Writing stylus for electrographic position location apparatus

• US 20040246211A1
• Filed: 06/09/2003
• Published: 12/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. (VTech Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. (VTech Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Lynch, Larry, Perkins, Michael, Voskuil, Kim, Milford, Peter Nevil, Kuei Yao Willey, Julie Wu
• Granted Patent: US 7,068,262 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/79
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 21/033 with automatic feed by pressure during use of pencil
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 21/22 Writing-cores gripping means, e.g. chucks
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 23/008 Holders comprising finger grips B43K23/004, B43K23/012 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 24/06 operated by turning means
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 25/00 Attaching writing implements to wearing apparel or objects involving constructional changes of the implements protecting means, e.g. caps B43K23/08; garment-holding devices A44B99/00; fastening articles to wearing apparel A45F5/02
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 29/00 Combinations of writing implements with other articles
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 31/00 Writing implement receptacles functioning as, or combined with, writing implements other writing implement receptacles A45C11/34, A45C11/36
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/046 by electromagnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/025 with electrically operated apparatus or devices

Abstract

A stylus for an electrographic position location apparatus is disclosed. In one embodiment, the stylus includes a writing element that is retractable. The stylus may have a proximal end and a distal end. A conductive annular structure may be at the proximal end of the stylus.

Claims

1. A stylus for an electrographic position location apparatus comprising a surface, the stylus comprising:

(a) a distal end region;

(b) a proximal end region;

(c) a writing element including a first end portion proximate to the distal end region and a second end portion proximate to the proximal end region; and

(d) a conductive annular structure having a continuous and solid side surface at the distal end region of the stylus, wherein the conductive annular structure is around the first end portion of the writing element, and

wherein the conductive annular structure is adapted to receive or transmit an electromagnetic signal when the stylus is over the surface.

2. The stylus of claim 1 wherein the stylus further comprises a stylus housing, and wherein the writing element is retractable inside of the stylus housing.

3. The stylus of claim 1 further comprising a stylus housing disposed around the writing element.

4. The stylus of claim 3 wherein the stylus housing comprises a conductive grip, and wherein the conductive grip is coupled to ground.

5. The stylus of claim 1 further comprising a biasing member to bias the writing element into a retracted position.

6. The stylus of claim 1 wherein the writing element is a mechanical pencil including an automatic lead feeding mechanism.

7. The stylus of claim 1 wherein the writing element is comprises ink.

8. The stylus of claim 1 wherein the writing element comprises erasable ink.

9. The stylus of claim 1 further comprising a detent member at the distal end region of the stylus.

10. The stylus of claim 1 further comprising a conductor that is electrically coupled to the conductive annular structure, and wherein the conductive annular structure is a conductive cone.

11. The stylus of claim 1 wherein the conductive annular structure is a conductive cone that is electrically coupled to the writing element and mechanically separated from the writing element, and wherein the writing element and the conductive cone are capacitively or electrically coupled when the stylus is used.

12. A stylus assembly comprising:

(a) the stylus of claim 1;

and

(b) an electrical cable comprising a conductor coupled to the proximal end region of the stylus, wherein the conductor in the electrical cable is electrically coupled to the conductive annular structure in the stylus.

13. The stylus assembly of claim 12 wherein the writing element is retractable.

14. The stylus assembly of claim 12, wherein the writing element is an automatic pencil that includes an automatic lead feeding mechanism, an automatic pencil that includes a non-automatic lead feeding mechanism, and a non-mechanical pencil.

15. A stylus assembly comprising:

(a) a stylus comprising (i) a distal end region, (ii) a proximal end region, and (iii) a retractable writing element having a first end portion proximate to the distal end region of the stylus and a second end portion proximate to the proximal end region of the stylus; and

(b) a cable coupled to the proximal end region of the stylus, wherein the cable comprises a conductor.

16. The stylus assembly of claim 15 wherein the stylus further comprises a conductive cone at the distal end region of the stylus, wherein the conductor in the cable is electrically coupled to the conductive cone.

17. The stylus assembly of claim 15 wherein the conductor is a first conductor, wherein the cable comprises a second conductor, and wherein the stylus further comprises a stylus housing including a conductive grip that is electrically coupled to the second conductor, the second conductor being coupled to ground.

18. The stylus assembly of claim 15 wherein the conductor is a first conductor and wherein the cable comprises a second conductor that shields the first conductor.

19. The stylus assembly of claim 15 wherein the retractable writing element comprises lead.

20. The stylus assembly of claim 15 wherein the retractable writing element comprises erasable ink or non-erasable ink.

21. The stylus assembly of claim 15 wherein the writing element is a pencil with an automatic lead feeding mechanism.

22. The stylus assembly of claim 15 wherein the stylus further comprises a conductive cone at the distal end region of the stylus, wherein the conductive cone surrounds the first end portion of the writing element.

23. The stylus assembly of claim 15 wherein the stylus further comprises a conductive cone at the distal end region of the stylus, wherein the conductive cone surrounds the first end portion of the writing element and wherein the conductive cone is electrically coupled to the writing element.

24. The stylus assembly of claim 15 wherein the stylus further comprises a stylus housing, a conductor passing through the stylus housing, and a conductive cone at the distal end region of the stylus, wherein the conductive cone surrounds the first end portion of the writing element and wherein the conductive cone is electrically coupled to the conductor.

25. The stylus assembly of claim 15 wherein the stylus further comprises a biasing member that biases the writing element into a retracted position.

26. The stylus assembly of claim 15 wherein the stylus further comprises a stylus housing, a first cam member in the stylus housing, and a second cam member in the stylus housing, wherein the first cam member is adjacent to the second cam member.

27. The stylus assembly of claim 15 wherein the stylus further comprises a conductive cone at the distal end region of the stylus, wherein the conductive cone surrounds the first end portion of the writing element, and wherein the conductive cone is electrically coupled to the writing element, and wherein the writing element is an automatic pencil with an automatic lead feeding mechanism.

28. An electrographic position location apparatus comprising:

(a) a housing comprising a surface;

(b) an antenna under the surface;

(c) a processor coupled to the antenna;

(d) a stylus comprising (i) a distal end region, (ii) a proximal end region, (iii) a writing element including a first end portion proximate to the distal end region and a second end portion proximate to the proximal end region; and

(iv) a conductive annular structure having a continuous and solid side surface around at least the first end portion of the writing element, and being at the distal end region of the stylus;

(e) a cable coupling the proximal end region of the stylus to the housing; and

(f) an output device coupled to the processor.

29. The electrographic position location apparatus of claim 28 wherein the housing is in the form of a platform.

30. The electrographic position location apparatus of claim 28 wherein the housing is in the form of a globe.

31. The electrographic position location apparatus of claim 28 wherein the housing is in the form of a platform and wherein the electrographic position location apparatus further comprises a book that is on the platform, and wherein the writing element is capable of making marks in the book.

32. The electrographic position location apparatus of claim 28 wherein the antenna is a transmitting antenna and wherein the output device is a speaker.

33. The electrographic position location apparatus of claim 28 wherein the antenna is a transmitting antenna and wherein the stylus further comprises a conductor, wherein the conductor is oriented generally parallel to an orientation of the writing element, and wherein the conductor forms a receiving antenna with the conductive annular structure.

34. The electrographic position location apparatus of claim 28 wherein the antenna is a transmitting antenna and wherein the writing element in the stylus forms at least part of a receiving antenna, wherein the writing element is electrically coupled to the conductive annular structure.

35. The electrographic position location apparatus of claim 28 wherein the antenna is a first antenna comprising a first plurality of fingers and wherein the electrographic position location apparatus further comprises a second antenna comprising a second plurality of fingers, wherein the first plurality of fingers is orthogonal to the second plurality of fingers.

36. The electrographic position location apparatus of claim 28 wherein the stylus further comprises a conductive grip at the distal end region, wherein the conductive grip is connected to ground.

37. The electrographic position location apparatus of claim 28 wherein the writing element is an automatic pencil comprising an automatic lead feeding mechanism.

38. The electrographic position location apparatus of claim 28 wherein the writing element comprises lead.

39. The electrographic position location apparatus of claim 28 wherein the writing element comprises ink.

40. The electrographic position location apparatus of claim 28 wherein the writing element comprises erasable ink.

41. An electrographic position location apparatus comprising:

(a) a housing comprising a surface;

(b) an antenna under the surface;

(c) a processor coupled to the antenna;

(d) a stylus comprising (i) a distal end region, (ii) a proximal end region, and (iii) a retractable writing element including a first end portion proximate to the distal end region and a second end portion proximate to the proximal end region;

(e) a cable connecting the proximal end region of the stylus to the housing; and

(f) an output device coupled to the processor.

42. The electrographic position location apparatus of claim 41 wherein the housing is in the form of a platform.

43. The electrographic position location apparatus of claim 41 wherein the housing includes a globe.

44. The electrographic position location apparatus of claim 41 wherein the housing is in the form of a platform and wherein a book is on the platform, and wherein the writing element is capable of making marks in the book.

45. The electrographic position location apparatus of claim 41 wherein the antenna is a transmitting antenna.

46. The electrographic position location apparatus of claim 41 wherein the antenna is a transmitting antenna and wherein the stylus further comprises a conductor, wherein the conductor that is oriented generally parallel to an orientation of the writing element, and wherein the conductor forms at least part of a receiving antenna.

47. The electrographic position location apparatus of claim 41 wherein the stylus further comprises a conductive cone around the first end portion of the retractable writing element, wherein antenna is a transmitting antenna and wherein the writing element in the stylus forms at least part of a receiving antenna, wherein the writing element is electrically coupled to the conductive cone.

48. The electrographic position location apparatus of claim 41 wherein the antenna is a first antenna comprising a first plurality of fingers and wherein the electrographic position location apparatus further comprises a second antenna comprising a second plurality of fingers, wherein the first plurality of fingers is orthogonal to the second plurality of fingers.

49. The electrographic position location apparatus of claim 41 wherein the stylus further comprises a conductive grip at the distal end region, and wherein the conductive grip is connected to ground.

50. The electrographic position location apparatus of claim 41 wherein the writing element is a pencil comprising an automatic lead feeding mechanism.

51. The electrographic position location apparatus of claim 41 wherein the writing element comprises lead.

52. The electrographic position location apparatus of claim 41 wherein the writing element comprises ink.

53. The electrographic position location apparatus of claim 41 wherein the writing element comprises erasable ink.

54. The electrographic position location apparatus of claim 41 wherein the stylus further comprises a conductive cone around the first end portion of the retractable writing element.

55. An electrographic position location apparatus comprising:

(a) a housing comprising a surface;

(b) an antenna under the surface;

(c) a processor coupled to the antenna;

(d) a stylus comprising (i) a distal end region, (ii) a proximal end region, and (iii) a conductive writing element including a first end portion proximate to the distal end region and a second end portion proximate to the proximal end region;

(e) a cable connecting the proximal end region of the stylus to the housing; and

(f) an output device coupled to the processor, wherein the output device is an audio output device,

wherein the antenna and the writing element are in electrical communication during use.

56. The electrographic position location apparatus of claim 55 further comprising a conductive cone at the distal end of the stylus.

57. The electrographic position location apparatus of claim 55 further comprising a book on the surface.

58. The electrographic position location apparatus of claim 55 wherein the stylus further comprises a conductive grip at the proximal end region.

59. The electrographic position location apparatus of claim 55 wherein the housing is in the form of a platform.

60. A method comprising:

(a) writing on a sheet in a print medium on a surface of a housing of an electrographic position location apparatus using a stylus including a retractable writing element, wherein the writing element is in an extended position;

(b) retracting the writing element into the stylus; and

(c) selecting a print element in the print medium using the stylus when the writing element in the stylus is in a retracted position.

61. The method of claim 60 wherein the stylus further comprises a conductive cone at a distal end of the stylus.

62. The method of claim 60 wherein the print medium is a book.

63. The method of claim 60 wherein the writing element is a lead pencil including an automatic lead feeding mechanism.

64. The method of claim 60 wherein the housing is in the form of a platform.

65. The method of claim 60 wherein the writing element comprises erasable ink.

66. The method of claim 60 wherein the print medium is adapted to teach math.

67. The method of claim 60 further comprising:

receiving a first audio output in response to writing in (a); and

receiving a second audio output in response to selecting in (c), wherein the first and second audio outputs are different.

68. The method of claim 60 wherein the writing element comprises a pencil including an automatic lead feeding mechanism.

69. The method of claim 60 wherein the print medium is adapted to teach writing.

70. The method of claim 60 wherein (c) occurs before (a).

71. A method comprising:

(a) providing a sheet on a surface of a housing of an electrographic position location apparatus, wherein an antenna is under the surface of the housing and transmits an electromagnetic signal; and

(b) writing on the sheet with a stylus including a conductive writing element, wherein the transmitted signal passes through the conductive writing element.

72. The method of claim 71 wherein the conductive writing element comprises a pen.

73. The method of claim 71 wherein the conductive writing element is a retractable writing element.

74. The method of claim 71 wherein the conductive writing element comprises erasable ink.