Writing instrument with display module capable of receiving messages via radio

• US 20060030289A1
• Filed: 07/19/2005
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: National Pen Co. LLC (Cimpress Plc)
• Original Assignee: NAPC LLC
• Inventors: Liguori, Thomas A., Lupfer, Thomas H.
• Application Number:
  US11/184,636
• Publication Number:
  US 20060030289A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/344
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 29/007 with advertising means
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 29/08 with measuring, computing or indicating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/228 combined with other devices having a different main function, e.g. watches

Abstract

A writing instrument including an integrated display module. The display module is used to provide a presentation to a user or consumer. The presentation can be in the form of scrolling text, a still image, a flashing image, an image that fades in and out of view or a movie. The presentation can be an advertisement, for entertainment or informative in nature. The presentation may be downloaded to the writing instrument using one or more of a variety of data transfer means including USB, IEEE 1394, microwave, infrared, and laser. The writing instrument may also include a radio receiver for receiving message signals containing messaging information. The display module is used to display the message information.

Claims

1. A writing instrument comprising:

a housing;

a display module joined to the housing;

a radio receiver coupled to the housing capable of receiving a message signal via radio, wherein said message signal includes message information;

an electrically operated storage device connected to the radio receiver for storing the message information;

a power supply;

an ink storage unit; and

a writing element coupled to the ink storage unit,

wherein the display module is electronically coupled to the electrically operated storage device for displaying the message information that is stored in the electrically operated storage device.

2. The writing instrument of claim 1, further including a radio transmitter.

3. The writing instrument of claim 1, further including a microprocessor.

4. The writing instrument of claim 1, further including an alerting device for alerting a user that the message signal has been received.

5. The writing instrument of claim 4, wherein the alerting device is a device capable of generating an audible alert.

6. The writing instrument of claim 4, wherein the alerting device is an LED.

7. The writing instrument of claim 4, wherein the alerting device is a device capable of causing the housing to vibrate.

8. The writing instrument of claim 1, further including an actuation switch for controlling the amount of power transferred to the radio receiver from the power supply.

9. The writing instrument of claim 1, wherein the display module is an LCD display module.

10. The writing instrument of claim 1, further including an antenna coupled to the radio receiver.

11. The writing instrument of claim 10, wherein the antenna is located outside the housing.

12. The writing instrument of claim 10, wherein the antenna is a mechanical clip attached to the housing.

13. The writing instrument of claim 1, wherein the radio receiver is adapted to receive a Bluetooth radio signal.

14. The writing instrument of claim 1, wherein the radio receiver is adapted to receive an IEEE 802.11 radio signal.

15. The writing instrument of claim 1, wherein the message information includes an alphanumeric message.

16. The writing instrument of claim 1, wherein the message information includes multimedia data.

17. A radio-messaging system comprising:

a radio transmitter for transmitting a message signal via radio; and

a writing instrument having a housing, a display module joined to the housing, a radio receiver for receiving the message signal transmitted by the radio transmitter, an electrically operated storage device for storing message information based on the message signal received by the radio receiver, a power supply, an ink storage unit, and a writing element coupled to the ink storage unit, wherein the display module is adapted to display the message information that is programmed and stored in the electrically operated storage device.

18. The radio-messaging system of claim 17, wherein the writing instrument further includes a radio transmitter.

19. The radio-messaging system of claim 17, wherein the writing instrument further includes a microprocessor.

20. The radio-messaging system of claim 17, wherein the writing instrument further includes an alerting device for alerting a user that the message signal has been received.

21. The radio-messaging system of claim 20, wherein the alerting device is a device capable of generating an audible alert.

22. The radio-messaging system of claim 20, wherein the alerting device is an LED.

23. The radio-messaging system of claim 20, wherein the alerting device is a device capable of causing the housing to vibrate.

24. The radio-messaging system of claim 17, wherein the writing instrument further includes an actuation switch for controlling the amount of power transferred to the radio receiver from the power supply.

25. The radio-messaging system of claim 17, wherein the display module is an LCD display module.

26. The radio-messaging system of claim 17, further including an antenna coupled to the radio receiver.

27. The radio-messaging system of claim 26, wherein the antenna is located outside the housing.

28. The radio-messaging system of claim 26, wherein the antenna is a mechanical clip attached to the housing.

29. The radio-messaging system of claim 17, wherein the radio receiver is adapted to receive a Bluetooth radio signal.

30. The radio-messaging system of claim 17, wherein the radio receiver is adapted to receive an IEEE 802.11 radio signal.

31. A method for receiving and displaying message information on a writing instrument comprising:

providing a writing instrument having a housing, a display module joined to the housing, a radio receiver, an electrically operated storage device, a power supply, an ink storage unit, and a writing element coupled to the ink storage unit;

receiving a message signal via radio;

storing message information based on the message signal in the electrically operated storage device;

displaying the message information on the display module.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the writing instrument further includes a radio transmitter.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the writing instrument further includes a microprocessor.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the writing instrument further includes a noise-making device.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein the writing instrument further includes an LED.

36. The method of claim 31, wherein the writing instrument further includes a device capable of causing the housing to vibrate.

37. The method of claim 31, wherein the writing instrument further includes an actuation switch for controlling the amount of power transferred to the radio receiver from the power supply.

38. The method of claim 31, wherein the display module is an LCD display module.

39. The method of claim 31, wherein the radio receiver is a mechanical clip attached to the housing.

40. The method of claim 31, wherein the message signal is a Bluetooth radio signal.

41. The method of claim 31, wherein the message signal is an IEEE 802.11 radio signal.

42. The method of claim 31, wherein the message signal includes an alphanumeric message.

43. The method of claim 31, wherein the message signal includes multimedia data.

44. A writing instrument comprising:

a housing;

a display module joined to the housing;

an electrically operated storage device;

a connectivity port for receiving presentation data from an external source, wherein the connectivity port is electrically connected to the electrically operated storage device;

a power supply; and

an actuation switch,

wherein the display module is capable of displaying a presentation based on the presentation data that is received by the connectivity port and is programmed and stored in the electrically operated storage device.

45. The writing instrument of claim 44, wherein the power supply is comprised of a solar cell.

46. The writing instrument of claim 44, wherein the connectivity port is adapted to receive data via infrared.

47. The writing instrument of claim 44, wherein the connectivity port is adapted to receive data via laser.

48. The writing instrument of claim 44, wherein the connectivity port is adapted to receive data wirelessly.

49. The writing instrument of claim 44, wherein the connectivity port is adapted to receive data via radio.

50. The writing instrument of claim 44, wherein the housing comprises a chamber, and wherein the electrically operated storage device and display module are arranged in the chamber.

51. The writing instrument of claim 44, wherein the housing comprises a chamber, and wherein the electrically operated storage device, display module and power supply are arranged in the chamber.

52. The writing instrument of claim 45, wherein the housing comprises a chamber, and wherein the electrically operated storage device, display module and solar cell are arranged in the chamber.

53. The writing instrument of claim 44, wherein the actuation switch is triggered by movement.

54. The writing instrument of claim 44, wherein the actuation switch is triggered by propelling or repelling an ink cartridge within the writing instrument.

55. The writing instrument of claim 44, wherein the external source is a computer.