US 2009/0213242 A1Published application

Image capture module and applications thereof

AssigneeBroadcom Corporation

InventorsAHMADREZA (REZA) ROFOUGARAN, TIMOTHY W. MARKISON

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Abstract

An image capture module includes a user interface module, an optical system module, and a coupling module. The user interface module is operably coupled to detect a request to capture an image and generate a capture command signal in response to detecting the request. The optical system module is operably coupled to receive light representing the image from a lens in accordance with the capture command signal. The optical system module then accumulates a plurality of electric charges, wherein an electric charge of the plurality of electric charges is proportional to intensity of a corresponding portion of the light. The optical system module then generates a sequence of voltages from the plurality of electric charges. The coupling module is operably coupled to convert a representation of the sequence of voltages into a transmission signal and to transmit the transmission signal.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A device comprises:

an image capture module that includes:
user interface module operably coupled to:
detect a request to capture an image;
and
generate a capture command signal in response to detecting the request;
an optical system module operably coupled to:
receive light representing the image from a lens in accordance with the capture command signal;
accumulate a plurality of electric charges, wherein an electric charge of the plurality of electric charges is proportional to intensity of a corresponding portion of the light;
and
generate a sequence of voltages from the plurality of electric charges;
a first coupling module operably coupled to:
convert a representation of the sequence of voltages into a transmission signal;
and
transmit the transmission signal;
a handheld computing unit that includes:
a second coupling module operably coupled to:
receive the transmission signal;
and
recover the representation of the sequence of voltages from the transmission signal;
a processing module operably coupled to convert the representation of the sequence of voltages into a digital image file in accordance with a file format protocol;
and
memory operably coupled to store the digital image file.

19 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/431,524Filed 28 Apr 2009
Priority: 6 Feb 2008
Published: 27 Aug 2009
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

G06F 1/1632
For portable computers: external expansion units, e.g. docking stations
H04M 1/72409
With means for local support of applications that increase the functionality: by interfacing with external accessories
H04M 1/04
Constructional features of telephone sets: supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
G06F
Computing and data processing