Orientation sensing device

• US 20050088419A1
• Filed: 09/24/2004
• Published: 04/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia, Lapstun, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 7,187,370 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0321 by optically sensing the absolute position with respect to a regularly patterned surface forming a passive digitiser, e.g. pen optically detecting position indicative tags printed on a paper sheet constructional details of pen-shaped pointing devices G06F3/03545, G06F3/03542, G06F3/037
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/12 Details of acquisition arrangements; Constructional details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/1423 the instrument generating sequences of position coordinates corresponding to handwriting preprocessing or recognising digital ink G06V30/32
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 21/00 Systems for transmitting the position of an object with respect to a predetermined reference system, e.g. tele-autographic system

Abstract

A sensing device for generating orientation data when positioned or moved relative to a surface, the orientation data being indicative of an orientation of the sensing device relative to the surface, the surface having coded data disposed upon it, the coded data being indicative, when sensed by the sensing device, of the orientation, the sensing device including: a housing; orientation sensing means configured to generate the orientation data using at least some of the coded data; and communications means configured to communicate the orientation data to a computer system.

Claims

1. A sensing device for generating orientation data, when the device is positioned or moved relative to a surface having coded data disposed thereon, the coded data being indicative, when sensed by the sensing device, of the orientation of the sensing device, the sensing device comprising:

a housing;

an orientation sensor located in the housing, the sensor being configured to generate the orientation data using at least some of the coded data, the orientation data being indicative of three dimensions of a rotational orientation of the sensing device relative to the surface; and

a transmitter, located in the housing, the transmitter being configured to communicate the orientation data to a computer system.

2. An orientation sensing device, according to claim 1, the device further comprising memory, located in the housing, the memory being configured to store a sensing device identifier which is adapted to distinguish the sensing device from other sensing devices of the same type.

3. A sensing device according to claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising a motion sensor, located in the housing, for generating at least one of movement data and position data when the sensing device is moved relative to the surface, the transmitter being configured to communicate the movement data to the computer system.

4. A sensing device according to claim 3, further comprising region identity sensor, located in the housing, the sensor being configured to sense, when the sensing device is positioned or moved relative to a region of the surface, and, using at least some of the coded data, to generate region identity data indicative of an identity of the region, the transmitter being configured to communicate the region identity data to the computer system.

5. A sensing device according to claim 4, wherein the motion sensor is configured to generate at least one of the movement data and the position data using at least some of the coded data.

6. A sensing device according to claim 5, wherein the coded data is also indicative of a plurality of reference points of the region, each reference point being a two-dimensional co-ordinate position on the surface, the motion sensor being configured to generate at least one of the movement data and the position data on the basis of at least one of the movement and position of the sensing device relative to at least one of the reference points.

7. A sensing device according to claim 5, wherein the coded data includes periodic elements, the periodic elements being substantially identical marks within the coded data which assist the sensing device in locating the coded data, the motion sensor being configured to generate at least one of the movement data and the position data on the basis of at least one of the movement and position of the sensing device relative to at least one of the periodic elements.

8. A sensing device according to claims 6 or 7, wherein the motion sensor is configured to sample the position of the sensing device relative to the at least one reference point or periodic element, thereby to generate at least one of the movement data and the position data.

9. A sensing device according to claim 8, further comprising a distance estimator, located in the housing, the distance estimator being configured to estimate a distance of the sensing device from the at least one reference point or periodic element.

10. A sensing device according to claim 9, wherein the transmitter is configured to communicate distance data to the computer system, the distance data being indicative of the distance.

11. A sensing device according to claim 9, wherein the motion sensor is configured to use the distance estimated by the distance estimator to resolve a more accurate position of the sensing device than indicated by the at least one reference point or periodic element alone.

12. A sensing device according to claim 5, further comprising an orientation sensor, located in the housing, the location sensor being configured to sense an orientation of the sensing device relative to at least some of the coded data.

13. A sensing device according to claim 12, wherein the transmitter is configured to communicate orientation data to the computer system, the orientation data being indicative of the orientation.

14. A sensing device according to claim 4, further comprising a timer, located in the housing, the timer being configured to generate a time reference as the sensing device is moved relative to the surface region.

15. A sensing device according to claim 14, wherein the transmitter is configured to communicate time reference data to the computer sytem, the time reference data being indicative of the time reference of the movement data as generated by the timer.

16. A sensing device according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter is a wireless transmitter.

17. A sensing device according to claim 1, further comprising a force sensor, located in the housing, the force sensor being configured to sense a force applied to the surface by the sensing device.

18. A sensing device according to claim 17, wherein the transmitter is configured to communicate force data to the computer system, the force data being indicative of the force.

19. A sensing device according to claim 17, further comprising a stroke detector, located in the housing, the stroke detector being configured to detect, by way of the force, when the sensing device is applied to the surface and removed from the surface, thereby to identify the duration of a stroke.

20. A sensing device according to claim 1, wherein the orientation sensor is configured to infer the orientation from perspective distortion of at least some of the coded data.