Portable electronic device and associated charging stand

• US 7,431,519 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2006
• Issued: 10/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia
• Primary Examiner(s): COLILLA, DANIEL JAMES
• Application Number:
  US11/474,280
• Publication Number:
  US 20060239739A1
• Time in Patent Office: 834 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 400/88
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/393 Devices for controlling or analysing the entire machine ; Controlling or analysing mechanical parameters involving printing of test patterns
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/445 Printers integrated in other types of apparatus, e.g. printers integrated in cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• 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: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A portable electronic device and associated charging stand assembly where the portable electronic device has an inbuilt printer and the associated charging stand recharges the device battery and refills the printer.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device and associated charging stand assembly comprising:

a portable electronic device with an inbuilt printer, a battery and a printing fluid interface for receiving printing fluid to be used by the printer; and

,

a charging stand having a receptacle for releasably receiving the portable electronic device, a power connection for electrical connection to an external power supply, a power transmission arrangement for providing the recharging power to the battery when the portable electronic device is in the receptacle, a printing fluid reservoir storing printing fluid for use by the inbuilt printer, and a printing fluid connection for engaging the printing fluid interface to establish fluid communication between the printing fluid reservoir and the inbuilt printer when the portable electronic device is in the receptacle, said printing fluid reservoir disposed such that printing fluid flows into the inbuilt printer under gravity feed when the portable electronic device is in said receptacle.

2. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein the portable electronic device is a mobile telecommunications device and the printing fluid reservoir is an ink reservoir.

3. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein the power transmission arrangement has terminals for engaging electrical contacts on the portable electronic device when it is in the receptacle in order to recharge the battery.

4. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein the power transmission arrangement includes a magnetic field generator for generating an inductive coupling between the stand and an inductive current generation device within the portable electronic device for recharging the battery when it is in the receptacle.

5. An assembly according to claim 2 wherein said ink reservoir is a removable ink cartridge and the printing fluid connection has at least one cartridge connection for engaging at least one corresponding complementary formation on said ink cartridge.

6. An assembly according to claim 2 wherein said ink reservoir includes a plurality of ink chambers storing distinct ink colours and/or types, each of said chambers including at least one of said printing fluid connections.

7. An assembly according to claim 6 wherein the plurality of ink chambers each includes an outlet, wherein said at least one of said printing fluid connections includes one or more cartridge pins received by said chamber outlets respectively.

8. An assembly according to claim 7 wherein each of said cartridge outlets include an elastomeric seal.

9. An assembly according to claim 7 further comprising an elastomeric pad surrounding the cartridge pins or each of said cartridge pins, each pad or pads being compressible to expose said cartridge pins.

10. An assembly according to claim 5 wherein said ink cartridge is configured for reception in said receptacle.

11. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said printing fluid connection has one or more device pins adapted to be received in one or more inlets of said printing fluid interface.

12. An assembly according to claim 11 wherein the printing fluid connection further comprises an elastomeric pad around said device pins wherein said pad is compressible to expose said device pins.