Interactive Input System And Pen Tool Therefor

• US 20090277697A1
• Filed: 05/09/2008
• Published: 11/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Smart Technologies ULC (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Smart Technologies ULC (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Bolt, Stephen, Thompson, Sean
• Application Number:
  US12/118,535
• Publication Number:
  US 20090277697A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 178/19.10
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04104 Multi-touch detection in digitiser, i.e. details about the simultaneous detection of a plurality of touching locations, e.g. multiple fingers or pen and finger
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/033 Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor digitisers characterised by the transducing means G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0428 by sensing at the edges of the touch surface the interruption of optical paths, e.g. an illumination plane, parallel to the touch surface which may be virtual sensing beam interruptions in a planar beam grid of an optical touch-screen G06F3/0421
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof

Abstract

A pen tool for use with an interactive input system comprises an elongate body, at least one switch assembly accommodated by the body and a controller accommodated by the body and communicating with the at least one switch assembly. The at least one switch assembly is actualable when the pen tool is brought into contact with an input surface of the interactive input system. The controller is responsive to actuation of the at least one switch assembly. The at least one switch assembly comprises a contact circuit and a plunger assembly having a conductive element thereon that is generally aligned with the contact circuit. The plunger assembly is moveable into the body to bring the conductive element into contact with the contact circuit thereby actuate the at least one switch assembly.

Claims

1. A pen tool for use with an interactive input system comprising:

an elongate body;

at least one switch assembly accommodated by said body, said at least one switch assembly being actuable when said pen tool is brought into contact with an input surface of said interactive input system; and

a controller accommodated by said body and communicating with said at least one switch assembly, said controller being responsive to actuation of said at least one switch assembly, wherein said at least one switch assembly comprises a contact circuit and a plunger assembly having a conductive element thereon that is generally aligned with said contact circuit, said plunger assembly being moveable into said body to bring said conductive element into contact with said contact circuit and thereby actuate said at least one switch assembly.

2. A pen tool according to claim 1 wherein said plunger assembly comprises a flexible cup element having a surface facing said contact surface and carrying said conductive element, and an elongate shaft fixed to said flexible cup element and extending beyond said body, said shaft moving into said body to cause said flexible cup element to flex and bring said conductive element and contact circuit into contact when said shaft is brought into contact with said input surface with a threshold activation force.

3. A pen tool according to claim 2 wherein said flexible cup element is formed of silicone.

4. A pen tool according to claim 3 wherein said flexible cup element is disc-shaped and said shaft is generally cylindrical.

5. A pen tool according to claim 4 wherein said plunger assembly further comprises a nib on a distal end said shaft.

6. A pen tool according to claim 5 wherein said threshold activation force is equal to about 30 g.

7. A pen tool according to claim 5 wherein said shaft moves into said body a distance equal to about 0.1 mm in order to bring said conductive element into contact with said contact circuit.

8. A pen tool according to claim 2 wherein said plunger assembly further comprises a nib on a distal end said shaft.

9. A pen tool according to claim 8 wherein said threshold activation force is equal to about 30 g.

10. A pen tool according to claim 9 wherein said shaft moves into said body a distance equal to about 0.1 mm in order to bring said conductive element into contact with said contact circuit.

11. A pen tool according to claim 2 wherein said threshold activation force is equal to about 30 g.

12. A pen tool according to claim 11 wherein said shaft moves into said body a distance equal to about 0.1 mm in order to bring said conductive element into contact with said contact circuit.

13. A pen tool according to claim 1 wherein said contact circuit has a slim profile.

14. A pen tool according to claim 13 wherein said contact circuit comprises a contact circuit area generally aligned with said conductive element and a contact lead arranged generally at a right-angle to the plane of said contact circuit area, said contact lead electrically coupled to said controller.

15. A pen tool according to claim 14 wherein said plunger assembly comprises a flexible cup element having a surface facing said contact surface and carrying said conductive element, and an elongate shaft fixed to said flexible cup element and extending beyond said body, said shaft moving into said body to cause said flexible cup element to flex and bring said conductive element and contact circuit into contact when said shaft is brought into contact with said input surface with a threshold activation force.

16. A pen tool according to claim 15 wherein said flexible cup element is formed of silicone.

17. A pen tool according to claim 14 wherein said threshold activation force is equal to about 30 g.

18. A pen tool according to claim 17 wherein said shaft moves into said body a distance equal to about 0.1 mm in order to bring said conductive element into contact with said contact circuit.

19. A pen tool according to claim 18 wherein said plunger assembly further comprises a nib on a distal end said shaft.

20. A pen tool according to claim 1 comprising at least two said switch assemblies, each said switch assembly being associated with a different input end of said pen tool.

21. A pen tool according to claim 20 wherein the plunger assembly of each switch assembly comprises a flexible cup element having a surface facing said contact surface and carrying said conductive element, and an elongate shaft fixed to said flexible cup element and extending beyond said body, said shaft moving into said body to cause said flexible cup element to flex and bring said conductive element and contact circuit into contact when said shaft is brought into contact with said input with a threshold activation force.

22. A pen tool according to claim 21 wherein said flexible cup element is formed of silicone.

23. A pen tool according to claim 21 wherein said threshold activation force is equal to about 30 g.

24. A pen tool according to claim 23 wherein said shaft moves into said body a distance equal to about 0.1 mm in order to bring said conductive element into contact with said contact circuit.

25. A pen tool according to claim 20 wherein said contact circuit has a slim profile.

26. A pen tool according to claim 25 wherein said contact circuit comprises a contact circuit area generally aligned with said conductive element and a contact lead arranged generally at a right-angle to the plane of said contact circuit area, said contact lead electrically coupled to said controller.

27. A pen tool according to claim 26 wherein the plunger assembly of each switch assembly comprises a flexible cup element having a surface facing said contact surface and carrying said conductive element, and an elongate shaft fixed to said flexible cup element and extending beyond said body, said shaft moving into said body to cause said flexible cup element to flex and bring said conductive element and contact circuit into contact when said shaft is brought into contact with said input surface with a threshold activation force.

28. A pen tool according to claim 27 wherein said flexible cup element is formed of silicone.

29. A pen tool according to claim 27 wherein said threshold activation force is equal to about 30 g.

30. A pen tool according to claim 29 wherein said shaft moves into said body a distance equal to about 0.1 mm in order to bring said conductive element into contact with said contact circuit.