Imaging apparatus having automatic medium identification and method for automatically identifying a medium in an imaging apparatus

An imaging apparatus for recording images on a medium, the medium having an exterior surface with information recorded thereon in the form of optically detectable markings, the imaging apparatus comprising:

• a body having a medium holding chamber for positioning the medium;
• an electronic image capture system having:
• an imager having an imaging area that converts light incident on the imaging area into an electronic signal;
• a lens system for focusing light from the scene onto at least a portion of the imaging area;
• a selectably actuatable light source providing light in the holding chamber to illuminate the markings;
• an optical path aligned with the markings and having a light entry area positioned to receive light that is reflected by the markings, said optical path conducting the reflected light from the entry area to an exit area of the optical path, with said exit area positioned to direct light from the light path to form an image on at least a part of the imaging area;
• and
• a controller actuating the light source and capturing an electronic signal from the part of the imaging area on which the image is formed;
• said controller adapted to analyze the electronic signal to determine the information encoded in the markings.

A camera for recording images on film and electronically, the film being housed in a container having an exterior surface with information recorded thereon in the form of optically detectable markings, the camera comprises:

• a camera body having a film image capture system for capturing images of a scene on the film;
• a film holding chamber for positioning the film container so that the film can be used by the film image capture system;
• an electronic image capture system having an imager with an imaging area that converts light incident on the imaging area into an electronic signal and a lens system for focusing light from the scene onto at least a portion of the imaging area;
• a selectively actuatable light source directing light onto the markings;
• a set of optical fibers each having an entry area receiving light, an exit area for directing received light out of each fiber, and a pathway for conveying substantially all of the received light from each entry area to each exit area;
• a chamber connector located in the film holding chamber and distributing the entry areas of the set of optical fibers to confront areas of the exterior surface of the film container having markings thereon;
• an imaging locator positioning the exit areas so that light from the exit areas is projected onto at least part of the imaging area of the imager to form an image of the markings;
• and,
• a controller activating the light source and causing an electronic signal representing the image of the markings onto the imaging area;
• said controller adapted to analyze the electronic signal to determine therefrom the information recorded in the markings.

A method of using a scene imager in a camera to determine the information content of markings on a medium contained in a chamber of the camera, the method comprising the steps of:

• applying a light to the medium in an area confronting the markings;
• extracting an image of the light reflected by the markings;
• conveying the image of the light reflected by the markings to the imager;
• forming an image on the imager representative of the markings;
• converting the image formed on the imager into an electronic signal;
• and,
• determining the information content of the markings based upon the analysis of the electronic signal.