Hand-held programmable sign

• US 5,973,607 A
• Filed: 02/23/1998
• Issued: 10/26/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Timothy Munyon
• Original Assignee: Timothy Munyon
• Inventors: Munyon, Timothy
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US09/027,632
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• Field of Search: 340/815.4, 340/815.45, 340/815.47, 340/525, 340/321, 340/479, 345/168, 345/905, 341/22, 40/446, 40/541, 40/584, 40/586, 40/612
• US Class Current: 340/815.4
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1622 with enclosures rotating around an axis perpendicular to the plane they define or with ball-joint coupling, e.g. PDA with display enclosure orientation changeable between portrait and landscape by rotation with respect to a coplanar body enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1679 for locking or maintaining the movable parts of the enclosure in a fixed position, e.g. latching mechanism at the edge of the display in a laptop or for the screen protective cover of a PDA G06F1/1681 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1681 Details related solely to hinges hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1683 for the transmission of signal or power between the different housings, e.g. details of wired or wireless communication, passage of cabling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/006 Portable traffic signalling devices G08B5/004 takes precedence; emergency signalling devices to be placed on roads or vehicles B60Q7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/33 being semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/32 semiconductive, e.g. using light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A portable programmable sign comprising a unitary T-shaped housing having opposed front and rear sides and including an upper sign portion and a lower hand-held portion mounted midway transverse to the sign portion. A keyboard system with a miniaturized keyboard processor including keys marked with indicia for letters of the alphabet, numerals, and other selected indicia is mounted on the hand grip for operator input. Operating keys are also mounted on the keyboard. The sign includes a miniaturized computer microprocessor for processing input data received from the keyboard. A miniaturized light-emitting message display, preferably an LED display, is mounted on the front side of the sign portion for reading by an observer. An electrical circuit in the housing joins the keyboard system, computer microprocessor, and the light-emitting message display are joined by an electrical circuit in the housing and which can be internally or externally powered. An optional miniaturized monitor display system mounted on the rear side of the sign portion receives the input data from the computer microprocessor prior to transmission of the input data so that a user can edit or verify the accuracy of the input data prior to transmission of the data to the light-emitting message display.

Claims

1. A portable programmable sign, comprising, in combination,

a housing having opposed front and rear sides including a sign portion and a hand-grip portion mounted transverse to said sign portion,

computer miniaturized microprocessor means for processing data mounted within said housing,

keyboard means mounted in said hand-grip portion for receiving input data and transmitting the input data to said computer microprocessor means, said keyboard means including a keyboard miniaturized microprocessor,

message display means for presenting the input data to an observer, said message display means including a message display mounted on said front side of said sign portion,

circuit means for electrically joining said keyboard means, said computer microprocessor means and said message display means,

power means for supplying electrical current to said circuit means, and

on/off means for connecting and disconnecting said circuit means with and from said power means.

2. The sign according to claim 1, further including means for controlling the input data entered at said keyboard means for display at said message display.

3. The sign according to claim 2, wherein said message display means includes a miniaturized message display microprocessor for receiving input data from said computer microprocessor means and converting the input data for transmission to said message display, said message display microprocessor being mounted in said sign portion of said housing.

4. The sign according to claim 3, wherein said keyboard means further includes a keyboard having plurality of indicia keys mounted on said keyboard.

5. The sign in accordance with claim 2, wherein said message display is a light-emitting display, said light-emitting display being a light-emitting diode (LED) display.

6. The sign in accordance with claim 5, wherein said LED display transmits the color red.

7. The sign in accordance with claim 4, wherein said plurality of indicia keys include an assemblage of systematically arranged alphabet keys operatively representing the letters of the alphabet in accordance with alphabetic indicia marked on said keys.

8. The sign in accordance with claim 7, wherein said indicia keys further include ten numeral keys operatively representing the ten single numerals marked on said keys in accordance with numeral indicia from 0 through 9.

9. The sign in accordance with claim 8, wherein selected keys of said alphabet keys operatively represent in response to a keystroke both said ten numeral indicia and selected alphabetic indicia, said ten numeral indicia and selected alphabetic indicia being marked on said selected keys.

10. The sign in accordance with claim 9, wherein said indicia keys further include at least one grammatical symbol key operatively representing in response to a keystroke a first grammatical symbol marked on said at least one grammatical symbol key.

11. The sign in accordance with claim 10, wherein said at least one grammatical symbol key further operatively represents in response to a keystroke a second grammatical symbol, said at least one key being marked with said second grammatical symbol.

12. The sign in accordance with claim 9, wherein said means for controlling includes the input data entered at said selected keys of said alphabet keys operatively representing in response to a keystroke both selected numeral indicia and selected alphabetic indicia;

and said indicia keys operatively representing in response to a keystroke said at least one and said second grammatical symbol marked on said grammatical symbol key.

13. The sign in accordance with claim 12, wherein said means for controlling includes a shift key mounted on said keyboard for operatively activating a switch in said computer microprocessor in response to a held keystroke any of said ten combined alphabet-numeral keys from an alphabet mode to a numeral mode and said grammatical symbol key from a first grammatical symbol mode to a second grammatical symbol mode in preparation for processing a subsequent keystroke of any one of the combined alphabetic and numerical indicia keys or the combined first and second grammatical symbol key.

14. The sign in accordance with claim 4, wherein said means for controlling includes a space key mounted on said keyboard signaling said computer microprocessor in response to keystroke to transmit an electrical signal by way of said computer microprocessor to said message display means to omit a space before the next keystroke on said keyboard means.

15. The sign in accordance with claim 4, wherein said means for controlling includes a clear key signaling said computer microprocessor in response to a keystroke to transmit an electrical signal to delete all data being displayed said message display means.

16. The sign in accordance with claim 4, wherein said means for controlling includes a flash key mounted on said keyboard signaling said computer microprocessor in response to a keystroke to transmit an electrical signal to cause data being display on said message display means to blink between light-emitting and non-light emitting modes.

17. The sign in accordance with claim 4, wherein said means for controlling includes a backspace key signaling said computer microprocessor in response to keystroke to transmit an electrical signal to delete one space of prior entered data being displayed on said message display.

18. The sign in accordance with claim 2, wherein said on/off means includes a mechanical open/closed switch positioned between said circuit means and said power means, and an on/off key mounted on said keyboard mechanically operating said open/closed switch between a closed position and an open position in response to keystroke, wherein in the closed position said open/closed switch electrically connects said circuit means and said power means and wherein in the open position said open/closed switch disconnects said circuit means from said power means, said open/closed switch being positioned between said circuit means and said power means.

19. The sign in accordance with claim 2, further including memory chip means for storing input data signaled from said keyboard means and for releasing the input data upon a signal received from said keyboard means for transmission by way of a said circuit means to said message display means for display, said memory chip means being associated with said computer microprocessor means, said memory chip means including an electronic memory chip switch transistor operable between on and off modes, wherein in the off mode the input data is stored in said memory chip means without being signaled to said message display means and in the on mode the input data is released from said memory chip for signaling for display at said memory display means, said switch transistor returning to said off mode upon release of the input data.

20. The sign in accordance with claim 18, wherein said means for controlling includes a send key mounted on said keyboard signaling to said computer microprocessor in response to a keystroke to signal to said memory chip switch transistor to activate from the off mode to the on mode, wherein input data stored in said memory chip means is released for transmittal for display at said message display means, said memory transistor chip returning to said off mode upon release of the input data.

21. The sign in accordance with claim 1, wherein said computer microprocessor means is mounted within said hand-grip portion of said housing.

22. The sign in accordance with claim 1, wherein said computer microprocessor means is mounted within said sign portion of said housing.

23. The sign in accordance with claim 4, wherein said keyboard is mounted on said rear side of said hand-grip portion of said housing.

24. The sign in accordance with claim 1, wherein said power means is positioned within said hand-grip portion of said housing.

25. The sign in accordance with claim 1, wherein said power means is an internal power source, said internal power source being a plurality of batteries positioned in said hand-grip portion of said housing.

26. The sign in accordance with claim 1, wherein said power means includes a power connector and an AC/DC converter positioned in said housing connected to an external power source.

27. The sign in accordance with claim 1, further including means for preventing glare of external light from interfering with light emission from said message display means, said means for preventing being connected to said sign portion of said housing.

28. The sign in accordance with claim 1, wherein said sign portion has a rectangular front wall with opposed wall upper and lower edges and opposed wall side edges, and wherein said means for preventing includes a rectangular top plate transverse to and secured to said front wall at said wall upper edge and a pair of opposed triangular side plates transverse to said top plate and to said front wall and secured to said front wall at said wall side edges, said side plates having linear plate top edges secured to said top plate and linear plate side edges secured to said front wall at said wall side edges with side plate bottom points secured to said front wall at said wall lower edge.

29. A portable programmable sign, comprising, in combination,

a housing having opposed front and rear sides including a sign portion and a hand-grip portion mounted transverse to said sign portion,

computer miniaturized microprocessor means for processing data mounted within said housing,

keyboard means mounted in said hand-grip portion for receiving input data and transmitting the input data to said computer microprocessor means, said keyboard means including a keyboard miniaturized microprocessor,

message display means for presenting the input data to an observer, said message display means including a message display mounted on said front side of said sign portion,

circuit means for electrically joining said computer means, said keyboard means and said message display means,

power means for supplying electrical current to said circuit means, and

on/off means for connecting and disconnecting said circuit means with and from said power means.

30. The sign according to claim 29, further including means for controlling the input data entered at said keyboard means for display at said message means.

31. The sign according to claim 29, wherein said message display means includes a miniaturized message display microprocessor for receiving input data from said computer microprocessor means and converting the input data for transmission to said message display, said message display microprocessor being mounted in said sign portion of said housing.

32. The sign according to claim 30, wherein said message display is a light-emitting display, said light-emitting display being a light-emitting diode (LED) display.

33. The sign according to claim 30, further including monitor display means for receiving the input data from said computer microprocessor means prior to transmission of the input data to said message means and for displaying the data on a monitor display to a user at said rear side of said sign portion of said housing for editing and verification of the input data by the user prior to the data being transmitted to said message means, said monitor display means being mounted within said housing and said monitor display being mounted on said rear side of said sign portion of said housing, said circuit means being also for electrically connecting said keyboard means and said computer microprocessor with said monitor means.

34. The sign in accordance with claim 33, wherein said monitor display means includes a miniaturized monitor microprocessor for receiving the input data entered at said keyboard means for displaying the input data prior to transmission of the input data to said message display microprocessor means and subsequent display of the data at said message display.

35. The sign in accordance with claim 34, wherein said monitor display is a liquid crystal display (LCD).

36. The sign in accordance with claim 33, wherein said keyboard means includes a plurality of systematically arranged indicia keys operatively representing at least the letters of the alphabet in accordance with alphabetic indicia and the ten basic numerals marked on said indicia keys, each of said plurality of indicia keys transmitting to said computer microprocessor a selected letter or numeral in response to a keystroke on the corresponding indicia key.

37. The sign in accordance with claim 36, wherein said plurality of indicia keys further include at least one key operatively representing at least one grammatical symbol for transmittal to said computer microprocessor in response to a keystroke.

38. The sign in accordance with claim 37, wherein said at least one grammatical symbol is two grammatical symbols.

39. The sign in accordance with claim 29, wherein said on/off means includes a mechanical open/closed switch positioned between said circuit means and said power means, and an on/off key mounted on said keyboard mechanically operating said open/closed switch between a closed position and an open position in response to keystroke, wherein in the closed position said open/closed switch electrically connects said circuit means and said power means and wherein in the open position said open/closed switch disconnects said circuit means from said power means, said open/closed switch being positioned between said circuit means and said power means.

40. The sign in accordance with claim 39, further including memory means for storing the input data signaled from said keyboard means and for releasing the input data upon a signal received from said keyboard means for transmission by way of a said circuit means to said monitor display means for display, said memory means being associated with said computer microprocessor means, said memory means including an electronic memory switch transistor operable between on and off modes, wherein in the off mode the input data is stored in said memory means and in the on mode the input data is released from said memory means for signaling for display at said message display means, said memory switch transistor returning to said off mode upon release of the input data.

41. The sign in accordance with claim 30, wherein said means for controlling includes a send key mounted on said keyboard signaling to said computer microprocessor in response to a keystroke to signal said memory chip switch transistor to activate from the off mode to the on mode, wherein input data stored in said memory chip means is released for transmittal for display at said message display means, said memory chip transistor returning to said off mode upon release of the input data, said send key means being also for signaling said computer microprocessor to signal activation of said message display means to a light-emitting mode.

42. The sign in accordance with claim 30, wherein said means for controlling includes a space key mounted on said keyboard signaling said computer microprocessor in response to keystroke to transmit an electrical signal by way of said computer microprocessor to said monitor display means to omit a space before the next keystroke on said keyboard.

43. The sign in accordance with claim 30, wherein said means for controlling includes a clear key mounted on said keyboard for signaling said computer microprocessor in response to keystroke to transmit an electrical signal to delete all data being displayed said monitor display.

44. The sign in accordance with claim 30, wherein said means for controlling includes a backspace key signaling said computer microprocessor in response to a keystroke to transmit an electrical signal to delete one space of prior entered data being displayed on said monitor display means.

45. The sign in accordance with claim 30, wherein said means for controlling includes a flash key signaling said computer microprocessor in response to a keystroke to transmit an electrical signal to cause data being displayed on said message display to blink between light-emitting and non-light emitting modes.

46. The sign in accordance with claim 38, wherein said means for controlling includes certain indicia keys operatively representing a combined letter of the alphabet and a numeral from 0 to 9, said means for controlling including a shift key operatively activating a mechanical switch in said computer microprocessor in response to a held keystroke of said shift key to activate said computer microprocessor from an alphabet mode to a numeral mode and from one of said two grammatical symbols to the other of said two grammatical symbols in preparation for processing a subsequent keystroke of any one of the combined alphabetic and numerical keys or the combined two grammatical symbols key.

47. The sign in accordance with claim 29, further including means for preventing glare of external light from interfering with light emission from said message display means, said means for preventing being connected to said sign portion of said housing.

48. The sign according to claim 29, wherein said power means is a battery power source, said battery power source is positioned in said housing.