Facsimile and static presentation processing – Facsimile – Picture signal generator
Reexamination Certificate
1996-08-01
2001-09-18
Lee, Cheukfan (Department: 2722)
Facsimile and static presentation processing
Facsimile
Picture signal generator
C358S906000, C358S909100, C358S474000, C358S442000, C348S552000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06292272
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a card-type image sensor inserted into the card slot of a computer or the like for introducing image into the computer.
Computers are becoming increasingly small in size and even computers as small as one's hand have made their appearance. Since the limitation upon the size of the recording medium in these small-size computers is greater than in the case of desktop computers, small-size computers are provided with a card slot into which a PCMCIA card can be directly inserted instead of a floppy disk drive.
Usually a memory card or fax card is capable of being inserted into the card slot so that a variety of applications can be accommodated. Further, a card-type image sensor the distal end of which is provided with a camera head for introducing an image has recently been proposed, as illustrated in the specification of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-121147.
FIG. 5
is a perspective view illustrating the general construction of such a card-type image sensor. The image sensor includes a main body comprising a signal processor
100
arranged on a board, a card connector
101
provided on the edge at one end of the board and a support portion
102
provided on the other end of the board. A camera head
103
is supported on the support portion
102
so as to be free to rotate.
Video cameras, which are electronic devices for handling images, now feature excellent picture quality and functionality by virtue of a variety of technical advances. Hence it is only a matter of time before card-type image sensors are also furnished with full functionality. In such case the functions of the image sensor will be assigned to the keys on the computer keyboard and the camera will be capable of being controlled or operated by operating the keys.
However, if it is attempted to accommodate an increase in the number of functions of a conventional card-type image sensor solely by keyboard operation, there is the danger that such operation will become increasing complicated and result in a less user-friendly environment.
Another problem in the prior art mentioned above is that a desk or the like may interfere with the image sensor head when the head is turned, depending upon the way the rotary shaft of the head is set in position.
Further, when the camera unit having the foregoing construction is loaded in and unloaded from a computer, a connection is made by pushing the card into the computer by hand to insert the card and the card can be detached from the computer by pressing an eject button on the computer body when the card is extracted.
However, with the image sensor according to the prior art described above, the image sensing portion protrudes from the computer body. Consequently, the camera head may be pulled out of the computer body without the eject button being pressed. As a result, there is the possibility that the device will be caused to malfunction.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A first object of the present invention is to provide an easy-to-operate card-type image sensor having a rotatable image sensor head, in which the camera head is provided with a control panel by which the image sensor is operated.
A second object of the present invention is to provide a card-type image sensor made easy to operate by adopting a configuration for the image sensor head such that the card will not project from the bottom side of the main body of the sensor when the head is rotated.
A third object of the present invention is to provide a card-type image sensor which will not readily be caused to malfunction even when the camera head is separated from the computer body by pulling the image sensor head without operating the eject button.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, a card-type image sensor comprises an image sensor head constituted by image sensing means for photoelectrically converting a light image and producing an electrical image information signal, a control panel provided on the image sensor head for changing image sensing conditions of the image sensing means, and a main body constituted by an image processor for processing the image information signal and a connector portion for outputting the image signal, which has been processed by the signal processor, to an external device, wherein the image sensor head is capable of turning relative to the main body and the control panel is disposed in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the image sensor head. As a result of this configuration, the image sensor is easy to operate as the control panel is not hidden even when the image sensor head is turned.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, a card-type image sensor comprises an image sensor head constituted by image sensing means for photoelectrically converting a light image and producing an electrical image information signal, and a generally card-shaped main body constituted by a signal processor for processing the image information signal and a connector portion for outputting the image signal, which has been processed by the signal processor, to an external device, wherein the image sensor head is capable of turning relative to the main body and has an axis of rotation extending longitudinally of the main body, and no portion of the image sensor head projects from below a lower side of the main body when the image sensor head is turned. As a result of this configuration, the image sensor head can be operated without being interfered with by a desk or the like even if the card slot of the computer to which the image sensor is connected is provided very close to the bottom of the computer.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, a card-type image sensor comprises image sensing means for photoelectrically converting a light image and producing an electrical image information signal, an image processor for processing the image information signal, a connector portion for outputting the image signal, which has been processed by the signal processor, to an external device, an image sensor head constituted by the image sensing means, and a main body constituted by the signal processor and connector portion, wherein the main body is provided with a finger catch. As a result, if the operator forgets to press an eject button on the computer and grasps the camera unit in an effort to pull the image sensor from the computer, the operator's finger engages the finger catch during the pulling operation and allows the image sensor to be pulled out. This greatly reduces the possibility that the image sensor will be damaged.
In an embodiment, the finger catch has a size equal to or greater than that of the image sensor head. This makes it easier for the operator's finger to engage the finger catch in the pulling operation, thereby reducing further the possibility that the image sensor will be damaged.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a card-type image sensor comprises image sensing means for photoelectrically converting a light image and producing an electrical image information signal, an image sensor head constituted by the image sensing means, a signal processor for processing the image information signal, a connector portion for outputting the image signal, which has been processed by the signal processor, to an external device, a main board on which the signal processor and connector portion have been mounted, a generally frame-shaped frame so adapted as to cover the main board, a metal cover so disposed as to embrace the main board and the frame, and a main body constituted by the main board, the frame and the cover, wherein a support portion for supporting the image sensor head is constructed as an integral part of the frame. As a result of this configuration the rigidity of the frame is increased. If the operator forgets to press an eject button on the computer and grasps the camera unit in an effort to-pull the image sensor from the computer, the high rigidity of the sensor greatly reduces the possibility that the image sensor will be damage
Murakami Taro
Nabetani Hitoshi
Okauchi Shigeki
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Lee Cheukfan
Morgan & Finnegan , LLP
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