Print system and print terminal, and image saving system and image saving unit

• US 7,598,704 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2006
• Issued: 10/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Taniguchi, Toshio, Matsubara, Toshio
• Primary Examiner(s): Ullah; Akm E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zhang; Jue
• Application Number:
  US11/333,305
• Publication Number:
  US 20060158152A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,357 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces

Abstract

As the present invention is adapted to receive an image to be printed or to be saved from a portable device having the image by wireless communication, an image needs not to be passed via a memory card or by connector connection or the like. As the present invention is also adapted to automatically identify the other party'"'"'s device to wirelessly communicate with and establish a channel, and further adapted to supply power to the other party'"'"'s device without contact, it is advantageous that a battery of the portable device is not exhausted or the portable device is not disconnected even if the device communicates wirelessly for a long time.

Claims

1. A print system including a portable device and a print terminal, wherein the portable device comprises a memory device for storing an image, a first wireless communication device for sending an image stored in the memory device to the print terminal by wireless communication, a first charging device having a secondary coil and for charging a charging battery in the portable device by a dielectric electromotive force generated at the secondary coil, and a connecting information communicating device for communicating connecting information for sending the image stored in the memory device to the print terminal by establishing wireless connection with the portable device and the print terminal, and

wherein the print terminal comprises a charging table on which the portable device is placed, a second charging device having a primary coil and for generating a dielectric electromotive force to the secondary coil of the portable device placed on the charging table from the primary coil, a connecting information reading device for reading connecting information of the portable device from the connecting information communicating device of the portable device placed on the charging table, a second wireless communication device for establishing a wireless connection with the first wireless communication device of the portable device placed on the charging table based on connecting information read by the connecting information reading device and receiving an image stored in the memory device of the portable device by wireless communication, and a print device for printing the image received by the second wireless communication device;

wherein the print terminal further comprises a control device for controlling the second charging device and the second wireless communication device to alternate operation of charging a charging battery of the portable device and operation of receiving an image from the portable device to prevent wireless interference.

2. The print system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a charge control device for determining whether the portable device can be charged without contact or not based on connecting information read by the connecting information reading device, and if the portable device is determined as chargeable, causing the second charging device to operate.

3. The print system according to claim 1, wherein the connecting information communicating device is a non-contact IC tag for sending the connecting information, and wherein the connecting information reading device is a non-contact IC tag reading device for reading the connecting information from the non-contact IC tag provided in the portable device placed on the charging table without contact.

4. The print system according to claim 2, wherein the connecting information communicating device is a non-contact IC tag for sending the connecting information, and wherein the connecting information reading device is a non-contact IC tag reading device for reading the connecting information from the non-contact IC tag provided in the portable device placed on the charging table without contact.

5. The print system according to claim 1, wherein the connecting information communicating device is a barcode provided on the surface of the portable device and recording the connecting information, and wherein the connecting information reading device is a barcode reading device for reading the barcode provided on the surface of the portable device placed on the charging table.

6. The print system according to claim 2, wherein the connecting information communicating device is a barcode provided on the surface of the portable device and recording the connecting information, and wherein the connecting information reading device is a barcode reading device for reading the barcode provided on the surface of the portable device placed on the charging table.

7. A print terminal for forming a print system according to claim 1.

8. A print terminal for forming a print system according to claim 4.

9. A print terminal for forming a print system according to claim 6.

10. The print system according to claim 1, wherein the print terminal further comprises a processor for determining whether a portable device placed on the charging table is a previously registered device.