Data-reading image capture apparatus, camera, and method of use

Television – Camera – system and detail – Optics

Reexamination Certificate

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Details

C348S360000, C348S164000, C283S088000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06700613

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to image capture apparatus including photographic cameras and more particularly relates to a data-reading image capture apparatus, a data-reading camera, and a method of using the camera.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/931,575, filed Sep. 16, 1997, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference, discloses the use of a printed invisible encodement on a photographic image to record sound information. The encodement is read by illuminating using a beam of invisible electromagnetic radiation that is subject to modulation by the encodement. The resulting encodement image is captured, decoded, and played back. The photographic image on which the encodement is printed is originally captured using a camera. The invisible radiation image is captured using a reader that is capable of capturing only invisible images within a selected band. (The term “band” is used herein to refer to one or more contiguous or non-contiguous regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. The term “invisible” is used herein to describe material which is invisible or substantially invisible to the human eye when viewed under normal viewing conditions, that is, facing the viewer and under sunlight or normal room illumination such as incandescent lighting.) The invisible image is produced by development of a photographic emulsion layer, inkjet printing, thermal dye transfer printing or other printing method. The encodement is a one or two-dimensional array of encoded data.
Digital cameras and other visible image capture apparatus utilize a visible light sensitive electrical device. At least some of these light sensitive devices are also sensitive to invisible radiation. Charge coupled devices (CCD's) are so sensitive to infrared radiation that attenuation is required during capture of the visible light image. This is generally accomplished by permanently mounting an infrared blocking filter in the optical system of the camera or other capture device.
It would thus be desirable to provide for capture of visible images and images of invisible encodements without the need for both a camera and a separate encodement reader.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is defined by the claims. The invention, in its broader aspects, provides a data-reading image capture apparatus, camera, and method of use. The capture apparatus has a digital image detector sensitive to a band of visible radiation and a band of invisible electromagnetic radiation. An optical system, in the capture apparatus, focuses the bands of electromagnetic radiation on the image detector. An image separator is disposed in the capture apparatus, in operative relation to the digital image detector and optical system. The image separator is switchable between an image capture state and a data reading state. The image separator is attenuative for the band of invisible radiation and transmissive for the band of visible radiation in the image capture state. The image separator is attenuative for the band of visible radiation and transmissive for the band of invisible radiation in the data reading state.
It is an advantageous effect of at least some of the embodiments of the invention that a data-reading image capture apparatus, a data-reading camera, and a method of using the camera are provided which allow for capture of visible images and images of invisible encodements without the need for both a camera and a separate encodement reader.


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