Wireless handwriting input device using grafitis and bluetooth

• US 20050110778A1
• Filed: 08/23/2004
• Published: 05/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mourad Ben Ayed
• Original Assignee: Mourad Ben Ayed
• Inventors: Ben Ayed, Mourad
• Application Number:
  US10/924,432
• Publication Number:
  US 20050110778A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/179
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/142 using hand-held instruments; Constructional details of the instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/20 Movements or behaviour, e.g. gesture recognition recognition of facial expressions G06V40/16

Abstract

Wireless input device apparatus allows a user to input data into cellular phones, personal digital assistant, TVs and computers . . . The user holds a wireless stylus and performs movements corresponding to graffiti. In the preferred embodiment, graffiti refers to PalmPilot graffiti. The wireless stylus identifies the user symbols and wirelessly sends them to a terminal device. In the preferred embodiment, the wireless stylus uses a BlueTooth transmitter for connecting and sending data to terminal devices, thus, the wireless stylus can be used for inputting data into any BlueTooth compliant system. In another embodiment, the wireless stylus sends the raw accelerometer data to a terminal device, which identifies the user symbols.

Claims

1. A unitary apparatus for converting symbols formed by tracking stylus movements in space to characters, comprising:

a stylus comprising;

at least one accelerometer for generating at least one first acceleration sequence by tracking movements of said stylus in space or upon a surface;

memory means for storing a collection of reference acceleration sequences, wherein the reference acceleration sequences correspond to at least one set of symbols, wherein the symbols correspond to a character set, at least one member of the character set being different in shape from at least one member of the at least one set of symbols;

a processor for comparing at least one first acceleration sequence generated by stylus movement to a set of reference acceleration sequences to identify a symbol and for converting the symbol to its corresponding character, wherein the shape of the character can be different from the shape of the symbol;

Bluetooth transceiver means for establishing a bluetooth wireless connection with a second device in range and transmitting to the second device at least one character resulting from generating at least one first acceleration sequence when a wireless connection has been established therewith.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said communication means complies with Bluetooth specifications.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said transceiver means complies with Bluetooth specifications.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an activation system.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said activation system comprises a button.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein upon activation of said activation system, at least one of said at least one accelerometer is activated.

7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein upon activation of said activation system, said processor is activated.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one set of reference acceleration sequences stored in said memory.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one set of characters stored in said memory, said set of characters corresponding to at least one set of acceleration sequences.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising at least one set of reference acceleration sequences stored in said memory, at least a portion of said set of reference acceleration sequences corresponding to said at least one set of characters.

11. A method for converting symbols formed by tracking stylus movements in space or upon a surface to characters, comprising:

keeping a collection of reference data sequences, said reference data sequences corresponding to at least one set of symbols, wherein said symbols correspond to a character set, at least one member of said character set being different in shape from at least one member of said at least one set of symbols;

on activation of said stylus, establishing a Bluetooth wireless connection with a second device using a transceiver means;

tracking movements of said stylus in space or upon a surface using accelerometers and generating sensor data sequences;

matching said sensor data sequences to said reference data sequences and identifying a character corresponding to said reference data sequences;

on identification of a character, transmitting said identified character to said second device, and displaying said character corresponding to stylus movements on said second device.

12. The method of claim 11, comprising checking spelling on the series of the last identified characters and on detection of a spelling error, performing an action selected from the set comprising vibrating, issuing sound alerts, automatically correcting mistakes, activating an LED and displaying information on LCD, or a combination of those actions.

18. The method of claim 11, comprising comparing the last two or more identified characters with a list of expressions, anticipating the next characters to be entered and sending the next characters to the second device.

13. An apparatus for capturing hand movements and for providing real-time feedback to a user using a stylus comprising:

a transceiver for automatically establishing a two-way wireless communication with a second device within a 100 meters radius,

motion sensors onboard said stylus selected from the set comprised of an accelerometer, a gyroscope, an inclination sensor, a tilt sensor and a heading sensor,

a processor onboard said stylus for processing sensors output and generating data sequences,

whereby said stylus automatically sends data sequences to said second device, and receives messages from said second device,

whereby on receipt of a message from said second device,

said stylus automatically performs actions corresponding to said messages selected from the set comprising;

vibrating, issuing sound alerts, automatically correcting mistakes, activating an LED, displaying information on LCD or a combination of those actions.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, comprising test sensors onboard said stylus for sensing environment conditions,

wherein said test sensors are selected from the group comprised of a contact sensor, an odour sensor, a thermometer, a touch sensor, an activation switch, a camera, a microphone, a colour sensor, an ink cartridge sensor, a pH sensor, a depth sensor, a smell sensor, a vibration sensor, a liquid sensor, a humidity sensor, a composition sensor, a gene sensor, a gene array, a magnetic sensor, an infrared sensor or a combination of those sensors,

said processor processes test sensors output and generates data sequences, and said stylus automatically sends data sequences to said second device.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein:

said stylus comprises an ink cartridge for dispensing ink,

said test sensors comprise a camera for capturing snapshots of user'"'"'s hand drawings,

and wherein processing sensors output comprises assembling said snapshots according to information contained in said data sequences, and constructing a graphical data stream representing the drawings.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, comprising memory with reference data,

said reference data sequences represent symbols that correspond to characters, numbers, symbols and words, at least one of those symbols is different in shape from its corresponding entity,

and wherein said processor compares at least one first acceleration sequence generated by stylus movement to a set of reference acceleration sequences to identify a symbol and for converting the symbol to its corresponding character, wherein the shape of the character can be different from the shape of the symbol.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, comprising memory with software drivers, and wherein said stylus transmits one or more software drivers to said second device.