Compact electronic unit with display

• US 20060113377A1
• Filed: 11/30/2004
• Published: 06/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Micard Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Armen Kazanchian, Clinton Wilcox
• Inventors: Kazanchian, Armen E., Wilcox, Clinton
• Granted Patent: US 7,258,270 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0705 the battery being connected to a power saving arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/077 Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07703 the interface being visual

Abstract

An electronic unit for storing and displaying information includes a case, a computer having storage capability for electronically storing information and a processor for generating display signals corresponding to the stored information. A display screen is mounted within the case and connected to the processor for receiving the display signals generated by the processor and for displaying the information. At least one depressible key is mounted within the case, and a battery supplies electrical operating power to the computer. In addition, the unit includes a battery-saving feature for shutting off power to the display screen following a preselected period of time between successive depressions of any of the keys, and the case has a front which measures no more than about 3.5 inches by 2.0 inches and has a thickness which is no more than about 0.039 inches.

Claims

1. An electronic unit for storing and displaying information, the unit comprising:

a case having a front;

computer means mounted within the case including;

a) storage means for storing information;

b) processing means for generating display signals corresponding to the stored information; and

c) display means including a display screen mounted within the front of the case and connected to the processing means for receiving the display signals generated by the processing means and for displaying the information, the front of the case being rectangular in shape and having a length which is no more than about 3.5 inches and a width which is no more than about 2.0 inches.

2. The unit as defined in claim 1 wherein the display screen is rectangular in shape and has sides which measure no more than about 1.875 inches by 2.875 inches.

3. The unit as defined in claim 1 wherein the computer means includes means providing a user-controlled pointer which is viewable upon the display screen,

the unit further includes a set of depressible navigation keys mounted within the case and connected to the control means enabling a user to alter the position of the pointer across the screen and a depressible ENTER key mounted within the case and connected to the computer means for initiating a preselected operation thereby upon depression of the ENTER key, and

the display screen embodies an active area over which the pointer can be positioned and through which the preselected change in the displayed information is initiated so that by positioning the pointer over the active area and depressing the ENTER key, the preselected change in the displayed information is effected.

4. The unit as defined in claim 3 wherein the navigation keys includes four keys for controlling the upward movement of the pointer relative to the front of the screen, the downward movement of the pointer relative to the front of the screen, the rightward movement of the pointer relative to the front of the screen, and the leftward movement of the pointer relative to the front of the screen.

5. The unit as defined in claim 1 further including at least one depressible key mounted within the case and connected to the computer means for initiating a preselected operation thereby upon depression of the at least one depressible key, the unit includes a battery for supplying electrical operating power to the computer means, and the computer means includes battery-saving means connected to the at least one depressible key for shutting off power to the display screen following a preselected period of time between successive depressions of any of the at least one depressible keys.

6. The unit as defined in claim 5 wherein the battery-saving means includes

means containing stored information relating to the preselected period of time,

means for monitoring the time from a depression any of the at least one depressible keys,

means for comparing the monitored time to the preselected period of time so that when the monitored time reaches the preselected period of time before any of the at least one depressible keys are again depressed, the power to the display screen is shut off.

7. The unit as defined in claim 1 wherein the storage means is adapted to accept information downloaded therein from an external source, and

the unit further includes a port through which the information can be downloaded from the external source to the storage means.

8. The unit as defined in claim 1 wherein the case has a thickness which is no more than about 0.039 inches.

9. The unit as defined in claim 1 wherein the case has a back including a surface which is adapted to bear indicia printed thereon.

10. The unit as defined in claim 1 further comprising:

timing means associated with the processing means for effecting a change in the displayed information following a preselected period of time or upon reaching a specific moment in time.

11. An electronic unit for storing and displaying information, the unit comprising:

a case having a front;

computer means mounted within the case including;

a) storage means for storing information;

b) processing means for generating display signals corresponding to the stored information; and

c) display means including a display screen mounted within the front of the case and connected to the processing means for receiving the display signals generated by the processing means and for displaying the information;

at least one depressible key mounted within the case and connected to the computer means for initiating a preselected operation thereof upon depression of the at least one depressible key;

a battery for supplying electrical operating power to the computer means, and the computer means includes a battery-saving means connected to the keys for shutting off power to the display screen following a preselected period of time between successive depressions of any of the at least one depressible keys.

12. The unit as defined in claim 11 wherein the case has a front which is rectangular in shape and has sides which measure no more than about 3.5 inches by 2.0 inches.

13. The unit as defined in claim 12 wherein the battery-saving means includes

means containing stored information relating to the preselected period of time,

means for monitoring the time from the most recent depression any of the at least one depressible keys, and

means for comparing the monitored time to the preselected period of time so that when the monitored time reaches the preselected period of time before any of the at least one depressible keys are again depressed, the power to the display screen is shut off.

14. The unit as defined in claim 11 wherein the display screen is rectangular in shape, and the sides of the display screen measure no more than about 1.875 inches by 2.875 inches.

15. The unit as defined in claim 11 wherein the computer means includes means providing a user-controlled pointer which is viewable on the display screen;

the depressible keys include a set of navigation keys mounted within the case and connected to the control means enabling a user to alter the position of the pointer across the screen and an ENTER key mounted within the case and connected to the computer means enabling the user to initiate a preselected change in the displayed information by depressing the ENTER key, and

the display screen embodies an active area over which the pointer can be positioned and through which the preselected change in the displayed information is initiated so that by positioning the pointer over the active area and depressing the ENTER key, the preselected change in the displayed information is effected.

16. The unit as defined in claim 15 wherein the navigation keys includes four keys for controlling the upward movement of the pointer relative to the front of the screen, the downward movement of the pointer relative to the front of the screen, the rightward movement of the pointer relative to the front of the screen, and the leftward movement of the pointer relative to the front of the screen.

17. The unit as defined in claim 11 wherein the case has a thickness which is no more than about 0.039 inches.

18. The unit as defined in claim 11 wherein the case has a back including a surface which is adapted to bear indicia printed thereon.

19. The unit as defined in claim 11 further comprising:

timing means associated with the processing means for effecting a change in the displayed information following a preselected period of time or upon reaching a specific moment in time.