Apple patent points to pen PC with cellular and GPS features

A patent granted to Apple today describes a pen computer that can wirelessly send and receive text messages, e-mail, and voice data.

by Lance Whitney

 

(Credit: Apple/USPTO)

A newly-award Apple patent describes a portable pen computer that can also act as a wireless device.

Granted to Apple today by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the patent known simply as"Portable computers" illustrates a pen computer with a built-in screen that can display e-mails, text message, and voice data. The device would be equipped with cellular and/or GPS technology to allow it to communicate wirelessly.

Along with a cellular transceiver and GPS receiver, the pen computer would be equipped with a microphone and speaker, a touchscreen, and a rechargeable battery. In essence, the pen-shaped device could function as a PC and a cell phone. In some areas, the patent describes the device as a portable computer and in other areas as a cellular telephone:

A cellular telephone comprising: a case, the case sized and shaped to be held in one hand resting between the root of the thumb and index finger of the hand; the case being non-hinged and the case housing: a microphone and a speaker; a display, the display resting in the dorsal area at the back of the hand when the case rests between the root of the thumb and index finger of the hand and a user's wrist; a touchscreen; a rechargeable battery; a cellular transceiver, said cellular transceiver configured to wirelessly send and receive text messages, email and voice data; a data entry input device configured for data input to the cellular telephone; a GPS receiver that outputs the telephone location; and, a processor that accepts input from the data entry input device and the telephone location and location stamps the input with the telephone location.

The device would also act as an advanced digital pen with accelerometers to recognize handwriting and both speech-to-text and text-to-speech conversion.

Initially filed in 1998, the patent was first granted in September 2011. But it was again examined and approved by the USPTO after Apple added the descriptions over the wireless and cellular features.