Photography – Disposable or recyclable camera
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-26
2001-08-21
Gray, David M. (Department: 2851)
Photography
Disposable or recyclable camera
C396S542000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06278841
ABSTRACT:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
Reference is made to commonly assigned, co-pending U.S. patent applications Ser. No. 09/360,432, entitled: CAMERA HAVING RESILIENTLY BIASING LABEL AND METHOD, filed Jul. 26, 1999, in the names of James D. Boyd, Stephen J. Smith, and Michael P. Cramer; Ser. No. 09/360,576, entitled: METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING CRITICALLY POSITIONED CAMERA COMPONENT ON CAMERA BODY, filed Jul. 26, 1999, in the names of James D. Boyd, Stephen J. Smith, and Michael P. Cramer; Ser. No. 09/360,909, entitled: CAMERA HAVING LIGHT-BLOCKING LABEL, filed Jul. 26, 1999, in the names of James D. Boyd, Stephen J. Smith, and Michael P. Cramer; Ser. No. 09/361,637, entitled: CAMERA HAVING LABEL INCLUDING OPTICAL COMPONENT, filed Jul. 26, 1999, in the names of James D. Boyd, Stephen J. Smith, and Michael P. Cramer; Ser. No. 09/360,908, entitled: ONE-TIME USE CAMERA HAVING BREAKABLE COMPONENT AND RECYCLING METHOD, filed Jul. 26, 1999, in the names of James D. Boyd, Stephen J. Smith, and Michael P. Cramer; Ser. No. 09/360,752, entitled: CAMERA HAVING LABEL-STOPPED OPTICAL SYSTEM, filed Jul. 26, 1999, in the names of James D. Boyd, Stephen J. Smith, and Michael P. Cramer; Ser. No. 09/361,056, entitled: ONE-TIME USE CAMERA LOADING METHOD, filed Jul. 26, 1999, in the names of James D. Boyd, Stephen J. Smith, and Michael P. Cramer each of which are assigned to the assignee of this application.
The invention relates to photography and cameras and more particularly relates to cameras having label-mounted electrical components.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
One-time use cameras are widely available which include labels that describe use of the camera and have other useful or decorative information. U.S. Pat. No. 5,652,930 to Teremy et al. discloses a camera information display formed as a thin, flexible substrate that is disposed on a camera body and coupled to the camera systems. U.S. Pat. No. 5,789,100 discloses a variety of similar displays used as battery strength indicators. Such displays require electrical connections. Soldering makes good electrical connections, but is cumbersome. Plug-together mating contacts can be difficult to assemble. Large electrical contacts constrain the shape of the camera and the placement of other components.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,472,543 entitled Method for Label Application Using Bernoulli Effect”, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference, discloses a labeling method in which a label is floated on an air cushion into a substantially exact alignment with an area of an item receiving the label. It has been determined that the precision of label placement provided by this method is very great.
It would thus be desirable to provide an improved camera having a label including an electrical component, the label being precisely placed to operatively and simply connect the component and a camera subsystem.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is defined by the claims. The invention, in a first broader aspect, provides a camera having a body including a casing and an electrical subsystem disposed within the casing. The electrical subsystem has first and second leads. A label has an attachment portion adhered to the body and an electrical component joined to the attachment portion. The electrical component has first and second terminals. The attachment portion holds the terminals in non-mating contact with respective leads. In a second broader aspect the invention provides a camera having a body including an electrical subsystem. The subsystem has first and second leads disposed at the surface of the body. The subsystem supplies a voltage across said leads. A label including an attachment portion adhered to the surface of the body and a liquid crystal display joined to the attachment portion, said liquid crystal display having first and second terminals, a pair of opposed electrodes, and at least one liquid crystal cell, said terminals and respective said leads being in contact, said electrodes being electrically connected to said terminals, said cell being disposed between said electrodes, said cell exhibiting a visible phase change responsive to said supplying of said voltage.
It is an advantageous effect of the invention that an improved camera is provided that has a label including an electrical component, the label being precisely placed and adhered to operatively and simply connect the component and a camera subsystem. The component can be a liquid crystal display. The electrical connection provided can be non-mating contact.
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patent: 5134361 (1993-05-01), None
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Boyd James D.
Cramer Michael P.
Smith Stephen J.
Eastman Kodak Company
Gray David M.
Walker Robert Luke
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