Abstract:
A method and apparatus for providing a portable imaging device configured to associate information from a business card with a digital picture image. The portable imaging device includes a casing having a business card receptacle configured to receive a business card therein. The portable electronic device also includes a digital camera portion and a scanner portion. The scanner portion is housed within the casing and configured to extract personal information from the business card received in the business card receptacle. The digital camera portion is coupled to the casing and is configured to digitally capture a picture image. The scanner portion and the digital camera portion are operatively coupled to memory storage. The memory storage is operable to save the picture image with the personal information to provide an association therebetween.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to portable electronic devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to a portable imaging device accessory for a personal data assistant. 
     2. Background of the Invention 
     People generally have a difficult time remembering intangible things such as dates, numbers and names. They tend to do better at making memory associations having visual components. For example, it may be easier to recall the details from a scene in a movie than the title of the movie. Many popular memory techniques take advantage of this by teaching students to associate those things they find difficult to remember, such as names and numbers, with a visual image. By doing this, the intangible thing is made visual, thus rendering it easier to remember. 
     This memory problem is nowhere more apparent than in face-to-name recognition. It is a general problem for people when they see an individual they have just met or are only slightly acquainted with to remember their name. In many cases, details concerning the individual can be recalled but the name remains elusive. People tend to find it is easier to remember details about an individual when associated with their face than to remember those same details associated with the individual&#39;s name. 
     This is a tremendously important issue in business settings due to the critical nature of establishing new contacts with individuals in related areas of business. These contacts bring new opportunities to strengthen a business and allow it to thrive. When a business individual meets a potential contact for the first time, impressions are made which are generally associated with the face of the contact, not the contact&#39;s name. The contact will usually then present the individual with a business card, containing information concerning the name, address and phone number of the contact. But many people have a difficult time associating the face and the first impression with the name on the card. In large professional meetings where literally hundreds of contacts can be made, this task becomes impossible. In these situations, opportunities from excellent contacts can be lost amongst the mediocre ones due to sheer volume. 
     Additionally, people tend to react negatively when their name and other details about them are not remembered by others. In a business setting, a bad impression can be generated by forgetting a contact&#39;s name, thus decreasing the potential opportunity derived from the association to the business. On the other hand, a positive reaction from a contact can greatly increase the probability of a successful interaction. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing a portable imaging device configured to associate information from a business card with a digital picture image. The portable imaging device includes a casing having a business card receptacle configured to receive a business card therein. The portable imaging device also includes a digital camera portion and a scanner portion. The scanner portion is housed within the casing and configured to extract personal information from the business card received in the business card receptacle. The digital camera portion is coupled to the casing and is configured to digitally capture a picture image. The scanner portion and the digital camera portion are operatively coupled to memory storage. The memory storage is operable to save the picture image with the personal information to provide an association therebetween. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a simplified, perspective view of an embodiment of a portable imaging device and a personal data assistant disengaged from each other; 
         FIG. 1(   a ) illustrates a simplified, perspective view of another embodiment of the portable imaging device; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a simplified, cross-sectional view of the portable imaging device engaged with the personal data assistant taken along line  2 — 2  in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a simplified, cross-sectional view of the portable imaging device engaged with the personal data assistant taken along line  3 — 3  in  FIG. 1 , depicting a business card entering a business card receptacle and the business card extracted from the business card receptacle shown in outline; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a simplified schematic of an embodiment of the portable imaging device and the personal data assistant; 
         FIG. 4(   a ) illustrates a simplified schematic of the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1(   a ) of the portable imaging device and the personal data assistant; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates, in flow chart form, an embodiment by which the portable imaging device can be implemented by a user; and 
         FIG. 6  illustrates, in flow chart form, a continuation of  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used herein to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Alterations and further modifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, and additional applications of the principles of the inventions as illustrated herein, which would occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the invention. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of the portable imaging device  100 , in which the device  100  is disengaged from a personal data assistant (“PDA”)  170 . PDA&#39;s are well known in the portable electronic arts. The PDA  170  used in conjunction with the portable imaging device  100  can be any suitable, hand held, battery powered information handling system such as an electronic address book or personal digital assistant. The exterior of the PDA  170  typically includes a display  176 , PDA terminals  178  and various user input controls  180 . The display  176  is typically a touch-sensitive display, which can be a color display or mono-chrome display, but can be any type of display suitable for displaying information, still images, and real-time field-of-view images. The input controls  180  can be input buttons to input commands functioning with a user interface viewable on the display  176  of the PDA  170 . It is also typical for the input controls  180  to be integrated with the touch-sensitive display  176  so the user inputs commands by directly depressing points in the display  176  with, for example, a wand. The PDA terminals  176  are generally configured for downloading and uploading data therethrough and powering a battery in the PDA  170 . Such battery in the PDA  170  can be utilized to power an accessory device through the PDA terminals, such as the portable imaging device  100 . 
     The portable imaging device  100  is configured to interconnect and electrically communicate with the PDA  170 . Such a portable imaging device  100  is configured to include a scanner portion  130  and a digital cameral portion  150 . The scanner portion provides a business card receptacle, in which a business card can be scanned to provide a scanned image. The scanned image of the business card can then be transferred and viewed on the PDA  170 . The digital camera portion is configured to digitally capture a picture image, which can also be viewed on the PDA. 
     The small, compact and portable nature of the device  100  enables the user to readily have the device  100  on demand along with the PDA  170 . Such a device  100  can be useful in a business type setting. For example, a user can, upon meeting a potential business contact, or the like, take the business contact&#39;s business card and scan the card in the device. The user can also take the business contact&#39;s picture image. Each of the scanned image of the card and the picture image can be viewable on the display of the PDA  170  and then maintained together in the PDA  170 . In this manner, the portable imaging device provides the user with a means to facilitate the user&#39;s memory association of the business contact&#39;s face with their name and business information from their business card. Such can provide a favorable impression with the potential business contact and, more importantly, enhances the ability of the user to remember who the business contact is in association with their contact information from the business card for future reference. This can be a tremendous help when faced with numerous potential business contacts and their business cards when attending, for example, a convention or conference, or the like. 
     The portable imaging device includes a casing  102  with the scanner portion  130  formed therein. The digital camera portion  150  can also be formed within the casing  102 , however, it is also contemplated that the digital camera portion  150  can be electrically and physically attachable to the casing  102 . The casing  102  can be generally L-shaped with a top side  104 , a front side  106 , a first side surface  108 , a second side surface  110 , a back side  112  and a base  114 . The base  114  and the back side  112  can include a cradle portion  116  configured to support the PDA  170 . The cradle portion  116  can include side rails  117 , continuing from the first and second side surfaces  108  and  110  and extending outward from the back side  112  of the casing  102 . The cradle portion  116  also includes connection terminals  118  configured to interconnect with the PDA terminals  178  formed in the PDA  170 . The portable imaging device can be activated by depressing an activation switch  122 , which is shown to be located on the top side  104  of the casing, but can be located at any suitable portion of the casing. The casing  102  can be made from a polymeric type material, or any other suitable type material. The material employed for the casing  102  can be made to substantially protect the device  100  from, for example, accidental drops or thermal type stresses. 
     The casing  102  also includes a business card receptor  120  sized and configured to receive a business card  126 . For example, a standard business card is about two inches wide. As such, the business card receptor opening can be slightly wider than the standard sized business card. However, the size of the opening can vary depending on the standard size of business cards in its area of use. The business card receptor  120  can be defined as a slot extending through the casing  102  and configured to extend from the first side surface  108  to the second side surface  110 . It is also contemplated that the slot can be configured to extend partially into the casing from a single surface of the casing  102 . In another embodiment, the business card receptor  120  can include a slot extending between the base  114  and the top side  104  of the casing  102 . 
       FIG. 1(   a ) illustrates another embodiment of a business card receptor  320  defined in the portable imaging device  100 . In this embodiment, the business card receptor  320  can be configured as a recess  322  defined in the front side  306  of the portable imaging device  100 . The recess  322  can include a substantially planar and transparent surface  325  configured to receive and position the business card  326  face down thereon. As such, the transparent surface  325  defined in the recess  322  can be sized slightly larger than the dimensions of the standard sized business card. The business card receptor  320  can also include a flap  328  configured to enclose the recess  322  and cover the back side of the business card  326 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , simplified cross-sectional views of the portable imaging device  100  taken along lines  2  and  3 , respectively, in  FIG. 1  with the PDA  170  positioned in the cradle portion  116  are illustrated. As depicted, the connection terminals  118  of the portable imaging device  100  are in direct contact and are configured to correspond with the PDA terminals  178  of the PDA  170 . The connection terminals  118  include line conductors  119  extending therefrom to various components in the portable imaging device  100 . It is through the connection terminals  118  and PDA terminals  178  that the respective portable imaging device  100  and PDA  170  can electrically communicate and transfer data, including information and various types of images. Likewise, the portable imaging device  100  can be powered by the PDA  170  through the connection terminals  118 . The portable imaging device  100  can be powered from its own battery, which can be chargeable through the connection terminals  118 . 
     As previously indicated, the portable imaging device includes a scanner portion  130 . The scanner portion  130  can include a drive unit  132  coupled with a belt member  134 . The drive unit  132  is configured to drive the belt member  134 . The drive unit  132  and belt member  134 , in combination, are configured to move and position the business card  126  within the casing  102  to a pre-scan position as well as move the business card  126  through the casing  102  for scanning and extracting the business card  126  from the business card  126  receptacle  120 . The belt member  134  can include two belts which can be positioned in the casing  102  to extend adjacently and at least partially along longitudinal sides of the business card receptacle  120 . With this arrangement, at least portions of the belt member  134  can be in contact with a portion of a surface of the business card  126  to control and manipulate the card through the business card receptacle  120 . 
     When inserting the business card  126  into the business card receptacle  120 , a paper sensor switch (not shown) senses entry of the business card  126 , which then activates the drive unit  132 . The drive unit  132 , via the belt member  134 , then moves the business card  126  into a pre-scan position. Once in such pre-scan position, a scanner indication light  124  ( FIG. 1 ) can indicate to a user that the business card  126  is in the pre-scan position and can be prompted to scan the business card. Once prompted to scan, the business card  126  can then be moved through the casing  102  over an imaging capture head  138 . The imaging capture head  138  can be configured to scan the business card to extract a scanned image (not shown) from the business card  126 . Once the scanning is complete, the business card  126  is extracted from the business card receptacle  120 . The imaging capture head  138  transfers the scanned image through conductive lines  142  and line conductors  119  to the PDA  170 , at which, the scanned information can be viewed on the display  176  of the PDA  170 . 
     The term scanned image should be broadly interpreted to include scanned information that can be extracted from the business card via the imaging capture head in the form of a graphical image of the business card and or a text image. Such a text image can be obtained through, for example, an optical character recognition process. In this manner, the scanned image can be viewable on the display of the PDA and saved as an image file or a text file. In either case, scanning technology is well known and can be implemented by one of ordinary skill in the art. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 1(   a ), in another embodiment, the portable imaging device  100  includes the scanner portion  350  with the transparent surface  325 , as previously described. In this embodiment, the scanner portion  350  includes an imaging capture head  338  disposed under the transparent surface  325 . The imaging capture head  338  is coupled to a track member  334  and drive unit  332  configured to drive the imaging capture head  338 . With this arrangement, the business card  326  can be positioned face down on the transparent surface  325 . A paper sensor switch (not shown) can sense the business card  326  positioned on the transparent surface  325 . Such sensing of the business card  326  can activate the scanner indication light  324 , which provides a light to indicate to the user that the scanner portion  350  is ready to scan. Once ready to scan, the scanner portion  350  can be prompted to scan the business card  126 , wherein the drive unit  332  moves the imaging capture head  338  along the track member  334  so that the imaging capture head  338  moves across the under-side surface of the transparent surface  325  and scans the business card  126  as indicated by arrows  342 . Upon scanning the business card  126 , the scanner portion  350  provides a scanned image (not shown), which is then transferred to the PDA for viewing on the display and is storable therein. 
     Referring back to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the portable imaging device  100  also includes a digital camera portion  150 . The digital camera portion is configured to operate in conjunction with the PDA  170 . The digital camera portion  150  can be activated by depressing the activation switch  122 . In one embodiment, the digital camera portion  150  can include a pop-up lens portion  152  with a lens  153  that can be movable upward when the portable imaging device  100  is activated. In another embodiment, the lens  156 , shown in outline, of the digital camera portion  150  can be located on the front side  106  of the portable imaging device  100 . 
     In either embodiment, the digital camera portion  150  is configured to digitally capture a digital image which can be translated and viewable on the PDA  170 . Such digital image can be a real-time field-of-view image, which is electrically transferred through terminals  158  and conductive lines  159  to the PDA. At the PDA  170 , the field-of-view image is viewable on the display  176 . At any time with the field-of-view image displayed, the portable imaging device  100  can be oriented to a desirable position to take a digital still-photo to provide a picture image (not shown). Such picture image can be taken by depressing, for example, the activation switch  122 . As digital camera technology is known, the digital camera portion  150  can readily be implemented by one of ordinary skill in the art. 
     Turning to  FIG. 4 , an embodiment of the portable imaging device  100  is illustrated in schematic form with the PDA  170 . As indicated, the portable imaging device  100  includes, among other things, a central processing unit  160  electrically interconnected to the scanner portion  130  and the digital camera portion  150 . The central processing unit  160  is also interconnected to the activation switch  122  and the paper sensor switch  136 . The activation switch  122  can be configured to activate the digital camera portion  150  and the scanner portion  130  of the portable imaging device  100 . The paper sensor switch  136  can be configured to sense a business card (not shown) to activate the drive unit  132 , as previously described. The scanner portion  130  includes an imaging capture head  138  and a drive unit  132  coupled to a belt member  134 . 
     The portable imaging device  100  is configured to be electrically interconnected to the personal data assistant  170 . Such a personal data assistant  170  typically includes a processor  172 , memory  174 , the display  176  and the input controls  180 . The memory  174  can include, among other things, scanner driver software, camera driver software, and storage software loaded therein. The scanner driver software  162  and the camera driver software  164  function to communicate and drive the scanner portion and the digital camera portion of the portable imaging device, respectively. Both the scanner driver software and the camera driver software provide a user interface through the display  176  of the PDA  170  to allow a user to input commands, via the input controls  180 , to prompt the scanner portion and the digital camera portion. 
     As previously described, the scanned image of the business card can be obtained by running the business card across the imaging capture head  138  via the drive unit  132  and belt member  134 . Such scanned image  140  can be transferred and viewed on the display  176  of the PDA  170 . Likewise, the digital camera portion  150  is configured to digitally capture a picture image  154 , which is viewable on the display  176  of the PDA  170 . Once the user is satisfied with the scanned image  140  and picture image  154  viewable on the display  176 , the user can save and maintain the scanned image  140  linked with the picture image  154  in the storage software  166  to maintain an association between the scanned image  140  and picture image  154 . The scanned image  140  and the picture image  154  can then be readily retrievable from the storage software  166  and viewable together on the display  176  of the PDA  170 . If desired, the scanned image  140  and the picture image  154  can be downloaded and saved to a personal computer system  190  for printing from the system  190  or maintaining on the system  190 . 
     As previously indicated, the imaging capture head  138  can be configured to provide the scanned image  140  as information in the form of a graphical image or decodable with an optical character recognition process to be in the form of a text image. With this arrangement, the scanned image  140  can be saved as an image file or a text file in the PDA  170 . It is also contemplated that the text image can be integrated with the picture image  154  so that the information from the text image overlies the picture image  154 , thereby, being readily viewable together and saved together in a single file. 
       FIG. 4(   a ) illustrates an embodiment, in schematic form, of the portable imaging device  100  described previously in  FIG. 1(   a ) with the PDA  170 . With reference to  FIGS. 1(   a ) and  4 ( a ), this embodiment is substantially the same as that described in  FIG. 4 , except the scanner portion  350  includes an imaging capture head  338  that is movable and coupled to the drive unit  332 . With this arrangement, the paper sensor switch  136  senses the business card positioned over the transparent surface  325  in the business card receptor  320 . The paper sensor switch  136  then activates a light indicator  324 , which indicates to the user that the scanner portion  350  is ready to scan. The user can then prompt the scanner portion  350  to scan through user input controls  180  via the scanner driver software  162  loaded on the PDA  170 . The drive unit  332  then can be activated to move the imaging capture head  338  across the under-side of the transparent surface  325  to scan the business card  126  and provide a scanned image  140 . The scanned image  140  can then be transferred and viewable on the PDA  170  as previously described. 
     To better illustrate the functionality of the present invention,  FIG. 5  illustrates a flow diagram of an embodiment by which the portable imaging device can be employed by a user in conjunction with the PDA. With reference to  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  5 , as indicated by block  200 , a user activates the portable imaging device  100  by depressing the activation switch  122 . As indicated by user decision block  202 , the user can either proceed to scan a business card or take a picture image. If the user chooses to take a picture image, the user proceeds to user decision block  226  ( FIG. 6 ). If the user chooses to scan a business card  126 , the user proceeds to block  204 , where the user inserts a business card into the business card receptor  120  or slot. Upon entry of the business card  126  in the business card receptor  120 , the card activates a paper sensor switch  136 , as indicated in block  206 . The paper sensor switch  136  then activates the drive unit  132  and belt member  134 , which drives the business card  126  to a pre-scanning position, as indicated in block  208 . 
     At this juncture, the user is prompted by a user interface of the scanner driver software  162  and/or by a scanner indication light  124  ( FIG. 1 ) that the business card  126  is ready to scan. The user can choose whether or not to proceed and scan the business card  126 , as indicated in user decision block  210 . If the user chooses not to scan the business card, the user can prompt the scanner portion  130  to extract the business card with out scanning, as indicated in block  220 . If the user chooses to scan the business card  126 , the user can activate the scanner portion  130  through the user interface provided by the scanner driver software  162 , as indicated in block  212 . The drive unit  132  is then activated which drives the business card  126  via the drive belt  134  to thereby, move the business card  126  over the imaging capture head  138  which scans the business card  126  and provides a scanned image  140 , as indicated in block  214 . The scanner portion  130  then transfers the scanned image  140  to the PDA  170  which is viewable by the user on the display  176  of the PDA  170 , as indicated in block  216 . The scanned image  140  can then be saved and maintained in the storage software  166  in the memory  174  of the PDA  170 , as indicated by block  218 . As indicated in block  220 , the card is extracted from the business card receptor  120 . 
     At this juncture, the user can either proceed to take a picture with the digital camera portion or exit, as indicated in user decision block  222 . In the case where the user chooses to exit, the user may have already taken a picture by proceeding to user decision block  226  from user decision block  202 . In the case the user wishes to proceed in taking a picture, the user proceeds to user decision block  226  in  FIG. 6 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  6 , the user can take a picture image  154  as indicated in block  226 . To take a picture, a real-time field-of-view image is displayed on the PDA from previously activating the portable imaging device  100  in block  200  ( FIG. 5 ). As such, the user can orient the portable imaging device  100  to a desired position, as seen on the display displaying the field-of-view image, and depress, for example, the activation switch  122  to take a picture. A picture image  154  can then be displayed on the PDA  170 , as indicated in block  228 . 
     At this juncture, the user can examine the picture image  154  viewable on the display  176  of the PDA  170 . As indicated in user decision block  230 , the user can choose whether or not to retake the picture image  154 . If the user wishes to retake the picture image  154 , the user can delete the picture image  154 , as indicated in block  224 , and then proceed back to user decision block  226  and proceed as previously described from block  226 . Once the user is satisfied with the picture image  154 , the user can proceed to block  232  by saving the picture image  154  in the storage software  166  in the memory  174  of the PDA  170 . If the user has already followed the flow path to have obtained the scanned image  140  of the business card  126 , then the picture image  154  can be saved with the scanned image  140 . As indicated in user decision block  234 , the user can either proceed to user decision block  202  in  FIG. 5  or the user can exit. In the case where the user proceeds to user decision block  202 , the user can then choose to either take a picture or proceed to scan a business card  126  as previously described. In the case where the user proceeds to exit, the user has obtained the scanned image  140  and the picture image  154 . 
     In this manner, the user can have a scanned image  140  of a business card  126  and a picture image  154  of the person who gave the user the business card  126  so that the picture image  154  and scanned image  140  are stored and maintained together in the PDA  170 . With the scanned image  140  and picture image  154  maintained in the PDA  170 , the user can readily retrieve the business contact&#39;s information and readily remember who the person is from the picture image  154  for future reference. 
     It is to be understood that the above-referenced arrangements are only illustrative of the application for the principles of the present invention. Numerous modifications and alternative arrangements can be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. While the present invention has been shown in the drawings and fully described above with particularity and detail in connection with what is presently deemed to be the most practical and preferred embodiment(s) of the invention, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications can be made without departing from the principles and concepts of the invention as set forth in the claims.