US5517265A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for preventing unauthorized recycling of single-use camera and permitting authorized reuse of the camera
Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
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Filing: 1995-01-09
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Granted: 1996-05-14
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Expires: 2015-01-09
Abstract
Abstract When an exposure counter in a single-use camera indicates that the maximum number of exposures on a roll of film in the camera have been exposed, a function of the camera such as an electronic flash capability is disabled to prevent unauthorized recycling of the camera. A reset code must be inputted to the camera to initialize the exposure counter and to enable the electronic flash capability, to permit authorized reuse of the camera with another roll of film. If an invalid code is inputted to the camera, the electronic flash capability is permanently disabled or cannot be re-enabled for a period of time.
Inventors
- 👤 Dennis R. Zander
- 👤 Clay A. Dunsmore
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 22:41
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B19/00; G03B19/02; G03B19/04; G03B2215/00; G03B2215/05; G03B2215/0503; G03B2217/00; G03B2217/007; G03B2219/00; G03B2219/02; G03B2219/04; G03B2219/045
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of preventing unauthorized recycling of a single-use camera but permitting authorized reuse of the camera, comprising first determining that a particular event in the camera has occurred, then disabling a function of the camera to prevent unauthorized reuse of the camera, and then inputting an electrical, optical, or magnetic reset code to the camera to re-enable the function that has been disabled to permit authorized reuse of the camera, is characterized further by: determining whether a reset code that is inputted to the camera is valid or invalid; and preventing the function that has been disabled permanently from being re-enabled when the reset code is determined to be invalid; to then prevent the input Of a valid code from ever re-enabling the function.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of preventing unauthorized recycling of a single-use camera but permitting authorized reuse of the camera, comprising first determining that a particular event in the camera has occurred, then disabling a function of the camera to prevent unauthorized reuse of the camera, and then inputting an electrical, optical, or magnetic reset code to the camera to re-enable the function that has been disabled to permit authorized reuse of the camera, is characterized further by: determining whether a reset code that is inputted to the camera is valid or invalid; and preventing the function that has been disabled permanently from being re-enabled when the reset code is determined to be invalid; to then prevent the input Of a valid code from ever re-enabling the function.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the function that has been disabled is prevented from being re-enabled permanently by applying electrical energy to an electrical component in the camera which operates to destroy the electrical component.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
129 words
A single use camera comprising means for determining that completed use of the camera has occurred, means for disabling a function of the camera to prevent unauthorized reuse of the camera when completed use of the camera has occurred, and means for receiving an electrical, optical, or magnetic reset code from a separate code inputting device to re-enable the function that has been disabled to permit authorized reuse of the camera, is characterized further by: means for determining whether a reset code that is inputted to the camera is valid or invalid; and means for preventing the function that has been disabled permanently from being re-enabled when the reset code is determined to be invalid, to then prevent the input of a valid code from ever re-enabling the function.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
129 words
A single use camera comprising means for determining that completed use of the camera has occurred, means for disabling a function of the camera to prevent unauthorized reuse of the camera when completed use of the camera has occurred, and means for receiving an electrical, optical, or magnetic reset code from a separate code inputting device to re-enable the function that has been disabled to permit authorized reuse of the camera, is characterized further by: means for determining whether a reset code that is inputted to the camera is valid or invalid; and means for preventing the function that has been disabled permanently from being re-enabled when the reset code is determined to be invalid, to then prevent the input of a valid code from ever re-enabling the function.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
141 words
A method of preventing unauthorized recycling of a single-use camera but permitting authorized reuse of the camera, comprising first determining that a particular event in the camera has occurred, then disabling a function of the camera to prevent unauthorized reuse of the camera, and then inputting an electrical, optical, or magnetic reset code to the camera to re-enable the function that has been disabled to permit authorized reuse of the camera, is characterized further by: determining whether a reset code that is inputted to the camera is valid or invalid, and unconditionally preventing the function that has been disabled from being re-enabled for a predetermined fixed period of time when the reset code is determined to be invalid, to allow the input of a valid code to re-enable the function only after the elapse of the predetermined fixed period of time.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
141 words
A method of preventing unauthorized recycling of a single-use camera but permitting authorized reuse of the camera, comprising first determining that a particular event in the camera has occurred, then disabling a function of the camera to prevent unauthorized reuse of the camera, and then inputting an electrical, optical, or magnetic reset code to the camera to re-enable the function that has been disabled to permit authorized reuse of the camera, is characterized further by: determining whether a reset code that is inputted to the camera is valid or invalid, and unconditionally preventing the function that has been disabled from being re-enabled for a predetermined fixed period of time when the reset code is determined to be invalid, to allow the input of a valid code to re-enable the function only after the elapse of the predetermined fixed period of time.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method as recited in claim 4, wherein the function that has been disabled is unconditionally prevented from being re-enabled for the predetermined fixed period of time by charging a power capacitor to provide electrical energy for the predetermined fixed period of time to keep the function disabled.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
151 words
A method of preventing unauthorized recycling of a single-use camera but permitting authorized reuse of the camera, comprising first determining that a particular event in the camera has occurred, then disabling a function of the camera to prevent unauthorized reuse of the camera, and then inputting a reset code to the camera to re-enable the function that has been disabled to permit authorized reuse of the camera, is characterized further by: determining whether a reset code that is inputted to the camera is valid or invalid; preventing the function that has been disabled from being re-enabled for at least a predetermined delay when the reset code is determined to be invalid; and discontinuing to prevent the function that has been disabled from being re-enabled only after the elapse of the predetermined delay, to then allow the input of a reset code that is determined to be valid to re-enable the function.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
151 words
A method of preventing unauthorized recycling of a single-use camera but permitting authorized reuse of the camera, comprising first determining that a particular event in the camera has occurred, then disabling a function of the camera to prevent unauthorized reuse of the camera, and then inputting a reset code to the camera to re-enable the function that has been disabled to permit authorized reuse of the camera, is characterized further by: determining whether a reset code that is inputted to the camera is valid or invalid; preventing the function that has been disabled from being re-enabled for at least a predetermined delay when the reset code is determined to be invalid; and discontinuing to prevent the function that has been disabled from being re-enabled only after the elapse of the predetermined delay, to then allow the input of a reset code that is determined to be valid to re-enable the function.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
152 words
A single-use camera comprising means for determining that completed use of the camera has occurred, means for disabling a function of the camera to prevent unauthorized reuse of the camera when completed use of the camera has occurred, and means for receiving an electrical, optical or magnetic reset code from a separate code inputting device to re-enable the function that has been disabled to permit authorized reuse of the camera, is characterized further by: means for determining whether a reset code that is inputted to the camera is valid or invalid; and means for preventing the function that has been disabled from being re-enabled at least for a period of time when the reset code is determined to be invalid, and for discontinuing to prevent the function from being re-enabled only after the elapse of the period of time to then allow the input of a valid code to re-enable the function.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
152 words
A single-use camera comprising means for determining that completed use of the camera has occurred, means for disabling a function of the camera to prevent unauthorized reuse of the camera when completed use of the camera has occurred, and means for receiving an electrical, optical or magnetic reset code from a separate code inputting device to re-enable the function that has been disabled to permit authorized reuse of the camera, is characterized further by: means for determining whether a reset code that is inputted to the camera is valid or invalid; and means for preventing the function that has been disabled from being re-enabled at least for a period of time when the reset code is determined to be invalid, and for discontinuing to prevent the function from being re-enabled only after the elapse of the period of time to then allow the input of a valid code to re-enable the function.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
A single-use camera as recited in claim 7, wherein said means for preventing the function that has been disabled from being re-enabled for the period of time includes a power capacitor which is charged to provide electrical energy for the period of time to keep the function disabled.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
136 words
A single-use camera comprising means for determining that completed use of the camera has occurred, means for disabling a function of the camera to prevent unauthorized reuse of the camera when completed use of the camera has occurred, and means for receiving an electrical, optical or magnetic reset code from a separate code inputting device to re-enable the function that has been disabled to permit authorized reuse of the camera, is characterized further by: means for determining whether a reset code that is inputted to the camera is valid or invalid; and means for unconditionally preventing the function that has been disabled from being re-enabled at least for a predetermined delay when the reset code is determined to be invalid, to prevent the input of a valid code from re-enabling the function during the predetermined delay.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
136 words
A single-use camera comprising means for determining that completed use of the camera has occurred, means for disabling a function of the camera to prevent unauthorized reuse of the camera when completed use of the camera has occurred, and means for receiving an electrical, optical or magnetic reset code from a separate code inputting device to re-enable the function that has been disabled to permit authorized reuse of the camera, is characterized further by: means for determining whether a reset code that is inputted to the camera is valid or invalid; and means for unconditionally preventing the function that has been disabled from being re-enabled at least for a predetermined delay when the reset code is determined to be invalid, to prevent the input of a valid code from re-enabling the function during the predetermined delay.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-05-14 | 1999-11-13 | 2000-05-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-05-14 | 2003-11-13 | 2004-05-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-05-14 | 2007-11-13 | 2008-05-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |