Palm pad system

A system for enabling a user to electronically enter, display, store and retrieve handwritten data, comprising:

• a base having a centrally positioned elongated flexible portion to permit the base to be folded substantially in half in a book-like manner, the base defining a left-hand portion and a right-hand portion on either side of the elongated flexible portion, the right-hand portion having a first object-retaining surface and the left-hand portion having a second object-retaining surface;
• an electronic notepad removably mounted to one of the object-retaining surfaces, the electronic notepad having one or more controls, a processor, a memory, a sensing surface and a writing surface, the writing surface being removably positioned over the sensing surface;
• the sensing surface, the processor and the memory being configured and arranged to detect a signal transmitted by a combination writing and signal transmitting instrument through the writing surface when the user contacts the instrument to the writing surface to store in the memory each position of the instrument on the writing surface as the user moves the instrument across the writing surface to handwrite thereon;
• a personal digital device removably mounted to the other of the object-retaining surfaces, the personal digital device having a processor, a memory, a display area, and an input area, the input area including one or more controls to control one or more functions of the personal digital device,
• an interface operatively connecting the electronic notepad to the personal digital device,
• the electronic notepad electronically communicating, under control of the processor, each detected and stored position of the instrument on the writing surface through the interface to the personal digital device, the display area of the personal digital device displaying each communicated and detected position as handwritten data on the display area, and the memory of the personal digital device storing each detected and communicated position as a retrievable electronic handwritten data file;
• further comprising a power supply removably mounted to the object-retaining surface on which the personal digital device is removably mounted, the power supply being operatively connected to the personal digital device, and a data bus operatively connecting the electronic notepad to the interface whereby the electronic notepad receives power;
• and
• further comprising an internal flap extending from a lower bottom edge of the objecting-retaining surface on which the personal digital device is removably mounted to substantially enclose the data bus.