Rotatable Digital Photo Frame Orientation-Based Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of digital photography face challenges in simplifying the process of displaying and printing photos, as current technologies require complex software or manual selection on small camera screens, leading to difficulties in focusing and selecting images for printing.
Innovation Solution
A digital photo frame with an integral inkjet printer and a PictBridge printer featuring a photo-sized display screen, allowing users to view and print photos without a computer, with options for orientation-based photo retrieval and slideshow printing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users use a small camera display screen to select photos for printing, then the device remains portable, but users cannot properly view images to determine focus and select desired photos
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a separate, larger display device (digital photo frame) that operates in a different dimension from the camera itself. This allows users to view photos at full size on a large screen while the camera remains portable and compact. The photo frame displays images at their actual printed size, enabling proper evaluation of focus and composition without requiring the camera's small screen.
2Ease of operation
If users use photo editing software and PC management to organize and select photos, then comprehensive photo processing is available, but the process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the photo selection and viewing function from the complex PC environment and isolates it in a dedicated digital photo frame device. This standalone device handles photo organization, display, and selection independently, removing the need for users to navigate through complex photo editing software and PC file management systems. The photo frame provides a simplified, purpose-built interface for photo handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The digital photo frame operates as a self-contained system that automatically receives photos from the camera via USB connection. It independently manages photo storage, display, and selection functions without requiring external PC intervention or complex software applications. The device serves itself by providing all necessary photo processing capabilities through its dedicated hardware and simplified software interface.
3Ease of operation
If users upload photos to a computer for storage and manipulation, then comprehensive photo management is possible, but the process adds unnecessary complexity for simple display needs
Solution Approach 1:
The digital photo frame performs preliminary actions by automatically receiving and storing photos directly from the camera's memory card via USB connection, eliminating the need for users to manually transfer files to a PC. The system pre-organizes photos in its internal memory and is ready for immediate display, saving users the time and effort of computer-based file transfer and folder organization.
4Productivity
If users use a PictBridge printer with small camera screen for photo selection, then direct printing is possible, but the small screen prevents proper photo evaluation for printing
Solution Approach 1:
The digital photo frame serves as an intermediary device between the camera and the printer. It receives photos from the camera, displays them at full size on a large screen for user evaluation, and then transfers selected photos to the printer. This intermediary role allows users to properly assess photo quality for printing while maintaining the simplicity of direct printing capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of storing and displaying photos on a digital photo frame is provided. The digital photo frame has a photo-sized display screen rotatably mounted on a support such that the display screen is configurable in landscape-viewing or portrait-viewing orientations by rotation of the screen. The method comprises the steps of: (i) storing photo image files tagged as either landscape orientation or portrait orientation in an internal memory of the digital photo frame; (ii) receiving an instruction to display photos stored in the internal memory; (iii) determining an orientation of the display screen; (iv) retrieving only photo image files from the internal memory that are tagged with an orientation corresponding to the orientation of the display screen; and (v) displaying the retrieved photo image files as photos on the display screen.