Cordless electronic pen with cartridge

• US 6,064,374 A
• Filed: 11/20/1997
• Issued: 05/16/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Wacom Co Limited (Wacom)
• Original Assignee: Wacom Co Limited (Wacom)
• Inventors: Fukuzaki, Yasuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Shankar, Vijay
• Application Number:
  US08/975,064
• Time in Patent Office: 908 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/145, 345/179, 178/18.01, 178/18.03, 178/18.05, 178/18.06, 178/18.07, 178/19.01, 178/19.03, 178/19.04
• US Class Current: 345/179
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus

Abstract

The present invention increases the information-setting capability of an electronic pen by using exchangeable cartridges, each cartridge having a pre-installed information setting. The wiring of each cartridge is differentiated to designate information such as, for example, color or line width. The cartridge attributes may specify the stored information such as, for example, color. A cartridge may include a password or other specific ID of an individual. Both mechanical contact points and non-mechanical contact points can be used to actualize a cartridge. In addition, a rechargeable battery can be placed inside a cartridge, and the battery may be recharged using a battery recharging device. Information may be written and rewritten to a memory storage device inside a cartridge by connecting the cartridge to a separate writing device.

Claims

1. A position pointing device for use with a position detecting device, comprising:

a pen-shaped body; and

a cartridge removably connectable to the pen-shaped body to establish an electronic connection between the cartridge and the pen-shaped body, the cartridge including an information storage structure.

2. A position pointing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the position pointing device is cordless, and the position detecting device detects the position pointing device by electrical induction.

3. A position pointing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the information storage structure comprises a printed circuit card having a wiring pattern corresponding to the stored information.

4. A position pointing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cartridge and the pen-shaped body are electrically connected.

5. A position pointing device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the electrical connection does not include a physical connection.

6. A position pointing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the information storage structure stores information identifying a color.

7. A position pointing device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the color of the cartridge matches the color identified by the information.

8. A position pointing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the information storage structure stores a security code.

9. A position pointing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the information storage structure stores information identifying a line width.

10. A position pointing device for use with a position detecting device, comprising:

a pen-shaped body; and

a cartridge removably connectable to the pen-shaped body to establish an electronic connection between the cartridge and the pen-shaped body, the cartridge including a power storage structure.

11. A position pointing device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the position pointing device is cordless, and the position detecting device detects the position pointing device by electrical induction.

12. A position pointing device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the power storage structure comprises a rechargeable battery.

13. A position pointing device for use with a position detecting device, comprising:

a pen-shaped body; and

a cartridge removably connectable to the pen-shaped body to establish an electronic connection between the cartridge and the pen-shaped body, the cartridge including a memory.

14. A position pointing device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the position pointing device is cordless, and the position detecting device detects the position pointing device by electrical induction.

15. A position pointing device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the memory is rewriteable.

16. A position pointing device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the memory comprises an EEPROM.

17. A position pointing device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the memory comprises a flash memory.

18. A position pointing device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the cartridge and the pen-shaped body are electrically connected.

19. A position pointing device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the electrical connection does not include a physical connection.

20. A position pointing device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the information storage structure stores information identifying a color.

21. A position pointing device as claimed in claim 20, wherein the color of the cartridge matches the color identified by the information.

22. A position pointing device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the information storage structure stores a security code.

23. A position pointing device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the information storage structure stores information identifying a line width.