Patent ID: 6795114
Filing Date: 2004-09-21
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
A portable imaging system comprising an electronic camera for capturing images, disposed in a camera housing of a size that is conveniently carried by hand and said imaging system comprising an electronic printer disposed in printer housing also of a size that is conveniently carried by hand and that is distinct and detachable from said camera housing, wherein said printer includes a film unit drive system and a stationary print head suitable for emmitting consecutive lines of an image data on a self-processable film unit to expose said film unit at its image forming area, wherein the lines exposed on said film unit are separated by a predetermined distance, and wherein said exposure occurs while said film unit is being advanced along a transfer path proximately to said print head, wherein said imaging system further comprises:complementary releasable connecting means operatively associated with respect to said camera housing and said printer housing for effecting a releasable fixed connection between said camera housing and said printer housing, said fixed connection also operating to effect an electrical connection between said camera, film unit drive system, and said printer; memory storage means for storing the image data for each of said camera and said printer; and a microprocessor unit having portions disposed respectively within said camera housing and said printer housing, said microprocessor being responsive to user selection for acquiring image data via said camera, said microprocessor operable to process said image data for memory storage and film unit exposure and processing; and wherein said film unit drive system further comprises: a motor mounted to the housing; a pair of transfer rollers comprising a driven transfer roller and a follower transfer roller to provide a transfer nip for advancing said film unit along a transfer path between said pair of transfer rollers, said driven transfer roller having a circumferential speed as effected by the speed of said motor, and said follower transfer roller having a circumferential speed as determined by the speed of the film unit being advanced between said transfer rollers along the transfer path; a pair of spread rollers comprising an upper roller and lower roller to provide a spread nip for receiving the leading edge of said film unit received from said transfer rollers and for feeding said film unit between said pair of spread rollers to continue the advancement of said film unit along the transfer path, said spread rollers having circumferential speed as effected by the speed of said motor; a gear train that couples said motor to at least one of said spread rollers and to said driven transfer roller for transmitting power from said motor to at least one of said spread rollers and to said driven transfer roller to cause said spread rollers and transfer rollers to rotate and advance said film unit along the transfer path; a drive motor encoder in communication with said motor to control the motor speed so as to affect the circumferential speed of said driven transfer roller and said spread rollers; a film follower encoder in communication with said follower transfer roller to measure the circumferential movement of said follower transfer roller, as determined by the speed of the film unit being advanced between said transfer rollers, whereby the circumferential movement of said follower transfer roller corresponds with the advancement of the film unit whereby its position respective to said print head can be determined; and said print head being proximally located to said transfer rollers whereby once the leading edge of said film unit advances from said transfer rollers along the transfer path and engages the spread nip of the spread rollers said image forming area of said film unit is then exposed by said print head, wherein said print head emits consecutive lines of image data on said image forming area while said film unit continues to advance, and wherein the exposed lines on said film are separated by the predetermined distance.