Electronic pen, mounting part therefor and method of making the pen

• US 20040179000A1
• Filed: 06/26/2002
• Published: 09/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Anoto Group AB
• Original Assignee: Anoto Group AB
• Inventors: Fermgard, Bjorn, Stromberg, Ola
• Granted Patent: US 7,180,509 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/179
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03542 Light pens for emitting or receiving light
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/12 Details of acquisition arrangements; Constructional details thereof

Abstract

An electronic pen comprises a writing means (7), a guiding element (9) for the writing means (7), a detector (15) for recording images, and an image processor (30) for calculating positions of the pen based on said images. The guiding element (9) and the detector (15) are arranged in a common mounting part (5). A mounting part (5) for an electronic pen is also disclosed. The mounting part (5) has means (11, 16) for arranging a guiding element (9) for a writing means (7) and a detector (15) for recording images in predetermined positions. Moreover, a method of making an electronic pen is disclosed. A guiding element (9) for a writing means (7) and a two-dimensional detector (15) are arranged in a common mounting part (5).

Claims

1. An electronic pen comprising a writing means (7), a guiding element (9) for the writing means (7), a detector (15) for recording images and an image processor (30) for calculating positions of the pen (1) based on said images, characterized in that the guiding element (9) and the detector (15) are arranged in a common mounting part (5) belonging to the interior of the pen.

2. An electronic pen as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mounting part (5) is arranged in a forward portion (2a) of the pen (1) and forms part of a front portion (27) of the pen (1).

3. An electronic pen as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the guiding element (9) is formed as a portion of the mounting part (5).

4. An electronic pen as claimed in any one of claims 1-3, wherein the guiding element (9) has a through hole (31) which is designed to give the writing means (7) a tight fit.

5. An electronic pen as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a light source (20) which is arranged in the mounting part (5).

6. An electronic pen as claimed in claim 5, wherein the light source comprises a light-emitting diode (20).

7. An electronic pen as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said detector is a solid-state image sensor (15).

8. An electronic pen as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the detector (15) is connected to a printed circuit board (28) in the pen (1) by means of a flexible electric coupling (19).

9. An electronic pen as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a sensor (24) which is adapted to sense whether the writing means (7) is pressed against a base (29) and which is arranged in the mounting part (5).

10. An electronic pen as claimed in claim 9, wherein the sensor is a pressure sensor (24).

11. An electronic pen as claimed in claim 9 or 10, wherein an insert (23), which is adapted to hold a portion (22) of the writing means (7), is arranged in a movable and form-fit manner in the mounting part (5) and arranged to be contacted with the sensor (24) as the writing means (7) is being pressed against a base (29).

12. An electronic pen as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mounting part (5) is made of plastic.

13. An electronic pen as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mounting part (5) is made of injection-molded thermoplastic.

14. A mounting part for an interior of an electronic pen (1), characterized by means (11, 16) for arranging a guiding element (9) for a writing means (7) and a detector (15) for recording images in predetermined positions.

15. A mounting part as claimed in claim 14, which further has means (21) for mounting of a light source (20).

16. A mounting part as claimed in claim 15, wherein said means (21) for mounting of a light source comprises a hole (21) which has at least two walls (21a, 21b, 21c) which are inclined relative to each other.

17. A mounting part as claimed in any one of claims 14-16, which further has means (25) for mounting of a sensor (24) adapted to sense whether the writing means (7) is pressed against a base (29).

18. A mounting part as claimed in any one of claims 14-17, which is arranged to be mounted in a forward portion (2a) of the pen (1) to constitute part of a front portion (27) of the pen (1).

19. A mounting part as claimed in any one of claims 14-18, which is made of plastic.

20. A mounting part as claimed in any one of claims 14-19, which is injection-molded of thermoplastic.

21. A method of making an electronic pen, characterized in that a guiding element (9) for a writing means (7) and a two-dimensional detector (15) are arranged in a common mounting part (5) inside the pen (1).

22. A method as claimed in claim 21, in which the guiding element (9) is formed as a portion of the mounting part (5).

23. A method as claimed in claim 21 or 22, in which a light source (20) is arranged in the mounting part (5).

24. A method as claimed in any one of claims 21-23, in which the mounting part (5) is arranged in a forward portion (2a) of the pen (1).