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| FIGURE 1 Figure 1 is an illustrative view of the present invention in use. The present invention is a wireless fax machine 10 that combines send and receive capability and memory features, providing the user 12 with efficient home, office, or on the road use. The device may communicate with a satellite 14, a cell phone 16, a computer network, or a telephone land line. The wireless facsimile machine 10 is shown communicating with the satellite 14 and the cell phone 16 (through the cell tower 18) with transmission signals 36.
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| FIGURE 2 Figure 2 is an illustrative view of the present invention in use where the wireless fax machine 10 in communication with a cell phone 16. The cell phone 16 is connected to a cell phone port 20 in the wireless fax machine 10 via a connection cable 22. The cell phone port 20 may be located on the rear panel 32 of the fax machine 10 or it may be located on either of the opposing side panels 34, the top panel 26, or the front panel 30. It is envisioned that the cell phone port 20 is positioned in such a manner that when the cell phone 16 is connected to the port 20 via the connection cable 22, that the phone 16 and the cable 22 will not interfere with the user 12 and their operation of the wireless facsimile machine 10.
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| FIGURE 3 Figure 3 is an illustrative view of the present invention in use where the wireless fax machine 10 in communication with a satellite 14. The fax machine 10 communicates directly through a transmitter/receiver unit 38 located within the fax machine 10. The fax machine 10 may have a satellite antenna port 102 on the rear panel 28 for receiving a detachable satellite antenna 118. The antenna 118 may be stored in an antenna storage compartment 110 provided in the housing 24. The antenna storage compartment 110 may be located in the rear panel 32, the bottom panel 28, or one of the side panels 34.
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| FIGURE 4 Figure 4 is a perspective view of the present invention. Shown is a perspective view of the exterior housing 24 of the wireless fax machine 10. The housing 24 has at least one control panel 42, document lid 58, a paper feed port 48 located beneath a paper port access panel 120, document exit port 50, and an ink cartridge access panel 52. The at least one control panel 42 may be three separate control panels 42 as seen in this Figure. The central control panel may incorporate a keypad 44, a display 46, a start/copy button 72 and a stop button 74. This panel may also include menu 68, resolution selection 70, help 80, and directory control 66 buttons as well as an ink indicator light 56 that lights when the amount of ink in the cartridge 54 is low. As noted previously the document exit port 50 need not be in the front panel 30.
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| FIGURE 5 Figure 5 is a perspective view of the present invention. Shown is the exterior housing 24 of the wireless fax machine 10 of the present invention where the paper port access panel 120 in an open position and a detachable paper tray 60 in position in the paper feed port 48. It is envisioned that the paper tray 60 holds at least 20 sheets of plain blank paper. The received faxes are printed on the blank paper via an ink jet or similar printing mechanism. The ink cartridge access panel 52 is shown in the open position and reveals the replaceable ink cartridge 54 and the transmitter/receiver unit 38. The transmitter/receiver unit 38 may be a single unit that is capable of communicating with a satellite 14, a cell phone 16, and a network card.
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| FIGURE 6 Figure 6 is a perspective view of the present invention. Shown is the exterior housing 24 of the wireless fax machine 10 where the document lid 58 is in an open position. The document lid 58 is secured to the housing 24 via hinges 130 to allow the lid 58 to pivot with respect to the housing 24. Paper tray 60 is removably positioned within the paper feed port 48. This allows the user 12 to position a plurality of sheets of plain paper in the paper tray 60 on which the received documents 40 will be printed. The document lid 58 is lifted in an upward position and the document to be sent is placed on flatbed scanning area 64. The flatbed scanning area typically is made of a transparent material such as plastic or glass. The lid is then closed and the user 12 selects the sending proper sending mode and initiates the fax by imputing the number in the keypad 44 and pressing the start/copy button 72. The machine 10 is provided with an automatic receive mode where faxes are received automatically and may be stored in memory or printed out. The faxes stored in memory will be retained therein until retrieved by the user 12.
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| FIGURE 7 Figure 7 is a detailed perspective view of the front panel 26 of the present invention. The front panel has three control panels 42 disposed therein. The control panel 42 on the right side has the control buttons for auto answer 76, memory control 78, and up 82, down 84, forward 86, back 88, and fax mode selection 124 buttons. The control panel 42 in the center has a keypad 44, a display 46, a stop button 74, a start/copy button 72, a menu button 68, a resolution selection button 70, a directory control button 66, and an ink indicator light 124. The control panel 42 on the left side has a scan and store to memory button 92, a redial button 90, and a plurality of speed dial buttons 94, and a broadcast control 96. The document exit port 50 is shown in lower end of the front panel 26. See Figs. 7A, 7B, and 7C where enlarged views of the control panels are shown.
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| FIGURE 7A Figure 7A is an enlarged front view of the left control panel.
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| FIGURE 7B Figure 7B is an enlarged front view of the center control panel.
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| FIGURE 7C Figure 7C is an enlarged front view of the right control panel.
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| FIGURE 8 Figure 8 is a rear perspective view of the present invention. Shown is the rear panel 32 in which a cell phone port 20 is located. The rear panel 32 may have a network card slot 98 for receiving a wired network card or a wireless network card. The rear panel 32 may have a memory card slot 100 for receiving a memory card to increase the memory capacity of the machine 10. The rear panel 32 may include a antenna storage compartment 110, a telephone jack 116, and a satellite antenna port 102. The antenna storage compartment 110 is capable of holding the satellite antenna 118 once it has been removed from the antenna port 102. The telephone jack 116 allows the user 12 to connect the fax machine 10 to a telephone land line. A USB port 114 may be provided on the rear panel 32 or one of the side panels 34. The USB port is configured to enable the user 12 to connect the facsimile machine 10 to a computer or other device via a USB cable and the USB port 114 so that the user 12 may employ the facsimile machine 10 as a scanner. The facsimile machine 10 will be capable of operating on the power derived through the USB connection with the computer or other device.
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| FIGURE 8A Figure 8A is a rear perspective view showing the document feeder in the document lid.
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| FIGURE 9 Figure 9 is an internal view of the present invention. Inside the housing 24 are the transmitter/receiver unit 38, the ink cartridge 54, the circuit board 108, a guide rail 104 and a roller shaft 106. The circuit board 108 will incorporate a microprocessor to control the fax machine 10. The board 108 will have memory chips installed therein so that the machine has sufficient memory to receive and save a facsimile when the machine 10 is out of ink or paper. The guide rail 104 and roller shaft 106 are employed to direct the paper along a desired path thought the fax machine 10. The ink cartridge 54 provides the printing mechanism with the necessary ink to print out the received faxes or to make copies of scanned documents. The scanner unit 126 is seen as being positioned below the flatbed scanning area 64. The scanning unit 126 scans the document positioned on the flat bed scanning area 64 and provides the processor with the scanned data for transmission via the transmitter/receiver unit 38. The battery 128 may be formed in or attached to the bottom panel 32. Preferably, the battery 128 will be removably attached to the bottom panel 32. It is envisioned that the battery may extend below the surface of the bottom panel 32 (See Fig. 9) to provide additional surface area for cooling of the battery 128.
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| FIGURE 9A Figure 9A is a top view of the bottom panel showing the chute.
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| FIGURE 9B Figure 9B is a side view of the bottom panel showing the chute.
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| FIGURE 10 Figure 10 is a logic diagram of the present invention. Shown is a logic diagram where the wireless fax machine 10 is in communication with a cell phone 16 and a cell tower 18. This logic diagram shows the logical steps of how the wireless fax machine 10 receives a fax from another fax machine or other sending device when the wireless facsimile machine 10 in connected to a cell phone 16.
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| FIGURE 11 Figure 11 is a logic diagram of the present invention. Shown is a logic diagram where the wireless fax machine 10 is in communication with a satellite This logic diagram shows the logical steps of how the wireless fax machine 10 receives a fax from another fax machine or other sending device when the wireless facsimile machine 10 in communication with a satellite 14.
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| FIGURE 12 Figure 12 is a block diagram of the present invention. The block diagram shows the advantages the wireless fax machine 10 of the present invention. The machine 10 is capable of being operated on power supplied by a battery 128 which may be disposed within the housing 24 or external to housing 24. The machine 10 is also capable of being operated on household current (typically alternating current of about 110 volts) or may be powered from an electrical source in an automobile or a vehicle such as but not limited to a cigarette lighter or similar power outlet.
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| FIGURE 13 Figure 13 is a block diagram of the present invention. The block diagram shows the various wireless connection means of the present invention which include but is not limited to wireless local area network (WLAN), wired local area network, local area broad band systems, telephone land line (i.e. a land based telephone system), cellular telephone connection, a satellite connection, or an internet telephone service.
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