Looking for breakthrough ideas for innovation challenges? Try Patsnap Eureka!

Computer interface device

a technology of interface devices and computers, applied in computing, instruments, transmission systems, etc., can solve the problems of large data bases, large computing capacity of "portable" terminals, and the disadvantage of being totally dependent on the specific application for which they were designed, etc., and achieve the effect of large data bases and complex computing capabilities

Inactive Publication Date: 2004-02-10
NCR CORP
View PDF215 Cites 51 Cited by
  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

It can be seen that a touch-sensitive screen in accordance with the present invention can serve all of the input and output needs of a computer terminal. A programmed microprocessor associated with the terminal can be used to provide the screen displays and generate the appropriate signals in response to touching the corresponding selected portions of the screen. Such a device can be considerably more compact than heretofore available computer terminals. True portability of a computer terminal in accordance with the present invention, particularly in a busy, and sometimes hostile, work environment, permits such a terminal to be used as an electronic clipboard, but with all of the processing power of a large computer.

Problems solved by technology

While such flat screen devices substantially reduce the size of computer terminals, the standard keyboard, key pads, "mice," and other input devices have required that even "portable" terminals be relatively bulky despite the thin screen display.
Such touch-responsive selections have the disadvantage, however, of being totally dependent on the specific application for which they were designed.

Method used

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
View more

Image

Smart Image Click on the blue labels to locate them in the text.
Viewing Examples
Smart Image
  • Computer interface device
  • Computer interface device
  • Computer interface device

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

Embodiment Construction

Referring more particularly to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 are plan and elevation views, respectively, of a portable computer terminal in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the terminal 10 has two planar surfaces 11 and 13 at an angle to each other. Planar surface 11 includes an opening 12 which provides visual access to a flat screen display .[.divice.]. .Iadd.device .Iaddend.inside of terminal .[.1.]. .Iadd.10.Iaddend.. As can best be seen in FIG. 2, the planar surfaces 11 and 13 define an angle of approximately 140 degrees therebetween. A retractile cord 14 may be attached to terminal 10 as means for connecting terminal 10 to computing facilities outside of terminal 10, should that be necessary or .[.desireable.]. .Iadd.desirable.Iaddend.. Alternatively, terminal 10 can be electrically coupled to such external computing facilities by well-known wireless technology using ultrasonic sound waves, radio waves, infra-red wav...

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More

PUM

No PUM Login to View More

Abstract

A computer terminal device includes a flat screen display element and a touch-sensitive element. Simulated keyboards can be displayed on the display element and, in response to the touching of the simulated keys, generate appropriate control signals. The same flat screen display can also be used to display computer output, either the result of calculations or the result of information retrieval requests. The slim silhouette of this terminal makes it ideal for hostile environments such as the factory floor or the hospital room.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELDThis invention relates to computers and computer terminals, and more particularly, to small, compact and light-weight terminal devices for computers and computer systems.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONFlat display electroluminescent and plasma display devices are well-known and have long been incorporated into computer terminal devices, particularly for portable terminals and for portable computers. Such portable computers are sometimes called "smart" terminals or personal computers or work stations. While such flat screen devices substantially reduce the size of computer terminals, the standard keyboard, key pads, "mice," and other input devices have required that even "portable" terminals be relatively bulky despite the thin screen display.It is also well-known to provide a touch-sensitive display screen for computer terminals. By touching the screen at or near indicia displayed on the screen, the user can select actions or graphic display portions for further considera...

Claims

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More

Application Information

Patent Timeline
no application Login to View More
IPC IPC(8): G06F1/16G06F3/033
CPCG06F1/1626G06F1/1656G06F3/033G06F3/04886
Inventor AUER, CAROL M.CASTAGNO, DANIEL L.HALEY, JR., ALLEN W.MOORE, IV, HARRY J.O'LEARY, SEAN E.PALEY, STEVEN J.RUTT, THOMAS E.
Owner NCR CORP
Who we serve
  • R&D Engineer
  • R&D Manager
  • IP Professional
Why Patsnap Eureka
  • Industry Leading Data Capabilities
  • Powerful AI technology
  • Patent DNA Extraction
Social media
Patsnap Eureka Blog
Learn More
PatSnap group products

Browse by: Latest US Patents, China's latest patents, Technical Efficacy Thesaurus, Application Domain, Technology Topic, Popular Technical Reports.

© 2024 PatSnap. All rights reserved.Legal|Privacy policy|Modern Slavery Act Transparency Statement|Sitemap|About US| Contact US: help@patsnap.com