{
  "patent_number": "US 4131919",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "The First Digital Camera's Core Technology",
  "original_title": "Electronic still camera",
  "summary": "Kodak's 1978 patent on the fundamental technology for capturing, processing, and storing digital images using a CCD sensor and magnetic tape.",
  "what_it_does": "This patent describes the essential components of an early electronic still camera. It uses a solid-state device, like a Charge-Coupled Device (CCD), to capture an optical image and turn it into electrical signals. These signals are then processed quickly to separate them and slow down their rate. Finally, this slower stream of digital information is recorded onto a non-volatile medium, like magnetic tape, for later playback on a television. Claim 1 outlines extracting discrete signals, separating them, slowing their rate, and recording them. Claim 4 adds the step of converting these signals into multi-bit digital words in real-time before storage and slower retrieval.",
  "what_it_does_not_cover": [
    "Does not cover cameras that capture analog video signals instead of discrete digital signals.",
    "Does not cover recording methods that are not on a non-volatile medium like magnetic tape.",
    "Does not cover systems that do not involve a solid-state light-responsive device.",
    "Does not cover displaying the image on anything other than a conventional television receiver.",
    "Does not cover image capture using film."
  ],
  "filed": "1977-05-20",
  "granted": "1978-12-26",
  "expires": "1997-05-20",
  "status": "expired",
  "holder": "Eastman Kodak Co",
  "holder_url": "https://patentbrief.org/company/eastman-kodak-co",
  "inventors": [
    {
      "name": "Gareth A. Lloyd",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/gareth-a-lloyd"
    },
    {
      "name": "Steven J. Sasson",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/steven-j-sasson"
    }
  ],
  "times_cited": 106,
  "tags": [
    "consumer_electronics",
    "semiconductors",
    "software",
    "telecommunications"
  ],
  "abstract": "Electronic imaging apparatus, preferably an electronic still camera, employs an inexpensive information-recording medium such as audio-grade magnetic tape for \"capturing\" scene images. The camera includes a charge coupled device comprised of an array of photosensitive elements which form a charge pattern corresponding to an optical image projected onto the elements during an exposure interval. A charge transfer circuit converts the charge pattern into a high frequency pulsed electrical signal immediately following the exposure interval to remove the charge from the device in a short period of time to maintain unwanted \"dark current\" at a low level. Each pulse represents the image-forming light projected onto a particular photosensitive element. A high speed analog-to-digital converter converts these pulses to multi-bit digital words in real time. A digital buffer memory temporarily stores these words, then retransmits them at a rate that is compatible for recording on the audio-grade tape. The image can be displayed on a conventional television receiver by reading the recorded words from the tape and converting them to a format compatible with the signal-receiving circuitry of the television.",
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4131919/digital-camera-electronic-still",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4131919/digital-camera-electronic-still/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US4131919",
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}