[HANDHELD DEVICE FOR IMAGE CAPTURE]

• US 20050012850A1
• Filed: 09/30/2003
• Published: 01/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kinpo Electronics Incorporated (Cal-Comp Electronics Public Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Kinpo Electronics Incorporated (Cal-Comp Electronics Public Company Limited)
• Inventors: WANG, JACK
• Application Number:
  US10/605,424
• Publication Number:
  US 20050012850A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/372
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00525 Providing a more compact apparatus, e.g. sheet discharge tray in cover
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0041 Point to point H04N2201/0039 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0056 Using mechanical couplings, e.g. mating elements H04N2201/0049, H04N2201/0051, H04N2201/0058 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0063 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders

Abstract

A handheld device for capturing image is provided, where a micro flat panel display serves as a viewfinder for capturing image as well as a display for displaying image, so that size and power consumption of the device are both significantly reduced. A structure with a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector configures the device to directly hookup a USB interface of a computer, thus neither a cable nor an external stand is required for connection purpose. On the other hand, it is quite handy for a user to charge the device through USB as the device transmits data to a computer via direct connection.

Claims

1. A handheld image capture device, comprising:

a body, wherein the body comprises at least an optical lens, a micro flat panel display, and a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector;

an image processing circuit, configured in the body, for capturing images via the optical lens, processing and storing images via the USB connector that is coupled to a USB, and displaying captured or stored images via the micro flat panel display; and

a power supply circuit, coupled to the image process circuit, for supplying power to the image process circuit.

2. The handheld image capture device as recited in claim 1, wherein the power supply circuit comprises:

a rechargeable battery;

a charging circuit, coupled to the rechargeable battery and the USB connector, for charging the rechargeable battery via power supply to the USB;

a dc to dc converter, coupled to the rechargeable battery, for supplying power to the image processing circuit.

3. The handheld image capture device as recited in claim 1, wherein the micro flat panel display features a diagonal size of 0.6 inch.

4. The handheld image capture device as recited in claim 1, wherein the image processing circuit manages to process motion images so as to serve as a video camera thereof.

5. The handheld image capture device as recited in claim 1, wherein the image processing circuit manages to process still images so as to serve as a camera thereof.

6. The handheld image capture device as recited in claim 1, wherein the body further comprises a microphone, and the image processing circuit manages to process audio so as to serve as a recorder thereof.

7. The handheld image capture device as recited in claim 1, wherein the body further comprises a headphone jack, and the image processing circuit manages to process Moving Pictures Expert Group-1 Audio Layer 3, or MP3, audio so as serve as a MP3 player thereof.

8. A handheld image capture device, comprises:

a body, wherein the body comprises at least an optical lens, a display, and a USB connector;

an image processing circuit, configured in the body, for capturing images via the optical lens, processing and storing images via the USB connector that is coupled to a USB, and displaying captured or stored images via the micro flat panel display;

a rechargeable battery;

a charging circuit, coupled to the rechargeable battery and the USB connector, for charging the rechargeable battery via power supply to the USB; and

a dc to dc converter, coupled to the rechargeable battery, for supplying power to the image processing circuit.

9. The handheld image capture device as recited in claim 8, wherein the display comprises a micro flat panel display.

10. The handheld image capture device as recited in claim 9, wherein the flat panel display features a diagonal size 0.6 inch.

11. The handheld image capture device as recited in claim 8, wherein the image processing circuit manages to process motion images so as to serve as a video camera thereof.

12. The handheld image capture device as recited in claim 8, wherein the image processing circuit manages to process still images so as to serve as a camera thereof.

13. The handheld image capture device as recited in claim 8, wherein the body further comprises a microphone, and the image processing circuit manages to process audio so as to serve as a recorder thereof.

14. The handheld image capture device as recited in claim 8, wherein the body further comprises a headphone jack, and the image processing circuit manages to process MP3 audio so as serve as a MP3 player thereof.