WO1998010344A1

WO1998010344A1 - Powering signature pad from lap-top computer

Info

Publication number: WO1998010344A1
Application number: PCT/US1997/015658
Authority: WO
Inventors: Llavanya X. Fernando
Original assignee: Penware Systems, Inc.
Priority date: 1996-09-04
Filing date: 1997-09-04
Publication date: 1998-03-12
Also published as: AU4334097A

Abstract

An arrangement for powering a signature pad (13) from a lap-top computer (12) is described. An added cord (14) is provided, extending from the power pins of the auxiliary input device PS/2 port (28) of the computer to the normal power RS232 plug (24) provided for the signature pad. A DC to DC converter (31) is included in the power cord to match the voltage obtained from the auxiliary input device port with that required by the signature pad.

Description

POWERING SIGNATURE PAD FROM LAP-TOP COMPUTER

DISCLOSURE

Background of the Invention

The present invention relates to powering handwriting pads of the type used to capture and digitize signatures and other handwritten information and, more particularly, to both a device and method of powering such a handwriting pad from a lap-top computer.

It is common in certain industries for salesmen to carry a lap-top computer or the like to the premises of actual or prospective clientele. For example, it is common for an insurance salesman when visiting a prospective client to carry a lap-top computer to display, among other things, an insurance contract to be presented to the client. It is also relatively common for such a salesman to provide a handwriting pad or the like to the client for capturing his/her signature to such a displayed contract. (In other words, into an electronic file stored in the computer.) However, in general it has been necessary in the past in order to operate such a capture device, to connect it to an external power source such as a wall plug. Since this is often inconvenient, those in the art have tried to provide power directly from the lap- top. In this connection, most have attempted to utilize the standard RS232 serial port provided on a lap-top computer for this power. The problem, though, is that the amount of current available from many lap-top computers through the standard RS232 port is somewhat lower than the peak current often required by a signature pad. Thus, such a standard connection does not provide the reliable operation of the signature pad desired. This problem has been addressed in the past in a relatively conventional way, i.e., by attempting to modify the signature pad to reduce the peak current needed.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention is based on the discovery that the PS/2 input connector provided on a computer for auxiliary operating devices, such as keyboards, mice or other navigation devices, etc. , also provides a satisfactory power output for use by commonly available signature pads. The current component of this power output meets the peak current requirements of most signature pads. The voltage component of the PS/2 power simply has to be converted to match the voltage requirement of the specific signature pad.

Use of the PS/2 socket for power enables the lap-top computer and signature pad to become a reliable unit completely divorced from the external environment. Most simply, it is only the power pin terminals of the PS/2 socket which are used, and the normal cord extends from the signature pad to the RS232 D-type port on the computer to provide input to the computer of the digital information defining the signature. This cord also conveys the power to the signature pad. Normally, this power is fed from a standard wall socket to an external power input plug associated with the plug on the end of the cord for interacting with the RS232 D-type port on the computer. In keeping with the invention, though, the power cord extends from the PS/2 socket of the lap-top computer to the power input plug at the RS232 port of the computer. It should be noted, however, that from the broad standpoint it could be arranged so there is only one cord. This could be arranged by utilizing not only the power pin terminals of the PS/2 socket, but those other pins in the PS/2 socket which would enable input to the computer of the digital information defining the signature.

The invention includes in addition to the circuitry discussed above, a method of powering a handwriting pad from a lap-top computer.

Other features and advantages of the invention either will become apparent or will be described in connection with the following, more detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention and variations.

Brief Description of the Drawing

With reference to the accompanying drawing:

FIG. 1 is a generally schematic view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a broken away schematic view of such preferred embodiment; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a modification to the preferred embodiment.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

The following relatively detailed description is provided to satisfy the patent statutes. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, though, that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the invention.

The combination making up the invention is generally referred to by the reference numeral 11. Such combination includes besides a standard lap-top computer 12 and a signature pad 13 of the type sold by PenWare, Inc. of Palo Alto, California with the designation "PenWare 100 Signature Pad", a special power cord generally referred to by the reference numeral 14. This cord will be discussed in more detail hereinafter. Lap-top computer 12 includes, as is common, a cover 15 having a display screen indicated at 16. The lap-top computer is conventional in that both a keyboard and a cursor control input device are incorporated into it. That is, the computer also includes a standard (or reduced size) keyboard 18, and means for navigating a pointing cursor. In this embodiment the navigating means is a Glide Point™ type of cursor moving device, indicated at 19.

The handwriting capture pad 13 is conventional and includes a pressure sensitive pad portion 21 on which the handwriting information is provided. Such a pad digitizes the analog handwriting and provides it at a standard nine pin D-type output port represented schematically at 22. Such information is provided to an electronic file on the computer via a cord 23.

Cord 23 has male D-type RS232 connectors at its ends, and is connected between port 22 on pad 13 and the standard D-type female RS232 port represented at 24 at the back of the lap-top computer 12. Such cord not only conveys the digital representation of the handwriting to the computer, but also conveys power to the signature pad 13. In this connection, the plug 25 on the end of cord 23 is designed not only to deliver the digital representation to the port 24 but also to receive a power input plug 27 for conveyance of the power back to the pad. Plug 25 is designed to enable the computer-signature pad combination to be connected through an AC to DC converter to a standard wall outlet providing 110 volt AC current. It will be recognized that the amount of DC current available is of the range of about 300-1000MA, a range that is quite sufficient to meet the peak current requirements of most signature pads.

As mentioned previously, efforts have been made to provide a combination of a lap-top computer and a signature pad which does not require an external connection for power. In the past these efforts have focused on use of the power made available by lap-top computer manufacturers to operate external serial devices. This power is provided at the 9-pin D-type RS232 port on the computer. Thus, in attacking the problem those in the art generally have used a connector for such port which also connects to the power pin and delivers it to cord 23 for conveyance to the signature pad. The problem is that the amount of current that is available via this RS232 port generally is not sufficient for reliable operation of the signature pads now available. The approach, then, has been to attempt to reduce the current requirements of the pads available, etc.

In keeping with the invention, the special power cord 14 is included, connected between the standard PS/2 female connector 28 on the computer to the power input port 26 of the plug 25. As is known, the PS/2 connector is provided on a lap-top computer to permit auxiliary input devices, such as a mouse or a keyboard, to be connected to the same. It just so happens that it also has a pair of pin terminals for providing output power for such auxiliary input devices. Thus, although there is a strong incentive simply to use the power pins provided by the computer manufacturer in the standard RS232 port, it has been found that the addition of another cord at the back of the computer provides the current needed to obtain reliable operation of the signature pad. In this connection, one of the pair of power pins terminals at the PS/2 socket is simply a ground. Another is a pin which is at about 5 volts. (It should be noted that in some situations it may be possible to obtain an appropriate ground outside the PS/2 socket. Thus, from the broad standpoint it is only necessary that the "hot" pin of the PS/2 socket be used.)

A problem is that the voltage needed by the signature pad is about 9 volts, whereas the mouse and keyboard power at the PS/2 socket is only about 5 volts. Thus, a DC-to- DC converter 31 is included as a part of the added power cord 14. Such converter is enclosed within potting 32 as illustrated to provide a rugged and reliable physical connection to the remainder of the cord. The current that is available to the pad 13 even when the PS/2 voltage is increased, is approximately 200MA. This is enough current for reliable operation of most signature pads.

It is to be noted that the unobviousness of deviating from the strong incentive simply to use the power pans at the RS232 port because there is a connection to such port anyway and computer manufacturers provide it, is emphasized by the fact the instant invention can be construed as adding some "messiness" to the arrangement, i.e., by the necessity of adding another cord to the combination. This added cord also simply connects one portion of the computer to another, i.e., to the untrained eye it merely seems to make a loop. As brought out earlier, though, from the broad standpoint the invention comprehends the use of only a single cord with the input to the computer being provided at the PS/2 socket rather than the RS232 port.

In some instances it is desirable to have the PS/2 socket available for use with auxiliary input devices. FIG. 3 is included to schematically illustrate the use of a "Y" connector 33 to which the signature pad power cord is connected. The other "Y" connector female socket, socket 34, is then available for use with an auxiliary input device. The other parts shown in FIG. 3 which are comparable to those referred to earlier are labeled in FIG. 3 by the same numerals, primed.

As mentioned at the beginning of the detailed description, applicant is not limited to the specific embodiment and variation described above. They are exemplary, rather than exhaustive. The claims, their equivalents and their equivalent language define the scope of protection.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. In a device for incorporating handwritten information in an electronic file, the combination comprising:

(a) a computer having at least one standard PS/2 connector socket for receiving input from a computer input device;

(b) a handwriting pad adapted to capture handwritten information and digitize the same; and

(c) a cord connecting the PS/2 connector of said computer with said handwriting pad.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said computer is a lap-top type of computer having both keypad and cursor control input devices incorporated into the same as a part thereof .

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said cord is a power cord connecting one or more power terminals in said PS/2 connector to means for delivering power to said handwriting pad.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein there are a pair of cords, one of which is said power cord and the other of which iε an output cord for information to be conveyed from said pad to said computer.

5. The device of claim 2 further including as a part of said combination, a Y connector interposed between said lap-top computer and said cord to facilitate connection to said lap-top computer through said PS/2 socket of an auxiliary computer input device.

6. The device of claim 2 wherein said standard PS/2 connector of said lap-top computer includes pin terminals for supplying power from said computer to an auxiliary operating input device, and said cord is a power cord electrically connected to said pin terminals to provide power for said pad.

7. The device of claim 6 further including as part of said power cord, a DC-to-DC converter to match the voltage appearing at said PS/2 pin terminals to that required by said handwriting pad.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said DC-to-DC converter converts 5 volts input from said pin terminals to 9 volts to be applied to said handwriting pad.

9. In a device for incorporating handwritten information in an electronic file, the combination comprising:

(a) a lap-top type computer having: (1) a keypad incorporated into said computer as a part thereof;

(2) a cursor control input device also incorporated into said computer; and

(3) at least one standard PS/2 connector socket on said computer for receiving input from an auxiliary input device, said connector including pin terminals for supplying power from said computer to such an auxiliary input device;

(c) a power cord extending between said PS/2 socket and a power input connection for providing power to said handwriting pad, said power cord including a DC-to-DC converter to match the voltage appearing at said PS/2 pin terminals to that required by said handwriting pad.

10. In a method of powering a handwriting pad connected to a lap-top computer, the step of connecting the power input for said handwriting pad to the PS/2 connector socket of said lap-top computer.

11. The method of claim 10 further including the step of converting an electrical characteristic of the power received from said PS/2 connector to an electrical characteristic of the power required by said handwriting pad.