Writing instrument with laser pointer and bar code reader

• US 20020162891A1
• Filed: 01/10/2002
• Published: 11/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/1997
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Altaf Mulla, Edward Barkan, Joseph Katz, Mark Krichever, Miklos Stern, Paul Dvorkis, Simon Bard
• Original Assignee: Altaf Mulla, Edward Barkan, Joseph Katz, Mark Krichever, Miklos Stern, Paul Dvorkis, Simon Bard
• Inventors: Barkan, Edward, Stern, Miklos, Katz, Joseph, Dvorkis, Paul, Krichever, Mark, Bard, Simon, Mulla, Altaf
• Application Number:
  US10/043,545
• Publication Number:
  US 20020162891A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/462.49
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/453 self-scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1639 the display being based on projection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1696 the I/O peripheral being a printing or scanning device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/434 using image data, e.g. images, photos, pictures taken by a user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/4393 Multimedia presentations, e.g. slide shows, multimedia albums
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/955 using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9554 by using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 1/121 by printing code marks applying code marks to labels B65C9/46; marking or coding completed packages B65B61/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisious for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10772 Moved readers, e.g. pen, wand
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/30 Managing network names, e.g. use of aliases or nicknames name-to-address mapping H04L61/45

Abstract

A writing instrument, such as a pen, mechanical pencil, felt marker, or touch-screen stylus, which incorporates a (a) laser pointer, for highlighting a target, and/or (b) a laser bar code reader, which is operable either (i) by manual scanning by the user of the laser beam over the symbol, or (ii) by automatic self-scanning or motion of the beam over a path by means of a motor drive. A manually operable switch is disposed from one mode of use to the other, and also functions to move an appropriate focusing optical element in and out of the beam path.

Claims

1. A combined writing instrument and laser pointer unit for creating a visual display on a target, comprising:

a portable, hand-held housing aimable by a user at a target;

a laser emitter supported by the housing, for emitting a laser light beam along a path outwardly of the housing towards the target and producing a beam spot on the target; and

a writing instrument supported by the housing.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising an optical element in the housing which is mechanically moved in and out of the path of the emitted laser beam.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the optical element is a lens which focuses the laser beam at either a short range from the housing or at a substantially greater range.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising a detector within the housing operative for detecting at least a portion of light of variable intensity reflected off the coded indicia and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected light intensity.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 4, further comprising a processor for decoding the electrical signal into data represented by the coded indicia and a memory for storing the data within the housing.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising a drive supported by the housing for scanning the emitted laser light beam across the target.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 4, further comprising a manually actuatable switch for activating the detector to enable the unit to function as a bar code reader.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the writing instrument is a pen.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the writing instrument is a stylus for a touch screen of a portable computer.