Portable electronic device with printing mechanism

• US 20020186293A1
• Filed: 06/03/2002
• Published: 12/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Ando, Masahiro
• Granted Patent: US 6,742,887 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 347/109
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17509 Whilst mounted in the printer
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/36 for portability , i.e. hand-held printers or laptop printers B41J3/4075 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/445 Printers integrated in other types of apparatus, e.g. printers integrated in cameras

Abstract

The invention provides a portable communication apparatus capable of minimizing the ink tank incorporated therein and easily and simply printing the data stored therein even while it is carried. For this purpose there is disclosed a configuration incorporating a printing mechanism and adapted to execute ink filling and waste ink collection for the printing mechanism at the battery charging operation of the portable communication apparatus.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device system including a portable electronic device provided with a rechargeable battery and a charging apparatus provided with a charging mechanism for charging the battery of said portable electronic device, wherein:

said portable electronic device comprises an ink jet printing mechanism; and

said charging apparatus comprises an ink filling mechanism for filling ink to the printing mechanism of said portable electronic device and a collection mechanism for waste ink discharged from the printing mechanism of said portable electronic device.

2. The portable electronic device system according to claim 1, wherein printing is executed by setting a media pack incorporating a recording medium and ink to said ink jet printing mechanism.

3. The portable electronic device system according to claim 1, wherein said portable electronic device is a portable telephone having an information processing function.

4. The portable electronic device system according to claim 1, wherein said portable electronic device comprises a display and is adapted to display the remaining amount of printing ink on said display.

5. The portable electronic device system according to claim 4, wherein said display indicates that the remaining amount of printing ink has become low.

6. The portable electronic device system according to claim 3, wherein it is informed by vibration that the remaining amount of printing ink has become low.

7. The portable electronic device system according to claim 3, wherein it is informed by sound that the remaining amount of printing ink has become low.

8. A portable electronic device provided with a rechargeable battery, comprising:

an ink jet printing mechanism including an ink jet head and a conveying mechanism for a recording medium; and

an ink filling connecting portion and a waste ink collection connecting portion which are respectively connected with an ink filling mechanism and a waste ink collection mechanism provided in a charging apparatus mounted for battery charging.

9. The portable electronic device according to claim 8, wherein said ink jet printing mechanism executes printing by setting a media pack incorporating a recording medium and ink to said ink jet printing mechanism.

10. The portable electronic device according to claim 8, wherein said portable electronic device is a portable telephone with an information processing function.

11. The portable electronic device according to claim 8, wherein said portable electronic device comprises a display and is adapted to display the remaining amount of printing ink on said display.

12. The portable electronic device according to claim 11, wherein said display indicates that the remaining amount of printing ink has become low.

13. The portable electronic device according to claim 10, wherein it is informed by vibration that the remaining amount of printing ink has become low.

14. The portable electronic device according to claim 10, wherein it is informed by sound that the remaining amount of printing ink has become low.

15. A charging apparatus provided with a charging mechanism for charging a battery of a portable electronic device provided with a rechargeable battery, comprising:

an ink filling mechanism for filling ink to an ink jet printing mechanism included in said portable electronic device and a collection mechanism for waste ink discharged from the printing mechanism of said portable electronic device.

16. A portable electronic apparatus incorporating a printing mechanism in a portable electronic device, wherein printing ink is refilled simultaneously with battery charging of said portable electronic apparatus.

17. A portable electronic apparatus incorporating a printing mechanism in a portable electronic device, wherein waste ink of printing ink is discharged at charging of said portable electronic apparatus.

18. A portable electronic apparatus incorporating a printing mechanism in a portable electronic device, wherein a charging stand for said portable electronic apparatus has a function of refilling printing ink.

19. A portable electronic apparatus incorporating a printing mechanism in a portable electronic device, wherein a charging stand for said portable electronic device has a function of discharging waste ink of printing ink.

20. A portable printing apparatus capable of printing information of a portable electronic apparatus by connection thereto or communication therewith, wherein printing ink is refilled simultaneously with battery charging of said printing apparatus.

22. The portable printing apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the communication with the portable communication apparatus is executed by a wireless communication means.

24. The portable printing apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the communication with the portable communication apparatus is executed by an infrared communication means.

21. A portable printing apparatus capable of printing information of a portable electronic apparatus by connection thereto or communication therewith, wherein waste ink of printing ink is discharged at battery charging of said portable printing apparatus.

23. The portable printing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the communication with the portable communication apparatus is executed by a wireless communication means.

25. The portable printing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the communication with the portable communication apparatus is executed by an infrared communication means.