Electronically simulated rotary-type cardfile

• US 5,452,240 A
• Filed: 11/23/1993
• Issued: 09/19/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ROCA Productions Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ROCA Productions Incorporated
• Inventors: Roca, Robert J., Cranford, Ronald D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Tan V.
• Application Number:
  US08/156,104
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• Field of Search: 364/705, 364/06, 364/400, 364/419.07, 364/419.13, 364/419.19, 395/119, 395/148
• US Class Current: 708/110
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/0283 for data storage and retrieval
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0483 Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/275 implemented by means of portable electronic directories

Abstract

A thin, portable, lightweight electronic name and address cardfile optionally including memo alarm, calendar and calculator functions, is provided with a contact and movement sensitive scrolling mechanism for sequentially advancing electronically simulated name and address cards in the style of bottom-attachable index cards. The scrolling function is accomplished by manipulating a graphic representation of a rotary actuator of the type provided on a mechanical rotary-type directory. The simulated card-flipping is accompanied by an artificial sound effect reminiscent of the expected sound of cards flipping. The device may be provided with holes positioned so as to render the device insertable within a loose-leaf ring-type binder notebook or personal organizer.

Claims

1. In the field of compact, portable, lightweight, electronic information-processing devices suitable for storage and retrieval of information such as names, addresses, telephone numbers and personal memoranda, a simulated rotary-type directory operated by sliding contact along a visually simulated mechanical rotary actuator, comprising:

a thin enclosure containing upon an external face thereof

a substantially rectangular LCD screen for presenting simulated directory index cards in the style of bottom-attachable rotary-type cards; and

an alphanumeric keyboard for entering characters to be displayed upon said simulated cards;

a simulated rotary actuator for controlling sequential advancement of said simulated cards in a first direction corresponding with simulated clockwise sequential advancement of said simulated cards and for controlling sequential advancement of said simulated cards in a second direction corresponding with simulated counterclockwise sequential advancement of said simulated cards, said simulated rotary actuator being responsive to the direction and rate of movement of a user'"'"'s thumb or another user-controlled contactor device such that a sliding movement of said user-controlled contactor device in a first direction along said simulated rotary actuator effects said simulated clockwise sequential advancement of said simulated cards at a rate which corresponds with said rate of movement of said user-controlled contactor device in said first direction and such that a sliding movement of said user-controlled contactor device along said simulated rotary actuator in a second direction opposite to said first direction effects said simulated counterclockwise sequential advancement of said simulated cards at a rate which corresponds with said rate of movement of said user-controlled contactor device in said second direction; and

an internal microprocessor system for accepting control signal inputs from said simulated rotary actuator and said keyboard, for presenting simulated directory index cards in the style of bottom-attachable rotary-type cards on said LCD screen, and for storing and retrieving information in and from an internal memory unit; and

a power-storage system connected to, and for powering, said LCD screen, said simulated rotary actuator, said keyboard and said microprocessor.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said power-storage system comprises a rechargeable battery system.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said keyboard contains a simulated typewriter style spacebar as the input key for the spacing input.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said keyboard contains an operative icon for erasure of entered and displayed characters which depicts a recognizably humanoid hand brushing with an erasing pad.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said keyboard contains an operative icon, for entering or retrieving telephone numbers into said directory, which depicts a recognizable telephone.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said keyboard contains an operative icon, for setting or reading calendar dates in an internal electronic calendar, which depicts a recognizable daily calendar pad.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said keyboard contains operative icons, representing standard symbols for addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, which control the corresponding operations of an internal electronic calculator.

8. The device of claim 1 containing an internal electronic calculator which is switched on or off by pressing an icon which depicts a recognizable early-style hand-held electronic calculator.

9. The device of claim 1 containing an internal electronic sound-generator which produces a sound simulating the sound of sequential flipping of the cards of a mechanical rotary-type directory.

10. The device of claim 1 containing upon said face a second simulated rotary actuator for vertical scrolling of any displayed simulated card.

11. The device of claim 1 containing upon said face a second simulated rotary actuator for panning or horizontal scrolling of any displayed simulated card.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein said simulated rotary actuator comprises an operable graphic representation of a side view of a mechanical rotary actuator.

13. The device of claim 1 further comprising an operable graphic representation of a perspective view of a mechanical rotary actuator.

14. The device of claim 1 wherein said enclosure further comprises holes rendering said enclosure insertable within a ring-type binder.

15. In the field of compact, portable, self-powered, thin electronic devices suitable for storage and retrieval of information such as names, addresses, telephone numbers and personal memoranda, an electronic directory provided in a thin enclosure comprising:

an information-processing subsystem;

a user-accessible information input subsystem;

a visual display information output subsystem; and

a contact and sliding movement sensitive scrolling mechanism operable by sliding engagement of a thumb or other user-controlled contactor device with said scrolling mechanism.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein said scrolling mechanism further comprises an operable visual representation of a mechanical scrolling mechanism.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein a mechanical rotary scrolling mechanism is visually represented.

18. The device of claim 17 wherein said enclosure further comprises holes rendering said enclosure insertable within a ring-type binder.

19. The device of claim 18 containing an internal electronic sound-generator which produces a sound simulating the sound of sequential flipping of the cards of a mechanical rotary-type directory.

20. The device of claim 15 wherein said contact and sliding movement sensitive scrolling mechanism is responsive to the direction and rate of movement of said user-controlled contactor device.

24. The device of claim 20 wherein said contact and sliding movement sensitive scrolling mechanism is responsive to the direction and rate of movement of said user-controlled contactor device.

21. An electronic information-processing system comprising:

an information-processing subsystem;

a user-accessible information input subsystem;

a visual display information output subsystem; and

a contact and sliding movement sensitive scrolling mechanism operable by sliding engagement of a thumb or other user-controlled contactor device with said scrolling mechanism.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein said scrolling mechanism further comprises an operable visual representation of a mechanical scrolling mechanism.

23. The system of claim 21 wherein said scrolling mechanism further comprises an operable visual representation of a mechanical rotary scrolling mechanism.

25. A compact, portable, lightweight, electronic device suitable for the storage and retrieval of information such as names, addresses, telephone numbers and personal memoranda, said electronic device comprising:

a thin enclosure containing upon an external surface thereof

a display screen; and

an keyboard for entering characters to be displayed upon said display screen;

at least one aperture within said enclosure rendering said enclosure insertable within a ring-type binder;

an internal microprocessor system for accepting control signal inputs from said keyboard, for operating display screen, and for storing and retrieving information in and from an internal memory unit; and

a power-storage system connected to, and for powering, said display screen, keyboard and microprocessor.