Portable electronic faxing, scanning, copying, and printing device

Abstract

A lightweight, battery operated, portable, personal electronic device capable of faxing, scanning, printing and copying media as a standalone device or in cooperation with other electronic devices including PCs, mobile telephones, PDAs, etc. is provided. The device automatically detects the presence of fax-capable devices and reconfigures the software for compatibility with the fax-capable device eliminating the need for user programming. The device's ergonomic design, intrinsic physical stability, and same side paper feeds and user interface provide use in work areas having limited space. The device includes unidirectional, independent pathways for original and recording media such that paper jams are minimized. Portability is maximized through innovative power management software and hardware.

1 . An apparatus for processing media, wherein said apparatus comprises:
 at least two rollers;   at least one rotation mechanism coupled to at least one of said rollers;   at least one circuit coupled to said rotation mechanism for control of said rotation mechanism; and   a housing enclosing said rollers, said rotation mechanism, and said circuit;   wherein said housing has at least one of the group consisting of a width less than 16 inches, a depth less than 12 inches, a height less than 12 inches, and a weight less than 6 pounds;   wherein said rotation mechanism rotates at least one of said rollers; and   wherein said rotation transports said media through said housing.   
   
   
       2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , said apparatus further comprising:
 at least one sensor coupled to at least one of said circuits and located internal to said housing;   wherein said sensor senses at least one of the group consisting of presence and alignment of said media.   
   
   
       3 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , said apparatus further comprising:
 at least one communication port coupled to at least one of said circuits wherein at least a portion of said communication port is located internal to said housing.   
   
   
       4 . An apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein said communication port is at least one of the group consisting of a PSTN port, a serial port, an Infrared Data Association® port, a Universal Serial Bus port, a Bluetooth® port, an Ethernet port, and an Ultra Wide Band port. 
   
   
       5 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , said apparatus further comprising:
 at least five communication ports coupled to at least one of said circuits wherein at least a portion of each of said communication ports is located internal to said housing.   
   
   
       6 . An apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein each of said communication ports is one of the group consisting of a PSTN port, a serial port, an Infrared Data Association® port, a Universal Serial Bus port, a Bluetooth® port, an Ethernet port, and an Ultra Wide Band port. 
   
   
       7 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , said apparatus further comprising:
 a bay coupled to at least one of said circuits wherein
 at least a portion of said bay is located internal to said housing; 
   wherein said bay couples a module to at least one of said circuits.   
   
   
       8 . An apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein said module includes one of the group consisting of a PSTN port, a serial port, an Infrared Data Association® port, a Universal Serial Bus port, a Bluetooth® port, an Ethernet port, and an Ultra Wide Band port. 
   
   
       9 . An apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein at least one of said circuits performs at least one of the group consisting of automatically sensing said module and automatically determining a communication protocol associated with said module. 
   
   
       10 . An apparatus according to  claim 7 , said apparatus further comprising:
 a programmable device.   
   
   
       11 . An apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein at least one of said circuits performs at least one of the group consisting of automatically sensing said module, automatically determining a communication protocol associated with said module, and automatically programming said programmable device to communicate with said module. 
   
   
       12 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said apparatus performs at least one of the group consisting of scanning media, faxing media, printing media, copying media, transmitting media via telefacsimile, and receiving telefacsimiles. 
   
   
       13 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , said apparatus further comprising:
 at least one battery located internal to said housing;   wherein said battery allows said apparatus to operate via battery power.   
   
   
       14 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , said apparatus further comprising:
 at least two apertures through said housing;   wherein at least one of said apertures allows at least one of said media to be inserted through said aperture until said at least one of said media couples to at least one of said rollers; and   wherein each of said apertures is located at a distinct vertical height with respect to a forward facing surface of said apparatus.   
   
   
       15 . An apparatus according to  claim 14 , said apparatus further comprising:
 at least one user interface located on an angled,
 upward and forward facing surface of said apparatus; 
   wherein insertion of at least one of said media into at least one of said apertures does not obstruct said user interface.   
   
   
       16 . An apparatus according to  claim 14 , said apparatus further comprising:
 at least one user interface located on an angled,
 upward and forward facing surface of said apparatus; 
   wherein simultaneous insertion of one of said media into each of said apertures does not obstruct said user interface.   
   
   
       17 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , said apparatus further comprising:
 a print head for printing data on media transported by a first of said rollers; and   a scan head for scanning data present on said media transported by a second of said rollers.   
   
   
       18 . An apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein said apparatus transfers said data scanned by said scan head directly to said print head for printing on said media transported by said first roller. 
   
   
       19 . An apparatus according to  claim 14 , said apparatus further comprising:
 at least two rear apertures through a rear facing surface of said housing;   wherein at least one of said apertures allows at least one of said media to exit said apparatus through said aperture; and   wherein each of said rear apertures is located at a distinct vertical height with respect to a rear facing surface of said apparatus.   
   
   
       20 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said apparatus includes two independent paper paths.