Portable computers

Abstract

A portable computer arranged to rest comfortably in the hand has a small display screen. Accelerometers capable of detecting movement of the pen with respect to gravity provide input to a microcontroller which selects a response from a number of viewing modes. The pen may be held in either hand and the output message to the screen will be oriented according to the location of the pen. Full personal digital assistance functionality may be incorporated in a relatively small plastics casing and functions, such as calendar, contracts the like may be incorporated.

Description

FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram illustrating the cellular telephone of the invention containing a camera, touch screen and data store in communication with a cell tower as well as a GPS (global positioning system) satellite.800, having touch screen 802, a camera and a data store, in communication with a cellular tower 810, is also envisaged.

Where cellular phone functionality is included within the stylus or where the stylus is in contact with a PC for example by IRDA or radio transmission, the use of the microphone input for substantial dictation purposes is possible and also the use of substantially larger data files than could otherwise be stored locally.

Thus the input speech will be stored in a buffer by the microcontroller 30 and periodically, when the buffer contains a substantial amount of data, a network connection to either network data storage means or to a predetermined PC is effected. Stored buffered data is then transferred to the remote location. Since the network connection is not permanently required the cost of transferring the data by this means is less significant and periods of network signal weakness can be overcome.

Data buffered in this manner may be date and time stamped or, if the stylus incorporates GPS (global positioning systems a single satellite 820 of which is shown in FIG. 20) may be location stamped also.

Data may similarly be recovered such that large text documents required by a user may have portions stored in the buffer for display and sequential recovery of other parts of the document from the remote location using telephony as required. Photographic data, for example from a digital camera, may similarly be saved to the network by way of the buffered store.

The various functions above described enable the provision of a full PDA function including diary alarm and scheduling functions as well as data input, file creation and storage. The user may select the mode of operation using either soft buttons or movement input and the use of the accelerometers 31, 32 is determined from the mode selected by the user. Electronic mail and fax facilities may be incorporated in the PDA functions allowing reception or transmission of data via the unit. The transmission capability of the unit may be associated with a receiver in a printer for example or a printer incorporating a docking station may be used to allow the printing of data front the PDA. Note that infrared transmission may be used.

As will be appreciated one of the major problems with any hand-held portable device is the use of rechargeable batteries which have a limited power life between charges. The hand-held computer or the present invention therefore incorporates a number of power saving facilities arranged particularly to close down back lighting of the small LCD screen 5 if it is not appropriate. Thus if the accelerometers indicate that there is no current usage of the system then powering down of the detection circuitry and back lighting of the screen may occur. However, in a further use of the proximity detector 15, it is possible to turn back lighting on and off in dependence upon whether the user is looking at information on the screen or not. Thus, referring to FIG. 15, the pyroelectric detector conversion detects presence of movement to maintain back lighting. Pyroelectric detectors tend to detect presence of a person by movement through a parallel beam of infrared such that when movement is detected across a Fresnel lens an AC signal is generated.

Thus the pyroelectric system can be used to detect the presence of a user and in the absence of use power down of the back lighting at least may occur. Infrared sensors may similarly be used to detect the presence or absence of body heat. Note the pyroelectric detector, as previously described, can be used to control the character zoom feature hereinbefore described. A suitable detector is a Murata type IRAE700STO.

In a further implementation of back lighting power down which is responsive to the viewer's vision in addition to the viewer's presence. It is known that when a subject looks directly at a lens and a flash occurs blood vessels at the rear of the eyes reflect back to the camera. It is thus possible to periodically flash a low level light and to sense red reflection using a photodiode sensor. Thus as shown at FIG. 15, the microcontroller 30 periodically causes an LED 60 to pulse. At the same time a photodiode 61 is monitored and, assuming presence of a user's eye 62 reflecting light from the pulse, the LCD will remain back lit as indicated at 58. It is further noted that a custom-built solar cell (not shown), for example a Solarex available from Farnell Electronics, may be used to assist triple charging of the battery 2.

If a user is not looking directly at the screen at the time the LED 60 is flashed there will be no reflection and the photodiode 61 will not activate. The microcontroller may therefore power down the back light 58 thus reducing the drain on the rechargeable battery 2.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to a particular implementation using accelerometers other position detection and location means may be used to implement movement detection arrangements. While herein references made to alphanumeric data it will be appreciated that katakana character and Cyrillic script inputs may also be detected using the acceleration method hereinbefore described.

Note when the hand-held computer is docked with a PC or is receiving data by way of cellular or radio transmission it is possible to display received information on the screen 5. Thus as indicated at FIG. 9 an initialisation message is output to the screen 5 and an appropriate buffer is cleared. As characters are received at the serial port they are transferred to the microcontroller at 905 and checked for frame validity at 910. Assuming that there is no error at 910 and that the received character is not a clear screen message as indicated at 915 then a character is transferred to the LCD 5 for display at 920.

Further possible uses of the portable computer of the invention include storing large numbers of speech modes which when down loaded to a PC with the pen either in a docking station or by IRDA or radio transmission are sorted. In this process the PC converts the each of the speech notes to text and scans the text for frequently occurring words, for example “meeting” and then sorts the stored notes into sub-directories. Alternatively, notes may be sorted by date, subject matter or size as will occur with a normal windows file. Key control words such as “alarm” may result in the speech note being converted into a timed alarm which may then be written back to the portable computer so that at the appropriate time the portable computer either announces the alarm or a vibrate to alert the user, the alarm being displayed as a text message. It will be appreciated that if a sufficiently powerful microcontroller is used in the pen then the speech to text conversion may take place in the portable computer unit. A suitable vibrating motor for use as a silent alarm can be obtained from Murata of Japan. Situating the annunciator towards the barrel of the pen near the tip improves transmission.

The microcontroller may cause audio feedback of the current position of the stylus, for example by causing sounds of flicking pages when the pen is tilted forward or back.

While most emphasis herein has been on the display of alphanumeric, Katakana or Cyrillic characters, graphic information may also be viewed. For example, a file holding pictures related to a person may include three dimensional picture of that person's face. By revolving or tilting the computer the view may switch from a front view to a profile aspect. It will also be appreciated that an atlas may be stored in the data store and maps may be rotated to align with the direction of travel for example.

Additional functionality may be introduced to the hand-held computer by including a touch screen in front of the display screen such that a stylus can be used to select text or to cause localised movement of a cursor.

An autolocate function may be built into the microcontroller such that if no movement, ie no change in tilt of either the enclosed accelerometers occurs for a selectable period, probably 24 hours, the unit will sound an alarm at periodic intervals so that the user can locate it.

Note that the tilt sensors included herein measure tilt with respect to earth's gravity by use of a small beam arrangement. Other position sensors may be included. Global positioning by satellite is also a possible method of detecting a change in the position of the portable computer.

In a symbol counted mode it is possible for a user to flick the pen cither as a tick or a cross, for example, in relation to a submitted document. The number of ticks or crosses may be counted and the result accumulated and transferred to data store or accumulated in a spreadsheet to which the user may input names, titles and the like. The use of other symbols in anticipated.

While as hereinbefore described the security signature is by use of acceleration, a pressure detector may be incorporated into the end of the device to further increase security by measurement of the profile as well as the two dimensional or three dimensional spatial sensor.

As has been mentioned hereinbefore, a number of keys, switches and buttons are provided on the casing of the portable computer. In a further implementation an on/off switch may be provided operated by pressure on the “nib-end”. Whilst such switch pressure is not used for detecting input text per se, it may be used to turn functions on and off. This may be used in a normal writing mode, for example, touching the pen tip against a writing surface to turn on the accelerometer detection functions. Releasing pressure on the tip then stops the accelerometer signals being considered as potential input to be decoded.

Any of the other switches may be used in certain modes to turn on or off text detection, for example, or to stop screen scrolling for example.

Calculator functions in the portable computer may be provided simply by writing the numerals and appropriate mathematical symbols in the normal manner. The tilt sensor software will determine the numerals and characters entered and perform an appropriate calculation for display on the display screen.

A further function, for example for clock setting causes display of an analogue clock face on the display means 5. Time changes may be entered by selecting an appropriate mode and moving the user's wrist. Tilt sensing is used to determine forward or backward adjustment of the time stored.

Claims

1. A portable computer comprising:

movement detection means responsive to movement of the computer to produce an electrical output signal representative of such movement,

a storage medium for storing data defining a multiplicity of displayable pages each comprising of a plurality of lines;

a display having a corresponding plurality of lines to enable one of the multiplicity of pages to be displayed; and

processing means responsive to the output of said movement detection means to determine detected movement data defining a user's intention;

the processing means using said movement data to provide a mode response selected from a multiplicity of stored possible modes, at least some of which define selection for display of a further one of the pages from the multiplicity of pages, the further one of the pages being adjacent to a previously selected page being currently displayed;

wherein detected movement data is used to effect scrolling of displayed information such that portions of data defining alphanumeric or graphic information outside a currently displayed screen is selectable by the user, the scrolling of displayed information effectively displaying a part of an adjacent screen.

2. A portable computer comprising:

movement detection means responsive to movement of the computer to produce an electrical output signal representative of such movement;

a storage medium for storing data defining a multiplicity of displayable pages each comprising of a plurality of lines;

a display having a corresponding plurality of lines to enable one of the multiplicity of pages to be displayed; and

processing means responsive to the output of said movement detection means to determine detected movement data defining a user's intention;

the processing means using said movement data to provide a mode response selected from a multiplicity of stored possible modes, at least some of which define selection for display of a further one of the pages from the multiplicity of pages, the further one of the pages being adjacent to a previously selected page being currently displayed;

in which a relative lateral tilting movement causes the display of information stored as to one or other side of currently displayed information.

3. A portable computer comprising:

movement detection means responsive to movement of the computer to produce an electrical output signal representative of such movement;

a storage medium for storing data defining a multiplicity of displayable pages each comprising of a plurality of lines;

a display having a corresponding plurality of lines to enable one of the multiplicity of pages to be displayed; and

processing means responsive to the output of said movement detection means to determine detected movement data defining a user's intention;

the processing means using said movement data to provide a mode response selected from a multiplicity of stored possible modes, at least some of which define selection for display of a further one of the pages from the multiplicity of pages, the further one of the pages being adjacent to a previously selected page being currently displayed;

in which relative rolling movement causes the display of information stored as above or below currently displayed information.

4. A portable computer comprising:

movement detection means responsive to movement of the computer to produce an electrical output signal representative of such movement;

processing means responsive to the output of said movement detection means to determine detected movement data defining a user's intention;

the processing means using said data to provide a mode response selected from a multiplicity of stored possible modes; and

wherein the processing means is responsive to detected movement data to determine a most likely orientation of a computer display means, the processing means causing the displayed information to be oriented accordingly.

5. A portable computer as in claim 4, in which a plurality of switch means responsive to user action is included adjacent to the display means, the respective function of each of the switch means being oriented to match the orientation of displayed information.

6. A portable computer as in claim 4 further comprising a touch sensitive static potentiometer strip responsive to movement of a user's finger to simulate movement of a potentiometer, the orientation of said potentiometer reflecting the orientation of the displayed information.

7. A portable computer comprising:

movement detection means responsive to movement of the computer to produce an electrical output signal representative of such movement;

processing means responsive to the output of said movement detection means to determine detected movement data defining a user's intention, the processing means using said data to provide a mode response selected from a multiplicity of stored possible modes; and

proximity detection means which provides signals indicative of the proximity of a computer display screen to a user's view, the processing means being further responsive to changes in relative proximity to increase or decrease the density of displayed information.

8. A portable computer comprising:

movement detection means responsive to movement of the computer to produce an electrical output signal representative of such movement;

a storage medium for storing data defining a multiplicity of displayable pages each comprising of a plurality of lines;

a display having a corresponding plurality of lines to enable one of the multiplicity of pages to be displayed; and

processing means responsive to the output of said movement detection means to determine detected movement data defining a user's intention; the processing means using said movement data to provide a mode response selected from a multiplicity of stored possible modes, at least some of which define selection for display of a further one of the pages from the multiplicity of pages, the further one of the pages being adjacent to a previously selected page being currently displayed;

radio transceiver means, the processing means being responsive to detected movement data which identifies another device to cause the transmission of coded signals including a message for display.

9. A portable computer as in claim 8 in which the processing means is responsive to received encoded radio signals to activate a paging alert.

10. A portable computer as in claim 9, in which the page alert comprises a tone.

11. A portable computer as in claim 9, in which the paging alert comprises an operation of a vibrating means.

12. A portable computer as in claim 8, in which the processing means causes the display of a message derived from the information received.

13. A portable computer comprising:

a casing for housing other components of the portable computer, the casing being shaped to facilitate a user holding the portable computer as a writing stylus; and

a display screen;

wherein said casing includes a radiused triangular cross-section along a substantial portion of its length and a flattened section incorporating the display screen, and an angular shaping between a forward holding area adapted to rest in the user's fingers and rearward flattened area holding the display screen the shaping being such as to provide a natural viewing angle of the incorporated display screen while the casing is held as a writing stylus.

14. A portable computer as in claim 13, in which the shaping causes the rearward screen area to be supported by the dorsal areas of a user's hand.

15. A portable computer comprising:

movement detection means responsive to movement of the computer to produce an electrical output signal representative of such movement;

a storage medium for storing data defining a multiplicity of displayable pages each comprising of a plurality of lines;

a display having a corresponding plurality of lines to enable one of the multiplicity of pages to be displayed; and

processing means responsive to the output of said movement detection means to determine detected movement data defining a user's intention;

the processing means using said movement data to provide a mode response selected from a multiplicity of stored possible modes, at least some of which define selection for display of a further one of the pages from the multiplicity of pages being the further one of the pages being adjacent to a previously selected page being currently displayed;

wherein the processing means is responsive to detected movement data to determine a most likely orientation of the display, the processing means causing the displayed information to be oriented accordingly.

16. A portable computer comprising:

movement detection means responsive to movement of the computer to produce an electrical output signal representative of such movement;

a storage medium for storing data defining a multiplicity of displayable pages each comprising of a plurality of lines;

a display having a corresponding plurality of lines to enable one of the multiplicity of pages to be displayed; and

processing means responsive to the output of said movement detection means to determine detected movement data defining a user's intention;

the processing means using said movement data to provide a mode response selected from a multiplicity of stored possible modes, at least some of which define selection for display of a further one of the pages from the multiplicity of pages, the further one of the pages being adjacent to a previously selected page being currently displayed;

in which a plurality of switch means responsive to user action is included adjacent to the display, the respective function of each of the switch means being oriented to match the orientation of displayed information.

17. A portable computer comprising:

movement detection means responsive to movement of the computer to produce an electrical output signal representative of such movement;

a storage medium for storing data defining a multiplicity of displayable pages each comprising of a plurality of lines;

a display having a corresponding plurality of lines to enable one of the multiplicity of pages to be displayed;

processing means responsive to the output of said movement detection means to determine detected movement data defining a user's intention, the processing means using said movement data to provide a mode response selected from a multiplicity of stored possible modes, at least some of which define selection for display of a further one of the pages from the multiplicity of pages, the further one of the pages being adjacent to a previously selected page being currently displayed; and

a touch sensitive static potentiometer strip responsive to movement of a users finger to simulate movement of a potentiometer, the orientation of said potentiometer reflecting the orientation of the displayed information.

18. A portable computer comprising:

movement detection means responsive to movement of the computer to produce an electrical output signal representative of such movement;

a storage medium for storing data defining a multiplicity of displayable pages each comprising of a plurality of lines;

a display having a corresponding plurality of lines to enable one of the multiplicity of pages to be displayed; and

processing means responsive to the output of said movement detection means to determine detected movement data defining a user's intention;

wherein detected movement data is used to effect scrolling of displayed information such that portions of data defining alphanumeric or graphic information outside a currently displayed screen is selectable by the user, the scrolling of displayed information effectively displaying a part of an adjacent screen.

19. A portable computer as in claim 18, including a sound output device, the processing means being arranged to provide output of speech or other sound signals derived from stored data.

20. A portable computer as in claim 18, including radio transmission or infrared transmission means, the processing means being responsive to detected movement data to output to the transmission means signals representative of the detected movement.

21. A portable computer as in claim 18, including radio transmission or infrared transmission means, the processing means being responsive to detected movement data to output to the transmission means signals representative of alphanumeric characters.

22. A portable computer as in claim 18, in which the processing means stores data defining an authorised user's password, the processing means being locked in a secure mode until detected movement data corresponding to the security data is received.

23. A portable computer as in claim 18, further comprising a sound input device, the processing means being responsive to voice input signals from a user to derive alphanumeric data.

24. A portable computer as in claim 23, further including a sound output device in combination with a radio transceiver whereby cellular or radio telephony networks may be used.

25. A portable computer as in claim 18 housed in a casing shaped to facilitate a user holding the computer as a writing stylus.

26. A portable computer as in claim 25, in which the casing comprises a radiused triangular cross-section along a substantial portion of its length.

27. A portable computer as in claim 26, in which the casing includes a flattened section incorporating a display screen.

28. A portable computer comprising:

movement detection means responsive to movement of the computer to produce an electrical output signal representative of such movement;

a storage medium for storing data defining a multiplicity of displayable pages each comprising of a plurality of lines;

a display having a corresponding plurality of lines to enable one of the multiplicity of pages to be displayed; and

processing means responsive to the output of said movement detection means to determine detected movement data defining a user's intention;

in which a relative lateral tilting movement causes the display of information stored as to one or other side of currently displayed information.

29. A portable computer as in claim 28 housed in a casing shaped to facilitate a user holding the computer as a writing stylus.

30. A portable computer as in claim 29, in which the casing comprises a radiused triangular cross-section along a substantial portion of its length.

31. A portable computer as in claim 30, in which the casing includes a flattened section incorporating a display screen.

32. A portable computer comprising:

movement detection means responsive to movement of the computer to produce an electrical output signal representative of such movement;

a storage medium for storing data defining a multiplicity of displayable pages each comprising of a plurality of lines;

a display having a corresponding plurality of lines to enable one of the multiplicity of pages to be displayed; and

processing means responsive to the output of said movement detection means to determine detected movement data defining a user's intention;

in which relative rolling movement causes the display of information stored as above or below currently displayed information.

33. A portable computer as in claim 32 housed in a casing shaped to facilitate a user holding the computer as a writing stylus.

34. A portable computer as in claim 33, in which the casing comprises a radiused triangular cross-section along a substantial portion of its length.

35. A portable computer as in claim 34, in which the casing includes a flattened section incorporating a display screen.

36. A portable computer comprising:

movement detection means responsive to movement of the computer to produce an electrical output signal representative of such movement;

a storage medium for storing data defining a multiplicity of displayable pages each comprising of a plurality of lines;

a display having a corresponding plurality of lines to enable one of the multiplicity of pages to be displayed; and

processing means responsive to the output of said movement detection means to determine detected movement data defining a user's intention;

wherein the processing means is responsive to detected movement data to determine a most likely orientation of the display, the processing means causing the displayed information to be oriented accordingly.

37. A cellular telephone comprising:

a case, the case sized and shaped to be held in one hand resting between the root of the thumb and index finger of the hand; the case being non-hinged and the case housing:

a microphone and a speaker;

a display, the display resting in the dorsal area at the back of the hand when the case rests between the root of the thumb and index finger of the hand and a user's wrist;

a touchscreen;

a rechargeable battery;

a cellular transceiver, said cellular transceiver configured to wirelessly send and receive text messages, email and voice data;

a data entry input device configured for data input to the cellular telephone;

a gps receiver that outputs the telephone location; and,

a processor that accepts input from the data entry input device and the telephone location and location stamps the input with the telephone location.

38. The cellular telephone of claim 37, wherein the input is digital photographic data.

39. The cellular telephone of claim 37, wherein the data entry input device is a digital sound recorder.

40. The cellular telephone of claim 37, wherein the data entry input device inputs at least one of characters or graphics.

41. The cellular telephone of claim 37, wherein the data from the data entry input device is recovered and displayed on the display after location stamping.

42. The cellular telephone of claim 37, further comprising a data store.

43. The cellular telephone of claim 42, wherein data in the data store is periodically transferred to a remote location.

44. The cellular telephone of claim 37, further comprising a docking element.

45. The cellular telephone of claim 37, wherein the telephone is configured for at least one of wired and wireless data transfer to a computer.

46. The cellular telephone of claim 37, further including means to time/date stamp the input from the data entry input device.

47. The cellular telephone of claim 37, configured to display a clock on the display.