Mobile phone with swipe printer

• US 7,241,005 B2
• Filed: 02/12/2003
• Issued: 07/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Zamtec Limited (Memjet Limited)
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia
• Primary Examiner(s): Meier; Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran; Ly T.
• Application Number:
  US10/503,924
• Publication Number:
  US 20050145700A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,609 Days
• Field of Search: 347/109, 400/88, 400/76
• US Class Current: 347/109
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/36 for portability , i.e. hand-held printers or laptop printers B41J3/4075 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/445 Printers integrated in other types of apparatus, e.g. printers integrated in cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/21 Combinations with auxiliary equipment, e.g. with clocks or memoranda pads
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones

Abstract

A mobile telecommunications device, such as a mobile telephone, includes an internal printer for printing on print media external to the device. A speed sensor measures the speed at which a user moves the device relative to the print media and controls the rate of ink ejection accordingly. The device may print images displayed on a display screen of the device or may print image data received through a wireless telecommunications network.

Claims

1. A mobile telecommunications device comprising a casing, a display, circuitry for wireless telecommunications housed within the casing and a printer housed within the casing, the printer comprising:

a printhead arrangement adapted to effect printing onto print media as the printer is moved relative to the print media, the printhead arrangement including a plurality of ink ejection nozzles;

an ink supply adapted to store ink and to supply the ink to the printhead arrangement;

a speed sensor adapted to measure the speed at which the printhead arrangement is moved relative to the print media and to generate speed data; and

a print controller adapted to;

(a) receive image data from an image source;

(b) convert the image data into a plurality of drop ejection control signals;

(c) receive the speed data from the speed sensor; and

(d) operate the ink injection nozzles in the printhead arrangement in accordance with the drop ejection control signals at a rate determined using the speed data, to thereby effect printing of the image data onto the print media wherein the speed sensor comprises;

an optical encoder wheel adapted to be in contact with the print media and to rotate as the device is moved relative to the print media, the optical encoder wheel having a series of circumferentially spaced markings thereon; and

an optical sensor adapted to;

(a) detect the markings as the markings pass the optical sensor during rotation of the optical encoder wheel; and

(b) generate the speed date from the detected markings;

the mobile telecommunications device further comprising a capping arrangement moveable between a capped position in which the capping arrangement substantially obstructs the ejection of ink from the ink ejection nozzles and a un-capped position in which the capping arrangement does not substantially obstruct the ejection of ink from the ink ejection nozzles, the capping arrangement being actuated by a capping actuator disposed on the device so as to be operable by a user as the user moves the printhead arrangement relative to the print media.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the ink supply is removable from the printer.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the image data is received at the circuitry for wireless telecommunications from a wireless telecommunications network.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the printer further comprises a replaceable ink cartridge.

5. The device of claim 1 further comprising one or more ink inlets through which the ink supply may be replenished.

6. The device of claim 1 further comprising a digital camera including a lens and CCD array, and wherein image data captured by the CCD array is displayed on the display of the telecommunications device.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the printer is adapted to print images captured by the digital camera.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the print controller receives the image data from the image source via the circuitry for wireless telecommunications.