Abstract:
A hand held device includes a container body having a column of individually controlled LED lights for use as guide lines for handwriting and for use as a highlighting feature. Processing circuitry is included that stores LED light configurations to be recalled for later use.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Disclosure 
     This disclosure relates to a hand held device providing illuminated line guides for the purpose of providing guidelines for hand written text and also provides a bookmark for written text as well as providing a hand rest. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     The “background” description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventor, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description which may not otherwise quality as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present invention. 
     People commonly hand write notes, letters, and address envelops using un-lined paper. This can cause the written word to be uneven and give the appearance of unskilled penmanship. Also, when reading manual text, it is easy to lose track of the text line. 
     SUMMARY 
     Unlined paper can result hard to read text. This disclosure describes a method and apparatus for making non-permanent lines for the purpose of providing guidelines for hand written text. The hand-held device includes a series of LED lights, (or other light source such as lasers), a leveling system, a tracking system, a computer, and an output system. The hand held device also addresses the need for highlighting text and for electronically storing the page number and line of text the reader chooses to bookmark. In addition, the position of the LED lights can be controllably altered to increase the spacing between lines, to decrease the spacing between lines, and to create a wider beam of light to be used for highlighting written text. 
     In addition to non-permanents lines, the disclosure describes a mechanism for providing a bookmark and also provides hand support features. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a hand held device with non-permanent LED line guides, and bookmark feature. 
         FIG. 2  is a back view of a hand held device with non-permanent LED line guides, and bookmark. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of a hand held device with non-permanent LED line guides, configured to project equally spaced non-permanent guide lines. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of a hand held device with non-permanent LED line guides configured to project a non-permanent highlighter. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of a hand held device with non-permanent LED line guide lights configured to project triple handwriting guide lines. 
         FIG. 6  is a lookup table for triple guide lines. 
         FIG. 7  is a lookup table for conditions of a non-permanent highlight feature. 
         FIG. 8  is another embodiment of the disclosure having a bank of retractable and extendable LED line guides. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a computer system upon which an embodiment of a controller for controlling the information panel may be implemented. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a computer system upon which an embodiment of a controller for controlling the information panel may be implemented. 
         FIG. 11  illustrates another embodiment of this disclosure having a two piece hand held support system. 
         FIG. 12  illustrates a detachable/attachable hand rest configuration. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views,  FIG. 1  is an illustrative view of a of a hand held device  1  with a row of non-permanent LED line guides  102 , bookmark capability, hand support feature  103 , and an On/Off power switch  107 , and a CPU  290   FIG. 2 . Although the embodiment describes LED lights, other light sources can be used as well, such as one or more lasers. Each LED line guide  102  has an individual On/Off  104  switch, individual brightness control  105 , and individual height adjustment control  106 . These individual controls are customizable by the end user based upon their individual needs. If the end user prefers wide spaces between the non-permanent line guides, the LEDs guide lines can be moved to their farthest positions and intermediate light beams can be turned off. If the end user requires a mid-line guide line, a center beam brightness can be dulled to make it less bright than a top and a bottom line guide. If the end user is reading and requires a guide line to keep text in view, two beams can be positioned to create a wider beam used as a highlight feature. 
     The handheld device  1  is includes of a column of individually controlled LED line guide lights  102 , a corresponding column of individual brightness controls  105 , a corresponding column of individual On/Off controls  104 , a corresponding column of individual height controls  106 , and a corresponding column of individual stop guards  305 , an information panel  109  and an RFID reader  95 . The information panel  109  enables the user to save a customized setting and access previously saved configuration for use. 
     In addition, a counter  108  can be adjusted to store and indicate a page number and the position of the LED line guides  102  are memorized and together can be used to provide a bookmark. 
       FIG. 2  is a back view of the handheld device  1  with non-permanent LED line guides, and book mark feature. Two clips  200  are used to attach the handheld device to sheets of paper. These sheets of paper can be loose or in a bound book or magazine. The feet  205  are individually retractable and are controlled by a CPU  290  to provide an automatic leveling feature. Each of the feet  205  are individually controllably adjustable for maximum leveling capability to ensure straight line images are projected onto paper. A battery compartment  210  is accessible from the back of the handheld device. 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of the hand held device  1  with non-permanent LED line guide tracks  303  positioned between a column of equally spaced stop guards  305 . The column of individually controlled LED line guide lights  102  are individually positioned horizontally along the line guide track  303  using the corresponding column of individual height controls  106 .  FIG. 3  shows the column of individually controlled LED guide lights  102  with individual controlled LED line guide light  120  positioned using a corresponding height adjustment control  140  horizontally positioned equally spaced between a top stop guard  320  and a bottom stop guard  321 , individual controlled LED line guide light  121  positioned using a corresponding height adjustment control  141  horizontally positioned equally spaced between a top stop guard  321  and a bottom stop guard  322 , individual controlled LED line guide light  122  positioned using a corresponding height adjustment control  142  horizontally positioned equally spaced between a top stop guard  322  and a bottom stop guard  323 , individual controlled LED line guide light  123  positioned using a corresponding height adjustment control  143  horizontally positioned equally spaced between a top stop guard  323  and a bottom stop guard  324 , individual controlled LED line guide light  124  positioned using a corresponding height adjustment control  144  horizontally positioned equally spaced between a top stop guard  324  and a bottom stop guard  325 , individual controlled LED line guide light  125  positioned using a corresponding height adjustment control  145  horizontally positioned equally spaced between a top stop guard  325  and a bottom stop guard  326 , and individual controlled LED line guide light  126  positioned using a corresponding height adjustment control  146  horizontally positioned equally spaced between a top stop guard  326  and a bottom stop guard  327 , along the line guide track  303 . 
     In this configuration, the hand held device  1  emits equally spaced non-permanent guide lines onto a surface of varying brightness levels. Line guide light  120  has a corresponding individual On/Off control  600  and an individual brightness control  170 , line guide light  121  has a corresponding individual On/Off control  601  and an individual brightness control  171 , line guide light  122  has a corresponding individual On/Off control  602  and an individual brightness control  172 , line guide light  123  has a corresponding individual On/Off control  603  and an individual brightness control  173 , line guide light  124  has a corresponding individual On/Off control  604  and an individual brightness control  174 , Line guide light  120  has a corresponding individual On/Off control  605  and an individual brightness control  175 , Line guide light  120  has a corresponding individual On/Off control  606  and an individual brightness control  176 . 
     In the configuration of  FIG. 3 , the hand held device  1  emits equally spaced non-permanent guide lines onto a surface of varying brightness levels. The varying brightness levels allow the end user of the hand held device to select the type of line guide desired based on a specific need. In this configuration, LED guide light  120 , LED guide light  121 , and LED guide light  122  are equally spaced and have medium brightness levels. This configuration can be used to underline specific text to be read, or to generate non-permanent guide lines for handwritten text of the same height. LED guide light  123  is in a low brightness state. LED guide light  124  is in a maximum brightness level, LED guide light  145  is in a minimum brightness level, and LED guide light  126  is in a maximum brightness level. This configuration; a top line guide and a bottom line guide with maximum brightness coupled with a middle line guide light with minimum to enable the user to simulate a midpoint in hand written text for letters that do not go to the top line guide (like the letter ‘e’). This configuration can be stored in memory  302   FIG. 10 . 
     The LED line guide tracks  303  that are used to move the LED lights into more than one configuration based upon the need of the end user. The LED lights can be equally positioned for evenly spaced lines guides, or can be customizably spaced along the LED line guide tracks  303  as to the end user&#39;s preference. This configuration saved on a (the same or a different) non-transitory electronic storage device and used to store conditions for non-permanent line features. 
       FIG. 4  is a side view of another embodiment of the hand held device with non-permanent LED line guides in a highlight feature position. The column of individually controlled LED guide lights  102  are individually positioned along the line guide track  303  and emit a highlight feature light. The individually controlled LED line guide light  120  is manually positioned using a corresponding height adjustment control  140 . The guide light  120  can be positioned between a top stop guard  320  along its portion of the line guide track  303  and a bottom stop guard  321 . The line guide track  303  has equally spaced stop guards  305  along a length of the line guide track  303 . Each individually controlled LED line guide light  102  is able to be manually positioned using a corresponding column of individual height controls  106 .  FIG. 4  illustrates individual controlled LED line guide light  120  positioned at a bottom stop guard  321  and individual controlled LED line guide light  121  positioned at a topmost position at stop guard  321  along its designated position along track  303 . 
     Line guide light  120  has a corresponding individual On/Off control  600  and an individual brightness control  170 , line guide light  121  has a corresponding individual On/Off control  601  and an individual brightness control  171 , line guide light  122  has a corresponding individual On/Off control  602  and an individual brightness control  172 . Line guide light  120  is in the ON state and is projecting a medium brightness level. Line guide light  121  is in the ON state and is projecting a medium brightness level. The remaining LED guide line lights are in the OFF state. In this configuration the hand held device  1  is configured to non-permanently highlight text. This configuration saved on a (the same or a different) non-transitory electronic storage device and used to store conditions for non-permanent line features. In addition, a counter  108  can be adjusted to store and indicate a page number and the position of the LED line guides  102  are memorized and together can be used to provide a quick reference to the highlighted text. 
       FIG. 5  is a side view of another embodiment of the hand held device with non-permanent LED line guides in the ruled line feature position. All LED line guide lights are moved to their respective center position between their respective stop guards  305 . A top LED light  120  is powered On by its individual On/Off  600  switch, individual brightness control  170  is in a brightest position, and is positioned to the midpoint of the track using height adjustment control  140 . A second LED light  121  is powered On by its individual On/Off  601  switch, individual brightness control  171  is in the mid-brightness position, and is positioned to the midpoint of the track using the height adjustment control  141  creating a dim line guide to be used as the mid-height for text. A third LED light  122  is positioned below the second LED light  121  is powered On by its individual On/Off  602  switch, individual brightness control  172  is in the brightest position, and is positioned to the midpoint of the track using the height adjustment control  547  creating a bottom line guide. This configuration can be used alone to create one set of line guides or this configuration can be continued in the same sequence for the remaining LED lights to create non-permanent line guides for additional text. This configuration can be saved on a (the same or a different) non-transitory electronic storage device and used to store conditions for non-permanent line features. 
       FIG. 6  shows the contents of a look up table saved on a (the same or a different) non-transitory electronic storage device and used to store conditions for non-permanent line features. The condition for  FIG. 5  is for two sets of guide lines for text with a top line and bottom line of the same brightness to identify the top and bottom positions respectively for text and a mid-line guide of a lower brightness to identify the mid-point of text. The first column from the left identifies the specific LED light to be controlled. The second column from the left identifies if the LED light identified in the left column should be On or Off. The third column from the left identifies the vertical position of the LED light. The fourth column from the left identifies the brightness of the LED light, and the fifth column from the left identifies the page number the text associated with the LED light is found. 
       FIG. 7  shows the contents of a look up table saved on a (the same or a different) non-transitory electronic storage device and used to store conditions for non-permanent highlight feature. The condition for  FIG. 4  is for two guide line lights to be positioned next to each other with the same brightness for a highlight feature. The first column from the left identifies the specific LED light to be controlled. The second column from the left identifies if the LED light identified in the left column should be On or Off. The third column from the left identifies the vertical position of the LED light. The fourth column from the left identifies the brightness of the LED light, and the fifth column from the left identifies the page number the text associated with the LED light is found. A first and second LED light are in the On position. The first LED light is in the lowest vertical position and the second LED light is in the highest vertical position thus the two LED light beams being positioned close together yielding a single thick beam for highlighting text. The brightness of the first and second LED lights being in the brightest position. The last column identifies the page number of the text that was highlighted. This configuration can be saved on a (the same or a different) non-transitory electronic storage device and used to store conditions for non-permanent line features. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates another embodiment a set of retractable LED light banks  800  contained within the handheld device with non-permanent LED light guides, and bookmark. The light banks  800  are manually extended to provide additional LED light beams for larger paper or books. These light banks are pushed into a top receiving locking device  810  and are aligned with the original LED lights to form a larger area than the dimension of the hand held device. If the additional LED light beams are not needed, the retractable LED light banks are configured to retract into the handheld device. 
       FIG. 9  is a system block diagram of the communication between the hand held device  1 , the RFID reader  95 , the CPU  290 , a first internal level  921 , a second internal level  922 , a third internal level  923 , a fourth internal level  924 , a first self-leveling foot  931 , a second self-leveling foot  932 , a third self-leveling foot  934 , and a fourth self-leveling foot  935 , and the page counter  108 . The first internal level  921  is coupled to the first self-leveling foot  931 , the second internal level  922  is coupled to the second self-leveling foot  932 , the third internal level  923  is coupled to the third self-leveling foot  933 , and the fourth internal level  924  is coupled to the fourth self-leveling foot, the CPU  290 , the RFID reader  5 , and provides output to the end user. The position of each of the self-leveling feet is measured by the internal level associated with the respective foot and this measurement is provided to the CPU  290  to be used to calculate the height adjustment needed to obtain a level base for the hand held device  1 . The level base ensures that the LED line guide lights  102  project straight lines onto the writing surface. The battery  91  with a corresponding battery charger  90  is the power source for the CPU  290 . 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a computer system upon which an embodiment of a controller for controlling the information panel may be implemented according to exemplary embodiments is described. The handheld device  1  includes a CPU  300  (an example of processing circuitry) which performs the processes described above. The process data and instructions may be stored in memory  302 . These processes and instructions may also be stored on a storage medium disk  304  such as a hard drive (HDD) or portable storage medium or may be stored remotely. Further, the claimed advancements are not limited by the form of the computer-readable media on which the instructions of the inventive process are stored. For example, the instructions may be stored on CDs, DVDs, in FLASH memory, RAM, ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, hard disk or any other information processing device with which the handheld device of  FIG. 1  communicates, such as a server or computer. 
     Further, the claimed advancements may be provided as a utility application, background daemon, or component of an operating system, or combination thereof, executing in conjunction with CPU  300  and an operating system such as Microsoft Windows 7, UNIX, Solaris, LINUX, Apple MAC-OS and other systems known to those skilled in the art. 
     CPU  300  may be a Xenon or Core processor from Intel of America or an Opteron processor from AMD of America, or may be other processor types that would be recognized by one of ordinary skill in the art. Alternatively, the CPU  300  may be implemented on an FPGA, ASIC, PLD or using discrete logic circuits (all examples of processing circuitry), as one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize. Further, CPU  300  may be implemented as multiple processors cooperatively working in parallel to perform the instructions of the inventive processes described above. 
     The handheld device  1  also includes a network controller  306 , such as an Intel Ethernet PRO network interface card from Intel Corporation of America, for interfacing with network  330 . As can be appreciated, the network  330  can be a public network, such as the Internet, or a private network such as an LAN or WAN network, or any combination thereof and can also include PSTN or ISDN sub-networks. The network XX can also be wired, such as an Ethernet network, or can be wireless such as a cellular network including EDGE, 3G and 4G wireless cellular systems. The wireless network can also be WiFi, Bluetooth, or any other wireless form of communication that is known. 
     The handheld device  1  further includes a display controller  308 , such as a NVIDIA GeForce GTX or Quadro graphics adaptor from NVIDIA Corporation of America for interfacing with display X10, such as a Hewlett Packard HPL2445w LCD monitor. A general purpose I/O interface  312  interfaces with a keyboard and/or mouse  314  as well as a touch screen panel  316  on or separate from display  310 . General purpose I/O interface also connects to a variety of peripherals  318  including printers and scanners, such as an OfficeJet or DeskJet from Hewlett Packard. 
     A sound controller  320  is also provided in the [device], such as Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium from Creative, to interface with speakers/microphone  322  thereby providing sounds and/or music. The speakers/microphone  322  can also be used to accept dictated words as commands for controlling the handheld device  1  or for providing location and/or property information with respect to the target property. 
     The general purpose storage controller  324  connects the storage medium disk  304  with communication bus  326 , which may be an ISA, EISA, VESA, PCI, or similar, for interconnecting all of the components of the [device]. A description of the general features and functionality of the display  310 , keyboard and/or mouse  314 , as well as the display controller  308 , storage controller  324 , network controller  306 , sound controller  320 , and general purpose I/O interface  312  is omitted herein for brevity as these features are known. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates an embodiment of an optional auxilliary two-piece handheld support system  1100  having a stem  1102  for insertion between pages of a book to stabilize the two-piece hand held support system  1100  and having equally spaced incremental markings  1112 . A track  1106  is configured to support a slidable housing  1103 . The slidable housing  1103  moves horizontally across the two-piece hand support system  1100  and is configured to receive a hand rest  1104 . The topside straight edge  1113  can be used in conjunction with the equally spaced incremental markings  1112 , and the slidable housing  1103 , to manually create horizontal lines on a page for handwritten text. 
       FIG. 12  is an illustration of the attachment system  1200  between the hand rest  1104  and slidable housing  1103 . The hand rest  1104  has a threaded receiver  1201  configured to receive a receptacle  1202  of a housing  1103  for a hand rest  1104 . The hand rest is not restricted to a circular shape.