Handwriting capture device with integral forms printer

Claim 2

A handwriting capture device comprising: a housing having a top surface; a digitizer, mounted within the top surface; a printer attached to the housing for printing a form including means for feeding the form to a predetermined position over the digitizer so that information written on the form is also entered into the digitizer; and means coupled to the digitizer for processing the written information and for controlling operation of the printer.

Claim 3

The handwriting capture device as recited in claim 1, further comprising: retaining means for holding the form in the predetermined position on the top surface.

Claim 4

The handwriting capture device as recited in claim 1, wherein the digitizer is a pressure-sensitive digitizer.

Claim 5

The handwriting capture device as recited in claim 2, wherein the digitizer is sensitive to a signing force greater than or equal to a predetermined minimum signing force from a writing instrument applied to a record member over the digitizer.

Claim 6

The handwriting capture device as recited in claim 1, wherein the retaining means comprises a clamp for holding a record member in place during movement of the device.

Claim 7

The handwriting capture device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a guard for minimizing finger contact with the digitizer.

Claim 8

The handwriting capture device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a guide for aligning an edge of the record member.

Claim 9

The handwriting capture device as recited in claim 1, wherein the housing comprises: a top member; and an inclined base member underneath the top member.

Claim 10

The handwriting capture device as recited in claim 5, wherein the clamp has a window over the digitizer.

Claim 11

The handwriting capture device as recited in claim 5, wherein the clamp comprises: a frame member; and a window within the frame member and over the digitizer.

Claim 12

The handwriting capture device as recited in claim 10, wherein the clamp is transparent.

Claim 13

The handwriting capture device as recited in claim 6, wherein the guard comprises: a frame member around the digitizer; and a vertical rib member mounted across the frame member.

Claim 14

The handwriting capture device as recited in claim 5, wherein the clamp is operative to hold the record member in place on the top surface of the housing.

Claim 15

The handwriting capture device as recited in claim 5, wherein the clamp is also operative to minimize finger contact with the digitizer.

Claim 16

The handwriting capture device of claim 2, wherein the digitizer has a near separation between dots of about 0.16 to 0.2 inches.

Claim 17

The handwriting capture device as recited in claim 3, wherein the minimum signing force is no more than about 10 to 15 grams.

Claim 18

The handwriting capture device as recited in claim 2, wherein the digitizer has a sensitivity sufficient to capture handwriting that produces a legible ink impression on the record member.

Claim 19

The handwriting capture device as recited in wherein the printer further comprises: a printhead; and means for feeding a roll of paper over the printhead for creating a plurality of forms and for feeding the forms one at a time over the digitizer.

Claim 20

The handwriting capture device as recited in wherein the printer further comprises: a printhead; and means for feeding a roll of paper over the printhead for creating a plurality of forms and for feeding the forms one at a time over the digitizer.

Claim 21

The handwriting capture device as recited in claim 18, wherein the feeding means comprises: a stationary member mounted on top of the housing having a lower surface; a roller within the housing and biased against the lower surface of the stationary member for drawing the forms between the roller and the stationary member; a motor for driving the roller; and a raised portion on top of the housing, having a substantially vertical edge adjacent the digitizer against which the forms are aligned.

Claim 22

A handwriting capture device comprising: a housing having a top surface; a pressure sensitive digitizer, mounted within the top surface, having a near separation distance between dots of about 0.16 to 0.2 inches, and being sensitive to a predetermined minimum writing force of no more than about 10 to 15 grams from an ordinary writing instrument applied to a paper receipt over the digitizer; a printer coupled to the housing for printing a plurality of paper receipts from a roll of paper within the housing, including a printhead and means for feeding each paper receipt across the printhead and over the digitizer; a guide for aligning each paper receipt in a predetermined position over the digitizer; means coupled to the digitizer and mounted within the housing for processing signature information and for controlling the printer; and means for holding each receipt in place over the digitizer on the top surface and for guarding the digitizer from finger contact including a transparent frame member, a window within the frame member over the digitizer, and a vertical rib member mounted across the frame member, said holding and guarding means being operative to hold the receipt in place on the top surface of the housing.

Claim 23

A handwriting capture device comprising: a housing having a top surface; a pressure sensitive digitizer, mounted within the top surface, having a near separation distance between dots of about 0.16 to 0.2 inches, and being sensitive to a predetermined minimum writing force of no more than about 10 to 15 grams from an ordinary writing instrument applied to a paper receipt over the digitizer; a printer coupled to the housing for printing a plurality of paper receipts from a roll of paper within the housing, including a printhead and means for feeding each paper receipt across the printhead and over the digitizer; a guide for aligning each paper receipt in a predetermined position over the digitizer; means coupled to the digitizer and mounted within the housing for processing signature information and for controlling the printer; and means for holding each receipt in place over the digitizer on the top surface and for guarding the digitizer from finger contact including a transparent frame member, a window within the frame member over the digitizer, and a vertical rib member mounted across the frame member, said holding and guarding means being operative to hold the receipt in place on the top surface of the housing.

Claim 26

The method as recited in claim 21, wherein the writing surface further comprises retaining means for holding the record member in a predetermined position on the top surface.

Claim 27

The method as recited in claim 21, wherein the digitizer is a pressure-sensitive digitizer.

Claim 28

The method as recited in claim 23, wherein the digitizer is sensitive to a writing force greater than or equal to a predetermined minimum writing force.

Claim 29

The method as recited in claim 24, wherein the minimum writing force is no more than about 10 to 15 grams.

Claim 30

The method as recited in claim 23, wherein the digitizer has a near separation distance between dots of about 0.16 to 0.2 inches.

Claim 31

The method as recited in claim 23, wherein the digitizer has a sensitivity sufficient to capture handwriting that produces a legible ink impression on the record member.

Claim 32

The method as recited in claim 21, wherein the step of applying a writing comprises the substep of producing a legible ink impression on the record member using a pen.

Claim 33

The method as recited in claim 21, further comprising the steps of: clamping the record member to the surface to maintain the record member in place during movement of the surface; and guarding the digitizer from finger contact.

Claim 34

The method as recited in claim 21, wherein the record member has a reference mark.

Claim 35

The method as recited in claim 30, wherein the reference mark is a signature line.

Claim 36

The method as recited in claim 30, wherein the reference mark is a signature box.

Claim 37

The method as recited in claim 21, further comprising the step of: storing a roll of blank paper within the printer.