Electronic typewriter using a solid state display to print

• US 4,110,794 A
• Filed: 02/03/1977
• Issued: 08/29/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Static Systems Corporation
• Original Assignee: Static Systems Corporation
• Inventors: Hotto, Robert, Lester, Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Britton, Howard W.
• Application Number:
  US05/765,339
• Time in Patent Office: 572 Days
• Field of Search: 340/337, 178/15, 178/30, 358/244, 358/256, 354/5, 350/160 LC
• US Class Current: 358/401
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/46 Printing mechanisms combined with apparatus providing a visual indication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/106 Display of layout of documents; Previewing
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/1233 using a cathode-ray tube or an optical-fibre tube

Abstract

A word processing system for displaying and reproducing a plurality of alphanumeric characters on a solid state display and capable of printing from that display consisting of a housing containing an electronic keyboard with indicia markings on the keys. There is provided at least one solid state display device disposed adjacent to the housing and having a multitude of segments for reproducing the indicia identified on the keyboard. A logic means is connected to the keyboard and the solid state display, and scans the keyboard upon the depression of one or more keys to find out the identity of the keys depressed. A solid state memory is also connected to the logic means and contains coded information concerning the keyboard indicia so that a character can be generated and reproduced on the solid state display responsive to the keyed indicia. There is also provided a data storage means for sequentially recording each of the keyed indicia responses provided by the keyboard and a means for printing the indicia displayed on the solid state screen. A plurality of pages of information can be stored in the system and sequentially reproduced by the printer from the electronic display.

Claims

1. A word processing system for displaying and reproducing alphanumeric characters comprising:

a housing including an electronic keyboard with keys representing individual alphanumeric characters;

at least one solid state reflective display for

logic means connected to said keyboard and solid state reflective display for scanning said keyboard upon the depression of one or more keys;

solid state memory means having stored coded character information and coupled to said logic means for sequencing said logic means for each of the keyed characters depressed and for generating a displayed character on said solid state display screen responsive to the character keyed; and

print means coupled to said solid state display for reprinting the characters appearing on said display.

2. The word processing system as recited in claim 1 wherein said at least one solid state display comprises a liquid crystal display.

3. The word processing system as recited in claim 2 additionally comprising recorded memory means coupled to said logic means for sequentially storing the coded character information produced by said keyboard.

4. The word processing system as recited in claim 3 wherein said liquid crystal display comprises at least one liquid crystal screen, a multiplex decoder and driver circuit having its output coupled to said screen and its input coupled to said logic means for sequentially displaying the alphanumeric characters on the screen.

5. The word processing system as recited in claim 4 wherein said print means comprises a photocopy machine.

6. The word processing system as recited in claim 5 wherein said at least one liquid crystal display is coupled to said housing adjacent said electronic keyboard and compromising a second liquid crystal display coupled to said at least one liquid crystal display and in optical contact with said photocopy machine.

7. The word processing system as recited in claim 6 wherein said liquid crystal displays comprise at least two liquid crystal screens superimposed with respect to each other wherein said screens have an identical dot matrix layout with respect to each other, wherein one of said dot matrix layouts is slightly offset with respect to the other in an amount sufficient to fill in the space between the matrix dots.

8. The word processing system as recited in claim 1 wherein said logic means comprises a microprocessor and said solid state memory means comprises a ROM.

9. The word processing system as recited in claim 3 wherein said recorded memory means comprises a ROM.

10. The word processing system as recited in claim 2 wherein said at least one liquid crystal display comprises four display screens superimposed with respect to each other and disposed in close adjacent proximity, said screens having identical dot matrix layout wherein each of the dot matrix layouts of adjacent screens are offset in one of four directions in an amount sufficient to fill in the space of adjacent dot matrix segments so that a character generated simultaneously on all four screens will be continuous without segmentation.

11. The word processing system as recited in claim 2 wherein said at least one solid state display comprises an electrochromex screen.

12. The word processing system as recited in claim 2 wherein said at least one solid state display comprises a PLTZ screen.

13. The word processing system as recited in claim 1 wherein said print means comprises a photoengraver having self-developing film.

14. The word processing system as recited in claim 3 wherein said print means comprises a photocopy machine.

15. The word processing system as recited in claim 1 additionally comprising a facsimile transmitter and receiver coupled to said logic means for sequentially transmitting and receiving alphanumeric character information to and from a remote source for display on said solid state display.

16. The word processing system as recited in claim 2 wherein said at least one liquid crystal display comprises a remote liquid crystal screen for displaying generated character information at a remote location.

17. The word processing system as recited in claim 14 wherein said keyboard additionally comprises print key means coupled to said photocopy machine for sequentially reproducing the alphanumeric characters reproduced on said liquid crystal display.

18. The word processing system as recited in claim 17 wherein said print key means is coupled to said recorded memory means, for reproducing a series of pages of stored information on said photocopy machine in response to said print key.