Palm pad system

• US 6,806,867 B1
• Filed: 12/29/1999
• Issued: 10/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ATX International Incorporated (ATC Holdings LP)
• Original Assignee: ATX International Incorporated (ATC Holdings LP)
• Inventors: Southworth, Robert, Mittersinker, Gregor, Arruda, Joseph, Rawlings, Kenneth, Mirabito, A. Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Henry N.
• Application Number:
  US09/474,545
• Time in Patent Office: 1,756 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/179, 345/748, 345/901, 345/905, 178/18.01, 178/18.03, 178/18.05, 178/18.1, 178/19.01, 178/20.01, 402/72-74
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/901 Electronic book with display
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/905 Display device with housing structure

Abstract

A palm pad system including an electronic notepad coupled to a conventional personal digital device (“PDD”) via a data bus is set forth that enables a user to transpose handwritten data into electronic files or pages. The notepad and PDD are mounted onto a common base. The base includes a retaining structure for retaining the notepad on the base and another retaining structure for retaining the PDD on the base. The base further includes a flexible portion that permits the base to be folded into a compact form for protecting the notepad and PDD during transport. A pen containing a transmitter is employed by the palm pad system to transmit a signal to receptive electronics while a user writes data on the notepad with a writing tip contained in the pen. The signal received by the electronics is processed to generate an electronic file representative of the user'"'"'s handwritten data. The electronic file can be electronically stored and retrieved. The electronic file can also be displayed on a touch sensitive display, which is associated with the PDD, immediately after composition by the user.

Claims

1. A system for enabling a user to electronically enter, display, store and retrieve handwritten data, comprising:

a base having a centrally positioned elongated flexible portion to permit the base to be folded substantially in half in a book-like manner, the base defining a left-hand portion and a right-hand portion on either side of the elongated flexible portion, the right-hand portion having a first object-retaining surface and the left-hand portion having a second object-retaining surface;

an electronic notepad removably mounted to one of the object-retaining surfaces, the electronic notepad having one or more controls, a processor, a memory, a sensing surface and a writing surface, the writing surface being removably positioned over the sensing surface;

the sensing surface, the processor and the memory being configured and arranged to detect a signal transmitted by a combination writing and signal transmitting instrument through the writing surface when the user contacts the instrument to the writing surface to store in the memory each position of the instrument on the writing surface as the user moves the instrument across the writing surface to handwrite thereon;

a personal digital device removably mounted to the other of the object-retaining surfaces, the personal digital device having a processor, a memory, a display area, and an input area, the input area including one or more controls to control one or more functions of the personal digital device,

an interface operatively connecting the electronic notepad to the personal digital device,

the electronic notepad electronically communicating, under control of the processor, each detected and stored position of the instrument on the writing surface through the interface to the personal digital device, the display area of the personal digital device displaying each communicated and detected position as handwritten data on the display area, and the memory of the personal digital device storing each detected and communicated position as a retrievable electronic handwritten data file;

further comprising a power supply removably mounted to the object-retaining surface on which the personal digital device is removably mounted, the power supply being operatively connected to the personal digital device, and a data bus operatively connecting the electronic notepad to the interface whereby the electronic notepad receives power; and

further comprising an internal flap extending from a lower bottom edge of the objecting-retaining surface on which the personal digital device is removably mounted to substantially enclose the data bus.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensing surface includes a plurality of etched loops substantially uniformly distributed over a surface of the sensing surface in contact with the writing surface and arranged in a grid pattern, the etched loops being configured to receive the signal transmitted by the combination writing and signal transmitting instrument and to communicate the signal to the processor and the memory as a detected X coordinate and a detected Y coordinate of the grid pattern to indicate the position of the combination writing and signal instrument on the writing surface.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the signal transmitted by the combination writing and signal transmitting instrument includes a radio frequency (RF) signal.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the base is constructed of a suitable material selected from a group consisting of leather and synthetic material.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the base further includes a flap portion connected to an outer edge of one of the left-hand and the right-hand portions of the base such that when the base is folded in the book-like manner the flap portion wraps around a width defined by the base, the electronic notepad and the personal digital device and removably connects to a fastener joined to another of the left-hand and the right-hand portions of the base to secure the base in a folded position.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the display area of the personal digital device includes a touch sensitive liquid crystal display.

7. A system for enabling a user to electronically enter, display, store and retrieve handwritten data, comprising:

a base having a centrally positioned elongated flexible portion to permit the base to be folded substantially in half in a book-like manner, the base defining a left-hand portion and a right-hand portion on either side of the elongated flexible portion, the right-hand portion having a first object-retaining surface and the left-hand portion having a second object-retaining surface;

an electronic notepad removably mounted to one of the object-retaining surfaces, the electronic notepad having one or more controls, a first processor, a first memory, a sensing surface and a writing surface, the writing surface being removably positioned over the sensing surface;

the sensing surface, the first processor and the first memory being configured and arranged to detect and to store a signal transmitted by a combination writing and signal transmitting instrument through the writing surface when the user contacts the instrument to the writing surface to store in the first memory each position of the instrument on the writing surface as the user moves the instrument across the writing surface to handwrite thereon;

a personal digital device removably mounted to the other of the object-retaining surfaces, the personal digital device having a second processor, a second memory, a display area, and an input area, the second processor and the second memory being configured and arranged to detect and to store data and being operatively independent of the first processor and the first memory, and the input area including one or more controls to control one or more functions of the personal digital device and to enter data into the second memory; and

an interface operatively connecting the electronic notepad to the personal digital device such that the electronic notepad electronically communicates, under control of the first processor, each detected and stored position of the instrument on the writing surface through the interface to the personal digital device, the display area of the personal digital device displaying each communicated and detected position as handwritten data on the display area, and the second memory of the personal digital device storing each detected and communicated position as a retrievable electronic handwritten data file.