Patent Abstract:
A portable electronic device and associated charging stand assembly where the portable electronic device has an inbuilt printer and the associated charging stand recharges the device battery and refills the printer.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 10/503,901 filed Aug. 9, 2004, which is a 371 of PCT/AU03/00170, all of which is herein incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates to electronic devices having an internal printer and to a charging assembly for replenishing the internal ink reservoir of the printer.  
         [0003]     This application refers to the following co-pending applications of the present applicant, the entire contents of which are duly incorporated herein:  
       CO-PENDING APPLICATIONS  
       [0004]     Various methods, systems and apparatus relating to the present invention are disclosed in the following co-pending applications filed by the applicant or assignee of the present invention simultaneously with the present application:  
                                               PCT/AU03/00154   PCT/AU03/00151   PCT/AU03/00150   PCT/                   AU03/00145       PCT/AU03/00153   PCT/AU03/00152   PCT/AU03/00168   PCT/                   AU03/00169       PCT/AU03/00170   PCT/AU03/00162   PCT/AU03/00146   PCT/                   AU03/00159       PCT/AU03/00171   PCT/AU03/00149   PCT/AU03/00167   PCT/                   AU03/00158       PCT/AU03/00147   PCT/AU03/00166   PCT/AU03/00164   PCT/                   AU03/00163       PCT/AU03/00165   PCT/AU03/00160   PCT/AU03/00157   PCT/                   AU03/00148       PCT/AU03/00156   PCT/AU03/00155                  
 
         [0005]     The disclosures of these co-pending applications are incorporated herein by cross-reference. Each application is temporarily identified by its file reference. This will be replaced by the corresponding PCT Application Number when available.  
                                                 RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS AND PATENTS                                U.S. Pat. No. 6,227,652   U.S. Pat. No. 6,213,588   U.S. Pat. No. 6,213,589   U.S. Pat. No. 6,231,163       U.S. Pat. No. 6,247,795   U.S. Pat. No. 6,394,581   U.S. Pat. No. 6,244,691   U.S. Pat. No. 6,257,704       U.S. Pat. No. 6,416,168   U.S. Pat. No. 6,220,694   U.S. Pat. No. 6,257,705   U.S. Pat. No. 6,247,794       U.S. Pat. No. 6,234,610   U.S. Pat. No. 6,247,793   U.S. Pat. No. 6,264,306   U.S. Pat. No. 6,241,342       U.S. Pat. No. 6,247,792   U.S. Pat. No. 6,264,307   U.S. Pat. No. 6,254,220   U.S. Pat. No. 6,234,611       U.S. Pat. No. 6,302,528   U.S. Pat. No. 6,283,582   U.S. Pat. No. 6,239,821   U.S. Pat. No. 6,338,547       U.S. Pat. No. 6,247,796   U.S. Pat. No. 09/113,122   U.S. Pat. No. 6,390,603   U.S. Pat. No. 6,362,843       U.S. Pat. No. 6,293,653   U.S. Pat. No. 6,312,107   U.S. Pat. No. 6,227,653   U.S. Pat. No. 6,234,609       U.S. Pat. No. 6,238,040   U.S. Pat. No. 6,188,415   U.S. Pat. No. 6,227,654   U.S. Pat. No. 6,209,989       U.S. Pat. No. 6,247,791   U.S. Pat. No. 6,336,710   U.S. Pat. No. 6,217,153   U.S. Pat. No. 6,416,167       U.S. Pat. No. 6,243,113   U.S. Pat. No. 6,283,581   U.S. Pat. No. 6,247,790   U.S. Pat. No. 6,260,953       U.S. Pat. No. 6,267,469   U.S. Pat. No. 6,273,544   U.S. Pat. No. 6,309,048   U.S. Pat. No. 6,420,196       U.S. Pat. No. 6,443,558   U.S. Pat. No. 09/422,892   U.S. Pat. No. 6,378,989   U.S. Pat. No. 09/425,420       U.S. Pat. No. 09/422,893   U.S. Pat. No. 09/609,140   U.S. Pat. No. 6,409,323   U.S. Pat. No. 6,281,912       U.S. Pat. No. 09/575,113   U.S. Pat. No. 6,318,920   U.S. Pat. No. 6,488,422   U.S. Pat. No. 09/693,644       U.S. Pat. No. 6,457,810   U.S. Pat. No. 6,485,135   U.S. Pat. No. 09/112,763   U.S. Pat. No. 6,331,946       U.S. Pat. No. 6,246,970   U.S. Pat. No. 6,442,525   U.S. Pat. No. 09/505,951   U.S. Pat. No. 09/505,147       U.S. Pat. No. 09/505,952   U.S. Pat. No. 09/575,108   U.S. Pat. No. 09/575,109   U.S. Pat. No. 09/575,110       U.S. Pat. No. 09/607,985   U.S. Pat. No. 6,398,332   U.S. Pat. No. 6,394,573   U.S. Pat. No. 09/606,999       U.S. Pat. No. 6,238,044   U.S. Pat. No. 6,425,661   U.S. Pat. No. 6,390,605   U.S. Pat. No. 6,322,195       U.S. Pat. No. 09/504,221   U.S. Pat. No. 6,480,089   U.S. Pat. No. 6,460,778   U.S. Pat. No. 6,305,788       U.S. Pat. No. 6,426,014   U.S. Pat. No. 6,364,453   U.S. Pat. No. 6,457,795   U.S. Pat. No. 09/556,219       U.S. Pat. No. 09/556,218   U.S. Pat. No. 6,315,399   U.S. Pat. No. 6,338,548   U.S. Pat. No. 09/575,190       U.S. Pat. No. 6,328,431   U.S. Pat. No. 6,328,425   U.S. Pat. No. 09/575,127   U.S. Pat. No. 6,383,833       U.S. Pat. No. 6,464,332   U.S. Pat. No. 6,390,591   U.S. Pat. No. 09/575,152   U.S. Pat. No. 6,328,417       U.S. Pat. No. 6,322,194   U.S. Pat. No. 09/575,177   U.S. Pat. No. 09/575,175   U.S. Pat. No. 6,417,757       U.S. Pat. No. 09/608,780   U.S. Pat. No. 6,428,139   U.S. Pat. No. 09/607,498   U.S. Pat. No. 09/693,079       U.S. Pat. No. 09/693,135   U.S. Pat. No. 6,428,142   U.S. Pat. No. 09/692,813   U.S. Pat. No. 09/693,319       U.S. Pat. No. 09/693,311   U.S. Pat. No. 6,439,908   U.S. Pat. No. 09/693,735   PCT/AU98/00550       PCT/AU00/00516   PCT/AU00/00517   PCT/AU00/00511   PCT/AU00/00754       PCT/AU00/00755   PCT/AU00/00756   PCT/AU00/00757   PCT/AU00/00095       PCT/AU00/00172   PCT/AU00/00338   PCT/AU00/00339   PCT/AU00/00340       PCT/AU00/00341   PCT/AU00/00581   PCT/AU00/00580   PCT/AU00/00582       PCT/AU00/00587   PCT/AU00/00588   PCT/AU00/00589   PCT/AU00/00583       PCT/AU00/00593   PCT/AU00/00590   PCT/AU00/00591   PCT/AU00/00592       PCT/AU00/00584   PCT/AU00/00585   PCT/AU00/00586   PCT/AU00/00749       PCT/AU00/00750   PCT/AU00/00751   PCT/AU00/00752   PCT/AU01/01332       PCT/AU01/01318   PCT/AU00/01513   PCT/AU00/01514   PCT/AU00/01515       PCT/AU00/01516   PCT/AU00/01517   PCT/AU00/01512   PCT/AU01/00502       PCT/AU02/01120   PCT/AU00/00333   PCT/AU01/00141   PCT/AU01/00139       PCT/AU01/00140   PCT/AU00/00753   PCT/AU01/01321   PCT/AU01/01322       PCT/AU01/01323   PCT/AU00/00594   PCT/AU00/00595   PCT/AU00/00596       PCT/AU00/00597   PCT/AU00/00598   PCT/AU00/00741   PCT/AU00/00742                  
 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     Historically, printers have been desktop devices and have thus been large and immobile. Printers have had large capacity ink cartridges requiring seldom replacement. Replacement ink cartridges are typically kept on hand so that when the current ink cartridge is exhausted it can be replaced with little interruption to the printer operation.  
         [0007]     Recent developments have seen printers being incorporated into portable telecommunications devices such as mobile telephones. Examples of such applications can be found in the present applicant&#39;s co-pending applications listed above. However, with a portable printer, there is a problem that a replacement ink cartridge will not always be at hand if the ink supply is exhausted. To overcome this problem the ink cartridge will be replaced before it is absolutely necessary resulting in a wastage of ink otherwise there will be a risk that the ink supply will run out, rendering the printer useless until a replacement ink cartridge is found.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a charging stand for a mobile telecommunications device having an internal printer, the charging stand including:  
         [0009]     a base;  
         [0010]     a receptacle formed in said base and adapted to releasably receive a mobile telecommunications device;  
         [0011]     a power connection for receiving power with which to provide recharging power to a mobile telecommunication device;  
         [0012]     an ink reservoir storing at least one type or color of ink;  
         [0013]     a power transmission arrangement for providing the recharging power to a mobile telecommunications device when positioned in the receptacle; and  
         [0014]     at least one ink connection adapted to engage complimentary ink receiving connections of a mobile telecommunications device, for providing ink from the at least one ink reservoir to the ink telecommunications device when the telecommunications device is positioned in the receptacle.  
         [0015]     Preferably, the power transmission arrangement includes one or more conductive contacts configured to engage complementary conductive contacts on a mobile telecommunications device placed within the receptacle. An electrical circuit can thereby be established for recharging a battery of the telecommunications device.  
         [0016]     Alternatively, the power transmission arrangement can include a magnetic field generator for generating an inductive coupling between the stand and a suitable inductive current generation device within the mobile telecommunications device for recharging a battery of the telecommunications device, configured such that the telecommunications device automatically recharges the battery when placed in the receptacle.  
         [0017]     Preferably, the power connection is an external power connection for receiving power from a remote source.  
         [0018]     It is particularly preferred that the ink reservoir be a removable ink cartridge. In this case, the ink connection includes at least one cartridge connection for engaging at least one corresponding complementary formation on said ink cartridge.  
         [0019]     Preferably, the ink reservoir includes a plurality of ink chambers storing distinct ink colours and/or types, each of said chambers including at least one of said ink connections. More preferably, the cartridge includes one or more ink chambers each including an outlet, wherein the cartridge connection includes one or more cartridge pins adapted to be received by said chamber outlets respectively. It is preferred that each of the cartridge outlets include an elastomeric seal.  
         [0020]     Preferably, an elastomeric pad surrounds the cartridge pins, or each of said cartridge pins. The pad or pads are compressible to expose the cartridge pins.  
         [0021]     In a preferred form, the ink cartridge is configured for reception in said receptacle.  
         [0022]     In one embodiment, the charging stand further includes an ink connector including: the ink connections; the ink cartridge connections; and an ink conduit connecting each cartridge connection with a respective ink connection. In this case, the ink connector can be located within the charging stand such that the ink connections and the cartridge connections are disposed in the receptacle.  
         [0023]     Preferably, the ink connections include one or more device pins adapted to be received in one or more inlets of said telecommunications device. More preferably, the stand includes an elastomeric pad around the device pins, the pad being compressible to expose the device pins.  
         [0024]     In a preferred embodiment, the ink reservoir is disposed on the charging stand such that when a telecommunications device including an internal printer is received in the receptacle, gravity causes ink to flow from the ink reservoir to the printer of the telecommunications device.  
         [0025]     In a second aspect, the present invention provides a charging stand for a mobile telecommunications device having an internal printer, the charging stand including a base, a receptacle formed in said base and adapted to receive a mobile telecommunications device therein, an external power connection, a removable ink cartridge storing one or more inks and adapted to be received in said receptacle, one or more power contacts adapted to engage complimentary contacts on said mobile telecommunications device to provide for recharging a battery of said mobile telecommunications device from said external power connection, and an ink connector including one or more cartridge connections adapted to engage complimentary connections on said ink cartridge, one or more device connections adapted to engage complimentary formations on a mobile telecommunications device and one or more ink flow conduits connecting said cartridge connections and said device connections.  
         [0026]     In a third aspect, the present invention provides a mobile telecommunications device having an internal printer, the mobile telecommunications device including a power recharge interface and an ink supply interface for accepting recharging power and ink from a charging stand in accordance with any one of the preceding claims.  
         [0027]     In a fourth aspect, the present invention provides a recharging device for providing a mobile telecommunications device having an internal printer with recharging power and ink, the recharging device including an ink supply output for releasable connection to a complementary ink supply input of the mobile telecommunications device, and a power recharging output for providing recharging power to the mobile telecommunications device when it is connected to the ink supply output.  
         [0028]     Preferably, the recharging device further includes a power supply connection for connecting an external power supply that provides, in use, power to the power recharging output.  
         [0029]     More preferably, the power recharging output includes a conductive power supply contact for engaging a corresponding conductive power receiving contact of the mobile telecommunications device.  
         [0030]     Alternatively, the power recharging output includes an inductive coupling arrangement for inductively coupling with a corresponding inductive arrangement in the mobile telecommunications device, in use. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0031]     A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0032]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a charging stand, in accordance with the invention;  
         [0033]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a charging stand with a mobile telephone positioned therein;  
         [0034]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the charging stand;  
         [0035]      FIG. 4  is an assembled view of the charging stand of  FIG. 3 ,  
         [0036]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a removable ink cartridge;  
         [0037]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a mobile telephone adapted for use with a charging stand of the invention; and  
         [0038]      FIG. 7  is a cross section of a charging stand and mobile telephone, in accordance with the invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0039]     A charging stand according to the invention is shown generally at  10  in  FIG. 1 . The stand  10  receives a mobile telecommunications device  20 , e.g. a mobile telephone, as depicted in  FIG. 2 . The stand  10  includes a base  11  with a receptacle  12  that receives the mobile telephone. A set of ink contacts  13  and power contacts  14  are disposed in the base receptacle  12 . The base  11  also receives an ink cartridge  50 .  
         [0040]     Reference is now made to  FIG. 3 , which is an exploded view of the charging stand  10  illustrating the internal features. The charging stand  10  includes a base moulding  31  and base plate  32 . A power cord  33  passes through an aperture in the base moulding  31  and connects to a Printed Circuit Board (PCB)  34  within the base moulding  31 . The opposite end of the power cord  33  includes a standard plug for connection with mains power, which will usually be alternating current (AC). In this case, the power will need to be rectified if it is to be fed to the battery of the mobile telecommunications device in a direct current (DC) form. Alternatively, the charging stand is configured for connection with an alternative power source such as through the cigarette lighter connection of a car, which will usually be direct current (DC). In either case, the power will typically need to be stepped down to provide compatible voltage and current to a battery of the mobile telecommunications device.  
         [0041]     The PCB  34  supports components including a power-in plug  35 , a speaker plug  36  connected to a speaker  37  and charging contacts  38 . The power-in plug  35 , speaker plug  36  and charging contacts  38  protrude through the base moulding  31  into the receptacle  12 .  
         [0042]     The base moulding  31  also houses ink connections  39  that include hollow cartridge connection pins  40  and device connection pins  41  connected through a conduit in an ink connection base  42 . Four pins are shown in  FIG. 3  that provide an ink flow path for three colour inks and black ink. The cartridge pins and device pins protrude through the base moulding  31  into the receptacle  12 . Elastomeric pads  43  are formed around the pins  40 ,  41  for protection but compress to the configuration depicted in  FIG. 3  during loading of an ink cartridge or telephone device into the receptacle, thereby exposing the pins for use. The device pins may be fitted with a cap or seal that prevents ink flow when no device is received in the receptacle but are removed prior to, or in the act of, loading a device into the charging stand.  
         [0043]      FIG. 4  demonstrates the resilience of the elastomeric pads  43  once the ink cartridge and telephone have been removed. The pads return to their uncompressed state thereby providing protection to the ink cartridge pins and device pins when the pins are not in use. In addition to providing protection, the elastomeric pads  43  also act to seal the ink flow path through the ink connector  40  thereby preventing any ink trapped within the connector  40  from drying out and potentially causing a blockage. As can be seen from  FIG. 4  the power-in plug  35 , speaker plug  36  and charging contacts  38  remain exposed.  
         [0044]     The charging stand receives a removable ink cartridge  50  of the type illustrated in  FIG. 5 . The ink cartridge  50  includes an ink reservoir sized to fit into the receptacle  12  of the charging stand. Internally the ink cartridge is divided into four separate chambers for the four different types of ink. Four apertures  51  formed in the end of the cartridge  50  provide an outlet for each of the four chambers and are located on the cartridge  50  so as to receive the cartridge pins  41  of the charging stand when the cartridge is loaded into the receptacle of the charging stand. A seal  53 , for example an elastomeric seal, is disposed within each ink chamber about the outlet  51  to seal the respective chamber when the cartridge is removed from the charging stand.  
         [0045]     The cartridge  50  may be provided with a QA chip and contacts  52  that communicate with similar contacts  45  ( FIG. 4 ) on the charging stand to ensure that only compatible cartridges  50  are used with the charging stand.  
         [0046]     The charging stand  10  receives a mobile telephone  20  or like device equipped with an internal printer and battery. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the telephone  20  includes a series of ink inlet ports  60  that lead to the ink supply systems of the printer, a power socket  61 , hands free jack  62  and charging contacts  63  leading to a battery or like charge storage device of the telephone. When the telephone  20  is loaded onto the charging stand receptacle  12  as depicted in  FIG. 2 , the ink inlets, power socket, hands free jack and charging contacts align with and engage respectively the device pins, power-in connection, speaker plug and charging contacts of the charging stand. Power is then supplied to the telephone both to allow operation of the telephone and to re-charge the telephone batteries in a known manner.  
         [0047]      FIG. 7  shows a reverse cross section of the loaded charging stand of  FIG. 2  illustrating the connection from the printer of the telephone to the ink cartridge  50 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the ink cartridge  50  is disposed in the receptacle such that the cartridge pin  40  has penetrated the seal  53  and protrudes into one of the ink chambers of the cartridge. Similarly, the ink inlet ports of the telephone have engaged the device pins of the charging stand. Thus the ink connector  39  provides a conduit from the ink cartridge  50  to the ink reservoirs of the printer. Pressure, gravitational or osmotic effects between the ink chambers of the cartridge and the ink reservoir of the printer causes ink to flow to the printer reservoir.  
         [0048]     While the embodiments of the invention have been described with particular reference to mobile telephones, it will be apparent to the skilled addressee that the invention is equally suitable to other types of mobile telecommunications devices such as Wireless Internet Access Devices (WIADs), in particular Wireless Applications Protocol (WAP) terminals, pagers etc.  
         [0049]     The charging stand of the present invention allows the battery and ink supplies of a mobile telephone with printer to be re-charged simultaneously. Furthermore, using a charging stand as herein described, it is unlikely that ink supplies of the printer would ever be exhausted as by the time this event occurred, there would be insufficient power in the battery to operate the printer.  
         [0050]     The invention has also been described with reference to a four colour printer where the ink cartridge of the charging stand has four chambers for three colour inks and black ink. The configuration of the ink cartridge and the number of pins of the ink connector will depend on the type of printer employed in the mobile telecommunications device. For example the cartridge may store only black ink. Alternatively or in addition, the ink cartridge may include a chamber and ink connection for supplying infra-red ink or some other ink type to a printer.  
         [0051]     It will be appreciated that although the preferred embodiment of the invention takes the form of a stand, an alternative embodiment (not shown) is a plug that interfaces with corresponding ink and power sockets in a phone or communications device. An ink reservoir and power supply are still provided, but there is no stand or cradle for the phone to sit in. Rather, once the plug is plugged into the corresponding socket, the phone is simply laid in a suitable place such as a benchtop or desk. A potential advantage of this embodiment is that the ink reservoir (which might be relatively bulky if of high capacity) can be located remotely from the mobile phone charging point, such as on the floor or on a shelf out of the way. In some cases, this can avoid the reservoir being bumped, or at least diminishes the amount of clutter in a work area. The reservoir in this case can also be mounted in the same housing as, or adjacent to, a transformer for rectifying AC mains power for supply to the mobile phone.  
         [0052]     While particular embodiments of this invention have been described, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments and examples are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein. It will further be understood that any reference herein to known prior art does not, unless the contrary indication appears, constitute an admission that such prior art is commonly known by those skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8