Patent ID: 7154580

Claim:
An apparatus for recording and generating images, the apparatus comprising a printing unit that comprises a carrier that is dimensioned to approximate a PCMCIA memory card, a media supply being receivable in the carrier; a page width print head assembly that is mounted in the carrier to print images on the media, the page width print head assembly including at least one print head chip and a suitable printing microprocessor that is configured to control operation of the print head chip; an ink supply mechanism that is operatively arranged with respect to the print head assembly to supply the print head assembly with ink; and a media feed mechanism positioned in the carrier to feed media to and from the print head chip; and an image recording apparatus that comprises a housing in which the carrier is received, the housing being dimensioned to define a sleeve for the carrier so that at least half the carrier is received in the housing; an image sensing device that is positioned on the housing to sense an image to be generated; and an image sensing microprocessor that is positioned in the housing and is operatively arranged with respect to the image sensing device to control operation of the image sensing device; wherein both the printing unit and the image recording apparatus have complementary releasable data connectors so that the image sensing microprocessor can communicate image data to the printing microprocessor of the printing unit.