Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a system and method for providing a wallet-sized electronic display card for presenting digital information to a user. The display card preferably comprises a touch-sensitive liquid crystal display (LCD) covering a substantial portion of one face of said display card, a memory, a display processor, and a power source. It also preferably incorporates a selector for allowing a user to control the changing of the digital information displayed on the LCD.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0001]    This application relates to color liquid crystal displays (LCD), and more particularly to pocket-sized color LCD devices for displaying electronic information.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The digital age has created many conveniences with regard to data manipulation, storage, and presentation. Digital imaging devices such as cameras and scanners typically extend the convenience of the digital world to everyday life. With the widespread use of computers and the Internet, digital cameras are generally being used to record photos and/or movies which may then be easily communicated to friends, family, customers, potential customers, and the like through the computer and/or Internet. Traditional images from film-cameras may also be converted into digital format with scanners in order to be communicated through the digital medium. However, with all of the advances in electronic technology, there has generally yet to be a solution developed for the age-old problem of not enough room in a wallet for a sufficient number of pictures.  
           [0003]    Devices such as handheld computers and digital picture frames usually allow users to load, store, and carry or display digital pictures. However, even the smallest of handheld computers is still typically bigger and bulkier than a credit card or wallet picture. It may not be feasible for a user to carry around a handheld computer in all instances. A wallet, though, is typically found on most individuals. The expense of a handheld computer may also be prohibitive for many people. Some individuals may also not require the computing power of a full handheld computer. These individuals would be spending money on functions and features that they would not ordinarily need, if their goal was to simply display digital pictures.  
           [0004]    Digital frames are also generally becoming more prevalent in the market place. Digital frames typically allow users the convenience of displaying a digital photograph without requiring a user to print out the photos and then cut them to wallet size or the size of any other frames. Digital frames are typically available that provide a decorative border surrounding an electronic display generally capable of displaying one or more digital pictures in color. The digital frames generally operate in a manner similar to traditional frames. While the frame typically has a place on a desk, shelf, or counter, it is generally not practical to carry frames around on one&#39;s person. Thus, digital frames also do not solve the problems related to the bulk of multiple wallet pictures.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    In consideration of the problems and deficiencies present in the current implementations for carrying pictures in a wallet, it would be desirable to have a card-sized electronic display device capable of storing and displaying digital images and information to a user. The present invention is directed to a system and method which provides a wallet-sized electronic display card for presenting such digital information to a user. The display card is made up of a touch-sensitive color liquid crystal display (LCD) covering a substantial portion of one face of said display card, a memory, a display processor, and a power source. It also incorporates a selector for allowing a user to control the changing of the digital information displayed on the LCD. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]    For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention configured with a removable cradle;  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention configured to communicate using wireless technology;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention configured with a removable power source; and  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating steps practiced to implement a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present invention configured as a wallet-sized electronic display card. Card  10  preferably comprises touch-sensitive color liquid crystal display (LCD)  100  for displaying images representing digital information stored on memory  101  or communicated from any one of a number of external devices, such as general purpose computer  11  and/or scanner  12 . Display processor  102  preferably uses the digital information to render the graphical images displayed on LCD  100 . Card  10  shows a picture displayed on LCD  100 . However, it should be noted that any number of different representations of digital information may preferably be rendered and/or manipulated by display processor  102  and displayed on LCD  100 . Display processor  102 , LCD  100 , and the other components and parts of card  10  are preferably supplied by power source  103 .  
         [0012]    In operation as a photo album, a user can preferably touch LCD  100  to manipulate the functions built into card  10 . For example, as a photo album, a user can press on either of picture selectors  104  to advance or go back through the images stored as digital information on memory  101 . It should be noted that picture selectors  104 , as shown in FIG. 1, are not physical buttons built into card  10 , but rather are icons displayed by display processor  102  as a part of a graphical user interface (GUI) for interacting with users. It should be noted, however, that picture selectors  104  may be implemented as physical buttons or switches in alternative embodiments of the present invention. Such physical buttons would preferably take a form similar to mode selector  108 , and may be implemented as additional instances of buttons such as mode selector  108 . As the user presses either of picture selectors  104 , the next or previous picture in the storage queue is processed by display processor  102  and then displayed on LCD  100 . In this manner, a user may page through numerous pictures in a very small area.  
         [0013]    In order to facilitate communication to obtain new digital information or send the stored digital information to other devices, card  10  also preferably includes interface  105 . Interface  105  preferably provides the physical electrical connection point between card  10  and its display processor  102  and any external devices connectable to interface  105 . FIG. 1 illustrates cradle  106  preferably connected to general purpose computer  11  and scanner  12 . Interface  105  may take any form of electronic connector, such as a pin connector, ribbon connection, optical connection, and the like.  
         [0014]    When a user desires to connect to an external device, he or she preferably inserts card  10  into cradle  106  at interface  105 . The particular interfacing mechanism will match up to preferably form an electronic connection between card  10  and cradle  106 . Once fully connected, card  10  may preferably exchange digital information with either or both of general purpose computer  11  and scanner  12 . The information may preferably be stored onto memory  101  or may preferably be directly processed by display processor  102  for display on LCD  100 .  
         [0015]    It should be noted that in an alternative embodiment of the present invention, cradle  106  also preferably includes AC adapter  107  for plugging into wall electrical plug  13 . AC adapter  107  provides recharging to power source  103  through cradle  106 . Power may also be provided to power source  103  through cradle  106  by USB ports, or other such similar ports that are capable of providing power through a connection. It should be noted, however, that in preferred embodiments of the present invention it would be more advantageous not to have such a USB port directly on card  10  due to the size requirements for such a port. It would be preferable to have such an alternative embodiment with a USB implementation having its port connected directly into cradle  106 . Power source  103  may preferably comprise a removable battery, a rechargeable internal battery, or some combination of both for providing power to card  10 .  
         [0016]    Card  10  also preferably allows a user to change the digital information displayed on LCD  100  through mode selector  108 . Mode selector  108  is shown as a physical button or switch slightly protruding from a side of card  10 . Card  10  may preferably come configured to display not only images from digital information, but also may include digital information which executes functional software, such as a calendar and/or a calculator. There may also preferably be other functions executed from other types of digital information stored on memory  101 . If a user desires to change from the photo album mode to the calendar mode, the user preferably actuates mode selector  108  which causes the digital information representing the calendar mode to be processed by display processor  102  and then displayed to the user on LCD  100 .  
         [0017]    It should be noted that in alternative embodiments of the present invention, the alternative functions of digital information may preferably be stored as firmware directly on display processor  102 . This embodiment preferably conserves storage space on memory  101  for the user&#39;s image digital information.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the miniaturized electronic card. Miniaturized card  20  also preferably comprises LCD  100  and picture selectors  104 . In the alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 2, miniaturized card  20  preferably incorporates wireless capabilities in transceiver  200  disposed as the interface between miniaturized card  20  and any external devices, such as wireless digital camera  21  and wireless compatible scanner  22 . Transceiver  200  may preferably be constructed for any type of wireless communication, such as infrared, Bluetooth, HomeRF (TM), IEEE 802.11, and the like. In addition to the wireless capabilities, miniaturized card  20  also incorporates removable storage  203 , depicted as a SmartMedia (TM) card. All of the digital data received and/or stored by miniaturized card  20  is preferably stored on removable storage  203 .  
         [0019]    LCD  100  shows calendar mode  202  displayed. The user may interact with calendar mode  202  using his or her finger or may preferably interact using stylus  201 . With stylus  201 , the user may preferably tap out or touch certain areas of LCD  100  under control of the GUI run by display processor  102  (FIG. 1).  
         [0020]    Transceiver  200  preferably operates as the interface with all compatible external devices. A communication link is preferably established from transceiver  200  to either or both of digital camera  21  and scanner  22 . Digital data representing images from digital camera  21  or scanner  22  may preferably be transmitted to miniaturized card  20  for direct display on LCD  100  after processing or may be stored on removable storage  203  for later display.  
         [0021]    Miniaturized card  20  also preferably includes the multiple mode capability. In the alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the mode may be selected by the user by preferably actuating mode icon  204 . Mode icon  204  is preferably a graphical icon displayed by display processor  102  (FIG. 1) as a part of the GUI. Using a finger, stylus  201 , or other pointing object, the user may advantageously change the digital data displayed on LCD  100  to any other mode offered by miniaturized card  20 .  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 3 illustrates a further alternative embodiment of the present invention. Photo card  30  also preferably comprises LCD  100 , memory  101 , display processor  102 , and interface  105 , as pictured in FIG. 1. Photo card  30  is depicted running in calculator mode  302 . It should be noted that some of the digital data stored onto memory  101  may preferably comprise audio files. For example, a user could configure a file of digital data to preferably display a picture of a child on LCD  100 , and also to preferably play an audio file of some verbal message from that child. Photo card  30  is preferably equipped with speaker  301  to provide the audio interface to users. As the audio file is selected by the user through the manipulation of one of picture selectors  104 , display processor  102  preferably plays the corresponding audio over speaker  301 . The photo card  30  may preferably comprise a miniaturized multimedia device that may preferably fit in a wallet.  
         [0023]    Photo card  30  also contains removable battery  300  for providing the power to its components. Slot  304  is preferably provided to access removable battery  300  when it needs to be tested and/or changed.  
         [0024]    In an application of the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 3, photo card  30  may be directly interfaced with a compatible external device, such as scanner  32 . Scanner  32  is preferably equipped with connection slot  31  that is compatible with the connection mechanism found in interface  105 . Therefore, with scanner  32 , a user may directly interface photo card  30  by preferably inserting interface  105  into connection slot  31 . The electronic connection formed by the interfacing process allows digital information to be directly communicated between photo card  30  and scanner  32 . Digital information representative of images from scanner  32  may preferably be directly displayed on LCD  100  of photo card  30 . This capability preferably allows the user to view scans made by scanner  32  without necessity of a computer connected to scanner  32 . The digital information from scanner  32  may also preferably be stored on memory  101  for later processing and display.  
         [0025]    As photo card  30  is intended for storage in a wallet or other similar bag or receptacle, LCD  100  may be subjected to increased pressure or physical damage. For example, men typically store their wallets in a back pocket. Therefore, the act of sitting will generally place a large amount of pressure on the contents of the wallet. Photo card  30  preferably includes ruggedizing shield  303 , which stiffens the entire assembly of photo card  30  and also protects LCD  100  from puncturing or from being overly damaged by excess pressure. The incorporation of ruggedizing shield  303  beneficially increases the durability of photo card  30  making it more appropriate for storage in a wallet.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 4 is a flow chart that lists the steps undertaken to implement a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In step  400 , the digital data is preferably stored onto the miniaturized electronic card. Input is preferably received from a user in step  401  by reading the physical touches on the touch-sensitive color LCD screen. In step  402 , the digital information is preferably processed according to the user&#39;s input. The processed digital information is then preferably displayed to the user in step  403 .  
         [0027]    Because the miniaturized electronic card may also interface with an external device, it may preferably also display information from such an external device. In such a case, the miniaturized electronic card preferably interfaces with at least one external device, in step  404 . Any and all digital information is then preferably communicated between the miniaturized electronic card and the external device in step  405 . When the digital information is received from the external device, the miniaturized electronic card preferably processes the information in step  402 . After processing the digital information as received from the external device is preferably displayed to the user in step  403 . Alternatively, the digital information as communicated from the external device may be preferably stored onto the miniaturized electronic card, in step  400 .  
         [0028]    It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to having only photo, calendar, and calculator modes of digital information. Any functionality that may be implemented onto a digital format may be executed and displayed on a preferred embodiment of the inventive device.  
         [0029]    It should also be noted that the selectors, for pictures and modes, may comprise any combination of graphical buttons or physical buttons disposed on the miniaturized electronic card.  
         [0030]    Additionally, with the advent of blue light emitting diodes (LEDs) a color LED screen would be possible that increased the durability of the screen without adding a ruggedizing substance. Alternatively, a flexible color LCD would also provide a higher level of protection for such a screen.