Electronic still camera, instant printer and instant film

Abstract

Image data obtained through an image sensor is written in a memory. When printing an image, a printing head is driven in accordance with the image data read out from the memory in a line sequential fashion, and is synchronously moved in a sub scan direction, thereby exposing the instant film line by line. The image appears on the exposed instant film as a developing solution is developed by developing rollers while the instant film is advanced out through the developing rollers. Alternatively, the printing head is driven synchronously with the instant film being advanced. Thereby an image is printed at one sub scanning without the need for moving the printing head. The printing head is provided with an array of three color light emitting elements, and three color light beams are simultaneously projected onto the instant film. The electronic still camera is automatically set in an imaging mode when a power switch is turned on, and is switched to a display mode or a print mode as soon as a display mode key or a print mode key is operated. After being switched to the display mode, the electronic still camera is quickly switched to the imaging mode if only a shutter release button is operated.

1 . An instant printer for printing an image on an instant film containing a processing solution therein by exposing said instant film and developing said processing solution in said exposed instant film, the instant printer comprising: 
 a film advancing device for advancing said instant film to outside, said film advancing device including developing rollers for developing the processing solution in said exposed instant film as being passed therethrough;    a printing head located near and before said developing rollers in the film advancing direction, said printing head having an array of light emitting elements arranged in a main scan direction perpendicular to the film advancing direction; a speed detection device for detecting advancing speed of said instant film by said film advancing device; and    a head driver for driving said light emitting element array in accordance with digital image data fed to said head driver in a line sequential fashion while controlling timing of light emission of said light emitting elements in accordance with the film advancing speed, thereby to expose said advancing instant film line by line.    
   
   
       2 . An instant printer according to  claim 1 , wherein said light emitting elements are arranged in three rows for emitting three color light beams respectively, and are driven simultaneously in accordance with image data of three colors of one line.  
   
   
       3 . An instant printer according to  claim 2 , wherein said printing head further comprises an optical system for projecting the three color light beams from the three rows of light emitting elements into a line on said instant film.  
   
   
       4 . An instant printer according to  claim 1 , further comprising an external terminal for inputting image data from external apparatuses.  
   
   
       5 . An instant printer according to  claim 1 , wherein said instant printer is integrally or removably mounted to an electronic still camera having an imaging device for capturing electronic image data from an optical image of a subject, and memory means for recording said image data therein.  
   
   
       6 . An instant film containing a processing solution therein which is developed over a photosensitive surface of said instant film while said instant film is advanced through developing rollers, said instant film comprising a speed detection track extending along a developing direction of said processing solution, said speed detection track having marks arranged at regular intervals along said track, allowing to detect an advancing speed of said instant film with reference to said marks.