United States Patent
`Yamamoto et al.
`
`[19]
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`
`6,088,532
`
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`*Jul. 11,2000
`
`US006088532A
`
`[54]
`
`IMAGE SIGNAL READING OPERATION
`CONTROL DEVICE
`
`[75]
`
`Inventors: Yasuhiro Yamamoto; Tahei Morisawa,
`both of Tokyo, Japan
`
`[73] Assignce: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki
`Kaisha, Tokyo, Japan
`
`[ *] Notice:
`
`This patent issued on a continued pros-
`ecution application filed under 37 CFR
`1.53(d), and is subject to the twenty year
`patent
`term provisions of 35 U.S.C.
`154(a)(2).
`
`[21] Appl. No.2 08/580,684
`
`[22]
`
`Filed:
`
`Dec. 29, 1995
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`[30]
`Jan. 6, 1995
`[JP]
`Japan .................................... 7016551
`Jan. 6, 1995
`[JP]
`Japan
`.............. 7—016552
`Jan. 6, 1995
`[JP]
`Japan
`7-016553
`Jan. 6, 1995
`[JP]
`Japan
`7—016554
`Jan. 6, 1995
`[JP]
`Japan
`7016555
`Jan. 6, 1995
`[JP]
`Japan
`.............. 7—016556
`
`[51]
`
`Int. Cl.7 ......................... .. G031} 17/50; G033 17/48;
`G03R 19/00
`............................................... 396/30; 396/429
`[52] U.S. Cl.
`[58] Field of Search ........................... .. 396/30, 429, 430;
`348/202, 297, 96-100, 102-103, 110; 358/506,
`487, 497, 486, 474, 509, 510, 475, 480
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
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`5,516,607
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`............. .. 358/280
`....... ..
`8/1987 Isogai et al.
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`.
`2/1989 Yip ................. ..
`358/474
`1/1990 Koshiyouji et al.
`358/300
`7/1990 Takanashi el al.
`2/1994 Iliramatsu ............................. .. 358/474
`6/1995 Aoki et al.
`.
`5/1996 Iijima et al.
`
`............................ .. 430/20
`
`.
`
`5/1996 Sarraf .................................... .. 359/521
`5,521,748
`7/1996
`. 358/443
`5,539,532
`5/1997
`. 348/222
`5,631,700
`7/1997
`. 358/471
`5,646,746
`7/1997
`348/96
`5,652,618
`11/1997
`. 358/298
`5,684,601
`11/1997 Haded et al.
`........................... 358/487
`5,691,824
`1/1998 Morisawa et al.
`...................... 348/373
`5,708,472
`3/1998 Brandestini et al.
`. 358/475
`5,724,160
`4/1998 Aoki et al.
`......... ..
`. 348/207
`5,739,849
`6/1998 Takahara et al.
`. 358/474
`5,760,924
`9/1998 Aoki ...................................... .. 396/429
`5,805,945
`9/1998 Yamamoto ............................ .. 348/294
`5,808,675
`11/1998 Aoki ....... ..
`396/30
`5,842,050
`1/1999 Morisawa .
`. 396/429
`5,857,125
`5/1999 Sato ........................................ .. 348/96
`5,905,526
`FOREIGN PATEN T DOCUMENTS
`
`0327236
`2—29081
`5-2280
`5—247U6
`5150251
`6313894
`
`8/1989
`1/1990
`1/1993
`4/1993
`6/1993
`11/1994
`
`.
`
`European Pat. Off.
`Japan .
`Japan .
`Japan .
`Japan .
`Japan .
`
`Primary Examiner—Safet Metj ahic
`A,s',s'i,s'tr1r1t Ex11rr1mer—Cl1ristopher Malioney
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Greenblum & Bernstein, P.L.C.
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`An image signal reading operation control device has an
`electro-developing recording medium to electronically
`develop an image formed by a photographing optical sys-
`tem. The irriage is read out by a line sensor with the
`electro-developing recording medium being illuminated by
`a light source. Namely, pixel signals arranged along a
`horizontal scanning line are read by the line sensor while the
`line sensor is set at a predetermined position, and then the
`line sensor is moved in a direction perpendicular to the
`horizontal scanning line by a predetermined amount. When
`the image is read out by the line sensor, the light source is
`displaced along the longitudinal direction of the line sensor.
`
`26 Claims, 26 Drawing Sheets
`
`Papst Licensing GmbH & Co. KG - Exhibit 2001 - p. 1
`
`

`
`Papst Licensing GmbH & Co. KG - Exhibit 2001 - p. 2
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`0002191_I._HJ
`
`Sheet 2 of 26
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`6,088,532
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 11,2000
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`/02f03Llye6_h__S
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`6,088,532
`
`Papst Licensing GmbH & Co. KG - Exhibit 2001 - p. 4
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 11,2000
`
`/02f04Llye6_h__S
`
`6,088,532
`
`Papst Licensing GmbH & Co. KG - Exhibit 2001 - p. 5
`
`

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`Jul. 11,2000
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`Sheet 5 of 26
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`6,088,532
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`Papst Licensing GmbH & Co. KG - Exhibit 2001 - p. 6
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 11,2000
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`Sheet 6 of 26
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`6,088,532
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`Papst Licensing GmbH & Co. KG - Exhibit 2001 - p. 7
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 11,2000
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`Sheet 7 of 26
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`6,088,532
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`Papst Licensing GmbH & Co. KG - Exhibit 2001 - p. 8
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 11,2000
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`Llye6_h__S
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`/02f000
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`6,088,532
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`Papst Licensing GmbH & Co. KG - Exhibit 2001 - p. 9
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 11,2000
`
`Sheet 9 of 26
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`6,088,532
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 11,2000
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`Sheet 10 of 26
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`6,088,532
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`SCANNER
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`Papst Licensing GmbH & Co. KG - Exhibit 2001 - p. 11
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`0002191_I._HJ
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`Sheet11T0f26
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 11,2000
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`Sheet 12 0f26
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`6,088,532
`
`Papst Licensing GmbH & Co. KG - Exhibit 2001 - p. 13
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 11,2000
`
`Sheet 13 of 26
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`6,088,532
`
`Fig. /5
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`
`Papst Licensing GmbH & Co. KG - Exhibit 2001 - p. 14
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`0002la1MJ
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`Sheet 14 of 26
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`6,088,532
`
`Papst Licensing GmbH & Co. KG - Exhibit 2001 - p. 15
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 11,2000
`
`Sheet 15 of 26
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`6,088,532
`
`Papst Licensing GmbH & Co. KG - Exhibit 2001 - p. 16
`
`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 11,2000
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`6,088,532
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 11,2000
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`/02f071t66hS
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`6,088,532
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`Papst Licensing GmbH & Co. KG - Exhibit 2001 - p. 18
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 11,2000
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`Sheet 18 of 26
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`6,088,532
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`Papst Licensing GmbH & Co. KG - Exhibit 2001 - p. 19
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`Papst Licensing GmbH & Co. KG - Exhibit 2001 - p. 20
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 11,2000
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`/02f002t66_h__S
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`6,088,532
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`Papst Licensing GmbH & Co. KG - Exhibit 2001 - p. 21
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 11, 2000
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`6,088,532
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`FOR LINE SENSOR
`
`Papst Licensing GmbH & Co. KG - Exhibit 2001 - p. 24
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`

`
`6,088,532
`
`Papst Licensing GmbH & Co. KG - Exhibit 2001 - p. 25
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`0002la1MJ
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 11,2000
`
`Sheet 26 of 26
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`6,088,532
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`Papst Licensing GmbH & Co. KG - Exhibit 2001 - p. 27
`
`

`
`6,088,532
`
`1
`IMAGE SIGNAL READING OPERATION
`CONTROL DEVICE
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`
`The present invention relates to a device which is pro-
`vided in an electronic still video camera, for example, and
`which electronically develops an image on a recording
`medium, and reads the image from the recording medium.
`2. Description of the Related Art
`is
`Conventionally, silver halide photographic material
`generally used as a material for recording an optical image.
`Silver halide photographic material has high optical sensi-
`tivity and high resolution, and the economical efliciency
`thereof is excellent. However, silver halide photographic
`material has drawbacks in that not only is the developing
`process cumbersome but also a visible image cannot be
`obtained at
`the same time as photography. A dry-type
`developing method has been developed to simplify the
`developing process. However, simultaneous development in
`wl1icl1 a visible image is obtained upon photography is
`impossible in the dry-type developing method.
`On the other hand, as non-silvcr-halidc photographic
`materials, there are known electrophotographic matcrials,
`diazotypc photographic materials and free-radical photo-
`graphic materials and so on. In these materials, however,
`there is no material which has advantageous characteristics
`like silver halide photographic material, while being able to
`simultaneously develop and keep a visible image. Note that,
`electrophotographic materials have been used mainly in
`copying machines, since they can perform dry-type devel-
`opment and can simultaneously develop an electrostatic
`latent image, which is obtained by exposure, using toner.
`In such electrophotographic materials, recently, a photo-
`graphic material has been developed in which a recording
`material made of the photographic material is electronically
`and directly developed similarly to a silver halide photo-
`graphic material, so that the developed visible image can be
`immediately seen or recorded. Such a recording material in
`which a visible image is electronically developed is referred
`to as an electro—developing recording material in this speci-
`fication.
`
`Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 5-2280 and
`U.S. Pat. No. 5,424,156, for example, discloses a recording
`material which is a combination of an electrostatic informa-
`tion recording material and an electric charge keeping
`medium,
`the electrostatic information recording material
`having a photoconducting layer and an inorganic oxide
`material
`layer, and the electric charge keeping medium
`having a liquid crystal display. In this structure, when the
`electrostatic information recording material
`is exposed
`While an electric voltage is applied to the electrostatic
`information recording material and the electric charge keep-
`ing medium, electric charge in accordance with the amount
`of incident light is generated in the electrostatic information
`recording material. Since the intensity of electric field
`applied to the liquid crystal display facing the electrostatic
`information recording material is varied in accordance with
`the generated electric charge, an image corresponding to the
`amount of light distribution is indicated or developed on the
`liquid crystal display.
`The image kept by the electro—developing recording
`medium may be read out through an optical sensor, and a
`light source may be provided to illuminate the electro-
`developing recording medium so that the optical sensor can
`
`2
`read the image. In such a construction, however, if the light
`distribution characteristics of the light source are not uni-
`form along the optical sensor, the image cannot be exactly
`read out by the optical sensor. Therefore, the image signal,
`which is generated by the optical sensor in accordance with
`the image, should be subjected to a correction process,
`which is complicated, so that the effect of the light distri-
`bution characteristics is reduced. Therefore, a time for which
`the correction process is performed is long.
`If the optical sensor is a line sensor, the line sensor is
`intermittently moved along the electro—developing recording
`medium, and thus a reading operation, in which a part of the
`image is read by the line sensor, and a discharging operation,
`in which residual electric charge is discharged from the line
`sensor, are alternately carried out. Therefore, it takes a long
`time to read the image from the electro—developing record-
`ing medium.
`in which the light source and the
`Further,
`the device,
`optical sensor are provided around the electro—developing
`recording medium,
`is bulky, and thus there is a limit in
`miniturizing the device.
`On the other hand, a plurality of primary color images can
`be formed on the electro—developing recording medium
`through a dichroic optical member, and the color images can
`be read out through a single line sensor by scanning the line
`sensor along the electro—developing recording medium. In
`such a construction, however, a large storage memory must
`be provided for temporarily storing each of the color images.
`As a result, the time for the scanning operation takes too
`long.
`In the device having the large storage memory, in a state
`in which the image developed by the electro—developing
`recording medium is not
`read out
`therefrom,
`the large
`storage memory is not used. Namely, the working ratio of
`the large storage memory is not high.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide
`an image signal reading operation control device by which
`the image developed on the electro—developing recording
`medium is exactly read out and the complexity of the
`correction process is reduced, even if the light distribution of
`a light source is not uniform.
`According to the present invention, there is provided an
`image signal recording operation control device comprising
`an electro—developing recording medium, a light source, a
`sensor and displacing means.
`The electro—developing recording medium electronically
`develops an image formed thereon. The light source illumi-
`nates the electro—developing recording medium. The sensor
`reads the image illuminated by the light source. The sensor
`generates pixel signals aligned in a longitudinal direction
`thereof, in accordance with the image read by the sensor.
`The displacing means displaces the light source along the
`longitudinal direction while the sensor reads the image.
`Another object of the present invention is to provide an
`image signal reading operation control device by which the
`time for reading the image from the electro—developing
`recording medium is shortened.
`According to the present invention, there is provided an
`image signal recording operation control device comprising
`an electro—developing recording medium,
`a
`line sensor,
`moving means, reading means and control means.
`The electro—developing recording medium electronically
`develops an image formed thereon. The line sensor senses
`
`Papst Licensing GmbH & Co. KG - Exhibit 2001 - p. 28
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`

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`6,088,532
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`3
`the image developed on the electro-developing recording
`medium. The line sensor generates pixel signals aligned in
`a
`longitudinal direction thereof,
`in accordance witli
`the
`image sensed by the line sensor. The moving means n1oves
`the line sensor in a scanning direction different from the
`longitudinal direction, from a first position to a second
`position. The reading means reads out the pixel signals from
`the line sensor when the line sensor reaches the second
`position. The control means controls a moving speed at
`which the line sensor is moved by the moving means. The
`controlling means changes the moving speed while the line
`sensor
`is moved from the first position to the second
`position.
`A further object of the present invention is to provide an
`image signal reading operation control device which is
`miniturized.
`
`According to the present invention, there is provided an
`image signal reading operation control device comprising an
`electro-developing recording medium, a light source, a
`mirror, a line sensor and a scanning mechanism.
`The electro-developing recording medium electronically
`develops an image formed thereon. The light source illumi-
`nates the electro-developing recording medium. The mirror
`is disposed in front of the electro-developing recording
`medium so that light outputted by the light source is led to
`the electro-developing recording medium. The line sensor is
`disposed opposed to the mirror with respect to the electro-
`developing recording medium. The line sensor senses the
`light passing through the electro-developing recording
`medium. The scanning mechanism moves the mirror and the
`line sensor in a scanning direction dilferent from a longitu-
`dinal direction of the line sensor.
`
`Still a further object of the present invention is to provide
`an image signal reading operation control device by which
`a color image can be read out from the electro-developing
`recording medium and can be stored in an image data
`recording medium, without providing a large storage
`memory, and further wherein the processing time is short.
`According to the present invention, there is provided an
`image signal reading operation control device comprising an
`electro-developing recording medium, forming means, a
`plurality of line sensors, reading means and storing means.
`The electro-developing recording n1edi1un electronically
`develops an image formed thereon, and has a plurality of
`recording areas. The forming means forms a color image on
`each of the recording areas. The line sensors move along the
`electro-developing recording medium, so that each of the
`line sensors reads the color image. Each of the line sensors
`generates pixel signals corresponding to the color image.
`The reading means reads out the pixel signals from the line
`sensors. The storing means stores the pixel signals in an
`image data recording medium.
`An other object of the present invention is to provide an
`image signal reading operation control device by which a
`color image can be read out from the electro-developing
`recording medium and can be stored in an image data
`recording medium, without providing a large storage
`memory.
`According to the present invention, there is provided an
`image signal reading operation control device comprising an
`electro-developing recording medium, forming means, a
`single line sensor, a memory and recording means.
`The electro-developing recording medium electronically
`develops an image formed thereon, and has first and second
`recording areas. The forming means forms first and second
`color images on the first and second recording areas, respec-
`
`4
`tively. The single line sensor is moved along the electro-
`developing recording medium, so that the line sensor reads
`the first and second color images. The line sensor generates
`first and second pixel signals corresponding to the first and
`second color images, respectively. The memory is provided
`for storing the first pixel signals. The recording means
`records the first and second pixel signals in an image data
`recording medium. The recording means reads the first pixel
`signals from the memory to store the first pixel signals in the
`image data recording medium, and reads the second pixel
`signals from the line sensor to store the second pixel signals
`in the image data recording medium.
`Astill further object of the present invention is to provide
`an image signal reading operation control device by which
`the working ratio of the large storage memory is improved.
`According to the present invention, there is provided an
`image signal reading operation control device comprising an
`electro-developing recording medium, a line sensor, moving
`means, a mass memory and control means.
`The electro-developing recording medium electronically
`develops an image formed thereon. The line sensor senses
`the image developed on the electro-developing recording
`medium. The moving means moves the line sensor along the
`electro-developing recording medium. The mass memory
`stores an image signal eorrespoding to the image, and can be
`used as an external memory of a computer. The control
`means controls a storing operation,
`in which a signal is
`stored in the mass memory, in accordance with a command
`signal inputted fron1 the computer.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The objects and advantages of the present invention will
`be better understood from the following description, with
`reference to the accompanying drawings in wl1icl1:
`FIG. I is a perspective View showing a still video camera
`to which an image signal reading operation control device of
`a first embodiment of the present invention is applied;
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the still video camera;
`FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a scanning mecha-
`nism and members provided around the mechanism;
`FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing another example of
`the scanning mechanism and members provided around the
`mechanism;
`FIG. 5 is a view showing an arrangement of light emitting
`diodes of a light source;
`FIG. 6 is a view showing a structure of an electro-
`developing recording medium;
`FIG. 7 is a timing chart showing a photographing opera-
`tion and a reading operation of pixel signals from a line
`sensor;
`FIG. 8 is a timing chart in which signals for driving a
`displacing mechanism are shown;
`FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the scanning mecha-
`nism and members provided around the mechanism, in a
`second embodiment;
`FIG. 10 is a timing chart showing a photographing
`operation and a reading operation of the pixel signals from
`the line sensor, in the second embodiment;
`FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a scanning operation in a
`comparative example;
`FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a scanning operation in the
`second embodiment;
`FIG. 13 is a block diagram of a still video camera having
`an image signal reading operation control device of a third
`embodiment;
`
`Papst Licensing GmbH & Co. KG - Exhibit 2001 - p. 29
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`6,088,532
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`5
`FIG. 14 is a perspective View showing a scanning mecha-
`nism and members provided around the mechanism, in the
`third embodiment;
`FIG. 15 is a perspective View showing an arrangement of
`LEDs and collimator lenses in the third embodiment;
`FIG. 16 is a View showing an operation of the collimator
`lens;
`FIG. 17 is a View showing another example of the
`scanning mechanism in the third embodiment;
`FIG. 18 is a plane View showing a dichroic prism;
`FIG. 19 is a block diagram of a circuit for sensing red,
`green and blue images in a fourth embodiment;
`FIG. 20 is a perspective View showing a scanning mecha-
`nism and members provided around the mechanism, in the
`fourth embodiment;
`FIG. 21 is a View showing a positional relationship
`between the line sensors and three recording areas of an
`electro-developing recording medium;
`FIG. 22 is a timing chart showing a photographing
`operation and a reading operation of the pixel signals from
`the line sensor, in the fourth embodiment;
`FIG. 23 is a timing chart showing a reading operation in
`which pixel signals are read out from the line sensors, and
`a storing operation in which image data is stored in an image
`data recording medium such as a hard disk;
`FIG. 24 is a block diagram of the still video camera to
`which a fifth embodiment of the present invention is applied;
`FIG. 25 is a timing chart showing a recording operation
`in which the R, G and B image signals are recorded in an
`image data recording medium;
`FIG. 26 is a timing chart showing a control signal
`outputted from a system control circuit in a period PR shown
`in FIG. 25;
`FIG. 27 is a diagram showing a relationship between an
`electric charge accumulation period DT in a line sensor, and
`the reading period RTM for which the pixel signals are read
`from the line sensor and written in a memory;
`FIG. 28 is a diagram showing a relationship between an
`electric charge accumulation period DT in a line sensor, and
`the reading period RTH for which the pixel signals are read
`from the line sensor and written in a hard disk;
`FIG. 29 is a perspective view of a still video camera
`having an image signal generating device of a sixth en1bodi-
`ment;
`FIG. 30 is a block diagram of the still video camera of the
`sixth embodiment; and
`FIG. 31 is a flow chart showing an operation of the sixth
`embodiment.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`FIG. 1 is an external View of a still video camera to which
`an image signal reading operation control device of a first
`embodiment according to the present invention is applied.
`When viewing a camera body 11 from a front side in FIG.
`1, on the front surface of the camera body 11, a photograph-
`ing optical system 12 including a photographing lens system
`and so on is provided on approximately the central portion
`of the front surface, and an electronic flash 13 is disposed on
`a portion to the right of and above the photographing optical
`system 12. A release switch 14 is provided on the side
`opposite to the electronic flash 13. On the upper surface of
`the camera body 11, a view finder 15 is provided at the
`
`6
`center portion thereof, and operation switches including a
`scan start switch 16 are provided on a side of the View finder
`15. On a side surface of the camera body 11, an output
`terminal 17 is formed on a lower portion thereof so that an
`image signal obtained by the camera is outputted to an
`external recording device.
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the still video camera, in
`which a system control circuit 20 including a micro-
`computer or micro-processor is mounted to control the still
`video camera as a whole.
`
`The photographing optical system 12 has a plurality of
`lens groups and an aperture 12a. An electro-developing
`recording medium 30 is disposed behind the photographing
`optical system 12, and a quick return mirror 21 is placed
`between the photographing optical system 12 and the
`electro-developing recording medium 30. A shutter 22 is
`provided between the quick return mirror 21 and the electro-
`developing recording medium 30. A focusing glass 23a,
`included in a View finder optical system 23,
`is disposed
`above the quick return mirror 21.
`The aperture 12a,
`the quick return mirror 21 and the
`shutter 22 are driven by an iris drive circuit 24, a mirror
`drive circuit 25 and a shutter drive circuit 26, respectively,
`which are controlled by an exposure control circuit 27.
`The exposure control circuit 27 is operated ir1 accordance
`with a command signal outputted by the system control
`circuit 20. Namely, when an exposure is controlled, the
`opening degree of the aperture 1211 is adjusted by the iris
`drive circuit 24, under control of the exposure control circuit
`27 based on an output signal of a photometry sensor 28.
`The quick return mirror 21 is usually set
`to a down
`position (an inclining position shown by the solid line in the
`drawing), so that a light beam passing through the photo-
`graphing optical system 12 is led to the view—finder optical
`system 23 so that an object to be photographed can be
`observed by the photographer. When a photographing opera-
`tion is carried out,
`the quick return mirror 21 is rotated
`upward by the mirror drive circuit 25 and set to an up
`position (a horizontal position shown by the broken hne in
`the drawing), so that the light beam is led to the electro-
`developing recording medium 30.
`The shutter 22 is usually closed, and upon a photograph-
`ing operation, the shutter 22 is opened for a predetermined
`period by the shutter drive circuit 26 under control of the
`exposure control circuit 27, and thus, the light beam passing
`through the photographing optical system 12 enters a light
`receiving surface of the electro-developing recording
`medium 30, thus forming a two-dimensional image thereon.
`An electric voltage is applied to the electro-developing
`recording medium 30 under control of a recording medium
`drive circuit 41. By exposing the electro-developing record-
`ing medium 30 while applying the voltage, an image formed
`by the photographing optical system 12 is developed on the
`electro-developing recording medium 30 as a visible image.
`Note that the recording medium drive circuit 41 is operated
`in accordance with a command signal outputted by the
`system control circuit 20.
`A scanning mechanism 50 is provided close to the electro-
`developing recording medium 30. Alight source 42 includes
`an LED (light emitting diode) and a collimator lens, and
`emits a parallel light beam. The light source 42, a scanner
`optical system 43 and a line sensor 44 are supported by the
`scanning mechanism 50, and are moved along the electro-
`developing recording material 30 by a scanning operation of
`the scanning mechanism 50.
`The line sensor 44 may be a one dimensional CCD sensor
`of 2000 pixels, for example. The line sensor 44 may be of
`
`Papst Licensing GmbH & Co. KG - Exhibit 2001 - p. 30
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`

`
`6,088,532
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`7
`suitable length to completely cover and extend over one
`horizontal scanning line of the image formed on electro-
`developing recording medium 30. The line sensor 44 serves
`as a photoelectric—conversion device, which converts an
`optical image to an electric signal. The light source 42 can _
`be moved along the front surface of the shutter 22 or the
`front surface of the electro-developing recording medium
`30, and the line sensor 44 can be moved along the rear
`surface of the electro-developin g recording medium 30. The
`scanner optical system 43 is disposed between the light
`source 42 and the line sensor 44. When scanning is carried
`out by the scanning mechanism 50,
`the scanner optical
`system 43 is positioned between the electro-developing
`recording medium 30 and the line sensor 44, so that the
`image developed by the electro-developing recording
`medium 30 is illuminated by the hght source 42 and formed
`on the light receiving surface of the line sensor 44 due to an
`operation of the scanner optical system 43. Namely,
`the
`scanner optical system 43 is disposed on the optical path of
`the light beam which passes through the electro-developing
`recording medium 30, and the line sensor 44 is moved in an
`imaging plane, on which an image is formed, by the scan-
`ning optical system 43.
`ON and OFF control of the light source 42 is performed
`by a light source drive circuit 45. Control of the reading
`operation of the pixel signals generated in the line sensor 44
`is carried out by a hne sensor drive circuit 47. Control of the
`movement of the scanning mechanism 50 is performed by a
`scanner drive circuit 46. The circuits 45, 46 and 47 are
`controlled by the system control circuit 20.
`Pixels signals read out
`from the line sensor 44 are
`amplified by an amplifier 61, and converted to a digital
`signal by an A/D converter 62. The digital pixel signals are
`subjected to a shading correction, a gamma correction and so
`on by an image processing circuit 63 under control of the
`system control circuit 20, and then, are temporarily stored in
`a memory 64. The memory includes an EEPROM in which
`correction data for the shading correction is stored. Note that
`the memory 64 may have a storage capacity equal to one
`horizontal scanning line outputted from the line sensor 44,
`or may have a storage capacity of one frame’s worth of
`image signals.
`The pixel signals outputted from the memory 64 are
`inputted into an interface circuit 65 through the image
`process circuit 63, so that the pixel signals are subjected to
`a predetermined process such as a format conversion, and
`can be outputted to an external computer (not shown)
`through the output terminal 17. The pixel signals outputted
`from the image process circuit 63 are subjected to a prede-
`termined process such as an image compression and a
`format conversion in a recording device control circuit 66,
`so that the pixel signals can be recorded on a recording
`medium such as an IC memory card, for example,
`in an
`image recording device 67. The recording device control
`circuit 66 and the image recording device 67 may be
`attached on a bottom surface of the camera. Electrical
`
`the bottom
`connectors (11ot shown) may be provided at
`surface of the camera to connect
`the recording device
`cont