Data capture apparatus with handwritten data receiving component

• US 7,646,941 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2006
• Issued: 01/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Durbin, Dennis A., Walter, Jerry L., Danielson, Arvin D., Hacker, David C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Azarian; Seyed
• Application Number:
  US11/475,472
• Publication Number:
  US 20070065046A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,295 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100, 382/101, 382/112, 382/113, 382/116, 382/119, 382/137, 382/168, 382/175, 382/181, 382/182, 382/187, 382/193, 382/209, 382/231, 382/237, 382/305, 382/306, 382/313, 382/314, 382/321, 382/16, 178/18.01, 235/462.25, 235/441, 345/169, 345/166, 704/219
• US Class Current: 382/313
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0241 for telephones
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2075/027 four
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• 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 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/28 Supervision thereof, e.g. detecting power-supply failure by out of limits supervision
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3228 Monitoring task completion, e.g. by use of idle timers, stop commands or wait commands
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1635 Stackable modules
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/002 Specific input/output arrangements not covered by G06F3/01 - G06F3/16 other optical apparatus G02B27/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0231 Cordless keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisions for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10574 Multiple sources
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10584 Source control
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10702 Particularities of propagating elements, e.g. lenses, mirrors G06K7/10831 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 : Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10732 : Light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10811 : Focalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10841 : Particularities of the light-sensitive elements semiconductor devices H01L
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10851 : Circuits for pulse shaping, amplifying, eliminating noise signals, checking the function of the sensing device basic electronic circuitry H03
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 : constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1093 : sensing, after transfer of the image of the data-field to an intermediate store, e.g. storage with cathode ray tube
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1098 : the scanning arrangement having a modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/12 : using a selected wavelength, e.g. to sense red marks and ignore blue marks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/343 : Cards including a counter
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/30 : Writer recognition; Reading and verifying signatures
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/376 : Acquisition
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/02 : by keys or other credit registering devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0045 : with a code reader for reading of an identifying code of the article to be registered, e.g. barcode reader or radio-frequency identity [RFID] reader
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2258 : used with computer equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/242 : specially adapted for hand-held use
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3883 : Arrangements for mounting batteries or battery chargers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/3894 : Waterproofing of transmission device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 : Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A data capturing module combined with a portable data terminal of the hand-held type to record handwritten data. Using a digitized pad, the module can provide for direct input of handwritten data into the system, or a peripheral digital scanner can be employed to provide for data entry. Depending upon the particular application, the module therefore provides for data entry of handwritten text or graphics using the data terminal and other components of a portable data system to enter, display, print or otherwise communicate the handwritten data.

Claims

1. A hand-held, portable device, comprising:

a housing that comprises a slot that receives an external data storage card;

a first display disposed on the housing;

a battery disposed in the housing;

a keyboard, located on a user accessible surface of the housing, comprising a plurality of individual, user-depressible keys;

a detachable module that is mounted on the housing, the detachable module comprising a touch-sensitive display wherein information digitized from the touch-sensitive display is transferred to the external data storage card that is inserted in the slot, the external data storage card storing authorized information that can be used to verify the information digitized from the touch-sensitive portion;

a wireless receiving component; and

a receptacle that connects with an external connector and provides wired communication,

wherein the hand-held, portable device locally verifies a handwritten signature made on the touch-sensitive display against the authorized information stored on the external data storage card and displays a result of the verification on the first display, and

wherein the local verification of the handwritten signature comprises sensing pressure applied across the handwritten signature as a verification parameter,

wherein a stylus is used to depress the touch-sensitive display that generates a graphical interface,

wherein the receiving component is pointed in the direction of a particular target before wirelessly receiving image information, and

wherein the hand-held, portable device uses a spread spectrum radio.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the housing is of a shape and size such that data can be input while said housing is held in a user'"'"'s hand.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the receiving component comprises an optical receiving component.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the receiving component is an optical scanner.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein handwritten data is entered, via the stylus, onto the generated graphical interface.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein a stylus is used to depress the touch-sensitive display such that the touch-sensitive display generates a graphical interface.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein handwritten data is entered, via the stylus, onto the generated graphical interface.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle is a multiple-pin receptacle.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle provides a wired connection to an external device.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the stylus is used to enter handwritten information via the touch-sensitive display.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein handwritten information comprises handwritten text.

12. The device according to claim 10, wherein handwritten information comprises handwritten graphics.

13. The device according to claim 1,

wherein the slot receives the external data storage card, and

wherein the receiving component wirelessly receives information that is subsequently stored in the external data storage card.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the stylus is used to enter handwritten text via the touch-sensitive portion that is subsequently stored in the external storage card.

15. The device according to claim 1, wherein a stylus enters handwritten information onto the touch-sensitive display that is digitized, compressed and stored in the hand-held, portable device.

16. The device according to claim 1,

wherein the receiving component wireless receives an image, and

wherein the hand-held, portable device stores the image.

17. The device according to claim 16, wherein the image comprises a handwritten signature.

18. The device according to claim 16, wherein the image comprises an optical image.

19. The device according to claim 16, wherein the hand-held, portable device captures and records handwritten data via the touch-sensitive display.

20. The device according to claim 1, wherein the receiving component wirelessly receives data information.

21. The device according to claim 1, wherein handwritten data is written, via a stylus, onto the touch-sensitive display.

22. The device according to claim 21, wherein the handwritten data is digitized and stored in the hand-held, portable device.

23. The device according to claim 21, wherein the handwritten data comprises handwritten text.

24. The device according to claim 21, wherein the handwritten data comprises handwritten graphics.

25. The device according to claim 1, wherein the image information comprises an optical image.

26. The device according to claim 25, wherein the optical image comprises a handwritten signature.