GB1597163A

GB1597163A - Data storage

Info

Publication number: GB1597163A
Application number: GB1100677A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: GEN INSTR MICROELECT
Current assignee: GEN INSTR MICROELECT
Priority date: 1978-05-26
Filing date: 1978-05-26
Publication date: 1981-09-03

Description

(54) DATA STORAGE (71) We, GENERAL INSTRUMENT MICRO ELECTRONICS Ltd., a British company of 7 Rolls Buildings, Fetter Lane, London EC4A 1NL (formerly of Moor House, London Wall, London), do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following state ment:- This invention relates to data storage.

According to the present invention, there is provided a portable electronic data storage device, comprising: a set of alpha-numeric keys; a non-volatile electronic store; electronic control circuitry; and electronic display means; the device being operable in a first mode in which an item of data is entered into the device by means of the keys, and the control circuitry is operative to write the item of data into the store; and the device being operable in a second mode in which an abbreviated item of data is entered into the device by means of the keys, and the control circuitry is operative to compare the abbreviated item of data with the items of data in the store and then, in the event of correspondence between the abbreviated item of data and a predetermined, first portion of an item of data in the store, to read out from the store and display upon the display means at least the remaining, second portion of the corresponding item of data in the store.

The term "portable" is used in its usual sense to mean that the device may readily be carried by an average person. Preferably, the device is for "hand-held operation", which means that the diary may readily be held in the palm of one hand and operated by the other hand of an average sized person. The diary is preferably also suffici- ently slim as to fit into a pocket, in the manner of a "pocket calculator". To this end, the control circuitry and/or store may comprise at least one integrated circuit, and be disposed substantially in a single plane.

Advantageously, the store may comprise at least one Electrically Alterable Read Only Memory, referred to hereinafter as an EAROM. Stored items of data can then be erased from, or overwritten in, the store.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, an embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a block schematic circuit diagram of an electronic diary; and Figure 2 is a sketch of one example of a keyboard for use in the diary.

The illustrated electronic diary comprises a thirty-five key keyboard 1 for operation of the diary. The diary has a memory comprising two EAROMS 2, and a control chip 3 for controlling the flow of information into and out of the EAROMS. An eight digit alpha-numeric display 4 is provided for displaying information entered into the diary and read out from the EAROMS 2.

One example of the keyboard 1 is as shown in Figure 2. Twenty-eight character buttons (or keys) 10 are provided, each having an upper and lower case character, to provide a fifty-six character set. The characters are coded by means of a 5-bit code, which provides 28 character codes, and four special non-character codes as follows: 0 0 0 0 0 Empty location 1 1 1 1 1 Control 1 1 1 0 End of Endofrecord 0 0 1 1 1 Endofkey The "Control" code is used to indicate whether a character is "upper case" or "lower case", thus extending use of the 28 character codes to the 56-character set.

Seven control function buttons 11 are provided in the right hand column of the keyboard 1, one button being spare in this example. A "Control" button 110 is included, for shifting between upper and lower case characters.

The diary is used as follows.

Firstly, each item of data to be diaried comprises a KEY (a predetermined first portion of the item of data, to identify the information) and a RECORD (the remaining, second portion of the item of data, constituting the information to be stored).

In a first mode of operation, an item of data (e.g. JOE (Key) 02-757-2033 (Record) a typical telephone number) is entered by first depressing an "Enter Key" button 113 and then depressing the appropriate character buttons 10, using the control button 110 as necessary, to enter the Key (JOE). Then, an "Enter Record" button 112 is depressed, followed by the appropriate characters (02-757-2033). Each time the Control button 110 is depressed, it switches (toggles) from one of the "Control" and "Non-Control" states to the other. Each Key and Record starts "Non-Control". As the characters are entered they are displayed on the display 4. When in "Control", a light (e.g. a decimal point at the extreme right of the display 4) is illuminated to let the user known whether upper or lower case characters will next be entered. The spare function button 114 may be used as a "Cancel" button for erasing mistakes, andlor may be used as an "Erase" button for erasing from the EAROMS 2 selected items of data (e.g. a stored item currently displayed under "Page" (see below)). The control chip 3 controls writing of items of data (Key plus Record) into the EAROMS 2.

In a second mode of operation, to read out an item of information, a key (e.g. JOE) is entered, and a "Page"button 116 depressed. The control chip 3 starts or continues scanning of the EAROMS 2 to compare the entered Key with the contents of the EAROMS, and when identity of Keys is found, the respective Record (02-757-2033) is displayed on the display 4. Comparison may be carried out with limited or abbreviated Keys if desired.

As the diary is hand-held, preferably similar in appearance to a "pocket calculator", it is not feasible readily to provide more than about 8 characters in the display 4. Thus, to read out a Record in excess of eight characters, a "Shift" button 115 is provided for shifting the display eight characters to the left. Thus, for example, a 32 character Record may be displayed, using three shift operations. A light (e.g. a decimal point) may be employed to indicate whether there are more characters in a Record yet to be displayed.

The diary may be used to contain more than one Record under any one Key. For example, a number of Records may be entered under a shopping list (e.g. Key PAD or MEMO) or under a date (e.g. Key 1 JAN). To this end, a "Step" button 111 is provided for steeping from one Record to the next in sequence under one common Key, in "Page" mode and optionally also in "Enter Record" mode, where successive Records are entered under a common Key. In practice, items having a common Key may actually be written into the EAROMS 2 as distinct separate items of data, but each having the same Key.

Thus, the diary may serve as an "aidememoire" for various useful items of data and may be simply used by an unskilled person capable of using a simple pocket calculator. If desired, a calculator function mau be included in the diary, possibly at the expense of some of the characters and possibly simply 4-function, to avoid undue proliferation of buttons.

The EAROMS 2 may be standard 4 k-bit read-mostly memories such as the ER 3400 units manufactured by ourselves as a standard 22-lead dual-in-line integrated circuit package. An E.A.R.O.M. is usually a memory in which, by providing suitable write signals to a cell, a semi-conductor structure is stressed, the stressing being retained, without power for a long time (e.g. 10 years). Interrogation of individual cells provides information, as to whether the cells are stressed or unstressed. EAROM's have the capability of being interrogated many times, although they cannot be written into as many times as, for example, Random Access Memories (RAM's). Nevertheless, an EAROM may be written into a million times, for example.

EAROM's are fairly well known now in the electronics art, and various types exist.

The important point in this application is that the memory is retained for a long time without power. Our own ER 3400 is particularly attractive because it has the capability of erasing and writing a word at a timeeach cell is individually accessible. Other EAROM's may be only block erasable and writable.

The control chip 3 is a custom designed MOS integrated circuit, again preferably in a standard package. Design of the circuit depends upon the exact circuit configuration of the diary components, and is not of the essence of this invention. Workers skilled in the art could readily design suitable circuitry for entering, comparing, and displaying information stored in the EAROMS. However, one useful feature of the illustrated circuit is the provision of a switching transistor 5 which is so controlled by the chip 3 that power is applied to the EAROMS only during Read or Write operations, to save power.

The display 4 preferably comprises an 8 character array of 5 x 7 Dot Matrix characters. That is, each character comprises 35 (5 x 7) dots, each typically an LED. Liquid crystal or filament displays could of course be used instead. The display could suitably comprise R35H-272-4/8 display(s), as marketed by Messrs Bowmar Instrument Ltd., in this country.

In Figure 1, the numerals in the data highways indicate the number of lines in the highways. Thus, for example, the keyboard 1 is scanned on seven lines and interrogated on five. Each EARON 2 receives a ten-bit code, necessary for addressing 1024 possible 4-bit words in the EAROM.

Using LED's in the display, we have also used five diodes in the keyboard 1, corresponding to the five interrogation lines, such that the display 4 and keyboard 1 can be controlled in parallel on common pins.

The keyboard diodes are effectively of opposite bias to those of the display 4. Thus, a current is passed through forward biassed display diodes in one direction for illuminated display, and current is passsed through a keyboard diode in an opposite direction, if a button is depressed.

As the unit is designed to be hand-held, economy of circuitry is important and an efficient data structure for handling the alphanumeric set is evidently desirable for minimising storage requirements. The maximum key length may be 16 characters.

Although the primary application of the invention is to a hand-held pocket sized diary (battery powered), we envisage that the diary may be desk mountable if desired.

In either case, there is provided a selfcontained alpha-numeric entry and retrieval system (possibly confined to this function only, if desired), which system is reaily portable.

An extension of the diary is to automatic telephone dialling. For example, peripheral components could be connected to an output of the diary for controlling a telephone dialling chip based system such that telephone numbers are dialled directly and automatically upon entering an appropriate Key (e.g. JOE, as in the above examples).

As another extension, upon entering an appropriate Key, an LED (for example) could be used to flash a code to a receiver for security applications. For example, the Key "BACK DOOR" followed by a function button "OPEN" could be used to open automatically a back door of a house. Other functions could be in closing, and/or locking and unlocking doors. In these functions, the diary provides an output signal which is representative of an item of data being displayed and/or addressed in the store. The output signal, may be, or may be selected to be, an electromagnetic signal which is transmitted through free space.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A portable electronic data storage device, comprising: a set of alpha-numeric keys; a non-volatile electronic store; electronic control circuitry; and electronic display means; the device being operable in a first mode in which an item of data is entered into the device by means of the keys, and the control circuitry is operative to write the item of data into the store; and the device being operable in a second mode in which an abbreviated item of data is entered into the device by means of the keys, and the control circuitry is operative to compare the abbreviated item of data with the items of data in the store and then, in the event of correspondence between the abbreviated item of data and a predetermined, first portion of an item of data in the store, to read out from the store and display upon the display means at least the remaining, second portion of the corresponding item of data in the store.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is operative to display on the display means, at least in said first mode, each character entered into the device by means of the keys.

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, for hand-held operation.

4. A device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, being operable in said first and second modes only.

5. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein at least some of the keys each represent two characters respectively belonging to an upper and a lower case, and a control key is provided for providing a control instruction to the control circuitry to select between the upper and lower cases of the keys.

6. A device according to any preceding claim, including first and second control keys for use in said first mode to provide control instructions to the control circuitry to identify respectively said first and second portions of an item of data entered into the device.

7. A device according to any preceding claim, including a control key for use in said second mode to provide a control instruction to the control circuitry to proceed with the comparison of an entered abbreviated item of data with the items of data in the store.

8. A device according to any preceding claim, including a step control key for use in said second mode to provide a control instruction to the control circuitry to step from a first stored item of data to a second stored item of data of which said first portion is the same as that of said first stored item of data.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein said step control key is for use in said first mode to provide a control instruction to the control circuitry to write into the store

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. be used instead. The display could suitably comprise R35H-272-4/8 display(s), as marketed by Messrs Bowmar Instrument Ltd., in this country. In Figure 1, the numerals in the data highways indicate the number of lines in the highways. Thus, for example, the keyboard 1 is scanned on seven lines and interrogated on five. Each EARON 2 receives a ten-bit code, necessary for addressing 1024 possible 4-bit words in the EAROM. Using LED's in the display, we have also used five diodes in the keyboard 1, corresponding to the five interrogation lines, such that the display 4 and keyboard 1 can be controlled in parallel on common pins. The keyboard diodes are effectively of opposite bias to those of the display 4. Thus, a current is passed through forward biassed display diodes in one direction for illuminated display, and current is passsed through a keyboard diode in an opposite direction, if a button is depressed. As the unit is designed to be hand-held, economy of circuitry is important and an efficient data structure for handling the alphanumeric set is evidently desirable for minimising storage requirements. The maximum key length may be 16 characters. Although the primary application of the invention is to a hand-held pocket sized diary (battery powered), we envisage that the diary may be desk mountable if desired. In either case, there is provided a selfcontained alpha-numeric entry and retrieval system (possibly confined to this function only, if desired), which system is reaily portable. An extension of the diary is to automatic telephone dialling. For example, peripheral components could be connected to an output of the diary for controlling a telephone dialling chip based system such that telephone numbers are dialled directly and automatically upon entering an appropriate Key (e.g. JOE, as in the above examples). As another extension, upon entering an appropriate Key, an LED (for example) could be used to flash a code to a receiver for security applications. For example, the Key "BACK DOOR" followed by a function button "OPEN" could be used to open automatically a back door of a house. Other functions could be in closing, and/or locking and unlocking doors. In these functions, the diary provides an output signal which is representative of an item of data being displayed and/or addressed in the store. The output signal, may be, or may be selected to be, an electromagnetic signal which is transmitted through free space. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A portable electronic data storage device, comprising: a set of alpha-numeric keys; a non-volatile electronic store; electronic control circuitry; and electronic display means; the device being operable in a first mode in which an item of data is entered into the device by means of the keys, and the control circuitry is operative to write the item of data into the store; and the device being operable in a second mode in which an abbreviated item of data is entered into the device by means of the keys, and the control circuitry is operative to compare the abbreviated item of data with the items of data in the store and then, in the event of correspondence between the abbreviated item of data and a predetermined, first portion of an item of data in the store, to read out from the store and display upon the display means at least the remaining, second portion of the corresponding item of data in the store.

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, for hand-held operation.

at least said second portion of an time of data entered into the device and to await entry ito the device of said second portion only of a following item of data in which said first portion is to be the same as that of the preceding item of data.

10. A device according to any preceding claim, including a shift control key for providing a control instruction to the control circuitry to shift an item of data along the display means, such that successive portions of an item of data can be displayed successively on the display means.

11. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the control circuitry comprises an integrated circuit.

12. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the store comprises at least one integrated circuit.

13. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the control circuitry is operative to apply power to the non-volatile store only during Write and Read operations.

14. A device according to any preceding claim, including a cancel control key for providing a control instruction to the control circuitry to cancel characters entered into the device.

15. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein stored items of data can be erased from, or overwritten in, the store.

16. A device according to claim 15, wherein the store comprises at least one Electrically Alterable Read Only Memory.

17. A device according to claim 15 or 16, wherein stored items of data can be erased individually from the store.

18. A device according to claim 17, including an erase control key for providing a control instruction to the control circuitry to erase from the store an item of data being displayed and/or addressed.

19. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the display means comprises a Light Emitting Diode, Liquid Crystal, or filament display.

20. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the electronic components of the device are located substantially in a single plane.

21. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the control circuitry is operative to provide an output signal representative of an item of data which is being displayed and/or addressed in the store.

22. A device according to claim 21, wherein said output signal is, or can be selected to be, in a form suitable to operate an automatic telephone dialling system to dial a number which is being displayed and/or addressed in the store.

23. A device according to claim 22, in combination with an automatic telephone dialling system which is operative automatically to dial a displayed and/or addressed number.

24. A device according to claim 21, wherein said output signal is, or can be selected to be, an electromagnetic signal which is transmitted through free space.

25. A device according to claim 21 or 24 in combination with a receiving apparatus which is operative to perform a predetermined function upon receiving a predetermined output signal from the device.

26. A combination according to claim 25, wherein said receiving apparatus comprises means for opening and closing, and/or locking and unlocking, a door.

27. A device or a combination according to any preceding claim, the device being operable in a third mode, in which thelcontrol circuitry can perform calculating functions in accordance with commands selected by means of keys, upon numbers entered into the device by means of the alphanumeric keys.

28. A data storage device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.