Camera using a memory card with an integrated electronic imager for digital capture

A film camera adapted for electronically capturing an image, said camera comprising:

• a camera enclosure including a film drive for positioning a photographic film in a first image exposure plane within the enclosure;
• an optical system including one or more lens elements defining an optical path for forming the image on the first image plane;
• a receptacle within the enclosure for receiving a removable memory card through an exterior opening in the enclosure and guiding the memory card into the optical path, wherein said memory card includes an image sensor, a memory device for storing one or more images captured by the image sensor when it is located in the optical path, and an electronic interface for transferring an image signal from the image capture card;
• a digital display on the camera for displaying an image signal captured by the image sensor and transferred to the display via the electronic interface when the memory card is fully inserted into the receptacle;
• and
• means for sensing the presence of the memory card in the optical path in order to activate the digital display.

A film camera adapted for electronically capturing an image, said camera comprising:

• a camera enclosure including a film drive for positioning a photographic film in a first image exposure plane within the enclosure;
• an optical system including one or more lens elements defining an optical path for forming the image on the first image plane;
• a receptacle within the enclosure for receiving a removable memory card through an exterior opening in the enclosure and guiding the memory card into the optical path, wherein said memory card includes an image sensor and a memory device for storing one or more images captured by the image sensor when it is located in the optical path;
• a light lock associated with the receptacle for preventing entry of unwanted light into the camera through the exterior opening;
• and
• a camera control stage responsive to the presence of the memory card in the receptacle for adjusting the optical system to form the image at a second image plane on a surface of the image sensor and for disabling the film drive, thereby preventing the film from being advanced when the image sensor is used to capture the image.

A film camera adapted for electronically capturing an image, said camera comprising:

• a camera enclosure including a film drive for positioning a photographic film in a first image exposure plane within the enclosure;
• an optical system including one or more lens elements defining an optical path for forming the image on the first image plane;
• a receptacle within the enclosure for receiving a removable memory card through an exterior opening in the enclosure and guiding the memory card into the optical path, wherein said memory card includes an image sensor and a memory device for storing one or more images captured by the image sensor when it is located in the optical path;
• a display on the camera for providing camera operating information to a user of the camera;
• and
• means for signaling to the display the presence of the memory card in the receptacle so that the user of the camera may be prepared for a digital capture.

A digital camera adapted for electronically capturing an image, said digital camera comprising:

• a camera enclosure;
• an optical system including one or more lens elements defining an optical path for forming the image;
• a receptacle within the enclosure for receiving a removable memory card through an exterior opening in the enclosure and guiding the memory card into the optical path, wherein said memory card includes an integrated image sensor and memory device for storing one or more images captured by the image sensor when it is located in the optical path;
• means for sensing the presence of the memory card in the receptacle with the image sensor in the optical path;
• and
• a camera control stage responsive to the sensing means for controlling operation of the camera.

A method for electronically capturing an image in a film camera, said method comprising the steps of:

• positioning a photographic film in a first image exposure plane within the camera;
• utilizing an optical system including one or more lens elements to define an optical path for forming the image on the first image plane;
• inserting a removable memory card through an exterior opening in the camera and guiding the memory card into the optical path, wherein the memory card includes an integrated image sensor and memory device for storing one or more images captured by the image sensor when it is located in the optical path;
• sensing the presence of the memory card in the receptacle with the image sensor in the optical path;
• preparing the camera for digital capture by adjusting the optical system to form the image at a second image plane on a surface of the image sensor and disabling the film drive, thereby preventing the film from being advanced when the image sensor is used to capture the image;
• initiating an image exposure on the image sensor and subsequently storing the image in the memory device on the memory card;
• and
• removing the memory device from the camera, thereby restoring the film capture capability of the camera.