Wireless digital picture display frame

• US 20040174327A1
• Filed: 02/24/2004
• Published: 09/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Anthony C. Salvador, George R. Bowden III, Rune A. Skarbo
• Original Assignee: Anthony C. Salvador, George R. Bowden III, Rune A. Skarbo
• Inventors: Bowden,, George R. III, Salvador, Anthony C., Skarbo, Rune A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,961,046 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/84
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/06 Remotely controlled electronic signs other than labels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/2092 Details of a display terminals using a flat panel, the details relating to the control arrangement of the display terminal and to the interfaces thereto suitable for both CRT and flat panel G09G5/003; specific for a CRT G09G1/165

Abstract

A wireless digital picture display frame is disclosed. The display frame includes a wireless receiver that operates to receive a digital picture, a flat-panel display that operates to render the digital picture, and a processor that operates to control the receiving and rendering of the digital picture. The display frame further includes a frame with constructs that encircle the flat panel display, and form a housing to house the enumerated components. The digital picture may be a digital painting/graphics rendition or a digital photograph.

Claims

1. A picture display frame comprising:

(a) a wireless receiver that operates to receive a digital picture from an external source;

(b) a flat panel display that operates to render the digital picture;

(c) a processor coupled to the wireless receiver and the flat panel display that operates to control said receiving and rendering of said digital picture; and

(d) a frame having constructs that encircle the flat panel display, and form a housing to house the wireless receiver and the processor.

2. The picture display frame as set forth in claim 1, wherein the digital picture is a digital painting or graphics rendition.

3. The picture display frame as set forth in claim 1, wherein the digital picture is a digital photograph.

4. The picture display frame as set forth in claim 1, wherein the display frame further includes a non-volatile memory coupled to the wireless receiver, the flat panel display and the processor, that operates to store the received digital picture, the processor further controlling said storing of the digital picture.

5. The picture display frame as set forth in claim 4, wherein the non-volatile memory is one of a block erasable flash memory, an electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), and a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) memory.

6. The picture display frame as set forth in claim 1, wherein the processor is one of a 8-bit or more microcontroller, a 16-bit or more digital signal processor and a 32-bit or more general purpose microprocessor.

7. The picture display frame as set forth in claim 1, wherein the frame includes hanging features that facilitate hanging of the picture display frame.

8. The picture display frame as set forth in claim 1, wherein the frame includes support features that facilitate flat surface placement of the picture display frame.

9. A wall mounted picture display frame comprising:

(a) a wireless receiver that operates to receive a digital picture from an external source;

(b) a flat panel display that operates to render the stored digital picture;

(c) a processor coupled to the wireless receiver and the flat panel display that operates to control said receiving and rendering of said digital picture; and

(d) a frame having constructs that encircle the flat panel display, and form a housing to house the wireless receiver and the processor, the frame further having hanging features that facilitate hanging of the picture display frame.

10. The picture display frame as set forth in claim 9, wherein the digital picture is a digital painting or graphics rendition.

11. The picture display frame as set forth in claim 9, wherein the digital picture is a digital photograph.

12. The picture display frame as set forth in claim 9, wherein the display frame further includes a non-volatile memory coupled to the wireless receiver, the flat panel display and the processor, that operates to store the received digital picture, the processor further controlling said storing of the digital picture.

13. The picture display frame as set forth in claim 12, wherein the non-volatile memory is one of a block erasable flash memory, an electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), and a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) memory.

14. The picture display frame as set forth in claim 9, wherein the processor is one of a 8-bit or more microcontroller, a 16-bit or more digital signal processor and a 32-bit or more general purpose microprocessor.

15. A flat surface placement picture display frame comprising:

(a) a wireless receiver that operates to receive a digital picture from an external source;

(b) a flat panel display that operates to render the stored digital picture;

(c) a processor coupled to the wireless receiver and the flat panel display, that operates to control said receiving and rendering of said digital picture; and

(d) a frame having constructs that encircle the flat panel display, and form a housing to house the wireless receiver and the processor, the frame further having support features that facilitate flat surface placement of the picture display frame.

16. The picture display frame as set forth in claim 15, wherein the digital picture is a digital painting or graphics rendition.

17. The picture display frame as set forth in claim 15, wherein the digital picture is a digital photograph.

18. The picture display frame as set forth in claim 15, wherein the display frame further includes a non-volatile memory coupled to the wireless receiver, the flat panel display and the processor, that operates to store the received digital picture, the processor further controlling said storing of the digital picture.

19. The picture display frame as set forth in claim 18, wherein the non-volatile memory is one of a block erasable flash memory, an electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), and a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) memory.

20. The picture display frame as set forth in claim 15, wherein the processor is one of a 8-bit or more microcontroller, a 16-bit or more digital signal processor and a 32-bit or more general purpose microprocessor.