Autonomous computer input device and marking instrument

• US 5,247,137 A
• Filed: 10/25/1991
• Issued: 09/21/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jacqueline C. Epperson
• Original Assignee: Mark Epperson
• Inventors: Epperson, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): LOOMIS, PAUL A
• Application Number:
  US07/782,615
• Time in Patent Office: 697 Days
• Field of Search: 178/18, 178/19, 178/87
• US Class Current: 178/19.04
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus

Abstract

An autonomous input device which enables the user to capture and store handwritten text and graphics in a precisely controllable manner for subsequent transmission to a computer in a computer readable format. This input device may look and feel like an ordinary writing pen and can function as a writing instrument while it captures that which is written with it. Further, this pen input device has the capability of sensing the absolute location of the pen tip, as opposed to other input devices such as computer mice, which sense relative locations only.

Claims

1. An autonomous input device for a computer, comprising:

(a) an independent stylus suitable for grasping with the fingers;

(b) movement sensing means disposed on said independent stylus for sensing the magnitude and direction of movement of said independent stylus and for generating signals representative of sensed movement; and

(c) processing means disposed on said independent stylus for processing said signals into a computer usable format to provide a computer traceable image of the movement of said independent stylus relative to a predetermined starting point.

2. The autonomous input device of claim 1, further including transmission means for transmitting said computer usable format processed signals.

3. The autonomous input device of claim 2, further including memory means for storing said computer usable format processed signals.

4. The autonomous input device of claim 2, further including a receiving base station wherein the transmission means further includes a connector means for hard wire connection of the base station to the computer.

5. The autonomous input device of claim 2 wherein the transmission means includes a radio transmitter for broadcasting the computer usable formatted signals for reception by the base station.

6. The autonomous input device of claim 2 wherein the transmission means includes a computer recognition means for recognizing when the base station is within broadcast range and for then automatically broadcasting the computer usable formatted signals for reception by the computer.

7. The autonomous input device of claim 2 further including a marking means disposed on the stylus for leaving a mark on a writing surface.

8. The autonomous input device of claim 7 wherein the marking means includes a pen tip and an ink reservoir disposed on the stylus.

9. The autonomous input device of claim 2 wherein the movement sensing means further includes first direction movement sensing means, second direction movement sensing means and third direction movement sensing means disposed on the stylus.

said first movement sensing means disposed on said stylus in a first predetermined direction and generating a first signal representative of movement of said stylus in said first predetermined direction,

said second movement sensing means disposed on said stylus in a second predetermined direction and generating a second signal representative of movement of said stylus in said second predetermined direction, and

said third movement sensing means disposed on said stylus in a third predetermined direction and generating a third signal representative of movement of said stylus in said third predetermined direction.

10. The autonomous input device of claim 9 wherein said first, second and third movement sensing means are first, second and third accelerometers, respectively, and said first, second and third signals are electrical signals.

11. The autonomous device of claim 9 wherein said second predetermined direction is perpendicular to said first predetermined direction and said third predetermined direction is perpendicular to both said first and second predetermined directions.

12. The autonomous input device of claim 9 further including a marking means disposed on the stylus for leaving a mark on a writing surface.

13. The autonomous input device of claim 11 wherein said independent stylus has first and second ends and wherein the marking means and the first, second and third accelerometers are located at the same end.

14. The autonomous input device of claim 11 wherein the stylus has first and second opposite ends and wherein the marking means is located at the first end of the stylus and the first, second and third accelerometers are located on a portion of the stylus that ranges from 70% of the distance from the first end to the second end of the stylus.

15. The autonomous input device of claim 14 wherein the first, second and third accelerometers are located at the second end of the stylus.

16. The autonomous input device of claim 9 wherein the processing means includes a signal elimination means for eliminating one of the first, second or third signals to provide the reduction of spherical movement of the stylus to a planer computer traceable record of the movement of said independent stylus relative to a predetermined starting point.