US5227590A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Handwriting capture device
Assignee: NCR Voyix Corp
•
Filing: 1992-05-05
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Granted: 1993-07-13
•
Expires: 2012-05-05
Abstract
Abstract A handwriting capture device which employs a highly sensitive digitizer to accurately capture signature information entered using a writing force greater than or equal to a predetermined writing force. The handwriting capture device includes a housing having a top surface, a resistive membrane digitizer mounted in the top surface and having a low pattern density, a layer of urethane rubber for frictionally holding the receipt in place, circuitry for processing digitizer information, a clamp for retaining a receipt in place over the digitizer during movement of the device, and circuitry for sensing the presence of the receipt and for activating data capture by the digitizer when the receipt is positioned under the clamp. In the preferred embodiment, the clamp also serves to minimize finger contact with the digitizer.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert L. Protheroe
- 👤 David C. Wills
- 👤 Scott M. Klement
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 15:24
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/03; G06F3/033; G06F3/039; G06F3/0393; G06F3/041
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 48
Claim 1
Independent Claim
58 words
A handwriting capture device comprising: a housing having a top surface; a digitizer, mounted within the top surface; means coupled to the digitizer for sensing the presence of a record member and for activating data capture by the digitizer when the record member is positioned on the digitizer; and means coupled to the digitizer for processing written information.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
58 words
A handwriting capture device comprising: a housing having a top surface; a digitizer, mounted within the top surface; means coupled to the digitizer for sensing the presence of a record member and for activating data capture by the digitizer when the record member is positioned on the digitizer; and means coupled to the digitizer for processing written information.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The handwriting capture device as recited in claim 1, wherein the digitizer is a pressure-sensitive digitizer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The handwriting capture device as recited in claim 2, wherein the digitizer is sensitive to a signing force greater than or equal to a predetermined minimum signing force from a writing instrument applied to the record member over the digitizer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The handwriting capture device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a guide on the top surface for aligning an edge of the record member along the guide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The handwriting capture device as recited in claim 4, wherein the guide comprises at least one edge.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The handwriting capture device as recited in claim 1, wherein the housing comprises: a top member containing the top surface, the top surface being inclined towards an operator to facilitate handwriting; and a base member underneath the top member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The handwriting capture device of claim 2, wherein the digitizer has upper and lower sheets electrically coupled between a plurality of insulator dots by pressure from handwriting, the digitizer having a near separation between dots of about 0.16 to 0.2 inches.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The handwriting capture device as recited in claim 3, wherein the minimum signing force is no more than about 10 to 15 grams.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The handwriting capture device as recited in claim 3, wherein the digitizer has a sensitivity sufficient to capture handwriting that produces a legible ink impression on the record member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The handwriting capture device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a guard over the record member for minimizing undesired contact with the digitizer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The handwriting capture device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a layer of urethane rubber over the digitizer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
A handwriting capture device comprising: a housing having a top surface; a digitizer, mounted within the top surface; a guide on the top surface for aligning an edge of a record member along the guide; and means coupled to the digitizer for processing written information;
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
A handwriting capture device comprising: a housing having a top surface; a digitizer, mounted within the top surface; a guide on the top surface for aligning an edge of a record member along the guide; and means coupled to the digitizer for processing written information;
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The handwriting capture device as recited in claim 12, wherein the digitizer is a pressure-sensitive digitizer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
The handwriting capture device as recited in claim 13, wherein the digitizer is sensitive to a signing force greater than or equal to a predetermined minimum signing force from a writing instrument applied to the record member over the digitizer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
The handwriting capture device as recited in claim 12, further comprising means coupled to the digitizer for sensing the presence of a record member and for activating data capture by the digitizer when the record member is positioned on the digitizer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The handwriting capture device as recited in claim 12, wherein the guide comprises at least one edge.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
The handwriting capture device as recited in claim 12, wherein the housing comprises: a top member containing the top surface, the top surface being inclined towards an operator to facilitate handwriting; and a base member underneath the top member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
41 words
The handwriting capture device of claim 12, wherein the digitizer has upper and lower sheets electrically coupled between a plurality of insulator dots by pressure from handwriting, the digitizer having a near separation between dots of about 0.16 to 0.2 inches.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The handwriting capture device as recited in claim 14, wherein the minimum signing force is no more than about 10 to 15 grams.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
The handwriting capture device as recited in claim 14, wherein the digitizer has a sensitivity sufficient to capture handwriting that produces a legible ink impression on the record member.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The handwriting capture device as recited in claim 12, further comprising a guard over the record member for minimizing undesired contact with the digitizer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
The handwriting capture device as recited in claim 12, further comprising a layer of urethane rubber over the digitizer.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
55 words
A handwriting capture device comprising: a housing having a top surface; a digitizer, mounted within the top surface; a document cover over the digitizer having a window to allow a document placed underneath the cover to be signed while preventing undesired contact with the digitizer; and means coupled to the digitizer for processing written information.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
55 words
A handwriting capture device comprising: a housing having a top surface; a digitizer, mounted within the top surface; a document cover over the digitizer having a window to allow a document placed underneath the cover to be signed while preventing undesired contact with the digitizer; and means coupled to the digitizer for processing written information.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for capturing handwriting without immediate feedback from an electronic display comprising the steps of: placing a record member on a writing surface, the writing surface including a digitizer; sensing the presence of the record member on the digitizer; activating the digitizer and processing circuitry coupled to the digitizer in response to the sensing step; applying a writing to the digitizer through the record member; and processing a signal representing the writing from the digitizer.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for capturing handwriting without immediate feedback from an electronic display comprising the steps of: placing a record member on a writing surface, the writing surface including a digitizer; sensing the presence of the record member on the digitizer; activating the digitizer and processing circuitry coupled to the digitizer in response to the sensing step; applying a writing to the digitizer through the record member; and processing a signal representing the writing from the digitizer.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method as recited in claim 24, wherein the digitizer is a pressure-sensitive digitizer.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method as recited in claim 25, wherein the digitizer is sensitive to a writing force greater than or equal to a predetermined minimum writing force.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as recited in claim 26, wherein the minimum writing force is no more than about 10 to 15 grams.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
41 words
The handwriting capture device of claim 25, wherein the digitizer has upper and lower sheets electrically coupled between a plurality of insulator dots by pressure from handwriting, the digitizer having a near separation between dots of about 0.16 to 0.2 inches.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method as recited in claim 25, wherein the digitizer has a sensitivity sufficient to capture handwriting that produces a legible ink impression on the record member.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as recited in claim 24, wherein the step of applying a writing comprises the substep of producing a legible ink impression on the record member using a pen.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method as recited in claim 24, wherein the step of placing the record member comprises the substep of aligning at least one edge of the record member along a guide mounted on the writing surface.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method as recited in claim 24, wherein the writing surface includes a first reference mark and the record member includes a second reference mark, and wherein the step of aligning further comprises the substep of: aligning the first and second reference marks.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as recited in claim 24, further comprising the step of: guarding the digitizer from undesired contact.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
59 words
A method for capturing handwriting without immediate feedback from an electronic display comprising the steps of: aligning at least one edge of a record member along a guide mounted on a writing surface, the writing surface including a digitizer; applying a writing to the digitizer through the record member; and processing a signal representing the writing from the digitizer.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
59 words
A method for capturing handwriting without immediate feedback from an electronic display comprising the steps of: aligning at least one edge of a record member along a guide mounted on a writing surface, the writing surface including a digitizer; applying a writing to the digitizer through the record member; and processing a signal representing the writing from the digitizer.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method as recited in claim 34, wherein the digitizer is a pressure-sensitive digitizer.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method as recited in claim 35, wherein the digitizer is sensitive to a writing force greater than or equal to a predetermined minimum writing force.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as recited in claim 36, wherein the minimum writing force is no more than about 10 to 15 grams.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
41 words
The handwriting capture device of claim 35, wherein the digitizer has upper and lower sheets electrically coupled between a plurality of insulator dots by pressure from handwriting, the digitizer having a near separation between dots of about 0.16 to 0.2 inches.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method as recited in claim 35, wherein the digitizer has a sensitivity sufficient to capture handwriting that produces a legible ink impression on the record member.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as recited in claim 34, wherein the step of applying a writing comprises the substep of producing a legible ink impression on the record member using a pen,
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method as recited in claim 34, further comprising the steps of: sensing the presence of the record member on the digitizer; activating the digitizer and processing circuitry coupled to the digitizer in response to the sensing step.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method as recited in claim 34, wherein the writing surface includes a first reference mark and the record member includes a second reference mark, and wherein the step of aligning further comprises the substep of: aligning the first and second reference marks.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as recited in claim 34, further comprising the step of: guarding the digitizer from undesired contact.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-07-12 | 1997-01-11 | 1997-07-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-07-12 | 2001-01-11 | 2001-07-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-07-12 | 2005-01-11 | 2005-07-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |