driven in reverse
for rewinding the tape.
As best shown in Fig. 10, the rearward end of
spindle 140 behind plate 136 has a pulley and slip clutch
assembly 162 secured thereto and the rearward end of
spindle 142 has a friction wheel 164 secured thereto.
S Pivotally coupled to the rear side of plate 136 at pin 166
is an L-shaped spindle drive reversing lever 168 having a
pulley 170 mounted on a section of lever 168 located
behind the pulley and clutch assembly 162 on spindle 140
and the friction wheel 164 on spindle 142.
The spindle drive pulley 152 of the capstan
assembly, the pulley and clutch assembly 162 on spindle 140
and the pulley 170 on spindle drive reversing lever 168
are coupled together in driving relation by a resilient
drive belt 172 which may be formed of any suitable resilient
material such as rubber. The tension of the drive belt 172
acting on pulley 170 pivots lever 168 in a counterclockwise
manner about pin 166 and holds lever 168 against a stop
pin 174 on plate 136. In this position of lever 168 shown
in solid lines in Fig. 10, the reel drive spindle 140 is
driven in a counterclockwise manner by belt 172 in response
to a counterclockwise drive of the capstan assembly
including pulley 152 by the motor 156. In this mode of
operation the tape is driven forwardly over head 138 for
recording or playback by capstan tape drive shaft 144 in
cooperation with the pressure roller 146 and the spindle 140
drives the take-up reel of the cassette 128 coupled
thereto to take up the advancing tape thereon. During the
forward tape drive mode, the spindle 142 is not driven
but rather is free to rotate and the supply reel coupled
thereto turns freely in response to the pull of the
advancing tape.
-33-
4 ~4
In preparation for rewinding the tape it is
necessary to disengage the tape drive and reverse the
spindle drive.
The spindle drive is reversed by pivoting the
le~er 168 in a clockwise manner about pin 166 thereby
shifting the pulley 170 thereon towards the friction
wheel 164 on spindle 142 until the portion of drive belt 172
that passes around pulley 170 and extends outwardly
therefrom frictionally engages the periphery of friction
wheel 164 in driving relation. The movement of belt 172
to the reverse spindle drive position shown in dotted lines
in Fig. 10 also actuates the clutch assembly 162 thereby
disengaging the pulley of assembly 162 from its driving
relation with spindle 140.
The means for moving the lever 168 from its
forward to its reverse position includes a solenoid 176
mounted on plate 136 and having an elongated shaft 178
having its free end coupled to lever 168 as suggested at
180. Solenoid 176 is shown in its unenergized state with
~0 lever 168 located in its forward drive position. Upon
energization of solenoid 176, shaft 178 is driven
downwardly from the position shown in Fig. 10 and pivots
leve~ 168 in a clockwise manner about pin 166 thereby
moving the lever to the reverse spindle drive position.
Although not shown in the drawings, device 26 also includes
a linkage for moving the pressure roller 146 and record and
playback head 138 upwardly when lever 168 is pivoted to
the reverse drive position thereby freeing the tape for
rewind in response to driving spindle 142 in a clockwise
manner.
-34-
Now when the capstan assembly is driven in a
counter clockwise rotating direction by motor 156 the
counter clockwise rotating drive belt 172 drives the
friction wheel 164 and spindle 142 in a clockwise direction
thereby driving the supply reel of cassette 128 thereon
in a clockwise direction to rewind the tape.
As noted earlier, record and playback device 26
is configured to be operated at a relatively fast rate
(approximately a video rate) when 1) the electronic image
signals are initially recorded, 2) the tape is rewound one
frame before printout or is completely rewound, and
3) the electronic image signals are played back into
memory 20 for display on device 24 and at a relatively
slow rate (audio rate) when the tape is used to feed the
electronic image signals to the printer 28. The operating
rate of device 26 is varied by varying the speed of the
drive motor 156 which is in turn controlled by the
appropriate subcircuits of logic control system 30 which
also control the operation of solenoid 176.
As best shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 12, the
cassette 132 which holds a stack of image receiving sheets
and a transfer sheet is adapted to be operatively located
in the cassette receiving chamber 130 located to the rear
of record and playback device 26. Access to chamber 130
is provided by moving the hinged housing section 72 to
its open position.
As best shown in Fig. 12, the flat display
device 24 is mounted on the interior side of the rear
wall 104 of housing section 72 in alignment with an
opening 174 in wall 104 which provides visual access to
i,V4'~4
to device 24 for viewing. The display device 24 may be
thought of as defining a part of camera housing 12 in that
it cooperates with wall 104 to form a closure for the rear
portion of camera 10.
Housing section 72 also mounts the flat battery 134
in overlying parallel relation to the back side of display
device 24. The means for receiving and supporting
battery 134 include a raised horizontal support member 176
which is integrally formed with a bottom wall section 178
of housing section 72 and against which the bottom edge
of the battery 134 rests and a pair of vertically disposed
channel members 180 which slidably receive the lateral
edges of battery 134 (see Fig. 9).
Before describing cassette 132, its contents
(a stack of image receiving sheets 182 and a transfer
sheet 184) and the structure defining the cassette
receiving chamber 130, the printer 28 will be described
with reference to Figs. 7, 11, 12 and 13.
The printer 28 located in the lower section of
housing section 68, includes a rotatably mounted hollow
cylindrical drum 186 for supporting and rotating an image
receiving sheet 182 wrapped on an exterior surface of
drum 186 and a printing head assembly 188 mounted for
linear axial movement along the drum surface and mounting
thereon three printing transducers 190, 192 and 194 to
which three secondary color image signals, derived from
the three primary color image signals fed to printer 28,
are applied for converting the secondary color image
signals into corresponding printing signals in a form of
energy such as pressure that is effective to cause the
selective transfer of secondary color printing mediums
from the transfer sheet 184 to an image receiving sheet 182
on drum 186.
-36-
In a preferred embodiment the means for driving
drum 186 and the printing head assembly 188 include a sMall
high speed reversible electrical motor 196 and its
associated drive train located within the hollow center of
drum 186.
As best shown in Fig. 13, a view looking into
the lower section of housing section 68 from the rear of
camera 10 with wall section 84 removed, the drum 186 the
drive means and the printing head assembly 188 are shown
mounted on a generally U-shaped support frame 198 secured
to the bottom wall 80 of housing section 68.
The hollow drum 186 is rotatably supported by a
pair of internal bearings 200 and 202 mounted on opposed
support members 204 and 206 that are fixedly secured to
opposite sides of support frame 198 and extend into the
hollow center of drum 186.
Motor 196 is fixedly secured to support member 206
and includes a pair of electrical power leads 208 and
210 through which motor 196 is energized. The motor's
output shaft 212 is coupled to a speed reducing gear train
assembly 214 which is fixedly secured to support member 206
and has an output shaft 216. Fixedly secured to shaft 216
is a drum drive gear 218 which is in mesh with an internal
gear 220 secured to the internal cylindrical surface of
drum 186. The output shaft 216 of the speed reducer 214
extends beyond gear 218 and through support member 204
and support frame 198 and has a gear 222 fixedly secured
to the end thereof which serves as a power take off gear
for driving the printing head assembly 188.
As noted earlier, the printing head assembly 188
is mounted for linear axial movement along the drum 186
as drum 186 is rotated such that the printing transducers
190, 192 and 194 scan the entire image receiving area of
an image receiving sheet 182 on drum 186 during the course
of a printout cycle of operation.
As best shown in Figs. 11, 12 and 13, the
printing head assembly 188 comprises a carriage member 224
defined by a pair of vertically disposed spaced side
walls 226 and a connecting rear wall 228 which extends
above side walls 226 and a generally L-shaped print head 230
disposed between side walls 226 and including a short
leg 232 which mounts printing transducers 190, 192 and 194
and a longer leg 234 which extends out of the lower portion
of housing section 68 through an elongated slot or opening
236 provided in rear wall section 84 and serves as an
actuating lever or handle to facilitate the manual
manipulation of assembly 188.
The carriage member 224 and the L-shaped print
head 230 are mounted on a horizontal rod or guide pin 238
which extends between the opposed upright arms of support
frame 198 below drum 186 for sliding movement between the
end of print terminal position (shown in solid lines in
Figs. 11 and 13) adjacent one end of drum 186 and an
initiate print terminal position (shown in phantom
lines in Figs. 11 and 13) adjacent the opposite end of
drum 186.
As will become apparent later, assembly 188 is
configured to be manually moved along pin 238 from the
end of print position to the initiate print position and
-38-
;)4~4
thereafter to be driven from the initiate print positio
to the end of print position during the printout cycle.
The means for driving assembly 188 includes a
finely threaded horizontally disposed lead screw 240
rotatably mounted in the upright portions of support
frame 198 over pin 238. As best shown in Fig. 13, the
right hand end of lead screw 240 extends beyond the right-
hand upright of frame 198 and has a gear 242 fixedly
secured thereto that is in mesh with the power take off
gear 222 on the motor driven output shaft 216 of the
speed reducer 214.
The lead screw 240 passes through opposed
oversized openings in the side walls 226 of carriage 224
and is normally engaged by a half nut portion 244 of
print head 230 which is formed with a complementary
screw thread on the interior thereof and is adapted to mesh
in driving engagement with the thread of lead screw 240.
In Fig. 12 the print head 230 is shown in its
normal operating position in solid lines wherein the half
nut portion 244 thereof is located in driving mesh with
lead screw 240 and in its inoperative position in phantom
lines wherein it is disengaged from lead screw 240 to
permit manual sliding movement of assembly 188 along the
guide pin 238.
To hold the half nut portion 244 of print head
230 in meshed engagement with lead screw 240, the print
head 230 is biased by a torsion spring 246 having one
end coupled to print head 230 and its opposite end coupled
to side wall 226 of carriage 244 such that print head 230
pivots in a clockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 12)
-39-
14 ~4
about guide pin 238 causing the threads of half nut
portion 244 to press against the threads of lead screw 240.
When so located in this oper.ative position, the printing
transducers 190, 192, 194 on print head 230 are located
in close proximity to the surface of drum 186 in position
to engage a por~ion of transfer sheet 184 located against
an image receiving sheet 182 on drum 186 and the handle
or lever portion 234 of print head 230 is horiziontally
oriented.
To disengage the print head 230 from lead
screw 240, the handle 230 is manually moved upwardly
causing the print head 230 to pivot in a counterclockwise
manner about pin 238 against the bias of spring 246
thereby pivoting the half nut portion 244 out of engagement
with lead screw 244 and spacing the printing transducers
190, 192 and 194 a substantial distance from the surface
of drum 186. When print head 230 is so disengaged, the
print head as~embly 188 may be manually moved by sliding
it along pin 238 with the raised handle 234 of print
head 230.
As will be described later, the motion of the
print head assembly 188 as it is manually moved from the
end of print position to the initiate print position is
used to operate a mechanism for advancing an image
receiving sheet 182 from the cassette 132 into operative
relation with drum 186 and also incrementally advancing
the transfer sheet 184 relative to the printing transducers
190, 192 and 194 on print head 230.
As noted earlier, the color print of the recorded
image is formed on the image receiving sheet 182 by
effecting the selective transfer of cyan, magenta, and
yellow printing mediums from the transfer sheet 184 to
the image receiving sheet 182 on drum 186.
-40-
The means for effecting the selective transfer
of the secondary color printing medi~lms ale the three
printing transducers 190, 192 and 194, to Ic (lescribed
in detail later, which are modulated or driven by three
secondary color image signals, derived from the primary
color image signals fed to printer 28, and convert the
secondary color image signals into printing signals in a
form of energy such as pressure which when applied to the
transfer sheet 184 effects the selective transfer of the
secondary color printing mediums therefrom to image
receiving sheet 182 thereby printing three supe~imposed
dot patterns on the image receiving sheet 182 that define
the recorded image in much the same manner as images
printed on a receiving sheet by a subtractive color
halftone printing process.
The transfer sheet 184, as best shown in
Figs. 14 and 15, include an elongated base sheet 248
preferably formed of a plastic material such as Mylar~
having a plurality of secondary color bands or stripes
thereon arranged in repeating sets of three sequential
bands or stripes 250, 252 and 254 comprising respectively
cyan, magenta and yellow inks or dyes releasably adhered
to the base sheet 248 by a binding agent such as wax or
the like. Overlying the color bands on the opposite side
the~eof from base sheet 248 is a very thin coating or
layer 256 of a polymerized plastic material having a low
coefficient of friction.
As will become apparent, the transfer sheet 184
is adapted to be located in operative relation with
printer 28 such that one set of the three color bands 250,
-41-
V~ ~
252 and 254 is located between an image receiving sheet 182
on drum 186 and the printing transducers 190, 192 and 194,
with the layer 256 facing sheet 182 and the transducers 190,
192 and 194 in engagement with the base sheet 248 in
alignment respectively with the bands 250, 252 and 254
which extend along the drum 184 in the linear paths of
travel of the transducers 190, 192 and 194.
When so located, the layer 256 of sheet 184
contacts the image receiving sheet 182 and the low friction
properties of layer 256 allows the sheet 182 to slide
thereunder freely in response to rotation of drum 186.
Layer 256 also inhibits the transfer of inks in the color
bands 250, 252 and 254 until an appropriate printing
signals are applied to transfer sheet 184 ~y the printing
transducers 190, 192 and 194.
As noted earlier, the image receiving sheets 182
comprise a high quality grade printing paper that is
receptiVe to the cyan, magenta and yellow inks or dyes of
transfer sheet 184.
In a preferred embodiment, a stack of image
receiving sheets 182 (for example ten (10)) and a single
transfer sheet 184 having at least ten (10) sets of color
bands 250, 252 and 254 are provided in the cassette 132
which is adapted to be located in the cassette receiving
chamber 130 of camera 10.
As best shown in Figs. 7, 12 and 16, cassette 132
comprises a substantially thin, planar upper box-like
section 258 for holding a stack of image receiving
sheets 182 and a portion of transfer sheet 184 and a
lower depending curved section 260 which supports
a portion of transfer sheet 184 extending out of
-42-
3~ 4
upper section 256 and serves as a guide for guiding
and locating the transfer sheet 184 in operative relation
with the printing transducers 190, 192 and 194.
The upper and lower sections 258 and 260 share
a common wall 262 which curves at lower section 260 to
conform to the shape of drum 186. Upper section 258 is
defined by the upper portion of wall 262, an opposed
wall 264 and a peripheral section comprising a top wall 266,
a pair of side walls 268 and a bottom wall 270 having an
elongated withdrawal slot 272 therein adjacent wall 262.
It will be noted that cassette 132 includes an indented
transition surface 274 at the intersection of walls 264
and 270 which serves as a locating bearing surface that
cooperates with an L-shaped flange 276 in receiving
chamber 130 to accurately located cassette 132 therein.
The lower section 260 of cassette 132 includes
a pair of integrally formed guide channels 278 along the
lateral edges of wall 262 for receiving the lateral edges
of transfer sheet 184. It will be noted that the channel
structure extends beyond the lower edge of wall 262 as
indicated at 280 such that one set of three color bands 250,
252 and 254 on transfer sheet 184 may be located in the
extended portion~ 280 thereby clearing the lower edge of
wall 262,
The elongated transfer sheet 184 is initially
located against wall 262 of cassette 132 with its base
sheet 248 facing wall 262. It extends from the interior
of the upper section 258 through withdrawal slot 272 and
along the curved portion 260 of wall 262 with its lateral
edges in guide channels 278.
-43-
4 ~4
As shown in Figure 14, transfer sheet 184 has a
plurality of sprocket holes 282 along one lateral edge thereof
which are aligned with an opening 284 in cassette wall 262
which provides access for a later-to-be-described advancing
mechanism to engage the holes 282 for the purpose of ad-
vancing the transfer sheet 184 relative to cassette 132 and
the printing transducers 190, 192, and 194.
The stack of image-receiving sheets 182 is lo-
cated within the upper section 258 of cassette 132 in over-
lying relation to the portion of transfer sheet 184 therein
with the forwardmost sheet 182 in the stack closest to sheet
184 being in alignment with the withdrawal slot 272.
Each of the sheets 182 has a single sprocket hole
286 in one lateral edge thereof which is aligned with an
access opening 288 in wall 262 of cassette 132 that provides
access for the later-to-be-described advancing mechanism to
an engage hole 286 for the purpose of advancing the forward-
most sheet 182 through withdrawal slot 272 and into opera-
tive engagement with drum 186. A spring platen 289 is pro-
vided in cassette 132 to urge the stack of image-receiving
sheets 182 toward wall 262.
As best shown in Figure 11, the stac};of sheets
182 is offset laterally with respect to transfer sheet 184
such that the lateral edge having the sprocket hole 286
extends beyond the lateral edge of transfer sheet 184 thereby
providing clearance for the advancing mechanism to engage
sheet 182 through the access opening 288 without engaging
transfer sheet 184.
Access for loading cassette 132 into the receiving
chamber 130 is provided by pivoting the housing section 72
-44-
mounting the display device 24 and the flat battery 134 to
its open position.
Before loading cassette 132, the printing head
230 is manually pivoted to its inoperative position to dis-
place the printing transducers 190, 192 and 194 from drum
186. The cassette 132 is inclined with respect to chamber
132 and its lower curved section 260 is inserted first
over the top of the drum 186. The cassette is pivoted in
a counterclockwise manner (as viewed in Figure 12) so that
the curved portion 260 follows the contour of the drum 186
to locate the extended portions 280 of guide channels 278
in a position wherein the three color bands 250, 252 and 254
of transfer sheet 184 extending therebetween will he aligned
with trausducers 190, 192 and 194 when print head 230 is
returned to its operative position. In response to the
pivotal motion of the cassette 132, the upper portion 258
thereof is located at its operative position in chamber 130.
As shown in Figure 12, the upper portion of cassette wall
262 bears against a vertically disposed locating plate 290
in the upper portion of housing section 68 and the indented
transition section 274 of cassette 132 rests against the
conforming locating bracket 276. The cassette 132 is
further supported in chamber 130 by portions of the battery-
receiving channels 180 which bear against the wall 264 of
cassette 132 when housing section 72 is located in its
closed position. Once cassette 132 is located in its opera-
tive position in chamber 130, the print head 130 is pivoted
back to its operative position.
The means for advancing an image-receiving sheet
182 into operative relation with drum 186 and incrementally
advancing the transfer sheet 184 to present a fresh set of
-45-
0~44
color bands 250, 252 and 254 in alignment with printing
transducers 190, 192 and 194 for each printout includes a
pick mechanism 292 which is operable in response to manuallv
moving the printing head assembly 188 from the end of print
position shown in solid lines in Figure 11 to the initi-
ated print position shown in phantom lines.
The pick mechanism 292 includes an elongated
slide member 294 having its opposite lateral side portions
slidably captured in vertically disposed guide channels
296 and 298 on the interior of side walls 76 and 78 of
housing section 68. The vertical sliding motion of slide
member 294 is limited by fixed stop pins 300 and 302 which
extend through elongated vertical slots 304 and 306 in
member 294 adjacent guide channels 296 and 298.
lS Integrally formed with slide member 294 is a first
pick arm 308 having a hook-like upper end that is adapted
to extend through access opening 288 in cassette wall 262
and into the sprocket hole 286 in the forwardmost image-
receiving sheet 182 in the stack thereby engaging the
forwardmost sheet 182 for advancement through withdrawal
slot 272 toward drum 186 in response to downward movement
of slide member 194.
A second pick arm 310 is mounted on slide member
294 and includes a hook-like upper end that is adapted to
extend through access opening 284 in cassette wall 262 and
into one of the sprocket holes 282 in transfer sheet 184
thereby engaging sheet 184 for advancement through with-
drawal slot 272 and relative to the printing transducers
190, 192 and 194 to present a new set of the three color
bands 250, 252 and 254 in alignment with the transducers
in response to downward movement of slide member 294.
-46-
4`~4
The distance that t:he forwardmost image-receiving
sheet 182 must be moved to engage it with drum 186 exceeds
the incremental distance transfer sheet 184 must be moved
to advance it one set of color bands. Therefore, the pick
arm 310 is mounted on slide member 294 in a manner which
provides for an appropriate amount of lost motion.
As best shown in Figures 11 and 12, pick arm 310
is mounted in a pair of guide channels 312 on member 294 for
vertical sliding motion relative thereto. Arm 310terminates in
a horizontal flange 314 at its lower end that extends
rearwardly under the lower edge of slide member 294. Flange
314 is spaced a predetermined distance below member 294 by
means of a guide pin 316 on wall section 82 of housing
section 68 that extends through a vertical slot 318 in arm
1, 310 and a spring 320, having one end attached to arm 310;
and its opposite end attached to a lug on plate 136 of
device 26, which provides an upward biasing force on arm
310 to hold the lower end of slot 318 against pin 316.
As best shown in Figure 11, the slide member 294
also has an inclined elongated slot 322 therein for slida-
bly receiving a drive pin 324 fixedly mounted on a pin
support extension 326 of wall 228 of printing head carriage
224 that forms part of print head assembly 188. It is
readily apparent that as assembly 188 is moved from its end-
of-print position to its initiate print position (to the
left as viewed in Figure 11) the horizontal movement of pin
324 riding in slot 322 will drive the slide member 294
downwardly from the position shown in Figure 11, and that
movement of pin 324 in the opposite direction in response to
the lead screw 240 driving assembly 188 from the initiated
print position to the end of print position will cause slide
member 294 to be driven upwardly.
-47-
~iL;~V4.~4
Assume now that the pick mechanism 292 is in its
fully raised position shown i.n Figures 11 and 12 with the
print head assembly 188 locat:ed in the end of print posi-
tion (to the right as viewed in Figure 11). To initiate a
printout cycle of operation, the camera operator manually
raises the handle portion 234 of print head 230 which causes
the print head 230 to pivot thereby disengaging the half
nut portion 244 from lead screw 240 and spacing the trans-
ducers 190, 192, and 194 from drum 186. As best shown in
Figure 12 when print head 230 is pivoted to its disengaged
position, it engages and closes a normally open switch 38
mounted on carriage 224 thereby actuating circuit 54 which
operates the magnetic record and playback device 26
causing it to rewind the magnetic tape one frame.
As the operator manually moves print head assem-
bly 188 to the left as viewed in Figure 11, the pin 324 in
slot 322 drives the slide member 294 and the integral pick
arm 308 thereon downwardly and arm 308 advances the forward-
most image-receiving sheet 182 through slot 272 toward drum
186.
During the initial downward movement of slide
member 294, the second pick arm 310 remains stationary
becau~e it is held in its up position by the biasing force
of spring 320. Pick arm 310 remains in this position until
the lower edge of slide member 294 engages the horizontal
flange 314 at the lower end of arm 310 at which point member
294 begins to drive arm 310 downwardly therewith overcoming
the bias of spring 320. As member 294 is further advanced
downwardly, pick arm 308 advances sheet 182 towards drum
186 while arm 310 simultaneously advances the transfer sheet
184 relative to the operative position of transducers 190, .
-48-
v~i~4
192 and 194. As noted earlier, the tr.~ns~er sheet 184 is
adapted to be ~dvanccd a shorter distallce th.~n the imag-~-
receiving sheet 182 and this is accomplished by the lost
motion characteristics of pick mechanism 294 which delays
initiating movement of pick arm 310 until pick arm 308 has
moved through a predetermined distance
As best shown in Figure 12, the drum 196 has an
elongated slot 328 formed along its length for receiving
the leading end of image-receiving sheet 182 (shown in
dotted lines) and a spring retaining clip 330 for releasa-
bly retaining the leading end in slot 328. As pick mechanism
292 approaches the end of its downward travel arm 308
advances image-receiving sheet 182 into slot 328 such that
its leading end is captured in spring retaining clip 330.
At this point, pick arm 310 has advanced the transfer sheet
184 one set of color bands 250, 252 and 254 relative to
the operative position of transducers 190, 192 and 194 on
print head 230. Although not shown in the drawings ramp-like
cam members are provided in the path of travel of pick
arms 308 and 310 such that they are cammed slightly away
from cassette 132 at the end of the downward movement of
pick mechanism 294 thereby disengaging the hook-like ends
of arms 308 and 310 from the respective sprocket holes
in image-receiving sheet 182 and transfer sheet 184.
As best shown in Figure 13, the button switch 40
is located on the horizontal portion of support frame 198
near the right-hand end of drum 186. When the print head
assembly 188 is located in the initiate print position
(the right-hand terminal position as viewed in Figure 13),
the operator begins the actual printout phase by lowering
the handle portion 234 of print head 230 which engages and
-49-
closes the normally open switch 40 when the print head
230 is in its operative position.
As noted earlier, the closing of switch 40 ener-
gizes and actuates the READ ONE FRA~1E circuit 50, which
operates the tape record and playback device 26 in a play-
back mode to feed the electronic image signals to printer
28, and the ACTUATE PRINTER circuit 58 which operates
printer 28.
The motor 196 is energized with a voltage having
the appropriate polarity such that the drum 186 is rotated
in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in Figure 12)
and the lead screw 240 is rotated in the appropriate
direction to cause the print head assembly 188 to be driven
from the initiated print position shown in phantom lines
to the end of print position shown in solid lines in Figures
11 and 13.
During the course of the initial revolution of
drum 186 the forwardmost image-receiving sheet 182 having its
leading end captured in slot 328 by clip 330 is pulled
through slot 272 of cassette 132 and is wrapped on the
surface of drum 186. As drum 186 rotates, the print head
assembly 188 is driven along lead screw 240 and the printing
transducers 190, 192 and 194,in engagement with the color
bands 250, 252 and 254 of the transfer sheet 184,are selec-
tively energized by the secondary color image signals to
effect the selective transfer of the secondary color print
mediums from sheet 184 to sheet 182 to print out the re-
corded image.
As assembly 188 is driven along lead screw 240,
the pick mechanism 292 is driven upwardly by pin 324 riding
along slot 322.
-50-
l~V~ ~4
When the print head assembly 188 reaches the end
of print position, the left side wall 226 of carriage 224
engages and closes the normally open switch 42 mounted on
the left hand upright of frame 198 (as viewed in Figure
13). As noted earlier, the closing of switch 42 actuates
the EJECT PRINT circuit 60 which is effective to brake
the rotation of motor 196 thereby stopping the rotation
of drum 186 and thereafter apply a reverse polarity voltage
to motor 196 causing it to run for a short time in reverse
such that drum 186 revolves through a single clockwise
revolution. During the course of this single revolution,
the trailing or free end of the image-receiving sheet 182
on drum 186 is lifted therefrom by a wedge-shaped stripper
bar 332 (see Figure 12) extending inwardly toward drum 186
from the top edge of rear wall section 84 of housing sec-
tion 68 thereby feeding the trailing end of sheet 182
through a print exit slot 334 defined by bar 332 and the
bottom wall portion 178 of housing section 72 on the rear
side of camera housing 12. In response to this single
reverse revolution of drum 186 at least a portion of the
image-receiving sheet 182 is advanced to the exterior of
camera 10 through exit slot 334 where it may be grasped by
the operator and manually pulled to release its leading
end from retaining clip 330.
For each successive print, the transfer sheet
184 is advanced to provide a fresh set of the three secon-
dary color bands 250, 252 and 254 in alignment with the
printing transducers 190, 192 and 194, and the used portion
of sheet 184 accumulates in a receptable (not shown) in
the hollow space between the bottom of drum 186 and the
rear wall section 84 of housing section 68. A small door
14 ~
(not shown) may be provided in rear wall section 84 which
provides access to the receptacle for removing the transfer
sheet 184.
During the course of the printout cycle the mag-
netic t2pe record and playback device 26 feeds the primary
color red, green and blue electronic image signals represent-
ing the recorded image from the magnetic tape to printer 28.
Because the printer 28 is designed to operate in a subtrac-
tive color mode using the secondary colors, cyan, magenta
and yellow, the primary color image signals must be con-
verted to equivalent secondary color image signals which
are then applied to the printing transducers 190, 192 and
194.
For example, printer 28 is operative to reproduce
the color red by laying down superimposed magenta and
yellow dots. Therefore, a red input signal must be converted
to equivalent magenta and yellow signals. Likewise, the
color green is rendered by superimposed cyan and yellow
dots and blue is rendered by superimposed magenta and cyan
dots.
For any given set of the three primary color
electronic image signals that represent a particular color
in the additive color mode, there is an equivalent set of
the secondary color image signals that represent the same
color in the subtractive color mode. The relation of the
primary signals to the secondary signals may be described
mathematically by a set of simultaneous transformation
equations that balance the color characteristics of the red,
green and blue color filters of color separator 15 with the
color characteristics of the cyan, magenta, and yellow
inks or dyes used in the transfer sheet 184. Once the
i~3V~.~4
relationship between thee two color systems is defined by
the set of simultaneous transformation equations the con-
version may be done electronically by means of a matrixing
circuit.
As best shown in Figure 17, the printer 28 includes
means for converting the additive primary color red, green,
and blue image signals to corresponding subtractive secon-
dary color cyan, magenta and yellow image signals in the
form of an electronic matrixing circuit 336 designated
ADDITIVE TO SUBTRACTIVE SIGNAL CONVERTER circuit 336. The
three primary color electronic image signals from the magnetic
record and playback device 26 are fed into circuit 336 which
converts these signals into equivalent secondary color image
signals that are fed to the printing transducers 190, 192
and 194. Because the printing transducers 190, 192 and
194 are spaced relative to one another on print head 230, it
is necessary to adjust the phase relationship of the secon-
dary color image signals such that the three transducers
may operate to superimpose three color dots defining a
single picture element at one location on the image receiv-
ing sheet. In a preferred embodiment circuit 336 also
includes such means for adjusting the phase relationship
of the secondary color image signals in accordance with the
physical spacing of the printing transducers 190, 192 and
194 and the diameter and operating speed of rotation of
drum 186.
During each revolution of the drum 186 the printing
transducers 190, 192, 194 print out a single line of image
information in the form of overlying secondary color dots
and the screw thread 240 advances the print head assembly 188
in synchronization with the rotation of drum 186 to index
the printing transducers 190, 192 and 194 one line position
f or each revolution of drum 186 so that the entire image
--53--
5)4~4
receiving area of sheet 182 is scanned in response to
advancing assembly 188 from the initiate print position to
the end of print position.
As noted earlier the printing transducers 190,
192 and 194 preferably convert an electronic image signal
applied thereto to a printing signal in the form of
pressure which acts on the transfer sheet 184 and is
effective to cause the transfer of the printing medium
from transfer sheet 184 to the image receiving sheet 182
on drum 186.
One type of printing transducer which provices
a pressure output in response to an electronic signal
input is shown in Fig. 18 of the drawings.
The printing transducer designated 190 in
Fig, 1~ (transducers 192 and 194 beinq identical to
transducer 190) is of the electromagnetic type and
includes a diamond pointed stylus 337 that is adapted to
engage the base layer 248 of the transfer sheet 184
and apply pressure therethrough to the ink or dye in the
color band causing it to transfer to the image receiving
sheet in much the same manner that ink is transfered
from a typewriter ribbon to a receiving sheet upon presure
impact of a printhead.
The transducer 190 includes an annular steel
collar 338, an annular magnet 340 having one of its pole
ends coupled to collar 338, a steel base piece 342 coupled
to the opposite pole end of magnet 340, ~ steel shaft
344 mounted on base piece 342 and extending through magnet
340 and into the open central base of collar 338 to define
an annular gap 346 between shaft 344 and collar 338, and
a non-magnetic drive tube 348,having a wire coil 350
wour.d thereon,slidably mour;ted for axial movement on
shaft 344 in gap 346.
-54-
V4 ~4
The drive tube 348 extends slightly beyond the
end of shaft 344 and it is coupled to the collar 338
by mcans of a bellow likc spring membcr 352. Mountcd in
the open bore of tube 348 is a cone-like diaphragm portion
of member 354 havina the diamond-pointed stylus 337 secured
thereto. The stylus 337 extends through the open central
bore of a protective transducer end cap 358.
Through magnetic coupling with magnet 340
the collar 338 and shaft 344 are oppositely magnetically
polarized thereby establishing a magnetic force field
across gap 346. When a secondary color electronic image
signal is applied to coil 350 the current flow therethrough
interacts with the magnetic field and produces a
thrust force, proportional to the signal strength, that
is effective to displace the drive tube 348 and the
stylus 337 thereon axially in the direction of the end
cap 358. When the signal is removed from coil 350 the
tube 348 and stylus 337 thereon are restored to the initial
position by the bellow-like spring member 352. In this
manner, the stylus 337 is driven in an axial direction
with a force that is proportional to the strength of the
image signal applied to coil 350.
The three printing transducers 190, 192 and
194 are mounted on the short leg 232 of print head 230
such that the diamond point on their respective styluses
337 preferably just engage the base sheet 248 of the
cyan, magenta and yellow color bands 250, 252 and 254
on transfer sheet 184 when the print head 230 is located
in its operative position (shown in solid lines Fig. 12)
with no image signal applied to their respective coils 350.
Alternatively the points of styluses 337 may be spacecl
slightly from the base sheet 248 when there is no signal
applied.
In either event when an image signal is applied
to the coil 350 of any one of the transducers, its stylus
337 is driven axially toward the drum 186 so as to
engage the base sheet 248 of the transfer sheet 184 and apply
sufficient pressure therethrough to the printing medium
which is displaced from the color band and adheres to
the image receiving sheet 182 on drum 186. It will
be noted that the plastic layer 256 on transfer sheet 184
is sufficiently thin and ruptures upon the pressure
impact provided by stylus 337 so as not to inhibit such
displacement of the printing medium and its transfer
to sheet 182.
The transfer of the printing medium to sheet
182 creates a color dot thereon. The size of the dot
is proportional to the amount of pressure applied to
transfer sheet 184 by stylus 337 which in turn is
proportional to the strength of the image signal applied
to coil 350. Therefore, the dot size is proportional
to signal strength. That is, a relatively strong image
signal produces a greater amount of pressure than a weaker
signal and the size of the dot increases with increasing
pressure.
As noted earlier an image is printed out on
the receiving sheet 182 in the form of three overlying
secondary color dot patterns which are similar in
some respects to those produced in color halftone
printing processes. The dots are applied with essentially
equal spacing between dots. However, the dot size is
varied in proportion to image signal strength to provide
-56-
4 ~
variations in density or color saturation. That is
in the high light areas of the image the equally spac~d
dots are relatively small and are viewed against the white
background of the image receiving sheet 182 so as to
appear low in color saturation. On the other hand in
shadow areas the equally spaced dots are much larger
in size and less of the white background is visible
and the apparent color saturation is much higher.
In a preferred embodiment of camera 10, the
imaging system and printer 28 have an operating resolution
of approximately 200 lines/inch. The image receiving
area of image receiving sheet 182 measures approximately
3" x 3" and the total printout time approximates one minute
.
with drum 186 being driven at the rate of 600 RPM. The
individual color dots have a maximum diameter of approximately
.008 of an inch.
In use camera 10 is loaded with a magnetic tape
cassette 128 and an image receiving sheet and transfer
sheet cassette 132. The printing head assembly 188 is
located in its end of print terminal position adjacent the
left-hand end of drum 186 as viewed in Figs. 6 and 13.
To electronically record and display an image of
a scene, the operator views and frames the scene through
the viewfinder formed by lenses 120 and 122, focuses the
objective lens 14 with focusing wheel 116 and actuates the
button switch 32 on said wall 76 of housing section 68.
Upon actuation of switch 32 the CLEAR THEN
READ CCD 16 circuit 44 clears the photosensitive
transducer CCD16 of ambient light signals. The optical
image of the scene provided by lens 14 is separated by
color separator 15 into its red, green and blue primary
color components which are focused on CCD16. The
l~L~V~ 4
photosensitive elements of C'CD16 are charged in proportion
to the image bearing light i.ntensity thereby converting
the optical image into red, green and blue electronic
image signals that represent the image in electronic data
form. In response to appropriate control signals applied
to CCD16 by circuit 44, these electronic image signals are
read out of CCD16 and are transferred to memory 20
through A~D converter 18. The image signals are read
out of memory 20 on a repeating basis at approximately
a video rate under the control of the READ MEMOR~ circuit 48
and DELAY circuit 54 and the signals are fed to the display
device 24 through D~A converter 22 for display, the display
device being actuated by ACTUATE DISPLAY SCREEN circuit 50.
During the course of the image display the RECORD ONE FRAME
dircuit 52 provides appropriate control signals to magnetic
tape record and playback device 26 which operates in a
record mode at the relative fast video rate and device 26
records on magnetic tape one full frame of the electronic
image signals provided to device 26 from memory 20 through
D~A converter 22. The image is continuously displayed on
display device 24 as long as the operator presses button
switch 32. When he releases switch 32, the electronic
image signals are automatically deleted from memory 20.
The electronic image signals representing the image are
retained on the magnetic tape for subsequent printout
and/or display.
To print out the recorded image, the operator
manually resets the printer 28 by moving the printing
head assembly 188 from its end of print terminal position
to the initiate print terminal position adjacent the
-58-
right-hand end of drum 186 as viewed in Figs. 6 and 13.
The handle portion 234 of print head 230 is raised to
pivot the half-nut portion 244 of print head 230 out of
engagement with the lead screw 240 thereby locating print
head 230 in its inoperative position. AS print head 230
approaches its inoperative position it engages and actuates
or closes the normally open switch 38 which actuates the
REWIND ONE FRAME circuit 54. Circuit 54 provides
appropriate control signals to the tape record and playback
device 26 thereby operating it in a rewind mode during
which the magnetic tape is rewound one frame at the
relativel~ fast rate to the beginning of the last recorded
image thereon.
Once print head 230 is disengaged from lead
screw 240, the operator manually moves the print head
assembly 188 to the initiate p~int position by sliding
assembly 188 along the guide pin 238 thereby operating the
pick mechanism 292 which advances an image receiving
sheet through the withdrawal slot 270 of cassette 132
and into operative relation with drum 186 whereby the
leading end of sheet 182 enters the slot 328 in drum 186
where it is releasably retained by clip 330 and the transfer
sheet 184 is advanced to locate a fresh set of color
bands 250, 252 and 254 in operative relation with the
operative position of the printing transducers 190, 192
and 194.
With assembly 188 in its initiate print terminal
position the print head 230 is pivoted back to its operative
position to engage the half-nut portion 244 with lead
screw 240 and locate the printing transducers 190, 192
-59-
4~4
and 194 in their operative p~sition adjacent the surface
of drum 186. As print head 230 approaches its operative
position it engages and closes the normally open switch 40
to actuate the READ ONE FRAME circuit 56 and the ACTUATE
PRINTER circuit 58.
Circuit 56 provides the appropriate control
signals to record and playback device 26 to operate it in
the playback mode at the relatively slow rate. Device 26
feeds the primary color electronic image signals from the
magnetic tape to the ADDITIVE TO SUBTRACTIVE SIGNAL CONVERTER
circuit 336 of printer 28 which converts the three primary
color i~age signals to three corresponding subtractive
color signals which are adjusted in phase relation to
compensate for the spacing of the printing transducers
and are fed to the printing transducers 190, 192 and 194.
The ACTUATE PRINTER circuit 58 provides
appropriate control signals to printer 28 to operate
circuit 336 and energize drive motor 196. ~pon energization
the motor 196 drives the drum 186 and the lead screw 240.
During the initial revolution of drum 186 the image
receiving sheet 182 having its leading end releasably
retained in drum slot 328 by clip 330 is pulled from
cassette 132 and is wrapped on drum 186. As drum 186 rotates
the lead screw 240 drives the print head assembly 188 in synch-
ronization along its linear axial path of travel. The secondary
color image signals from circuit 336 are applied to the
printing transducers 190, 192 and 194 which convert the
electronic image signals into corresponding print signals
in the form of pressure which transducers 190, 192 and
194 apply to the color bands 250, 252 and 254 of transfer
-60-
sheet 184 to cffect the selcctive trans~er ot cyall, ma~len~a
and yellow print mediums therefrom to thc ima(Te receivillg
sheet 182 on drum 186 thereby printint out three overlying
secondary color dot patterns on sheet 182 which form a
color print of the recorded image.
As the lead screw 240 drives the print head
assembly 188 from the initiate print position to the end
of print position the pin 324 on carriage 224 riding in
slot 322 of the pick slide member 294 is operative to reset
the pick mechanism 292.
As the print head assembly 188 reaches its end
of print position, the carriage 224 engages and closes
the normally open switch 42. The closing of switch 42
actuates the EJECT PRI~ll circuit 60 which provides
appropriate control signals to motor 196 thereby braking
the rotation of drum 186 and thereafter applies a reverse
polarity voltage to motor 196 which reverses the direction
of rotation and drum 186 through one reverse revolution
to partially eject the image receiving sheet 182 on
drum 186 out of the camera housing 12 through the exit
slot 334.
Should the operator wish to review the images
recorded on the magnetic tape, he presses the button
switch 34 on wall 76 of camera housing section 68. The
closing of this normally open switch 34 actuates the COMPLETELY
REWIND TAPE circuit 62 which provides appropriate control
signals to tape record and playback device 26 to operate
it in a rewind mode at the relatively fast rate to
completely rewind the magnetic tape.
Once the magnetic tape is rewound, the operator
may display the recorded images from the tape on display
V4`~4
device 24 in sequence by repeated actuations of button
switch 36 on side wall 70 of housing section 68.
In response to each actuation of switch 36,
the READ ONE FRP~ circuit 64 is actuated which provides
appropriate control signals to record and playback
device 26 to operate it in a playback mode at the
relatively fast rate whereby one frame of electronic image
signals from the tape are fed to memory 20 through A~D
converter 18 and then to display device 24 from memory 20
on a recirculating basis through D~A converter 22 for
display. The image is displayed on device 24 as long as
the operator maintains switch 36 in its closed position.
Upon releasing switch 36, the image signals are
automatically deleted from memory 20.
If at any time during the review of the recorded
images the operator wishes to print out a hard copy, he
may initiate the printout cycle by manually moving the
print head assembly 188 from its end of print position
to its initiate print position as explained earlier.
While the illustrated embodiment of camera 10 is
configured to provide a full color print of the recorded
image, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that
a le~s complex version of such a camera based on the
inventive concepts described herein may be configured to
provide a black and white print. Also, those skilled in
the art will recognize that the control logic system 30
illustrates but one arrangement of circuits for providing
the desired control functions and that there are many
variations thereof which may be employed without departing
from the scope of the present invention.
-62-
Since certain other changes also may be made in
the above-described self-processing electronic imaging
camera without departing from the scope of the invention
herein involved, it is intended that all matter contained
in the above description or shown in the accompanying
drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a
limiting sense.
