Code-based, electromagnetic-field-responsive graphic data-acquisition system
First Claim
1. A writing path tracking system comprising:
- a flat board having an erasable writing surface;
a writing implement including a pigment supply in communication with a tip capable of contact-initiated removable pigment deposit on the writing surface, and a light reflective, character-indicative, code pattern disposed on a surface of the implement;
a scanning light-beam-source disposed adjacent the writing surface and operable to generate a defined pattern of scanned light in a scanning zone, spaced closely and generally parallel to the writing surface so that the code pattern of the implement is located in the scanning zone when the tip of the implement is contacting the writing surface;
light-reflection monitoring structure positioned adjacent the writing surface and capable of receiving light reflectance signals from the code pattern and converting the signals into an analog data stream indicative of implement position and character;
a processor communicatively connected to the monitoring structure and capable of receiving, digitizing and interpreting the data stream, then displaying at a location remote from the board, an image-reproduction corresponding to an actual written image on the board.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electromagnetic-field-responsive (preferably optical), code-based, graphic data-acquisition system for tracking the operational status of a mobile write-effective component (stylus, eraser, etc.) in relation to a defined writing-surface area. The preferred embodiment features an active optical structure which is disposed adjacent the writing-surface area for creating, by scanning, a defined zone of optical radiation, optically reactive, retroreflective code structure which is joined to the mobile component and which is capable of reacting (reflecting the same) to radiation within the zone when the code structure intersects the zone, a reaction monitoring structure for monitoring the reaction behavior of the code structure and for producing a related response, and interpretation structure which acquires that response and determines therefrom the desired operational-status-tracking information. Modification to this preferred structure are also illustrated and discussed.
113 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A writing path tracking system comprising:
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a flat board having an erasable writing surface; a writing implement including a pigment supply in communication with a tip capable of contact-initiated removable pigment deposit on the writing surface, and a light reflective, character-indicative, code pattern disposed on a surface of the implement; a scanning light-beam-source disposed adjacent the writing surface and operable to generate a defined pattern of scanned light in a scanning zone, spaced closely and generally parallel to the writing surface so that the code pattern of the implement is located in the scanning zone when the tip of the implement is contacting the writing surface; light-reflection monitoring structure positioned adjacent the writing surface and capable of receiving light reflectance signals from the code pattern and converting the signals into an analog data stream indicative of implement position and character; a processor communicatively connected to the monitoring structure and capable of receiving, digitizing and interpreting the data stream, then displaying at a location remote from the board, an image-reproduction corresponding to an actual written image on the board. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A writing implement comprising;
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an elongate body having a peripheral surface near a writing tip, and containing a pigment supply accessible to the writing tip; a code pattern disposed on the peripheral surface of the body, wherein the code pattern indicates at least one characteristic of either the pigment or the writing tip; and wherein the code pattern is circumferentially constant so that the code pattern can be interpreted by a scanner-monitoring device to provide the same characteristic information regardless of which side of the implement is exposed to the scanner-monitoring device. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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Specification