Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~ W096~7269 21 g ~ ~ 9 6 ~
INTERFACE CARD ~ITH AN ELECTRONIC CAMERA
AND METHOD OF USE ~
Technical Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to interface
cards used in conjunction with personal
communication devices.
l O
Background of the Invention
~ ersonal communicators are a relatively recent
development in the telecommunications world. A
personal communicator is basically a handheld
portable wireless-device which may include a
display, one or more user input devices such as a
touch sensitive keyboard or stylus and pressure
sensitive writing tablet, a processing unit, memory,
and an RF communications link.
An example of a personal communicator is the
Motorola Envoy. This device operates based on a
Motorola Dragon 68349 processor running at 16MHz.
It has lMBytes of dynamic RAM and 4MBytes of ROM.
It display screen is a 3X4.5~ reflective li~uid
crystal display device with a resolution of 105 dots
per inch. The device is small enough to be held in
a single hand and weighs less than two pounds.
Power to the unit is supplied by Nickel-Cadmium
batteries.
Personal communicators, in general, are capable
of sending and receiving messages, telephone calls
and fax transmlssions. Further, these devices are
capable of performing other functions one normally
associates with a computer such as creating and
:
wo s~ro~26s ~ /U~
2194g:9~
editing text documents, performing spreadsheet
calculations, etc.
Many personal communicators have~one or more
expansion slots for receiving expansion cards.
Examples of Pxp~nqion cards include memory cards,
fax~modem cards, and ethernet interface cards
These cards typically conform to the Personal
Computer Memory Card International Association
~PCMCIA) standards. These standards provide for
0 three types of cards ~Types I, II, and III~.
FIG.~l shows a top view of a typical PCMCIA
card. Card 2 includes a substrate area 4 along with
interconnect area 6. Cards conforming to these
standards connect to a personal communicator by a
connector inside a card slot in the personal
communicator. Details of the PCMCIA standards which
include the physical characteristics of the card and
connector~as well as the communication protocol
between a device and the card are presented in
PCM~T~ PC C~rd Stnn~rd R~le~qe ~.01 available from
PCMCIA.
FIG.~2 presents an end view of a type I PCMCIA
card. Dimensions of card 2 in type I format are
shown.
FIG. 3 presents an end view of a type II PCMCIA
card. Dimensions of card Z in type II ~ormat are
shown.
FIG. 4 presents an end view of a type III
PCMCIA card. Dimensions of card 2 in type III
format are shown.
While personal communicators have many
advantageous features, these devices cannot
independently capture an image. Images must be
~ W096107269 2 1 g ~ 9 ~ 6 PCTIUS95/08870
captured by an independent unit and imported into
the personal communicator.
Summary of the Invention
There is a growing need for a small device,
which interfaces to a variety of communication
devices, that supports:
1) the transfer of image data from remote
0 locations to a variety of communication devices;
2) a mechanical configuration based upon an
industry standard which is easy to remove and is
interchangeable among a variety of communication
devices;
3) electrical configurations based upon an
industry standard that support a set of features;
and
q~ lo~ cost method and system for portable
visual communication from person-to-person or one or
more persons to many persons.
It is thus an advantage of the present
invention to provide an interface card for a
personal communicator which captures at least one
image by generating a plurality of image.data and
transferring the image data to the personal
communicator.
In an interface card, linkable to a personal
communicator using a communications link, the
present invention provides a method of capturing at
least one image. The method comprises the steps of
generatirg a plurality of data of at least one image
using an electronic camera, and transferring the
image data to the personal communicator via the
communications link.
W096~7269 2~9~g~ u~ ~
The present invention also provides an
interface card for use with a personal communicator.
The interface card includes an electronic camera,
capable of capturing at least one image and
generating a plurality of lmage data. The interface
card also includes an interface circuit, responsive
to the image data and linkable to the personal
communicator, for transferring the irnage data to the
personal cDmmunicator.
The present invention further provides an
interface card for the personal communicator. The
interface card ; nrl ~ C a card body and a head
attached to the card body. An electronic camera,
capable of capturing at least one irnage and
generating a plurallt~ of image data, is lntegrated
into the head. An interrogation rrieans, coupled to
the communication link, d~to~m; n~C if the interface
card is linked to the personal communicator. An
interface circuit, responsive to the image data and
linkable ~o the personal ~ ln~r~tor is pro~lded to
transfer the image data to the personal communicator
only after it ls determined that the interface card
is linked to the personal communicator.
~ rief ~escription of the ~i~rawings
The invention is pointed out with particularity
in th.e appended claims. ~owever, other features of
the invention will become more apparent and the
invention will be best understood by referring to
the following detailed description in con~unc~.ion
with the ~accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 shows a top view of a t~pical PCi~CIA
card.
~ WO g6/07269 219 ~ ~ 9 6 r~ ",
.
FIG. 2 presents an end view of a typical type I
PCMCIA card.
FIG. 3 presents an end view of a typical type
II PCMCIA card.
S FIG. 4 presents an end view of a typical type
III PCMCIA card.
FIG. 5 shows a olock diagram representation of
an interface card of one embodiment of the present
invention.
FIG. 6 shows a flow chart representation of a
method of capturing an image used in conjunction
with the interface card of FIG. 5.
FIG. 7 shows a pictorial diagram of the
interface card used in one embodiment of the present
invention.
FIG. ~ shows a ~ ';n~tlon schematic/block
diagram representation of the electronic camera used
in one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 shows a pictorial view of an interface
card used in a further embodiment of the present
invention.
FIG. 10 presents a pictorial view of the
interface card used in one embodiment of the present
invention.
FIG. 11 shows a pictorial view of an
alternative embodiment of the interface card in
accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 1~ shows a pictorial view of an interface
card used in accordance with an additional
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 13 shows a block diagram representation of
a further embodiment of the present invention.
W096/07269 ~ r~
21~9~'
FIG. 14 shows a flow chart representation of a
method of operatlon of the interface card shown in
FIG. 13.
FIG. 15 shows a block diagram.. representation of
S a further embodiment of an interface card in
accordance with the present invention.
FIG. ~6 shows a flow chart representation o~ a
method of operation of the interface card of FIG 15.
FIG. 17 shows a block diagram represer.tation of
0 an alternative embodiment of the interface card in
accordance with the present invention.
FIG. l~ shows a flow chart representatior. of
the method of operation of the interface card of
FIG. 17 in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. i9 shows a bloc~ diagram representation of
an additional embodiment of an interface card used
in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 20 shows a flow chart representation of a
method of operating an interface card shown in EIG.
19 in accordance with one em~bodiment of the present
invention.
FIG. 21 shows a block diagram representatlon of
an additional embodiment of an interface card used
in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. Z2 shows a flow chart representation of
the operation of the interface card 10 shown in
conjunction with FIG. Z1.
Detailed Descriptior. of the Preferred Embodiment
3 0
It will be understood by one of ordinary skill
in the art that the methods and system described
herein could be implemented in hardw~re or in
software or any romh;n~tion thereof. Further, one
~ W096l07Z69 ~ 1 9 ~ g9 6~ P~
of ordinary skill in the art will ready recognize
that any and all of the described embodiments of the
present invention may be provided with a source of
power, such as a battery or similar energy storage
device, in a form integral to the embodiment of the
invention.
FIG. 5 shows a block diagram representation of
an interface card of one embodiment of the present
invention. Interface card 10 includes an electronic
0 camera 12 for generating a plurality of data of at
least one visual image. This visual image data is
transferred to interface circuit 14 via line 16. In
a preferred embodiment of the present invention,
this transfer is effectuated electronically.
However, one of ordinary skill in the art will
recognize that other forms of transmission such as
optical transmission could also be used. Interface
circuit 14 is in turn capable of transferring the
image data to a personal communicator via a
communications link connected to interface circuit
14 via connection 18.
FIG. 6 shows a flow chart representation of a
method of capturing an image used in conjunction
with the interface card of FIG. ~. The method
starts by generating a plurality of data of at least
one visual image using an electronic camera as shown
in box 20. Next, regarding box 22, the image data
is transferred to a personal communicator via a
communications link.
FIG. 7 shows a pictorial diagram of the
interface card used in one embodiment of the present
invention. Interface card 10 includes card body 30
and head 32. An electronic camera 34 is mounted in
head 32. Interface card 10 slides into receptacle
WOs6~7269 ~I9l9~ J~ D~
38 of personal communicator 36 shown in phantom. In
a preferred embod}ment, interface card 10 conforms
to PCMCIA standards and is manufactured using
methods wall known to those with ordinary skill in
the art. However, one of ordinary skill ln the art
will recognize that other connectors between the
interface card and the personal commur.icator are
possible. nhen interface card 10 is attached to
personal commur.icator 36, head 32 and likewise
0 electronic camera 3~ is exposed.
In operation of interface card 1~, card 10 is
inserted into personal communicator 36. At least
one imaye is captured using electronic camera 34 and
is transferred to personal communicator 36 for
transfer else~here. In one embodiment of the
present invention, interface card 10 is physically
connected to personal communicator 3~ via a
connector ~hich conforms with PCMCIA standards with
the power to the interface card 1~ being supplied by
personal ~ ~n; ~ator 36.
The lnterface card of one emoodimer.t of the
present invention provides a port into an
lnformation database. Image data is captured by the
electronic camera. The images which produce the
image data could be of documents, objects, scenes,
people, etc. Once transferred to a personal
communicator, these image data could be processed to
filter the data, to extract features from the data
for use in pattern recognltion, to perform functions
related to edlting the data by the user, or to
compress the data for storage or transmittal.
The resultant created database produced from
the lmage data could be local, that is, resldent ir.
the memory of the personal communicator. Further,
~ WO 96107169 2 ~ 9 4 g 9 6 F~ ~ u
the database could be remotely located such that it
is in communication with the primary communications
link of the personal communicator, (as opposed to
the communications link between the interface card
- S and the personal communicator). In either case, the
personal communicator could be equipped with a user
interface which allows data to be appended to the
captured image data for the purposes of search and
retrieval.
The applications of the system formed by the
interface card described above and a personal
communicator are numerous and far-reaching. This
system could be used in a business environment to
capture images of documents, either for direct
storage and transmittal or for character recognition
processing. In effect, the system could operate as
a scanner or as a facsimile machine. In a similar
fashion, the system could be used to capture and
interpret bar codes used to identify goods or
services or to provide additional information
relating to tagged goods or services.
This system could also be used as a visual
communication system if the personal communicator
provides a display device and a video/audio link.
2~ The captured image data, in the form of still or
video images of a first user, along with audio
information received by the personal communicator,
could be transmitted/broadcasted to one or more
other users. Further, the audio and video images of
the other users, could be displayed by the personal
communicator to complete the visual communication
connection.
In the consumer realm, the system, which
includes the interface card described above and the
2~4~
W096/07269 ~~
1~
personal communicator, could be used as a general
imaging device such as an electronic camera. Using
an input device of the personal communicator, a user
could select and capture images in a manner similar
to other photography. These images could be stored
by the personal communicator or tra~smltted by the
personal communicator to a storage location for
later retrieval.
For example, a user on a trip to Disney ~orld
could take pictures of their family en~oying the
various attractions. The electronic camera on the
interface card would supply video data to the
personal com~unicator. These images would be
displayed to the user via a display device on the
personal~communicator. The individual shots could
be selected by the user grabbing a videQ ~rame by
pressing an appropriate button at the moment the
desired image appears on the display device. Once
the image ~now a still image) is grabbed, the user
could rev~iew the image and delete it if the image
was unsat~sfactory or possibly edit the image,
and~or append information to it. The appendeù
information could be the time and date or other
information such as the parties in the picture, the
quality o~ the image and/or other notations. The
image could then be stored in the ~mory of the
personal communicator.
If the user took more pictures and the personal
communicator memory began to reach its capacity, one
or more of the stored images could be transmitted by
the personal communicator via a cellular telephone
link or other ~F link to a remote storage site where
they could be transferred to a storage media for
later retrieval by the user.
~ wo g6/07269 21~ 4 g 9 6 r~
li
Other applications of the interface card and
personal communicator system in the fields of
medical treatment and diagnosis, education, and
entertainment are far to numerous to mention.
FIG. 8 shows a combination schematic/block
diagram representation of the electronic camera used
in one embodiment of the present invention.
Flectronic camera 34 includes lens 40 which focuses
at least one image onto CCD sensing element 42 which
is driven by driver circuitry 44. The output of CCD
sensor 42 is a set of two-dimensional image data
which represents a two-dimensional array of pixels
in either black and white or color format.
While a standard convex lens is used in a
preferred embodiment of the present invention, one
with ordinary skill in the art will recognize that
other lens configurations could be used. For
example, a fisheye or hemispherical lens could be
used to capture a wide field of view. In addition,
a no-lens configuration is also possible.
Further, one with ordinary skill in the art
will realize that there are several alternatives to
the use of CCD array based sensing elements.
While the various embodiments of the present
invention have been described in terms of a single
electronic camera with a single lens, one of
ordinary skill in the art will recognize that two or
more cameras could be used.
FIG. 9 shows a pictorial view of an interface
card used in a further embodiment of the present
invention. In this embodiment of interface card 10,
reference numerals 32, 34, 36, and 38 refer to the
features described in FIG. 7. The difference
between the embodiment of FIG. 7 and the embodiment
Wo g6l07269 :~ p~
12 ~94qqf~7
of FIG. 9 is the incorporatior. Q~ t~o eiectronic
cameras 34 in the Pm~o~i-~~t of FIG. 9. This two-
camera interface card could be used to capture at
least one~stereoscopic image with apparent "depth".
Further, stereoscopic images could likewise be
created with a single camera embodiment where two or
more images are captured with the camera at an
offset in position. For instance, a mouse or
trackball, physically attached to the personal
0 communica~or could provide an input to the personal
communicator to grab two or more frames at ar. offset
calculated by processing the trackball or mouse
coordinat~s. In this fashion, a user could allgn
the personal communicator for a stereoscopic "shot
on a planar sur~ace. Sweeping the personal
communicator across the planar surface would ~trigger
the capturing of the image data necessar~r for
capturing the stereoscopic image. Ir. a similar
fashion, a key input from a user could be used to
designate the alignment of the camera in each of two
physical locations for generating the two shots
necessary for the stereoscopic image.
EI~. lO presents a pictorial ~iew of the
interface card used in one embodiment of the present
invention. In this embodiment, head 32 containing
electronic camera assembly 34 pivots with respect to
card body 30. Thus, when interface card 10 is
attached to a personal communicator, the camera 34
can be oriented to capture the desired image even if
the personal communicator is in a stationary
position. For instance, a user may wish to capture
his own image while the personal communicator is
placed face up on a desk in front of her. In this
case, the head unit 32 could be pi~oted such that
~ W096~07269 219 ~ 9 9 5; r~ u
13
camera assembly 34 faces the upper torso of the
user.
FIG. 11 shows a pictorial view of an
alternative embodiment of the interface card in
~ 5 accordance with the present invention. Head 32
containing electronic camera 34 of interface card 10
pivots about card body 34 nearer the edge 40 of card
body 30. The pivoting of head 32 and camera
assembly 34 in this manner could allow personal
1 0 communicator 36 to remain flat on a surface while
head 32 and camera assembly 34 are pivoted. It
should also be noted that the head 32 could also be
detachable from the card body 34 while tethered to
the card body via come physical connection such as a
15 flexible wire or other non-physical connection.
This could allow greater flexibility in the
pl Al ' and orientation of the electronic camera
while the card body is allowed to be stationary.
FIG. 12 shows a pictorial view of an interface
2 0 card used in accordance with an additional
embodiment of the present invention. In this
embodiment, an existing interface card 54 equipped
with connector 50 is connected to neck 52 with
pivotably mounted head 32 containing camera 34.
25 This configuration allows existing interface card 34
to be upgraded to include the features of interface
card 10 in accordance with the present invention.
Further, the head 32 containing camera 34 could be a
self-sustaining unit which could be clipped-on or
3 0 otherwise attached to a user for more portable use.
FIG. 13 shows a block diagram representation of
a further embodiment of the present invention. In
this embodiment, interface card 10 includes
electronic camera 12 coupled to interface cirGuit 14
W096/0726g ~ ; r~"lJ ~..
as has been previously described. Further, memory
device 60, coupled to interface circuit 14, is
provided.
Memory device 60, can be used to store the
image data produced by electronic camera 12 prior to
transfer oi the image data by interface circuit 14.
Thereby, the transfer of image data from interface
card 10 to the personal communicator can be
effectuated at a convenient time for the personal
0 communicatùr which could be busy executing other
functions. Further, memory device ~ could serve as
a buffer for interface device 14 if the transfer of
image data is interrupted, or if the transfer of
image data proceeds more slowly than the acquisition
of image data from electronic camera 12.
Alternatively, interface card 10 could be
portable with its own source of power. Images could
be captured and stored while interface card 10 is
unlinked or discnnnPrt~ from the personal
communicator. The captured images couLd be
transferred to the personal communicator when the
link is restored. This embodiment of the present
invention allows the user further flexibility in
operation of the interface card and personal
communicator system such that only the interface
card is re~uired to capture an image.
FIG. 14 shows a flow chart representation of a
method of operation of the interface card shown in
FIG. 13. ~A plurality of image data is generated
using an electronic camera as shown in bux 7~. The
image data is stored in a memory device as shown in
box 72. Further, the image data is transferred to a
personal cammunicator via a communications link as
shown in box 74.
~ W0~6~7269 ~1 9 ~ 9 9~6 r~ c ~
FIG. 15 shows a block diagram representation of
a further embodiment of an interface card in
accordance with the present invention. ~lectronic
camera 12 and interface circuit 14 operate as
~ 5 previously described. In addition, transmitter 82
is interposed between interface circuit 14 and the
communications link in order to transmit the image
data generated by electronic camera along the
communications link. More particularly, in this
embodiment of the present invention, the
communications link may comprise a radio frequency
(RF) link, an ultrasonic link, an optical link such
as an infrared link or a link using lightwaves in
another portion of the spectrum, or other similar
mode of communication. In this fashion, the
interface card need only be "tethered" rather than
physically attached to the personal communicator
during operation and data transfer. Transmitter 82
serves to encode and~or modulate the image data
generated by electronic camera 12 in accordance with
the requirements of the communications link.
Interrogator 80, coupled to interface circuit
14, is further provided. This interrogator 80
serves to ~t~rm;ne if the interface card is linked
to the personal communicator, before the image data
is transferred.
Given the nature of many communication links,
it might be necessary to initiate the link before
the data can be transferred from the interface
circuit to the personal communicator. Therefore,
interro~ator 80 serves to determine whether the link
is in fact active before the transfer of data is
initiated. In one embodiment of the present
invention, transmitter 82 attempts to initiate the
W096/07269 m~ r~
2 1 ~ ~ g 9 6 16
communications link between interface circuit 14 and
the personal ~ Af or upon a request from the
interface circuit 14 to initiate such a link. It
should be noted, that the initiation of the iink
between interface circuit 14 and the personal
communicator could require a physical action such as
aligning an optical transmitter to an optical
receiver in order to establish the link. If this is
the case, ~r. indicator could be provided on
interface card lO to inform the user that such a
physical action is required.
This embodiment of the present invention i.s
particularly ad~antageous for situations where the
interface card is not physically connected to the
personal communicator, whether interface card 1~ is
at a separate but proximate location to the personal
communicator. In this case, the - ;~A~ ions link
between the interface card and the personal
communicator can be effectuated without a physical
connection. For instance, at a meeting, the
personal communicator could be placed on a table
while the interface card in held by the user so as
to allow the user to easily scan the room with the
camera.
It should be noted, that the transmitter ~2 and
ccrresponding communications link need not be of the
high powerl high capacity type required by a
personal communicator. This is due to the pro.ximate
location between the interface card l~ ar.d personal
communicator at the time that tne linlc is
established and the data is transferred.
FIG. 16 shows a flow chart representation o~ a
method of operation of the interface card of FIG 15.
The method begins by generating a plurality of image
~ W096l0726~ 21~ ~ ~ 9 ~ r~"~
17
data using ar. electronic camera capable of capturing
at least one image as shown in box 90. It is then
determined if the interface card is linked to the
personal communicator as shown by decision box 92.
~ 5 If a link exists, the image data is transmitted to
the personal communicator over the communications
link as shown in box 96. If, however, the interface
card is not linked to the personal communicator, the
image data is stored in the memory device as shown
in box 94 until such time as the image data can be
transferred.
FIG. 17 shows a block diagram representation of
an alternative embodiment of the ir.terface card in
accordance with the present invention. Interface
card 10 lncludes electronic camera 12 and interface
circuit 14 as previously described. Further,
display device 100 coupled to electronic camera 12,
is further provided. Display device 100 receives
the image data from electronic camera 12 and
displays the image or images to a user. This allows
a user to monitor the image being seen by electronic
camera 12 so as to check the proper alignment of
electronic camera.
It should be recognized, that electronic camera
12 could generate image data in either a continuous
running~video format or in a still image format. If
camera 12 is intended to generate a still image, it
would be advantageous for display device 100 to
provide a continuous running or video image display
to the user in order for the user to select a
particular still image to be captured. For example,
interface card 10 could be provided with an input
device consisting of a simple switch. A user could
monitor the image or images received by electronic
WO~6~07169 ~ 1 9 ~ 9 9~- ~ PCT~S9~88
18
camera 12 using display device 100 until the
appropriate visual lmage is reached. At this point,
the user could activate the input device to signify
to the eIectronic camera 12 and interface circuit 14
S that th.is particular frame of the video image should
be grabbed for purposes of possible storage and
transfer.
One with ordinary skill in the art should also
recognize that a dedicated memory device may be
necessary to buffer the data from electronic camera
12 prior to its display on display device 100. This
~emory device could be integrated into interface
card 10 in a manner similar to th.e embodiment of
FIG. 13. ~onversely, the me~ory device could be
interposed between the electronic camera 1~ and the
display device 100.
FIG. 18 shows a flow chart representation of
the method of operation of the interface card o~
FI~. 17 in accordance with the present invention.
The method starts by generating a plurality of data
of at least one image using an electronic camera as
shown in ~ox 110. The image data is transferred to
the personal comnunicator via the communication link
as shown in box 112. Further, the image data is
2~ displayed using a display device as shown in box
114.
FIG. lg shows a block diagram representation of
an additional embodiment of an interface card used
in accordance wlth the present in~ention. Interface
card 10 includes electronic camera 12 and interface
circui~ 1~ as previously described. Further,
controller 122, coupled to the electronic camera 12
and interface circuit 14 is provided along with
input device 120 coupled to controller 122. Input
~ W096~07269 219~99~ ; r~ u
19
device 120 is responsive to the actions of a user so
as to produce an input signal which is fed to
controller 122. Controller 122, is capable of
controlling one or more functions of the interface
card in response to the input signal. For example,
input device 120 could be a switch which is used to
control electronic camera 12 and interface circuit
14 so as to grab a still image as described in
conjunction with the interface card of FIG. 12.
Further, other functions of the interface card could
likewise be controlled in accordance with the
present invention.
FI~. 20 shows a flow chart representation of a
method of operating an interface card shown in FIG.
19 in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention. The method starts by generating a
plurality of data of at least one image using an
electronic camera as shown in box 130. Regarding
box 132, an input signal is received from a user
using an input device. Regarding box 134, one or
more functions of the interface card are controlled
in response to the input signal. Further, the image
data is transferred to the personal communicator via
the communications link as shown in box 136.
FIG. 21 shows a block diagram representation of
an additional embodiment of an interface card used
in accordance with the present invention. Interface
card 10 includes electronic camera 12 and interface
circuit 14 as previously described. In this
embodiment, interface lO further includes a
processor 140 for processing the image data prior to
transfer. Processor l~0 is coupled to interface
circuit 14, electronic camera 12 and further coupled
to a memory device 142. Memory device 142 serves as
W O 96/072~;g . ~ PCT/USg!~10887--
2lq~qqkl
a means for storing image data generated by
electronic camera 12 and could sarve as a buffer for
the processing performed by processor 140. Such
processing could include filtering of the image
5 data, compression of the image data to alloh~ more
easy transfer, electronic zoom of a portion of the
image, correction of the image for optical or other
forms of distortion, pan or tilt of the image or
other visual effects, stabilization of an image
O taken from 2 moving camera, or possibly feature
extraction relatlng to pattern recognition to be
performed on the image data.
FIG. 22 shows a flow chart representation o~
the operation of the interface card 10 shown in
con~unction with FIG. 21. The method starts by
generating a plurality of data of at least one image
using an electronic camera as shown in box 150. The
image data is processed using a processor as shown
in box 152. The image data is then trans~erred to
the persor.al communicator via the communications
link as shown in box 154.
Summary
Thus there has been described herein a concept,
as well as several embodiments including a preferred
embodiment, of an interface card and a method of use
therefor which captures a plurality of image data
and transfers the image data to a personal
communicator.
It will be apparent to those skllled in the art
that the disclosed invention may be modified in
numerous ways and may assume many embodimer.ts other
W096107269 21 9 4 ~ ~ 6 PCT~S95108870
than the preferred form specifically set out and
described above.
Accordingly, it is intended by the appended
claims to cover all modifications of the invention
which fall within the true spirit and scope of the
invention.
What is claimed is:
