SE513053C2 - Printer and scanner device for cellular internet and fax services - Google Patents

Abstract

A printing and scanning device to be used for communication via a telephone or data network, in particular a cellular network, comprising in one unit a printer (103), a scanner (107), a keypad (123) and a microprocessor (101). The printer prints all information demanded by a user which in turn only uses a small keypad as input means. The device can interact with a cellular telephone, whereby a number of different communication services can be utilised, such as transmission and reception of facsimiles, e-mails, browsing, downloading and printout of any information available at a global computer network such as the WWW, and setting up of one's own server by scanning a document and storing it in a memory (104).

Description

513 053 2 paper copy services at a low cost.

It is a further object of the present invention that provide a device that overcomes all of the above the problems when a user wants to communicate via a cellular web.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a small and inexpensive printer device that can access and search for a global computer network.

These and other objects are achieved with a printer device including, in a single device, a printer and / or a scanner.

The device also includes a microprocessor for handling the information flow inside the device. The device can therefore be used for communication via a cellular network with others network devices, using only the printer and a keypad as human-machine interface.

Possibly also a speaker and light indication signals be used to provide a user with information. Any LCD display is not needed however which is a big advantage because this saves both space and costs.

In addition, the printer device may be equipped with a reader (browser), whereby the printer device can access and contact an address in a global computer network.

The use of the device according to the invention provides one large number of advantages compared to existing solutions in in accordance with the state of the art.

Thus, by using a device as described herein can a large number of communication services are provided and exploited. Such services include: downloading and printing of all information available in a global data network such as the World Wide Web (WWW), receiving and sending faxes, printing of electronic mail received in the recipient's mailbox, and setting up your own server which can then be accessed by 515 053 3 third party via a cellular network, etc.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will now be described in more detail with by means of non-limiting embodiments and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a printer and scanner device.

Fig. 2 shows the outside of a preferred embodiment of the device. Fig. 1, which interacts with a PC and a mobile device. phone.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Fig. 1 shows a schematic block diagram of a printer device. Thus, the figure shows a control unit or microprocessor 101, in this example the processor is one microprocessor, compatible with a conventional 486 processor manufactured by Intel Corporation. Processor 101 is connected to a printhead 103 used for all typing operations such as initiated by the processor 101 via a line 105. The microprocessor 101 is also connected to a scanner 107, which is used for scanning of all types of documents transmitted by fax or stored in a memory 104, connected to the processor 101 via a line 109 and an A / D converter 111.

Furthermore, the processor 101 also controls stepper motors used for the printer 103 and the scanner 107. This is done by controlling stepper motor drive stage 113 via line 115. Stepper motor drive stage 113 then drives the scanner motor 117 and the printer motor 119, respectively.

Furthermore, the microprocessor 101 is connected to a serial bus 121.

The serial bus is also connected to a keypad 123, which is used to input commands to the microprocessor 101, light emitting diodes (LEDs) 125, which can be used by the device for signaling different operating states to one users and a combined multiplexer and A / D converter 127.

The combined multiplexer and A / D converter are connected to 513 053 4 reflex sensors 129 for the scanner and printer respectively, to print head and battery temperature sensor 131 and to a battery charge / discharge monitoring and control unit 133 via lines 135, 137 and 139, respectively.

The unit 133 is used to monitor the batteries and to, in depending on the received monitoring output signal, output one control signal used to control the printer speed printer 103. Thus, by adjusting the printer speed to the available battery capacity, print quality maintained when the batteries are discharged or exposed changes in temperature, which in turn will affect output capacity from the battery.

This maintenance of quality is achieved by regulating the number points written simultaneously in such a way that the charge status of the battery does not affect print quality. In addition, by monitoring the battery charge, a light or sound signal is emitted or a message printing is initiated when recharging the batteries becomes necessary.

To the unit 133 is a charge input terminal 141, a DC / DC converter unit 143 and a battery 145 connected.

In addition, the microprocessor 101 is connected to an IrDA transceiver 147 via a line 149, to a speaker 151 via a D / A converter 153 and an amplifier 155, and to a PCMCIA connector or a PC card hole 157 via a two-way buffer 159.

The mobile printer device shown in Fig. 1 can perform one several different communication tasks. Thus, information can received from or sent to another device such as one mobile phone or a personal computer (PC) without the use of any connection cables via the interface provided by the IrDA transceivern. When an IrDA connection is not possible or used a PC card can be used instead. The PC card is inserted into PCMCIA connector or PC card hole 157 and enable communication via the traditional telephone and LAN network such as 513 053 5 for example, the public telephone network (PSTN).

Thus, by entering a code via the keypad 123 on the device corresponding to a specific address in a global computer networks, such as the World Wide Web (WWW) which address then preferably printed on paper by the printhead 103 and press a return key, the available information is transferred available at the address or place in the WWW to the printer device via a mobile telephone and a cellular network and printed on paper. For this purpose, that is, the search for a global computer network, the printer device is equipped with a browser 102 located inside the controller 101.

In a similar way, an e-mail box can be contacted and electronic mail received by the mailbox can be transferred to printer device and printed directly on paper.

When the printed page is written in HTML code or similar code where links to addresses in the WWW are indicated and included on page, each such link on this particular page is given one individual code or number of the reader 102. The code or number is preferably written both in connection with the link on the page and / or as a footnote at the bottom of the page that is printed the printer, where the full address can also be written.

If a user then wants to connect to any of the links that indicated on the written page, he / she only needs to enter the code or number associated with the particular link to the reader 102 inside the printer device should locate and connect to this address.

Then the links on the printed page are associated with one clickable image, the reference numbers for the links can be generated in two different ways. As a first option, each part of it can clickable image is associated with a special code that is printed next to that part of the clickable image, ie basically and bottom the same procedure as described above and the corresponding address is printed as a footnote at the bottom of the page. In another embodiment is a coordinate system associated with it 513 053 6 clickable image and by entering the corresponding coordinates the link associated with a particular part of the clickable the image is selected that link and the reader connects to the address that given by that link.

Furthermore, the printer device can be used as a fax device.

In such cases, the papers that are to be transferred by the scanner are scanned 107 and the analog signal output from the scanner is converted to a digital bitstream in the A / D converter 111. The digital the signal is then preferably transmitted via the IrDA transceiver 147 and a cellular network via a mobile phone that interacts with the device via the IrDA interface 147. The device can of course also receive faxes via the IrDA interface 147. They the received fax is printed directly on paper by the printer 103.

In addition, the printer device can be used as a combined mobile printer / scanner that interacts with a PC. The printer device can then provide all conventional services such as provided by a conventional printer as well as by a conventional scanner.

In another preferred embodiment, the microprocessor 101 is also present equipped with a memory 104 large enough to store a number of scanned pages scanned by the scanner or detected by a CCD or digital camera. In such embodiment, the device can also function as another server which other devices can connect and read and / or download information stored in memory. The scanned or captured images can then be stored as HTML pages which can be accessed via the WWW.

In addition, in yet another preferred embodiment is the scanner 107 exchanged for, or supplemented with, an electronic image generator such as a charge-coupled device 108 (CCD) or a digital camera, whereby the image scanned by the scanner does not have to be printed on paper but can instead be one image taken by the CCD 108.

In order to provide a user with more information, LEDs can 125 as described above is turned on by the processor 101. 513 053 7 The printer device can also output sound through the speaker 151.

Figure 2 shows at 201 the exterior of a device comprising in a single unit all components and parts described above in associated with Figure 1. The figure also shows a mobile phone 203 and a personal computer (PC). The device 201 can communicate with the mobile phone 201 and the PC 205 via the IrDA interfaces at 207, 209 and 211. The information received by the device is written on paper by the printer 213 and the information can transmitted or collected by a user using the keypad 215 and the scanner 217 in a manner described above in connection with Figure 1.

Thus, a device as described herein provides a user with a very effective and powerful tool when he or she must communicate. The arrangement as described is great small and lightweight. The manufacturing cost will be very low compared to other solutions that achieve similar services, such as a PC with a printer connected to it and scanner. This is mainly due to the fact that no graphical interface needed.

Furthermore, it can receive messages unattended without any unnecessary power consumption. The limiting factor in terms of standby time is determined by the standby time of the mobile phone used is used to connect to the cellular network. The device is also mechanically strong and robust and contains few moving parts and external connections. It is therefore suitable for operation in a difficult environment, such as low temperatures, large vibrations.

Finally, the device has a simple user interface that consists only of, in the simplest embodiment, a keypad and a paper printout. In addition, the device has low energy consumption which leads to long recharge interval.

Claims (6)

513 053 9 System Innovation AB, patent application no. 9603978-9 Printer and scanner device for cellular internet and fax services PATENT REQUIREMENTS A printer device comprising a single housing, characterized by - means for searching and connecting to different Internet addresses via a data or telephone network via a paper-based human-machine interface, and - means for receiving and printing via the paper-based human-machine interface directly on paper the information provided at the contact address. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for searching the computer network is a reader. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the computer or telephone network is a cellular network. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized by - means for scanning and storing information fed to the device. Device according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized by - means for contacting an e-mail mailbox. Device according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized by - means for assigning a number or a code to all links associated with a page printed by the printer, and / or - means for printing foot nuts including a code or number and an address in the global computer network.