Camera and detachable printer unit
View Patent ↗A hand held digital camera with printer is provided which includes a casing having an elongate socket with open and closed ends, an image sensor for capturing an image, a memory for storing an image captured by the image sensor, a user interface, a first industry standard interface located at the closed end of the socket and a printer unit received within the socket. The printer unit has a second interface compatible with the first interface, whereby the printer unit is detachably engaged with the casing by sliding the unit into the socket to engage the first and second interfaces together. The printer unit has a printhead, such that when the printer unit is engaged in the socket a user may manipulate the user interface to cause a captured image to be printed by the printhead.
1. A hand held digital camera with printer, said camera including:
a casing having an elongate socket that is open at one end and closed at the other end;
an image sensor for capturing an image;
a memory for storing an image captured by said image sensor;
a user interface;
a first industry standard interface located at the closed end of the socket;
a printer unit received within the socket, the printer unit having a second interface compatible with the first interface, whereby the printer unit is detachably engaged with the casing by sliding the unit into the socket to engage the first and second interfaces together,
the printer unit including a printhead and drive circuit for the printhead configured to authenticate the printer unit for one-time use,
wherein, when the printer unit is engaged in the socket, the user interface is connected to the printer unit such that upon authentication of the printer unit a user may manipulate the user interface to cause a captured image to be printed by said printhead.
2. The camera with printer of claim 1 wherein the printer unit further includes a paper cartridge and a paper feed configured to feed one page at a time, from the cartridge past the printhead.
3. The camera with printer of claim 1 wherein the printhead is located outside of the socket.
4. The camera with printer of claim 2 wherein the printer unit includes a carrier that detachably supports the paper cartridge.
5. The camera with printer of claim 4 wherein replacement of the paper cartridge requires detachment of the printer unit from the casing.
6. The camera with printer of claim 1 wherein the printer unit is configured to fit within a space conforming to a space occupied by a type III PCMCIA card.
7. The camera with printer of claim 1 wherein the socket conforms to a socket for a type III PCMCIA card.
8. The camera with printer of claim 1 wherein the printhead is a color-printhead having a plurality of ink reservoirs.
9. The camera with printer of claim 1 wherein the casing has a base and the socket is located in the base,
wherein the socket conforms to a socket for a type III PCMCIA card, w
herein the printer unit is configured to fit within a space conforming to a space occupied by a type III PCMCIA card,
wherein the width of the printer unit and the casing are substantially the same, and wherein the depth of the printer unit and the casing are substantially the same.