Low-cost portable terminal device for electronic data processing

Claim 2

A portable data terminal for transmitting data via a telephone line communication link to a utilization facility comprising, in combination, generator means for generating tone signals, corresponding to digital data code patterns, and transmissible over said telephone line communication link, coupler means for coupling said generator means to said communication link, said coupler means including audio transducer means for translating electrical tone signals generated by said generator means to acoustic energy and means for receiving the mouthpiece, of a telephone handset and coupling audio energy from said audio transducer to said mouthpiece to the exclusion of extraneous audio energy, means for entering data into the terminal including an array of manually positionable input data selection and storage switches for controlling said means for generating, each of said manually positionable input data selection and storage switches includes an operator member, an indicia display member and an indicia viewing window, whereby the data stored at each data selection and storage switch in said array is visible to the user, means electrically coupling said input data selection and storage switches to said means for generating, including a manually initiated scanner means for sequentially scanning said array of manually positionable inPut data selection and storage switches in sequence from the first to the last to sequentially supply an energizing signal to said switches, and a diode matrix means for converting the output of said data selection and storage switches to a digital code, whereby, as said scanner means scans, each data selection and storage switch is supplied in sequence with an energizing signal to produce a digitally coded output signal from said diode matrix, said means for generating signals receivers said digitally coded output signal and generates a data code pattern corresponding to a data code pattern established by the position of said data selection and storage switch which is translated to acoustic tone signals by said audio transducer and coupled to said mouthpiece.

Claim 3

The invention defined in claim 1 including means for disabling said generator in the absence of a data code pattern established by said manually positioned switches.

Claim 4

The invention defined in claim 1 including manually operated independent nonstorage switch means connected to said generator for causing said generator to generate a code pattern independent of the scanning of said manually positionable input data selection and storage switches.

Claim 5

The invention defined in claim 1, including identification means connected to said generator means by said scanner means for causing said generator to generate a unique code pattern identifying said portable terminal to said utilization facility, and wherein said means electrically coupling said input data selection and storage switches to said generator means includes a plurality of conductors constituting a data bus, and including said diode matrix converting the output of said switches to a digital code, said identification means connected to said generator comprising a plurality of identification conductors connected to selected ones of said data bus by a set of wired conductors and in a pattern unique to the data terminal whereby said unique code pattern identifying said terminal is always transmitted to said utilization facility.

Claim 6

A portable data terminal for transmitting and receiving data via telephone lines, the data terminal defined in claim 1, wherein said utilization facility includes means for transmitting audio signals to said data terminal via said telephone line to the earpiece of said telephone handset, said portable terminal including means for receiving the earpiece of said telephone handset and transducer means for converting signals, detected in said transducer by the earpiece of said handset to audible sound energy.

Claim 7

The invention defined in claim 5 including a self-contained electrical power supply for supplying electrical energy to said generator means, said audio transducer means and said means for translating.

Claim 8

A portable data terminal for communicating with a data utilization facility via a telephone line comprising, in combination, a tone generator for permutatively generating tone signals in selected permutated data code patterns, an array of manually positionable rotary electrical data selection and storage switches, each switch having an operator member and a data display means so that selected stored data is visible to the user, scanning means for sequentially scanning said array of manually positionable data selection and storage switches in a sequence from the first to the last, a diode matrix means coupling said array of data selection and storage switches to said generator to cause said generator to sequentially generate permutated signal patterns according to the position of said data selection and storage switches, manually actuated means for initiating operation of said scanning means after manual positioning of said data selection and storage switches, and means coupling the output of said tone generator to said telephone line coupled with said utilization facility whereby as said scanning means scans said rotary data selection and storage switches the position of each switch is converted to corresponding tone signal patterns and transmitted to said utilization device via said communication link.

Claim 9

A portable data terminal for communicating with a data utilization facility via a telephone line comprising, in combination, a tone generator for permutatively generating tone signals in selected permutated data code patterns, an array of manually positionable rotary electrical data selection and storage switches, each switch having an operator member and a data display means so that selected stored data is visible to the user, scanning means for sequentially scanning said array of manually positionable data selection and storage switches in a sequence from the first to the last, a diode matrix means coupling said array of data selection and storage switches to said generator to cause said generator to sequentially generate permutated signal patterns according to the position of said data selection and storage switches, manually actuated means for initiating operation of said scanning means after manual positioning of said data selection and storage switches, and means coupling the output of said tone generator to said telephone line coupled with said utilization facility whereby as said scanning means scans said rotary data selection and storage switches the position of each switch is converted to corresponding tone signal patterns and transmitted to said utilization device via said communication link.

Claim 10

The invention defined in claim 7 wherein said scanning means includes a commutator having a rotor member, spring-motor means loaded upon movement of said manually operated means for effecting movement of said rotor member at a selected fixed speed whereby said commutator means scans said manually positioned data selection and storage switches at said selected fixed speed.

Claim 11

The invention defined in claim 8 including means for preventing transmission of data from said manually positioned switches unless said rotor member has been moved a predetermined angular distance.

Claim 12

The invention defined in claim 7 including manually actuated independent switch means connected to said multitone generator through said diode matrix for causing said generator to generate a code pattern independent of said data selection and storage switches.

Claim 13

Apparatus for sequentially commutating a plurality of input data devices to a utilization device comprising a shaft journaled for rotation about its axis, a single fingerhole disc means for manually rotating said shaft in one direction a predetermined angular distance from a rest position, a finger stop member spaced from said rest position said predetermined angular distance, spring motor-governor means coupled to said shaft and loaded during movement of said shaft in said one direction for mechanically returning said shaft to said rest position, a plurality of switch elements, each of said switch elements being connected to one of said data input devices, respectively, a rotary member driven by said shaft, a switch-actuating element driven by said rotary member momentarily actuating each of said plurality of switch elements in sequence to connect said switches to said utilization device in the sequence scanned, and a latch circuit connected to said first of said plurality of switch elements and actuated to one condition by said switch-actuating element with said first of said plurality of switch elements and actuated to another condition upon engagement of said switch element with the last of said plurality of switch elements, utilization device disabling means connecting said utilization device so as to render said utilization device inoperative upon said wiper momentarily engaging the said first of said plurality of contact elements in movement from said rest position and operative upon said wiper element engaging the last of said plurality of contact elements upon complete movement of said shaft in said one direction through said predetermined angular distance to said finger stop member, whereby contact elements intermediate the first and the last of said contact elements are rendered ineffective on movement of said shaft to said predetermined angular position and said contact elements intermediate said first and said last contact elements being rendered effective only on said wiper element engaging the last of said contact elements and rendered operative only on the return movement of said wiper element to return position by said spring motor-governor means.

Claim 14

Apparatus for sequentially commutating a plurality of input data devices to a utilization device comprising a shaft journaled for rotation about its axis, a single fingerhole disc means for manually rotating said shaft in one direction a predetermined angular distance from a rest position, a finger stop member spaced from said rest position said predetermined angular distance, spring motor-governor means coupled to said shaft and loaded during movement of said shaft in said one direction for mechanically returning said shaft to said rest position, a plurality of switch elements, each of said switch elements being connected to one of said data input devices, respectively, a rotary member driven by said shaft, a switch-actuating element driven by said rotary member momentarily actuating each of said plurality of switch elements in sequence to connect said switches to said utilization device in the sequence scanned, and a latch circuit connected to said first of said plurality of switch elements and actuated to one condition by said switch-actuating element with said first of said plurality of switch elements and actuated to another condition upon engagement of said switch element with the last of said plurality of switch elements, utilization device disabling means connecting said utilization device so as to render said utilization device inoperative upon said wiper momentarily engaging the said first of said plurality of contact elements in movement from said rest position and operative upon said wiper element engaging the last of said plurality of contact elements upon complete movement of said shaft in said one direction through said predetermined angular distance to said finger stop member, whereby contact elements intermediate the first and the last of said contact elements are rendered ineffective on movement of said shaft to said predetermined angular position and said contact elements intermediate said first and said last contact elements being rendered effective only on said wiper element engaging the last of said contact elements and rendered operative only on the return movement of said wiper element to return position by said spring motor-governor means.

Claim 15

The invention defined in claim 11 wherein said utilization device disabling means includes, means for disabling said utilization device on initial movement of said rotor member in a predetermined direction from a rest position, and means for enabling said utilization device on movement of said rotor member in said one direction said predetermined angular distance in said predetermined direction.

Claim 16

The invention defined in claim 11 wherein said utilization device disabling means includes an electronic latch circuit, means operated on initial movement of said rotor member from a rest position for causing said latch circuit to disable said utilization device, and means operated on movement of said rotor member said predetermined angular distance for causinG said latch circuit to enable said utilization device.

Claim 17

The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said manually initiated scanner includes a shaft journaled for rotation about its axis, means for manually rotating said shaft in one direction a predetermined angular distance from a rest position including a single fingerhole dial member and a finger stop member said finger stop member being spaced from said rest position said predetermined angular distance, spring motor-governor means coupled to said shaft and loaded during movement of said shaft in said one direction for mechanically returning said shaft to said rest position, a plurality of switch elements, each of said switch elements being connected to one of said data input devices, respectively, a rotary member driven by said shaft, a switch-actuating element driven by said rotary member momentarily actuating each of said plurality of switch elements in sequence to connect said switches to said utilization device in the sequence scanned.

Claim 18

The invention defined in claim 14 including a latch circuit connected to said first of said plurality of switch elements and actuated to one condition by said switch-actuating element with said first of said plurality of switch elements and actuated to another condition upon engagement of said switch elements with the last of said plurality of switch elements, means connecting said generator so as to render said generator inoperative upon said wiper momentarily engaging the said first of said plurality of contact elements in movement from said rest position and operative upon said wiper element engaging the last of said plurality of contact elements upon complete movement of said shaft in said one direction through said predetermined angular distance, whereby contact elements intermediate the first and the last of said contact elements are rendered ineffective on movement of said shaft to said predetermined angular position and said contact elements intermediate said first and said last contact elements being rendered effective only on said wiper element engaging the last of said contact elements and rendered operative only on the return movement of said wiper element to return position by said spring motor-governor means.

Claim 19

The invention defined in claim 7 including an array of isolation reed relays having switch elements operated thereby, selective actuation of said switch elements determining the selected code pattern generated by said generator, and the output of said diode matrix being connected directly to said array of isolation reed relays.