MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS DEVICE

• US 20080278772A1
• Filed: 06/17/2008
• Published: 11/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia, Lapstun, Paul, Walmsley, Simon Robert
• Granted Patent: US 8,090,403 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/473
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/009 Detecting type of paper, e.g. by automatic reading of a code that is printed on a paper package or on a paper roll or by sensing the grade of translucency of the paper
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/445 Printers integrated in other types of apparatus, e.g. printers integrated in cameras

Abstract

Provided is a mobile telecommunications device having a printer and image capture means for printing and interacting with printed media. The device includes a mobile phone module for operatively executing a phone operating system, and a sensor module in signal communication with the phone module. The sensor module is configured for sensing tags encoded on the printed media. The device also includes a print engine controller in signal communication with the phone module, the print engine controller being configured for controlling the printer.

Claims

1. A modular mobile telecommunications device having a printer and image capture means for printing and interacting with printed media, the device comprising:

a mobile phone module for operatively executing a phone operating system;

a sensor module in signal communication with the phone module, the sensor module configured for sensing tags encoded on the printed media; and

a print engine controller module in signal communication with the phone module, the print engine controller configured for controlling the printer.

2. The mobile telecommunications device of claim 1, wherein the mobile phone module includes a pointer driver via which the sensor module interacts with the phone operating system.

3. The mobile telecommunications device of claim 1, wherein the sensor module includes a monolithically integrated image sensor and processor to capture the tags when the processor receives a signal from a contact switch switched when the printed media is proximate the image sensor.

4. The mobile telecommunications device of claim 3, wherein the sensor module includes an infrared LED to facilitate reflective sensing of infrared tags.

5. The mobile telecommunications device of claim 1, wherein the print engine controller module includes a media sensor so that the printer is only operated when the print media is present.

6. The mobile telecommunications device of claim 1, wherein the mobile phone module includes a printer driver via which instructions are sent to the print engine controller module.

7. The mobile telecommunications device of claim 1, wherein the phone operating system is configured to control the sensor module and print engine controller module to apply effects to a captured image and to print such modified image via the printer.

8. The mobile telecommunications device of claim 1, wherein the print engine controller module includes a media transport to transport the print media through the printer.