WO1999024911A1

WO1999024911A1 - Handheld display panel (hdp)

Info

Publication number: WO1999024911A1
Application number: PCT/GR1998/000028
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nikos Faldamis
Original assignee: Nikos Faldamis
Priority date: 1997-11-11
Filing date: 1998-11-02
Publication date: 1999-05-20
Also published as: GR1002936B; AU9638998A

Abstract

Handheld Display Panel (HDP) having the size of an open human palm, and is consisted on one hand of a luminous monitor (screen), on which lighted characters, that form independent words, appear, easily readable by a distance, and on the other hand of a total keys representing alphabetical characters and other symbols, which make easier the use and operation of the HDP. The HDP also includes, in its inner part, a battery, an internal memory, a data processing software and, alongside, it has a power on-off switch. The HDP is consisted of two or more parts, equal in size, which unfold by length in a manner that, when being unfolded, they look like one, uniform, part on which luminous letters appear. This way, the characters of the desired typed word(s) form independent, comprehensive words. The size of the folded HDP is that of a human palm. The HDP can show an already saved word(s), it can show a new word(s) not included in the list of the already saved ones, it allows the user to save a new word(s), it also allows the user to modify an already saved word(s) and, finally, it allows the user to delete an already saved word(s).

Description

Handheld Display Panel (HDP)

The present invention refers to a Handheld Display Panel having the size of an open human palm, in which, words already registered are displayed and/or new words are input through the possibilities offered by its operation.

The present invention refers to a Handheld Display Panel. The current experience and practice show that the existing display panels, already used by some people, are much bigger and not portable. The overall existing portable "systems" of data input/output and/or information display (the so called "organizers") do not offer the possibility to display words visible to the interested party from a distance.

The initial idea (back thought) of the current invention is that the information displayed in the HDP will be readable by the interested party from a short distance.

The invention refers mainly to the idea of the creation of an HDP. The construction of the HDP depends on the manufacturer, the country-user and the potential of the supporting software. It is therefore proposed, although not exclusively, that the HDP be used in the Greek market together with its parts, which are as follows:

According to the invention the HDP is consisted of two or more parts, which are joint together in width (Figure 1).

The HDP's dimensions must be of a small size, so that someone can easily use it by putting it into his/her handbag or pocket. Following this idea the proposed dimensions are: Length: 15-16 cm, width: 7-8 cm, depth: 1-1.5 cm. Its weight has to be the least possible.

In order to operate, the HDP needs a battery, a memory, a data processing software and a power button, which switches the equipment on and off.

By unfolding the HDP by width its dimensions are about 30-32 cm together with the binders of the movable parts. The HDP must have the size of a human palm.

The outside appearance of the HDP could be of any color, as long as it is suitable and attractive for its potential byers.

The inner side of each part (left and right side) as the HDP unfolds, is consisted of two main parts:

1. Part 1 : Data appearance monitor (screen)

2. Part 2: Multi-functional keyboard

Part i

Part 1 (Figure 2) is consisted of a data retrieval monitor. This monitor could be either uniform or/and divided into smaller "dots", each one of which shows just one character.

Part 2

Part 2 is consisted of 28 keys, 14 in the left hand side and 14 in the right hand side (Figure 3). Depending on the size of the HDP and/or the size of the keys, the amount of keys could be higher. The number of the keys must at least cover the main operational needs of the HDP.

The proposed figure of 28 keys refer to a specific type of manufacturing. What is more important though about the invention is the idea of implementing the manufacturing of an HDP rather than the kind of manufacturing. Therefore, the amount of keys on the keyboard depends on the alphabet used (Greek or/and Latin or/and any other alphabet - depending on the country-user).

Another type of manufacturing is shown in figure 4. As figure 4 shows, this type o keyboard contains 40 keys - due to their smaller size - among which there exis letters of the latin alphabet, which don't exist in the greek alphabet. The operation o

the keys remains the same. The key

,which operates as a fullstop, added. Another manufacturing example is shown in figure 5, in which the keyboard contains only keys representing the latin alphabet. In this example the interchange form the latin to the greek alphabet takes place by simultaneously pressing keys

On top of the keys representing characters of some alphabet, additional keys such as those representing figures from 0 to 9 could be added.

The 28 keys in that type of manufacturing can be divided into 5 sub-parts, as follows:

Part 2.1

As shown in figure 6, 24 keys containing the characters of the greek alphabet exist on the keyboard. On the left side there exist 14 keys, from letter "A" to letter "Ξ" and on the right side another 10 keys exist representing the letters from "O" to "Ω".

This part contains key TϋϋHϋBH^β (Figure 7), which is used as a blank space between two words that the user inputs in the HDP.

Part 2.3

This part contains key ^" X^"■■■■■i (Figure 7), which is used in case the user wants to write down a new word on the HDP either by saving it to the HDP's memory or by just having it appear on the screen. Part 2.4

This part contains key (Figure 7), which is used as a cursor for moving up words alread existing in the HDP, until the user finds the desired word.

Part 2.5

10

This part contains key ^"WMMWUUWl (Figure 7), which is used as a cursor for - - moving down words already existing in the HDP, until the user finds the desired word.

Operation of the Handheld Display Panel (HDP) _r) The main options of an HDP are as follows:

1. Appearance of an existing wordfs) (Figure 8)

The HDP must be switched on.

25

The following procedure is followed for the retrieval of an already saved word:

Typing of the initial letter of the desired work by pressing the relevant key. The HDP shows now the first of the listed words having the same initial as the one the ~_n user typed. The search of the desired work can continue according to the two following ways: a) either by continuing typing the second, third etc. letter of the word. In that case all the existing words that match the letters that have been typed appear on the screen.

35 b) or by pressing the key

as soon as the first word appears on the screen until the desired word appears.

After having finished the HDP must be switched off. 2. Appearance of a new word without saving it f Figure 9) The HDP must be switched on.

Press

Start typing the new word(s) by pressing the relevant keys.

In case the user doesn't want to save the word with the ones already saved, switch offf the HDP (Figure 9)..

3. Saving a new word(s) (Figure 10) The HDP must be switched on.

5 Press key

Start typing the new word(s) by pressing the relevant keys.

After having finished with the enty(ies) press key ^'■■■■. The screen shows _Q the following message: "Save Y/N". If the user insists on saving it, he/she presses the "Y" (Yes) key, otherwise he/she presses the "N" (No) key.

After having finished the HDP must be switched off.

4. Modification of an already saved word (Figure 10) The HDP must be switched on.

f h i fi i h d i following message: "Save Y/N". If the user insists on saving it, he/she presses the

"Y" (Yes) key, otherwise he/she presses the "N" (No) key.

5. Deletion of an already saved word (Figure 1 1)

After having retrieved the word to be deleted, press key

. The screen shows the message: "Delete Y/N". Press "Y" (Yes). After having finished the HDP must be switched off.

In case the amount of characters of the desired word is greater than the number of characters available on the screen, the HDP can show rolling characters along the screen.

An advantage this invention offers is not only that big-sized and light colored words are being shown on the screen so that someone can easily read them from a distance but also a database for future use is being created.

Furthermore, already saved words in the memory of the HDP can be divided by geographical area within the same country and/or a foreign country to the interest of the user.

As already mentioned, the application of the invention is feasible in any part of the world. A very simple way of using the HDP is to the everyday procedure followed by millions of people in searching a "TAXI". In fact, every day we look around and see people in the streets calling a passing by "TAXI" and trying to make the driver understand where they want to go (which is their final destination) through signals.

The "TAXI" driver sometimes understands and sometimes not, in any case though he instantly stops the cub for a few seconds in order to ask further and to understand better, creating thus frustration to the rest of the passing cars.

The invention gives the "TAXI" client the possibility to type on the HDP his/her destination so that the "TAXI" driver can easily read the words from a long distance and understand his/her destination and either stop and pick up the client or continue driving accordingly.

The HDP can also be used by "TAXI" drivers by typing their destination offering thus better service and facilitating their potential clients.

Moreover, in case the user wants to use the HDP as a guide, the HDP can show - through the selection of the desired word(s)- the area road map(s) which correspond to the selected word(s). The HDP is very useful and easy to use by disabled people for communicating with others.

Claims

C L A I M S

1. Handheld Display Panel having the size of an open human palm, the main characteristic of which is that it is consisted of two parts joint together in width, in a way that, being unfolded, they look like one, uniform, part on which luminous letters appear so that the characters of the desired typed word(s) form independent, comprehensive words, easily readable by a distance, due to the size of their characters, the equipment also inheres a battery, a keyboard containing the letters of the Greek and foreign alphabets together with other symbols and a data processing software.

2. According to claim (1) the Handheld Display Panel is characterized by the fact, that it can be consisted of more than two parts, which -unfolded- look like one, uniform part on which luminous letters appear, so that the characters of the desired typed word(s) form independent, comprehensive words, easily readable by a distance, due to the size of their characters.

3. According to claim (1) the Handheld Display Panel is characterized by the fact, that, if the desired word(s) contain more characters than the total amount of characters that fit on the HDP's screen (with all its parts being unfolded), the characters can "roll over" the length of the HDP's two or more, unfolded, parts.

4. According to claim (1) the Handheld Display Panel is characterized by the fact, that with all its parts folded (being that 2 parts or more) the size of the equipment is that of a human palm.

5. According to claim (1) the Handheld Display Panel is characterized by the fact, that based on the desired word(s), it can show one or more area road map(s) which contain the desired word(s).

6. According to claim (1) the Handheld Display Panel is characterized by the fact, that it can show an already saved word(s), it can show a new word(s) not included in the list of the already saved ones, it allows the user to save a new word(s), it also allows the user to modify an already saved word(s) and, finally, it allows the user to delete an already saved word(s).