Mobile phone device incorporating a printer assembly

• US 7,430,067 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2005
• Issued: 09/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Zamtec Limited (Memjet Limited)
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia
• Primary Examiner(s): Coles; Edward L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Worku; Negussie
• Application Number:
  US11/225,172
• Publication Number:
  US 20060007499A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,112 Days
• Field of Search: 347/49, 347/101, 347 85- 87, 347108-109, 358/400, 358/473, 358/1.8, 358/443, 358/1.15, 358/471, 358/503, 358/508, 358/502, 358/474, 379/433.01, 379/107.3, 346/107.3, 709/247, 455/403, 455/507, 455/556.1, 455/550.1
• US Class Current: 358/474
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 13/00 Devices or arrangements of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, specially adapted for supporting or handling copy material in short lengths, e.g. sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/01 Ink jet
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/36 for portability , i.e. hand-held printers or laptop printers B41J3/4075 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/407 for marking on special material
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/445 Printers integrated in other types of apparatus, e.g. printers integrated in cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1686 the I/O peripheral being an integrated camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1696 the I/O peripheral being a printing or scanning device
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72439 for image or video messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00188 Printing, e.g. prints or reprints H04N1/0019, H04N1/00196 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00278 with a printing apparatus, e.g. a laser beam printer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00281 with a telecommunication apparatus, e.g. a switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information, a selective call terminal details of transmission H04N1/00095; establishing a communication with one of a facsimile machine or another apparatus sharing a single line H04N1/32704; interfacing cordless telephone terminals with an accessory to increase the functionality of user interface H04M1/72409
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00326 : with a data reading, recognizing or recording apparatus, e.g. with a bar-code apparatus arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus G11B31/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00347 : with another still picture apparatus, e.g. hybrid still picture apparatus circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between image input and image output device H04N1/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00519 : Constructional details not otherwise provided for, e.g. housings, covers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00525 : Providing a more compact apparatus, e.g. sheet discharge tray in cover
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00538 : Modular devices, i.e. allowing combinations of separate components, removal or replacement of components
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0062 : Removing sheets from a stack or inputting media
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00631 : Ejecting or stacking H04N1/00641 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/04 : Scanning arrangements , i.e. arrangements for the displacement of active reading or reproducing elements relative to the original or reproducing medium, or vice versaH04N1/387 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/12 : using the sheet-feed movement or the medium-advance or the drum-rotation movement as the slow scanning component, e.g. arrangements for the main-scanningsheet-feed movement by translatory movement of a flat picture-bearing surface H04N1/1008; main-scanning using oscillating or rotating mirrors H04N1/113; using multi-element arrays H04N1/19
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/193 : using electrically scanned linear arrays , e.g. linear CCD arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2154 : the still video camera incorporating a hardcopy reproducing device, e.g. a printer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/46 : Colour picture communication systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 : Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0063 : Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0081 : Image reader H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 : Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 : Digital still camera

Abstract

A mobile phone device includes a chasis. A mobile phone casting is mounted on the chasis. Mobile phone circuitry and components are on the chasis and housed within the casing. A printing assembly is mounted on the chasis and housed within the casing. The casing and the printing assembly define a print media feed path through the casing.

Claims

1. A mobile phone device which comprises

an elongate chassis;

a mobile phone casing mounted on the chassis;

mobile phone circuitry and components mounted on the chassis and housed within the casing; and

a printing assembly mounted on the chassis and housed within the casing, the casing and the printing assembly defining a print media feed path extending through the casing and along which print media can be fed during printing, the print media feed path being substantially straight and extending transverse to the elongate chassis.

2. A mobile phone device as claimed in claim 1, in which the printing assembly includes a pagewidth printhead, an ink supply unit mounted on the printhead to supply the printhead with ink and a print media feed apparatus for feeding the print media along the print media feed path.

3. A mobile phone device as claimed in claim 2, in which the printing assembly is in the form of a module that is detachably mounted on the chassis for detachment and replacement, when necessary.

4. A mobile phone device as claimed in claim 2, in which the printing assembly includes printer processing circuitry configured to control operation of the pagewidth printhead and interface circuitry interconnecting the printer processing circuitry and the mobile phone circuitry.

5. A mobile phone device as claimed in claim 2, which includes an image sensor for sensing images and operable by a user to define a camera, the image sensor being connected to the printer processing circuitry which is configured to print images sensed by the image sensor using the pagewidth printhead.

6. A mobile phone device as claimed in claim 5, in which the image sensor is one of a CCD and a CMOS image sensor.

7. A mobile phone device as claimed in claim 2, in which the casing defines entry and exit slots dimensioned to receive and eject print media in the form of cards, the print media feed apparatus being configured to pick up and feed a card through the casing when the card is inserted into the entry slot.