MULTI-FUNCTION TABLET PEN INPUT DEVICE

• US 20090000831A1
• Filed: 06/28/2007
• Published: 01/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Miller, Thurman, Dishongh, Terry
• Granted Patent: US 9,019,245 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 178/19.10
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0354 with detection of 2D relative movements between the device, or an operating part thereof, and a plane or surface, e.g. 2D mice, trackballs, pens or pucks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of remotely controlling the mobile computing device. It further relates to an apparatus and method of at least replicating in a portable pen-like device the ability to control a portable computing device to the same extent as the level of control attainable by a standard PC keyboard when attached to a standard PC; and relates to various embodiments of the apparatus and method.

Claims

1. An apparatus for the remote control of a portable computing device, comprising:

a removable handheld body;

a plurality of user-actuated input controls within the handheld body, the user-actuated input controls providing user inputs, wherein the user-actuated input controls are accessible from the surface of the handheld body;

a CPU within the handheld body, the CPU configured to translate the user inputs into control signals for the portable computing device;

a means for wirelessly communicating the control signals to the portable computing device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user-actuated input controls comprises at least one press and hold button switch control.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user-actuated input controls comprises at least one rocker switch.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user-actuated input controls comprises at least one spring button switch.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user-actuated input controls comprises at least one slider continuous selector.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user-actuated input controls comprises at least one scroll wheel.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user-actuated input controls arranged to duplicate the functionality of a computer mouse.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises a magnetic tip.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for wirelessly communicating comprises radio frequency waves.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for wirelessly communicating comprises IEEE Standard 802.15.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for wirelessly communicating comprises Bluetooth.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for wirelessly communicating comprises infrared.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for wirelessly communicating comprises ultrasonic sound frequencies.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the handheld body further comprises a means for identification matched to an embedded ID in the portable computing device.

15. A method of controlling a portable computing device, comprising:

providing the apparatus of claim 1;

executing a plurality of application software on the portable computing device;

executing a sticky-note software, wherein the sticky-note software, upon activation by a user, is configured to share user-defined information among the plurality of application software;

activating the sticky-note software by manipulating one or more of the input controls on the apparatus.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the sticky-note software is configured to share user-defined information by using the CCOW HL7 standard.

17. The method of claim 15, including the further step of providing an output signal at periodic points in time.

18. The method of claim 15, including the further step of transmitting a command to lock the portable computing device in response to a predetermined actuation of an input control.

19. The method of claim 15, including the further steps of monitoring for the reception of a paging signal, and emitting a human-detectable signal upon the detection of a paging signal.