Patent Application
20080218807
Photographs, especially digital photographs, have become ubiquitous. Several functions arise in handling digital photos. A repository is needed to store digital photos and organize them logically, chronologically, or categorically. A filing system is needed to locate desired digital photos, especially considering that a consumer may have several hundred or several thousands of digital photos. A device for viewing the digital photo is needed. Finally, a printer is needed for printing out digital photos which may be placed in a picture frame or given to another person.
These functions do not exist in an integrated fashion and are generally only available on multiple devices. For example, laptops, personal computers, photo printers, and digital photo frames incorporate some of these functions, but not all of them. In addition, such devices are generally not designed to be acceptable as permanent attractive displays in living room settings or as fine furniture accessories for office/lobby/gift shop settings.
The present disclosure, is directed towards integrated apparatuses which allow users to store, display, and locally print digital photos.
These and other embodiments are described in more detail below.
The following is a brief description of the drawings, which are presented for the purposes of illustrating the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein and not for the purposes of limiting the same.
A more complete understanding of the components, processes and apparatuses disclosed herein can be obtained by reference to the accompanying drawings. These figures are merely schematic representations based on convenience and the ease of demonstrating the present disclosure, and are, therefore, not intended to indicate relative size and dimensions of the devices or components thereof and/or to define or limit the scope of the exemplary embodiments.
The multi-function digital photo device 10 may further comprise a storage unit 60 which stores digital photo information. The storage unit can be any device known in the art. For example, the storage unit can be non-volatile memory such as flash memory, EEPROM, or RAM. It is also contemplated that the photo device 10 does not have a storage unit, but that a storage unit containing digital photos is plugged into the photo device 10. For example, the photo device 10 may have a USB port or a card adapter so that storage devices such as a memory stick, an SD card, and the like can be plugged.
The display unit 50 is a flat-panel display and may use any type of display known in the art. For example, the flat-panel display can be liquid crystal display (LCD), plasma, or digital light processing (DLP). The display unit 50 generally has rectangular dimensions. The display unit may have a diagonal length from 4 inches to as large as 50 inches.
The printing unit 70 allows the user to immediately and locally print a digital photo for a person who sees a digital photo and wishes they had a copy. The printing unit 70 may be any unit known in the art. For example, the printing unit can be a liquid inkjet printer, a laser printer, a solid inkjet printer, or a dye-sublimation printer. The printing unit will generally include a print head, an ink supply, a motor, and a belt.
The device 10 may further comprise an interface unit 150. It is contemplated, for example, that the printing unit 70 be used for low volume, high quality, immediate printing, but that high volume printing be fulfilled via web-based print ordering. The interface unit 150 allows the device 10 to communicate with an external source. For example, the interface unit 150 may be a jack, such as a jack for receiving an Ethernet cable, which allows the device 10 to be connected to the Internet. The interface unit 150 may also be a wireless receiver 140 for wireless connection to the Internet or to a computer which contains the storage unit 60. The photo device 10 may, if desired, comprise both a wireless receiver 140 and an interface unit 150 as well.
The housing 20 may, of course, contain any number of slots and/or holes necessary for the various components of the device 10 to operate or communicate with the user. The tray 80 may serve as a temporary tray upon which paper is laid for prints to be made, then be folded up to reduce the footprint of the photo device 10. However, the tray 80 could also serve as a feeder which stores paper. The photo device 10 may receive power either from a battery source or via an AC adapter which is plugged into an electrical outlet. The device 10 may further comprise an audio unit, such as speakers, for providing sound. For example, streaming video may have a soundtrack or narration may be provided for a picture slide show. The audio unit may be located in either the display housing 30 or the base 40 of the housing 20.
The integrated multi-function digital photo device of the present disclosure is very useful. It allows users to electronically transfer or load digital photos, thus serving as a photo repository. It has the capability to sort and store photos in logical and/or chronological folders, thus serving as an electronic filing system for digital photo albums. It can display a single static photo, a slide show of photos, or streaming video. The images may be enhanced. It also allows for integrated low-volume printing or high-volume printing via web-based print ordering.
It will be appreciated that several of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may also be subsequently made by those skilled in the art. These combinations and variations are intended to be encompassed by the following claims.
