CARRIER FOR A DIGITAL PEN

• US 20100232116A1
• Filed: 09/03/2009
• Published: 09/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adapx Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Adapx Incorporated
• Inventors: Paratore, Robert M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,384,696 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/724
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/039 Accessories therefor, e.g. mouse pads

Abstract

A carrier for a digital pen includes a main case with an internal channel to closely receive and align the digital pen with an electronic package contained within the main case. In addition, the carrier includes an upper lid rotationally coupled to the main case. In one embodiment, the upper lid may be both partially and fully opened with a dual-action latch mechanism. In addition, the carrier may include a lower lid that may be opened to provide access to an electronic package. In one embodiment, an extendable serial communication device may be extended from the electronic package when the lower lid is open. Further, the carrier is configured to sufficiently protect the digital pen from harsh environmental conditions and even from harsh user-induced conditions, such as drops onto a hard surface, exposure of the carrier to rain, dust, and sand particulate, brief water submersion, and even temperature extremes.

Claims

1. A carrier for a digital pen, the carrier comprising:

a main case for receiving the digital pen, the main case having a lower body portion with an internal channel for receiving the digital pen, the internal channel contoured to frictionally engage and substantially restrain the digital pen after insertion of the digital pen into the carrier;

an upper lid rotationally and biasly coupled to the main case about a pivot axis, the upper lid having a contoured engagement surface configured to engage a complementary engagement surface of the main case; and

an electronic package having a plurality of electrical contacts for engaging complementary electrical contacts on the digital pen, the electronic package located proximate the internal channel within the main case.

2. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the complementary engagement surface of the main case includes a raised rib and the contoured engagement surface of the upper lid includes a recessed channel, wherein the raised rib is sized to be closely received in the recessed channel.

3. The carrier of claim 2, further comprising:

a seal received in the recessed channel of the upper lid, the seal compressible by the raised rib when the upper lid is latched to the main case.

4. The carrier of claim 1, further comprising:

a latch mechanism for maintaining the upper lid in a closed position relative to the main case.

5. The carrier of claim 4, wherein the latch mechanism includes a dual-action latch mechanism having a lifting portion rotationally coupled to a latching portion, which is rotationally coupled to the upper lid.

6. The carrier of claim 5, wherein the upper lid includes a recessed portion for receiving the lifting portion of the latch mechanism.

7. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the upper lid is rotationally and biasly coupled to the main case with a torsional spring.

8. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrical contacts are in electrical communication with a serial communication device.

9. The carrier of claim 8, wherein the plurality of electronic package provides bi-directional communication between the digital pen and the serial communication device.

10. The carrier of claim 1, further comprising:

a lower lid located on a distal end of the main case relative to the upper lid.

11. The carrier of claim 8, wherein the lower lid includes an open position to expose the serial communication device and a latched position to seal with lower lid with the main case.

12. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrical contacts include pogo pins located within the internal channel of the main case.

13. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the contour of the internal channel is configured to closely and frictionally receive the digital pin and align the digital pen with the electrical contacts of the electronic package.

14. A carrier for a digital pen comprising:

a main case for receiving the digital pen;

an upper lid rotationally and biasly coupled to the main case about a pivot axle, the upper lid having a contoured engagement surface configured to engage a complementary engagement surface of the main case; and

a latch mechanism having a lifting portion rotationally coupled to a latching portion, the latching portion rotationally coupled to the upper lid, the lifting portion operable to allow the upper lid to partially rotate away from the main case, the latching portion releasable from the first main case to allow the upper lid to fully rotate away from the main case.

15. The carrier of claim 14, wherein the main case includes a lower body portion with an internal channel for receiving the digital pen.

16. The carrier of claim 15, wherein the internal channel is contoured to frictionally engage and substantially restrain the digital pen after insertion of the digital pen into the carrier.

17. The carrier of claim 16, wherein the contour of the internal channel is configured to closely and frictionally receive the digital pin and align the digital pen with the electrical contacts of an electronic package located within the main case.

18. The carrier of claim 14, wherein the upper lid is rotationally and biasly coupled to the main case with a torsional spring positioned on the pivot axle.

19. The carrier of claim 14, further comprising:

a lower lid located on a distal end of the main case relative to the upper lid.

20. The carrier of claim 14, further comprising:

an electronic package having a plurality of electrical contacts for engaging complementary electrical contacts on the digital pen, the electronic package located proximate the internal channel of the main case.