US 6,665,008 B1Granted

Artcard for the control of the operation of a camera device

AssigneeSilverbrook Research Pty Ltd

InventorKia Silverbrook

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Abstract

The digital camera includes an image sensor for sensing an image; a memory device for storing the sensed image and associated system structures; a card reader sensor for the insertion of an image modification data module for modification of the sensed image; and a processor interconnected to the image sensor, the memory device and the card reader sensor for the control of the camera in addition to the manipulation of the sensed image. The camera further includes a printer for printing out the sensed image on demand on print media; and includes a method of providing an image modification data module adapted to cause the processor to modify the operation of the digital camera upon the insertion of further image modification modules. The image modification data module can comprise a card having the data encoded in two dimensions on the surface thereof and the data encoding is in the form of printing and the card reader sensor includes an optical scanner for scanning a surface of the card. The modification of operation can include applying each image modification in turn of a series of inserted image modification modules to the same image in a repetitive manner.

Claims7

Dependent claims

A method of generating a printed image using a digital camera that includes:

an image sensor for capturing an optical image as digital image data;
memory for storing digital image data;
a reader for receiving print media bearing data in printed form and for reading the instruction data from the print media;
a processor operatively connected to the memory and reader, configured to control the camera and perform image manipulation operations on digital image data in the memory;
and
an inbuilt printer for printing the printed image based on digital image data in the memory;
the method including the steps of:
(a) receiving, in the reader, first print media, and reading camera control data printed on the first print media, the camera control data indicating that at least two further print media insertions are to be expected;
(b) modifying, using the processor, a state of the device on the basis of the camera control data, such that the camera awaits at least two further print media insertions;
(c) receiving, in the reader, the at least two further print media insertions, and reading image manipulation data printed on the inserted print media upon each of the further insertions;
(d) manipulating digital image data stored in the memory at least partially on the basis of the image manipulation data, thereby to generate manipulated image data;
and
(e) generating, using the printer, the printed image based at least partially on the manipulated image data.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.