Mobile phone for capturing and printing images

• US 7,583,979 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2008
• Issued: 09/01/2009
• 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): Ferguson; Keith T
• Application Number:
  US12/246,497
• Publication Number:
  US 20090029732A1
• Time in Patent Office: 330 Days
• Field of Search: 455/403, 455/422.1, 455/566, 455/344, 455/557, 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455/575.1, 455/517, 455/500, 455/66.1, 455/575.4, 455/90.1, 455/90.2, 455/90.3, 455/412.1, 455/412.2, 455/550.1, 358/502, 358/503, 358/508, 358/473, 379/428.1, 379/433.01
• US Class Current: 455/550.1
• 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 is provided for capturing and printing images. The phone comprises a phone body defining front and rear faces. The front face has a keypad and display, and the rear face has a removable cover. A camera is fitted to the body and is configured to capture an image. A print media stock container is located approximately centrally within the body and is accessible when the cover is removed. A printer assembly is fitted within the body proximate to a base end of the body. The printer assembly includes an ink ejection printhead configured to print the captured image upon print media. The printer assembly further includes feed means provided between the print media stock container and the base end of the body. The feed means is configured to feed print media from the stock container past the printhead during printing.

Claims

1. A mobile phone comprising:

a phone body defining front and rear faces, the front face having a keypad and display and the rear face having a removable cover;

a camera fitted to the body and configured to capture an image;

a print media stock container located approximately centrally within the body and accessible when the cover is removed; and

a printer assembly fitted within the body, proximate to a base end of the body, the printer assembly including an ink ejection printhead configured to print the captured image upon print media, the printer assembly further including feed means provided between the print media stock container and the base end of the body, the feed means configured to feed print media from the stock container and past the printhead during printing.

2. A mobile phone as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stock container includes leaf springs for releasably compressing a print media stack stored therein.

3. A mobile phone as claimed in claim 1, wherein the print media feed means includes pinch rollers which are driven by a motor via a gear train.

4. A mobile phone as claimed in claim 1, wherein the printer assembly includes a replaceable printhead and ink distribution unit assembly, in turn, including the printhead and an ink distribution unit configured to distribute ink to the printhead.

5. A mobile phone as claimed in claim 4, wherein the ink distribution unit includes a series of ink supply reservoirs for containing respective types of ink, one reservoir being substantially larger than the other reservoirs.

6. A mobile phone as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover defines a lip which projects along the phone base and defines an edge of the slot.

7. A mobile phone as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stock container is sized to receive business card sized print media cards.