Abstract:
A portable telescope assembly includes a telescope having a body that at least partially defines a printer body. An image sensor is mounted in the telescope and is configured to capture images from a lens of the telescope. An internal printer is mounted in the printer body and is operatively connected to the image sensor to print the captured images on print media. A media transport and cutting device is operatively arranged with respect to the internal printer. Controllers are mounted in the telescope and are configured to control the operation of the image sensor and the printer.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   The present application is Continuation Application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/510,090 filed on Oct. 5, 2004, now issued U.S. Pat. No. 7,137,678, which is a 371 of PCT/AU03/00161 filed on Feb. 12, 2003, all of which is herein incorporated by reference. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The following invention relates to a device having an in-built image sensor and an internal print engine, and, more particularly, to a telescope having an internal printer. 
   BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
   Conventional telescopes include a lens or sequence of lenses and an eyepiece through which a person can view a remote object. It is known to attach a camera to a telescope in order to take a photograph of a remote object 
   Moreover, it would be beneficial for amateur astronomers, bird watchers, mariners and any other person wishing to use a telescope if a permanent printed record of what has been viewed could be made, instantaneously and inexpensively. 
   CO-PENDING APPLICATIONS 
   Various methods, systems and apparatus relating to the present invention are disclosed in the following co-pending applications filed by the applicant or assignee of the present invention simultaneously with the present application: 
   
     
       
             
             
             
           
         
             
                 
             
           
           
             
               PCT/AU03/00154 
               PCT/AU03/00151 
               PCT/AU03/00150 
             
             
               PCT/AU03/00145 
               PCT/AU03/00153 
               PCT/AU03/00152 
             
             
               PCT/AU03/00168 
               PCT/AU03/00169 
               PCT/AU03/00170 
             
             
               PCT/AU03/00162 
               PCT/AU03/00146 
               PCT/AU03/00159 
             
             
               PCT/AU03/00171 
               PCT/AU03/00149 
               PCT/AU03/00167 
             
             
               PCT/AU03/00158 
               PCT/AU03/00147 
               PCT/AU03/00166 
             
             
               PCT/AU03/00164 
               PCT/AU03/00163 
               PCT/AU03/00165 
             
             
               PGT/AU03/00160 
               PCT/AU03/00157 
               PCT/AU03/00148 
             
             
               PCT/AU03/00156 
               PCT/AU03/00155 
             
             
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   The disclosures of these co-pending applications are incorporated herein by cross-reference. 
   RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS AND PATENTS 
   
     
       
             
             
             
             
           
         
             
                 
             
           
           
             
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               PCT/AU98/00550 
               PCT/AU00/00516 
             
             
               PCT/AU00/00517 
               PCT/AU00/00511 
               PCT/AU00/00754 
               PCT/AU00/00755 
             
             
               PCTIAU00/00756 
               PCT/AU00/00757 
               PCT/AU00/00095 
               PCT/AU00/00172 
             
             
               PCT/AU00/00338 
               PCT/AU00/00339 
               PCT/AU00/00340 
               PCT/AU00/00341 
             
             
               PCT/AU00/00581 
               PCT/AU00/00580 
               PCT/AU00/00582 
               PCT/AU00/00587 
             
             
               PCT/AU00/00588 
               PCT/AU00/00589 
               PCT/AU00/00583 
               PCT/AU00/00593 
             
             
               PCT/AU00/00590 
               PCT/AU00/00591 
               PCT/AU00/00592 
               PCT/AU00/00584 
             
             
               PCT/AU00/00585 
               PCT/AU00/00586 
               PCT/AU00/00749 
               PCT/AU00/00750 
             
             
               PCT/AU00/00751 
               PCT/AU00/00752 
               PCT/AU01/01332 
               PCT/AU01/01318 
             
             
               PCT/AU00/01513 
               PCT/AU00/01514 
               PCT/AU00/01515 
               PCT/AU00/01516 
             
             
               PCT/AU00/01517 
               PCT/AU00/01512 
               PCT/AU01/00502 
               PCT/AU02/01120 
             
             
               PCT/AU00/00333 
               PCT/AU01/00141 
               PCT/AU01/00139 
               PCT/AU01/00140 
             
             
               PCT/AU00/00753 
               PCT/AU01/01321 
               PCT/AU01/01322 
               PCT/AU01/01323 
             
             
               PCT/AU00/00594 
               PCT/AU00/00595 
               PCT/AU00/00596 
               PCT/AU00/00597 
             
             
               PCT/AU00/00598 
               PCT/AU00/00741 
               PCT/AU00/00742 
             
             
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
   In accordance with the invention, there is provided a telescope having a built-in printer for printing a graphic image corresponding to an optical image received optically by the telescope. 
   Preferably, the telescope includes an image sensor for sensing the optical image and converting it to image data, and a print engine controller for receiving the image data and controlling a printhead to print the graphic data based on the image data. 
   In a preferred embodiment, the telescope includes: 
   a micro-control circuit operatively connected to the print engine controller to control a motor driver for print media transportation; and 
   a motor driver for operating a guillotine motor to sever a printed image from a roller of print media. 
   Preferably, the telescope includes image memory associated with the print engine controller. 
   It is also preferred that the telescope further include image enhancement circuitry for enhancing the image data prior to printing. 
   Preferably, the printhead is a pagewidth printhead, and more preferably is an inkjet printhead. 
   In a preferred embodiment, the printer includes a print engine assembly comprising first and second sub-assemblies, the first sub-assembly incorporating an ink source and print media, and the second sub-assembly incorporating a printhead. 
   In a preferred form, the telescope includes a longitudinal body through which passes at least some of the optical path of light entering the telescope, and a slot extending along the body through which the graphic image is, in use, dispensed. 
   In a particularly preferred embodiment, the printer includes a source of print media, configured such that the print media moves in a print path that is generally orbital about an axis of the body of the printer. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A preferred and exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  shows a three dimensional view of a print engine, including components in accordance with the invention; 
       FIG. 2  shows a three dimensional, exploded view of the print engine; 
       FIG. 3  shows a three dimensional view of the print engine with a removable print cartridge used with the print engine removed; 
       FIG. 4  shows a three dimensional, rear view of the print engine with the print cartridge shown in dotted lines; 
       FIG. 5  shows a three dimensional, sectional view of the print engine; 
       FIG. 6  shows a three dimensional, exploded view of a printhead sub-assembly of the print engine; 
       FIG. 7  shows a partly cutaway view of the printhead sub-assembly; 
       FIG. 8  shows a sectional end view of the printhead sub-assembly with a capping mechanism in a capping position; 
       FIG. 9  shows the printhead sub-assembly with the capping mechanism in its uncapped position; 
       FIG. 10  shows an exploded, three dimensional view of an air supply arrangement of the print engine; 
       FIG. 11  is a schematic block diagram of components incorporated into a telescope having a built-in printer; and 
       FIG. 12  is a schematic perspective view of a telescope having an in-built printer. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   In  FIGS. 1 to 10  of the accompanying drawings, reference numeral  500  generally designates a print engine, in accordance with the invention. The print engine  500  includes a print engine assembly  502  on which a print roll cartridge  504  is removably mountable. 
   The print cartridge  504  is described in greater detail in our co-pending applications entitled “A Print Cartridge” and “An Ink Cartridge” filed as International Patent Application numbers PCT/AU00/00741 and PCT/AU00/00742 respectively, the contents of which are specifically incorporated herein by cross reference. 
   The print engine assembly  502  comprises a first sub-assembly  506  and a second, printhead sub-assembly  508 . 
   The sub-assembly  506  includes a chassis  510 . The chassis  510  comprises a first molding  512  in which ink supply channels  514  are molded. The ink supply channels  514  supply inks from the print cartridge  504  to a printhead  516  ( FIGS. 5 to 7 ) of the printhead sub-assembly  508 . In the preferred embodiment, the printhead  516  prints in four colors or three colors plus ink which is only visible in the infrared spectrum (hereinafter referred to as ‘infrared ink’). Accordingly, four ink supply channels  514  are defined in the molding  512  together with an air supply channel  518 . The air supply channel  518  supplies air to the printhead  516  to inhibit the build up of foreign particles on a nozzle guard of the printhead  516 . 
   The chassis  510  further includes a cover molding  520  that supports a pump  522 . The pump  522  is a suction pump, configured to draw air through an air filter in the print cartridge  504  via an air inlet pin  524  and an air inlet opening  526 . Air is expelled through an outlet opening  528  into the air supply channel  518  of the chassis  510 . 
   The chassis  510  further supports a first drive motor in the form of a stepper motor  530  that drives the pump  522  via a first gear train  532 . The stepper motor  530  is also connected to a drive roller  534  ( FIG. 5 ) of a roller assembly  536  of the print cartridge  504  via a second gear train  538 . The gear train  538  engages an engageable element  540  ( FIG. 2 ) carried at an end of the drive roller  534 . The stepper motor  530  thus controls the feed of print media  542  to the printhead  516  of the sub-assembly  508  to enable an image to be printed on the print media  542  as it passes beneath the printhead  516 . It also to be noted that, as the stepper motor  530  is only operated to advance the print media  542 , the pump  522  is only operational to blow air over the printhead  516  when printing takes place on the print media  542 . 
   The molding  512  of the chassis  510  also supports a plurality of ink supply conduits in the form of pins  544  which are in communication with the ink supply channels  514 . The ink supply pins  544  are received through an elastomeric collar assembly  546  of the print cartridge  504  for drawing ink from ink chambers or reservoirs  548  ( FIG. 5 ) in the print cartridge  504  to be supplied to the printhead  516 . 
   A second motor  550 , which is a DC motor, is supported on the cover molding  520  of the chassis  510  via clips  552 . The motor  550  is provided to drive a separating means in the form of a cutter arm assembly  554  to part a piece of the print media  542 , after an image has been printed thereon, from a remainder of the print media. The motor  550  carries a bevelled gear  556  on an output shaft thereof. The bevelled gear  556  meshes with a bevelled gear  558  carried on a worm gear  560  of the cutter assembly  554 . The worm gear  560  is rotatably supported via bearings  562  in a chassis base plate  564  of the printhead sub-assembly  508 . 
   The cutter assembly  554  includes a cutter wheel  566 , which is supported on a resiliently flexible arm  568  on a mounting block  570 . The worm gear  560  passes through the mounting block  570  such that, when the worm gear  560  is rotated, the mounting block  570  and the cutter wheel  566  traverse the chassis base plate  564 . The mounting block  570  bears against a lip  572  of the base plate  564  to inhibit rotation of the mounting block  570  relative to the worm gear  560 . Further, to effect cutting of the print media  542 , the cutter wheel  566  bears against an upper housing or cap portion  574  of the printhead sub-assembly  508 . This cap portion  574  is a metal portion. Hence, as the cutter wheel  566  traverses the capped portion  574 , a scissors-like cutting action is imparted to the print media to separate that part of the print media  542  on which the image has been printed. 
   The sub-assembly  506  includes an ejector mechanism  576 . The ejector mechanism  576  is carried on the chassis  510  and has a collar  578  having clips  580 , which clip and affix the ejector mechanism  576  to the chassis  510 . The collar  578  supports an insert  582  of an elastomeric material therein. The elastomeric insert  582  defines a plurality of openings  584 . The openings  584  close off inlet openings of the pins  544  to inhibit the ingress of foreign particles into the pins  544  and, in so doing, into the channels  514  and the printhead  516 . In addition, the insert  584  defines a land or platform  586  that closes off an inlet opening of the air inlet pin  524  for the same purposes. 
   A coil spring  588  is arranged between the chassis  510  and the collar  578  to urge the collar  578  to a spaced position relative to the chassis  510  when the cartridge  504  is removed from the print engine  500 , as shown in greater detail in  FIG. 3  of the drawings. The ejector mechanism  576  is shown in its retracted position in  FIG. 4  of the drawings. 
   The printhead sub-assembly  508  includes, as described above, the base plate  564 . A capping mechanism  590  is supported displaceably on the base plate  564  to be displaceable towards and away from the printhead  516 . The capping mechanism  590  includes an elongate rib  592  arranged on a carrier  593 . The carrier is supported by a displacement mechanism  594 , which displaces the rib  592  into abutment with the printhead  516  when the printhead  516  is inoperative. Conversely, when the printhead  516  is operational, the displacement mechanism  594  is operable to retract the rib  592  out of abutment with the printhead  516 . 
   The printhead sub-assembly  508  includes a printhead support molding  596  on which the printhead  516  is mounted. The molding  596 , together with an insert  599  arranged in the molding  596 , defines a passage  598  through which the print media  542  passes when an image is to be printed thereon. A groove  700  is defined in the molding  596  through which the capping mechanism  590  projects when the capping mechanism  590  is in its capping position. 
   An ink feed arrangement  702  is supported by the insert  599  beneath the cap portion  574 . The ink feed arrangement  702  comprises a spine portion  704  and a casing  706  mounted on the spine portion  704 . The spine portion  704  and the casing  706 , between them, define ink feed galleries  708  which are in communication with the ink supply channels  514  in the chassis  510  for feeding ink via passages  710  ( FIG. 7 ) to the printhead  516 . 
   An air supply channel  711  ( FIG. 8 ) is defined in the spine portion  704 , alongside the printhead  516 . 
   Electrical signals are provided to the printhead  516  via a TAB film  712 , which is held captive between the insert  599 , and the ink feed arrangement  702 . 
   The molding  596  includes an angled wing portion  714 . A flexible printed circuit board (PCB)  716  is supported on and secured to the wing portion  714 . The flex PCB  716  makes electrical contact with the TAB film  712  by being urged into engagement with the TAB film  712  via a rib  718  of the insert  599 . The flex PCB  716  supports busbars  720  thereon. The busbars  720  provide power to the printhead  516  and to the other powered components of the print engine  500 . Further, a camera print engine control chip  721  is supported on the flex PCB  716  together with a QA chip (not shown) which authenticates that the cartridge  504  is compatible and compliant with the print engine  500 . For this purpose, the PCB  716  includes contacts  723 , which engage contacts  725  in the print cartridge  504 . 
   As illustrated more clearly in  FIG. 7  of the drawings, the printhead itself includes a nozzle guard  722  arranged on a silicon wafer  724 . The ink is supplied to a nozzle array (not shown) of the printhead  516  via an ink supply member  726 . The ink supply member  726  communicates with outlets of the passages  710  of the ink feed arrangement  702  for feeding ink to the array of nozzles of the printhead  516 , on demand. 
   In  FIG. 10 , the air supply path for supplying air to the printhead  516  is shown in greater detail. As illustrated, the pump  522  includes an impeller  728  closed off by an end cap  730 . The cover molding  520  of the chassis forms a receptacle  732  for the impeller  728 . The cover molding  520  has the air inlet opening  734  and the air outlet opening  736 . The air inlet opening  734  communicates with the pin  524 . The air outlet opening  736  feeds air to the air supply channel  518 , which, in  FIG. 10 , is shown as a solid black line. The air fed from the air supply channel  518  is blown into the printhead  516  to effect cleaning of the printhead. The air drawn in via the pump  522  is filtered by an air filter  738 , which is accommodated in the print cartridge  504 . The air filter  738  has a filter element  740  which may be paper based or made of some other suitable filtering media. The filter element  740  is housed in a canister, having a base  742  and a lid  744 . The lid  744  has an opening  746  defined therein. The opening  746  is closed off by a film  748 , which is pierced by the pin  524 . The advantage of having the air filter  738  in the print cartridge  504  is that the air filter  738  is replaced when the print cartridge  504  is replaced. 
   It is an advantage of the invention that an air pump  522  is driven by the stepper motor  530 , which also controls feed of the print media to the printhead  516 . In so doing, fewer components are required for the print engine  500  rendering it more compact. In addition, as the same motor  530  is used for operating the air pump  522  and for feeding the print media  542  to the printhead  516 , fewer power consuming components are included in the print engine  500  rendering it more compact and cheaper to produce. 
   It is also to be noted that, in order to make the print engine  500  more compact, the size of the print engine assembly  502  is such that most of the components of the assembly  502  are received within a footprint of an end of the print cartridge  504 . 
   In  FIG. 11  there is schematically depicted in block diagram form the key internal components of a telescope having an internal printer. The printer would typically utilize a monolithic printhead  814  which could be the same as described above with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 10 , but could alternatively be another compact printhead capable of printing on photograph-sized print media. An image sensor  806  receives images from a lens  802  ( FIG. 12 ) of the telescope. Image data from the image sensor  806  is fed to a print engine controller  813  that controls the printhead  814 . A memory  815  is associated with the print engine controller and stores an image memory. This image memory might be stored upon depression of a trigger  817  for example. 
   A micro-controller  807  associated with the image sensor and print engine controller controls a motor driver  809 , which in turn drives a media transport device  810 . This might be the same as stepper motor  530  described earlier. 
   The micro-controller  807  also controls a motor driver  811  which in turn controls a guillotine motor  812  to sever a printed sheet from an in-built roll of print media after an image is printed. A sheet being driven by media transport device  810  is shown in dotted lines at  816  in  FIG. 12 . The guillotine might be of the form of cutter wheel  566  described earlier. 
     FIG. 12  depicts a particular embodiment of a telescope  800  incorporating an in-built printer. The telescope  800  includes a printer body portion  803  from which there extends telescopic lens components  802  and  805 . Component  802  might rotate with respect to component  805  to effect extension or retraction of the telescope for focusing on an object. An image sensor is provided within portion  805  and relays information electronically to an eyepiece  801  in which there is provided an electronic display unit. That is, the printer is located between the image sensor and the display unit. The printer body portion  803  includes a slot  804  through which paper  816  having an image printed thereon can be dispensed. A trigger  817  can be positioned on the body portion  803  or any other part of the telescope to initiate a printing operation. 
   In use, a person holding the telescope  800  would use eyepiece  801  to view a remote object. When ready, the trigger  817  can be depressed to activate the print engine controller to print an image stored in memory  815 . This would in turn activate the micro-controller  807  to activate the media transport  810  and guillotine  812 . A printed image  816  having passed out of slot  804  would then be available as a permanent record. 
   While particular embodiments of this invention have been described, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments and examples are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein. It will further be understood that any reference herein to known prior art does not, unless the contrary indication appears, constitute an admission that such prior art is commonly known by those skilled in the art to which the invention relates.