Mechanical and digital reading pen

• US 6,218,964 B1
• Filed: 10/26/1999
• Issued: 04/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Christ G. Ellis
• Original Assignee: Christ G. Ellis
• Inventors: Ellis, Christ G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TWEEL JR, JOHN ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US09/426,480
• Time in Patent Office: 539 Days
• Field of Search: 340/990, 345/180, 345/183, 178/18.01, 178/19.01, 235/472.01, 382/313, 382/314, 250/566
• US Class Current: 340/990
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 3/061 with electronic detecting or guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 3/068 Sticks for blind persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/127 to a central station ; Indicators in a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/006 using audible presentation of the information

Abstract

A reading pen (or input and output hand held device) that includes both digital and mechanical features. Digital features include a scanner for scanning printed information, including “selecting” information, pictures, etc., for color and/or patterns, a microphone for receiving dictated information, a digitizer for digitizing the scanned and dictated information, a computer processor, a storage, a visual display (or visual output), a printer, and a speaker (or audible output). Mechanical features include a lens for magnifying the printed information being scanned and a marking or coloring instrument such as a highlighter for marking the printed information being scanned. One simple electrical feature is a light for illuminating the printed information being scanned.

Claims

1. A reading pen for reading printed information, comprising:

a) a housing including a proximal end portion for being disposed adjacent to the printed information and further including a distal end portion opposite of the proximal end portion;

b) a power source in the housing;

c) a computer processor in the housing and being in communication with the power source;

d) a scanner on the proximal end portion of the housing for scanning printed information, with the scanner being in communication with the computer processor and power source;

e) a microphone on the housing for receiving audible information, with the microphone being in communication with the computer processor and power source;

f) a digitizer in the housing and being in communication with the scanner and microphone, with the digitizer digitizing the printed information received by the scanner and further digitizing the audible information received by the microphone, with the digitizer further being in communication with the computer processor and power source;

g) a storage in the housing for storing the digitized information, with the storage being in communication with the computer processor and the power source; and

h) a speaker on the housing, with the speaker being in communication with the computer processor and power source, with the speaker further being in communication with the storage and digitizer wherein a voice via a text-to-voice converter may be generated from the digitized information so as to read back in said voice from the speaker the printed information that has been received by the scanner and wherein a voice may be generated from the digitized information so as to read back in said voice from the speaker the information that has been received by the microphone.

2. The reading pen of claim 1 and further comprising a lens engaged with the housing for magnifying the printed information being scanned, with the lens disposed to provide a line of sight of the printed information through the lens for a user.

3. The reading pen of claim 1 and further comprising a marking instrument on the proximal end portion of the housing to mark the printed information being scanned.

4. The reading pen of claim 1 and further comprising a light on the proximal end portion of the housing to illuminate the printed information being scanned.

5. The reading pen of claim 1 and further comprising a visual display on the housing, with the visual display being in communication with the computer processor and power source, with the visual display further being in communication with the storage and digitizer such that a visual signal may be generated from the digitized information so as to display back the printed information that has been received by at least one of the scanner and microphone.

6. The reading pen of claim 1 wherein the storage is removably engaged with the housing.

7. The reading pen of claim 1 wherein the computer processor includes software selected from the group consisting of integrated voice response software, interactive voice software, and computer telephony software.

8. The reading pen of claim 1 further comprising outside communication means for communicating with an electrical mechanism remote from the housing.

9. The reading pen of claim 8 wherein the outside communication means comprises a wire between the housing and the electrical mechanism.

10. The reading pen of claim 8 wherein the outside communication means comprises wireless means between the housing and the electrical mechanism.

11. The reading pen of claim 3 wherein the marking instrument comprises a coloring instrument.

12. The reading pen of claim 1 wherein the reading pen is in communication with a computer telephony system, wherein the computer telephony system comprises a platform that merges voice and data services in order to enable the development of integrated applications.

13. A reading pen for reading printed information, comprising:

a) a housing including a proximal end portion for being disposed adjacent to the printed information and further including a distal end portion opposite of the proximal end portion;

b) a power source in the housing;

c) a computer processor in the housing and being in communication with the power source;

d) a scanner on the proximal end portion of the housing for scanning printed information, with the scanner being in communication with the computer processor and power source;

e) a microphone on the housing for receiving audible information, with the microphone being in communication with the computer processor and power source;

f) a digitizer in the housing and being in communication with the scanner and microphone, with the digitizer digitizing the printed information received by the scanner and further digitizing the audible information received by the microphone, with the digitizer further being in communication with the computer processor and power source;

g) a storage in the housing for storing the digitized information, with the storage being in communication with the computer processor and the power source;

h) a speaker on the housing, with the speaker being in communication with the computer processor and power source, with the speaker further being in communication with the storage and digitizer wherein a voice via a text-to-voice converter may be generated from the digitized information so as to read back in said voice the printed information that has been received by the scanner and wherein a voice may be generated from the digitized information so as to read back in said voice information that has been received by the microphone;

i) a visual display on the housing, with the visual display being in communication with the computer processor and power source, with the visual display further being in communication with the storage and digitizer such that a visual signal may be generated from the digitized information so as to display back the printed information that has been received by at least one of the scanner and microphone;

j) a lens engaged with the housing for magnifying the printed information being scanned, with the lens disposed to provide a line of sight of the printed information through the lens for the user;

k) a marking instrument on the proximal end portion of the housing to physically mark the printed information being scanned; and

l) a light on the proximal end portion of the housing to illuminate the printed information being scanned.

14. The reading pen of claim 13 wherein the marking instrument is a coloring instrument.

15. A computer telephony system in combination with a reading pen, wherein the computer telephony system comprises a platform that merges voice and data services in order to enable the development of integrated applications, and wherein the reading pen comprises:

a) a housing including a proximal end portion for being disposed adjacent to printed information and further including a distal end portion opposite of the proximal end portion;

b) a power source in the housing;

c) a computer processor in the housing and being in communication with the power source and the computer telephony system;

d) a scanner on the proximal end portion of the housing for scanning printed information, with the scanner being in communication with the computer processor and power source;

e) a microphone on the housing for receiving audible information, with the microphone being in communication with the computer processor and power source;

f) a digitizer in the housing and being in communication with the scanner and microphone, with the digitizer digitizing the printed information received by the scanner and further digitizing the audible information received by the microphone, with the digitizer further being in communication with the computer processor and power source;

g) a storage in the housing for storing the digitized information, with the storage being in communication with the computer processor and the power source; and

h) a speaker on the housing, with the speaker being in communication with the computer processor and power source, with the speaker further being in communication with the storage and digitizer wherein a voice via a text-to-voice converter may be generated from the digitized information so as to read back in said voice the printed information that has been received by the scanner and wherein a voice may be generated from the digitized information so as to read back in said voice information that has been received by the microphone.