Abstract:
A portable electronic reference device is disclosed that can be used by a user when reading a book. The electronic reference device functions as a dictionary for the reader to look up words as they read. It can also have various other functions that would be suitable for a portable electronic device. The device has a display section and a keyboard section. A pivoting transparent lid is provided on the display. The lid also contains a light to allow a user to clearly see the device and pages of a book.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     A. Field of Invention 
     This invention relates to a portable electronic device that can be used as a reference guide by a person reading a book. More particularly, the invention relates to a device that can be easily carried within the book and serve as a bookmark and provides a reading light. 
     B. Description of the Related Art 
     Certain electronic reference devices have been designed to be used when reading a book. A dictionary is one such device, useful when reading a book. These devices can also be proportionately sized so as to be able to fit inside a book so that it is readily accessible to the user while reading the book. These devices can also be of an appropriate weight so as to be carried with the book. It is important that these devices are of suitable size and weight not to cause damage to the pages of the book nor to the binding of the book. 
     Another device that can be used when reading a book is a book light. Such devices are portable lights sources, such as a small light bulb, that are intended to allow a reader to read in a dark room by illuminating the page of the book being read. The light source is typically partially covered so that the light will only shine in one direction. This directional lighting allows the reader to focus the light onto the page of the book that is being read without illuminating the rest of the room to disturb anyone else in the room. Such types of book lights are capable of being adjusted so that the directional light can be focused onto the page, however, that focusing typically creates a “spotlight” effect wherein the light brightly illuminates one spot on the page and the rest of the page is not as equally illuminated. 
     There is a need for a bookmark that can provide the features of a dictionary and other such applications and be efficient and easy to use. There is also a need for a bookmark to provide a reading light so that a user does not have to turn on a much brighter light to read. There is also a need to provide a book mark having a reading light so that a user may more clearly see the display on the bookmark as well as the words on the page of the book. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The current invention involves a portable electronic reference device that is capable of being inserted in between pages of a book and used as a bookmark without causing damage to the pages of the book or causing damage to the device itself. According to one aspect of the invention, the portable electronic reference device has a keyboard section and a display section. A light is attached to the lid and is operable to provide lighting. A switch is also provided to automatically turn on the light in the light compartment when the lid moves from a closed position to an open position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings are included to provide an understanding of the invention and constitute a part of the specification. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates the front view of the portable electronic reference device; 
         FIG. 2  depicts a schematic diagram of the components of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  shows a more detailed illustration of the display section and lid of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a side view of the present invention with the lid is in an open position; 
         FIG. 5  depicts the side view of the present invention when the lid is in a closed position; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates the light compartment provided in the lid of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a battery housing for the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a battery compartment for providing power to the keyboard section of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a block schematic of the switch connection according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates the directional transmission of light according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  depicts the front view of the portable electronic bookmark device  10 . In the device  10  there is a display section  20 , a keyboard section  30  and a lid  40 . Above the keyboard section  30  is the display section  20 . The display section  20  has a screen  50  to display data to the user. In one embodiment of the present invention, the display screen is an LCD screen, but it can be any screen suitable to displaying graphics and/or text to the user. 
     The device  10  can be extremely thin because the battery unit  110  is positioned on the upper part of the device. The thickness of the device is uniform for both the display section  20  and the keyboard section  30 . As such, the entire main body of the device  10  will easily fit in between two pages of a closed book without causing any damage to the pages or to the binding of the book. The device can then act as a bookmark to designate the relevant page for the user. In addition, by having the entire device within the book, the display section and the flexible keyboard section are protected by the book. 
     The keyboard section  30  has various keys that allow the user to input data into the book mark  10 . In one embodiment of the present invention, the book mark  10  has six menu keys  60  that allow the user to select different modes of operation for the device. As shown in this embodiment, the six modes are (1) dictionary, (2) time/date, (3) word games, (4) calculator, and (5) phonebook and (6) ON/OFF switch. Each mode allows the user to access different functions of the device. The number and type of keys can vary depending on the type and purpose of the device. 
     The keyboard section  30  also has a set of alphabetic keys  70 . The user can use these keys to type in words to be processed by the device. Below the alphabetic keyboard, there is a set of four keys corresponding to the four directional arrows  80 . These keys can be used by the user to navigate through different menus displayed on the screen. Next to the directional arrows  80  are a set of keys  90  marked as (1) prev, (2) next, (3) back, and (4) enter. These keys are also available to allow the user to navigate various software menus displayed on the screen. To the left of the directional keys  80  are six miscellaneous keys  100 . 
     In a dictionary mode, the user will be able to enter a word to look up. Upon typing the word using the keyboard and pressing the enter key, the device  10  will display the definition of the word. If the word is misspelled, then the device will display a list of words that are the potential word. 
     If the user selects the time/date key from the menu keys, the device  10  will display the current time and date. The user can change the date and time by using the keys in the lower left hand side of the device. 
     If the user selects the word games key from the menu keys, the screen will display various word games that the user can use. Word games available in one embodiment include (a) hangman, (b) Jumble, (c) anagrams, and (d) tic tac toe. The user can use the directional arrow keys  80  located directly below the alphabetic keys  70  to select the appropriate game. 
     If the user selects the calculator key from the menu keys  60 , the device will allow the user to perform various arithmetic functions. In the calculator mode of operation, the alphabetic keys  111  will now be used to input numbers and the arithmetic functions. The numeric values and arithmetic functions are printed above each corresponding key. 
     If the user selects the databank key from the menu keys, the device  10  allows the user to build a user list of words and store them in the device&#39;s memory. This user list can be used in conjunction with the games operating mode. 
     The keyboard section  30  is primarily composed of a thin flexible PC circuit board. The portion of the flexible PC circuit board that is in the keyboard section is covered with a thin vinyl laminate. The keys on the keyboard section  30  are printed onto the laminate and do not rise above the surface of the laminate. The vinyl laminate is pliable so that a user pressing on the keys will be able to create an electrical connection in the circuit board below the laminate to register that key being pressed with the processor. 
     Above display section  20 , there is provided a battery housing  110 . The battery housing  110  is provided to contain batteries that will supply power to the lid  40 . The battery housing  110  is cylindrical and is capable of holding at least two triple A batteries. A ribbon  112  extends from the batter housing  110 . The ribbon  112  can be used to mark specific pages in a book. The battery housing  110  will be discussed in greater detail with reference to  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 2  details a schematic diagram showing the electrical components of one embodiment of the present invention. It can be seen that a processor unit  120  is electrically connected to a memory unit  130 , display circuitry  140  and keyboard circuit  150 . The processor  120  is typically located in the display section  20 . The processor  130  can be any microprocessor that is capable of being programmed to perform the various functions required by the device. The memory unit  130  acts as the main storage area for data entered by the user. The memory unit  130  can be comprised of memory chips that are permanently located within the apparatus. It can also include an external memory unit that is temporarily connected to the device. Other circuits, such as a sound unit, can be added to the device without changing the teachings of this invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a more detailed view of the display section  20  and the lid  40 . The lid  40  is transparent and in one embodiment is a Plexiglas structure. Although, in the present embodiment the lid is constructed with Plexiglas material, any material providing durability and transparency may be utilized. The lid  40 , in one embodiment, has a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The first side is pivotally connected to the display section  20  of the device  10 . The second side as shown in  FIG. 3  is curved. The lid  40  is provided with a light compartment  150 . The lid  40  and light compartment  150  will be discussed in greater detail with reference to  FIG. 6 . 
       FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate side views depicting the positioning of the lid  40  in an open and closed state.  FIG. 4  illustrates a side view of the device  10  when the lid  40  is in an open position. The lid  40 , as mentioned above, is pivotally connected to display section  20 . More specifically, the lid  40  is connected to a hinge  162 . 
     Also, a clip  170  is positioned on the back portion of the device  10 . The clip  170  can be used to clip the device onto the cover of a book. The ribbon  112  (not shown) then may be used to mark a specific page in the book.  FIG. 5  illustrates the device  10  when the lid  40  is in a closed position. When the lid  40  is placed flat against the display section  10 , a user is capable of viewing the display screen through the lid  40 . 
     Now turning to  FIG. 6 , the structure of the light compartment and operation of the light with respect to the movement of the lid  40  will be explained.  FIG. 6  illustrates the lid  40  and light compartment  150  in more detail. The light compartment  150  is provided with a detachable lid  180 , light socket  190 , light clip  200 , and light bulb  210 . The electrical circuitry of the light compartment  150  and the lid  40  are provided so that when the lid  40  is moved from the closed position to the open position, the light bulb in the light compartment is powered on, providing illumination of the device  10 . Generally, the light bulb is powered on when the lid  40  is moved to position greater than 45 degrees from the closed position. When the lid  40  is “closed” or placed over the display section  20 , the light is turned off. More specifically, the light bulb  210  is powered off when the lid  40  is less than 45 degrees or greater than 100 degrees. A switch is provided within a hinge that enables the light to be turned on and off depending on the positioning of the lid  40 . The switch will be discussed in greater detail with reference to  FIG. 9 . 
     The detachable lid  180  is secured to the light compartment  150  by a latch  220 . The detachable lid  180  can be removed by applying pressure and pushing upward on the latch  220 . The inner side of the detachable lid  170  is provided with reflective material so that the light will reflect in one direction—away from the reflective surface. 
     The lid also has a curved section  230  on the second side of the lid. The curved section  230  of the lid  40  acts in conjunction with the location of the lid and the reflective surface to allow a portion of the light to shine out of (refract) the curved section of the lid and a portion be reflected down toward the book pages. Specifically, since the light bulb  210  is positioned so that that the illumination from the light bulb  210  is directed towards the curved section  230  of the lid, part of the light is able to be reflected off of the curved section  230  of the lid  40  towards the book. As a result, the reflection of the illumination from the reflection sheet and the refraction of the light from the curved section  230  of the lid  40  provides greater, more uniform and directed illumination. More importantly, this creates a type of halo where the light from the lid emanates directly from the light source and also from the entire curved edge of the lid. In addition, the light compartment  150  is positioned on the left hand side of the device so that when the bookmark is placed on the right hand side of an open book, the light is closer to the center of the open book and the illumination of the light bulb will shine on both pages of the open book. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates the battery housing  110  in more detail. The battery housing  110  is located at the top portion of the display section  20 . The battery housing  110  is shown having a pivoted opening  230 . As mentioned above, a triple A battery  240  is provided in the battery housing  110  to power the light compartment  150  of the device  10 . Although one triple A battery  240  is illustrated, the present device operates utilizing two triple A batteries. The lid  40  is also illustrated attached to the hinge  162 . 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a battery compartment  250  for providing power to the display and keyboard section. The battery compartment is constructed in the display section  20  and is capable of sliding in and out from below the display section  20 . The battery compartment  250  is provided to supply power to the electronic circuitry of the display and keyboard section  30 . When the battery compartment is laterally moved into the device  10 , electrical components of the keyboard section are connected to the battery and provided power. A CR2016 lithium 3 v battery is shown as a power source. 
       FIG. 9  shows a schematic of the electrical components of the device connected to the light compartment  150 . A power supply  270  is connected to a switch  280 . The switch  280  when switched supplies power to a light source  290  thereby illuminating the light compartment  150 . The power supply  270  is provided by battery  240  from the battery housing  110 . The switch  280  is provided in the hinge  162  and is connected electrically to the light compartment  150 . The switch allows power to the light source automatically when the lid moves from a closed position to an open position. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates the directional transmission of light according to the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 10 , directional arrows A-H illustrate the direction the light is transmitted when the lid  40  is in an open position and the light bulb  210  is powered on. The light is transmitted toward curved edges A, B, C, D, E of the lid  40  as well as through the lid  40  F, G, H. As a result, the light is refracted A, B, reflected C, D, E and transmitted through the lid F, G, H to the book (not shown). The transmission of the light in this manner produces the halo effect on the pages of the book. Accordingly, the pages of the book are provided with greater illumination. 
     The present invention is not to be considered limited in scope by the preferred embodiments described in the specification. Additional advantages and modifications, which readily occur to those skilled in the art from consideration and specification and practice of this invention are intended to be within the scope and spirit of the following claims: