LIGHT PEN

• US 20110075440A1
• Filed: 12/21/2009
• Published: 03/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chunghwa Picture Tubes Limited (Tatung Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Chunghwa Picture Tubes Limited (Tatung Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Wang, Yin
• Granted Patent: US 8,292,485 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/553
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04101 2.5D-digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface and also measures the distance of the input means within a short range in the Z direction, possibly with a separate measurement setup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04105 Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus

Abstract

A light pen includes a case, a light source, a pen-nib structure, a first lens device, an elastic piece, a hollow knob, and a linkage pipe. The pen-nib structure is disposed through the case. The first lens device is disposed between the light source and the pen-nib structure. The elastic piece is connected to the first lens device. The hollow knob rotatably sheathes the first lens device. The linkage pipe sheathes the first lens device and is connected to the hollow knob for driving the elastic piece to move away from the pen-nib structure when the hollow knob rotates to a first position, so that the pen-nib structure can move relative to the case. The linkage pipe is further used for being separate from the elastic piece when the hollow knob rotates to a second position, so that the elastic piece can be engaged with the pen-nib structure.

Claims

1. A light pen comprising:

a case;

a light source disposed in the case for emitting light;

a pen-nib structure movably disposed through an end of the case, an opening being formed on the pen-nib structure;

a first lens device movably disposed between the light source and the pen-nib structure for guiding the light emitted by the light source to the opening;

an elastic piece connected to the first lens device for engaging with the pen-nib structure to fix a position of the pen-nib structure relative to the first lens device;

a hollow knob rotatably sheathing the first lens device; and

a linkage pipe sheathing a side of the first lens device and connected to the hollow knob, the linkage pipe being used for driving the elastic piece to move away from the pen-nib structure when the hollow knob rotates to a first position relative to the first lens device so that the pen-nib structure is capable of moving relative to the case and for being separate from the elastic piece when the hollow knob rotates to a second position so as to cause the elastic piece to engage with the pen-nib structure.

2. The light pen of claim 1 further comprising a spring connected between the pen-nib structure and the case for providing elastic force to the pen-nib structure.

3. The light pen of claim 1, wherein a claw-shaped structure is formed on a side of the linkage pipe, the claw-shaped structure is used for driving the elastic piece to move away from the pen-nib structure when the hollow knob rotates to the first position and for being separate from the elastic piece when the hollow knob rotates to the second position so that the elastic piece is engaged with a first positioning slot of the pen-nib structure.

4. The light pen of claim 1, wherein the first lens device comprises:

a light guide pipe disposed through the hollow knob and connected to the elastic piece for guiding the light emitted by the light source; and

a first lens connected to the light guide pipe for refracting the light emitted from the light guide pipe to the opening.

5. The light pen of claim 4 further comprising:

a second lens device fixed to the case and located between the first lens device and the light source for guiding the light emitted by the light source to the light guide pipe.

6. The light pen of claim 4, wherein a first protruding portion is formed in the hollow knob, an engaging hole is formed on the light guide pipe, and the first protruding portion is used for engaging with the engaging hole so as to fix a position of the light guide pipe relative to the first lens and the case when the hollow knob rotates to the first position.

7. The light pen of claim 6, wherein the first protruding portion moves away from the engaging hole so that the first lens device can move relative to the case when the hollow knob rotates to a third position, and the linkage pipe is separate from the elastic piece so as to cause the elastic piece to engage with the pen-nib structure when the hollow knob rotates to the third position.

8. The light pen of claim 6, wherein the first protruding portion is a circular protrusion.

9. The light pen of claim 4, wherein a second protruding portion is formed inside the hollow knob, an engaging hole is formed on the light guide pipe, and the second protruding portion is used for engaging with the engaging hole so as to fix a position of the light guide pipe relative to the first lens and the case when the hollow knob rotates to the second position.

10. The light pen of claim 9, wherein the second protruding portion is a circular protrusion.

11. The light pen of claim 4, wherein the first lens is a convex lens.

12. The light pen of claim 5, wherein the second lens device is a concave lens.

13. The light pen of claim 1, wherein a protruding piece is formed on a side of the linkage pipe for engaging with a second positioning slot of the pen-nib structure so as to fix a position of the linkage pipe relative to the pen-nib structure when the hollow knob rotates to the second position.

14. The light pen of claim 1, wherein an outer edge of the hollow knob protrudes from a slot of the case.

15. The light pen of claim 1, wherein the light source is a light emitting diode (LED).

16. The light pen of claim 1, wherein the light source is a laser light source.

17. The light pen of claim 1, wherein the light is emitted through the opening to an optical touch panel.