BASE STATION FOR USE WITH DIGITAL PENS

• US 20160313814A1
• Filed: 04/21/2015
• Published: 10/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: JACOBS, Joel Bernard, SPARKS, Bryan Anthony, GURR, Kae-Ling Jacquline, ROBERTS, Chad Michael
• Granted Patent: US 11,016,581 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/10 Program control for peripheral devices G06F13/14 - G06F13/42 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/039 Accessories therefor, e.g. mouse pads
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/22 The load being a portable electronic device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

Examples of the disclosure enable a docking station to provide various capabilities. In some examples, the docking station includes a sidewall at least partially defining a cavity, a charge module configured to charge a digital pen positioned within the cavity, and an authentication module configured to associate a digital pen with one or more user settings such that the digital pen is configured to operate in accordance with the user settings. Examples of the disclosure enable one or more digital pens to be placed in or retrieved from the docking station in a user-friendly manner.

Claims

1. A base station comprising:

a sidewall at least partially defining a cavity, the cavity sized to retain a plurality of digital pens therein;

a charge module comprising one or more inductive rings coupled to the sidewall such that the inductive rings extend about the cavity, the charge module configured to;

determine whether a digital pen is positioned within the cavity, and

upon determining that the digital pen is positioned within the cavity, use the inductive rings to transmit energy towards the cavity such that the charge module charges the digital pen through induction; and

an authentication module configured to;

determine whether the digital pen is associated with a user account, and

upon determining that the digital pen is associated with the user account, identify one or more user settings associated with the user account, and associate the digital pen with the user settings such that the digital pen is configured to operate in accordance with the user settings.

2. The base station of claim 1, wherein the inductive rings are coupled to the sidewall such that the charge module is configured to charge a first digital pen having a first configuration and a second digital pen having a second configuration different from the first configuration.

3. The base station of claim 1, wherein the authentication module is configured to:

receive input from the digital pen; and

based on the input, authenticate a user associated with the digital pen.

4. The base station of claim 1, further comprising a palette module configured to:

receive input from a palette device; and

based on the input, adjust an operating parameter associated with the digital pen.

5. The base station of claim 1, further comprising a palette module that comprises:

a display screen coupled to an outer surface of the sidewall, the display screen configured to present a display image;

one or more sensors positioned about the display screen, the sensors configured to detect a pressure applied to the display screen, wherein, based on the pressure applied to the display screen, the palette module is configured to;

identify one or more operations associated with the detected pressure; and

perform the operations.

6. The base station of claim 1, further comprising a palette module that comprises:

a projector configured to project a display image onto a surface; and

one or more sensors configured to detect a location of an object positioned on the surface, wherein, based on the location of the object, the palette module is configured to;

identify one or more operations associated with the detected location; and

perform the operations.

7. The base station of claim 1, further comprising a communication module that comprises:

one or more microphones coupled to the sidewall, the microphones configured to detect audio input; and

one or more speakers coupled to the sidewall, the speakers configured to project audio output.

8. The base station of claim 1, further comprising a communication module that comprises:

one or more cameras coupled to the sidewall, the cameras configured to detect video input; and

one or more display screens coupled to the sidewall, the display screens configured to present video output.

9. A computer-implemented method for managing an operation of a peripheral device, the method comprising executing on one or more computing devices the operations of:

determining whether the peripheral device is positioned within a cavity at least partially defined by a sidewall;

upon determining that the peripheral device is positioned within the cavity, transmitting energy towards the cavity to charge the peripheral device;

determining whether the peripheral device is associated with a user account; and

upon determining that the peripheral device is associated with the user account, identifying one or more user settings associated with the user account, and associating the peripheral device with the user settings such that the peripheral device is configured to operate in accordance with the user settings.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein determining whether the peripheral device is positioned within the cavity comprises:

determining that each peripheral device positioned within the cavity is fully charged; and

ceasing transmission of energy towards the cavity.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving input from the peripheral device; and

based on the input, authenticating a user associated with the peripheral device.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving input from the peripheral device; and

based on the input, editing the user account to include at least some information associated with the input.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving input from the peripheral device; and

based on the input, adjusting an operating parameter associated with the peripheral device.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

presenting, at a display screen, a display image;

detecting pressure applied to the display screen;

identifying one or more operations associated with the detected pressure; and

performing the operations.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

projecting, onto a surface remote from the sidewall, a display image;

detecting a location of an object positioned on the surface;

identifying one or more operations associated with the detected location; and

performing the operations.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

detecting, at a communication module, local audiovisual content;

based on the local audiovisual content, generating a first signal for transmission to a remote device;

receiving, from the remote device, a second signal; and

based on the second signal, presenting, at the communication module, remote audiovisual content.

17. A system comprising:

a digital pen;

a first user device configured to interact with the digital pen; and

a second user device comprising;

a sidewall at least partially defining a cavity, the cavity sized to retain the digital pen therein,

a charge module configured to transmit energy towards the cavity such that, when the digital pen is positioned within the cavity, the charge module charges the digital pen through induction; and

an authentication module configured to;

determine whether the digital pen is associated with a user account; and

upon determining that the digital pen is associated with the user account, identify one or more user settings associated with the user account, and associate the digital pen with the user settings such that the digital pen is configured to interact with the first user device and the second user device in accordance with the user settings.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the authentication module is configured to couple the first user device to the second user device.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the second user device comprises a palette module configured to receive input associated with one or more operations, and, based on the received input, perform the operations.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the second user device comprises a communication module configured to:

detect local audiovisual content;

based on the local audiovisual content, generate a first signal for transmission to a remote device;

receive, from the remote device, a second signal; and

based on the second signal, present remote audiovisual content.