United States Patent
`
`[191
`
`[1 1]
`
`Patent Number:
`
`4,849,815
`
`Date of Patent:
`Streck
`[45]
`Jul. 18, 1989
`
`[54] PORTABLE ELECTRONIC OFFICE AND
`COMPONENTS SUITABLE THEREFOR
`
`[75]
`
`Inventor: Donald A. Streck, Ojai, Calif.
`
`[73] Assigneezi
`
`Jerry R. Iggulden, Santa Clarita,
`Calif. ; a part interest
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 173,882
`
`[22] Filed:
`
`Mar. 2, 1988
`
`[51]
`Int. Cl.4 ................ H04N 1/00
`
`
`[52] U.S. c1. ................ 379/100; 358/471
`[58] Field of Search ....................... 358/256, 293, 294;
`280/878; 179/100
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4,728,803
`
`3/1988 Catchpole ........................... 358/293
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Licalzi, Pamela, “Fax Makers Target Low—End Mar-
`ket”, High Technology Business, Mar. 1988.
`Primary Examinera—Edward L. Coles, Sr.
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Donald A. Streck
`
`ABSTRACT
`[57]
`This invention is a family of simple, inexpensive, and
`portable electronic devices for'business support built
`
`around a simple 2-dirnensional digitizing device. It in-
`cludes a transmit-only facsimile transmission device/
`system, a simple computer-based facsimile system, and a
`dual-mode (digital or OCR) page reading device. The
`digitizing device includes a read bar having a linear read
`head for developing a signal reflecting a one dimen-
`sional line of viewing; apparatus for creating relative
`movement between sheets of material to be digitized
`and the read bar; and, a detector for developing a signal
`indicating movement of the sheets one scanned line
`distance. The simple transmit-only facsimile transmis-
`sion system comprises the foregoing digitizing device
`and, a digital computer including a numeric input key-
`board; a modem for connecting to a telephone line;
`buffer memory for receiving the entire digitized con.
`tents of a 2-dimensional viewing area; and, a first pro-
`gram for inputting telephone numbers, for establishing a
`connection to a receiving facsimile machine, for deter—
`mining group type of the receiving machine, and for
`transmitting the digitized contents of buffer memory to
`the receiving machine in the proper format for its group
`type. When employed in the portable office, the system
`can be used as a photocopier to copy documents. The
`digitizing device can output digitized or OCR data.
`
`40 Claims, 9 Drawing Sheets
`
`O-‘34
`DIAL
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`CONNECTING
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`
`RECEIVED
`34—0
`ERROR
`
`EXHIBIT
`Petitioner - Kyocera
`
`PX 1026
`
`Kyocera PX 1026_1
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`

`

`FIG.2
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`
`US. Patent
`
`Jul. 18,1989
`
`Sheet 1 of 9
`
`4,849,815
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`US. Patent
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`Jul. 18, 1989
`
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`US. Patent
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`Jul. 18, 1989
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`US. Patent .
`
`Jul. 18, 1989
`
`Sheet 5 of9
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`4,849,815
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`US. Patent
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`Jul. 18, 1989
`
`Sheet 8 of 9
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`4,849,815
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`US. Patent
`
`Jul. 18, 1989
`
`Sheet 9 of 9
`
`4,849,815
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`

`1
`
`PORTABLE ELECTRONIC OFFICE AND
`COMPONENTS SUITABLE THEREFOR
`
`4,849,815
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVNETION
`The present invention relates to electronic office
`equipment and, more particularly, to a family of simple,
`inexpensive, and portable electonic devices for business
`support including: a simple 2-dimensional digitizing
`device, a simple transmit-only facsimile transmission 10
`device, a facsimile transmission system capable of trans(cid:173)
`mitting and receiving simultaneously with a verbal con(cid:173)
`versation on a telephone line, a simple transmit-only
`facsimile transmission system, a simple computer-based
`facsimile system, a dual-mode page reading device for 15
`outputting in a digitizing mode or outputting in a text
`mode for use by alphanumeric-oriented functions, and a
`portable office.
`Electronic equipment for the support of business
`functions has provided the capability to do many tasks 20
`quickly and easily that previously were either impossi(cid:173)
`ble or, at best, tedious and prone to mistakes. Unfortu(cid:173)
`nately, most such equipment is very expensive and/or
`not easily portable. As a consequence, there is a large
`segment of the business community that has to do with- 25
`out the benefits of such equipment. Small businesses and
`sole proprietorships are good examples, as are the rap(cid:173)
`idly rising number of home offices. Such entities have
`difficulty affording a full gamut of equipment such as
`personal computer(s), bi-directional FAX , and photo- 30
`copy equipment. Typically, the most needed is pur(cid:173)
`chased or leased while the remainder is done without.
`Mailorder purchases, which represent a rapidly grow(cid:173)
`ing portion of the business world, often are delayed
`while a signed request for the order moves through the 35
`mails. Outside salespersons, and the like, (which ac(cid:173)
`count for a large percentage of total sales) are another
`"forgotten" portion of the business community when it
`comes to electronic assistance. While portable and so(cid:173)
`called "laptop" computers are now available at reason- 40
`able prices, they provide few, if any, useful services for
`such sales-oriented individuals. The typical salesperson
`still spends a good portion of each day searching for a
`working payphone (in all kinds of weather) and stand(cid:173)
`ing in a phonebooth with the handset cradled in the 45
`crook of hislher neck while sales information as re(cid:173)
`corded in a notebook or on sales order blanks is verbally
`relayed to someone back at the main office -often with
`mistakes on one or both ends. This, of course, leads to
`mis-shipped merchandise, lowered profits, unhappy 50
`customers, etc. Cellular telephones can help relative to
`some of the foregoing problem; but they are (1) too
`crowded for use by all such individuals (i.e. greatly
`increased usage would lead to cellular gridlock), (2) too
`noisy for the transmission oflegible copies by FAX, and 55
`(3) too expensive for the average individual.
`A typical example of part of the problem is depicted
`in FIGS. 1 and 2. The standard FAX machine 10 is a
`bidirectional device which plugs into the telephone line
`12. It is unwieldy, requires a lot of power, and is expen- 60
`sive. It does, however, send and receive very high qual-
`ity copy. To send a facsimile copy of a sheet of paper 14,
`the sheet of paper is placed in the input hopper 16 of the
`sending FAX machine 10 and the telephone number of
`the receiving FAX machine 10 is dialed on the pushbut- 65
`ton pad 18. When the receiving FAX machine 10 an(cid:173)
`swers, the two machines 10 communicate between one
`another and establish a connection. The sheet of paper
`
`2
`14 is then automatically fed past the read head 20 and
`the digitized information therefrom sent over the tele(cid:173)
`phone line 12 to the receiving machine 10 where it is
`used to cause the print head 22 therein to print a facsim-
`5 ile copy thereof on special paper 24 which is fed past the
`print head 22. A typical, . good quality, bi-directional
`FAX machine 10 costs in the thousands of dollars in
`today's market and, while it can be carried, it is defi-
`nitely not what one would consider "easily portable"
`such that a salesperson would want to carry it to send
`sales information back to the main office. Furthermore,
`while the original so-called "Group I" FAX machines
`employed an acoustic modem for connection to the
`telephone line (and, therefore, could have been used
`with a public phone, or the like), most of to day's Group
`II and Group III machines have dispensed with the
`modem and must have access to a miniature telephone
`socket into which they can be plugged directly.
`One of the major problems of such contemporary
`equipment (including FAX, photocopy, etc.) is that it
`provides better quality than is required for many of the
`uses mentioned above. The typical salesman does not
`need to receive FAX copies, only transmit them. Such
`sales inputs, as well as telephone ordering by the home
`consumer, requires only the transmission oflegible copy
`to determine account numbers, article identification
`descriptions/numbers, quantity, and, in the case of re(cid:173)
`motely input purchase vouchers, a validating signature
`of the ordering party. For the small business, sole prac(cid:173)
`titioner, home office, and the like, copying of docu(cid:173)
`ments for file copies does not have to be high quality-(cid:173)
`merely readable. What in computer circles is referred to
`as the "jaggies"O (i.e. lines and characters composed of
`discrete line segments instead of smooth curves) can be
`quite acceptable in many circumstances, particularly
`where it makes the difference between affordability and
`doing without.
`Wherefore, it is the object of the present invention to
`provide electronic support capability with respect to
`the digitizing and transmission of pictorial/alphanu(cid:173)
`meric data which is inexpensive, easily stored, and truly
`portable.
`It is a further object of the present invention to pro(cid:173)
`vide a family of minimum capability electronic equip(cid:173)
`ment for business/engineering applications which is
`particularly useful to small businesses, sole proprietor-
`ships, outside salespersons, home offices, and the like.
`It is another object of the present invention to pro-
`vide a basic transmit-only digitizer which can be used as
`the basic element in a family of minimum capability
`electronic equipment for business/engineeringlhome
`applications, and the like.
`Other objects and benefits of the present invention
`will become apparent from the description which fol(cid:173)
`lows hereinafter when taken in conjunction with the
`drawing figures which accompany it.
`
`SUMMARY
`The foregoing objects have been achieved by the
`family of electronic devices and systems built around a
`simple 2-dimensional digitizing device comprising, a
`case; a read bar carried by the case and including a
`linear read head for developing a first electrical signal at
`an output thereof reflecting a one· dimensional line of
`viewing of the read head; means for creating relative
`movement between sheets of material to be digitized
`and the read bar; and, means for developing a second
`
`Kyocera PX 1026_11
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`

`

`4,849,815
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`3
`electrical signal indicating movement of the sheets of
`material relative to the read bar a pre-defined distance
`defining the distance between one scanned line of a
`scanning area and a next the scanned line.
`As one preferred member of the family, there is a 5
`simple transmit-only facsimile transmission system com(cid:173)
`prising the foregoing digitizing device and, digital com(cid:173)
`puter means for executing programs stored therein and
`induding a numeric input keyboard, the computer
`means having a data input operably connected to re- 10
`ceive the first and second electrical signals; modem
`means disposed within the computer for connecting to a
`telephone line; buffer memory means for receiving the
`entire digitized contents of a 2-dimensional viewing
`area created by the relative movement between sheets 15
`of material to be digitized and the read bar, the digitized
`contents of the viewing area comprising a plurality of
`adjacent lines comprising the first electrical signal over
`a period of time wherein a new the line is started upon
`the occurrence of a the second electrical signal; and, 20
`first program means operably disposed for execution by
`the computer means for inputting telephone numbers of
`receiving facsimile machines through the keyboard, for
`establishing a connection to a receiving facsimile ma(cid:173)
`chine over a telephone line through the modem means, 25
`for determining the group type of the receiving ma(cid:173)
`chine, and for transmitting the digitized contents of the
`buffer memory to the receiving machine in the proper
`format for its the group type.
`In one embodiment of the digitizing device designed 30
`for manual scanning, the case is a planar case induding
`a compartment defining the scanning area for contain(cid:173)
`ing materials to be digitized; the means for creating
`relative movement between sheets of material to be
`digitized and the read bar comprises the read bar being 35
`mounted for manual movement across the scanning area
`and parallel thereto, the read bar including the linear
`read head for developing the first electrical signal at an
`output thereof reflecting a one dimensional line of view(cid:173)
`ing of the read head as the head is moved over the 40
`scanning. area, the read bar further including governor
`means operably connected for limiting the speed of
`movement of the read bar over the scanning area; and,
`the means for developing a second electrical signal
`includes means for indicating movement of the read bar 45
`across the scanning area the pre-defined distance defin(cid:173)
`ing the distance between one scanned line of the scan(cid:173)
`ning area and the next scanned line.
`In another embodiment of the digitizing device in(cid:173)
`tended primarily for powered operation (wherein man- 50
`ual operation is an alternative), the case is a hollow case
`induding a pair of opposed, contacting rollers for mov(cid:173)
`ing sheets of material to be digitized between an input
`slot and an output slot and includes means for rotating
`the rollers; the read bar is mounted within the case 55
`between the input and output slots transversely across
`the path of movement of the moving sheets of material
`and parallel thereto, the read bar includes the linear
`read head for developing a first electrical signal at an
`output thereof reflecting a one dimensional line of view- 60
`ing of the read head as the sheets are moved past the
`read head; and, the means for developing a second elec(cid:173)
`trical signal includes means for indicating movement of
`the sheets of material past the read bar the pre-defined
`distance defining the distance between one scanned line 65
`and the next the scanned line.
`When employed in the portable office, there is a dot
`printer means connected to be driven by the computer
`
`4
`means for printing a 2-dimensional medium with a plu(cid:173)
`rality of lines of adjacent dots in response to signals at
`an input thereof and third program means operably
`disposed in the computer means for execution for trans(cid:173)
`mitting the contents of the buffer memory to the printer
`means as a signal at the input to be printed thereby
`whereby the system can be used as a photocopier to
`copy documents from the simple 2-dimensional digitiz(cid:173)
`ing device to the printer means.
`In one embodiment, the digitizing device is a dual(cid:173)
`mode page reading device for outputting in a digitizing
`mode or outputting in a text mode for use by alphanu(cid:173)
`meric-oriented functions comprising in one case the
`above-mentioned digitizing reader means having a read
`bar; buffer memory means for receiving the entire digi(cid:173)
`tized contents of a 2-dimensional viewing area created
`by the relative movement between sheets of material to
`be digitized and the read bar, the digitized contents of
`the viewing area comprising a plurality of adjacent lines
`comprising the first electrical signal over a period of
`time wherein a new line is started upon the occurrence
`of a the second electrical signal, the contents of the
`buffer memory means being output as the output of the
`digitizing device; switch means for selecting between a
`digitized mode for the digitizing device and a text mode
`for the digitizing device; and, conversion logic means
`connected to sense the switch means for,
`(1) when the switch means is in a "DIGITIZED"
`position, filling the buffer memory means with digitized
`pixellline format information relative to the scanned
`contents of the viewing area; and,
`(2) when the switch means is in a "TEXT" position,
`operating as an optical character reader by,
`(2a) first inputting the digitized data to the buffer
`memory means in digitized pixellline format;
`(2b) when the entire contents of the viewing area has
`been digitized into the buffer memory, scanning from
`the "top" to the "bottom" of the "page" represented
`thereby;
`(2c) when a "line" of characters has been isolated and
`identified, scanning the line from "left" to "right" look(cid:173)
`ing for "character" bit configurations by matching
`against a list of previously defined alphanumeric char(cid:173)
`acter representations on a "best guess" basis;
`(2d) as each character of the line is identified, insert(cid:173)
`ing a numerical representation thereof into a next char(cid:173)
`acter position in the buffer memory; and,
`(2e) repeating the process until the entire the buffer
`memory in digitized format has been scanned and re(cid:173)
`placed with alphanumeric numerical representations.
`In a preferred mode of operation, there are Y -connec(cid:173)
`tor means having the telephone line connected to an
`input thereof, the modem means being connected to a
`first output thereof and a telephone handset being con(cid:173)
`nected to a second output thereof for simultaneously
`connecting the modem means and the telephone hand(cid:173)
`set to the telephone line, and wherein the transmitting
`of the digitized contents of the buffer memory means to
`the receiving FAX machine is by means of an inaudible
`carrier frequency whereby the transmitting can take
`place simultaneously with a conversation on the tele(cid:173)
`phone handset over the telephone line.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1 is a simplified plan view drawing of a prior art
`facsimile transmission (FAX) system where each unit is
`capable of both transmitting and receiving pictorial data
`over the telephone lines.
`
`Kyocera PX 1026_12
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`

`

`4,849,815
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`5
`FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway sideview drawing of one
`of the bi-directional FAX units of FIG. 1.
`FIG. 3 is a simplified plan view of a transmitting-only
`FAX unit according to the present invention in a first
`embodiment intended for connection to a telephone line 5
`through an integral handset acoustic-coupling modem.
`FIG. 4 is a simplified plan view of a transmitting-only
`FAX unit according to the present invention in a sec(cid:173)
`ond embodiment intended for direct connection to a
`telephone line outlet.
`FIG. 5 is a simplified plan view of a transmiting-only
`FAX unit according to the present invention in a third
`embodiment intended for indirect infrared connection
`to a telephone line.
`FIG. 6 is a simplified plan view of a multi-purpose 15
`system employing the manually operated digitizing
`device of FIGS. 3-5 to selectively do transmit-only
`FAX transmission, digitize a viewing area for CAD
`input, or the like, or perform direct copying to a dot
`matrix printer of the contents of the viewing area.
`FIG. 7 is a combined simplified plan view and block
`diagram showing a preferred dual mode functional con(cid:173)
`struction for the manually operated digitizing device of
`FIGS. 3-5.
`FIG. 8 is a logic diagram showing the preferred man- 25
`ner of operation of the character recognition mode in
`the device of FIG. 7.
`FIG. 9 is a simplified partially cutaway plan view
`showing the preferred functional mechanical construc(cid:173)
`tion for the manually operated digitizing device of FIG. 30
`7.
`
`20
`
`6
`only wants to send sales information back to the office
`or to a consumer trying to place a telephone order
`where a signed voucher is required. For that salesper-
`son, a very simple, truly portable, battery operated,
`transmit-only FAX machine would be an important
`support device. With that, sales memoranda could be
`relayed quickly and accurately to the bidirectional
`FAX machine back at the main office. For the con(cid:173)
`sumer, a similar, transmit-only FAX device to be em-
`10 ployed in combination with the telephone to allow the
`transmission of a facsimile of a signed voucher would
`provide all the capability required to complete the
`transaction. In this latter regard, it is worthy of note
`that while credit sales from the home via telephone
`have increased dramatically of late, misuse of the pro(cid:173)
`cess as presently implemented without the use of signed
`vouchers has also increased correspondingly to the
`point where some lending institutions are hesitant to
`continue (or have even discontinued) supporting retail(cid:173)
`ers operating in a telephone credit mode. Obviously,
`some solution to the problem must be provided which
`can solve the needs of all parties involved. A simple,
`send-only FAX capability at the consumer's site is one
`possibility.
`A transmit-only FAX machine according to the pres(cid:173)
`ent invention in a first embodiment is shown in FIG. 3
`wherein it is generally indicated as 26. The FAX ma(cid:173)
`chine 26 includes an acoustically coupled modem 28
`wherein the handset 30 of a standard touch-tone tele(cid:173)
`phone 32 can be inserted to affect a connection to the
`telephone line 12. The FAX machine 26 includes logic
`for interconnecting to a bi-directional FAX machine
`such as 10, or the like, and for causing the proper "hand(cid:173)
`shake" sequences as are known in the art. Instead of
`automatic operation, the FAX machine includes indi(cid:173)
`cating light emitting diodes (LEDs) 34 to indicate to the
`user what actions are to be taken manually. In use, the
`handset 30 is placed in the openings for the modem 28.
`When a dial tone is detected by the logic in the FAX
`machine 26, it lights the "DIAL" LED 34. The user
`then inputs the telephone number of the FAX machine
`10 to which the transmission is directed on the pushbut(cid:173)
`ton dial pad 18 of the telephone 32. When a "carrier"
`signal from the receiving FAX machine 10 is detected,
`the logic lights the "CONNECTING" LED 34 and
`performs the usual handshaking functions to prepare the
`two FAX units 10, 26 for transmission. When the two
`FAX units 10, 26 are ready for transmission, the logic
`lights the "SEND" LED 34. The material to be trans(cid:173)
`mitted has been previously placed in the 8! inch by 11
`inch viewing compartment 36 provided therefor. Upon
`seeing the SEND indication, the user manually moves
`the read bar 38 across the viewing compartment 36,
`causing the contents of the compartment to be digitized
`and output over the telephone line 12 to the FAX ma(cid:173)
`chine 10 in the usual manner. As with more expensive
`and complex units, the read bar 38 contains a light
`source to illuminate the contents of the viewing com(cid:173)
`partment and a charge coupled device (CCD) type of
`read head for developing a one-dimensional signal for
`each line of pixels at 0.01-0.005 inch intervals. Such
`devices and the manner of constructing same are easily
`constructed by those skilled in the art without undue
`experimentation from prior knowledge and, therefore,
`in the interest of simplicity and to avoid redundancy,
`such aspects of the present invention (like the specifics
`of the logic) are not set forth in any greater detail. Fol(cid:173)
`lowing transmission, the machine 10 sends a signal back
`
`FIG. 10 is a cutaway side view of a preferred, motor(cid:173)
`driven transmit-only digitizing device according to the
`present invention.
`FIG. 11 is a partially cutaway front elevation view of 35
`the digitizing device of FIG. 10.
`FIG. 12 is a plan view of a portable electronic office
`according to the present invention incorporating the
`digitizing device of FIGS. 10 and 11.
`FIG. 13 is a plan view of a removable display panel as 40
`usable in the portable office of FIG. 12 for providing
`copies by placing the panel in a standard photocopy
`machine ..
`FIG. 14 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of
`a transmit-only, manual FAX machine according to the 45
`present invention particularly suited for home use in
`sending voucher copies, or the like, in combination with
`a telephone conversation to the receiving party.
`FIG. 15 is a mixed block and logic diagram depicting
`the manner of operation of the FAX machine of FIG. 50
`14.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED AND
`ALTERNATE EMBODIMENTS
`The basic element of the present invention is a read- 55
`only digitizer which can then be incorporated into a
`transmit-only FAX machine or a system providing digi(cid:173)
`tized inputs to CAD equipment or the like and/or copy
`capability through the use of simple dot matrix printing
`output. This is based on several realizations about the 60
`usual approach to electronic support equipment-there
`is unnecessary duplication of functions, there is the
`providing of unnecessary functions and capabilities, and
`the quality of performance is often much greater than
`necessary. Take the FAX machine of FIGS. 1 and 2, for 65
`example. While it is useful for a base location office for
`sending and receiving pictorial information, the receive
`functions are virtually useless to the salesperson who
`
`Kyocera PX 1026_13
`
`

`

`4,849,815
`
`'7
`to the machine 26 indicating whether the transmission
`was successfully received or not. The logic in the FAX
`machine 26 lights either the "RECEIVED" or "ER(cid:173)
`ROR" LED 34, as appropriate, and the user acts ac(cid:173)
`cordingly by either repeatnng the transmission or pro- 5
`ceeding. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, for
`use by a home consumer for transmitting facsimiles of
`credit vouchers for telephone ordering, the viewing
`compartment 36 would only have to be approximately
`3 X 5 inches in size and the machine 26 could be con- 10
`nected directly into the phone line 12 with a "Y" con(cid:173)
`nector to allow both the machine 26 and the telephone
`32 to be used simultaneously. The user, when directed
`by the receiving party, would simply move the read bar
`38 across the viewing compartment 36 to transmit the 15
`voucher copy.
`A second embodiment of the transmit-only FAX
`machine 26' of the present invention is shown in FIG. 4.
`In this embodiment, it is assumed that access can be had
`to a telephone line outlet whereas the prior embodiment 20
`of FIG. 3 was intended for use in a telephone booth,
`motellhotel room, or the like, where the telephone is
`directly connected to the telephone line without the
`benefit of a removable plug. The 0 FAX machine 26' of
`FIG. 4 has a connecting cable 40 with a standard plug 25
`(not shown) on the end thereof for plugging into a stan(cid:173)
`dard, miniaturized telephone outlet. A touchtone dial(cid:173)
`ing pad 18 is also included therein. Other than that, the
`construction and manner of operation are substantially
`identical to the above-described embodiment of FIG. 3. 30
`By adding a handset to the machine 26', a useful tele(cid:173)
`phone for the home credit consumer with need to trans(cid:173)
`mit credit voucher copies could be provided.
`A third embodiment of a transmit-only FAX machine
`according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 5 35
`wherein it is generally indicated as 26". This particular
`embodiment is intended primarily for use from a car,
`van, or such, in conjunction with a remote infrared
`telephone connection as described in detail in co-pend(cid:173)
`ing application Ser. No. 179,661, filed Apr. 8, 1988, and 40
`entitled REMOTE PUBLIC TELEPHONE LINK,
`the teachings of which are incorporated herein by refer(cid:173)
`ence. To show the optional nature thereof, it will be
`noted that the digitizing portion 42 is oriented 90 de(cid:173)
`grees from the prior embodiments for reading by a 45
`vertical downward motion of the read bar 38 instead of
`by a horizontal motion thereof. In this embodiment, the
`"DIAL" LED 34 is included with the dial pad unit 44
`which is connected between the digitizing portion 42
`and the infrared telephone link 46. Using this embodi- 50
`ment, a salesperson can operate from the comfort of his
`or her own car to transmit sales information back to the
`home office. The car need only be positioned adjacent a
`public telephone location provided with remote infra(cid:173)
`red telephone connection capability as described in the 55
`above-referenced co-pending application. The infrared
`telephone link 46 is directed towards the emitter/(cid:173)
`receiver of the public telephone location. When a con(cid:173)
`nection is established to an available telephone line, the
`"DIAL" LED 34 is illuminated as in the previous em- 60
`bodiments. Thereafter, operation is substantially identi-
`cal to that previously described herein.
`A fourth embodiment of a transmit-only FAX ma(cid:173)
`chine according to the present invention is shown in
`FIGS. 14 and 15 wherein it is generally indicated as 65
`26'''. This particular embodiment is intended primarily
`for use in combination with a telephone 32 being em(cid:173)
`ployed by a home consumer, or the like, to make a
`
`8
`credit purchase wherein a facsimile voucher is provided
`to the retailer for verified billing purposes to the con(cid:173)
`sumer's bank or lending institution. The FAX machine
`26'" of this embodiment could, of course, be employed
`for other purposes as well. As those skilled in the art
`will recognize, this embodiment is a very basic ap(cid:173)
`proach to facsimile transmissions which allows interfac(cid:173)
`ing with a broad variety of receiving devices by a very
`simple and inexpensive device on the sending end. This
`would be quite important in uses such as that being
`described as the principle objective where consumers
`will, in general, be unwilling to pay over a token
`amount for such a device. In the alternative, the lending
`institutions, or the like, would make such devices avail(cid:173)
`able to their credit customers on request. They too
`would want as inexpensive an approach as possible. In
`this embodiment, the compartment 36 would be just
`under 3/5 inches. That, coupled with a lOOX 100 resolu(cid:173)
`tion, would allow the buffer memory 146 within the
`logic and memory 142 of the machine 26'" to be 16K for
`minimum cost. The telephone line 12 is input to a two
`position switch 44 which allows the user to manually
`select its connection to either the telephone 32 or the
`the logic and memory 142 of the machine 26'''. It should
`be noted that if the audible carrier employed in the
`FAX transmission process is replaced with an inaudible
`carrier, the switch 144 can be replaced by a simple "Y"
`connector to place the telephone 32 and FAX machine
`26'" to be connected to the telephone line 12 in parallel
`such that conversation and FAX transmission can occur
`simultaneously.
`The manner of operation of this embodiment is de(cid:173)
`picted in the combined block and logic flow diagram of
`FIG. 15. The consumer prepares the voucher to be
`employed while conversing with the retailer over the
`telephone 32. When it has been completed and signed, it
`is placed in the compartment 36 and the ENTER button
`148 depressed to signal the logic and memory 142 that
`the data in the memory 146, if any, is to be replaced.
`The read bar 38 is manually moved ove