Cell Phone with Separable Extension Image Capture Device

Abstract

A cell phone includes a control unit, and a touch display is coupled to the control unit to input image capturing command, a first wireless communication module is coupled to the control unit, and a main image capturing device coupled to the control unit; and a separated extension device having a process; an extension image capturing device is coupled to the processor; a second wireless communication module is coupled with the processor to receive the image capture command and the extensional image capture device captures an image based on the capture command.

Description

The application is a continuation application of Ser. No. 13/162,896, filed on 17 Jun. 2011, titled “Tablet Personal Computer Transformer for Portable Communication Device”.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a smart phone, and especially to a smart phone with extensional device having image sensor.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Because of the development of the information technology (IT), the information could be exchanged with higher capacity and faster speed. Internet is designed as an open structure to exchange information freely without restriction. The third generation mobile phone standard allows the user access video communication through air. Thus, certain communication service requiring real time information exchange, such as viewing live video, has become feasible through mobile phone communication network or Internet. Cellular communications systems typically include multiple base stations for communicating with mobile stations in various geographical transmission areas. Each base station provides an interface between the mobile station and a telecommunications network. Mobile telephone systems are in use or being developed in which the geographic coverage area of the system is divided into smaller separate cells, it communicates with the network via a fixed station located in the cell. Mobile telephones belonging to the system are free to travel from one cell to another. When a subscriber within the same system or within an external system wishes to call a mobile subscriber within this system, the network must have information on the actual location of the mobile telephone. In pace with the development of information and computer technology, the electronic products grow rapidly with the trend of small size, multifunction and high operation speed. Based on the development of cellular integration technology, communication systems have also been introduced to allow users obtain information more convenient. Thus, the business accompanied with the communication device flourish as well due to the development of the communication technology. The internet and communication service providers also offer business services to assist clients to transfer information or extend the market. The cellular manufactures have to release new models with different appearances, function and styles more frequently so as to attract the attention of the buyer and occupy a favorable marketing share. Communication services providers or information services providers also have to provide diverse, comprehensive and latest information to clients. However, signals received by the communication module are presented on the display after processed. The display of the conventional portable device is too small to browse the webpage or video image, the present invention is introduced to overcome aforementioned difficulties.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a wireless communication device with a built-in or an external extension image capture to capture image wirelessly through the cell phone. A cell phone comprises a control unit, a touch display is coupled to the control unit to input image capturing command, a first wireless communication module is coupled to the control unit, and a main image capturing device coupled to the control unit; and a separated extensional device having a process; an extension image capturing device is coupled to the processor; a second wireless communication module is coupled with the processor to receive the image capture command and the extensional image capture device captures an image; wherein the captured image is transmitted to the cell phone through the first wireless communication device and is displayed on the touch display. The cell phone includes a detecting module coupled to the control unit and the extensional device includes a touching screen. The extensional device further includes a backup power for charging the cell phone, a memory is coupled with the processor for storing the captured image. The first and second wireless communication modules include WiFi.

The display includes LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) display. Regarding a built-in extension display, it further comprises a storage device to store the extension display; in other example, it further comprises an extension interface to couple to the extension display. The aforementioned extension display comprises a touch display. In another embodiment, the present invention discloses an extension display. An extension interface is coupled to the extension display; an extension display is coupled to the control unit through the extension interface for displaying video or image from the portable communication device, the display area of the extension display is greater than the area of the main display of the portable communication device. It has to be noted that the portable communication device is a separated device from the external extension display when the portable communication device disconnects from the external extension display and is transformed into a tablet or pad computer when the portable communication device connects to the external extension display. The command, instruction and signal transfer are made through the extension interface. The displayed video or image is processed by the portable communication device and is displayed by the external extension display, thereby transforming the portable communication device to the tablet or pad computer after the cellular is integrated into the tablet computer transformer. The external extension display includes touch screen and a detecting module coupled to the control unit to facilitate the function of detection.

The present tablet transformer further comprises a switch device coupled to the control unit to transfer the video or image to the external extension display. The external extension display may include a receiving slot or cavity formed on the back side of the tablet computer transformer having extension display to receive the portable communication device into the tablet computer transformer. A backup power is provided for recharging the portable communication device or a peripheral device; a backup memory is provided as well in the tablet computer transformer to expend the storage space for the portable communication device or a peripheral device. The tablet computer transformer further comprises a processor which may perform its function accompany with the process of the cellular to upgrade the performance of the portable communication device. The tablet computer transformer further comprises an image capturing device. A recharging/charging interface is also provided in the tablet computer transformer for charging the portable communication device or a peripheral device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the function diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows the system of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows the storage device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows the function diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows the function diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows the function diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows the function diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows the function diagram of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention can be applied to a wireless communication device, which includes, but is not limited to, a cell phone, a tablet computer or a GPS (global positioning system). In general wireless communication systems, communication network service providers from different systems or regions use various communication protocols or dual way communication protocol, however, the present invention is not limited to any kinds of protocols. The present invention discloses a Tablet PC (personal computer) transformer, it refers to a computer shaped in the form of a notebook or a slate with the capabilities of being written on through the use of digitizing tablet technology or a touch screen.

Referring to FIG. 1, it shows a functional diagram of the wireless communication device of the present invention. For simplifying the specification, an embodiment is introduced hereinafter as an explanation, however, it's not used to limit the present invention, namely, the present invention can be modified to facilitate to use other different kinds of communication systems or protocols without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, a single chip system can be introduced to integrate the chips or processors hereinafter. The portable communication device includes a control unit 100, such as a CPU, which is introduced to process or control the commands, information, data, and computing of the device. Memory 105, for example, ROM (read only memory), non-volatile memory such as flash memory and/or RAM (random access memory) is coupled to the control unit 100. Generally, permanent data is stored in the ROM, and the system operation program or application programs such as driver can generally be stored in the non-volatile memory which can still retain the data stored in when power supply is unavailable and can be read or wrote repeatedly when power supply is available. The system operation program and application programs stored in the non-volatile memory control the execution of all necessary functions and can be presented on the main display 115 through the user interface 110 after processed by the CPU or the control unit. An input unit 170 is coupled to the control unit 100 to facilitate users to input commands or data. The main display 115 is a screen of a general portable communication device, such as LCD or OLED display.

The antenna system 120 may be a multi-band antenna or composed by a plurality of antennas, according to demands. Aforementioned antenna may be dipole antenna, plane antenna, inverted-F Antenna, fractal antenna, etc. The antenna system 120 coupled to a wireless communication module 100A is introduced to receive signals, and the wireless communication module 100A which is suitable for transferring information in movement may generally include: converting signals to IF (intermediate frequency) through oscillator signals of mixing region of a receiver. The converted signals are modified to a bandwidth that the protocol predetermined by a transmitter, and transmitted by the antenna system. A modem is coupled to aforementioned receiver and transmitter to modulate or de-modulate signals. Aforementioned protocol can be an audio/video wireless communication protocol, which may includes, but is not limited to, International Telecommunications Unit (ITU): 3G, 3.5G, 4G, W-CDMA, CDMA2000, CDMA2001, TD-CDMA/TD-SCDMA, UWC-136, DECT. A base band processor 145 which may process the signals with predetermined bandwidth and aforementioned communication protocols is coupled to the modem of aforementioned wireless communication module 100A. A further wireless communication module 100B may be introduced, which may includes, but is not limited to, WiFi, Wimax, or 802.11(a, b, g, n), and the communication module 100B can exist individually or together with the wireless communication module 100A. Signals processed by the base band processor include control signals and audio signals, the control signals are transmitted to the control unit 100 and the audio signals are transmitted to a CODEC 150; a voice converter 155 is coupled to the CODEC 150 to convert the digital signals to analog signals or convert analog signals to digital signals. A microphone 160 and a speaker 165 are coupled to aforementioned voice converter 155 respectively. A SIM card connector (not shown in the figure) is introduced to facilitate a SIM card of the system to be inserted. The SIM card can be connected to the control unit 100 through the SIM card connector such that information and password stored in the SIM card can be accessed by the control unit 100. Some cellular does not have the SIM card. Besides, the present invention may also include a digital image capture module 200 connected to the control unit 100 to capture images, which may be a CMOS image sensor or CCD array.

Main display of conventional portable communication device is too small to display the webpage, such that the user has to move the webpage continuously, it is inconvenient to the user. The present invention includes a detecting unit 104 which may detect whether internet is connected or not. If an internet package or signal is detected or the browser is activated, the control unit activates a switch device 102 and transfer internet signal or all or part of the information to the extension display 185 to drive the extension display 185 to display all or part of the information, whereby facilitating to display the webpage information. Display area of aforementioned extension display 185 is greater than the one of the main display, and the user can determine whether the display is switched or not. In the case, the cellular 10 may drive the main display and the extension display at the same time. In the type of built-in extension display, it may comprise a receiving device 188 to receive the extension display 185. Take a flexible display as an example, such as OLED display, it can be rolled and received in a storage space, and can be drawn back to spread out the display. Aforementioned OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) is also called OLED (Organic Electroluminesence Display).

Advantages of OLED include luminescence, wide view angle, high contrast, low power consumption, high response speed, full color, simplified manufacturing process, etc. The species of OLED display comprise single-color type, multi-color type, and full-color type, etc. OLED displays can be classified as PMOLED (passive matrix OLED) and AMOLED (active matrix OLED) according to the differences of driven means. PLED (polymer light emitting diode) may also be introduced. Folding mechanism can be introduced to the present invention to facilitate the object of the present invention, and the receiving device 188 is a folding device at this embodiment. When the detecting unit 104 detects that the folding device is under operation, then the internet signals or all or part of information is transferred to the extension display 185 for extension display. The flexible display 300 can be fixed after it is extended. The flexible display 300 may be flexible OLED rolled around the reel 305. For receiving the flexible display, just release it after pulling hard, and then it will be rolled up. Generally, the reel 305 includes a spring 310 rolled around a central fixed stick 306 which is configured in the reel 305. Tighten the flexible display 300 which is spread out, and then a locking mechanism 315, such as ratchet 315 and detent 315a, can be introduced to prevent the spring 310 from being loosen when the flexible display 300 is extended. But, the ratchet 315 will not clamp when the flexible display 300 is pulled suddenly, thereby loosening the spring 310, such that the flexible display 300 will be rolled up.

In another embodiment, an external extension interface 186 is introduced, please refer to FIG. 2. When the detecting unit 104 detects an external signal, it transfers a switching signal to the switch device 102, so as to transfer the internet data or signals or at least part of information to the external extension display 185 to drive the display 185 to display the image or video. Aforementioned “switching” can be achieved manually or automatically by the software. Aforementioned detecting unit 104 which can be a single circuit or an integrated circuit may obtain parameters directly or indirectly. Messages received by the communication device of the present invention can transfer all or part of webpage information manually or automatically to the extension display 185 by the switch device 102 to browse the webpage.

Other embodiments are similar to aforementioned embodiments, and the difference is described as follows. When the detecting unit 104 detects video or dynamic, still image signals, such as video format, photo format, digital TV signals or MPEG signals, the control unit 100 activates the switch device 102 to switch video signals to the extension display 185. For example, a commercialized processor which can process and decode the compressed MPEG file may be introduced, such as a media player chip having H.264 codec engine. For example, the processing chip is composed by a CPU core, a media engine, a graphics processor, and a virtual mobile engine (VME). The CPU core is based on the design of R4000 of MIPS, and comprises a floating point processor (FPU) and a vector floating point processor (VFPU), such that the ability of floating point computing can reach more than 2.6 GFlops per second; the media engine can use R4000 which is an identical one used in the CPU core, and includes an independent embedded 2 MB memory to assist the system to process audio/video stream. Thus, an embedded memory which can control the process of processing information by programming is introduced to adapt to the vector process unit including H.264 decompression, and various process demands such as audio process. And the utilization rate of the process unit may be improved by design of altering information process dynamically, thereby simplifying design of the chip and reducing lost of power. Software can also be introduced to decode or process.

Please refer to FIG. 4, it shows another example of the present invention with extension display (EE display) 185 according to the present invention. A control unit 402 is provided in the extension device 2000, one example is used as a tablet computer transformer, and the portable communication device 10 may be, for example, a cellular, media player, digital camera or digital video camera. The extension device 2000 having extension display 185 and the portable communication device 10 are connected through the extension interface 186A set side or back of the extension device. The cellular includes the driver to drive the external extension display. The driver or application may be in the external extension display 185. A backup power (or extension power) 400 is electrically coupled to the control unit 402 to provide power by the extension device 2000 or it may recharge to the portable communication device 10 or the peripheral device, thereby extension the operation duration of the portable communication device 10 or the peripheral device. It includes a charging interface 410 for recharging the external extension display 185 or extension device 2000 from outside power or to recharge the portable communication device 10 or the peripheral device by the tablet computer transformer 2000. An extension image capturing device, such as CMOS or CCD sensor 408 and extension speakers 406 are also respectively and electrically coupled to the control unit 402 or/and the extension interface 186A in order to transmit the image captured by the extension image capturing device 408 to the remote terminal by the portable communication device 10, or output the video signal and/or the audio signal download by the portable communication device 10 to the display 185 and the speaker 406 via the extension interface 186A, thereby transforming the cellular to tablet computer. As shown in the figures, the portable communication device and the extension image capturing device 408 are independent devices and are separable, and they could be engaged together through the interface. The user may uses the separated extension image capturing device 408 to capture image, and followed by sending the image to the portable communication device through the wireless communication module, thereby displaying the captured image on the display of the portable communication device such as smart phone. The user may remote control the extension image capture device by the smart phone remotely. An extension memory 404 is electrically coupled to the control unit 402 or/and the extension interface 186A to act as extension memory or backup memory for the portable communication device 10. It may be a plug-in memory card or flash memory card. The external extension display 185 includes a touch screen for input instruction by human fingers touch, thereby controlling the external extension display 185 or the portable communication device 10. The touch input technologies includes resistance type, capacitance type, extra sonic type, and optical type. The present invention may relay the image or video signal to the EE display 185 to transform the cellular to tablet personal computer and extend the operation duration or memory storage for the cellular, digital image capturing device or media player. FIG. 5 shows that the external extension display 185 includes a portable communication device receiving slot or cavity 414 set in the tablet computer transformer 2000 to receive the portable communication device 10 into the external extension display 185 to integrate with the cellular 10 by the extension interface 186A. In the case, the extension interface 186A is set in the receiving slot or cavity 414 to allow the almost entire portable communication device 10 may be inserted into the receiving slot or cavity 414 for integrating with the external extension display 185. In a preferred embodiment, the receiving slot or cavity 414 is set on the back side surface of the tablet computer transformer 2000 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7.

The other examples are illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the examples include all or part of the elements in the embodiment as aforementioned. It further includes extension processor 412 coupled to the control unit 402, extension interface 186A to upgrade the device 10 to dual core processor to improve the performance. FIG. 8 shows the scheme including the control unit and the extension processor 412. The extension processor 412 includes processor 810 which is coupled with a first catch 820 and a second catch 830 and they are respectively. A cross processor interface 840 is electrically coupled to the first catch 820 and the second catch 830. A Memory controller 850 and a data transmission interface 860 are coupled to the cross processor interface 840 to determine the data output and input to/from the control unit 100 and the processor 810. The present invention discloses a tablet computer transformer system to transform the cellular, media player into a tablet personal computer. The data may be processed by the cellular, media player or the extension display. The image, video or internet data are transferred from the cellular, media player to the external extension display to allow the user may browse the webpage and watch the video by the external extension display having larger display area. In another case, the wireless communication module 100B may be coupled to the extension interface 186A to achieve wireless transmission. Under the case, the extension interface 186A fulfills the requirement of the wireless transmission protocol and specification.

Aforementioned units and modules can be combined arbitrarily according to demands. As will be understood by persons skilled in the art, the foregoing preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrative of the present invention rather than limiting the present invention. Having described the invention in connection with a preferred embodiment, modification will now suggest itself to those skilled in the art. Thus, the invention is not to be limited to this embodiment, but rather the invention is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, the scope of which should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures. While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A cell phone comprising:

a control unit within said cell phone; a display formed on said cell phone and coupled to said control unit; a first wireless communication module within said cell phone and coupled to said control unit; and

an extension device which is separable from said cell phone and attachable with said cell phone, wherein said extension device includes a processor; an extension image capture device coupled to said processor to capture an image; and a second wireless communication module coupled to said extension image capture device to transmit said captured image to said cell phone through said first wireless communication module, followed by displaying said captured image on said display of said cell phone.

2. The cell phone according to claim 1, wherein said extension device includes a detecting module coupled to said control unit.

3. The cell phone according to claim 1, wherein said extension device includes a touching screen.

4. The cell phone according to claim 1, wherein said extensional device includes a backup power for charging said cell phone.

5. The cell phone according to claim 1, wherein said extension device includes a memory for storing said captured image.

6. The cell phone according to claim 1, wherein said first wireless communication module includes WiFi.

7. The cell phone according to claim 1, wherein said second wireless communication module includes WiFi.

8. A cell phone comprising:

a control unit, a touch display coupled to said control unit to input image capturing command, a first wireless communication module coupled to said control unit, and a main image capturing device coupled to said control unit; and

a separated extension device having a process; an extension image capturing device coupled to said processor; a second wireless communication module coupled with said processor to receive said image capture command and said extensional image capture device captures an image; wherein said captured image is transmitted to said cell phone through said first wireless communication device and being displaying on said touch display.

9. The cell phone according to claim 8, wherein said extension device includes a detecting module coupled to said control unit.

10. The cell phone according to claim 8, wherein said extension device includes a touching screen.

11. The cell phone according to claim 8, wherein said extension device includes a backup power for charging said cell phone.

12. The cell phone according to claim 8, wherein said extension device includes a memory for storing said captured image.

13. The cell phone according to claim 8, wherein said first wireless communication module includes WiFi.

14. The cell phone according to claim 8, wherein said second wireless communication module includes WiFi.