Electronic picture viewing apparatus

• US 6,535,139 B1
• Filed: 05/04/2001
• Issued: 03/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tina M. Lindler
• Original Assignee: Tina M. Lindler
• Inventors: Lindler, Tina M.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US09/849,414
• Time in Patent Office: 683 Days
• Field of Search: 340/815.4, 340/815.46, 340/815.47, 340/815.49, 340/815.58, 340/815.73, 340/815.74, 705/4, 705/161
• US Class Current: 340/815.74
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/0616 Ornamental frames, e.g. with illumination, speakers or decorative features
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/28 for medicine
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/10 Indicating arrangements; Warning arrangements G11B15/04, G11B19/04, G11B27/34, G11B27/36 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/64 Constructional details of receivers, e.g. cabinets or dust covers furniture aspects of television cabinets A47B81/06

Abstract

An electronic picture viewing apparatus for displaying electronic images in a picture frame type setting. The electronic picture viewing apparatus includes a housing having a back wall, a top wall, a bottom wall and a pair of side walls. Each of the side walls has a back edge and a front edge wherein the back edges abut the back wall. A display for displaying an electronic image has a backside integrally coupled to the front edges of the housing. A microprocessor for controlling a video signal to the display is positioned in the housing and operationally coupled to the display. A power supply is operationally coupled to the microprocessor. An interface interfaces a plurality of peripherals with the microprocessor. The interface is positioned in one of the side walls of the housing and operationally coupled to the microprocessor. The display displays an electronic image received from the peripherals.

Claims

1. An electronic picture frame device comprising:

a housing having a back wall, a top wall, a bottom wall and a pair of side walls, each of said side walls having a back edge and a front edge wherein said back edges abut said back wall;

a display means for displaying an electronic image, said display means having a backside and a viewing side, said back side being integrally coupled to said front edges of said housing such that a central portion of a bottom edge of said backside is abutting said bottom wall of said housing;

a control means for controlling a video signal to said display means being operationally coupled to the display means, said control means being positioned in said housing;

a power supply being operationally coupled to said control means;

an interface means for interfacing a plurality of peripherals with the control means, said interface means being positioned in one of said side walls of said housing and operationally coupled to said control means;

wherein said display means displays an electronic image received from said peripherals; and

wherein said backside of said display means extends outwardly from said front edges of said housing for facilitating concealment of said housing behind said display means to a viewer positioned indirectly in front of said viewing side of said display means.

2. The electronic picture frame device as in claim 1, wherein said front edges angle outwardly from said top wall to said bottom wall such that an angle defined by said front edges and a bottom edge of each of said side walls is generally between 85 degrees and 65 degrees.

3. The electronic picture frame device as in claim 2, further comprising:

a memory storage means for storing electronic data, said memory storage means being positioned in said housing and operationally coupled to said control means, wherein said memory storage means stores electronic data transferred from said control means from said peripherals.

4. The electronic picture frame device as in claim 3, further including:

an actuator being position ed on one of said side walls of said housing and being operationally coupled to said control means, said actuator being adapted for selecting between a plurality of sets of stored electronic data, wherein each of said sets defines a viewable electronic image displayable on said display means.

5. The electronic picture frame device as in claim 1, wherein said back and top walls have a plurality of elongated slots therein extending into an interior of said housing.

6. The electronic picture frame device as in claim 1, wherein said display means comprises a liquid crystal display.

7. The electronic picture frame device as in claim 1, wherein said interface means comprises a computer port, a digital camera port and a scanner port.

8. The electronic picture frame device as in claim 1, further comprising:

a memory storage means for storing electronic data, said memory storage means being positioned in said housing and operationally coupled to said control means, wherein said memory storage means stores electronic data transferred from said control means from said peripherals.

9. The electronic picture frame device as in claim 8, further including:

an actuator being positioned on one of said side walls of said housing and being operationally coupled to said control means, said actuator being adapted for selecting between a plurality of sets of stored electronic data, wherein each of said sets defines a viewable electronic image displayable on said display means.

10. An electronic picture frame device comprising:

a housing having a back wall, a top wall, a bottom wall and a pair of side walls, each of said side walls having a back edge and a front edge wherein said back edges abut said back wall, said front edges angling outwardly from said top wall to said bottom wall such that an angle defined by said front edges and a bottom edge of each of said side walls is generally between 85 degrees and 65 degrees, said back and top walls having a plurality of elongated slots therein extending into an interior of said housing;

a display means for displaying an electronic image, said display means having a backside and a viewing side, said back side being integrally coupled to said front edges of said housing such that a bottom edge of said backside is abutting said bottom wall of said housing such that a central portion of a bottom edge of said backside is abutting said bottom wall of said housing, said display means comprising a liquid crystal display;

a control means for controlling a video signal to said display means being operationally coupled to said display mean, said control means being positioned in said housing;

a power supply being operationally coupled to said control means;

an interface means for interfacing, a plurality of peripherals with the control means, said interface means being positioned in one of said side walls of said housing and operationally coupled to said control means, said interface means comprising a computer port, a digital camera port and a scanner port;

a memory storage means for storing electronic data, said memory storage means being positioned in said housing and operationally coupled to said control means, wherein said memory storage means stores electronic data transferred from said control means from said peripherals;

a plurality of actuators being positioned on one of said side walls of said housing and being operationally coupled to said control means, a first of said actuators being adapted for selecting between a plurality of sets of stored electronic data, wherein each of said sets defines a viewable electronic image displayable on said display means, a second of said actuators being adapted for initiating a menu on said display means, a third and fourth of said actuators being adapted for selecting choices on said menu; and

wherein said backside of said display means extends outwardly from said front edges of said housing for facilitating concealment of said housing behind said display means to a viewer positioned indirectly in front of said viewing side of said display means.