Method and an apparatus for electronically creating art

• US 6,603,463 B1
• Filed: 11/06/2000
• Issued: 08/05/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Rising, Hawley K. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Saras, Steven
• Assistant Examiner(s): ENGLISH, ALECIA DIANE
• Application Number:
  US09/707,669
• Time in Patent Office: 1,002 Days
• Field of Search: 345/179, 345/156, 178/18
• US Class Current: 345/179
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

The invention relates to a brush comprising a plurality of bristles and each bristle comprises a plurality of fibers. A palette of virtual paint is provided for the brush to contact at least one paint. The brush contacts the tablet and applies paint to the surface of the tablet or image that is created.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a plurality of fibers, each fiber having a first end and a second end;

the second end of each fiber configured to be illuminated with light;

the plurality of fibers coupled together at the first end of each fiber to form at least one bristle of a plurality of bristles, wherein straining the fibers of a bristle causes a signal to be emitted; and

the plurality of bristles secured to a bristle holder.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of fibers are glass fibers.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein each fiber of the plurality of fibers are different lengths.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first ends of the plurality of fibers are coated with a conductive material.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the conductive material is metal.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the fibers are strained by the fibers placed against a tablet producing a charge.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein a voltage difference exists between a first fiber having a first length and a second fiber having a second length.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein signals emitted from a bristle are amplified and transmitted to program instructions executed by a processor of a computer system.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the computer system determines which bristles are spreading near a top surface of the tablet.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the program instructions executed on a processor perform diffusion of more than one color.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein

the bristles are placed into a color map to load one of a color, pattern, and an image.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a brush including the plurality of bristles, wherein;

the brush contacts least one electronic paint located on one of a palette and a tablet.

13. A method comprising:

coupling a plurality of bristles, each bristle comprising a plurality of fibers and configured to emit signals as a result of straining the fibers;

emitting at least one signal from at least one bristle that is bent against a tablet; and

applying electronic paint to a surface of the tablet.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

determining diffusion from a plurality of bristles.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the diffusion is one of color diffusion and image diffusion.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the fibers are glass fibers.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

securing a plurality of fibers together at a first end of each fiber.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

coating with a conductive material the first ends of the plurality of fibers.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

determining a point on the bristle at which at least two fibers are bent by the tablet, wherein a voltage difference exists between a first fiber within a close proximity of a second fiber.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein signals emitted from a bristle are amplified and transmitted to program instructions executed by a processor of a computer system.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the computer system determines which bristles are spreading near a top surface of the tablet.

22. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

providing a brush comprising the plurality of bristles; and

providing a palette of electronic paint;

wherein

contacting the brush with at least one electronic paint; and

contacting a tablet with the electronic paint on the brush applies the electronic paint to a portion of a surface of the tablet.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

determining diffusion of the electronic paint from combining at least two different paints.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the electronic paint includes one of color, pattern, image, and design.

25. An article comprising:

a storage medium including instructions stored thereon which when executed cause a computer system to perform a method including;

determining a type of virtual paint on a brush, the brush comprising a plurality of bristles wherein each bristle comprises a plurality of fibers and wherein straining the fibers of a bristle causes a signal to be emitted; and

applying virtual paint to a tablet when the brush is stroked against the tablet.

26. The article of claim 25, the method further comprising:

determining color diffusion from a plurality of bristles.

27. The article of claim 25, wherein the fibers are glass fibers.

28. The article of claim 25, wherein each fiber has a first end and a second end, the plurality of fibers secured together at the first end of the fibers.

29. The article of claim 25, wherein the method further comprises:

removing virtual paint from one of the brush and a container for cleaning the virtual paint from the brush.

30. The article of claim 25, wherein the first ends of the plurality of fibers are coated with a conductive material.

31. The article of claim 30, wherein the conductive material is metal.

32. The article of claim 25, wherein a voltage difference exists between a first fiber having a first length and a second fiber having a second length.

33. The article of claim 25, wherein signals emitted from a bristle are amplified and transmitted to program instructions executed by a processor.

34. The article of claim 25, wherein the computer system determines which bristles are spreading near a top surface of the tablet.

35. A computer system comprising:

a processor coupled to a memory, a brush, a palette of electronic paint, and a tablet;

a brush having a plurality of bristles coupled to the processor, each bristle comprising a plurality of fibers and configured to emit signals as a result of straining the fibers;

a palette of electronic paint coupled to the processor;

a tablet coupled to the processor;

an interconnect coupled to the processor and the brush that allows signals to be transmitted between the processor and the brush; and

an interconnect coupled to the processor and the memory to allow data to be transported between the memory and the processor.

36. The computer system of claim 35, wherein the plurality of bristles bend, the bend in the plurality of bristles creates diffusion.

37. The computer system of claim 36, wherein the diffusion is one of color diffusion and image diffusion.

38. The computer system of claim 35, wherein the processor causes the electronic paint is removed from the brush.