Digital palm computer with built-in printhead for external printing

Abstract

A digital palm PC includes a housing. An elongate printhead extends along a side of the housing. A pair of rotationally mounted wheels flanks the printhead at either end of the printhead. The wheels are engageable with a sheet of print media. One of the wheels is an optical encoder wheel and the other one of the wheels is an idler wheel. A controller is arranged to control printing from the printhead responsive to signals received from the optical encoder wheel.

1 . A digital palm PC comprising: 
 a housing;    an elongate printhead extending along a side of the housing;    a pair of rotationally mounted wheels flanking the printhead at either end of the printhead, one of the wheels being an optical encoder wheel and the other one of the wheels being an idler wheel, the wheels arranged to engage a sheet of print media; and    a controller operatively connected to the printhead to control printing from the printhead responsive to signals received from the optical encoder wheel.    
     
     
         2 . A digital palm PC as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the printhead is recessed within the housing and the housing defines a slot through which ink from the printhead can be ejected.  
     
     
         3 . A digital palm PC as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a touch screen and a plurality of function buttons which can be used to control the function of the digital palm PC.  
     
     
         4 . A digital palm PC as claimed in  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 a receptacle arranged on the housing; and    a stylus which is receivable within the receptacle and can be used to touch the touch screen to further control the function of the digital palm PC.    
     
     
         5 . A digital palm PC as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a common shaft rotatably mounted in the housing and upon which both the wheels can rotate.  
     
     
         6 . A digital palm PC as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising an ink reservoir which defines a plurality of longitudinal compartments which can each store a respective type of ink and are each in fluid communication with the printhead.  
     
     
         7 . A digital palm PC as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a pair of moldings which collectively house internal components of the digital palm PC.