Electronic camera apparatus for instant and conventional photography, and video cameras

A camera apparatus for recording improved hard-copy of a video image includes a signal processing circuit for correcting the characteristics of the CCD to conform to the characteristics of the photosensitive material, a light beam generating and focusing circuit for exposing the photosensitive material to the image, and, a display processor for directing and controlling the passing of the light beam(s).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a video camera apparatus which uses the video 
signals it generates from taking a picture frame of an object, to control 
a light imaging device to make a hard-copy image of the object onto 
photosensitive material. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
Various apparatus and methods of producing a hard-copy image of an object 
whose picture is taken by an electronic still camera or a television 
camera have been suggested. One such apparatus and method is fully 
described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,780,756. In this patent, the video signal 
representing the picture frame whose hard-copy is sought is passed through 
various components and is finally entered into a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), 
where it makes the picture. The light from the picture on the CRT is then 
focused by a lense onto a photosensitive material where the hard-copy is 
made. 
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,053,879, a CRT, again used to display the image data, is 
exposed to photographic paper onto which light from the image on the CRT 
is focused and a hard-copy is made. 
However, these known CRT based methods of producing a hard-copy image of an 
object on photosensitive paper have distinct shortfalls. One such 
shortfall is that the final quality of the hard-copy image depends in turn 
on the quality of the picture or image on the CRT. Another shortfall of 
these CRT based hard-copy image formation methods is the large number of 
additional circuit components needed to reduce the visual perception of 
rasler scan lines in the CRT image in order to improve the overall quality 
of the final hard-copy image print. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Accordingly, it is the primary object of this invention to provide a new 
and improved apparatus and method for making a hard-copy image of an 
object using an electronic still camera or a video television camera, into 
which this apparatus may be incorporated. 
Another object of this invention is to provide a camera imaging mechanism 
that, under control of the central processor and imaging system processor, 
uses focused light beams generated by a laser source such as a laser or a 
laser diode or a non-laser diode, to make a hard-copy image of an object 
onto photosensitive material. 
Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus that can also 
function as a video printer when desired. 
Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus that can take 
"still" or "motion" pictures in the manner of an electronic still camera 
or a video television (TV) camera respectively. 
Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus that is capable 
of exposing more than one photosensitive material frame with the one exact 
image, especially in those cases when specific positions or instances of a 
moving object need to be captured in hard-copy form. 
Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus and method that 
is capable of changing or adjusting the final hard-copy image by, for 
example, changing the color tone and the brightness of the hard-copy 
image. 
With the above objects in mind, and such other objects in view as will 
hereafter more fully appear in the detailed description of the preferred 
embodiment and the accompanying drawings, this invention consists of the 
novel combinations and arrangements of parts and methods of generating a 
picture signal in formation, storing it, and then using this information 
to direct and control a light beam source and focusing mechanisms that 
expose the photosensitive material and makes an image of the object whose 
picture information was stored in memory. 
It is, however, to be understood that variations and modifications may be 
resorted to which fall within the invention as claimed. Further, the parts 
of the apparatus which make up this invention may be only a part or 
section of the entire structure of, for example, an electronic still 
camera or a video camera, or even a video printer. When they are, then 
they may have more than one function, such as running or being connected 
to other parts of the camera.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring to FIG. 1, a light beam which may be the main light beam from the 
object or a split part of the beam which is split by a half reflecting 
mirror (not shown), enters the image sensor which may be a CCD, which is 
Section 4. The image sensor is responsible for the picture quality since 
its pixel count per given square area determines how much information 
about the object being photographed is passed on to the image. 
The image sensor converts the light information of the object into a 
corresponding electrical signal. The electrical signal is weak and is 
amplified by amplifier Section 6 of FIG. 1. The signal from the amplifier 
moves into Section 8, FIG. 1, which is a signal processing circuit. Here 
the circuit of FIG. 1, Section 8 carries out gamma correction and adjusts 
the signal characteristics due to the image sensor to conform to the gamma 
characteristics of the photosensitive material onto which the hard-copy 
image will be made in one form, or onto which the soft-copy will be made 
in another form. Section 8 of FIG. 1 may also make adjustments in color 
and separate the signal into luminance and chrominance signal components. 
The output of Section 8 is passed through an A/D converter, Section 9 of 
FIG. 1. From the A/D converter, the digitized signal is stored into 
temporary memory storage circuits, Section 10 of FIG. 1. All the above 
activities are controlled by the CPU, Section 14, which is also used to 
control the timing and functions of other camera parts which are not part 
of the invention, but which make up the entire camera into which this 
invention apparatus is incorporated. 
Image information already stored in permanent memory circuits, Section 12 
of FIG. 1, that needs to be made into hard-copy form, is retrieved from 
therein, and passed through D/A circuit, Section 25 and the analog signal 
is fed to Section 8, FIG. 1. If changes are needed to be made on this 
image, the information to effect this change, in form of instructions 
regarding the desired change, such as modifications in shape, changes in 
color and brightness, is input through the invention's system through 
Section 24, FIG. 1, which is the input and output interface ports. This 
Section 24 of FIG. 1 preferably includes a miniature keyboard for 
inputting information and output ports for displaying image information on 
a television screen that may or may not be part of the entire camera into 
which this invention is incorporated. 
Under the direction of the CPU, the image information now in temporary 
memory storage circuits, Section 10 of FIG. 1, is fed to the display 
processor, Section 16 of FIG. 1. The display processor, Section 16, then 
in turn controls and directs the light beam generating and focusing 
circuits, which is Section 18 of FIG. 1. 
Using the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the display processor 
of FIG. 1, Section 16, in turn, from the information given to it by the 
CPU, Section 14 of FIG. 1, instructs the light beam generating and 
focusing mechanism, which is Section 42 of Fig. 3, to build up a variable 
electric or magnetic field in the space marked C and D in FIG. 3. This 
variable electric or magnetic field that varies according to the 
information sent to the focusing (imaging mechanism), Section 42 of FIG. 
3, is then used to focus or deflect the charged or magnetic material (one 
that can be attracted or repelled by a magnetic field depending on its 
polarity) light source support structure, which is Section 44 of FIG. 3. 
In so doing, the electric or magnetic field also deflects the required 
light beam(s) coming out of the array of light sources so that they focus 
only on the required pixels on the photosensitive materials Section 38 of 
FIG. 3. The array of light sources is composed of one or more sharp light 
beams that can be switched on individually or in multitudes as the 
situation may demand. Also the light beam from each individual light 
source has a different color (wave length) or a combination of colors from 
the rest, within the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum. 
Specifically, the display processor controls the deflection of these light 
beams. It also decides when and what light beams should be switched on. 
An example is given for simplification purposes: Variable one, denoted by 
the letter V, specifies the number of beams to be switched on. Variable W 
specifies the color of each beam to be switched on. Variable three, 
denoted by the letter X, specifies the position of the pixel along the 
x-axis in the photosensitive material plane where each beam is to be 
focused. Variable four, denoted by the letter Y, specifies the position of 
the pixel along the Y-axis in the photosensitive material plane where the 
beam is to be focused. If the red, green, and blue beams are to be focused 
onto pixel points on the photosensitive material (X.sub.1, Y.sub.1), 
(X.sub.2, Y.sub.2), (X.sub.3, Y.sub.3) respectively, then the commands may 
be represented as follows: 
(V.sub.1, W.sub.R).fwdarw.(X.sub.1, Y.sub.1) 
(V.sub.1, W.sub.S).fwdarw.(X.sub.2, Y.sub.2) 
(V.sub.1, W.sub.D).fwdarw.(X.sub.3, Y.sub.3) 
Alternatively, another variation in the commands given by the display 
processor may be to specify pixel point G on the photosensitive material, 
as the current position of a particular beam of light, and then specify 
its destination, pixel point H, in terms of X and Y. Then with pixel point 
G as the starting point of the beam, it is only necessary to specify X and 
Y to get to point H. These are the coordinates of Vector GH through which 
the beam is to be moved. Of importance too is the information about 
variable V and W regarding the beam(s) that has to be provided as the beam 
moves along the vector or Contour GH. 
Preferably, a filter should be placed in front of the photosensitive 
material. This filter should have a hole or holes through which the light 
beam has to pass to expose the desired pixel(s) on the photosensitive 
material, while blocking or stopping the same light beam(s) from exposing 
other pixel points within the vicinity of the desired pixel(s). In 
addition, the position of the filter should be adjustable or movable in 
order to allow the correct positioning of the outlet hole through which 
the light beam(s) pass in order to expose the photosensitive material. 
The present invention described with reference to the particular embodiment 
above and illustrated in the drawings of FIG. 1 through FIG. 3, may have 
other embodiments that those skilled in the art can easily make without 
deviating from its primary scope. The scope of this invention should 
therefore be determined, not by the embodiment described, but by the 
appended claims.