Patent Publication Number: US-2012026377-A1

Title: Electronic mirror and method

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention is a continuation-in-part of patent application Ser. No. 12/715,697, filed on Mar. 2, 2010, entitled “Electronic Mirror” and is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
     Not Applicable 
     THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is quite common for people to carry pocket mirrors in their purse to check their hair and makeup. Often these pocket mirrors are in a case that may contain a light or makeup. While these mirrors are convenient they have several limitations. For instance, a pocket mirror is not useful for looking at the hair on the back of the head. In addition, a pocket mirror has no way to magnify an image. 
     Thus there exists a need for a mirror that allows the user to check the back of their head and to magnify areas that are hard to see. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     An electronic mirror that overcomes these and other problems has a housing. A processor is in the housing. The housing includes a first electronic image sensor attached to the processor. A second electronic image sensor is detachably attached to the housing. The housing has an electronic display. In one embodiment, the second electronic image sensor has a wireless connection with the housing. This allows the user to move the second electronic image sensor so they can see the back of their head. It also allows them to monitor a child. The electronic mirror includes a selector for determining which of the two image sensors is being displayed on the electronic display. 
     This electronic mirror fits in a women&#39;s purse and allows the owner to move the image sensor around to see the side and back of their head. It also includes a freeze frame feature and a zoom feature. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top right front perspective view of an electronic mirror in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a top left front perspective view of an electronic mirror in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a back view of an electronic mirror in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a side perspective view of an electronic mirror in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of an electronic mirror in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a top right front perspective view of an electronic mirror with the image sensor extended in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 7  is a front image of an electronic mirror in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 8  is block diagram of an electronic mirror in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 9  is a flow chart of the steps used in a method of operating an electronic mirror in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to an electronic mirror designed to replace a pocket or purse mirror. The electronic mirror has a housing with an electronic display. The electronic mirror includes a processor driving the display. An image sensor is connected to the processor by an electronic cord. The electronic cord is held in place by a retraction mechanism. In use the owner can pull out the image sensor to view the back, top and sides of their head. In one embodiment, the electronic mirror includes a freeze frame feature and zoom feature. The electronic mirror solves the limitations associated with a standard handheld mirror. 
       FIG. 1  is a top right front perspective view of an electronic mirror  10  in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The electronic mirror  10  has an essentially rectangular housing  12 . The housing  12  has a front face  14  that has an electronic display  16  and a plurality of buttons  18 . An electronic image sensor  20  fits in a notch  22  in the housing  12 . The electronic image sensor  20  has a fixed lens  24 . In one embodiment, the electronic image sensor has a multi-focal lens  24 . A stand  26  is pivotally attached to the housing  12 . In another embodiment, the electronic mirror includes a light as part of the image sensor. This allows the owner to use the mirror in low light situation. 
     Note that the same reference numerals will be used for the same elements through out the description. 
       FIG. 2  is a top left front perspective view of an electronic mirror  10  in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The electronic mirror  10  has a housing  12  with a front face  14  that has an electronic screen  16  that is a color screen in one embodiment. A plurality of buttons  18  are also located on the front face  14  of the housing  12 . An image sensor  20  fits into a slot  22  of the housing  12 . 
       FIG. 3  is a back view of an electronic mirror  10  in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. In this view there is shown a stand  26  that is pivotally attached  28  to the housing  12 . In one embodiment, the stand  26  is a metal wire and the ends fit is slots that allows the stand  26  to pivot. When the stand  26  is folded against the back face  30  it fits into a groove  32  so that it is flush with the back face  30 . A finger slot  34  is provided so the user can easily pull the stand  26  out. 
       FIG. 4  is a side perspective view of an electronic mirror  10  in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. This view shows that in one embodiment, the electronic mirror  10  includes an SD (Secure Digital) memory card slot  36 . A USB (Universal Serial Bus) port  38  is provided. Video input and output ports  40 ,  42  may also be provided. 
       FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of an electronic mirror  10  in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The electronic mirror  10  has a front face  14  that includes an opening  44  for a display  16  and a plurality of holes  46  for buttons  18 . The front face  14  has a cutout or slot  22 . An electronic circuit board  48  fits inside the housing  12 . The electronic circuit  48  may include a processor, a SD memory card slot  36 , a USB port  38 , and video input and output ports  40 ,  42 . A battery  50  is inside the housing and attaches to the electronic circuit  48 . A retraction mechanism  52  is used for retracting an electronic cord  54 . A first end of the electronic cord  54  is attached to the retraction mechanism  52  and is in electrical communication with the electronic circuit  48 . The second end  56  of the electronic cord  54  is attached to the electronic image sensor  20 . The image sensor  20  is encased in a cylindrical housing  58 ,  60 . The back face  30  of the electronic mirror  10  has a circular chamber  62  for holding the retraction mechanism  52 . The stand  26  is shown separate from the back face  30 . 
     In operation the user turns on the electronic mirror  10  by pushing a button  18  and then pulls the image sensor  20  out of slot  22  as seen in  FIG. 6 . The user can then move the image sensor around to see the back of their head, top of their head or sides of their head. If they want to freeze the image, they press a button  18  that causes the processor to implement a freeze frame function. The user can also digitally zoom in on the image by pressing a button  18  that causes the processor to implement a digital zoom feature. In one embodiment, the physical lens is a fixed lens. When the user is done with the electronic mirror  10 , the retraction mechanism  52  retracts the image sensor back into slot  22 . The user can then turn off the mirror or in one embodiment the mirror may turn off after predetermined period of time of no use. 
     In one embodiment, the electronic mirror  10  may include a digital picture frame functionality. The SD card can hold a number of photos which allows the electronic mirror to then display the photos. 
       FIG. 7  is a front image of an electronic mirror  70  in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The electronic mirror  70  has a housing  72  that fits easily in a person&#39;s hand. The housing  72  has a first electronic image sensor  74  built in. A second electronic image sensor  76  is detachably attached to the housing  72  and communicates with the housing a wireless interface. This allows the second electronic image sensor  76  to be moved up to one hundred feet away from the housing  72  in one embodiment. The user can then position the second electronic image sensor  76  anywhere they desire, including being able to see the back of their head. The second electronic image sensor  76  snap fits to the housing  72  in one embodiment. The housing  72  includes an electronic screen  78  that is a touch screen in one embodiment of the invention. The images from the first and second electronic image sensors  74  &amp;  76  are displayed on the screen  78  for the user to see. 
       FIG. 8  is block diagram of an electronic mirror  70  in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The mirror  70  has a processor  80  that receives images from the first electronic image sensor  74  and the second electronic image sensor  76 . The second electronic image sensor  76  communicates with the processor  80  through a wireless interface  82 ,  84 . In one embodiment, a microphone  86  is associated with the second electronic image sensor  77  and transmits sounds to the processor  80 . The electronic display  78  receives and displays images from the processor  80 . A speaker  88  is attached to the processor  80  in one embodiment. The processor  80  is coupled to a digital memory interface  90 , which is a SD (Secure Digital) card slot in one embodiment. A digital communication interface  92  is coupled to the processor  80 , which is a USB (Universal Service Bus) in one embodiment. Memory  94  is associated with the processor  80 . The processor  80  includes an electronic image sensor selection  96 . This determines whether the image displayed on display  78  is from the first electronic image sensor  74  or from the second electronic image sensor  76  or from memory  94  or a memory card in the DMI  90 . The freeze frame function  98  freezes an image from the first or second electronic image sensor  74 ,  76  and it is displayed on the display  78 . Otherwise the images from the sensors  74  &amp;  76  are updated continuously. An image selection function  100  allows the user to select images that have been stored in memory  94  or are stored on an external memory device connected to the DMI  90  or the DCI  92 . The DCI  92  allows images to be added to memory  94  or transferred from memory  94  to a computer. The speaker  88  and microphone  86  allow the user to use the second electronic image sensor as a baby monitor. 
       FIG. 9  is a flow chart of the steps used in a method of operating an electronic mirror in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The process starts, step  110 , by selecting an electronic image sensor of the electronic mirror having a portable housing at step  112 . When the first electronic image sensor is selected, displaying a first image from the first electronic image sensor on a screen at step  114 . When the second electronic image sensor is selected at step  116 , displaying a second image from the second electronic image sensor on the screen, which ends the process at step  118 . In one embodiment, the second image is wirelessly transmitted from the second electronic image sensor to the screen. In another embodiment, the second electronic image sensor is moved to a desired location, such as a position to view the back of the user&#39;s head. In one embodiment, a freeze frame function is selected. A user may review a plurality of images stored on the electronic mirror in one embodiment. In another embodiment, an image may be transferred to a computer. A memory card may be inserted into the electronic memory to store or download images. 
     Thus there has been described an electronic mirror that allows the user to check the back of their head and to magnify areas that are hard to see. The electronic mirror is convenient and fits inside a purse or can carried in a pocket by itself. 
     While the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alterations, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications, and variations in the appended claims.