Note Capture Device

• US 20100045785A1
• Filed: 08/14/2009
• Published: 02/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stewart Carl
• Original Assignee: Stewart Carl
• Inventors: Carl, Stewart
• Granted Patent: US 9,648,287 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/61
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/32 Digital ink
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00249 with a photographic apparatus, e.g. a photographic printer or a projector photographic apparatus per se G03B, G03D
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00265 with a photographic printing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00267 with a viewing or projecting apparatus, e.g. for reading image information from a film H04N1/00262 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00326 with a data reading, recognizing or recording apparatus, e.g. with a bar-code apparatus arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus G11B31/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0044 for image preview or review, e.g. to help the user position a sheet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00448 horizontally
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00453 arranged in a two dimensional array
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00461 marking or otherwise tagging one or more displayed image, e.g. for selective reproduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0027 Adapting to communicate with plural different types of apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

Various example embodiments provide a note capture device comprising a writing surface, a camera mounted to view the writing surface, and electronic circuitry to capture images of said surface, or various alternative surfaces, including for example, a business card surface. Notes are captured upon a determination of completion of the note writing, and either stored or forwarded to an external device, or both. Handwriting recognition software is provided to enhance searchability of captured notes. Application software embodied on various devices provides the ability to view, browse, share, search and edit captured notes and associated data.

Claims

1. A planar image capture device comprising:

a rest surface defining a base image plane; and

a solid-state camera device defining an optical axis that is oblique to said base image plane.

2. A planar image capture device as recited in claim 1 wherein said solid state camera has a depth of field that extends about at least 2.5 inches but no more than about 7.5 inches from said solid state camera.

3. A planar image capture device as recited in claim 1 wherein said rest surface is pressure sensitive.

4. A planar image capture device as recited in claim 1 wherein said rest surface forms a part of an elongated base assembly.

5. A planar image capture device as recited in claim 4 wherein said base assembly includes a palm rest proximate a first end and said rest surface proximate a second end.

7. A planar image capture device as recited in claim 5 wherein said base assembly is further provided with a page removal detector proximate said second end.

8. A planar image capture device as recited in claim 5 wherein said base assembly is further provided with a capture button.

9. A planar image capture device as recited in claim 5 further comprising a structural supporting element attached at a lower end to said base assembly proximate to said rest surface and attached at an upper end to said camera device.

10. A planar image capture device as recited in claim 9 further comprising light elements supported by said post proximate to said camera device.

11. A planar image capture device as recited in claim 5 further comprising at least one palm rest detector configured to detect pressure on said palm rest.

12. A planar image capture device as recited in claim 1 further comprising a removable writing surface engaged with said rest surface.

13. A planar image capture device as recited in claim 12 wherein said removable writing surface is the top page of a pad engaged with said rest surface.

14. A planar image capture device as recited in claim 13 wherein said pad is of the type including a weak, reusable adhesive compound.

15. A planar image capture device as recited in claim 1 further comprising digital memory configured to at least temporarily store at least partial image data from said camera device.

16. A planar image capture device as recited in claim 15 further comprising a communications port capable of at least transferring data from said digital memory to an external device.

17. A planar image capture device as recited in claim 16 wherein said communications port is at least one of a wired communications port and a wireless communications port.

18. A planar image capture device as recited in claim 1 further comprising a display screen configured, at least in part, to display at least a partial image captured by said camera device.

19. A planar image capture device as recited in claim 1 further comprising a digital processor device coupled to and at least receiving image information from said camera device.

20. A planar image capture device as recited in claim 19 wherein said digital processor is configured to do image processing of said image information.

21. A planar image capture device as recited in claim 1 further comprising a business card holder configured to hold a business card proximate to said camera device.

6. A planar image capture device as recited in 5 wherein said base assembly is further provided with proximity sensors.

22. A planar image capture system comprising:

a planar image capture device comprising;

a rest surface defining a base image plane; and

a solid-state camera device defining an optical axis that is oblique to said base image plane; and

a computing device coupled to said planar image capture device capable of at least receiving image information from said capture device.

23. A method for providing image information comprising:

aiming a solid-state camera device having an optical axis that is oblique to a base image plane;

capturing image data with said solid-state camera; and

at least partially storing said image data in digital memory.

24. An image capture and transmission system comprising:

a network;

a planar image capture device comprising;

a rest surface defining a base image plane; and

a solid-state camera device defining an optical axis that is oblique to said base image plane, said camera device having a fixed optical focus;

a computing device integrated with said planar image capture device capable of at least receiving image information from said capture device; and

wherein said planar image capture device is coupled to said network and is operable to transmit said image information over said network to another device.