Method and apparatus for taking digital pictures with an industry standard film camera

摘要

A method and apparatus for taking digital pictures. A film camera having a standard back panel, a shutter, and a primary lens is provided. An image sensing array is disposed within the camera in an area normally occupied by film so as to be in optical communication with the primary lens when the shutter is open. A read-out circuit is packaged to reside in a cavity normally occupied by film when the camera is employed to take standard pictures. The read-out circuit is coupled to the image sensing array and reads out an image captured by the image sensing array. A memory is coupled to a read-out circuit to store images read from the image sensing array. The memory is packaged to also reside in a cavity vacated in the absence of film. In one embodiment, the read-out circuit and the memory occupy the same cavity. In another embodiment, the read-out circuit and the memory occupy different cavities.