DURABLE DIGITAL WRITING AND SKETCHING INSTRUMENT

• US 20070268278A1
• Filed: 05/21/2007
• Published: 11/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Natural Extraction Systems, LLC
• Original Assignee: Natural Extraction Systems, LLC
• Inventors: McGee, David, Lind, Scott, Paratore, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,884,811 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/179
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus

Abstract

A hand-holdable, durable digital writing and sketching device or assembly having rugged construction that houses an on-board camera with a view through an optical window of a writing surface brought in view by a user moving the device. The device is rugged, sealed, and is capable of withstanding dropping, water submersion, abrasive incursions, and resistance to chemical and fungal degradation. The optical window and optic channel to the camera is protected by a durable and replaceable light-transmitting shield that provides a sealed barrier to the environmental elements harmful to the functioning of the device. The writing and sketching device oscillates between a stowed and a deployed state. The deployed state includes the camera being in view the writing surface and the stowed state includes the camera being either masked from viewing the writing surface or aimed internally from viewing the writing surface. Other versions of the digital writing and sketching device include replaceable styli and pens that are removable and interchangeable with a sealed chamber in the device. The stylus point or pen ends are substantially in view of the on-board device camera. Signal transmissions communicated from the digital writing and sketching device convey pressures experienced by the inserted stylus or pens and are represented in proportion to a microprocessor based display that conveys changing field of view experienced by the on-board camera.

Claims

1. A digital writing and sketching device comprising:

a pen section having an optic port, a replaceable optic port shield, a sealed ink cartridge equipped with an ink roller, a light source, an optics channel conveying light from the light source through the optic port and the optic port shield and to a surface engageable by the ink roller, a camera in optical communication with the optics channel and receiving light returning from the surface through the optics channel, and an O-ring; and

a cap section having a slot sealably engageable with the O-ring of the pen section and having a power source housed in a compartment, electronic circuitry for delivering power to the pen and the cap section and for receiving signals from the pen section associated with the light received by the camera, memory for storing the signals, a microprocessor for storing and associating writing information from the pen section to a geographic region, and an output port to convey the writing information associated with a geographic region.

2. The digital computer pen of claim 1, wherein the pattern of the light source includes a plurality of dots generated by the light source.

3. The digital computer pen of claim 2, wherein the camera includes a charge coupled device to generate the signals from the plurality of dots.

4. The digital computer pen of claim 3, wherein the signals are made compatible for processing by the microprocessor to determine the pattern of the writing information and to convey writing information pattern.

5. The digital computer pen of claim 4, wherein a second microprocessor receives the writing pattern information and applies computer executable instructions to associate the writing information with the geographic region.

6. The digital computer pen of claim 1, wherein the pen section and the cap section sealably engage between a stowed state and a deployed state.

7. A digital computer pen comprising:

a pen section having an optic port, a replaceable optic port shield, a sealed ink cartridge equipped with an ink roller, an infrared light source, an optics channel conveying infrared light from the infrared light source through the optic port and the optic port shield and to a surface engageable by the ink roller, a camera in optical communication with the optics channel and receiving infrared light returning from the surface through the optics channel, and an O-ring; and

a cap section having a slot sealably engageable with the O-ring of the pen section and having a power source housed in a compartment, electronic circuitry for determining the power source type and charging protocols, to deliver power to the pen and the cap section and for receiving signals from the pen section associated with the infrared light received by the camera, memory for storing the signals, a microprocessor for storing and associating writing information from the pen section to a geographic region, and an output port to convey the writing information associated with a geographic region,

wherein the pen and cap sections are constructed of durable materials resistant to impact, organic solvents, fungi, fresh water, salt water and sealably engage between a stowed state and a deployed state.

8. The digital computer pen of claim 7, wherein the pattern of the light source includes a plurality of dots generated by the light source and the camera includes a charge coupled device to generate the signals from the plurality of dots.

9. The digital computer pen of claim 7, wherein the electronic circuitry determines power source type by rechargeable and non-chargeable batteries.

10. The digital computer pen of claim 9, wherein the signals are made compatible for processing by the microprocessor to determine the pattern of the writing information and to convey the writing pattern information.

11. The digital computer pen of claim 10, wherein the microprocessor receives the writing information signals and applies computer executable instructions to associate the writing information with the geographic region.

12. The digital computer pen of claim 7, wherein the durable materials comprise at least one of a thermoplastic, a plastic composite, a metal, a metal alloy, and a plastic metallic composite.

13. The digital computer pen of claim 12, whereas sealable engagement comprises surfaces of the durable materials configured with gripping plastics.

14. The digital computer pen of claim 7, wherein the circuitry comprises switches to activate the digital pen during the deployed state and deactivate the digital pen during the stowed state.

15. A digital computer pen comprising:

a pen section having an optic port, a replaceable optic port shield, a sealed ink cartridge equipped with an ink roller, a light source, an optics channel conveying light from the light source through the optic port and the optic port shield and to a surface engageable by the ink roller, a camera in optical communication with the optics channel and receiving light returning from the surface through the optics channel, a slot, electronic circuitry for delivering power and for receiving signals from the pen section associated with the light received by the camera, memory for storing the signals, a microprocessor for storing and associating writing information from the pen section to a geographic region, and an output port to convey the writing information associated with a geographic region;

a pen cover having an O-ring configured to sealably fit with the O-ring of the pen section,

wherein the pen and pen cover sections are constructed of durable materials resistant to impact, organic solvents, fungi, fresh water, salt water and sealably engage between a stowed state and a deployed state.

16. The digital computer pen of claim 15, wherein the pattern of the light source includes a plurality of dots generated by the light source and the camera includes a charge coupled device to generate signals from the plurality of dots.

17. The digital computer pen of claim 15, wherein the signals are made compatible for interpretation by the microprocessor to determine the pattern of the writing information and to convey writing information signals.

18. The digital computer pen of claim 17, wherein the microprocessor receives the writing information signals and applies computer executable instructions to associate the writing information with the geographic region.

19. The digital computer pen of claim 15, wherein the circuitry comprises switches to activate the digital pen during the deployed state and deactivate the digital pen during the stowed state.

20. The digital computer pen of claim 15, wherein the surfaces of the durable materials between the pen section and pen cover sections are configured with gripping plastics.