Portable hand held reading unit with reading aid feature

A method for displaying data in character form for the visually challenged on a screen of a portable hand held reading unit, said method comprising;

• providing in said unit memory means for storing textual data in character form;
• inputting into said memory means textual data in character code form from an external memory source if no textual data already resides in said memory means when the unit is initially turned on;
• providing means in said unit for providing data in said memory means;
• providing external font changing display switch responsive to the touch or the successive touches of a user and operatively connecting said font changing switch with a font size altering means, said font size altering means being linked to a counter means incremented each time said font changing display switch is activated by a user touching said font changing switch to increase the value of said scalar by an amount corresponding to the number of times said font changing switch is activated;
• providing means in said font size altering means providing a selection of different character sizes in excess of two as derived from a single font file, a scalar and an associated scalable font algorithm;
• using the scalar and the scalable font algorithm to mathematically alter the single font file to create a character size different from that presently displayed on said screen;
• utilizing said font changing switch to instruct said font size altering means to change the font size of said characters displayed on said screen to the next character size by issuing a command or series of commands by said font changing switch being touches by a user a given number of times so as to increment the counter means and in turn increment the scalable font used by an algorithm a number corresponding to the number of times the counter means is incremented until a character size is displayed that is comfortable to the reader of the displayed characters;
• and
• causing said scalar to be initialized to a zero value by a default font size means when the reading unit is first powered up so that a default size is generated which default font size may be subsequently advanced to the next larger font character size each time the scalar is incremented.

A portable hand held reading unit for presenting textual data in readable form on a display screen, said unit comprising:

• a housing having a display screen for displaying data in the form of characters thereon;
• memory means for storing said data as computer usable code;
• interfacing means for allowing a user to select a different font size for the data displayed on said screen;
• variable font size means for displaying said data as characters on said screen in selectively different font sizes in response to instructions issued by a user through said interface means, said variable font size means further including a character shape altering means offering a selection of different character sizes in excess of two;
• said character shape altering means includes a plurality of storage locations in which are respectively stored differently sized bit mapped characters;
• each of said plurality of memory locations in which differently sized bit mapped characters are stored being selectively accessed when instructed by said interface means to do so;
• control means linked with said interface means, said memory means and with said display means for causing said characters to be displayed on said display screen in different font sizes according to the instructions directed to it by said interface means;
• said interfacing means including a font changing display means for operating a switch means linked to a counter means incremented each time said font changing display means is activated;
• said control means utilizing said counter means to identify the one of said plurality of separate memory locations corresponding to the desired font size being selected;
• said control means utilizes the value in said counter means to drive said variable font size means for changing the font sizes of the characters displayed on said display screen incrementally in response to said font changing display means being touched by the user in succession to increment the counter means a given number of times until a character size comfortable to the reader is shown;
• and
• wherein said variable font size means includes a default size means which generates a default font size when the unit is first powered up and which default font size may be subsequently advanced to the next larger font size by incrementing the counter means.