U.S. patent application number 11/730014 was filed with the patent office on 2008-10-02 for autorotative digital photo frame.
This patent application is currently assigned to KINPO ELECTRONICS, INC.. Invention is credited to Chun-Hao Chao, Chung-Ta HSU.
Application Number | 20080236014 11/730014 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39791902 |
Filed Date | 2008-10-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080236014 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chao; Chun-Hao ; et
al. |
October 2, 2008 |
Autorotative digital photo frame
Abstract
An autorotative digital photo frame comprises a microprocessor,
the microprocessor allows the pictures read therein to be
classified into both erect and transverse types, controls the photo
frame to first display all the corresponding type of pictures
depending on the erect or the transverse disposition type of the
photo frame, and the microprocessor then controls the photo frame
to display another type of pictures after it controls the photo
frame to rotate 90 degree to allow every picture to fully use the
space of the display panel and be enlarged to the size closest to
the display panel. Whereby, a user can obtain a better visual
effect.
Inventors: |
Chao; Chun-Hao; (Taipei
Hsien, TW) ; HSU; Chung-Ta; (Taipei Hsien,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BRUCE H. TROXELL;SUITE 1404
5205 LEESBURG PIKE
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22041
US
|
Assignee: |
KINPO ELECTRONICS, INC.
|
Family ID: |
39791902 |
Appl. No.: |
11/730014 |
Filed: |
March 29, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
40/747 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G09G 2340/0492 20130101;
F16M 11/105 20130101; F16M 11/18 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
40/747 |
International
Class: |
A47G 1/08 20060101
A47G001/08 |
Claims
1. An autorotative digital photo frame, adapted to allow said
digital photo frame to be adjusted to the same direction as a
photo, comprising: a base, an inner part thereof being combined
with a circuit board and a stepper motor; a microprocessor being
disposed in said circuit board; said microprocessor being
electrically connected to said stepper motor; a photo frame,
provided with a framework and a display panel; a back surface of
said framework being combined with a rotating shaft of said motor;
said photo frame being electrically connected to said
microprocessor; Wherein, said microprocessor controls said stepper
motor to drive said photo frame to rotate through the difference
that picture data processed thereby is a transverse photo or an
erect photo to allow said photo frame to be transversely or erectly
disposed corresponding to said transverse photo or said erect photo
so as to display said transverse photo on said display panel in a
transverse direction and said erect photo on said display panel in
an erect direction.
2. The autorotative digital photo frame according to claim 1,
wherein said microprocessor is electrically connected to a data
reading device, said data reading device is used for reading said
image data.
3. The autorotative digital photo frame according to claim 2,
wherein an inner part of said base is combined with said data
reading device; said data reading device is at least one of a hard
disk driver and a memory card reader.
4. The autorotative digital photo frame according to claim 3,
wherein said inner part of said base is combined with at least one
of a connecter interface and memory card connecter interface; said
connecter interface and said memory card connecter are respectively
communicated with an outside part of said base; said hard disk
driver is electrically connected to said connecter interface; said
memory card reader is electrically connected to said memory card
connecter interface.
5. The autorotative digital photo frame according to claim 4,
wherein said connecter interface is an IDE interface connecter.
6. The autorotative digital photo frame according to claim 5,
wherein said memory card reader is at least one of a compact flash
card reader and secure digital memory card reader.
7. The autorotative digital photo frame according to claim 6,
wherein a flash memory, a volatile memory and a image display chip
are disposed in said circuit board; said microprocessor is
respectively connected with said flash memory, said volatile memory
and said image display chip; said photo frame is electrically
connected to said image display chip; said flash memory is used for
storing application software needed for a system; said volatile
memory is used as a register for storing software needed for a
system operation when said system is in operation.
8. The autorotative digital photo frame according to claim 7,
wherein a middle part of a back surface of said framework is
combined with a rotating shaft of said motor.
9. The autorotative digital photo frame according to claim 1,
wherein said microprocessor first allows said pictures read thereby
to be classified into both erect picture and transverse picture
types, said microprocessor controls said photo frame to display all
pictures of one type first, and then display pictures of another
type.
10. The autorotative digital photo frame according to claim 9,
wherein said microprocessor controls said photo frame to display
all pictures of a corresponding type first and then display
pictures of another type according to two disposition types of
erection and transverse thereof.
11. The autorotative digital photo frame according to claim 2,
wherein said microprocessor first allows said pictures read thereby
to be classified into both erect picture and transverse picture
types, said microprocessor controls said photo frame to display all
pictures of one type first, and then display pictures of another
type.
12. The autorotative digital photo frame according to claim 11,
wherein said microprocessor controls said photo frame to display
all pictures of a corresponding type first and then display
pictures of another type according to two disposition types of
erection and transverse thereof.
13. The autorotative digital photo frame according to claim 3,
wherein said microprocessor first allows said pictures read thereby
to be classified into both erect picture and transverse picture
types, said microprocessor controls said photo frame to display all
pictures of one type first, and then display pictures of another
type.
14. The autorotative digital photo frame according to claim 13,
wherein said microprocessor controls said photo frame to display
all pictures of a corresponding type first and then display
pictures of another type according to two disposition types of
erection and transverse thereof.
15. The autorotative digital photo frame according to claim 4,
wherein said microprocessor first allows said pictures read thereby
to be classified into both erect picture and transverse picture
types, said microprocessor controls said photo frame to display all
pictures of one type first, and then display pictures of another
type.
16. The autorotative digital photo frame according to claim 15,
wherein said microprocessor controls said photo frame to display
all pictures of a corresponding type first and then display
pictures of another type according to two disposition types of
erection and transverse thereof.
17. The autorotative digital photo frame according to claim 7,
wherein said microprocessor first allows said pictures read thereby
to be classified into both erect picture and transverse picture
types, said microprocessor controls said photo frame to display all
pictures of one type first, and then display pictures of another
type.
18. The autorotative digital photo frame according to claim 17,
wherein said microprocessor controls said photo frame to display
all pictures of a corresponding type first and then display
pictures of another type according to two disposition types of
erection and transverse thereof.
19. The autorotative digital photo frame according to claim 8,
wherein said microprocessor first allows said pictures read thereby
to be classified into both erect picture and transverse picture
types, said microprocessor controls said photo frame to display all
pictures of one type first, and then display pictures of another
type.
20. The autorotative digital photo frame according to claim 19,
wherein said microprocessor controls said photo frame to display
all pictures of a corresponding type first and then display
pictures of another type according to two disposition types of
erection and transverse thereof.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a digital picture frame,
and more particularly to an autorotative digital photo frame.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] Accompanying the popularity of digital camera, a traditional
photograph is gradually replaced with a displayer to display
pictures captured by a digital camera. Taiwan Patent Publish No.
200303756 entitled as "Electronic photo display device" and Taiwan
Patent Publish No. 200509663 entitled "Digital picture frame with
picture acquisition" all disclose a digital photo displaying
digital photo frame.
[0005] Although Current market available digital photo frame
products can judge whether a photo is erect or transverse when the
photo is displayed and rotate the photo automatically. But, because
the photo frame cannot be rotated and the length to width ratio of
the photo is not changed, when an erect photo is displayed on
transverse photo frame, parts of space at both left and right sides
of a display panel will not be used and be wasted; and when a
transverse photo is displayed on an erect photo frame, parts of
space at both upper and lower sides of a display panel can also not
be completely used.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] For improving a digital photo frame and allowing a digital
picture to have a better displaying effect, the present invention
is proposed.
[0007] The main object of the present invention is to provide an
autorotative digital photo frame, allowing the photo frame to be
rotated 90 degree to follow the direction of a photo.
[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide an
autorotative digital photo frame, capable of effectively using
space of a display panel of the photo frame and allowing each photo
to be enlarged to the closest size of the display panel.
[0009] For attaining to the objects mentioned above, the present
invention proposes an autorotative digital photo frame, adapted to
allow the digital photo frame to be adjusted automatically to the
same direction as a photo, comprising:
a base, an inner part thereof being connected to a circuit board
and a stepper motor; a microprocessor being disposed in the circuit
board; the microprocessor being electrically connected to the
stepper motor; a photo frame, provided with a framework and a
display panel, a back surface of the framework being connected to a
rotating shaft of the motor; the photo frame being electrically
connected to the microprocessor; wherein, the microprocessor
controls the stepper motor to drive the photo frame to rotate
through the difference that picture data processed thereby is a
transverse photo or a erect photo to allow the photo frame to be
transversely or erectly disposed corresponding to the transverse
photo or erect photo so as to display the transverse photo on the
display panel in a transverse direction and the erect photo on the
display panel in an erect direction to allow every photo can fully
utilize the space of the display panel of the photo frame and is
enlarged to the size closest to the display panel to enable a user
to obtain the best visual effect.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The present invention can be more fully understood by
reference to the following description and accompanying drawings,
in which:
[0011] FIG. 1 is perspective view, showing an autorotative digital
photo frame of a preferred embodiment according to the present
invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a block diagram, showing a circuit of an
autorotative digital photo frame of a preferred embodiment
according to the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a schematic view, showing a transversely disposed
photo frame of a preferred embodiment;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a schematic view, showing a erectly disposed photo
frame of a preferred embodiment; and
[0015] FIG. 5 is a flow chart, showing procedures that a
microprocessor controls picture display and rotates a photo frame
of a preferred embodiment according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0016] Please refer to FIGS. 1 to 4. An autorotative digital photo
frame according to the present invention is adapted to allow the
digital photo frame to be automatically adjusted to the same
direction as a photo and comprises a base 11, a photo frame 20.
[0017] An inner part of the base 10 is combined with a circuit
board 12, at least one data reading device 13, a stepper motor 14,
at least one connecter interface 15 and at least one memory card
connecter interface 16; the connecter interface 15 and the memory
connecter interface 16 are communicated with an outside part of the
base 11; a microprocessor 121 such as microprocessor type No.
Samsung S3c2410, Flash memory 122 such as NOR flash, volatile
memory 123 such as SDRSM and image display chip 124 are disposed in
the circuit board 12. The microprocessor 121 is respectively
connected to the flash memory 122, the volatile memory 123, the
image display chip 124 such as chip Feforce5500, the data reading
device 13 and the stepper motor 14; the data reading device 13 is
respectively connected to the connecter interface 15 and the memory
card connecter interface 16; the flash memory 122 is used for
storing application software needed for the system; the volatile
memory 123 is used for storing software needed for the system
operation when the system is operating.
[0018] A photo frame 20 is provided with a framework 21 and a
display panel 22; a middle part of a back surface of the framework
21 is combined with a rotating shaft 141 of the steeper motor 14
and can be driven by the stepper motor 14 to rotate 90 degree; the
photo frame 20 is electrically connected to the image display chip
124;
wherein, the microprocessor 121 reads image data stored in a hard
disk or a memory card through the data reading device 13 and
controls the stepper motor 14 to drive the photo frame 20 to rotate
depending on that the read-in image data is a transverse picture or
a erect picture to allow the photo frame 20 to be transversely or
erectly disposed corresponding to the read-in transverse picture or
the read-in erect picture respectively to display the transverse
picture with the display panel 22 in a transverse direction as FIG.
3 shows or display the erect picture with the display panel 22 in
an erect direction as FIG. 4 shows.
[0019] The data reading device 13 of the present invention can
respectively be a hard disk player or a card reader for reading
compact flash (CF) card, secure digital (SD) memory card or
anything else; the connecter interface 15 can be power source
connecter, IDE interface connecter or anything else; the memory
connecter interface 16 can be a connecter for memory cards such as
CF card and SD card.
[0020] Because the sequence of transverse and erect pictures of an
image file in a storage media is random, for preventing a great
amount of rotations of the photo frame from shortening the use life
of the photo frame, the pictures in the image file can be
classified into transverse picture and erect picture types. The
pictures are displayed on the basis of the types, the rotation
times of the photo frame is less when more image files are stored
in the storage media.
[0021] Please refer to FIG. 5. Procedures for the microprocessor to
control the photo frame to display pictures according to the
present invention comprise the following steps: [0022] a. allowing
a microprocessor to read pictures stored in a storage media such as
hard disk or memory card through a data reading device, and
classifying them into erect pictures and transverse pictures;
[0023] b. judging whether a photo frame is transverse or erect, if
it is transverse, then entering Step c1, if it is erect, then
entering d1; [0024] c1. allowing the microprocessor to control the
photo frame to display transverse pictures; [0025] c2. judging
whether the transverse pictures are displayed over, if it is not,
then continue the displaying, otherwise entering Step e; [0026] d1.
allowing the microprocessor to control the photo frame to display
erect pictures; [0027] d2. judging whether the erect pictures are
displayed over, if it is not, then continue the displaying,
otherwise entering Step e; [0028] e. judging whether there is any
picture left and not displayed yet, if it is yes, then entering
Step 1, otherwise ending the picture displaying. [0029] f. allowing
the microprocessor to control the photo frame to rotate 90 degree;
[0030] g. allowing the microprocessor to control the photo frame to
display the pictures; and [0031] h. allowing the microprocessor to
detect whether the pictures are displayed over, if it is not, then
continue the displaying, otherwise end the picture displaying.
[0032] It is supposed that there are ten pictures 1.JPG to 10.JPG
are currently stored in the storage media, in which four erect
pictures are the pictures 2.JPG, 3.JPG, 6.JPG and 9.JPG, and
transverse pictures are the pictures 1.JPG, 4.JPG, 5.JPG, 7.JPG,
8.JPG and 10.JPG. Besides, it is supposed that the photo frame is
currently erectly disposed; the microprocessor then controls the
photo frame to display the erect pictures 2.JPG, 3.JPG, 6.JPG and
9.JPG first. And then, the microprocessor controls the photo frame
to rotate 90 degree after the erect pictures displaying is over to
continue displaying the transverse pictures 1.JPG, 4.JPG, 5.JPG,
7.JPG, 8.JPG and 10.JPG.
[0033] The microprocessor of the present invention first allows the
pictures read therein to be classified into both erect and
transverse types, controls the photo frame to display all the
corresponding type of pictures first depending on the erect or the
transverse disposition type of the photo frame, and the
microprocessor then controls the photo frame to display another
type of pictures after it controls the photo frame to rotate 90
degree to allow every picture to fully use the space of the display
panel and be enlarged to the size closest to the display panel.
Whereby, a user can obtain a better visual effect.
[0034] Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur
to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its
broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and
representative embodiments shown and described herein. Accordingly,
various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit
or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the
appended claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *