Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US5233547?dq=5920316
Timestamp: 2015-01-31 18:58:10
Document Index: 616525176

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 22', 'art 24', 'art 22', 'art 22', 'art 24', 'art 22', 'art 22', 'arts 24']

Patent US5233547 - Electronic checking account apparatus and method having a digitizer to ... - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsAn electronic checkbook and method for using it. The checkbook comprises upper and lower parts which fold together when not in use. The lower part receives on its upper surface a booklet of checks. A digitizer is hingedly connected or fixed to the remainder of the lower part and operates as a keyboard...http://www.google.com/patents/US5233547?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US5233547 - Electronic checking account apparatus and method having a digitizer to receive information as a check is being writtenAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS5233547 APublication typeGrantApplication numberUS 07/790,040Publication dateAug 3, 1993Filing dateNov 12, 1991Priority dateNov 12, 1991Fee statusPaidAlso published asDE69229666D1, DE69229666T2, EP0542524A1, EP0542524B1Publication number07790040, 790040, US 5233547 A, US 5233547A, US-A-5233547, US5233547 A, US5233547AInventorsMichael A. Kapp, Stephen J. AmesOriginal AssigneeNcr CorporationExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (16), Non-Patent Citations (1), Referenced by (75), Classifications (12), Legal Events (5) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetElectronic checking account apparatus and method having a digitizer to receive information as a check is being writtenUS 5233547 AAbstract An electronic checkbook and method for using it. The checkbook comprises upper and lower parts which fold together when not in use. The lower part receives on its upper surface a booklet of checks. A digitizer is hingedly connected or fixed to the remainder of the lower part and operates as a keyboard in one mode when placed above the check booklet, and can be placed beneath the top check of the booklet and used in a second mode as a means for inputting signals to the remainder of the device representing information written on the check. The lower part of the checkbook also includes other elements of the device including a microprocessor, a power supply and a smart card reader/writer. The upper part includes a display screen upon which checking account information appears during use of the electronic checkbook. The method of use of the checkbook provides maintenance of a record of transactions in the account, including addition of deposits and subtraction of checks drawn on the account.
What is claimed is: 1. An electronic checking account apparatus, comprising:a base; a check booklet associated with said base; and a digitizer attached to said base and adapted to be placed in operative relation to a check when the check is being written to receive information as the check is written. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the digitizer is hingedly connected to said base.
8. An electronic checking account apparatus, comprising:a microprocessor for controlling the functioning and operation of the checking account apparatus; memory means coupled to said microprocessor and including checking account information and program means for converting handwritten information into digital information for use by the microprocessor; a display screen coupled to said microprocessor for displaying information related to a checking account; and a digitizer coupled to said microprocessor and adapted to be placed in operative relation to a check when the check is being written to receive information as it is written and to transmit it to said microprocessor. 9. The electronic checking account apparatus of claim 8, also including battery means coupled to the microprocessor for powering the apparatus.
25. An electronic checking account apparatus, comprising:a microprocessor for controlling the functioning and operation of the checking account record apparatus; memory means coupled to said microprocessor and including checking account information and program means for converting handwritten information into digital information for use by the microprocessor; a display screen coupled to said microprocessor for displaying information related to a checking account; a digitizer coupled to said microprocessor and adapted to be placed in operative relation to a check when the check is being written to receive information as it is written and to transfer it to said microprocessor; a smart card reader/writer coupled to said microprocessor for reading checking account information from and writing checking account information into a smart card inserted therein; battery means for providing power for said apparatus and coupled thereto; and a housing comprising hinged upper and lower parts which can be moved together for security and separated for use, said upper part holding the display screen, and said lower part holding the microprocessor, the memory means, the digitizer, the smart card reader and the battery means. 26. The apparatus of claim 25, in which the digitizer is hingedly connected to the lower part of the housing, said apparatus also including a booklet of checks positioned on the lower part so that the digitizer can be placed beneath the top check of the booklet.
37. A method for maintaining a checking account register, using a device which includes a data processor, a digitizer, a memory and a check booklet, comprising the following steps:(a) activating said device; (b) placing the digitizer beneath a check from the booklet; (c) writing appropriate information on the check, sensing said written information by the digitizer and decoding said sensed information; and (d) storing the decoded handwritten information in the memory. 38. The method of claim 37, in which said memory comprises a smart card.
39. The method of claim 37, also including the following steps:(h) causing the digitizer to function in a keyboard mode; and (i) making non-check entries by operating the digitizer in its keyboard mode. 40. A method for preparing checks and updating a checking account register, using a checking account device which includes a data processor, a display screen, a digitizer, a memory and a check booklet, comprising the following steps:(a) activating a check register mode of operation of said device; (b) displaying a check register on the display screen; (c) placing the digitizer beneath a check from the booklet; (d) writing appropriate information on the check, sensing said written information by the digitizer and decoding said sensed information; (e) storing the decoded handwritten information in memory; (f) updating the check register information; and (g) displaying the updated information on the display screen. 41. The method of claim 40, in which said memory comprises a smart card.
42. The method of claim 40, also including the following steps:(h) causing the digitizer to function in a keyboard mode; and (i) making non-check entries to the check register by operating the digitizer in its keyboard mode. 43. The method of claim 42, also including the following steps:(j) in the case of an error, positioning a cursor beneath an incorrect character on the check register using a key on the digitizer in its keyboard mode; and (k) using a key represented on the digitizer to correct the incorrect character. 44. The method of claim 39, in which the writing of certain of said appropriate information on said check causes said digitizer to operate in a mode in which it senses said appropriate information as it is written.
46. A method for preparing checks and updating a checking account register, using a checking account device which includes a display screen, a digitizer, a data processor and a memory, comprising the following steps:(a) activating said device; (b) applying diagnostic tests to the device; (c) applying check register display information to the display screen; (d) conditioning digitizer keys for operation; (e) placing a check to be written over the digitizer so that writing impressions made on the check will be sensed by the digitizer; (f) writing appropriate information on the check, sensing said information by the digitizer and decoding said information sensed by the digitizer; (g) storing the decoded handwritten information in memory; (h) updating the check register information; and (i) displaying the updated information on the display screen. 47. The method of claim 46, in which said memory comprises a smart card.
48. The method of claim 46, also including the following steps:(j) causing the digitizer to function in a keyboard mode; and (k) making non-check entries to the check register display. 49. The method of claim 48, also including the following steps:(l) in the case of an error, positioning a cursor beneath an incorrect character on the check register using a key on the digitizer in its keyboard mode; and (m) using a key represented on the digitizer to correct the incorrect character. 50. A method for preparing checks and updating a checking account register, using a checking account device which includes a display screen, a digitizer, a data processor, a memory and a check booklet, comprising the following steps:(a) activating the device for operation; (b) applying diagnostic tests to the device; (c) providing visible data on the display screen; (d) operating a key on the digitizer to change the data on the display screen to a showing of a check register; (e) placing the digitizer beneath a check from the check booklet; (f) changing the digitizer mode from a keyboard mode to a data entry mode by entering a date on the check which is positioned above the digitizer; (g) writing check data including amount and payee; (h) sensing said written information by the digitizer; (i) decoding the sensed information; (j) storing the decoded information in memory and displaying it on the check register display screen together with a new total obtained by subtracting the amount of the check from a previous total; (k) terminating the check writing operation. 51. The method of claim 50, in which the checking account device also includes a smart card reader/writer and a smart card having a memory, including the following additional steps:(l) transmitting the stored information from step (j) to the smart card; and (m) providing an alarm indication when the capacity of the smart card memory is reached. 52. The method of claim 51, in which said alarm indication is audible.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an electronic checking account apparatus and method, and more particularly relates to such an apparatus and method in which a digitizer is employed to sense information written on a check as it is written, said information being decoded for use in calculation and display of checking account information.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a simplification of the check writing and recording process, and utilizes a pressure sensitive digitizer to capture, at a minimum, the payee and amount information during the writing of a check. The invention converts this information to a desired code, such as ASCII, for storage on an electronic check register, which may be stored in on-board memory, on a smart card or other portable IC/memory card. Utilizing a display screen built into the apparatus of the present invention, which may be considered to be an electronic checkbook, the writer of the check may verify that the data was captured and converted to ASCII characters correctly, and may also scroll through the electronic checkbook register. The checking account record may be stored in a smart card which may be inserted into and removed from the apparatus. When sufficient checking account data has been stored in the smart card that its memory capacity has been reached, the smart card may be removed and archived for long term storage. A new electronic register (i.e. smart card) can be purchased from a vendor such as a bank and inserted into the apparatus for continued usage of the apparatus.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the electronic checkbook of the present invention, showing a calendar and a time of day clock on the display screen and showing the digitizer positioned for use in a keyboard mode.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to FIGS. 1-3 inclusive, shown there is a checking account apparatus or electronic checkbook 20, comprising a base or lower part 22 connected by hinges 25 to a cover or upper part 24. The electronic checkbook 20 is designed to resemble an existing checkbook featuring upper and lower casings or parts. The electronic checkbook has the ability to open and close much like a conventional checkbook. As shown best in FIG. 3, included in the lower part are a digitizer or digitizer pad 26; a booklet of checks 28 positioned on the upper surface 30 of the lower part 22; a smart card reader/writer 32 for reading a smart card 34 which can be inserted into a slot 36 in the lower part 22; a buss connector 38 which may be of the RS232 type for connecting the checkbook 20 to other electronic apparatus; a printed circuit board 40 on which is included a microprocessor or microcontroller 42 (FIG. 4), an EEPROM memory 44, an SRAM memory 46 and a time of day clock 48; a battery compartment 50 containing a bank of batteries 52; a ribbon cable 54 connecting the digitizer 26 to the printed circuit board 40; and a ribbon cable 56 connecting the printed circuit board 40 to a liquid crystal display screen 58 which is mounted in the upper part 24 of the electronic checkbook 20. FIG. 4 is a block diagram which shows the interconnection of the various elements described above. The digitizer 26 may be hingedly connected to the lower part 22 as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, or may be fixed to the upper surface of the lower part, if desired. If the digitizer 26 is fixed to the upper surface of the lower part 22, the check booklet 28 may be loose within the upper and lower parts 24 and 22 or may be connected in some appropriate manner to the electronic checkbook 20.
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1996FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Apr 26, 1994CCCertificate of correctionNov 12, 1991ASAssignmentOwner name: NCR CORPORATION A CORP. OF MD, OHIOFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNORS:KAPP, MICHAEL A.;AMES, STEPHEN J.;REEL/FRAME:005907/0238;SIGNING DATES FROMRotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services