Multi-function printer

• US 20060268324A1
• Filed: 12/14/2005
• Published: 11/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lite-On Semiconductor Corporation (Lite-On Technology Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lite-On Semiconductor Corporation (Lite-On Technology Corporation)
• Inventors: Cheng, Shih-Chi, Cheng, Chia-Chu
• Application Number:
  US11/302,474
• Publication Number:
  US 20060268324A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.150
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00278 with a printing apparatus, e.g. a laser beam printer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00538 Modular devices, i.e. allowing combinations of separate components, removal or replacement of components
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00541 with detachable image reading apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera

Abstract

A multi-function printer includes a photo module, an output module and a process module. The photo module is used for obtaining at least one image information. The output module is electrically connected with the photo module for outputting the at least one image information obtained by the photo module. The process module is electrically connected with the photo module and the output module for controlling the information process and transition between the photo module, the output module and an external system. The multi-function printer adopts the photo module to replace the scan module of the prior art to obtain the images. Therefore, regardless of the resolution of obtained image, the present invention has a merit of rapidly obtaining the images. Moreover, the photo module also can obtain the images by a three-dimensional method and can be disassembled from the multi-function printer and operated alone as a general digital still camera.

Claims

1-28. -28. (canceled)

29. A multi-function printer, comprising:

a photo module used for obtaining at least one image information;

an output module electrically connected with the photo module for outputting the at least one image information obtained by the photo module; and

a process module is electrically connected with the photo module and the output module for controlling the information process and transition between the photo module, the output module and an external system.

30. The multi-function printer as claimed in claim 29, wherein the at least one image information is stored, transmitted or printed by the multi-function printer.

31. The multi-function printer as claimed in claim 29, wherein the output module is a printing device for printing the at least one image information obtained by the photo module.

32. The multi-function printer as claimed in claim 31, wherein the printing device is used for printing the information originally stored in the multi-function printer or the information transmitted from other device to the multi-function printer.

33. The multi-function printer as claimed in claim 29, wherein the photo module comprises a photo sensor and a lens set linked with the photo sensor.

34. The multi-function printer as claimed in claim 33, wherein the photo sensor is a CCD photo sensor.

35. The multi-function printer as claimed in claim 33, wherein the photo sensor is a CMOS photo sensor.

36. The multi-function printer as claimed in claim 33, wherein the lens set is a photo zoom lens.

37. The multi-function printer as claimed in claim 33, wherein the lens set is a wide view angle lens.

38. The multi-function printer as claimed in claim 29, further comprising a printer body module and a photo module installation base module;

wherein the photo module is installed on the photo module installation base module and the photo module installation base module is installed on the printer body module to make the photo module is linked with the printer body module.

39. The multi-function printer as claimed in claim 38, wherein the output module and the process module are installed at the printer body module.

40. The multi-function printer as claimed in claim 38, further comprising a lighting module located at the photo module or the printer body module.

41. The multi-function printer as claimed in claim 40, wherein the lighting module is a lighting element that its brightness is adjustable.

42. The multi-function printer as claimed in claim 38, wherein the photo module installation base module and the printer body module are integrated into one piece.

43. The multi-function printer as claimed in claim 38, wherein the height of the photo module installation base module is adjustable to adjust the height of obtaining image for the photo module.

44. The multi-function printer as claimed in claim 38, wherein the photo module installation base module is capable of rotating with 360 degrees horizontally to make the horizontal angle of obtaining image for the photo module is capable of setting according to the demand.

45. The multi-function printer as claimed in claim 38, wherein the photo module installation base module is capable of rotating with 360 degrees vertically to make the vertical angle of obtaining image for the photo module is capable of setting according to the demand.

46. The multi-function printer as claimed in claim 38, wherein the photo module includes a portable power source and is detachably installed at the photo module installation base module;

thereby, the photo module is operated alone when the photo module is detached from the photo module installation base module.

47. The multi-function printer as claimed in claim 38, wherein the photo module is installed at the photo module installation base module by a locking method.

48. The multi-function printer as claimed in claim 29, wherein the process module builds in a process procedure for receiving the operation instruction of the external system to make the process module executes the corresponding operation instruction of the external system via controlling the information transition between the photo module, the output module and an external system.

49. The multi-function printer as claimed in claim 29, wherein the process module builds in a predetermined process procedure to make the process module executes the image-obtaining, data transmitting, printing and/or storing set by predetermined process procedure via controlling the information transition between the photo module, the output module and an external system.

50. The multi-function printer as claimed in claim 48, wherein the process procedure has a preset continuous photo mode, including the period and the number of continuous photo capturing.

51. The multi-function printer as claimed in claim 49, wherein the process procedure has a preset continuous photo mode, including the period and the number of continuous photo capturing.

52. The multi-function printer as claimed in claim 48, wherein the process procedure has a photo function adjusting mode for executing the photo module, including adjusting the range of obtaining image, adjusting the height, the horizontal rotation angle and the vertical rotation angle of the photo module.

53. The multi-function printer as claimed in claim 49, wherein the process procedure has a photo function adjusting mode for executing the photo module, including adjusting the range of obtaining image, adjusting the height, the horizontal rotation angle and the vertical rotation angle of the photo module.

54. The multi-function printer as claimed in claim 51, wherein the photo function adjusting mode further comprises an automatic zooming function and an automatic focusing function.

55. The multi-function printer as claimed in claim 48, wherein the process procedure has a parameter adjustment starting function and a parameter adjustment sequence starting function.

56. The multi-function printer as claimed in claim 49, wherein the process procedure has a parameter adjustment starting function and a parameter adjustment sequence starting function.

57. The multi-function printer as claimed in claim 53, wherein the parameter adjustment at least comprises the color mode, the height, the horizontal rotation angle, the vertical rotation angle, the range of obtaining image, the center of obtaining image, the focus adjustment and the automatic focusing of the photo module.

58. The multi-function printer as claimed in claim 48, wherein the process procedure has an image process function for processing the at least one image information.

59. The multi-function printer as claimed in claim 49, wherein the process procedure has an image process function for processing the at least one image information.

60. The multi-function printer as claimed in claim 55, wherein the image process function at least comprises rotating the image, enhancing the image quality and compressing the image.