Image processor with integrated printing
View Patent ↗An apparatus for recording and generating images includes a printing unit. The printing unit includes a carrier that is dimensioned to approximate a PCMCIA memory card. A media supply is receivable in the carrier. A page width print head assembly is mounted in the carrier to print images on the media. The page width print head assembly includes at least one print head chip and a suitable printing microprocessor that is configured to control operation of the print head chip. An ink supply mechanism is operatively arranged with respect to the print head assembly to supply the print head assembly with ink. A media feed mechanism is positioned in the carrier to feed media to and from the print head chip. The apparatus includes an image recordal apparatus that includes a housing in which the carrier is received. The housing is dimensioned to define a sleeve for the carrier so that at least half the carrier is received in the housing. An image sensing device is positioned on the housing to sense an image to be generated. An image sensing microprocessor is positioned in the housing and is operatively arranged with respect to the image sensing device to control operation of the image sensing device. 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.
1. An apparatus for recording and generating images, including a printing unit and an image recordal apparatus, said printing unit including:
a carrier that includes a portion that conforms to the dimensions of an industry standard computer accessory card, a media supply being receivable in the carrier;
a pagewidth printhead assembly mounted on the carrier to print images on the media, the pagewidth printhead assembly including at least one printhead chip and a printing microprocessor that is configured to control operation of the printhead chip;
an ink supply that supplies the printhead assembly with ink; and
the carrier includes a media feed mechanism that feeds media to and from the printhead chip; and
said image recordal apparatus including;
a housing in which the carrier is received, the housing being dimensioned to define a sleeve suitable for the carrier and suitable for an industry standard computer accessory card;
said housing includes an image sensing device; and
said housing includes an image sensing microprocessor that controls operation of the image sensing device,
wherein the image recordal apparatus has releasable data connectors complementary with data connectors on the printing unit and complementary with data connectors on an computer accessory card.
2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , in which the carrier includes an elongate, substantially rectangular support structure, with the page width print head assembly and the ink supply mechanism being mounted on an end portion of the support structure and the media feed mechanism being positioned intermediate the end portion and a remaining portion of the support structure.
3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 , in which the carrier includes a media cartridge that is releasably mounted on said remaining portion of the support structure.
4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 , in which the media cartridge is configured to hold sheets of media.
5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 , in which the media feed mechanism is in the form of a roller feed mechanism that is configured to be engageable with a lowermost sheet of media in the cartridge when the cartridge is positioned on the support structure.
6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , in which the printing unit includes a data bus connected across the complementary data connector of the printing unit, the printing microprocessor, the print head assembly and the media feed mechanism.
7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , in which the image sensing device is in the form of a CMOS device that defines an active pixel sensor.
8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , in which the image recordal apparatus includes a data bus connected across the image sensing device, the image sensing microprocessor and the complementary data connector of the image recordal apparatus.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said industry standard computer accessory card is a PCMCIA standard card.
10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , in which the data connectors of the image recordal apparatus and the printing unit are both in the form of PCMCIA-type connectors.