ELECTRONIC IMAGE-SENSING PEN WITH FORCE SENSOR AND REMOVEABLE INK CARTRIDGE

• US 20100310299A1
• Filed: 08/18/2010
• Published: 12/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia, Lapstun, Paul, King, Tobin Allen, Underwood, Matthew John
• Granted Patent: US 7,955,017 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 401/195
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 23/12 for pens caps co-operating with retractable nibs B43K5/165
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 23/126 with clips
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 25/022 attached to a pen cap
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 29/00 Combinations of writing implements with other articles
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 29/003 with optical equipment, e.g. magnifier, viewer
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 29/004 with more than one object
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 29/08 with measuring, computing or indicating devices
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 29/093 with calculators
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 29/10 with illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 7/005 Pen barrels
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 7/02 Ink reservoirs; Ink cartridges B43K7/01 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/26 Auxiliary measures taken, or devices used, in connection with the measurement of force, e.g. for preventing influence of transverse components of force, for preventing overload
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/162 of piezoresistors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0321 by optically sensing the absolute position with respect to a regularly patterned surface forming a passive digitiser, e.g. pen optically detecting position indicative tags printed on a paper sheet constructional details of pen-shaped pointing devices G06F3/03545, G06F3/03542, G06F3/037
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus

Abstract

An electronic pen includes a pen body having a longitudinal axis; an image sensor; an ink cartridge replaceably received in the pen body, the ink cartridge having a nib at a first end and an opposite second end; and a force sensor assembly engaged with the second end of the ink cartridge. The force sensor assembly is configured for sensing a nib force transmitted longitudinally axially through the ink cartridge. The pen body includes a removable cover molding extending longitudinally along the pen body for insertion of the ink cartridge inside the pen body.

Claims

1. An electronic pen comprising:

a pen body having a longitudinal axis;

an image sensor;

an ink cartridge replaceably received in the pen body, the ink cartridge having a nib at a first end and an opposite second end; and

a force sensor assembly engaged with said second end of the ink cartridge, said force sensor assembly being configured for sensing a nib force transmitted longitudinally axially through said ink cartridge,

wherein the pen body comprises a removable cover molding extending longitudinally along the pen body for insertion of the ink cartridge inside the pen body.

2. The electronic pen of claim 1, wherein the force sensor assembly has a load bearing member for receiving the nib force and circuitry for converting the nib force into an output signal indicative of the nib force.

3. The electronic pen of claim 1, wherein the load bearing member abuts the second end of the ink cartridge.

4. The electronic pen of claim 3, wherein the elongate cartridge is biased against the load bearing member.

5. The electronic pen of claim 2, wherein the load bearing member comprises a ball positioned for engagement with the ink cartridge.

6. The electronic pen of claim 1, wherein the pen body comprises a travel stop positioned for limiting travel of the ink cartridge towards the force sensor assembly.

7. The electronic pen of claim 1, further comprising processor in communication with the image sensor and force sensor.

8. The electronic pen of claim 7, further comprising a transceiver in communication with the processor for sending data to a computer system.