Portable radio telephone set for generating pattern signals representative of alphanumeric letters indicative of a telephone number

• US 5,301,222 A
• Filed: 01/23/1991
• Issued: 04/05/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Fujiwara, Ryuhei
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cumming, William D.
• Application Number:
  US07/644,915
• Time in Patent Office: 1,168 Days
• Field of Search: 379/58, 379/56, 379/61, 379/88, 379/91, 379/62, 379/59, 379/357, 379/368, 379/96, 455/88, 340/712, 340/825.44
• US Class Current: 455/564
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0312 for tracking the rotation of a spherical or circular member, e.g. optical rotary encoders used in mice or trackballs using a tracking ball or in mouse scroll wheels tracking relative movement in co-operation with a regularly or irregularly patterned surface, e.g. as in optical mice G06F3/0317; constructional details of scroll or thumb-wheels G06F3/0362; optical rotary encoders G01D5/3473
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03546 using a rotatable ball at the tip as position detecting member
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0285 Pen-type handsets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2748 by matching character strings
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/56 Arrangements for indicating or recording the called number at the calling subscriber's set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/70 methods for entering alphabetical characters, e.g. multi-tap or dictionary disambiguation methods for entering alphabetical characters per se G06F3/0237

Abstract

A portable radio telephone set comprises a telephone number generating apparatus and a telephone number transmitting apparatus which are preferably contained in a pencil shaped body. The telephone number generating means generates a telephone number signal, for instance, by sensing the motion of a ball provided on a lower end of the body. The ball is moved to draw a telephone number on a surface of an article. The telephone number signal is modulated in the telephone number transmitting apparatus to be transmitted to air by an antenna which is provided on an upper end of the body.

Claims

1. A portable radio telephone set, comprising:

a ball rotating to be moved on a surface of an article by manipulation of an operator;

first and second encoders for generating first and second signals of ball moving distances in first and second directions orthogonal to each other;

means for generating pattern signals of alphanumeric letters in accordance with said first and second signals;

a first memory for storing patterns of alphanumeric letters;

a second memory having a first region for storing said pattern signals temporarily and a second region for storing said pattern signals transferred from said first region in non-volatile mode;

means for comparing a pattern defined by said pattern signals with a pattern of said first memory to generate a coincidence signal;

means for modulating a telephone number obtained from patterns determined by said coincidence signals; and

means for transmitting said modulated telephone number to air by an antenna.

2. A portable radio telephone set, according to claim 1, wherein:

said second memory stores a telephone number of a called party and a station name corresponding to said telephone number in the form of said pattern signals.

3. A portable radio telephone set, according to claim 1, wherein:

said ball is partly protruded out of a first end of a pencil shaped main body;

said first and second encoders, said generating means, said first memory, said second memory, said comparing means, said modulating means, and said transmitting means are contained in said pencil shaped main body; and

said antenna is provided on a top of a second end of said pencil shaped main body.

4. A portable radio telephone set, comprising:

means for scanning alphanumeric letters defined on a sheet material to generate pattern signals of said letters;

a first memory for storing patterns of letters;

a second memory having a first region for storing said pattern signals temporarily and a second region for storing said pattern signals transferred from said first region in non-volatile mode;

means for comparing a pattern defined by said pattern signals with a pattern of said first memory to generate a coincidence signal;

means for modulating a telephone number obtained from patterns determined by said coincidence signals; and

means for transmitting said modulated telephone number to air by an antenna.

5. A portable radio telephone set, according to claim 4, wherein:

said second memory stores a telephone number of a called party and a station name corresponding to said telephone number in the form of said pattern signals.

6. A portable radio telephone set, according to claim 4, wherein:

said scanning means is provided at a first end of a pencil shaped main body;

said first and second encoders, said generating means, said first memory, said second memory, said comparing means, said modulating means, and said transmitting means are contained in said pencil shaped main body; and

said antenna is provided on a top of a second end of said pencil shaped main body.

7. A portable radio telephone set, comprising:

means for generating pattern signals representative of alphanumeric letters indicative of a telephone number;

a memory for storing patterns representative of alphanumeric letters;

means for comparing said pattern signals and said stored patterns to generate a coincidence signal when said pattern signal corresponds to said stored pattern; and

means for transmitting a telephone number signal in response to said coincidence signal;

wherein said generating means, said memory, said comparing means, and said transmitting means are contained in a main body having a pencil shape, said main body being held by a hand of an operator;

said generating means including a ball partly protruding out of a first end of said main body and rotating on a plane, means for detecting moving distances of said ball in first and second directions orthogonal to each other, and means for defining a pattern of a letter by said moving distances of said ball; and

said transmitting means is connected to an antenna provided on a second end of said main body.

8. A portable radio telephone set, according to claim 7, wherein:

said detecting means includes first and second photo-interruptors each having a light-passing and shielding gear which is rotated in a corresponding one of said first and second directions by said ball, said gear being positioned between light emitting and receiving devices.