Patent US4122435A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4122435A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus and method for producing an electrical signal responsive to handwriting characteristics
Assignee: Siemens Building Technologies AG
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Filing: 1977-10-11
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Granted: 1978-10-24
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Expires: 1997-10-11
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to a means and method for producing an electrical signal responsive to identifying characteristics of handwriting. The electrical signal is produced responsive to variations in writing pressure between a writing instrument and a ridged writing surface.
Inventors
- 👤 David Leslie Greenaway
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 12:59
CPC Classifications
B; B43; B43K; B43K29/00; B43K29/08; G; G06; G06V; G06V40/00; G06V40/30; G07; G07C; G07C9/00; G07C9/20; G07C9/22; G07C9/24; G07C9/247
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
82 words
A method comprising the steps of: writing with a writing instrument on a writing surface having regular generally parallel ridges spaced apart a distance sufficiently small with respect to the tip of the writing instrument so as to prevent contact by the tip of the writing instrument with the bottom of the valleys between the ridges of the writing, producing a signal related to a characteristic of handwriting responsive to variations in contact pressure between the writing instrument and the writing surface.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
82 words
A method comprising the steps of: writing with a writing instrument on a writing surface having regular generally parallel ridges spaced apart a distance sufficiently small with respect to the tip of the writing instrument so as to prevent contact by the tip of the writing instrument with the bottom of the valleys between the ridges of the writing, producing a signal related to a characteristic of handwriting responsive to variations in contact pressure between the writing instrument and the writing surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of converting the signal into a numerical code.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 2, further comprising the steps of recording the numerical code on an identity card bearing a signature to which the signal corresponds.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of recording a manifestation of the signal on an identity card bearing a signature to which the signal corresponds.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 4, wherein the signal is recorded on a magnetic recording carrier of the identity card.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the generally parallel ridges of the writing surface are spaced apart a distance between about 2 microns and about 10 microns.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1, comprising the further step of analyzing the signal with the aid of a plurality of narrow band pass filters.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
82 words
An apparatus for producing an electrical signal responsive to handwriting done with a writing instrument including: a writing surface with regular generally parallel ridges spaced apart a distance sufficiently small with respect to the tip of the writing instrument so as to prevent contact by the tip of the writing instrument with the bottom of the valleys between the ridges of the writing surface; and, means for producing a signal responsive to the writing by the writing instrument on the writing surface.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
82 words
An apparatus for producing an electrical signal responsive to handwriting done with a writing instrument including: a writing surface with regular generally parallel ridges spaced apart a distance sufficiently small with respect to the tip of the writing instrument so as to prevent contact by the tip of the writing instrument with the bottom of the valleys between the ridges of the writing surface; and, means for producing a signal responsive to the writing by the writing instrument on the writing surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said signal is an electric signal and wherein said means for producing said signal is a microphone.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 9 where said means for producing said signal is a transducer responsive to variations in pressure between the writing instrument and said writing surface as the writing instrument slidably contacts said writing surface in writing thereon.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the relief of said writing surface varies in two directions approximately perpendicular to each other and approximately parallel to the principal plane of said writing surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the generally parallel ridges of said writing surface are spaced apart a distance of between about 2 microns and about 10 microns.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 8, comprising a plurality of narrow band pass filters operatively connected to receive said signal.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
100 words
A method comprising the steps of: writing with a writing instrument on a body having a surface with a periodically varying relief, the periodicity of the relief being sufficiently small with respect to the tip of the writing instrument so as to prevent contact by the tip of the writing instrument with the bottom of the valleys between the ridges of the writing surface so that the relief structure is elastically deformed by the writing; and, producing a signal corresponding to a characteristic of handwriting in response to variations in contact pressure between the writing instrument and the writing surface.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
100 words
A method comprising the steps of: writing with a writing instrument on a body having a surface with a periodically varying relief, the periodicity of the relief being sufficiently small with respect to the tip of the writing instrument so as to prevent contact by the tip of the writing instrument with the bottom of the valleys between the ridges of the writing surface so that the relief structure is elastically deformed by the writing; and, producing a signal corresponding to a characteristic of handwriting in response to variations in contact pressure between the writing instrument and the writing surface.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of converting the signal into a numerical code.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of recording the numerical code on an identity card bearing a signature to which the signal corresponds.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 16, including the step of analyzing the signal with the aid of a plurality of narrow band pass filters.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of recording a manifestation of the signal on an identity card bearing a signature to which the signal corresponds.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 18, wherein the waveform of the electric signal is recorded on a magnetic recording carrier of the identity card.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 14, including the step of analyzing the signal with the aid of a plurality of narrow band pass filters.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
81 words
An apparatus for producing an electrical signal responsive to handwriting done with a writing instrument including: a body having a writing surface with a periodically varying relief, the periodicity of the relief being sufficiently small with respect to the thickness of the body so that the relief structure is elastically deformed by the writing; and means for producing a signal corresponding to a characteristic of handwriting in response to variations in contact pressure between the writing instrument and the writing surface.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
81 words
An apparatus for producing an electrical signal responsive to handwriting done with a writing instrument including: a body having a writing surface with a periodically varying relief, the periodicity of the relief being sufficiently small with respect to the thickness of the body so that the relief structure is elastically deformed by the writing; and means for producing a signal corresponding to a characteristic of handwriting in response to variations in contact pressure between the writing instrument and the writing surface.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said relief varies in a direction approximately parallel to the principal plane of the writing surface.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the means for producing said signal is a microphone.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 21 where the means for producing a signal is a transducer responsive to variations in pressure between the writing instrument and said writing surface as the writing instrument slidably contacts said writing surface in writing thereon.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said relief varies in a direction approximately parallel to the principal plane of the writing surface.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said relief varies in two directions approximately perpendicular to each other and approximately parallel to the principal plane of said writing surface.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said relief is in the form of generally parallel ridges, spaced apart a distance between about 2 microns and about 10 microns.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
126 words
A method of producing a signal relating to a characteristic of handwriting comprising the steps of: (a) providing a writing surface having an elastically deformable, periodically varying relief structure sufficiently small with respect to the tip of the writing instrument so as to prevent contact by the tip of the writing instrument with the bottom of the valleys between the ridges of the writing surface; (b) writing on the surface with a writing instrument to provide an acoustic signal, the amplitude of which signal varies as a function of the contact pressure between the writing tool and the writing surface, and the frequency of which signal varies as a function of the speed of the writing; and, (c) converting the acoustic signal to an electrical signal.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
126 words
A method of producing a signal relating to a characteristic of handwriting comprising the steps of: (a) providing a writing surface having an elastically deformable, periodically varying relief structure sufficiently small with respect to the tip of the writing instrument so as to prevent contact by the tip of the writing instrument with the bottom of the valleys between the ridges of the writing surface; (b) writing on the surface with a writing instrument to provide an acoustic signal, the amplitude of which signal varies as a function of the contact pressure between the writing tool and the writing surface, and the frequency of which signal varies as a function of the speed of the writing; and, (c) converting the acoustic signal to an electrical signal.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
103 words
An apparatus for producing a signal related to a characteristic of handwriting comprising: a body having a writing surface with a periodically varying relief, the periodicity of said relief is sufficiently small, with respect to the tip of a writing instrument, to produce, in response to the elastic deformation thereof caused by writing on said surface with a writing instrument, an acoustic signal related in frequency to the speed of writing and related in amplitude to the pressure between the writing instrument and said surface; and, means responsive to said acoustic signal for providing a recordable manifestation thereof as a characteristic of handwriting.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
103 words
An apparatus for producing a signal related to a characteristic of handwriting comprising: a body having a writing surface with a periodically varying relief, the periodicity of said relief is sufficiently small, with respect to the tip of a writing instrument, to produce, in response to the elastic deformation thereof caused by writing on said surface with a writing instrument, an acoustic signal related in frequency to the speed of writing and related in amplitude to the pressure between the writing instrument and said surface; and, means responsive to said acoustic signal for providing a recordable manifestation thereof as a characteristic of handwriting.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-10-23 | 1982-04-24 | 1982-10-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-10-23 | 1986-04-24 | 1986-10-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-10-23 | 1990-04-24 | 1990-10-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |