Method and apparatus for preventing unauthorized recycling of single-use camera and permitting authorized reuse of the camera

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.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. 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.   
     
     
       2. 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. 
     
     
       3. 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.   
     
     
       4. 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.   
     
     
       5. 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. 
     
     
       6. 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.   
     
     
       7. 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.   
     
     
       8. 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. 
     
     
       9. 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. .Iadd.   
     
     
       10.  A method of authorizing reuse of a single-use camera that is automatically functionally disabled, when the camera determines that a predetermined event in the camera has occurred, to prevent unauthorized reuse of the camera, said method comprises the step of 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 and is characterized further by the additional steps of 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. .Iaddend..Iadd.11. A method of authorizing reuse of a single-use camera that is automatically functionally disabled, when the camera determines that a predetermined event in the camera has occurred, to prevent unauthorized reuse of the camera, said method comprises the step of 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 and is characterized further by the additional steps of:   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. .Iaddend..Iadd.12. A method of authorizing reuse of a single-use camera that is automatically functionally disabled, when the camera determines that a predetermined event in the camera has occurred, to prevent unauthorized reuse of the camera, said method comprises the step of 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 and is characterized further by the additional steps of   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. .Iaddend.