Digital picture frame

Tuesday, 16 January 2007

A digital picture frame or digital photo frame is used to store and display digital images on liquid crystal display (LCD) screens. With image representations evolving rapidly into a viable consumer electronic business, digital photography and digital images are emerging to fill the needs of image representation. 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. Digital cameras allow the capture and rapid transfer of images. Digital cameras are gaining popularity in the market because of the increases in media density and convenience provided at the camera, and because of the portability of the digital image files themselves. As advances in microprocessor and other related technologies continue to improve the price/performance of various electronic components, digital cameras are becoming increasingly prevalent in consumer households, as well as in businesses requiring capture and manipulation of digital images. More digital cameras were sold than traditional film cameras. Images from digital cameras can be downloaded and stored on personal computers. Typically, a digital camera user captures a group of digital images that are stored on a removable memory card. These images can be transferred from the memory card and stored, for example, on a hard drive or other non-volatile memory associated with the user's computer. Flash memory is the most common storage for digital cameras. Flash memory contains one or more electrically-erasable read-only-memory (EEPROM) integrated circuit chips that allow reading, writing, and block erasing.

Once an image is captured and the captured image data is generated, it is often difficult to display the captured image. One conventional approach is to use a personal computer (PC) to display the images. In this approach, the image data is first transferred to the PC from an image capturing device, such as, a digital camera, and then the PC displays the image according to the image data received. Digital pictures can be converted to common formats such as JPEG and sent as e-mail attachments or posted to virtual photo albums on the Internet. 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. The image recorded in the recording medium is not only displayed on a monitor but also printed with a personal printer for domestic use or the like. 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. While these images can be printed on a local printer, such as an ink jet printer, it is often desirable for the images displayed the way as traditional paper pictures on a photo frame. Picture frames provide a visually pleasing way to present photographs for display. People typically prefer to use picture frames, rather than digital display mechanisms, because of the aesthetic qualities associated with such frames. More recently, digital picture frames have been introduced as another mechanism for sharing digital images.

In general, digital picture frames are image display devices that contain liquid crystal display (LCD) screens and are capable of displaying digital images that stored in memory cards. A digital picture frame includes a display that is generally mounted within a housing having a picture frame type format. The housing may have a configuration similar to that of a conventional picture frame commonly used to hold and display photographs. The housing of a digital picture frame, in a manner similar to a conventional picture frame, generally includes a stand to allow the digital picture frame to be placed upright on a desk or table so as to facilitate display of the image appearing thereon. A digital photo frame device typically includes an internal memory apparatus for storing images to be displayed by the device. One or more user interface buttons may also be provided in order to allow a user to select which image stored in memory is to be displayed. In some devices, a user may also choose to have various images that are stored in memory sequentially displayed on the device over selected time intervals. Newly developed digital photo frames incorporate other digital functions e.g. playing MP3 music, audio recording. Digital pictures may be transferred to the device via memory cards, such as those useable in conjunction with many digital cameras, or from a personal computer via a cable. A digital picture frame also typically includes a power cord which allows the device to be connected to a standard home electrical power outlet in order to supply power to the device.

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