Abstract:
The present invention provides a picture frame for displaying digital images taken by a digital camera. The invention may be a wall mounted frame or a desk top frame. The invention includes a display, such as an active matrix display for rendering images for viewing. The invention includes an interface for manipulating images by using a graphical user interface in conjunction with an operating system. The present invention may be employed for displaying overhead projection slides for conferences, lectures and meetings. The invention includes sensors for monitoring conditions in areas around the frame. The frame includes floppy disk and CD/DVD drives for transferring data to a memory of the frame. The memory of the frame is used to store images and may select images according to a program or list.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This disclosure claims priority to provisional application No. 60/131,920, filed on Apr. 30, 1999, and incorporated herein by reference. 

   BACKGROUND 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to digital picture displays, and more particularly to wall mounted or table top picture frames for displaying digital images. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   With the development of digital cameras and digital image rendering for personal computers, pictures may now be stored in a memory storage device such as a hard drive of a computer. Such pictures require a video card so that they be rendered on the computer display for viewing. Although storage of the digital images on a computer is space effective and efficient, it may not be suitable for every day use since the image must be retrieved from memory and displayed on the computer display. 
   In some instances, individuals desire a more conventional viewing of the image. Specialized printers such as photo printers or color printers may be used to produce hard copies of a photograph or image. These printers are often expensive or do not reproduce the photograph with sufficient detail or resolution to satisfy the viewer or the photographer. 
   Conventional photographs provide the best resolution images. However, conventional photography requires picture development which may result in a wait period before developed pictures are available, unless an instant camera is used. Conventional development techniques also employ harsh chemicals which may not be environmentally safe. Instant cameras often produce images which are not as good and conventional photographs. Film for instant cameras is also very expensive. 
   Therefore, a need exists for a digital display frame which is capable of downloading digital images from a computer or digital camera for display on a wall or a desk top. A further need exists for a digital picture frame that stores digital images and displays the images using an active matrix display or other type of display. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides a picture frame for displaying digital images taken by a digital camera or scanned into a computer, downloaded from the Internet, etc. The pictures may be stored on a storage medium or transferred directly to the picture frame. The invention may be a wall mounted frame or a desk top frame. The invention includes a display, such as an active matrix display for rendering images for viewing. The invention includes an interface for manipulating images by using a graphical user interface in conjunction with an operating system. The present invention may be employed for displayed overhead projection slides for conferences, lectures and meetings. The invention includes sensors for monitoring conditions in areas around the frame. The frame includes floppy disk and/or CD/DVD drives for transferring data to a memory of the frame. The frame may also be adapted to receive memory cards form digital cameras directly. The memory or the frame is used to store images and may select images according to a program or list. 
   In accordance with the present invention, a picture display for displaying still digital pictures includes a mountable picture frame adapted to digitally display at least one still image thereon. The picture frame is a stand-alone unit used to replace a conventional picture frame. The picture frame includes a display screen for displaying the at least one still image stored in a memory. The memory stores at least one still image therein. An interface is coupled to the memory for downloading still images to the memory. 
   In alternate embodiments, the display may include a microprocessor coupled to the memory for managing display data for still images. The display may also include control circuitry coupled to the display for activating the display in accordance with an event. The event may include one of a predetermined time or date, a change in light intensity, a sound and motion detected in proximity of the display. The control circuitry may change an image displayed in accordance with an event. The interface may be adapted to receive image data from a digital camera, a VCR, the Internet or a computer. The interface may be adapted to receive image data from a portable memory device. The picture frame may include be wall mountable or desk top mountable. The picture frame may be adapted to receive a plug for a power source. The display may include an operating system stored in the memory for permitting a user to interact with the picture frame. The operating system may be stored in the memory and permit the user to select from a plurality of images stored therein to display on the screen. The display may include a speaker for providing sounds stored in the memory in accordance with an event. The event may include one of a predetermined time or date, a change in light intensity, a sound and motion detected in proximity of the display. 
   Another picture display for displaying digital images, in accordance with the invention, includes a wall mountable display adapted to digitally display still images thereon. The display is a stand alone unit including a processor coupled to the display for managing data to be displayed on a screen of the display, the data being stored in a memory, and a portable memory device drive coupled to the memory through the processor and adapted to receive portable memory devices for downloading images from the portable memory devices. The memory is coupled to the processor for storing images to be displayed on the screen, the memory being adapted to receive image data from a portable memory device. 
   In alternate embodiments, the portable memory device drive may be adapted to receive image data from one of a compact disk, DVD and a floppy disk. The portable memory device drive may be adapted to receive image data from one of a digital camera, a VCR, the Internet and a computer. The display may include a picture frame. The display may be adapted to receive a plug for a power source. The display may include an operating system stored in the memory for permitting a user to interact with the display. The operating system stored in the memory may permit the user to select from a plurality of images stored in the memory or on the portable memory device to display on the screen. The display may include a microphone for interacting with the display. The display may include a digital camera coupled to the processor for displaying images taken in real-time. 
   Another picture display for displaying still digital pictures, in accordance with the present invention, includes a wall mountable or desk top mountable picture frame adapted to digitally display at least one still image thereon. The picture frame is a stand alone unit including a display screen for displaying the at least one still image stored in a memory, the memory for storing the at least one still image, a microprocessor coupled to the memory for managing display data for the at least one still image, control circuitry coupled to the microprocessor for one of activating the display in accordance with an event and changing an image displayed in accordance with the event, a speaker coupled to the control circuitry for providing sounds stored in the memory in accordance with the event, an interface coupled to the memory for downloading still images to the memory, and a power adapter for receiving a plug for a power source. 
   In alternate embodiments, the event may include one of a predetermined time or date, a change in light intensity, a sound and motion detected in proximity of the display. The interface may be adapted to receive image data from a digital camera, a VCR, the Internet, and a computer. The interface may be adapted to receive image data from a portable memory device. An operating system may be stored in the memory for permitting a user to interact with the display. The operating system stored in the memory may permit the user to select from a plurality of images stored therein to display on the screen. The display may include a digital camera coupled to the processor for displaying images taken in real-time. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be described in detail in the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the following figures wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a front view of a digital picture frame in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a rear view of a digital picture frame in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a bottom or side view of a digital picture frame in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a side view of a digital picture frame for mounting on a desk or table top in accordance with the present invention; and 
       FIG. 5  is a block diagram of the components of a frame in accordance with the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   In accordance with the present invention, a digital picture display frame is disclosed for displaying digital images produced by using a digital camera. The present invention permits a user to display digital photographs on a wall or a desktop as though the image were a conventional photograph. The present invention employs a memory storage capability so that a plurality of images may be stored in the memory for display in the frame. The frame may include a plurality of interfaces for coupling to devices such as a digital camera or a computer for downloading and storing photographic images for display. The present invention may be configured with an operating system to control a plurality of different functions which will be explained in more detail herein below. 
   Referring now in specific detail to the drawings in which like reference numerals identify similar or identical elements throughout the several views, and initially to  FIG. 1 , a wall-mountable display frame is shown which will be generally referred to as frame  10 . Frame  10  includes a screen or display  12 . Display  12  may include a liquid crystal display (LCD), a passive display, an active display or any other known display. If an LCD Display  12  is employed, it is preferable that the pixels provide a relatively large viewing angle such that displayed images may be viewed from different angles. Preferably, an active matrix display with high resolution for better picture display capabilities is employed. Display resolution may be improved using anti-aliasing programs which are commercially available. These anti-aliasing programs provide a better resolution for an image, especially going from fewer pixels to a larger number of pixels. For example, a digital camera may provide an image having over 1.92 million pixels (8″×10″) a larger picture may be displayed on picture frame by employing appropriate software (e.g., a pixel averaging scheme or smoothing/anti-aliasing algorithm to improve resolution for blowing up the digital image to larger sizes. 
   Display  12  is also preferably a flat panel display, similar to those used for laptop computers, and preferably includes an anti-reflection film thereon. In this way reflections from display  12  are reduced for improved viewing. In one embodiment, a thin film transistor (TFT) LCD display may be employed. Display  12  displays digital images and therefore does not have to be updated or refreshed as with television and/or computer screens. This conserves power and reduces the need for processing and updating the image. 
   Since frame  10  is a wall-mounted design, it is preferable that display  12  is lightweight and provides a low profile (low thickness dimension). It is contemplated that frame  10  will be available in a plurality of sizes and shapes. For example, frame  10  may include an oval shape, a square shape, a rectangular shape, etc. Frame  10  may include a decorative finish, style and color. For example, frame  10  may be provided with an outer portion  14  which may include a molded plastic or a carved wood finish. Other materials may also be employed. Different colors and styles for frame  10  are also contemplated. Frame  10  includes a decorative border or panel, i.e., outer portion  14 . A mat (not shown) may be placed around the exterior of display which may be changed with different colors or styles. Frame  10  may include a drop down or slide portion  16  for concealing control/interface devices  18 . In this way the appearance of frame  10  is maintained when control/interface devices  18  are not in use. Control/interface devices  18  may include picture quality features such as contrast, hue, color, tint, etc. Control/interface devices  18  may also include a select button or program button for selecting pictures or programs of pictures to be run as will be explained below. Control/interface devices  18  may also include a ball or joystick for moving a cursor on the screen of display  12  to select options, select alphanumeric characters for labeling files and/or photographs or other interfacing activities. 
   A power source  20  is coupled to frame  10  for supplying power to frame  10 . In one embodiment, frame  10  includes a plug  22  for accessing standard AC power. Plug  22  may include a DC transformer for converting the AC power as needed. Since, display  12  is for displaying images less power is needed to maintain an image on the screen. In one embodiment, frame  10  includes a memory device ( FIG. 5 ) which stores a screen saver or alters pixels of an image displayed on display  12  sufficiently to prevent “burn in” for phosphor screens and maintain activity for illuminating pixels, for example, electroluminescent pixels. In this way, an image can be displayed for an extended period of time without risk of “burn in”. For example, the screen saver may include a standard screen saver, a pixel altering program such as altering colors or intensity of selected pixels or a power down mode wherein the screen goes blank. In one embodiment, a light sensor  21  is included. Light sensor  21  provides information about light intensity and alters the pixel intensities accordingly. In this way, power can be conserved in darkly lit settings. In one embodiment, an image displayed on display  12  may be changed in accordance with the amount of light detected by light sensor  21 . For example, an image may be displayed of a landscape in which a picture of a sunrise is displayed in the morning and a sunset displayed in the evening, and stars, etc. displayed at night. In an alternate embodiment, such changes in the image may be provided in accordance with the time of day, or season of the year as provided by a system clock and/or calendar (i.e., triggered by a time or date). Clock/calendar information may be displayed in a window  23  which may be an LCD display or the like. Window  23  may also be utilized to display a title or information associated with an image displayed on display  12 . 
   In another embodiment, an image displayed on display is a calendar with messages or indications of a particular day&#39;s events. This may include graphics for holiday seasons, birthdays, anniversaries, or other events. Other messages may include remarks about the day of the week “I hate Mondays”, etc. 
   In a particularly useful embodiment, a motion sensor  24  may be included on frame  10 . Motion sensor  24  may be employed to reactivate display  12  when motion is sensed in a room. For example, when display  12  is in a power down mode, a person enters a room. Motion sensor  24  senses the motion and activates display  12  to return an image to display  12 . Other responses to detected motion may be employed with the present invention as well. For example, motion sensor  24  may activate an audio response, such as “welcome”, “surprise”, “I love you Grandma”, or declare the time or other audio response. 
   In another particularly useful embodiment, frame  10  includes a digital camera  26  for providing images to be displayed in real time. For example, frame  10  is mounted in a room. A photograph of the room may be taken and displayed on display  12  within the room. This may be useful for family gatherings, meetings, reunions etc. Once taken the image may be downloaded to a floppy disk and reproduced by conventional means. It is contemplated that frame  10  may include a lens for photographing pictures as well. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , a backside of frame  10  is shown. Frame  10  includes an attachment apparatus  28  which may include hooks, clips, anchors, or equivalents as is known in the art for attaching a picture or other device to a wall. Interfaces  30  are provided for interfacing frame  10  to other devices such as VCRs, televisions, computers, a phone line (e.g., the Internet), a camera, etc. Frame  10  may include protocols, stored in memory (operating system), for interfacing with these devices in a similar manner as is provided by personal digital assistants (PDAs) and the like. Frame  10  may include a battery pack  32  for providing power for maintaining stored images in memory when frame  10  is transported. Battery pack  32  may include sufficient energy storage to provide full operation of frame for a limited time. Such operations may include transporting frame  10  to a remote location for downloading or uploading information (digital data for images). As such, frame  10  may be employed for storing images for a presentation or lecture. For example, frame  10  may be transported to a remote site for displaying images instead of needing an overhead projector and/or a lap top computer with overhead projection screen and adapters. Advantageously, a wall mounted frame maybe provided in a meeting room or classroom and the speaker, teacher, etc. need only bring a floppy disk with the slides or images to be shown for the lecture. These images can then be displayed by frame  10  on display  12 . The images may be changed by hitting a button on the interface panel, voice activation through speaker/microphone  128  ( FIG. 5 ), or a remote signal (similar to a remote control for a television set. 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , a side panel  36  of frame  10  includes a floppy disk drive  38  and/or a compact disk/DVD disk drive  40  for reading/writing data to and from disks to the memory of frame  10 . In this way, photos or images downloaded from a digital camera, the Internet, computer or other device can be stored on a floppy disk in a given format, for example TIFF, PDF, JPG, etc. and displayed on display  12 . Alternately, images may be copied or stored from disk drives  38  and  40  on the memory of frame  10  and rendered from memory storage on frame  10 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 , an alternate embodiment of frame  10  includes a desk or table top mounted frame  50 . Frame  50  includes a stand  52  and a bar  54  for securing stand  52  to frame  50 . In a preferred embodiment, stand  52  is hingedly connected to frame  52 . Stand  52  is retractable by rotating toward frame  52  on hinge  56  to provide a low profile in a closed position if a wall mounted attachment is preferred. Stand  52  is in lieu of or in addition to attachment apparatus for wall mounting. In this way, a user may select where to display frame  10 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 5 , a block diagram is shown for components of frame  10  in accordance with the present invention. The blocks indicated in  FIG. 5  may be implemented in software, hardware or a combination of both. Frame  10  includes circuitry with different features. These features are preferably implemented using hardware such as integrated circuit chips (ICs). A motion sensor  106  includes a motion sensing interface for detecting motion in a vicinity of frame  10 . Motion sensor includes a switch which is activated for turning on a particular function such as outputting audio through speaker  128 . Motion sensor devices  106  are known in the art and can be adapted to be employed in accordance with the present invention. A clock/calendar circuit or chip  108  keeps track of time and date. This information may be employed for different functions of frame  10 . A light sensor  110  may include a solar cell or other light sensitive element. Light sensor  110  includes a circuit which provides a signal proportional to the amount of light incident on frame  10 . In one embodiment, a logic circuit or chip  116  is employed to activate a particular function when at least one of motion sensing, achieving a particular time or date or achieving a particular lighting condition is experienced. Logic circuit  116  may act independently or in conjunction with microprocessor  124 . For example, motion is detected and display  126  is activated showing the last picture in memory, or light intensity has decreased and display intensity is thereby reduced. In another example, a programmed birthday or event has been achieved and display  126  is prompted to display a birthday photograph or a birthday message. 
   Logic circuitry  116  may be employed as a control circuit to set the clock, or adjust the settings for motion sensor  106  and light sensor  110 . Logic circuitry can be controlled by microprocessor  124  through operating system  120  which is preferably stored in memory or directly through interface  102 . Interface  102  may include an input device such as a joystick, infrared remote, touch screen or ball and menus displayed on screen (display  126 ) as controlled by operating system  120 . Alphanumeric characters may be displayed on display  126  and a cursor may be moved and “clicked” on the alphanumeric character to write these letters for different functions. For example, photographs or images may be labeled for storage in a memory  118  or details of each photo or image may be recorded and associated with the image. 
   Memory  118  may include as much memory as permitted by space constraints of frame  10 . In one embodiment, at least 10 Mbits of memory is supplied. This provides the capability of storing up to about 70 photographs taken by a digital camera. More or less memory may be provided as needed. 
   Microprocessor  124  may include a conventional microprocessor, such as those employed in higher end personal digital assistants (PDAs). Advantageously, the present invention is not limited by memory capacity or power as is often a problem with PDAs. The present invention can employ slower chips such as a 25 MHz (or higher) since computations are minimal. This saves on cost. Faster chips may be employed as different functions are provided which need a greater number of computations. Disk drive  112  and CD/DVD drive  114  are controlled through microprocessor  124  in conjunction with operating system  120 . These devices are employed as is known in the art. Other memory storage devices may be employed as well and the display may be adapted to receive these devices. Models and designs for disk drives such as those employed for lap top computers may be utilized by the present invention. 
   Display  126  includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a pixel array. Pixels may be activated by transistors located on display  126 , for example thin film transistors. Pixels are preferably active matrix pixels, however other display types may be suitable. Images stored in memory  118  are retrieved and displayed on display of frame  10 . Frame  10  maintains the image such that a photographic display frame is achieved by the invention. 
   Operating system  120  may include a commercially available operating system. In a preferred embodiment, a Windows™ operating system may be employed. Operating system  120  may be “watered down” since all the functions needed for computers may not be needed for the present invention. Operating system  120  may include an operating system employed for PDAs. Operating system  120  includes all protocols and interface information for controlling the functions of components of frame  10 . Operating system may further include protocols for interfacing with external devices  130  in a direct manner. Devices  130  may include computers, a VCR, a camcorder, the Internet, and preferably a digital camera. In this way photos may be downloaded to memory  118  through microprocessor  124  and operating system  120 . A power source  104  for frame  10  preferably includes an AC plug which may have a DC adapter to provide power to frame  10 . Microprocessor  124  and/or operating system  120  may provide for pixel addressing in accordance with memory  118 . 
   Having described preferred embodiments of a digital picture frame (which are intended to be illustrative and not limiting), it is noted that modifications and variations can be made by persons skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that changes may be made in the particular embodiments of the invention disclosed which are within the scope and spirit of the invention.