Systems for processing information and identifying individual

• US 5,612,720 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 03/18/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Koreeda, Hiroyuki, Inoue, Yoshiisa, Nakajima, Akira, Ito, Jun, Kumai, Hiroyuki, Matsuda, Yasumasa, Oheda, Shigeto
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mengistu, Amare
• Application Number:
  US08/480,381
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 345/179, 345/180, 345/173, 345/211, 178/18, 178/19, 382/187, 382/189
• US Class Current: 345/179
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/83 input devices, e.g. keyboards, mice or controllers thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/1423 the instrument generating sequences of position coordinates corresponding to handwriting preprocessing or recognising digital ink G06V30/32
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/373 using a special pattern or subpattern alphabet

Abstract

A system for processing information with an electronic pen includes a coordinates indicating device and a coordinates sensing device. Both of the devices serves to output the information stored in itself to each other and store the information outputted from the other. The power supply for driving the information processing system itself is fed by a battery built in the coordinates indicating device.

Claims

1. An information processing system arranged to have a coordinates indicating device and a main unit of said information processing system having a coordinates sensing means for sensing a coordinates indicated by said coordinates indicating device, processing means for doing a process based on the sensed result of said coordinates sensing means and display means for displaying the processed result of said processing means, wherein said coordinates indicating device has a battery for driving at least said main unit, and includes a cord through which an electric power is supplied from said battery to said main unit.

2. An information processing system according to claim 1, wherein said coordinates detecting means and said display means are formed in one body.

3. An information processing system according to claim 1, wherein said coordinates indicating device includes voltage sensing means for sensing whether or not the voltage of said electric power fed from said coordinates indicating device is an operative voltage of the main body of said information processing system, and state switching means for switching the function of the main unit of said system to an operative state when said voltage sensing means senses that the voltage of the fed power is an operative voltage of the main unit of said system or stopping the function of the main unit of said system when said voltage sensing means senses that the voltage of the fed power is an inoperative voltage of the main unit of said system.

4. An information processing system according to claim 1, further comprising:

processing means for executing a function of the main unit of said system;

storage means for storing information;

voltage sensing means for sensing whether or not the voltage of power fed from said coordinate indicating device stays in the range of an operative voltage for said processing means;

power cut-off means for feeding power from said coordinates indicating device to said processing means and said storage means when said voltage sensing means senses that the voltage of said fed power stays in the range of an operative voltage for said processing means or cutting off power fed from said coordinates indicating device to said processing means and said storage means when said voltage sensing means senses that the voltage of said fed power is an inoperative voltage of said information processing system;

state switching means for switching the state of said processing means to an operative state when said voltage sensing means senses that the voltage of said fed power stays in the range of an operative voltage for said processing means or stopping the operation of said processing means and storing the content of the operation immediately before the operation of said processing means is stopped in said storage means; and

a storage-holding battery for feeding power to said storage means if power from said coordinates indicating means is interrupted.

5. An information processing system according to claim 1, wherein said electronic pen further has a display unit for indicating residual power of said battery.

6. An information processing system including an electronic pen and a main unit of said information processing system having a tablet for detecting coordinates and/or locus indicated by said electronic pen, processing means for doing a predetermined process on the basis of said coordinates and/or locus detected by said tablet and display means for displaying the processed result of said processing means, wherein said electronic pen has a battery for driving at least said main unit, and is capable of electrically connecting to said main unit via a cord for supplying an electric power from said battery to said main unit.

7. An information processing system according to claim 6, wherein said tablet also has the function of said display means.

8. An information processing system according to claim 6, wherein said electronic pen further has a display unit for indicating residual power of said battery.

9. An information processing system including an electronic pen and a main unit of said information processing system having a tablet for detecting coordinates and/or locus indicated by said electronic pen, processing means for doing a predetermined process on the basis of said coordinates and/or locus detected by said tablet and display means for displaying the processed result of said processing means, wherein said electronic pen contains a battery for driving said main unit and has a display unit for indicating residual power of said battery, and is capable of electrically connecting to said main unit via a cord for supplying an electric power from said battery to said main unit, said main unit is supplied with the electric power from said battery contained in said electric pen via said cord, and said main unit further includes a power control unit which controls at least operation of said processing means by using the electric power supplied from said battery contained in said electronic pen.

10. An information processing system including an electronic pen and a main unit of said information processing system having a tablet for detecting coordinates and/or locus indicated by said electric pen, processing means for doing a predetermined process on the basis of said coordinates and/or locus detected by said tablet and display means for displaying a processed result of said processing means, wherein said electronic pen includes rewritable memory means for storing a proper information concerning a user of said electronic pen and information concerning the processed result of said processing means transmitted from said main unit to the electronic pen and output means for outputting said proper information stored in said memory means to said main unit, said processing means doing said predetermined process in accordance with said proper information outputted from said output means.

11. An information processing system according to claim 10, wherein said electronic pen provides a battery built therein, and further comprising power control means for operating a function of a main unit of said system with power being fed from said battery, and a connecting code for electrically connecting said electronic pen with the main unit of said system in a manner to feed power from said battery provided inside of said electronic pen to said power control means provided in the main unit of said system.

12. An information processing system according to claim 11, wherein said coordinates indicating device includes first voltage means for sensing an electric potential of aid battery and voltage display means for displaying a voltage sensed by said first voltage sensing means.

13. An information processing system according to claim 11, wherein said electronic pen includes second voltage sensing means for sensing whether or not the voltage of said electric power fed from said electronic pen is an operative voltage of the main body of said information processing system, and state switching means for switching the function of the main unit of said system to an operative state when said second voltage sensing means senses that the voltage of the fed power is an operative voltage of the main unit of said system or stopping the function of the main unit of said system when said second voltage sensing means senses that the voltage of the fed power is an inoperative voltage of the main unit of said system.

14. An information processing system according to claim 11, further comprising:

processing means for executing a function of the main unit of said system;

storage means for storing information;

second voltage sensing means for sensing whether or not the voltage of power fed from said coordinate indicating device stays in the range of an operative voltage for said processing means;

power cut-off means for feeding power from said coordinates indicating device to said processing means and said storage means when said second voltage sensing means senses that the voltage of said fed power stays in the range of an operative voltage for said processing means or cutting off power fed from said coordinates indicating device to said processing means and said storage means when said second voltage sensing means senses that the voltage of said fed power is an inoperative voltage of said information processing system;

state switching means for switching the state of said processing means to an operative state when said second voltage sensing means senses that the voltage of said fed power stays in the range of an operative voltage for said processing means or stopping the operation of said processing means and storing the content of the operation immediately before the operation of said processing means is stopped in said storage means; and

a storage-holding battery for feeding power to said storage means if power from said coordinates indicating means is interrupted.

15. An information processing system according to claim 11, wherein said coordinates indicating device provides an opening formed for plugging said battery in or out of the inside of said device and a removable cap on said opening.

16. An information processing system having a tablet for detecting coordinates and/or locus indicated by an electronic pen, processing means for doing a predetermined process on the basis of said coordinates and/or locus detected by said tablet and display means for displaying the processed result of said processing means, comprising:

(a) a cord connecting unit connecting a cord for electrically connecting to said electronic pen and supplied with an electric power from a battery contained in said electronic pen via said cord; and

(b) a power control unit which controls at least operation of said processing means by using the electric power supplied to said cord connecting unit.

17. An electronic pen used for a hand writing input device, for inputting coordinates and/or locus on a tablet of said hand writing input device, wherein said electronic pen has a battery for driving at least said handwriting input device, and said electronic pen includes a cord for supplying electric power from said battery to said hand writing input device.

18. An electronic pen according to claim 17, wherein said coordinates indicating device includes first voltage means for sensing an electric potential of said battery and voltage display means for displaying a voltage sensed by said first voltage sensing means.

19. An electronic pen according to claim 17, wherein said coordinates indicating device provides an opening formed for plugging said battery in or out of the inside of said device and a removable cap on said opening.

20. An electronic pen, used for a hand writing input device, for inputting coordinates and/or locus on a tablet of said hand writing input device, comprising:

at least one rewritable memory means for storing a proper information concerning a user of said electronic pen and/or identification information proper to said electronic pen, said information being transmitted from said handwriting input device to the electronic pen; and

output means for outputting said information stored in said rewritable memory means to said hand writing input device.

21. An information processing system comprising:

a coordinates indicating device and a coordinates sensing device composed of coordinates sensing means for sensing a point of coordinates indicated by said coordinates indicating device, processing means for performing a process based on said sensed result, and display means for displaying the processed result, comprising;

said coordinates indicating device having first storage means for storing information and first output means for outputting information stored in said first storage means;

a coordinates sensing device, which is capable of being coupled with and separated from said coordinates indicating device, having second storage means including a rewritable memory means for storing information containing the processed result and second output means for outputting information stored in said second storage means;

said first storage means of said coordinates indicating device further storing information outputted from said second output means of said coordinates sensing device;

said second storage means of said coordinates sensing device further storing information outputted from said first output means of said coordinates indicating device; and

wherein said processed result is proper information required for indicating an operation done by said coordinates indicating device for each of said coordinates indicating devices, said first output means further outputs the proper information stored in said first storage means, and said processing means performs a process based on the proper information outputted from said first output means.

22. An information processing system according to claim 21, wherein said second storage means further stores common information to the operation to be done by all the coordinates indicating devices and said processing means performs the process based on the proper information outputted from said first output means and said common information stored in said second storage means.

23. An information processing system comprising:

one or more coordinates indicating devices and a coordinates sensing device composed of coordinates sensing means for sensing a coordinates indicated by said coordinates indicating device, processing means for doing a process based on the sensed result, and display means for displaying the processed result;

said coordinates indicating device, which is capable of being coupled with and separated from said coordinates sensing device, having first storage means for storing a device identifier given to said coordinates indicating device and first output means for outputting the device identifier stored in said first storage means;

said coordinates sensing device having second storage means for storing a combination of said device identifier outputted from said first output means and a processed result obtained by said processing means in response to an indication of the coordinates indicating device which outputted said device identifier, and second output means for outputting the device identifier and the processed result stored in said second storage means;

said first storage means including a rewritable memory means for storing the processed result outputted from said second output means in the event that the device identifier outputted from said second output means is equal to the device identifier stored in said first storage means; and

wherein said coordinates indicating device having state sensing means for sensing whether or not said coordinates indicating device is in the coordinates indicating state, said first output means starts to operate at a time when said state sensing means starts to sense that the device is the coordinates indicating state or senses that the device is not the coordinates indicating state, and said second output means starts to operate at a time when said coordinates sensing means starts to sense a point of coordinates.

24. An electronic pen, used for a processing device for processing a handwriting input information for inputting coordinates and/or locus on a surface of said processing device capable of inputting said handwriting information, wherein said electronic pen has a battery for driving said processing device, a display unit for indicating residual power of said battery and a cord for supplying electric power from said battery to said processing device.