TWI457823B - Portable computer capable of performing function of digital photo frame under main-power-off condition - Google Patents

Description

Portable computer capable of performing digital photo frame function without being turned on

The invention relates to a portable computer, and in particular to a portable computer capable of performing a digital photo frame function in an unpowered state.

In the prior art, it has become a common application for a user to play a photo through a portable computer. However, when a user wants to play a photo through a portable computer, it is often necessary to turn on the main power of the portable computer to start the operating system of the computer. After that, the user still needs to execute a program suitable for the file to be played to perform the operation of playing the photo. The above booting procedure takes about one to three minutes on a typical portable computer. In addition, after entering the operation interface of the operating system, the data of different applications and peripheral devices are stored in different locations, and the user must repeatedly operate the mouse or the keyboard to complete the photo playback. The time required for the operation process will vary depending on when the user manually finds the location where the photo is stored. The above-mentioned booting procedure and the operation process have a considerable degree of inconvenience to the user, so that the user's willingness to use the photo playing application is lowered, and the computer resources cannot be fully utilized.

In recent years, following the popularization of personal computers, various information appliances have gradually replaced various traditional devices, including digital card readers integrated with memory card readers or other storage devices, displays, human-machine interfaces and corresponding control systems. accept. However, the various electronic components in the above digital photo frame have similar settings on a general portable computer. If the digital photo frame function can be integrated into the portable computer, and the user can use the portable computer to perform the digital photo frame function without being turned on, the user can spend no time. The extra cost to purchase digital photo frames is not only more convenient to use, but also to increase the usage of portable computers.

One aspect of the present invention is to provide a portable computer that can easily and quickly perform a digital photo frame function without being turned on.

According to a specific embodiment, the portable computer of the present invention comprises a base, a display device, an image capturing device, an image capturing button, and a processor. The display device includes a frame, and the frame is pivotally coupled to the base. The image capturing device and the image capturing button are all disposed on the frame. When the user wants to perform image capture, the image capture button may be pressed to output a first request signal to the processor. At this time, the processor responds to the first request signal, drives the image capturing device to capture the first image when the device is not turned on, and plays the captured first image to the display device in an unpowered state.

In this embodiment, the portable computer may further include a first storage device. The first storage device is electrically coupled to the processor. When the first image is captured, the processor first stores the captured first image to the first storage device. In addition, the portable computer may further include an image playback button disposed on the frame of the display device. When the user wants to perform image playback, the image playback button can be pressed, and the output signal request processor plays the image stored in the first storage device on the display device in the unpowered state.

Therefore, the portable computer of the present invention allows the user to quickly and easily view images in the storage device without being turned on. In addition, the user only needs to press the image capture button to instantly capture the image in the unpowered state and play the captured image on the display device. Furthermore, the captured image will be stored in the storage device for later viewing. The invention utilizes the basic components generally possessed by the portable computer, and cooperates with the dedicated human-machine interface button. Realize the digital photo frame function in the unpowered state.

The advantages and spirit of the present invention will be further understood from the following detailed description of the invention.

Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2. FIG. 1 is an external view of a portable computer 1 according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the portable computer 1 in FIG. The portable computer 1 includes a base 10, a display device 12, an image capturing device 14, an image capturing button 16, a processor 18, and a first storage device 20.

As shown in FIG. 1 , the display device 12 includes a frame 120 , and the frame 120 is pivotally connected to the base 10 . In other words, the user can operate the display device 12 to open or close relative to the base 10. The image capturing device 14 and the image capturing button 16 are all disposed on the frame 120. As shown in FIG. 2 , the processor 18 and the first storage device 20 are disposed in the base 10 , and the processor 18 is electrically connected to the display device 12 , the image capturing device 14 , the image capturing button 16 , and the first storage device 20 . .

In this embodiment, the display device 12 can be a liquid crystal display or other display screen having a display function. The image capturing device 14 can be a Charge-coupled Device Camara (CCD camara), a Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Camara (CMOS Camara) or other active pixel sensor. The processor 18 can be a central processing unit (CPU) or other processing unit.

When the user wants to perform image capture, the image capture button 16 can be pressed to output the first request signal 160 to the processor 18 when the portable computer 1 is not turned on. After the processor 18 receives and recognizes the first request signal 160, the image capturing device 14 is driven to capture the first image in the unpowered state, and the captured first image is instantly played on the display device 12. With this, The portable computer 1 that can operate the present invention can perform image capture and display the captured image in real time.

In addition, the processor 18 can also store the captured first image to the first storage device 20 at the same time. The first storage device 20 can be a hard disk or other similar storage device. In a practical application, the first storage device 20 is usually a main storage device built into the portable computer 1 and serves as a storage medium for the main file and operating system.

The above-mentioned unpowered state means that the main power supply of the portable computer 1 is not turned on, and only a part of the related electronic components can be activated without entering the operating system to complete the above functions. As in the foregoing example, the image capturing device 14, the display device 12, the processor 18, the first storage device 20, and the necessary power module (not shown) can be activated only by pressing the image capture button 16. Battery, external power transformer, etc. The un-powered state mentioned later in the present invention conforms to the non-entry system here, and only through a dedicated program and activates the definition of some related electronic components.

In this embodiment, the portable computer 1 of the present invention may further include a file copy button 22 and a connection interface 24. The file copy button 22 is disposed on the frame 120. The file copy button 22 and the connection interface 24 are electrically connected to the processor 18, respectively. The connection interface 24 may include at least one of a Universal Serial Bus (USB), an IEEE 1394 specification, a Secure Digital Input Output (SDIO), or the like. As shown in FIG. 2, the connection interface 24 can be used to connect the second storage device 3. In a practical application, the second storage device 3 can be a flash memory flash drive, a portable hard drive, a portable optical disc drive, a Secure Digital Card (SD card) or other storage medium.

When the second image to be played by the user is currently stored in the second storage device 3, the user can connect the second storage device 3 to the connection interface 24, and then Pressing the file copy button 22 will output a second request signal 220 to the processor 18. The processor 18 responds to the second request signal 220 to copy the second image from the second storage device 3 to the first storage device 20 in the unpowered state. In other words, through the connection interface 24, the user can directly connect the memory card of the digital camera or the personal mobile hard disk to the portable computer 1 of the present invention, so as to directly take the newly taken photos without being turned on. It is quickly transmitted to the portable computer 1 of the present invention and played through the display device 12.

In this embodiment, the portable computer 1 of the present invention may further include at least one video playback button 26. As shown in FIG. 1, the portable computer 1 includes three video playback buttons 26. It should be noted that the number of the video play buttons 26 can be determined according to the actual application, and is not limited to three. The image playback button 26 is disposed on the frame 120 and electrically connected to the processor 18, respectively.

When the user wants to perform video playback in the unpowered state, the video play button 26 can be pressed to output a third request signal 260. The processor 18 responds to the third request signal 260. In the unpowered state, the image stored in the first storage device 20 is played to the display device 12 according to a preset playback mode of the user. Each of the image playback buttons 26 can be designed to output different third request signals 260 according to different needs of the user, respectively corresponding to a play command, such as start play, end play, previous, next, turn, positive sequence play, Reverse playback, set playback mode, etc. The play mode includes a random play mode, a sequential play mode, or other specific play modes.

In this embodiment, the portable computer 1 of the present invention may further include a wireless receiver 28. As shown in FIG. 2, the wireless receiver 28 is disposed in the base 10 and electrically connected to the processor 18. The wireless receiver 28 is configured to receive a fourth request signal 50 from a remote control 5. The processor 18 responds to the fourth request signal 50, and plays the image stored in the first storage device 20 to the display device 12 in the unpowered state. In practical applications, the remote controller 5 can be customized according to different needs of the user. A fourth request signal 50 corresponding to a different play command is output. For example, the play command may be start play, end play, previous, next, turn, play, reverse play, set play mode, and the like.

The remote controller 5 can also output a fifth request signal 52 to be transmitted to the processor 18 via the wireless receiver 28 according to the user's operation. The processor 18 responds to the fifth request signal 52, and drives the image capturing device 14 to capture a third image in an unpowered state, and plays the captured third image on the display device 12 in an unpowered state. . In addition, the processor 18 can also store the captured third image to the first storage device 20 at the same time.

The method for performing image capture and file copying through the remote controller 5 is similar to the method used in the prior art, and only the medium for transmitting the request signal can be performed by using a wireless remote control, which will not be described herein.

Referring to FIG. 3, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the remote controller 5 in FIG. In a specific embodiment, the wireless receiver 28 can be an infrared receiver, and the corresponding remote controller 5 can be a Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) specification card remote controller, such as Express. An Express Card or a New Card remote control includes an infrared transmitter for transmitting a fourth request signal 50 or a plurality of corresponding buttons (as shown in FIG. 3) on the remote controller 5, respectively. Five request signals 52.

In another embodiment, the wireless receiver 28 can be a Bluetooth receiver, and the remote controller 5 correspondingly includes a Bluetooth transmitter for transmitting the fourth request signal 50 or the fifth request signal 52.

Compared with the prior art, the portable computer of the present invention allows the user to quickly and easily view images in the storage device without being turned on. In addition, the user only needs to press the image capture button to be immediacy in the unpowered state. The image is captured and the captured image is played on the display device. Furthermore, the captured image will be stored in the storage device for later viewing. The invention utilizes the basic components generally possessed by the portable computer, and cooperates with the dedicated human-machine interface button to realize the function of the digital photo frame in the unpowered state.

The features and spirits of the present invention are more apparent from the detailed description of the preferred embodiments. On the contrary, the intention is to cover various modifications and equivalents within the scope of the invention as claimed. Therefore, the scope of the patented scope of the invention should be construed as broadly construed in the

1‧‧‧ portable computer

10‧‧‧Base

12‧‧‧ display device

120‧‧‧Frame

14‧‧‧Image capture device

16‧‧‧Image capture button

18‧‧‧ processor

20‧‧‧First storage device

22‧‧‧File copy button

24‧‧‧Connection interface

26‧‧‧Image playback button

28‧‧‧Wireless Receiver

3‧‧‧Second storage device

5‧‧‧Remote control

160‧‧‧First request signal

220‧‧‧second request signal

260‧‧‧ Third request signal

50‧‧‧ Fourth request signal

52‧‧‧ fifth request signal

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable computer according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the portable computer in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the remote controller in FIG.

1‧‧‧ portable computer

10‧‧‧Base

12‧‧‧ display device

120‧‧‧Frame

14‧‧‧Image capture device

16‧‧‧Image capture button

18‧‧‧ processor

20‧‧‧First storage device

22‧‧‧File copy button

24‧‧‧Connection interface

26‧‧‧Image playback button

28‧‧‧Wireless Receiver

3‧‧‧Second storage device

5‧‧‧Remote control

160‧‧‧First request signal

220‧‧‧second request signal

260‧‧‧ Third request signal

50‧‧‧ Fourth request signal

52‧‧‧ fifth request signal

Claims (10)

A portable computer capable of performing a digital photo frame function in an unpowered state, comprising: a base; a display device comprising a frame pivotally connected to the base; and an image capturing device disposed on the frame; An image capture button is disposed on the frame, the image capture button is operable to output a first request signal; a central processor is disposed in the base and electrically connected to the display device, the image The capture device and the image capture button, the central processor returns a first request signal to drive the image capture device to capture a first image in an unpowered state, and the central processor is not powered on The first image captured on the display device is played on the display device; and a first storage device is disposed in the base and electrically connected to the central processing unit, wherein the central processing unit is not powered on. In the state, the captured first image is stored to the first storage device. The portable computer of claim 1, further comprising a file copy button disposed on the frame and electrically connected to the central processing unit, the base comprising at least one connection interface electrically connected to the central portion a processor for connecting to a second storage device, wherein the second storage device stores at least one second image, wherein the file copy button is operable to output a second request signal, and the central processor returns to the second And requesting a signal to copy the second image from the second storage device to the first storage device in an unpowered state. The portable computer of claim 2, wherein the connection interface conforms to one of the following groups: a universal serial bus (USB), an IEEE 1394 standard, and an SD standard interface (SDIO). The portable computer of claim 1, further comprising at least one video playback button disposed on the frame and electrically connected to the central processing unit, wherein the video playback button is operable to output a The third request signal, the central processing unit responds to the third request signal, so that at least one image stored in the first storage device is played on the display device in the unpowered state. The portable computer of claim 4, wherein the video playback button is operable to set a play mode. The portable computer of claim 5, wherein the play mode comprises a random play mode and a sequential play mode. The portable computer of claim 1, further comprising a wireless receiver disposed in the base and electrically connected to the central processor, the wireless receiver for receiving one from a remote controller The fourth request signal, the processor returns a fourth request signal, so that at least one image stored in the first storage device is played on the display device in an unpowered state. The portable computer of claim 7, wherein the wireless receiver receives a fifth request signal from the remote controller, and the central processor responds to the fifth request signal to drive the image capturing device. In the unpowered state, a third image is captured, and the third image captured by the central processing unit is played on the display device in an unpowered state. The portable computer of claim 8, wherein the wireless receiver is an infrared receiver, and the remote controller includes an infrared transmitter for transmitting the fourth request signal or the fifth request signal. . The portable computer of claim 8, wherein the wireless receiver is a Bluetooth receiver, and the remote controller includes a Bluetooth transmitter for transmitting the fourth request signal or the fifth Request signal.