Patent Publication Number: US-2009237574-A1

Title: Album for display of digitally produced images

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to image display equipment, and more particularly to an album type apparatus for electrically energized image display means. 
     Digital frames, or picture frames have been devised in which a portable rectangular frame surrounds a display screen, in which images are produced, digitally. Such devices lack the unusually advantageous improvements in structure, functioning and enhanced ease of use results, as are now provided by the album equipment to be described, whereby there is need for such improvements. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a major object of the invention to provide improved apparatus meeting the referred to need. 
     Basically, the improved image viewing apparatus, which may be operated to digitally produce a succession of images in an album, comprises: 
     a) a receptacle having the configuration of a photograph album, the receptacle having a top cover panel, a rear panel, and simulated pages between said panels, the simulated pages defining a first cavity opening towards the top cover panel, 
     b) an image display device received in the cavity, and having an image display screen openly facing the cover panel in its closed position, 
     c) the cover panel being openable away from the display screen to reveal the screen, and images, 
     d) and means for electrically activating said device to display a selected image when the cover panel is opened. 
     As will be described, the said means typically includes a switch having magnetic elements in a circuit which is activated in response to said cover opening. 
     Another object is to provide a second cavity in the simulated album pages, a dry cell or cells in the second cavity and electrically connected to supply power to a circuit which activates said device in response to said cover opening. 
     Yet another object is to provide an additional cavity in the simulated album pages, accessible to an album user, said means including a manually operable control or controls in said additional cavity. That additional cavity may be located to define a window at an exposed edge of the simulated pages, between the front and back panels of the album. Alternatively, the additional cavity may be sunk in said simulated pages to be exposed when the front cover is opened. 
     The controls at the additional cavity may include a port for plug-in of an electrical current supply line having plug-in connection to the album, at one of said controls, to supply charging current to the dry cell or cells. Accordingly, the album may be self powered for use at locations remote from electrical power outlets. 
     A further object is to provide a window at a surface or surfaces of said simulated pages, and in alignment with said display and cavity. 
     Further, the image display device may comprise a digital frame type device, which has a flat frame with a rectangular boundary, in registration with a border defined by the cavity in the simulated pages. 
     An added object is to provide for reception of the digital frame in the cavity defined by the simulated pages so that the surface of that display is flush with the top surface of the simulated pages, and to provide a window at one edge of a page simulated stack, and a manually operable control or controls in or at said window, and operatively connected with said circuitry. 
     These and other objects and advantages of the invention, as well as the details of an illustrative embodiment, will be more fully understood from the following specification and drawings, in which: 
    
    
     
       DRAWING DESCRIPTION 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective top and edge view of the preferred image viewing album device of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom plan view of the  FIG. 1  device; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic view showing controls and electrical connections; and 
         FIG. 4  is a section taken in elevation on lines  4 - 4  of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1 and 4  show the device as comprising a receptacle  10  having the configuration of a photograph album, the receptacle having a top cover panel, a rear panel, and simulated pages between said panels, the simulated stack of pages defining a first cavity opening towards the first cover panel. The front or top, cover panel is shown at  11 , rear panel at  12 , simulated pages at  13 , and cavity at  14  exposed toward panel  11 . Panel  11  folds at  11   a  toward open position seen in  FIG. 1 . The simulated pages of the album-like device define an edge or parallel edges at  15  between panels  11  and  12 , as in a plastic block  13   a.  A second window  35  is formed in  13   a,  with elongation in the direction of simulated page edges, for reception of protected and accessible controls at  16 - 19  that are finger manipulable, selectively, by finger reception in the window recess. 
     A visual image display device  20  is downwardly received in the cavity  14 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , and has a screen at  21  directly beneath a transparent, see-through plate or window  22 . The screen openly faces the album cover panel  11  to reveal images digitally presented on the screen when panel  11  is opened or unfolded, as in  FIG. 1 . Means is provided for electronically activating the device  20 , turning it ON to display such images, as when the cover panel is opened. See for example the magnetically sensitive switch represented in  FIG. 4  by magnetic element  24  carried by cover panel, and magnetically sensitive sensor  25  carried by the simulated pages. When  24  is moved upwardly away from sensor  25 , a signal is transmitted on line  27  to device  20 , turning it on, to be energized as by electrical batteries or dry cells  29  carried in another cavity  30  formed by the simulated stack of pages  13 . Batteries  29  may be rechargeable, as via a DC or rectified AC current supply cord  31  having one end inserted in a port at  17  in or at window cavity  35 , as seen in  FIG. 3 . A suitable transformer and rectifier may be provided in series with the cord conductor, so that household 60 volt AC current may be employed for re-charging. 
     Simulated page edges may be formed by molded-in striations in block  13   a.    
     Port  19  is adapted to receive a program chip  50 , for digitally programming circuitry  60  in device  20 . See the schematic view in  FIG. 3 . An ON-OFF switch  63  may be provide at  16 . Electrical connection lines may be connected as at  70 , to circuitry  60 , when device  20  is lowered into cavity  14 . 
     As seen in  FIG. 4 , a shoulder  80  is provided by frame  81  to engage a recessed ledge  82  of block  13   a,  whereby the surface of plate  22  is flush with the top surface  13   b  of block  13   a.