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Digital Camera Patent Abstract
An inkjet printer is provided which is dimensioned to be at least
partially received within a memory card slot of a digital camera.
The printer has media and ink supplies, a pagewidth inkjet printhead
having ink ejection nozzles for ejecting ink from the ink supply
onto media from the media supply, a feed mechanism for feeding the
media from the media supply to the printhead, a distribution arrangement
for distributing the ink from the ink supply to the printhead, and
a controller arranged to be operatively connected to the image record
apparatus via an interface of the memory card slot when the printer
is received in the memory card slot. The controller controls operation
of the printhead in response to signals communicated from the digital
camera via the memory card slot interface.
Digital Camera Patent Claims
1. An inkjet printer dimensioned to be at least partially received
within a memory card slot of a digital camera, the printer comprising:
media and ink supplies; a pagewidth inkjet printhead having a plurality
of ink ejection nozzles for ejecting ink from the ink supply onto
media from the media supply; a feed mechanism for feeding the media
from the media supply to the printhead; a distribution arrangement
for distributing the ink from the ink supply to the printhead; a
controller arranged to be operatively connected to the image record
apparatus via an interface of the memory card slot when the printer
is received in the memory card slot, the controller controlling
operation of the printhead in response to signals communicated from
the digital camera via the memory card slot interface.
2. A printer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the memory card slot
is a PCMCIA memory card slot.
3. A printer as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an elongate,
substantially rectangular support structure, the printhead and ink
supply being arranged in a portion of the support structure which
is received in the memory card slot.
4. A printer as claimed in claim 3, wherein the feed mechanism
is arranged intermediate said portion and a remaining portion of
the support structure.
5. A printer as claimed in claim 4, wherein the media supply incorporates
a media cartridge which is releasably mounted on said remaining
portion of the support structure.
6. A printer as claimed in claim 5, wherein the media cartridge
is configured to hold sheets of media.
7. A printer as claimed in claim 6, wherein the feed mechanism
incorporates at least one roller configured to be engageable with
a lowermost sheet in the media cartridge when the media cartridge
is mounted on the support structure.
8. A printer as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a data connector
configured to be complementarily releasable from the memory card
slot interface data.
9. A printer as claimed in claim 8, wherein the data connector
and the memory card slot interface incorporate PCMCIA-type connectors.
10. A printer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the distribution arrangement
comprises an ink storage and feed structure in fluid communication
with a channeling structure, the ink storage and feed structure
including at least one outer ink reservoir and a plurality of ink
storage channels, the channeling structure including a plurality
of feed channels, each feed channel being in fluid communication
with a storage channel and at least one nozzle of the printhead
integrated circuit so that ink can be fed from an outer ink reservoir
to the plurality of nozzles of the printhead.
11. A printer as claimed in claim 10, wherein at least some of
the storage channels and the feed channels have progressively decreasing
cross-section towards the nozzles.
Digital Camera Patent Description
CROSS REFERNCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application is a Continuation of U.S. application
Ser. No. 11/124,042, filed May 9, 2005, which is a Continuation
of Ser. No. 09/942,601, filed 31 Aug. 2001, now issued as U.S. Pat.
No. 6,906,778, which is a Continuation In Part of U.S. application
Ser. No. 09/436,750, filed on Nov. 9, 1999, now issued as U.S. Pat.
No. 6,539,180, the entire contents of which are herein incorporated
by reference.
REFERENCED US PATENTS/PATENT APPLICATIONS
[0002] This application is a continuation-in-part application of
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/435,750. U.S. patent application
Ser. Nos. 09/436,509, 09/436,750, 09,113,053, 09/425,419 and 09/922,105
are hereby incorporated by reference.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0003] Not applicable.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0004] This invention relates to an image recordal and generation
apparatus.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The Applicant has developed print head assemblies that are
capable of generating images having a resolution of up to 1600 dpi.
Furthermore, the print head assemblies that the Applicant has developed
are of a relatively small size, allowing them to be incorporated
into a camera-based device such as that described in U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 09/113,053.
[0006] Details of such a print head assembly can be found in U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 09/113,053. The relatively small size
has been largely the result of the development of an ink jet print
head that is the subject of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/425,419.
[0007] The ink jet print head has allowed the Applicant to develop
a compact portable printer that is directly engageable with a PCMCIA
slot in a laptop or notebook computer. This compact portable printer
is the subject matter of the above referenced U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 09/436,509.
[0008] The Applicant has identified that it would be highly desirable
to provide an image recordal and generation assembly or apparatus
that is capable of generating the high-resolution images mentioned
above and yet is of a size that is comparable to pocket sized cameras
that are presently available.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a printing
unit arranged to cooperate with an image recordal apparatus so as
to form an apparatus for recording and generating images, the printing
unit comprising:
[0009] a carrier dimensioned to approximate a PCMCIA memory card,
a media supply being receivable in the carrier; [0010] 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; [0011]
a media feed mechanism positioned in the carrier to feed media to
and from the print head chip; and [0012] an ink distribution arrangement
including an ink storage and feed structure that is in fluid communication
with a channeling structure, the ink storage and feed structure
including at least one outer ink reservoir and a plurality of ink
storage channels, the channeling structure including a plurality
of feed channels, each feed channel being in fluid communication
with a storage channel and at least one nozzle of the printhead
chip so that ink can be fed from an outer ink reservoir to a nozzle
arrangement of the print head chip, wherein at least some of the
storage channels and the feed channels have progressively decreasing
cross-section towards the printhead chip. According to an associated
aspect of the invention, there is provided an apparatus for recording
and generating images, the apparatus comprising [0013] a printing
unit that comprises [0014] a carrier that is dimensioned to approximate
a PCMCIA memory card, a media supply being receivable in the carrier;
[0015] 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;
[0016] an ink supply mechanism that is operatively arranged with
respect to the print head assembly to supply the print head assembly
with ink; and [0017] a media feed mechanism positioned in the carrier
to feed media to and from the print head chip; and [0018] an image
recordal 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; [0019] an image sensing device that is positioned on the
housing to sense an image to be generated; and [0020] 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 [0021] both the printing unit
and the image recordal apparatus have complementary releasable data
connectors so that the image sensing microprocessor can communicate
image data to the printing microprocessor of the printing unit.
[0022] The invention is now described, by way of example, with
reference to the accompanying drawings. It is to be noted that the
following specific description is for the purposes of illustrating
a particular embodiment of the invention and the manner in which
it is to be performed and is not intended to limit the broad scope
of the preceding summary.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] In the drawings,
[0024] FIG. 1 shows a three dimensional view of a printing unit
of an apparatus, in accordance with the invention, for recording
and generating images;
[0025] FIG. 2 shows a partially exploded view of a print media
cartridge of the printing unit of FIG. 1;
[0026] FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the printing unit of FIG.
1;
[0027] FIG. 4 shows a partly cut away view of a print head of the
printing unit of FIG. 1;
[0028] FIG. 5 shows a three dimensional view of the apparatus for
recording and generating images;
[0029] FIG. 6 shows a rear view of the apparatus of FIG. 5;
[0030] FIG. 7 shows the apparatus of FIG. 5 with the printing unit
detached from an image recordal apparatus;
[0031] FIG. 8 shows the apparatus of FIG. 5 with a print media
cartridge detached from the printing unit;
[0032] FIG. 9 shows a front view of the apparatus of FIG. 5, indicating
the position of some of the components;
[0033] FIG. 10 shows a plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 5 also
indicating the position of some of the components; and
[0034] FIG. 11 shows a schematic block diagram indicating the various
components of the apparatus of FIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0035] In the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally indicates
an apparatus, in accordance with the invention, for recording and
generating images.
[0036] The apparatus 10 includes a printing unit 12. The printing
unit 12 has a carrier 14 that is dimensioned so that the printing
unit 12 is similar in size to a PCMCIA memory card. In particular,
the printing unit 12 is similar in size to a PCMCIA type III card.
As is known, PCMCIA is an acronym for Personal Computer Memory Card
International Association that sets parameters for PC cards having
various sizes. The PCMCIA type III card has a typical size of approximately
86 mm in length, approximately 54 mm in width and approximately
11 mm in thickness.
[0037] The carrier 14 includes an elongate, substantially rectangular
support structure 16. The support structure 16 includes a body portion
18 with a tray 20 positioned at one end of the body portion 18 and
a PCMCIA-type connector 22 positioned at an opposed end of the body
portion 18. A print head assembly 24 is mounted on the tray 20.
The print head assembly 24 includes a print head 26 that is positioned
to span a printing region indicated generally at 28. The print head
assembly 24 is shown in some detail in FIG. 4. The print head 26
includes at least one print head chip 27 that is the product of
an integrated circuit fabrication technique. Furthermore, each print
head chip is described in the above referenced U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 09/425,419.
[0038] The print head 26 has an ink distribution arrangement 30
mounted thereon. The ink distribution arrangement 30 is described
in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/922,105, which is incorporated
herein by reference. The ink distribution arrangement 30 includes
an ink storage and feed structure 29 in fluid communication with
a channeling structure 31. The channeling structure 31 is in fluid
communication with the print head chip 27 so that ink can be fed
to the nozzle arrangements of the print head chip 27. The ink storage
and feed structure 29 includes a pair of outer ink reservoirs 33
and a pair of rows of ink storage channels 35 positioned between
the outer ink reservoirs 33.
[0039] The channeling structure 31 includes a pair of rows of feed
channels 37. Each feed channel 37 is in fluid communication with
a respective storage channel 35. As can be seen in FIG. 4, the ink
storage and feed structure 29 and the channeling structure 31 together
define a plurality of ink feed passages that gradually decrease
in cross sectional area as they near the print head chip 27.
[0040] The print head assembly 24 includes control circuitry in
the form of a microprocessor 32, mounted on the tray 20. Details
of a suitable microprocessor are provided in the above referenced
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/113,053.
[0041] The print head assembly 24 further includes a motor 34 that
is drivingly connected to a gearbox 36. Operation of the motor 34
and thus the gearbox 36 is also controlled by the microprocessor
32. A primary feed roller 38 is positioned on an infeed side of
the printing region 28 and is connected to the gearbox 36 to be
driven by the gearbox 36. A secondary feed roller 40 is positioned
on an outfeed side of the printing region 28.
[0042] The support structure 16 includes a base member 42. The
base member 42 includes a feed plate 44 that has a pair of opposed
side clips 46 and a front clip 48 positioned thereon. The side clips
46 serve to engage side walls 50 of the body portion 18 and a front
side 52 of the tray 20.
[0043] A pair of spaced retaining clips 54 are positioned on a
rear side 56 of the feed plate 44 to engage complementary formations
58 defined on each side of the PCMCIA-type connector 22.
[0044] The printing unit 12 includes a cover member 60 that is
mountable over the print head assembly 24 to protect the print head
assembly 24.
[0045] A media supply cartridge in the form of a paper sheet cartridge
62 is mountable on the body portion 18. A supply 64 of paper sheets,
one of which is indicated at 66, is receivable in the cartridge
62. The cartridge 62 includes a backing plate 68 against which the
supply 64 is positioned, in use. Each of a pair of side walls 70
extends from a respective major side of the backing plate 68. A
rear cover 78 is mounted on the backing plate 68 and the side walls
70. Further, a front cover 80 is also mounted on the backing plate
68 and the side walls 70. As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, a retaining
clip 84 is positioned on a feed end 82 of the backing plate 68.
The retaining clip 84 is configured to retain the paper supply 64
in the cartridge 62 as the sheet 66 is fed from the supply 64 into
the printing region 28.
[0046] The backing plate 68 defines a pair of urging members 86.
The urging members 86 are biased so that when the supply 64 is positioned
in the cartridge 62, the supply 64 is biased towards the feed plate
44. The front cover 80 and the cover member 60 have complementary
engaging formations 88 which allow the cartridge 62 to be urged
into engagement with the cover member 60. In this position, the
primary feed roller 38 is positioned to engage the sheet 66 so that
when the primary feed roller 38 rotates, the sheet 66 is drawn into
the printing region 28. The cover member 60 and the tray 20 together
define an outfeed slot 89 from which printed sheets are fed.
[0047] The various components of the printing unit 12 are indicated
schematically in FIG. 11. As can be seen, the PCMCIA-type connector
22 is connected to the microprocessor 32 with a suitable data bus
indicated at 90. The data bus 90 also serves to connect the microprocessor
32 to the print head 26. Thus, image data received by the PCMCIA-type
connector 22 can be communicated to the microprocessor 32 which
can then control operation of the print head 26 to generate an image
on the paper sheet 66.
[0048] The apparatus 10 further includes an image recordal apparatus
92. The image recordal apparatus 92 includes a housing in the form
of a sleeve 94 in which the printing unit 12 is received up to the
cover member 60. As can be seen in the drawings, this means that
approximately two thirds of the printing unit 12 is received in
the sleeve 94. Further, the cover member 60 and its respective portion
of the feed plate 44 is dimensioned to correspond, transversely,
with transverse dimensions of the sleeve 94. It follows, therefore,
that the apparatus 10 has overall dimensions that are in the region
of one third larger than a type III PCMCA-type card. It will readily
be appreciated that an article of this size can easily be carried
in a pocket of a garment.
[0049] The image recordal apparatus 92 has a viewfinder 96 positioned
thereon. The viewfinder 96 includes an eyepiece 98 through which
a viewer can target an image to be recorded. A camera lens 100 is
positioned proximate the viewfinder 96 and is configured to provide
a focused image of that which is to be recorded. The camera lens
100 is positioned in front of a CMOS-based image sensing device
that, in this example, is in the form of an active pixel sensor
102.
[0050] The active pixel sensor 102 is connected to a microprocessor
104 with a suitable data bus 106. The interaction of these components
can readily be seen in FIG. 11.
[0051] The data bus 106 also serves to connect the active pixel
sensor 102 to a memory storage device 108.
[0052] Operation of the image recordal apparatus is by way of a
camera actuating button 110 that is depressed by a user in a conventional
manner. The actuator button 110 is connected to the microprocessor
104 so that, upon actuation, the processor 104 communicates a command
signal to the active pixel sensor 102 to capture the desired image.
Data carrying this image is then stored in the memory storage device
108.
[0053] Operation of the printing unit 12 is by way of a printer
actuating button 120 that is connected to the printing microprocessor
32. The microprocessor 32 actuates operation of the print head assembly
24 when the button 120 is depressed so that the recorded image can
be printed.
[0054] Details of the operation of the image recordal apparatus
are set out further in U.S. application Ser. No. 09/113,053, incorporated
above. It follows that further details of the operation of the image
recordal apparatus will not be described in this specification.
[0055] The image recordal apparatus 92 includes a complementary
PCMCIA-type connector 112 that is positioned in the sleeve 94 to
engage the PCMCIA-type connector 22 when the printing unit 12 is
inserted into the image recordal apparatus 92.
[0056] The data bus 106 also serves to connect the microprocessor
104 and the memory storage device 108 to the complementary PCMCIA-type
connector 112 so that data relating to the captured image can be
sent to the microprocessor 32 of the printing unit 12.
[0057] Both the printing unit 12 and the image recordal apparatus
92 include a PCMCIA connector interface 124 to control the transfer
of data across the PCMCIA-type connectors 22, 112.
[0058] A battery indicated at 114 received within the sleeve 94
provides energy for the operation of the various components of the
apparatus 10. A battery cover 116 is provided to secure the battery
114 in the sleeve 94. Opposed minor side walls 122 of the sleeve
94 have guide formations 118 defined therein. The side walls 50
of the body portion 18 are slideably received in respective guide
formations 118 to facilitate interconnection of the printing unit
12 and the image recordal apparatus 92.
[0059] The Applicant believes that the invention provides a means
whereby a compact image recordal device or camera incorporating
a printer can be achieved. In particular, the device is only between
approximately 30 and 40 percent larger than a PCMCIA type III memory
card. This has been perceived by the Applicant to be a significant
advantage based on the popularity of pocket-sized cameras. |