Mobile entertainment and communication device

• US 7,903,152 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2009
• Issued: 03/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Minerva Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Kim, Ki Il
• Primary Examiner(s): Aggarwal, Yogesh K
• Application Number:
  US12/435,964
• Publication Number:
  US 20090213264A1
• Time in Patent Office: 672 Days
• Field of Search: 34823199-2319, 348/207.11, 348/552, 439/152, 439/153, 439/155, 439/160, 361/684, 361/736, 361/737, 361/740, 361/741
• US Class Current: 348/231.99
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0013 Medical image data A61B1/00011, A61B6/56, A61B8/56 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/04 Electric stethoscopes microphones, acoustic transducers therefor H04R
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/302 using recording means, e.g. black box
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/305 using a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3805 with built-in auxiliary receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6058 involving the use of a headset accessory device connected to the portable telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/656 for recording conversations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72424 with manual activation of emergency-service functions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/14 including a card reading device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/145 : Handheld terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 : embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4184 : providing storage capabilities, e.g. memory stick
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 : Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 : Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 : for receiving images from a single remote source
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 : from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

A mobile communication device in a palm-held size housing has a cellular or satellite telephone capable of wireless communication with the Internet and remotely located telephones. The device includes one or more replaceable memory card sockets for receiving a blank memory card for recording data directly from the Internet and, in particular, musical performances that then can be selectively reproduced by the device for the enjoyment of the user, including both audio and visual recordings and reproductions. The device also includes a camera and microphone for recording images and sound within the range of the device that can be wirelessly transmitted, either selectively or automatically to a remote telephone. Further, the device includes sensors for sensing unusual conditions that may also be transmitted to a remote telephone, together with the location of the device as determined by a GPS section of the device. Still further the device includes a connectable stethoscope for detecting and transmitting sounds from the chest of a user to a remote location.

Claims

1. A digital camera comprising:

a palm-sized housing that fits in a hand;

at least one of (1) a built-in microphone, (2) a wired microphone, or (3) a GPS;

at least one of (1) a wired or wireless earphone, (2) a built-in speaker, or (3) a display;

a jack for a wired connector to one of a computer or a television;

a replaceable flash memory card configured to store data captured by at least one of the (1) digital camera, (2) built-in microphone, (3) wired microphone, or (4) GPS and to reproduce the stored data by at least one of the (1) wired or wireless earphone, (2) built-in speaker, (3) display, (4) computer, or (5) television;

the memory card comprising at least one engagement feature without an elastic member or element on the memory card;

the memory card being asymmetrically shaped;

the stored data comprising one or more of sounds, real-time moving images, combined sounds and moving images, combined text and sounds, still images, and GPS location information with or without images;

a socket in the housing for directly receiving longitudinally the memory card without a separate card adapter case or card locking elastic member in the housing, the socket comprising an internal engagement element and a spring disposed in the socket;

the engagement element comprising a latching device including a lever pivotally connected to the housing, wherein the engagement element of the socket mates with the engagement feature of the memory card when the memory card is fully inserted in the socket and secures the memory card in the socket, with the spring facilitating removal of the memory card from the socket by spring power;

the socket being asymmetrically shaped at least at one corner of the socket for preventing incorrect insertion of the memory card;

the socket selectively receiving the memory card;

the socket and the memory card being operatively connected to a microprocessor and at least one of the microphone, the wired microphone, the earphone, the display, the camera, the GPS or the jack; and

the microprocessor being configured to at least one of, capture, record, reproduce or transfer data to and from the memory card.

2. A palm hand held electronic device in a housing, the device comprising:

a replaceable flash memory card and a socket in the housing;

a digital camera in the housing;

a microphone;

the flash memory card configured to store data captured by the digital camera and the microphone;

the flash memory card having at least one engagement feature without an elastic member or element on the flash memory card;

the socket being asymmetrically shaped at least at one corner of the socket for preventing incorrect insertion of the flash memory card;

the socket being configured to receive the flash memory card directly without a separate card adapter case or a separate card carrier, wherein the socket is configured to selectively receive the flash memory card;

the socket comprising an internal engagement element comprising a latching device including a lever pivotally connected to the housing, wherein the engagement element is configured for retaining the flash memory card fully within the socket;

a spring disposed in the socket for removing the flash memory card when the flash memory card is entirely positioned in the socket, wherein asymmetrical shapes of the flash memory card and of the socket mate each other in the socket, and wherein the spring facilitates the automatic removal of the flash memory card from the socket by spring power;

the socket being configured to receive and eject the flash memory card longitudinally to and from the socket without controls external to the socket;

the stored data comprising at least one of still images, real time moving images, or combined sounds and moving images; and

the socket and the flash memory card being operatively connected to a microprocessor, the microphone and the digital camera to store the data captured by the digital camera and the microphone to the memory card.

3. An electronic device in a housing, the device comprising:

a replaceable flash memory card and a socket in the housing;

at least one of (1) a digital camera capturing still and moving images, (2) a GPS, or (3) a microphone;

the flash memory card being configured to store data captured by at least one of the (1) digital camera, (2) the GPS, or (3) the microphone;

the flash memory card having at least one of an engagement feature without an elastic member or element on the flash memory card and being directly inserted into the socket without a separate card adapter case, the socket being configured to receive and eject the flash memory card longitudinally to and from the socket without controls external to the socket;

the socket being asymmetrically shaped at least at one corner for preventing incorrect insertion of the flash memory card;

the socket being configured to receive the flash memory card directly without a separate card adapter case or a separate card carrier, wherein the socket is configured to selectively receive the flash memory card;

the stored data comprising at least one of sounds, real time moving images, combined sounds and moving images, or GPS location information with or without images;

the socket comprising an internal engagement element comprising a latching device including a lever pivotally connected to the housing, wherein the engagement element is configured for retaining the flash memory card fully within the socket, when the flash memory card is entirely positioned in the socket due to asymmetrical shapes of the socket and the flash memory card mating each other in the socket;

a spring disposed in the socket for removing the card from the socket, wherein the spring facilitates automatic removal of the flash memory card from the socket by spring power; and

the socket and the flash memory card being operatively connected to a microprocessor and at least one of the microphone, the digital camera, a sensor or the GPS to selectively store the data captured by at least one of the (1) digital camera, (2) the GPS, or (3) the microphone.