US 11,412,867 B2Granted

Sensor-actuated mask-enhanced digital video frame

AssigneeInfinite Objects, Inc.

InventorsJoseph Saavedra, Kensuke Sembo, Nicholas Dangerfield, Alexander Chung, Ralph Bishop

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A framed collectible for displaying a continuously-looping playback of a digital video file is provided, wherein a display panel is controlled by a display controller to play at least one video file in a continuous loop on the display panel only while an output signal from a magnet sensor indicates no proximity to a magnet proximal to the back side of the display panel. The display controller has a printed circuit board that incorporates at least one processor and at least one memory that contains at least one video file. The memory, which in an embodiment can be flash memory, is factory programmed and therefore the memory content cannot be changed by an end user. Packaging for storage and shipping of the framed collectible is also provided, which incorporates a magnet that is sensed by the magnet sensor to keep continuously-looping video playback switched off while the device is stored.

Claims30

Dependent claims

A framed article for displaying a continuously-looping playback of a digital video file, the framed article comprising:

a display assembly having a front end and a back end, comprising:
a display panel proximal to the front end of the display assembly and comprising a front side for displaying a digital video image and a back side;
a magnet sensor proximal to the back end of the display assembly;
a display controller proximal to the back side of the display panel and electrically connected to the display panel and the magnet sensor, the display controller comprising a printed circuit board having at least one processor and at least one memory that contains at least one video file, wherein the memory is factory programmed and therefore the content of the memory cannot be changed by an end user, and wherein the processor controls the display panel to play the at least one video file in a continuous loop on the display panel only while an output signal from the magnet sensor indicates no proximity to a magnet;
a frame comprising:
a front plate proximal to the front end of the display assembly and comprising a front side, a back side, and a clear lens;
an intermediary mask layer comprising a front side and a back side and patterned to cover a portion of the front side of the display panel, the portion in the range of 0% to 100%, wherein the back side of the intermediary mask layer is retained in place against the front side of the display panel by the back side of the front plate;
a back plate proximal to the back end of the display assembly and comprising a front side and a back side;
and
a battery compartment integral to the frame and electrically connected to the display controller and to an external charging/AC power port integral to the frame,
wherein the framed article is assembled by engaging the following, listed in order from front to back:
the front plate, the intermediary mask layer, the display assembly, and the back plate, and then sealing the assembled framed article to form an enclosure.

9 more elements

A digital display product comprising:

a framed article including:
a digital display assembly comprising:
(a) a screen for displaying a continuously-looping playback of at least one digital video file, and (b) a display controller comprising a printed circuit board having at least one processor and at least one memory that stores the at least one digital video file, wherein the memory is factory programmed and therefore the content of the memory cannot be changed by an end user, the digital display assembly further comprising a first sensor component;
a frame disposed in relation to the digital display assembly;
and
a power source operatively connected to the display controller;
and
packaging for initially containing the framed article,
wherein when the framed article is contained within the packaging, the first sensor component is in proximity to the packaging and the display controller is programmed to not play the at least one digital video file, while the display controller and the first sensor component are configured such that spatial separation of the first sensor component relative to the packaging, due to removal of the framed article from the packaging, automatically signals the display controller to initiate the continuously-looping playback of at least one digital video file.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/381,884Filed 21 Jul 2021 · continuation
Priority: 18 Sep 2019
Published: US 2021/0081156 A118 Nov 2021
Granted: 16 Aug 2022
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification21 codes

A47G 1/06
Mirrors ; Picture frames or the like, e.g. provided with heating, lighting or ventilating means: picture frames
A47G 1/0622
Ornamental frames, e.g. with illumination, speakers or decorative features: with illumination
A47G 1/065
Picture frames: interconnected frames; Frame assemblies; Frames for two or more pictures
G02F 1/133308
Constructional arrangements; Manufacturing methods: support structures for LCD panels, e.g. frames or bezels

Family

Application62/902,197Us provisional application · filed 18 Sep 2019
Application17/024,942Parent of this continuation · filed 18 Sep 2020
US 2021/0357167 A1Pre-grant publication · published 18 Nov 2021
US 11,317,742 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2021/0081156 A1Published application
US 11,412,867 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.