Portable electronic office and components suitable therefor

• US 4,849,815 A
• Filed: 03/02/1988
• Issued: 07/18/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jerry R. Iggulden
• Original Assignee: Jerry R. Iggulden
• Inventors: Streck, Donald A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coles, Sr., Edward L.
• Application Number:
  US07/173,882
• Time in Patent Office: 503 Days
• Field of Search: 358/256, 358/293, 358/294, 280/878, 179/100
• US Class Current: 379/100.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00206 Transmitting or receiving computer data via an image communication device, e.g. a facsimile transceiver H04N1/00236 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00236 using an image reading or reproducing device, e.g. a facsimile reader or printer, as a local input to or local output from a computer image input to or image output from a computer via a network H04N1/00209
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00241 using an image reading device as a local input to a computer input via network, e.g. network scanners H04N1/00225
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0473 in subscanning direction, e.g. picture start or line-to-line synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/1017 the main-scanning components remaining positionally invariant with respect to one another in the sub-scanning direction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/107 with manual scanning
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/1072 Means for guiding the scanning, e.g. rules H04N1/1077 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/12 using the sheet-feed movement or the medium-advance or the drum-rotation movement as the slow scanning component, e.g. arrangements for the main-scanningsheet-feed movement by translatory movement of a flat picture-bearing surface H04N1/1008; main-scanning using oscillating or rotating mirrors H04N1/113; using multi-element arrays H04N1/19
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/193 using electrically scanned linear arrays , e.g. linear CCD arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32363 at the transmitter or at the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32368 Functions of a still picture terminal memory associated with transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/33315 reading or reproducing mode only, e.g. sheet size, resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0068 Converting from still picture data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0096 Portable devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0471 using dedicated detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/04715 by detecting marks or the like, e.g. slits
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0472 on or adjacent the sheet support
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/04727 on a linear encoder
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/04734 Detecting at frequent intervals, e.g. once per line for sub-scan control

Abstract

This invention is a family of simple, inexpensive, and portable electronic devices for business support built around a simple 2-dimensional digitizing device. It includes a transmit-only facsimile transmission device/system, a simple computer-based facsimile system, and a dual-mode (digital or OCR) page reading device. The digitizing device includes a read bar having a linear read head for developing a signal reflecting a one dimensional line of viewing; apparatus for creating relative movement between sheets of material to be digitized and the read bar; and, a detector for developing a signal indicating movement of the sheets one scanned line distance. The simple transmit-only facsimile transmission system comprises the foregoing digitizing device and, a digital computer including a numeric input keyboard; a modem for connecting to a telephone line; buffer memory for receiving the entire digitized contents of a 2-dimensional viewing area; and, a first program for inputting telephone numbers, for establishing a connection to a receiving facsimile machine, for determining group type of the receiving machine, and for transmitting the digitized contents of buffer memory to the receiving machine in the proper format for its group type. When employed in the portable office, the system can be used as a photocopier to copy documents. The digitizing device can output digitized or OCR data.

Claims

1. A simple 2-dimensional digitizing device comprising:

(a) a planar case including a scanning area for containing materials to be digitized;

(b) a read bar mounted for movement across said scanning area and parallel thereto, said read bar including a linear read head for developing a first electrical signal at an output thereof reflecting a one dimensional line of viewing of said read head as said head is moved over said scanning area, said read bar further including means for manually moving said read bar over said scanning area;

(c) means for developing a second electrical signal indicating movement of said read bar across said scanning area a pre-defined distance defining the distance between one scanned line of said scanning area and the next said scanned line;

(d) governor means operably connected to said read bar for limiting the speed of movement of said read bar over said scanning area;

(e) a buffer memory for receiving the entire digitized contents of said viewing area as said viewing area is scanned by said read bar; and

,

(f) logic means for establishing a connection to a receiving facsimile machine over a telephone line, for determining the group type of said receiving machine, and for transmitting the digitized contents of said buffer memory to said receiving machine in the proper format for its said group type.

2. The simple 2-dimensional digitizing device of claim 1 and additionally comprising:

(a) first switch means operably connected for sensing by said logic means; and

wherein said logic means includes,

(b) logic for replacing the contents of said buffer memory with the entire digitized contents of said viewing area as said viewing area is scanned by said read bar only after said first switch means has been activated and sensed.

3. The simple 2-dimensional digitizing device of claim 1 and additionally comprising:

(a) second switch means operably connected for sensing by said logic means; and

wherein said logic means includes,

(b) logic for for determining the group type of said receiving machine, and for transmitting the digitized contents of said buffer memory to said receiving machine in the proper format for its said group type only after said second switch means has been activated and sensed.

4. The simple 2-dimensional digitizing device of claim 1 and additionally comprising:

third switch means having said telephone line connected to an input thereof, said logic means connected to a first output thereof and a telephone connected to a second output thereof for selectively connecting said logic means or said telephone to said telephone line.

5. The simple 2-dimensional digitizing device of claim 1 and additionally comprising:

(a) Y-connector means having said telephone line connected to an input thereof, said logic means connected to a first output thereof and a telephone connected to a second output thereof for simultaneously connecting said logic means and said telephone to said telephone line; and

wherein,

(b) said transmitting of the digitized contents of said buffer memory to said receiving machine is by means of an inaudible carrier frequency whereby said transmitting can take place simultaneously with a conversation on said telephone over said telephone line.

8. The simple 2-dimensional digitizing device of claim 1 and additionally comprising:

(a) logic means for establishing a connection to a receiving facsimile machine over a telephone line, for determining the group type of said receiving machine, and for transmitting the digitized contents of said buffer memory to said receiving machine in the proper format for its said group type;

(b) second light means for lighting in the presence of a carrier signal on said telephone line; and

wherein,

(c) said logic means including means for sensing a carrier signal on said telephone line and for activating said second light means when a carrier signal is sensed.

9. The simple 2-dimensional digitizing device of claim 1 and additonally comprising:

(a) logic means for establishing a connection to a receiving facsimile machine over a telephone line, for determining the group type of said receiving machine, and for transmitting the digitized contents of said buffer memory to said receiving machine in the proper format for its said group type;

(b) second light means for lighting in the presence of a carrier signal on said telephone line; and

wherein,

(c) said logic means including means for sensing a carrier signal on said telephone line and for activating said second light means when a carrier signal is sensed.

10. The simple 2-dimensional digitizing device of claim 1 and additionally comprising:

(a) logic means for establishing a connection to a receiving facsimile machine over a telephone line, for determining the group type of said receiving machine, and for transmitting the digitized contents of said buffer memory to said receiving machine in the proper format for its said group type;

(b) third light means for lighting in the presence of a ready to receive signal on said telephone line; and

wherein,

(c) said logic means including means for sensing a ready to receive signal on said telephone line and for activating said third light means when a ready to receive signal is sensed.

11. The simple 2-dimensional digitizing device of claim 1 and additionally comprising:

(a) logic means for establishing a connection to a receiving facsimile machine over a telephone line, for determining the group type of said receiving machine, and for transmitting the digitized contents of said buffer memory to said receiving machine in the proper format for its said group type;

(b) fifth light means for lighting in the presence of an error at the end of transmission signal on said telephone line; and

wherein,

(c) said logic means including means for sensing an error at end of transmission signal on said telephone line and for activating said fifth light means when an error at the end of transmission signal is sensed.

6. The simple 2-dimensional digitizing device of claim and additionally comprising:

(a) a buffer memory disposed in said case of sufficient capacity to receive the entire digitized contents of said viewing area as said viewing area is scanned by said read bar;

(b) fourth switch means carried by said case for selecting between a digitized mode for the digitizing device and a character mode for the digitizing device; and

,

(c) conversion logic means disposed in said case and connected to sense said fourth switch means for,

(c1) when said fourth switch means is in a "DIGITIZED" position, filling said buffer memory with digitized pixel/line format information relative to the scanned contents of said viewing area; and

,

(c2) when said fourth switch means is in a "TEXT" position, operating as an optical character reader (OCR) for inputting to alphanumeric-oriented functions such as word processing programs, and the like, by,

(c2a) first inputting the digitized data to said buffer memory in digitized pixel/line format;

(c2b) when the entire contents of said viewing area has been digitized into said buffer memory, scanning from the "top" to the "bottom" of the "page" represented thereby;

c2c) when a "line" of characters has been isolated and identified, scanning the line from "left" to "right" looking for "character" bit configurations by matching against a list of previously defined alphanumeric character representations on a "best guess" basis;

(c2d) as each character of the line is identified, inserting the numerical representation thereof into a next character position in said buffer memory; and

,

(c2e) repeating the process until the entire said buffer memory in digitized format has been scanned and replaced with alphanumeric numerical representations.

7. The simple 2-dimensional digitizing device of claim and additionally comprising:

(a) logic means for establishing a connection to a receiving facsimile machine over a telephone line, for determining the group type of said receiving machine, and for transmitting the digitized contents of said buffer memory to said receiving machine in the proper format for its said group type;

(b) first light means for lighting in the presence of a dial tone on said telephone line; and

wherein,

(c) said logic means including means for sensing a dial tone on said telephone line and for activating said first light means when a dial tone is sensed.

12. A simple 2-dimensional digitizing device comprising:

(a) a hollow case carrying a pair of opposed, contacting rollers therein for moving sheets of material to be digitized between an input slot and an output slot;

(b) means for rotating said rollers;

(c) a read bar mounted within said case between said input and output slots transversely across the path of movement of said moving sheets of material and parallel thereto, said read bar including a linear read head for developing a first electrical signal at an output thereof reflecting a one dimensional line of viewing of said read head as said sheets are moved past said read bar;

(d) means for developing a second electrical signal indicating movement of said sheets of material past said read bar a pre-defined distance defining the distance between one scanned line of said sheets and a next said scanned line;

(e) a buffer memory for receiving the entire digitized contents of a viewing area as said viewing area is scanned by said read bar; and

,

(f) logic means for establishing a connection to a receiving facsimile machine over a telephone line, for determining the group type of said receiving machine, and for transmitting the digitized contents of said buffer memory to said receiving machine in the proper format for its said group type.

13. The simple 2-dimensional digitizing device of claim 12 and additionally comprising:

(a) first switch means operably connected for sensing by said logic means; and

wherein said logic means includes,

(b) logic for replacing the contents of said buffer memory with the entire digitized contents of said viewing area as said viewing area is scanned by said read bar only after said first switch means has been activated and sensed.

14. The simple 2-dimensional digitizing device of claim 12 and additionally comprising:

(a) second switch means operably connected for sensing by said logic means; and

wherein said logic means includes,

(b) logic for for determining the group type of said receiving machine, and for transmitting the digitized contents of said buffer memory to said receiving machine in the proper format for its said group type only after said second switch means has been activated and sensed.

15. The simple 2-dimensional digitizing device of claim 12 and additionally comprising:

third switch means having said telephone line connected to an input thereof, said logic means connected to a first output thereof and a telephone connected to a second output thereof for selectively connecting said logic means or said telephone to said telephone line.

16. The simple 2-dimensional digitizing device of claim 12 and additionally comprising:

(a) Y-connector means having said telephone line connected to an input thereof, said logic means connected to a first output thereof and a telephone connected to a second output thereof for simultaneously connecting said logic means and said telephone to said telephone line; and

wherein,

(b) said transmitting of the digitized contents of said buffer memory to said receiving machine is by means of an inaudible ready to receive frequency whereby said transmitting can take place simultaneously with a conversation on said telephone over said telephone line.

17. The simple 2-dimensional digitizing device of claim 12 and additionally comprising:

(a) a buffer memory disposed in said case of sufficient capacity to receive the entire digitized contents of a viewing area scanned by said read bar;

(b) fourth switch means carried by said case for selecting between a digitized mode for the digitizing device and a character mode for the digitizing device; and

,

(c) conversion logic means disposed in said case and connected to sense said fourth switch means for,

(c1) when said fourth switch means is in a "DIGITIZED" position, filling said buffer memory with digitized pixel/line format information relative to the scanned contents of said viewing area; and

,

(c2) when said fourth switch means is in a "TEXT" position, operating as an optical character reader (OCR) for inputting to alphanumeric-oriented functions such as word processing programs, and the like, by,

(c2a) first inputting the digitized data to said buffer memory in digitized pixel/line format;

(c2b) when the entire contents of said viewing area has been digitized into said buffer memory, scanning from the "top" to the "bottom" of the "page" represented thereby;

(c2c) when a "line" of characters has been isolated and identified, scanning the line from "left" to "right" looking for "character" bit configurations by matching against a list of previously defined alphanumeric character representations on a "best guess" basis;

(c2d) as each character of the line is identified, inserting a numerical representation thereof into a next character position in said buffer memory; and

,

(c2e) repeating the process until the entire buffer memory in digitized format has been scanned and replaced with alphanumeric numerical representations.

18. A simple transmit-only facsimile transmission device comprising:

(a) a planar case including a scanning area for containing materials to be digitized;

(b) a read bar mounted for manual movement across said scanning area and parallel thereto, said read bar including a linear read head for developing a first electrical signal at an output thereof reflecting a one dimensional line of viewing of said read head as said head is moved over said scanning area;

(c) means for developing a second electrical signal indicating movement of said read bar across said scanning area a pre-defined distance defining the distance between one scanned line of said scanning area and a next said scanned line;

(d) governor means operably connected to said read bar for limiting the speed of movement of said read bar over said scanning area;

(e) a buffer memory for receiving the entire digitized contents of said viewing area as said viewing area is scanned by said read bar; and

,

(f) logic means for establishing a connection to a receiving facsimile machine over a telephone line, for determining the group type of said receiving machine, and for transmitting the digitized contents of said buffer memory to said receiving machine in the proper format for its said group type.

19. The simple transmit-only facsimile transmission device of claim 18 and additionally comprising:

modem means disposed within said case and operably connected for connecting said logic means to said telephone line.

20. The simple transmit-only facsimile transmission device of claim 19 and additionally comprising:

touch-tone dialing means operably connected to said modem means for inputting a tone-based telephone number to said telephone line.

21. The simple transmit-only facsimile transmission device of claim 18 and additionally comprising:

(a) first switch means operably connected for sensing by said logic means; and

wherein said logic means includes,

(b) logic for replacing the contents of said buffer memory with the entire digitized contents of said viewing area as said viewing area is scanned by said read bar only after said first switch means has been activated and sensed.

22. The simple transmit-only facsimile transmission device of claim 18 and additionally comprising:

(a) second switch means operably connected for sensing by said logic means; and

wherein said logic means includes,

(b) logic for for determining the group type of said receiving machine, and for transmitting the digitized contents of said buffer memory to said receiving machine in the proper format for its said group type only after said second switch means has been activated and sensed.

23. The simple transmit-only facsimile transmission device of claim 18 and additionally comprising:

third switch means having said telephone line connected to an input thereof, said logic means connected to a first output thereof and a telephone connected to a second output thereof for selectively connecting said logic means or said telephone to said telephone line.

24. The simple transmit-only facsimile transmission device of claim 18 and additionally comprising:

(a) Y-connector means having said telephone line connected to an input thereof, said logic means connected to a first output thereof and a telephone connected to a second output thereof for simultaneously connecting said logic means and said telephone to said telephone line; and

wherein,

(b) said transmitting of the digitized contents of said bufrer memory to said receiving machine is by means of an inaudible carrier frequency whereby said transmitting can take place simultaneously with a conversation on said telephone over said telephone line.

25. The simple transmit-only facsimile transmission device of claim 18 and additionally comprising:

(a) first light means for lighting in the presence of a dial tone on said telephone line;

wherein,

(b) said logic means including means for sensing a dial tone on said telephone line and for activating said first light means when a dial tone is sensed;

(c) second light means for lighting in the presence of a carrier signal on said telephone line;

wherein,

(d) said logic means including means for sensing a carrier signal on said telephone line and for activating said second light means when a carrier signal is sensed;

(e) third light means for lighting in the presence of a ready to receive signal on said telephone line;

wherein,

(f) said logic means including means for sensing a ready to receive signal on said telephone line and for activating said third light means when a ready to receive signal is sensed;

(g) fourth light means for lighting in the presence of an end of transmission signal on said telephone line;

wherein,

(h) said logic means including means for sensing an end of transmission signal on said telephone line and for activating said fourth light means when an end of transmission signal is sensed;

(i) fifth light means for lighting in the presence of an error at end of transmission signal on said telephone line; and

wherein,

(j) said logic means including means for sensing an error at end of transmission signal on said telephone line and for activating said fifth light means when an error at end of transmission signal is sensed.

26. A facsimile transmission system capable of transmitting and receiving simultaneously with a verbal conversation on a telephone line comprising:

(a) a 2-dimensional digitizing device comprising, a case, a read bar carried by said case and including a linear read head for developing a first electrical signal at an output thereof reflecting a one dimensional line of viewing of said read head, means for creating relative movement between sheets of material to be digitized and said read bar, and means for developing a second electrical signal indicating movement of said sheets of material relative to said read bar a pre-defined distance defining the distance between one scanned line of a scanning area and a next said scanned line; and

,

(b) modem means disposed within said case for connecting to a telephone line;

(c) buffer memory means for receiving the entire digitized contents of a 2-dimensional viewing area created by said relative movement between sheets of material to be digitized and said read bar, said digitized contents of said viewing area comprising a plurality of adjacent lines comprising said first electrical signal over a period of time wherein a new said line is started upon the occurrence of a said second electrical signal;

(d) logic means disposed in said case and connected to said buffer memory means, said modem means and to receive said first and second signals for establishing a connection to a receiving facsimile machine over a telephone line through said modem means, for determining the group type of said receiving machine, and for transmitting the digitized contents of said buffer memory to said receiving machine in the proper format for its said group type;

(e) Y-connector means having said telephone line connected to an input thereof, said logic means connected to a first output thereof and a telephone connected to a second output thereof for simultaneously connecting said logic means and said telephone to said telephone line; and

wherein,

(f) said transmitting of the digitized contents of said buffer memory to said receiving machine is by means of an inaudible carrier frequency whereby said telephone and a touch-tone dialing pad thereof can be employed to establish initial contact with said receiving machine and said transmitting can take place simultaneously with a conversation on said telephone over said telephone line.

27. A simple transmit-only facsimile transmission system comprising:

(a) a simple 2-dimensional digitizing device comprising,

(a1) a case;

(a2) a read bar carried by said case and including a linear read head for developing a first electrical signal at an output thereof reflecting a one dimensional line of viewing of said read head;

(a3) means for creating relative movement between sheets of material to be digitized and said read bar; and

,

(a4) means for developing a second electrical signal indicating movement of said sheets of material relative to said read bar a pre-defined distance defining the distance between one scanned line of a scanning area and a next said scanned line; and

,

(b) digital computer means for executing programs stored therein and including a numeric input keyboard, said computer means having a data input operably connected to receive said first and second electrical signals;

(c) modem means disposed within said computer for connecting to a telephone line;

(d) buffer memory means for receiving the entire digitized contents of a 2-dimensional viewing area created by said relative movement between sheets of material to be digitized and said read bar, said digitized contents of said viewing area comprising a plurality of adjacent lines comprising said first electrical signal over a period of time wherein a new said line is started upon the occurrence of a said second electrical signal; and

,

(e) first program means operably disposed for execution by said computer means for inputting telephone numbers of receiving facsimile machines through said keyboard, for establishing a connection to a receiving facsimile machine over a telephone line through said modem means, for determining the group type of said receiving machine, and for transmitting the digitized contents of said buffer memory to said receiving machine in the proper format for its said group type.

28. The simple transmit-only facsimile transmission system of claim 27 wherein:

(a) said case is a planar case including a compartment defining said scanning area for containing materials to be digitized;

(b) said means for creating relative movement between sheets of material to be digitized and said read bar comprises said read bar being mounted for manual movement across said scanning area and parallel thereto, said read bar including said linear read head for developing said first electrical signal at an output thereof reflecting a one dimensional line of viewing of said read head as said head is moved over said scanning area, said read bar further including governor means operably connected for limiting the speed of movement of said read bar over said scanning area; and

,

(c) said means for developing a second electrical signal includes means for indicating movement of said read bar across said scanning area said pre-defined distance defining the distance between one scanned line of said scanning area and the next said scanned line.

29. The simple transmit-only facsimile transmission system of claim 27 wherein:

(a) said case is a hollow case including a pair of opposed, contacting rollers for moving sheets of material to be digitized between an input slot and an output slot and includes means for rotating said rollers;

(b) said read bar is mounted within said case between said input and output slots transversely across the path of movement of said moving sheets of material and parallel thereto, said read bar includes said linear read head for developing a first electrical signal at an output thereof reflecting a one dimensional line of viewing of said read head as said sheets are moved past said read head; and

,

(c) said means for developing a second electrical signal includes means for indicating movement of said sheets of material past said read bar said pre-defined distance defining the distance between one scanned line and the next said scanned line.

30. The simple transmit-only facsimile transmission system of claim 29 wherein:

(a) said means for rotating said rollers includes a gear drive; and

,

(b) said means for developing a second electrical signal comprises detector means for detecting the teeth of a gear in said gear drive.

31. The simple transmit-only facsimile transmission system of claim 27 and additionally comprising:

second program means operably disposed in said computer means for execution for transmitting the contents of said buffer memory to other programs disposed in said computer means for execution.

32. The simple transmit-only facsimile transmission system of claim 27 and additionally comprising:

(a) dot printer means connected to be driven by said computer means for printing a 2-dimensional medium with a plurality of lines of adjacent dots in response to signals at an input thereof; and

,

(b) third program means operably disposed in said computer means for execution for transmitting the contents of said buffer memory to said printer means as a signal at said input to be printed thereby whereby said system can be used as a photocopier to copy documents from said simple 2-dimensional digitizing device to said printer means.

33. A simple computer-based facsimile system comprising:

(a) a digitizing reader having a read bar including a linear read head for developing a first electrical signal at an output thereof reflecting a one dimensional line of viewing of said read head, means for creating relative movement between sheets of material to be digitized and said read bar, and means for developing a second electrical signal indicating movement of said sheets of material relative to said read bar a pre-defined distance defining the distance between one scanned line of a scanning area and a next said scanned line;

(b) digital computer means for executing programs stored therein and including a numeric input keyboard, said computer means having a data input operably connected to receive said first and second electrical signals;

(c) modem means disposed within said computer for connecting to a telephone line;

(d) buffer memory means disposed in said computer means for receiving the entire digitized contents of a 2-dimensional viewing area created by said relative movement between sheets of material to be digitized and said read bar, said digitized contents of said viewing area comprising a plurality of adjacent lines comprising said first electrical signal over a period of time wherein a new said line is started upon the occurrence of a said second electrical signal;

(e) first program means operably disposed for execution by said computer means for inputting telephone numbers of receiving facsimile machines through said keyboard, for establishing a connection to a receiving facsimile machine over a telephone line through said modem means, for determining the group type of said receiving machine, and for transmitting the digitized contents of said buffer memory to said receiving machine in the proper format for its said group type;

(f) dot printer means connected to be driven by said computer means for printing a 2-dimensional medium with a plurality of lines of adjacent dots in response to signals at an input thereof; and

,

(g) second program means operably disposed in said computer means for execution for receiving facsimile input data from said modem means, for storing said received data in said buffer memory until a full "page" of data has been received, and for transmitting the contents of said buffer memory to said printer means as a signal at said input to be printed thereby.

34. The simple computer-based facsimile system of claim 33 and additionally comprising:

(a) Y-connector means having said telephone line connected to an input thereof, said modem means connected to a first output thereof and a telephone connected to a second output thereof for simultaneously connecting said modem means and said telephone to said telephone line; and

wherein,

(b) said transmitting of the digitized contents of said buffer memory to said receiving machine is by means of an inaudible carrier frequency whereby said transmitting can take place simultaneously with a conversation on said telephone over said telephone line.

35. A dual-mode page reading device for outputting in a digitizing mode or outputting in a text mode for use by alphanumeric-oriented functions comprising:

(a) digitizing reader means having a read bar including a linear read head for developing a first electrical signal at an output thereof reflecting a one dimensional line of viewing of said read head, said digitizing reader means including means for creating relative movement between sheets of material to be digitized and said read bar and means for developing a second electrical signal indicating movement of said sheets of material relative to said read bar a predefined distance defining the distance between one scanned line of a scanning area and a next said scanned line;

(b) buffer memory means for receiving the entire digitized contents of a 2-dimensional viewing area created by said relative movement between sheets of material to be digitized and said read bar, said digitized contents of said viewing area comprising a plurality of adjacent lines comprising said first electrical signal over a period of time wherein a new said line is started upon the occurrence of a said second electrical signal, the contents of said buffer memory means being output as the output of said digitizing device;

(c) switch means for selecting between a digitized mode for the digitizing device and a text mode for the digitizing device; and

,

(d) conversion logic means connected to sense said switch means for,

(d1) when said switch means is in a "DIGITIZED" position, filling said buffer memory means with digitized pixel/line format information relative to the scanned contents of said viewing area; and

,

(d2) when said switch means is in a "TEXT" position, operating as an optical character reader by,

(d2a) first inputting the digitized data to said buffer memory means in digitized pixel/line format;

(d2b) when the entire contents of said viewing area has been digitized into said buffer memory, scanning from the "top" to the "bottom" of the "page" represented thereby;

(d2c) when a "line" of characters has been isolated and identified, scanning the line from "left" to "right" looking for "character" bit configurations by matching against a list of previously defined alphanumeric character representations on a "best guess" basis;

(d2d) as each character of the line is identified, inserting a numerical representation thereof into a next character position in said buffer memory; and

,

(d2e) repeating the process until the entire said buffer memory in digitized format has been scanned and replaced with alphanumeric numerical representations.

36. A portable office comprising:

(a) an attache-type case having a handle for carrying and an openable lid;

(b) a digitizing reader disposed within said case, said reader having a read bar including a linear read head for developing a first electrical signal at an output thereof reflecting a one dimensional line of viewing of said read head, means for creating relative movement between sheets of material to be digitized and said read bar, and means for developing a second electrical signal indicating movement of said sheets of material relative to said read bar a predefined distance defining the distance between one scanned line of a scanning area and a next said scanned line;

(c) a numeric input keyboard disposed within said case;

(d) modem means disposed within said case for connecting to a telephone line;

(e) buffer memory means disposed within said case for receiving the entire digitized contents of a 2-dimensional viewing area created by said relative movement between sheets of material to be digitized and said read bar, said digitized contents of said viewing area comprising a plurality of adjacent lines comprising said first electrical signal over a period of time wherein a new said line is started upon the occurrence of a said second electrical signal;

(f) dot printer means disposed within said case for printing a 2-dimensional medium with a plurality of lines of adjacent dots in response to signals at an input thereof;

(g) telephone handset means and operably connectable for conducting voice conversations over said telephone line; and

,

(h) logic means disposed within said case and operably connected to receive said first and second electrical signals and to said keyboard, said buffer memory means, and said printer means, said logic means including,

(h1) first sublogic means for inputting data from said digitizing reader to said buffer memory means;

(h2) second sublogic means for inputting telephone numbers of receiving facsimile machines through said keyboard, for establishing a connection to a receiving facsimile machine over a telephone line through said modem means, for determining the group type of said receiving machine, and for transmitting the digitized contents of said buffer memory to said receiving machine in the proper format for its said group type; and

,

(h3) third sublogic means for transmitting the contents of said buffer memory to said printer means as a signal at said input to be printed thereby whereby the portable office can be used as a photocopier to copy documents from said digitizing reader to said printer means.

37. The portable office of claim 36 and additionally comprising:

said logic means including fourth sublogic means for receiving facsimile input data from said modem means, for storing said received data in said buffer memory until a full "page" of data has been received, and for transmitting the contents of said buffer memory to said printer means as a signal at said input to be printed thereby.

38. The portable office of claim 36 and additionally comprising:

(a) Y-connector means having said telephone line connected to an input thereof, said modem means connected to a first output thereof and said telephone handset means connected to a second output thereof for simultaneously connecting said modem means and said telephone handset means to said telephone line; and

wherein,

(b) said transmitting of the digitized contents of said bufrer memory means to said receiving machine is by means of an inaudible carrier frequency whereby said transmitting can take place simultaneously with a conversation on said telephone handset means over said telephone line.

39. The portable office of claim 36 and additionally comprising:

(a) panel display means disposed within said lid of said case for displaying a 2-dimensional display comprising a plurality of lines of adjacent dots in response to signals at an input thereof; and

,

(b) said logic means including fifth sublogic means for receiving facsimile input data from said modem means, for storing said received data in said buffer memory until a full "page" of data has been received, and for transmitting the contents of said buffer memory to said panel display means as a signal at said input to be displayed thereby.

40. The portable office of claim 39 wherein:

said panel display means is removably held in said lid and includes powered memory means for holding a bit map of the present display thereon whereby said panel display means can be removed and placed in a photocopy machine to make a copy thereof.