Digital picture display frame

• US 6,975,308 B1
• Filed: 02/11/2000
• Issued: 12/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Profectus Technology LLC
• Original Assignee: Frank W. Bitetto, James J. Bitetto
• Inventors: Bitetto, Frank W., Bitetto, James J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Liang, Regina
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Jennifer T.
• Application Number:
  US09/502,931
• Time in Patent Office: 2,132 Days
• Field of Search: 345/204, 345/2.1, 345/2.2, 345/1.3, 345/104, 345/207, 345/901, 348/24, 348/135, 348/552, 348/589, 348/363, 348/231
• US Class Current: 345/204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00294 for printing images at a television receiver
• 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 1/0044 for image preview or review, e.g. to help the user position a sheet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/001 Sharing resources, e.g. processing power or memory, with a connected apparatus or enhancing the capability of the still picture apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/901 Electronic book with display

Abstract

The present invention provides a picture frame for displaying digital images taken by a digital camera. The invention may be a wall mounted frame or a desk top frame. The invention includes a display, such as an active matrix display for rendering images for viewing. The invention includes an interface for manipulating images by using a graphical user interface in conjunction with an operating system. The present invention may be employed for displaying overhead projection slides for conferences, lectures and meetings. The invention includes sensors for monitoring conditions in areas around the frame. The frame includes floppy disk and CD/DVD drives for transferring data to a memory of the frame. The memory of the frame is used to store images and may select images according to a program or list.

Claims

1. A stand alone and mountable picture display for displaying still digital pictures, comprising:

a mountable picture frame adapted to digitally display at least one still image thereon;

the picture frame being a stand alone unit including;

a display screen for displaying the at least one still image stored in a memory;

the memory for storing the at least one still image;

an interface coupled to the memory for downloading still images to the memory; and

control circuitry coupled to the display screen for automatically activating the display screen in accordance with an event, wherein the event includes one of a change in light intensity, and a sound detected in proximity of the display.

2. The display as recited in claim 1, further comprising a microprocessor coupled to the memory for managing display data for still images.

3. The display as recited in claim 1, wherein the control circuitry changes an image displayed in accordance with an event.

4. The display as recited in claim 1, wherein the interface is adapted to receive image data from a digital camera, a VCR, a computer or the Internet.

5. The display as recited in claim 1, wherein the interface is adapted to receive image data from portable memory device.

6. The display as recited in claim 1, wherein the picture frame is one of wall mountable and desk top mountable.

7. The display as recited in claim 1, wherein the picture frame is adapted to receive a plug for a power source.

8. The display as recited in claim 1, further comprising an operating system stored in the memory for permitting a user to interact with the picture frame.

9. The display as recited in claim 8, wherein the operating system stored in the memory permits the user to select from a plurality of images stored therein to display on the screen.

10. The display as recited in claim 1, further comprising a speaker for providing sounds stored in the memory in accordance with an event.

11. The display as recited in claim 10, wherein the event includes one of a predetermined time or date, a change in light intensity, a sound and motion detected in proximity of the display.

12. The display as recited in claim 1, wherein the event includes motion detected in the proximity of the device.

13. A stand alone and mountable picture display for displaying digital images, comprising:

a wall mountable display adapted to digitally display still images thereon, the display being a stand alone unit including;

a processor coupled to the display for managing data to be displayed on a screen of the display, the data being stored in a memory;

a portable memory device drive coupled to the memory through the processor and adapted to receive portable memory devices for downloading images from the portable memory devices;

the memory coupled to the processor for storing images to be displayed on the screen, the memory being adapted to receive image data from a portable memory device;

a digital still camera coupled to the processor for displaying images taken in real-time; and

a control circuitry coupled to the display screen for automatically activating the display screen in accordance with an event, wherein the event includes on of a change in light intensity and a sound detected in proximity of the display.

14. The display as recited in claim 13, wherein the portable memory device drive is adapted to receive image data from one of a compact disk, DVD and a floppy disk.

15. The display as recited in claim 14, further comprising a microphone for interacting with the display.

16. The display as recited in claim 13, wherein the portable memory device drive is adapted to receive image data from one of a digital camera, a VCR, and a computer.

17. The display as recited in claim 13, wherein the display includes a picture frame.

18. The display as recited in claim 13, wherein the display is adapted to receive a plug for a power source.

19. The display as recited in claim 13, further comprising an operating system stored in the memory for permitting a user to interact with the display.

20. The display as recited in claim 19, wherein the operating system stored in the memory permits the user to select from a plurality of images stored in the memory or on the portable memory device to display on the screen.

21. The display as recited in claim 13, wherein the display is adapted to receive images from the Internet.

22. A stand alone and mountable picture display for displaying still digital pictures, comprising:

a wall mountable or desk top mountable picture frame adapted to digitally display at least one still image thereon;

the picture frame being a stand alone unit including;

a display screen for displaying the at least one still image stored in a memory;

the memory for storing the at least one still image;

a microprocessor coupled to the memory for managing display data for the at least one still image;

control circuitry coupled to the microprocessor for one of automatically activating the display screen in accordance with an event and automatically changing an image displayed in accordance with the event;

a speaker coupled to the control circuitry for providing sounds stored in the memory in accordance with the event;

wherein the event includes a sound detected in proximity of the display;

an interface coupled to the memory for downloading still images to the memory; and

a power adapter for receiving a plug for a power source.

23. The display as recited in claim 22, wherein the interface is adapted to receive image data from a digital camera, a VCR, a computer or the Internet.

24. The display as recited in claim 22, wherein the interface is adapted to receive image data from portable memory device.

25. The display as recited in claim 22, further comprising an operating system stored in the memory for permitting a user to interact with the display.

26. The display as recited in claim 22, wherein the operating system stored in the memory permits the user to select from a plurality of images stored therein to display on the screen.

27. The display as recited in claim 22, further comprising a digital camera coupled to the processor for displaying images taken in real-time.

28. The display as recited in claim 22, wherein the event includes motion detected in the proximity of the device.

29. A stand alone and mountable picture display for displaying still digital pictures, comprising:

a mountable picture frame adapted to digitally display at least one still image thereon;

the picture frame being a stand alone unit including;

a display screen for displaying the at least one still image stored in a memory;

the memory for storing the at least one still image;

an interface coupled to the memory for downloading still images to the memory; and

control circuitry coupled to the display screen for automatically changing an image of the display screen in accordance with an event, wherein the event includes one of a change in light intensity, and a sound detected in proximity of the display.

30. The display as recited in claim 29, wherein the event includes motion detected in the proximity of the device.

31. A stand alone and mountable picture display for displaying digital images, comprising:

a wall mountable display adapted to digitally display still images thereon, the display being a stand alone unit including;

a processor coupled to the display for managing data to be displayed on a screen of the display, the data being stored in a memory;

a portable memory device drive coupled to the memory through the processor and adapted to receive portable memory devices for downloading images from the portable memory devices;

the memory coupled to the processor for storing images to be displayed on the screen, the memory being adapted to receive image data from a portable memory device;

a digital still camera coupled to the processor for displaying images taken in real-time;

a control circuitry coupled to the display screen for automatically activating the display screen in accordance with an event, wherein the event includes on of a change in light intensity and a sound detected in proximity of the display; and

a speaker for automatically providing sounds stored in the memory in accordance with the event.