User interface for a hand-operated printer

• US 20070140770A1
• Filed: 12/20/2005
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lexmark International Incorporated (Ninestar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lexmark International Incorporated (Ninestar Corporation)
• Inventors: Writt, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,399,129 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 400/88
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/36 for portability , i.e. hand-held printers or laptop printers B41J3/4075 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/46 Printing mechanisms combined with apparatus providing a visual indication

Abstract

A hand-operated printer includes a body, a printhead mounted to the body, a display device mounted to the body, and a user interface communicatively coupled to the display device. The user interface provides a user input to the display device based on movement of the hand-operated printer.

Claims

1. A hand-operated printer, comprising:

a body;

a printhead mounted to said body;

a display device mounted to said body; and

a user interface communicatively coupled to said display device, said user interface providing a user input to said display device based on movement of said hand-operated printer.

2. The hand-operated printer of claim 1, wherein:

said display device displays a plurality of thumbnail images and a selection icon; and

said user interface is configured to accommodate a selection of an image to be printed from said plurality of thumbnail images by a manipulation of a position of said selection icon based on said movement of said hand-operated printer.

3. The hand-operated printer of claim 1, said user interface including:

a position encoder configured to sense a movement of said hand-operated printer; and

a controller communicatively coupling said position encoder to said display device.

4. The hand-operated printer of claim 3, wherein said display device displays an icon for performing drawing based on said movement of said hand-operated printer.

21. The hand-operated printer of claim 1, wherein said display device displays an image to be printed and said user interface being configured to select a crop area of said image to be printed.

5. A hand-operated printer, comprising:

a body;

a printhead mounted to said body;

a position encoder mounted to said body; and

a display device mounted to said body, said position encoder being communicatively coupled to said display device to provide a user interface with said display device.

6. The hand-operated printer of claim 5, wherein:

said display device displays a plurality of thumbnail images and a selection icon; and

said position encoder includes a one-dimensional sensor unit to sense a movement of said hand-operated printer to accommodate a selection of an image to be printed from said plurality of thumbnail images by a sequential manipulation of a position of said selection icon.

7. The hand-operated printer of claim 5, wherein:

said display device displays a plurality of thumbnail images and a selection icon; and

said position encoder includes a two-dimensional sensor unit to sense a movement of said hand-operated printer to accommodate a selection of an image to be printed from said plurality of thumbnail images by a sequential manipulation or a two-dimensional manipulation of a position of said selection icon.

8. The hand-operated printer of claim 5, wherein said position encoder is an optical encoder.

9. The hand-operated printer of claim 5, further comprising a controller,

said controller communicatively coupling said position encoder to said display device,

said display device displays a plurality of thumbnail images and a selection icon;

and

said position encoder being configured to sense a movement of said hand-operated printer to accommodate a selection of an image to be printed from said plurality of thumbnail images by a manipulation of a position of said selection icon.

10. The hand-operated printer of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of buttons communicatively coupled to said controller, said plurality of buttons including a select button which when actuated confirms a selection made from said plurality of thumbnail images via said selection icon.

11. The hand-operated printer of claim 10, wherein said plurality of buttons includes a print button, and said controller controls said printhead to print said image on a print medium corresponding to said selection made, when said print button is actuated.

12. The hand-operated printer of claim 5, wherein during a printing operation a user manually moves said hand-operated printer relative to a print medium, said position encoder automatically sensing a distance of movement of said hand-operated printer in at least one direction, and printing will commence forming an image on said print medium after said hand-operated printer has moved a predetermined distance to a designated print position.

13. The hand-operated printer of claim 5, wherein said display device includes a LCD screen.

14. A hand-operated printer, comprising:

a body;

a printhead mounted to said body;

a position encoder mounted to said body, said position encoder being configured to sense a movement of said hand-operated printer;

a display device mounted to said body, said display device displaying a plurality of thumbnail images and a selection icon; and

a controller communicatively coupled to each of said printhead, said position encoder, and said display device, said controller communicatively coupling said position encoder to said display device, said position encoder providing a user interface with said display device to accommodate a selection of an image to be printed from said plurality of thumbnail images by a manipulation of a position of said selection icon when said position encoder senses said movement of said hand-operated printer.

15. The hand-operated printer of claim 14, wherein during a printing operation a user manually moves said hand-operated printer relative to a print medium, said position encoder automatically sensing a distance of movement of said hand-operated printer in at least one direction, said controller controlling said printhead to commence printing said image on said print medium after said hand-operated printer has moved a predetermined distance to a designated print position.

16. The hand-operated printer of claim 14, wherein said position encoder includes a one-dimensional sensor unit to sense said movement of said hand-operated printer to accommodate said selection of said image to be printed from said plurality of thumbnail images by a sequential manipulation of a position of said selection icon.

17. The hand-operated printer of claim 14, wherein said position encoder includes a two-dimensional sensor unit to sense said movement of said hand-operated printer to accommodate said selection of said image to be printed from said plurality of thumbnail images by a sequential manipulation or a two-dimensional manipulation of a position of said selection icon.

18. The hand-operated printer of claim 14, wherein said position encoder is an optical encoder.

19. The hand-operated printer of claim 14, further comprising a plurality of buttons communicatively coupled to said controller, said plurality of buttons including a select button which when actuated confirms a selection made from said plurality of thumbnail images via said selection icon.

20. The hand-operated printer of claim 19, wherein said plurality of buttons includes a print button, and said controller controls said printhead to print said image on a print medium corresponding to said selection made, when said print button is actuated.