US 5,243,149 A · Method and apparatus for improving the paper interface to computing systems

Abstract

The novel notepad of the invention provides a convenient interface into the capabilities of computer technology from paper based information. The notepad has a form factor similar to a clipboard wherein the board portion includes a digitizing tablet and the clip portion includes an optical scanner. A battery-powered embedded processor and associated peripherals provide for capturing and storing information in a variety of forms including at least scanning information, digitized stylus information and audio annotation. An important feature of the invention is the linking of these different forms of information via software so that while the information is readily available for efficient processing, it is also combinable so as to recreate the annotated document through conventional means.

Claims39

Dependent claims

An electronic clipboard comprising:

a) a base unit with two substantially parallel major surfaces,
b) digitizing tablet supported by the base unit producing a digital stream representing a time sequence of stylus positions,
c) a scanner detachably supported by the base unit,
d) an optical scanning means supported by the scanner for producing a scan signal representing optical scanning of a surface of an object, and
e) a processor coupled to the digitizing tablet and the optical scanning means, said processor responsive to the digital stream from the digitizing tablet for storing a representation of the digital stream, said processor responsive to the scan signal from the optical scanning means for storing a representation of the scan signal.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for improving the paper interface to computing systems

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for improving the paper interface to computing systems

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims39