Personal electronic book providing keypad and readable and writable CD drives

[0002] The invention relates to an electronic book for the display and input of text and data. Specifically, the present invention provides a flat screen, which displays textual information, hinged to a keypad, which provides data entry. More specifically, the electronic device has two CD drives. The first of these drives is read only and reads CDs to display material from text books on the screen. The second drive is writable and provides data entry and storage. The electronic book is ideal for students who have a CD that contains every text book needed for a given course. These students may use the CD-ROM drive to access their textbook, and the keypad and writable CD drive to take notes in class and store them on a CD.

[0003] The invention relates to an electronic device that is an improvement on an electronic book. The electronic book has a display screen and a fold-up alphanumeric keypad. Adjacent to the display screen are buttons for scrolling up and down the text displayed on the screen. At the top edge of the screen are two drives to house CDs in the book. The purpose of the first CD drive is to read the CD the user has placed in the electronic book. For student use, a CD will have a number of different textbooks that will be used during the course. Once the power is turned on and the screen becomes illuminated, a listing of the books will appear on the screen and the student will scroll to the book needed for review. The student will then activate that book and the text will appear. The student may scroll up or down or jump to particular pages by using the high speed forward or reverse beside the screen.

[0004] The second, writable CD drive is provided for data processing purposes. If there is a passage in the text needed for further study, it can be highlighted and transferred to the second CD, namely the writable CD, for storage. The keypad also allows the electronic book to act as a data processor in that the student may type notes to the writable CD. Instead of a full CD drive a 3¼″ floppy drive may be used.

[0005] When the electronic book is closed the keypad folds up over the display screen and locks in place. When it is opened the keypad may be folded out like a laptop with the screen upright. The keypad may also be fully rotated until it reaches the back of the display screen. It is then held in place by a locking device. A protective flap is also used to cover the keys of the keypad while it is in this position. This protective flap is hinged to the side of the keypad. While the electronic book is in this position it may be held in the student's hands to be read. The keypad is also inoperable in this position.

[0006] The electronic book may be powered by a rechargeable battery located within the housing of the unit. The battery contains a converting cord that allows the electronic book to be plugged into an outlet for direct power or battery recharging. The electronic book also includes a power saving feature which allows it to sleep when on but not in use. Additionally, the electronic book may be provided with a television connection that allows the television to act as the screen of the electronic book. This connection allows the unit to conserve power.

[0007] Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings which disclose several embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood, however, that the drawings are designed for the purpose of illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.

[0008] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the electronic book in the open position;

[0009] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the electronic book in the closed position;

[0010] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the electronic book in the open position where the keypad has been rotated fully around to the back of the display screen; and

[0011] FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of the electronics used in the electronic book.

[0012] FIG. 1 shows electronic book 1 in the open position. Electronic book 1 has a flat display screen 2 that displays the text to be read by the user. Flat display screen 2 is enclosed by a housing 4a. Electronically and mechanically connected below flat display screen 2 is keypad 3 that allows the user to type text into electronic book 1 for display on flat display screen 2. Keypad 3 is also enclosed by a housing 4b. Electronic book 1 may be opened or closed due to a hinge device 5. In a closed position, housing 4bsurrounding keypad 3 lies flat on top of housing 4asurrounding flat display screen 2.

[0013] For textual information to be displayed on flat display screen 2, a CD must be loaded into CD-ROM drive 6 located behind flat display screen 2. To load a CD, eject button 24 next to CD-ROM drive 6 is pressed and the CD is placed inside the CD-ROM drive and closed. The CD is removed in the same manner. To activate electronic book 1, power button 8 is pressed. Pressing power button 8 activates the electronic processor within housing 4a, which controls and monitors the operation of electronic book 1. To start CD-ROM drive 6, CD button 9 located beside flat display screen 2 is pressed. Once pressed, a text book and chapter from the CD may be chosen by the user. A list of books is displayed on flat display screen 2 and the user selects a book by pressing the arrow keys disposed on keypad 3, which allow the user to scroll through the books. A book is selected by pressing the enter key disposed on keypad 3.

[0014] The text book and chapter chosen are displayed on second display screen 17 directly below flat display screen 2. The chapters of the book may be changed on this screen by pressing down button 26 to advance the chapters and up button 25 to return to the previous chapter.

[0015] Data may also be fed into electronic book 1 through the use of a solid state memory device or a small computer system interface (SCSI). The SCSI would provide for at least a 10 megabyte/sec transfer rate.

[0016] While reading text, the user may scroll down to advance the text on the screen. To scroll down the user presses a first scroll button 12 disposed on the side of flat display screen 2. If the user wishes to return to text that was passed, the user may press a second scroll button 13 that scrolls upward. The user may also advance or return through the material quicker than using scroll buttons 12 or 13. The user may press forward button 15 disposed on the side of flat display screen 2 that allows the user to move through the material by chapters or other large categories in the text. Reverse button 14 also disposed on the side of flat display screen 2 allows the user to navigate backward through chapters.

[0017] The text displayed on flat display screen 2, may be enlarged by pressing large print button 16 located beside flat display screen 2. The text may be returned to its normal size by pressing large print button 16 again. The text displayed on flat display screen 2 may be highlighted by the user by pushing memory button 20, located beside flat display screen 2. These segments may remain highlighted or may be copied to the CD in writable CD drive 7 so that it may be recovered at a later time.

[0018] When originally selecting a book the scroll buttons may be used to scroll through the list of books on display screen 2, and memory button 20 may be used to select the book.

[0019] Writable CD drive 7 is located next to CD-ROM drive 6 and behind flat display screen 2. It may be used by pressing eject button 23 and loading a CD, much like CD-ROM drive 6. To activate writable CD drive 7, a second CD button 10 is pressed by the user. This writable CD drive allows the electronic book 1 to act as a data processor. Text may be entered through the use of keypad 3, and then saved to a CD through writable CD drive 7. Text also may be copied from the material displayed through CD-ROM drive 6 to a CD in writable CD drive 7. This allows a student to read from his textbook while also having the ability to take notes in class.

[0020] Writable CD drive 7 may alternatively be a fixed memory device or drive. The information could then be downloaded to another computer.

[0021] In order to conserve power, the electronic book may be hooked up to a television through video output 22. The display that ordinarily would be displayed on flat display screen 2 is instead displayed on a television. This also provides for a larger viewing screen.

[0022] When in the closed position, as shown in FIG. 2, flat display screen 2 lies flat against keypad 3. A locking mechanism locks the electronic book in this position and may be released by the user to be opened. The locking mechanism has a hooked latch 11adisposed on housing 4aand a receiving hole 11bembedded in housing 4b.

[0023] When in the closed position, as shown in FIG. 2, flat display screen 2 lies flat against keypad 3. A locking mechanism 11 locks the electronic book in this position and may be released by the user to be opened.

[0024] FIG. 3 shows electronic book 1 in the open position, with housing 4bfor keypad 3 rotated completely around flat display screen 2. The backs of both sections are flush against one another in this position. This rotation is accomplished by hinge 5 being offset from housings 4aand b. Keypad 3 may also be locked in this position. When in this position, the user may hold electronic book 1 as though reading a regular book. All buttons beside flat display screen 2 are still active when in this position. To protect keypad 3 a flap 18 is provided so that no keys are exposed. This flap 18 is held in place by connecting strip 19. Since an offset hinge is used, power is provided to keypad 3 by a flat flexible wire 21.

[0025] FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of the electronics used in the electronic book. AC adapter 100 is used to power the electronic book through a wall outlet. Adapter 100 feeds a rechargeable battery 110, which powers processor 120, CD-ROM 130, and writable CD drive 140. Processor 120 further powers keypad 150 and display screen 160.

[0026] Accordingly, while only a single embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it is obvious that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.