Abstract:
The conventional mobile electronic apparatuses in which a fuel retained in a pack or a fuel cartridge is supplied through a pump to a fuel cell had a defect that, due to the pump incorporated in the apparatus main body, the size and the weight thereof are large, thereby reducing the portability thereof. Moreover, mobile electronic apparatuses in which a liquid fuel is supplied through a dropping pipet to a fuel cell had a defect that a long time is required to the supply work. The present invention provides a storage medium that is detachably mounted in an electronic apparatus equipped with a fuel cell, the storage medium comprising a cartridge in which a fuel for the fuel cell is stored, in order to solve the problem described above.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a storage medium and an electronic apparatus, and an information read-out apparatus, and particularly to a storage medium that stores electronic information such as image information, an electronic apparatus equipped with a fuel cell such as a direct methanol fuel cell that utilizes a methanol solution (fuel), and an information read-out apparatus that reads out image information and carries out printing processing.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     Mobile electronic apparatuses such as a digital camera and a mobile phone with a camera are known that are equipped with a fuel cell and driven with electric power obtained from the fuel cell (e.g., Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-355871).  
         [0005]     As a fuel cell equipped in such a mobile electronic apparatus, a direct methanol fuel cell is known in which, by supplying the fuel pole (anode) thereof with a methanol solution as a fuel and supplying the air pole (cathode) thereof with oxygen, electric power is obtained through an electrolyte film such as a proton conductive film.  
         [0006]     Moreover, a configuration is also proposed in which a digital camera equipped with a fuel cell is provided with a fuel pack and a sub-pack, and fuels retained in the packs are supplied to the fuel cell through driving power of a pump provided in the digital camera (e.g., Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-139742). Still moreover, a mobile apparatus is also proposed in which a liquid-transport pump is incorporated, and a fuel in a fuel cartridge is supplied to a fuel cell, through driving power of the liquid-transport pump (e.g., Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-119027). Furthermore, a mobile apparatus is also proposed in which a liquid fuel is supplied to a fuel cell, by use of a liquid fuel refueling device, like a dropping pipet (e.g., Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-93551).  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     However, the foregoing conventional mobile electronic apparatuses in which a fuel retained in a pack or a fuel cartridge is supplied through a pump to a fuel cell had a defect that, due to the pump incorporated in the apparatus main body, the size and the weight thereof are large, thereby reducing the portability thereof. Moreover, mobile electronic apparatuses in which a liquid fuel is supplied through a dropping pipet to a fuel cell had a defect that a long time is required to the supply work.  
         [0008]     The present invention has been implemented in consideration of the foregoing circumstances; it is an object of the present invention to provide a storage medium that is of a small size and a simple configuration and can supply an electronic apparatus with a fuel, without taking a long labor hour, an electronic apparatus in which the storage medium is mounted, and an information read-out apparatus that can refuel the cell to the storage medium.  
         [0009]     In order to achieve the foregoing object, a first aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in a storage medium that is detachably mounted in an electronic apparatus equipped with a fuel cell, a cartridge is incorporated in which a fuel for the fuel cell is stored.  
         [0010]     In a storage medium according to the first aspect, because the storage medium having a storage section incorporates a cartridge in which a fuel is stored, the fuel can be supplied to a fuel cell for an electronic apparatus, simply through the operation of loading the storage medium into the electronic apparatus. Moreover, the user can save the trouble of purchasing the fuel in addition to the storage medium. Still moreover, the fuel in the storage medium can be utilized as a backup battery for the electronic apparatus. In this case, because the storage medium as a backup battery is loaded into the electronic apparatus, the trouble of carrying a backup battery separately can be eliminated.  
         [0011]     Furthermore, by utilizing the storage medium according to the present invention, storage medium providing services can be practiced in which the storage medium, which stores the fuel to the extent of being enough to store image information corresponding to the writing capacity of the storage section, is distributed at the users&#39; cost. According to the foregoing services, in a case that the electronic apparatus is a digital camera, it goes without saying that, by merely loading the purchased storage medium into the digital camera, the user can, as ever before, pick up images and store image information in the storage medium; further, by, in the case of exhaustion of the secondary battery for the digital camera, supplying the fuel cell with the fuel in the storage medium and charging the secondary battery with the obtained electric power, the user can continue to pick up images, while prolonging the lifetime of the secondary battery by the time corresponding to the capacity of the fuel.  
         [0012]     In addition, in practicing the services, by providing a refueling device in a information read-out apparatus, i.e., a minilab system, installed in a laboratory or at a photo shop, that, based on the user&#39;s request, reads out and prints image information that has been stored in the storage medium by user&#39;s request of development, the storage medium can be refueled by the cell, for example, when image information is read out. Therefore, because the refueled storage medium is returned to the user, the returned storage medium can be repeatedly utilized as a storage medium having a charging function.  
         [0013]     A second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first aspect, the storage medium is formed in a flat shape, and a fuel port communicated with the cartridge is formed in a flat surface or a side surface, of the storage medium.  
         [0014]     In the storage medium according to the second aspect, the fuel port is formed in a flat surface or a side surface of the storage medium, and the fuel is supplied through a fuel supply tube connected to the fuel cell, from the fuel port to the fuel cell.  
         [0015]     A third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the second aspect, the fuel port is sealed with a check valve or a membrane.  
         [0016]     In the case where the fuel port is sealed with the check valve, the storage medium is required to possess a mechanism for opening and closing the check valve, whereby the structure of the storage medium is rendered slightly complex; however, the storage medium according to the third aspect can make it possible that the simple operation, i.e., opening the check valve by pressing the check valve against the fuel supply tube enables the fuel to be supplied to the fuel cell. Moreover, in the case where, the fuel port is sealed with the membrane, work is rendered necessary in which the membrane that has been broken during supply of the fuel is resealed during refueling; however, the membrane is not required to have the opening/closing mechanism, whereby an advantage is demonstrated in that the structure of the storage medium is simplified.  
         [0017]     A fourth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in an electronic apparatus in which the storage medium according to any one of the first, second, or third aspect, is detachably mounted, a fuel supply section is provided that supplies the fuel stored in the cartridge of the storage medium to the equipped fuel cell.  
         [0018]     In the electronic apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the fuel supply section is provided that supplies the fuel cell with the fuel stored in the fuel cartridge of the storage medium; therefore, by merely loading into the electronic apparatus the storage medium in which the cartridge is integrally provided, the fuel stored in the fuel cartridge can be supplied to the fuel cell.  
         [0019]     A fifth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the fourth aspect, the electronic apparatus is a camera in which image information obtained by picking up an image of a photographic subject is stored in the storage section of the storage medium.  
         [0020]     The electronic apparatus according to the fifth aspect is a so-called digital camera, and images picked up by the digital camera are stored as image information in the storage section of the storage medium. The electronic apparatus is not limited to a digital camera, and can be exemplified by a typical silver-salt camera, a mobile phone with a camera, or a versatile mobile electronic communication apparatus such as a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant).  
         [0021]     A sixth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in an information read-out apparatus in which the storage medium according to any one of the first, the second, or the third aspect, is mounted and a read-out device for reading out information stored in a storage section of the storage medium is incorporated, a refueling device for refueling the cartridge in the storage medium is incorporated.  
         [0022]     With an information read-out apparatus according to the sixth aspect, because, when information stored in a storage section of a storage medium is read out, a refueling device refuels a cartridge of the storage medium, reading of the information as well as refueling can be carried out.  
         [0023]     A seventh aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the sixth aspect, the information read-out apparatus is a printer including a printing section for printing an image based on image information read out from the storage section of the storage medium.  
         [0024]     With the information read-out apparatus according to the seventh aspect, when the storage medium is loaded into the printer as an information read-out apparatus, image information stored in the storage section of the storage medium is read out by a read-out section of the printer, and an image based on the image information is printed by a printing section. The printer can be exemplified such as a self-serve shopfront digital-print system (manufactured by Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.: “Princiao Q”) that can immediately create high-image-quality color prints of images picked up by a digital camera. The foregoing digital-print system features operation through touch-panel monitor, high-image-quality print finishing, and diverse print menus, utilized as a shopfront reception machine through digital photo booth, and installed at places where people gather, such as a camera-specialty store, a mass-sales store, a station yard, a sightseeing resort, a hotel, and a supermarket.  
         [0025]     As described above, in a storage medium according to the present invention, because the storage medium having a storage section incorporates a cartridge in which a fuel is stored, the fuel can be supplied to a fuel cell for an electronic apparatus, simply through the operation of loading the storage medium into the electronic apparatus. Moreover, the user is exempted from the trouble of purchasing a fuel separately from a storage medium, and can utilize the fuel as a secondary battery for the electronic apparatus.  
         [0026]     Still moreover, in an electronic apparatus according to the present invention, a fuel supply section is provided that supplies a fuel cell with a fuel stored in the fuel cartridge of a storage medium; therefore, by merely loading into the electronic apparatus the storage medium in which the cartridge is integrally provided, the fuel stored in the fuel cartridge can be supplied to the fuel cell.  
         [0027]     Furthermore, in an information read-out apparatus according to the present invention, because, when information stored in a storage section of a storage medium is read out, a refueling device refuels a cartridge of the storage medium, reading of the information as well as refueling can be carried out. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0028]      FIG. 1  is an overall perspective view illustrating a memory pack and a camera according to an embodiment;  
         [0029]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the camera illustrated in  FIG. 1 , when viewed from the rear side;  
         [0030]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged perspective view of the memory pack illustrated in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0031]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the camera illustrated in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0032]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram illustrating a printer according to an embodiment;  
         [0033]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart illustrating a mode of usage for the printer in  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0034]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view illustrating the front surface of a memory pack as another embodiment of a storage medium;  
         [0035]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the rear surface of the memory pack illustrated in  FIG. 7 ;  
         [0036]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view, of the memory pack, taken along the line  9 - 9  in  FIG. 7 ;  
         [0037]      FIG. 10  is an explanatory view illustrating the configuration of the fuel supply section of the memory pack illustrated in  FIG. 7 ;  
         [0038]      FIG. 11  is an explanatory view illustrating the configuration of the fuel supply section of the memory pack illustrated in  FIG. 7 ;  
         [0039]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view illustrating the front surface of a memory pack as another embodiment of a storage medium;  
         [0040]      FIG. 13  is an explanatory view illustrating the configuration of the fuel supply section of the memory pack illustrated in  FIG. 12 ; and  
         [0041]      FIG. 14  is an explanatory view illustrating the configuration of the fuel supply section of the memory pack illustrated in  FIG. 12 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0042]     Preferred embodiments of a storage medium and an electronic apparatus, and an information read-out apparatus according to the present invention will be explained in detail below, with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
         [0043]      FIG. 1  is an overall perspective view of a camera (electronic apparatus)  12  that is loaded with a memory pack (storage medium)  10  according to the present invention; and  FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the camera  12 .  
         [0044]     The camera  12  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  is a digital camera having a record/playback function for still images and moving images and a voice record/playback function. The exterior cover of the camera  12  is formed of a front cover  13  and a rear cover  14 . On the front cover  13 , an image pickup lens  18  disposed in a collapsible camera cone  16 , a viewfinder  20 , a stroboscopic-light control sensor  22 , a strobe  24 , a sound collector  25  for a microphone, and a power switch  26  that plays the role of a grip are provided at respective predetermined positions. The power switch  26  is horizontally slidably provided on the front cover  13 ; by sliding the power switch  26 , electric power is turned ON or OFF. Moreover, a lens cover (unillustrated) for protecting the image pickup lens  18  at the collapse position is provided on the front cover  13 ; when the image pickup lens  18  is protruded, the lens cover is driven so as to open, in response to the protrusion of the image pickup lens  18 .  
         [0045]     A shutter button  28  is provided on the top side of the exterior cover of the camera  12 . When the shutter button  28  is pressed halfway, an automatic-focusing function is activated, whereupon focusing of the image pickup lens  18  is implemented. Then, full press of the shutter button  28  makes an image to be picked up. On the one side of the exterior cover of the camera  12 , a video terminal  30  to which a video cable is connected, a power input terminal  32  to which a power adaptor is connected, a connecter  34  to which a USB cable or a cradle is connected, and a sound output section  36  for a speaker are provided at respective predetermined positions. Moreover, on the one side of the exterior cover, a loading room  52  for the memory pack  10  is formed; through the loading room  52 , the memory pack  10  is loaded into the camera  12 . The loading room  52  is obstructed in an openable and closable manner, by use of a sheet-like cap  54  formed of an elastic member such as rubber.  
         [0046]     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , on the rear cover  14  of the camera  12 , a LCD monitor  38 , a viewfinder  40 , a dial  42 , and multiple operation buttons  44 A,  44 B to  44 G are provided at respective predetermined positions. In the case where the camera  12  is in an image-pickup mode, an image picked up through the image pickup lens  18  of  FIG. 1  is displayed on the LCD monitor  38  that is utilized as an electronic viewfinder. In contrast, in the case where the camera  12  is in the playback mode, an image that has been picked up and recorded is displayed. In addition, the LCD monitor  38  is also utilized to display image-pickup modes.  
         [0047]     The dial  42  in  FIG. 2  is pivotably provided on the rear cover  14  by pivotally operating the dial  42 , the operation mode is switched to the playback mode, an image-pickup mode, the moving image mode, or the like. To the operation button  44 A, a function for implementing menu calling or each operation is assigned; to the operation button  44 B, a function for stopping each operation is assigned. To the operation button  44 C, a function for implementing zooming operation is assigned; to the operation button  44 D, a function for selecting a strobe setting; and the operation button  44 E, a function for selecting the short-distance image pickup mode. The operation buttons  44 C to  44 E are utilized when, in the case where the menu screen is displayed on the LCD monitor  38 , the cursor is shifted, or when, in the playback mode, images are advanced frame by frame. The operation button  44 F is utilized to set the number of pixels or the sensitivity; the operation button  44 G is utilized to divide the display screen.  
         [0048]     In the bottom side of the exterior cover of the camera  12 , a hole  46  for mounting a tripod and a battery cover  48  are provided. The battery cover  48  is mounted openable and closable on the exterior cover, and attached and detached, through pivotal operation and horizontally sliding operation. By opening the battery cover  48 , a secondary battery can be attached to and detached from the camera  12 . In addition, Reference Numeral  50  in  FIG. 2  designates a strap mounting lug.  
         [0049]     As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the memory pack  10  is a storage medium configured in such a way that a plastic case  60  as a pack main body incorporates a memory section (storage section: e.g., a RAM)  62  and a fuel cartridge  64 . On the outer surface of the case  60 , terminals  66 ,  66 , . . . for connecting the memory section  62  to external connectors; at a fuel port  68  of the fuel cartridge  64 , a check valve  70  for obstructing the fuel port  68 , in an openable and closable manner.  
         [0050]     The case  60  is formed in an approximately flat shape in which the thickness of the memory section  62  is small, and the thickness of the fuel cartridge  64  is slightly larger than that of the memory section  62 ; on the surface of the memory section  62  of a small thickness, the terminals  66 ,  66 , . . . are arranged side by side, and in the end section of the fuel cartridge  64  of a larger thickness, the fuel port  68  is formed. Because the fuel port  68  is formed at that position, in conjunction with the operation of loading the memory pack  10  into the camera  12 , a tube (fuel supply section)  72  of the camera  12  presses and opens the check valve  70 . Accordingly, the fuel cartridge  64  is communicated through the tube  72  with a fuel cell  74  for the camera  12 , whereby a fuel  76  in the fuel cartridge  64  is supplied to the fuel cell  74 . In addition, compressed air  78  is enclosed, along with the fuel  76 , in the fuel cartridge  64 ; through the pressure of the compressed air  78 , the fuel  76  is pressure-fed to the fuel cell  74 .  
         [0051]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the camera  12 .  
         [0052]      FIG. 4  illustrates the condition in which the memory pack  10  has not been loaded into the loading room  52  (refer to  FIG. 1 ) of the camera  12 . When the memory pack  10  is loaded into the loading room  52 , the terminals  66 ,  66 , . . . of the memory pack  10  are connected to the corresponding terminals  79 , of the connector  77 , that are exposed in the loading room  52 . Concurrently, as described above, the fuel cartridge  64  is communicated through the tube  72  with the fuel cell  74  for the camera  12 .  
         [0053]     As can be seen from  FIG. 4 , when the shutter button  28  is pressed, a shutter  80  in the image pickup system opens, photographic-subject light that enters through the image pickup lens  18  forms an image on the image forming plane of the CCD  82 , and the optical data is converted into electrical image data. The image data is image-processed by an image processing section  84 , and then stored as image data in the memory section  62  of the memory pack  10  loaded in the loading room  52  (refer to  FIG. 1 ).  
         [0054]     Each sections incorporated in the camera  12  is integrally controlled by a CPU  86 . A secondary battery  88 , i.e., a battery, is connected to the CPU  86 . Each of sections incorporated in the camera  12  is driven by electric power charged in the secondary battery  88 . The secondary battery  88  is incorporated in the camera  12 . Moreover, when electric power charged in the secondary battery  88  is insufficient, the CPU  86  activates a converter  90 , thereby making the fuel cell  74  generate electric power. Then, electric power is supplied from the fuel cell  74  to the secondary battery  88 , so that the secondary battery  88  is charged. When the charging is completed, the CPU  86  stops the operation of the converter  90 , thereby making the fuel cell  74  stop generating electric power.  
         [0055]     Next, the fuel cell  74  will be explained.  
         [0056]     The fuel cell  74  according to the present embodiment is a direct methanol fuel cell; the casing  92  of the fuel cell  74  is segmented through a battery cell  94  into a fuel room  96  and an air room  98 . The root end of the tube  72  is connected to the fuel room  96 ; the front end of the tube  72  is exposed in the loading room  52  (refer to  FIG. 1 ).  
         [0057]     On the fuel cell  74 , a water storage section  100  is provided adjacent to the air room  98 . The water storage section  100  is communicated through an unillustrated drain outlet with the air room  98 . Accordingly, water created in the air room  98  is stored through the drain outlet in the water storage section  100 . The water stored in the water storage section  100  is heated into steam, through the heat of a heater  102  adjacent to the water storage section  100 , and discharged toward the outside of the camera  12 , through an unillustrated drain outlet. The heater  102  is driven also when the camera  12  is utilized in a low-temperature environment. In other words, in general, the fuel cell  74  cannot create chemical reaction in an environment of low-temperature such as below-freezing temperature, but, due to being heated by the heater  102 , creates chemical reaction, thereby generating electric power. Thus, the single heater  102  plays both roles as a water vaporizing heater and a heater for heating up the fuel cell  74 .  
         [0058]     The battery cell  94  is configured of a fuel pole  104  that makes up a wall surface of the fuel room  96 , an air pole  106  that makes up a wall surface of the air room  98 , and a proton conductive film  108  interposed between the fuel pole  104  and the air pole  106 .  
         [0059]     When the fuel  76  is supplied into the fuel room  96 , and a voltage is applied to the fuel pole  104 , the fuel is decomposed into carbon dioxides, hydrogen ions and electrons by catalytic reaction in the fuel pole  104 . The carbon dioxides are discharged from the fuel room  96  to the outer air, through an unillustrated gas-liquid separation filter provided on a wall surface of the fuel room  96  and an unillustrated exhaust hole provided on the camera  12 . The hydrogen ions pass through the proton conductive film  108  to move to the air pole  106 . Electrons flow through the converter  90  to the secondary battery  88 , whereby the secondary battery  88  is charged.  
         [0060]     The hydrogen ions moved to the air pole  106  pass through an unillustrated gas-liquid separation filter provided on a wall surface of the air room  98 , and then couple to form water with oxygen and electrons that have flowed through an air inlet (unillustrated) of the camera  12  into the air room  98 . The water passes through the drain outlet and is stored in the water storage section  100 . Thereafter, the water is heated into steam through the heat of the heater  102 , as described above and discharged toward the outer air.  
         [0061]     Next, the operation of the memory pack  10  and the camera  12  will be explained.  
         [0062]     Unlike a typical memory pack in which only a memory section is incorporated, the memory pack  10  according to the present embodiment includes in addition to the memory section  62  the fuel cartridge  64  in which the fuel  76  for a fuel cell is stored.  
         [0063]     Therefore, with the memory pack  10 , when, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the memory pack  10  is loaded into the loading room  52  of the camera  12  (refer to  FIG. 1 ), the terminals  66 ,  66 , . . . of the memory pack  10  are connected to the corresponding terminals  79 , of the connector  77 , that are exposed in the loading room  52 . Concurrently, due to the check valve  70  being pressed by the tube  72  to open, the fuel cartridge  64  is communicated through the tube  72  with the fuel cell  74  for the camera  12 . Accordingly, the operation of merely loading the memory pack  10  into the loading room  52  enables the fuel  76  in the fuel cartridge  64  to be supplied to the fuel cell  74  of the camera  12 . Moreover, because the fuel  76  is stored in the memory pack  10 , the user can save the trouble of purchasing the fuel in addition to the memory pack  10 . Still moreover, the fuel  76  in the memory pack  10  can be utilized as a backup battery for the camera  12 . In this case, because the memory pack  10  as a backup battery is loaded into the camera  12 , the trouble of carrying a backup battery separately can be eliminated.  
         [0064]     Furthermore, by utilizing the memory pack  10 , memory-pack providing services can be practiced in which the memory pack  10 , which stores the fuel  76  to the extent of being enough to store image information corresponding to the writing capacity of the memory section  62 , is distributed at the user&#39;s cost. According to the services, it goes without saying that, by merely loading the purchased memory pack  10  into the camera  12 , the user can, as ever before, pick up images and store the image information in the memory section  62  of the memory pack  10 . Further, by, in the case of exhaustion of the secondary battery  88  of the camera  12 , supplying the fuel cell  74  with the fuel  76  in the memory pack  10  and charging the secondary battery  88  with the obtained electric power, the user can continue to pick up images, while prolonging the lifetime of the secondary battery  88  by the time corresponding to the capacity of the fuel  76 .  
         [0065]     In addition, in practicing the services, by providing a refueling device in a information read-out apparatus, i.e., a minilab system, installed in a laboratory or at a photo shop, that, based on the user&#39;s request, reads out and prints image information that has been stored in the memory pack  10 , the memory pack  10  can be refueled with the fuel  76 , for example, when image information is read out. The memory pack  10  refueled with the fuel  76  is returned to the user; therefore, the returned memory pack  10  can be repeatedly utilized as the memory pack  10  having a charging function.  
         [0066]     Meanwhile, in the camera  12 , the tube  72  is provided that supplies the fuel cell  74  with the fuel  76  stored in the fuel cartridge  64  of the memory pack  10 . Therefore, by merely loading into the camera  12  the memory pack  10  in which the fuel cartridge  64  is integrally provided, the fuel  76  stored in the fuel cartridge  64  can be supplied to the fuel cell  74 .  
         [0067]     In addition, in the present embodiment, the camera  12  has been exemplified by a digital camera. However, the camera  12  is not limited to the digital camera, but can be exemplified by a typical silver-salt camera, a mobile phone with a camera, or a versatile mobile electronic communication apparatus such as a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant). It is preferable that the amount of the fuel  76  enclosed in the memory pack  10  is enough to store in the memory section  62  picked up images and use up the memory section  62  in the case where the memory pack  10  is kept loaded while the camera is in the normal played back mode or the like. However, in the case where the capacity of the memory section  62  is large, or in the case where priority is given to the downsizing of the memory pack  10 , i.e., in the case where the amount of the fuel  76  is reduced, the amount of the fuel  76  should not necessarily be enough to satisfy the condition described above. In such a case, the memory pack  10  may be utilized in combination with an auxiliary refueling method (e.g., a fuel supply method in which, directly through a dropping pipet or the like, the fuel is made to permeate into the fuel pole).  
         [0068]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a printer  110 , i.e., an information read-out apparatus.  
         [0069]     In a read-out section of the printer  110 , a loading room  112  in which the memory pack  10  is loaded is provided. In the loading room  112 , a card reader  114  is arranged that, when the memory pack  10  is loaded, is connected to the terminals  66 ,  66 , . . . of the memory pack  10  and reads out image information stored in the memory section  62  of the memory pack  10 . In addition, in the loading room  112 , in order to enable another storage medium such as a CDROM or a floppy disk to be accommodated, a CDROM reader, a floppy disk reader, or the like is arranged.  
         [0070]     The reader  114  is controlled by a CPU  116 . Under the control of the CPU  116 , image information read out by the reader  114  is forwarded to an image processing section  118  and further to a development section  120 , whereupon a photograph is created. The photograph is discharged toward the outside, through a discharge section  122 . The image processing section  118  and the development section  120  corresponds to a printing section according to the present invention. In addition, in place of the development section  120 , an ink-jet printer section or a laser printer section may be provided.  
         [0071]     Meanwhile, in the printer  110  according to the present embodiment, a refueling section (a refueling device)  124  is provided. The refueling section  124  is configured of a tank  126 , a pump  128 , and a tube  130 ; the front end of the tube  130  is arranged exposed in the loading room  112 .  
         [0072]     When the memory pack  10  is loaded into the loading room  112  of the printer  110 , the terminals  66 ,  66 , . . . of the memory pack  10  are connected to the corresponding terminals  115 ,  115 , . . . of the reader  114 , that are exposed in the loading room  52 . Concurrently, due to the check valve  70  being pressed by the tube  130  to open, the fuel cartridge  64  of the memory pack  10  is communicated through the tube  130  with the tank  126  for the printer  110 . In the tank  126 , the fuel  76  is stored. The fuel  76  is sucked in, due to the pump  128  being driven. The fuel  76  sucked in through the pump  128  and air that is also sucked in through the pump  128  are supplied through the tube  130  to the fuel cartridge  64  of the memory pack  10  that has been loaded into the loading room  112 , whereby the fuel cartridge  64  is refueled with the fuel  76  along with compressed air.  
         [0073]     The foregoing refueling operation is carried out by utilizing the time during which images are being read out and/or during which photographic development is being carried out. Thus, with the printer  110  according to the present embodiment, after photographic development is completed, the memory pack  10  containing the fuel  76  fully refueled in the fuel cartridge  64  can be returned to the user. Accordingly, electric power necessary for image pickup is secured with the fuel  76  in the memory pack  10 . Therefore, the user does not have to go out of his way to carry a backup secondary battery. It is possible to provide a refueling port besides the fuel port  68 .  
         [0074]     Next, an example of a method of utilizing the printer  110  will be explained.  
         [0075]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart illustrating procedures for read-out processing and refueling processing that the reader  114  and the refueling section  124  are made to implement by the CPU  116 , respectively, when the memory pack  10  is loaded into the loading room  112  of the printer  110 .  
         [0076]     According to  FIG. 6 , after, in the step S 100 , the memory pack  10  is loaded into the loading room  112  of the printer  110 , and the terminals  115 ,  115 , . . . of the reader  114  are connected to respective terminals  66 ,  66 , . . . of the memory pack  10 , in the first place, in the step S 110 , the CPU  116  determines whether or not image information in the memory section  62  of the memory pack  10  can be read in. In the determination, if the CPU  116  determines that, due to a memory pack that the printer  110  cannot deal with being loaded into the loading room  112 , the image information in the memory section  62  cannot be read in, the CPU proceeds to the step S  120  and makes a warning lamp light so as to indicate that the reading of the memory is not possible, and then ends the processing flow. The warning lamp is a display lamp provided on the display screen of the printer  110  or at a position where the user can easily view the lamp.  
         [0077]     In contrast, if the CPU  116  determines in the step S 110  that the image information stored in the memory section  62  of the memory pack  10  can be read out by the reader  114 , the CPU  116  proceeds to the step S 130  where the reading of image information is started. Next, the CPU  116  proceeds to the step S 140 , and repeats the step S 140 , while checking whether or not the reader  114  has completed the reading of the image information.  
         [0078]     Thereafter, the reading of the image information has been completed in the step S 140 , the CPU  116  proceeds to the step S 150 , and determines whether or not refueling is possible. In the step S 150 , if the CPU  116  determines that, due to a certain defect (such as a damage to the memory pack  10  or a damage to the check valve  70 ), refueling is impossible, the CPU  116 , in the step S 160 , makes the warning lamp light so as to indicate that refueling is impossible and then ends the processing flow. Therefore, it is preferable that, in the printer  110 , a sensor for detecting a defect in the memory pack  10  is provided.  
         [0079]     Next, in the step S 150 , if the CPU  116  determines that refueling is possible, the CPU  116  proceeds to the step S 170 , and, by driving the pump  128 , starts refueling the fuel cartridge  64  of the memory pack  10 . Thereafter, in the step S 180 , the CPU  116  determines whether or not the refueling has been completed. When determining that the refueling has been completed, the CPU  116  makes the warning lamp light, in the step S 190 , so as to indicate that the memory pack  10  can be removed from the loading room  112 .  
         [0080]     As described above, the reading of image information in the memory pack  10  and the refueling of the fuel cartridge  64  are carried out sequentially. Then, in the step S 200 , by removing the memory pack  10  from the loading room  112 , the refueled memory pack  10  is returned to the user. In addition, in the printer  110 , by making it possible to automatically charge refueling expenses at the same time when an order for printing is placed, user&#39;s trouble of paying money can be saved, whereby convenience can further be enhanced.  
         [0081]      FIGS. 7 and 8  are perspective views illustrating a memory pack  150  as another embodiment of a storage medium.  FIGS. 7 and 8  illustrate the front and the rear surface, of the memory pack  150 , respectively.  
         [0082]     The memory pack  150  is configured of a memory section  154  and a fuel cartridge  156  that are contained, as illustrated in  FIG. 9 , in a flat-shape case  152  formed in an approximately rectangular form. As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , terminals  158 ,  158 , . . . of the memory section  154  are arranged on the rear surface of the memory pack  150 . In addition, the fuel  76  and the compressed air  78  are enclosed in the fuel cartridge  156  in  FIG. 9 . a fuel port  160  of the fuel cartridge  156  is formed in the front surface of the memory pack  150 , as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . The fuel port  160  is sealed with a metal thin film (membrane)  162  as well as a rubber film  164  attached inside the fuel port  160 . In addition, in order to prevent the thin film  162  from being easily broken by a nail or the like, the thin film  162  is provided in a tensioned state at a position slightly lower than the surface of the fuel port  160 .  
         [0083]      FIGS. 10 and 11  illustrate the configurations of the fuel cell  74  and a fuel supply section  166  that are provided in an electronic apparatus. The configuration of the fuel cell  74  in  FIGS. 10 and 11  is the same as that of the fuel cell  74  illustrated in  FIG. 4 . Therefore, the explanation will be omitted.  
         [0084]     As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the fuel port  166  is configured of a flexible tube  168  connected to the fuel room  96  of the fuel cell  74 , a nozzle  170 , having a front edge formed in a spike-like form, that is connected to the front end of the tube  168 , and a moving section  172  for moving the nozzle  170 .  
         [0085]     The moving section  172  has an arm  174  that holds the nozzle  170  at the front end thereof; the root end of the arm  174  is pivotably supported on an axle  178  arranged adjacent to a loading case  176  for the memory pack  150 . A protruding fin  180  is formed in the root end of the arm  174 . The protruding fin  180  is arranged thrusting into the loading case  176  interior through an unillustrated slot defined by cutting the loading case  176 . Moreover, the arm  174  is urged in the clockwise direction, in  FIG. 10 , with respect to the axle  178 , through urging force of a coil spring  182  arranged between the arm  174  and the loading case  176 . Still moreover, as illustrated in  FIG. 11 , an opening  184  for allowing the nozzle  170  to enter the loading case  176  and an opening  190  for allowing a leaf-spring-like terminal  188  provided on a connector  186  of the electronic apparatus to enter the loading case  176  are formed in the loading case  176 .  
         [0086]     With the fuel supply section  166  configured as described above, when, as illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the memory pack  150  is loaded into the loading case  176 , the front end, in the direction of the insertion, of the memory pack  150  abuts on the protrusive chip  180  of the arm  174 ; through the continuing loading operation, the protrusive chip  180  is pressed by the memory pack  150 . Accordingly, the arm  174  pivots in the counterclockwise, in  FIG. 11 , against the urging force of the coil spring  182 . Then, as illustrated in  FIG. 11 , after the memory pack  150  is inserted throughout the loading case  176 , the nozzle  170  enters, due to the pivot of the arm  174 , the loading case  176  through the opening  184 , whereupon the front-end spike portion of the nozzle  170  enters the fuel cartridge  156 , while breaking the metal thin film  162  and the rubber film  164 . Through the foregoing operation, the fuel  76  in the fuel cartridge  156  is pressure-fed by the pressure of the compressed air  78 , from the nozzle  170  to the fuel room  96  of the fuel cell  74 , through the tube  168 , whereby the fuel  76  of the memory pack  150  is supplied to the fuel cell  74 .  
         [0087]     In this situation, the broken rubber film  164  adheres, due to elastic force thereof, around the nozzle  170 . Therefore, the fuel  76  is prevented from leaking out from the fuel cartridge  156 . Moreover, because the terminal  188  of the connector  186  elastically makes contact with the terminal  158  of the memory section  154 , the memory section  154  and the connector  186  are connected to each other, whereby electronic information obtained in the electronic apparatus is stored in the memory section  154 .  
         [0088]     In the memory pack  10  illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the fuel port  68  is sealed with check valve  70 . In this case, the memory pack  10  is required to possess a mechanism for opening and closing the check valve  70 , whereby the structure of the memory pack  10  is rendered slightly complex. However, the memory pack  10  demonstrates an advantage in that the simple operation, i.e., opening the check valve  70  by pressing the check valve  70  against the tube  72  (refer to  FIG. 4 ) or the tube  130  (refer to  FIG. 5 ) enables the fuel  76  to be supplied to the fuel cell  74 . Moreover, in the case where, as the memory pack  150  in  FIG. 7 , the fuel port  152  is sealed with the thin film  162 , work is rendered necessary in which the thin film  162  that has been broken during supply of the fuel is resealed during refueling. However, the thin film  162  is not required to have the opening/closing mechanism, whereby an advantage is demonstrated in that the structure of the memory pack  150  is simplified.  
         [0089]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view illustrating a memory pack  200  as another embodiment of a storage medium.  
         [0090]     The memory pack  200  is configured of a memory section  204  and a fuel cartridge  206  that are contained in a flat-shape case  202  formed in an approximately rectangular form. In order to obtain maximal capacity for the size of the case  202 , the fuel cartridge  206  is formed in a slightly smaller size than that of the case  202 . Moreover, the memory section  204  is arranged in the level-difference portion of the fuel cartridge  206 ; therefore, the space inside the case  202  is efficiently utilized.  
         [0091]     Terminals  208 ,  208 , . . . of the memory section  204  are arranged on the front surface of the memory pack  200 . In addition, as illustrated in  FIG. 13 , the fuel  76  and the compressed air  78  are enclosed in the fuel cartridge  206 . As illustrated in  FIG. 12 , a fuel port  210  of the fuel cartridge  206  is formed in a counterboring portion  212  in the front surface of the memory pack  200 . The fuel port  210  is sealed with a metal thin film (membrane)  214 .  
         [0092]      FIGS. 13 and 14  illustrate the configurations of the fuel cell  74  and a fuel supply section  218  that are provided in an electronic apparatus  216 . The configuration of the fuel cell  74  in  FIGS. 13 and 14  is the same as that of the fuel cell  74  illustrated in  FIG. 4 ; therefore, the explanation will be omitted.  
         [0093]     As illustrated in  FIG. 13 , the fuel port  218  is configured of a permeation unit  220  connected to the fuel room  96  of the fuel cell  74 , e.g. sponge, a needle  222  for breaking the thin film  214 , and a moving section  224  for moving the needle  222 .  
         [0094]     The moving section  224  has an arm  226  that holds the needle  222  at the front end thereof. The root end of the arm  226  is pivotably supported on an axle  230  arranged in a loading case  228  for the memory pack  200 . A protruding fin  232  is formed in the root end of the arm  226 . The protruding fin  232  is arranged thrusting beneath the permeation unit  220  through an unillustrated slot defined by cutting the permeation unit  220 . Moreover, the arm  226  is urged in the clockwise direction, in  FIG. 13 , with respect to the axle  230 , through urging force of a coil spring  236  arranged between the arm  226  and a stopper  234  in the loading case  228 . Additionally, as illustrated in  FIG. 13 , an opening  238  for allowing the needle  222  to enter the fuel cartridge  206  is formed in the permeation unit  220 .  
         [0095]     Meanwhile, at the entrance/exit port of the loading case  228 , a rubber packing  240  is mounted that adheres to the front surface, the rear surface and the side surfaces, of the memory pack  200 . Because the rubber packing  240  adheres to the memory pack  200 , the gasified fuel  76  in the loading case  228  is prevented from leaking outward.  
         [0096]     With the fuel supply section  218  configured as described above, when, as illustrated in  FIG. 13 , the memory pack  200  is loaded into the loading case  228 , the front end, in the direction of the insertion, of the memory pack  220  abuts on the protruding fin  232  of the arm  226 . Through the continuing loading operation, the protruding fin  232  is pressed by the memory pack  220 . Accordingly, the arm  226  pivots in the counterclockwise, in  FIG. 13 , against the urging force of the coil spring  236 . Then, as illustrated in  FIG. 14 , after the memory pack  220  is inserted throughout the loading case  228 , the needle  222  breaks, due to the pivot of the arm  226 , the thin film  214  through the opening  238  of the permeation unit  220 , whereupon the needle  222  enters the fuel cartridge  206 . Due to the foregoing operation, the fuel  76  in the fuel cartridge  206  starts to leak from the fuel port  210  because of the pressure of the compressed air  78 , permeates into the permeation unit  220  inserted into the counterboring portion  212 , and then is supplied to the fuel room  96  of the fuel cell  74 .  
         [0097]     In this situation, part of the fuel  76  that has permeated into the permeation unit  220  is gasified in the loading case  228 . However, due to the rubber packing  240  adhered to the memory pack  200 , the loading case  228  is kept airtight, whereby the gasified fuel  76  never leaks outward. Moreover, in this case, because terminals of an unillustrated connector of the electronic apparatus  216  make contact with the terminals  208 ,  208 , . . . of the memory section  204 , the memory section  204  and the connector are connected to each other, whereby electronic information, such as image information, obtained in the electronic apparatus  216  is stored in the memory section  204 .