Electronic camera with memory card interface to a computer
AssigneeEastman Kodak Company
InventorsKenneth Parulski, Raymond J. Bouvy, Timothy J. Tredwell, David A. Smith
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electronic camera operates with a small, portable computer having a card interface of the type used for communicating with a removable memory card. The camera includes an image sensor for converting an image into an electrical signal, an A/D converter for converting the electrical signal into a digital signal, and a signal processor for interfacing the digital signal to the card interface, ordinarily a slot receptacle, on the computer. By defining the interface to include a mechanical extender that physically interconnects the camera to the card slot on the computer, the camera and computer are linked in a high speed interface as a convenient, hand-held unit.
Claims10
An electronic camera system comprising:
- a computer having a card interface slot of the type used for communicating with a removable card containing a semiconductor memory, wherein the card interface slot includes an internal connector;
- a camera including means for converting an image into an electrical signal, means for converting the electrical signal into a digital signal, and interfacing means for interfacing the digital signal to the internal connector of the card interface slot of the computer;
- wherein the interfacing means includes a structural element that fits into the card interface slot of the computer, and physically connects to the internal connector to provide a link for transferring the digital signal from the camera to the computer;
- and wherein the card interface slot is a PCMCIA interface slot wherein said image converting means and said signal coverting means are contained within an enclosure, and wherein said interfacing means further includes a cable for connecting said structural element to said enclosure.
An electronic camera for operation with a computer having a card slot for interfacing with a removable memory card, said camera comprising:
- an optical system for forming an image of a scene;
- an image sensor for converting the image into an electrical signal;
- an A/D converter for generating a digital signal from the electrical signal;
- a signal processor for generating a processed digital signal from the digital signal;
- and
- an adaptor for conveying the processed digital signal through the card slot to the computer;
- wherein the adaptor includes an extender board dimensioned to fit into the card slot of the computer and a connector for physically connecting the adaptor to the card slot, wherein the adaptor provides a link for transferring the processed digital signal from the camera to the computer, wherein the card slot and said adaptor use a PCMCIA standard electrical interface specification and wherein said image converting means and said signal converting means are contained within an enclosure, and wherein said interfacing means further includes a cable for connecting said structural element to said enclosure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.