Patent ID: 6618078
Filing Date: 2003-09-09
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
An electronic imaging and printing apparatus comprising:a camera housing; imaging means integral with said camera housing for defining a field of vision and selectively generating a frame of digital image data representative of subject matter within said field of vision; camera-position tracking means located at an exterior surface of said camera housing for generating location data that is responsive to movement of said camera housing relative to a print medium during a printing process, said camera-position tracking means including a pair of trackballs; processor means located within said camera housing for converting said frame of digital image data into print data and dynamically arranging side-by-side segments of said print data in response to receiving said location data during said printing process, said processor means being cooperative with said pair of trackballs to track movement of said camera housing in two perpendicular axes within a plane aligned with said print medium and to track variations in an angle of said camera housing relative to a direction that is perpendicular to said plane, said processor means being responsive to said tracking of said movement and said tracking of said angle with respect to dynamically arranging said print data; and printing means having a supply of print-forming matter for forming an image on said print medium in response to receiving said dynamic arrangement of said print data from said processor means, said printing means being configured to deposit said print-forming matter as said camera housing is moved in a direction of one of said segments.