In-car entertainment unit with inbuilt printer

• US 8,011,745 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2009
• Issued: 09/06/2011
• 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, King, Tobin Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Thinh H
• Application Number:
  US12/480,606
• Publication Number:
  US 20090244114A1
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• Field of Search: 347 1- 2, 347/20, 347/40, 347 49- 50, 347/109
• US Class Current: 347/2
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/00 Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 31/006 with video camera or receiver
• 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 1/00278 with a printing apparatus, e.g. a laser beam printer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00305 with a cordless telephone apparatus
• 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 2201/0039 Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0053 Optical, e.g. using an infrared link
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0055 By radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0058 Docking-station, cradle or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0063 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0096 Portable devices

Abstract

An in-car entertainment (ICE) unit includes a compact disc (CD) player configured to play a CD. A first user console is provided to permit a user to control operation of the CD player and the radio receiver. A liquid crystal display (LCD) is provided which can be used to display information from the CD. A printer is configured to print the displayed information. A second user console is provided to permit a user to control operation of the printer.

Claims

1. An in-car entertainment (ICE) unit comprising:

a compact disc (CD) player configured to play a CD;

a first user console to permit a user to control operation of the CD player;

a liquid crystal display (LCD) which can display information from the CD;

a printer configured to print the displayed information; and

a second user console to permit a user to control operation of the printer.

2. An ICE unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the user consoles comprises a plurality of controls, and the controls of the second user console are clustered together and located between spaced apart controls of the first user console.

3. An ICE unit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a docking station in which a digital camera can be docked so that information can be downloaded from the camera and then printed using the printer.

4. An ICE unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein the docking station comprises a slot defined in a front face of the ICE unit about which the user consoles are located, the slot being defined at an edge of the front face.

5. An ICE unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the LCD is a color LCD.

6. An ICE unit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a satellite navigation unit configured to display navigation information on the LCD which, in turn, can be printed using the printer.

7. An ICE unit as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a television receiver configured to display a television broadcast on the LCD which, in turn, can be printed using the printer.

8. An ICE unit as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a third user console to permit a user to control operation of the satellite navigation unit, the third user console comprising a grid of user controls.