Polaroid is patenting a digital camera that produces an instant print (W0
98/18253).
Polaroid proposes using a camera like a book, whose two halves are joined by
light-tight “bellows”. When flat and closed it looks and works like other
digital cameras, focusing an image onto a light sensor, storing it in memory and
displaying the picture on a small LCD screen.
If photographers like what they see, the back can be folded out through 60
degrees to make room for a pack of Polaroid film. Pressing the print button
produces a hard copy of whatever image is on the LCD screen at the time.
