Recording writing movements

Apparatus for recording the movement of a stylus during handwriting, for example in the execution of a handwritten signature, the apparatus comprising:

• digitizer means capable of sensing the position of a stylus, the digitizer device defining a signing area;
• an LCD device having an LCD display substantially coextensive with the digitizer means and lying substantially in the same plane,
• the LCD device having driver circuitry offset to the side of, and out of the plane of, the signing area;
• and
• a control circuit capable of sampling at least orthogonal X and Y coordinates, in the plane of the active signing area, of a stylus in proximity to the said digitizer means.

Apparatus for recording the movement of a stylus during handwriting, for example in the execution of a handwritten signature, the apparatus comprising:

• a stylus having a tip;
• digitizer means capable of sensing the position of the stylus, the digitizer means defining a signing area;
• an LCD device having an LCD display substantially coextensive with the digitizer means and lying substantially in the same plane;
• and
• a control circuit capable of sampling at least orthogonal X and Y coordinates, in the plane of the active signing area, of the tip of the stylus in proximity to the said digitizer means;
• the signing area being provided with a textured surface, the resistance of which to passage of the tip of the stylus thereacross is substantially the same as that of paper to passage of the tip of a pen or pencil thereacross.

A system for recording handwritten signatures, comprising:

• a host computer system;
• and
• at least one peripheral devices, adapted to record signatures;
• each of said at least one peripheral devices comprising an apparatus for recording the movement of a stylus during execution of a handwritten signature, which apparatus comprises:
• digitizer means, capable of sensing the position of a stylus and defining an active signing area;
• and
• a control circuit capable of sampling at least orthogonal X and Y coordinates, in the plane of the active signing area, of a stylus in proximity to the said digitizer means, and of then transmitting information regarding said coordinates together with real-time information via a digital communications link to said host computer, such real-time information being represented either as a sequential number or in absolute form as clock-time;
• the control circuits of individual said peripheral devices each containing a non-volatile memory means incorporating an identifier for that peripheral device;
• and
• each said control circuit (s) each being adapted to communicate its said identifier to said host computer together with said co-ordinates and said real-time information, whereby said host computer may identify both when and at which said peripheral device a particular signature was written.