Hybrid camera system with electronic album control

Abstract

A hybrid camera includes a pair of imaging systems for capturing images on contained photographic film and an electronic imager, respectively, the film having a magnetic layer. An exterior imaging display allows the user to review the captured image and an input device allows the user to selectively input album related data onto the magnetic layer of the film. The album-related data allows the photo finisher to automatically produce the images in an album-like format. The camera also allows annotated text corresponding to the image to be selectively added to an album print.

Description

[0001]This application is a reissue application for U.S. Pat. No. 5,940,121 issued Aug. 17, 1999 on U.S. Ser. No. 08 / 803,548 filed Feb. 20, 1997.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention relates to hybrid camera systems capable of capturing both electronic and photographic film images, and more particularly to a hybrid camera system, method and apparatus for selectively reviewing and creating album formats for film images captured by the camera.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Hybrid cameras that concurrently capture both photographic film and electronic images of a scene are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,716,470, which describes a hybrid camera containing systems for capturing respective images onto a photographic film and an electronic imaging element, such as an area array of charge coupled devices (CCD). The camera has an optical system, in combination with a shutter release mechanism, allowing a still image to be captured by the photographic film and the electronic imaging element,...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0016]An advantage of the present invention is to provide for automatic creation of an album which satisfies the need to organize photographs without the necessity of two separate events, a first picture taking event and a later album making event. An album making event can become burdensome because the specific details of the picture taking event have become lost over time, the camera system of the present invention on the other hand, allows for capturing an image, previewing the image in an album format, supplying orientation and other formatting instructions for encoding onto the magnetic track, and selectively providing text annotation corresponding to the previewed image.

Problems solved by technology

This patent, however, does not describe a camera having an electronic display or viewfinder to review prints to orient the captured images for presentation within an album format.

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