US 7,621,684 B2 · Integrated home entertainment unit

Abstract

An integrated home entertainment unit includes a print media source, a print engine coupled to the print media source configured to hold a print medium, an optical disk drive configured to output formatted digital data, and a controller. The controller has a processor and a decoder, and controller being communicatively coupled to the optical disk drive and to the print engine. The decoder is configured to decode the formatted digital data to produce output data. The processor executes instructions to control the print engine to print an image on the print medium supplied from the print media source using at least a part of the output data. A housing has mounted therein the print media source, the print engine, the optical disk drive, and the controller.

Drawings

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Drawings

Claims5

Dependent claims

An integrated home entertainment unit, comprising:

a print media source configured to hold a print medium;
a print engine coupled to said print media source;
an optical disk drive configured to output formatted digital data;
a controller having a processor and a decoder, said controller being communicatively coupled to said optical disk drive and to said print engine, said decoder configured to decode said formatted digital data to produce output data, and said processor executing instructions to control said print engine to print an image on said print medium supplied from said print media source using at least a part of said output data;
a housing having mounted therein said print media source, said print engine, said optical disk drive, and said controller;
an opening in said housing, the opening configured to receive a print media input tray and a print media output tray with the print media input tray and the print media output tray laterally adjacent to and disposed on either side of said print engine;
and
a print engine drawer mounted in said housing and received in said opening, said print engine drawer mounting said print engine and being configured to extend and retract said print engine through said opening.

5 more elements

An integrated home entertainment unit, comprising:

a print media source configured to hold a print medium;
a print engine coupled to said print media source;
an optical disk drive configured to output formatted digital data;
a controller having a processor and a decoder, said controller being communicatively coupled to said optical disk drive and to said print engine, said decoder configured to decode said formatted digital data to produce output data, and said processor executing instructions to control said print engine to print an image on said print medium supplied from said print media source using at least a part of said output data;
a housing having mounted therein said print media source, said print engine, said optical disk drive, and said controller;
an opening in said housing for receiving said print media source, wherein said print media source is a print media input tray mounted in said housing and configured to extend and retract through said opening;
a print engine drawer mounted in said housing and received in said opening, said print engine drawer mounting said print engine and being configured to extend and retract said print engine through said opening;
and
a print media output tray mounted in said housing and received in said opening, said print media output tray configured:
to receive from said print engine said print medium upon which said image has been printed while in a retracted position;
to extend through said opening to allow a user to retrieve said print medium;
and
to retract through said opening into said retracted position, wherein said print media input tray and said print media output tray are laterally adjacent to and disposed on either side of said print engine.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description5,552 words

Summary774 words

#None.

Brief description of the drawings5 figures

#The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

#FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic depiction of a home entertainment system featuring an integrated home entertainment unit in accordance with the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a schematic depiction of a controller employed by the integrated home entertainment unit embodied in FIG. 1;

Detailed description4,602 words

#Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate embodiments of the invention, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.

#Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a home entertainment system 10 embodying the present invention. Home entertainment system 10 includes one or more of a digital device 12, for example, a digital camera 12, a display monitor 14 including an audio system 15, an integrated home entertainment unit 16, and a remote control 18 for operating integrated home entertainment unit 16. Home entertainment system 10 provides the user with the ability to view, share, and print photos generated by digital device 12 in a user-friendly environment.

#In the present embodiment, digital device 12 takes the form of digital camera 12. Alternatively, however, it is contemplated that digital device 12 may be one or more of many types of digital devices, and may be a conventional digital camera for taking still photos or video sequences, for example, using a charge-coupled device (CCD), and stores the photos and/or video sequences in a memory device such as a memory card 20. Alternatively, digital device 12 may be a video camera, for example, of the type used to record home movies, or any digital camera or digital video recording device, including those used as accessories with, or integral to, for example, a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant, or a laptop or stationary computer. Alternatively still, another type of digital device 12 may be any device capable of storing, generating, or capturing image data, including still and/or video image data, for example, an external CD or DVD drive, a web page, a television set, or a computer.

Facts

Application

10/957,090Filed 30 Sep 2004

Published

US 2006/0072146 A16 Apr 2006

Granted

24 Nov 2009

Term ended

26 Aug 2026

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 695 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification5 codes

H04N 1/00291
With a television apparatus: with receiver circuitry
H04N 1/00294
With receiver circuitry: for printing images at a television receiver
H04N 1/00297
With a television apparatus: with a television signal recorder, e.g. for recording facsimile images on a VCR
H04N 2201/0063
Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus: constructional details

Timeline

30 Sep 2004Application filedUS 10/957,090
30 Sep 2004Assigned to Lexmark International, Inc.assignment of assignor's interest
6 Apr 2006PublishedUS 2006/0072146 A1
24 Nov 2009GrantedUS 7,621,684 B2
30 Aug 2018Assigned to China Citic Bank Corporation Limited, Guangzhou Branch, AS Collateral Agentpatent security agreement
24 Oct 2018Assigned to China Citic Bank Corporation Limited, Guangzhou Branch, AS Collateral Agentcorrective assignment to correct the incorrect u.s. patent number previously recorded at reel: 046989 frame: 0396. assignor(s) hereby confirms the patent security agreement.
18 Jan 2024Assigned to Lexmark International, Inc.release of security interest
26 Aug 2026Term endedEstimated, includes 695 days of adjustment

Integrated home entertainment unit

Life of this patent

Integrated home entertainment unit

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims5

Description5,552 words

Drawings

Classification5 codes

Life of this patent

Description5,552 words