Writing instrument with display module

• US 6,943,670 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2002
• Issued: 09/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: National Pen Co. LLC (Cimpress Plc)
• Original Assignee: TLCD LLC
• Inventors: Lupfer, Thomas H., Liguori, Thomas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Previl, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US10/279,236
• Publication Number:
  US 20040080400A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,055 Days
• Field of Search: 340/321, 340/815.4, 340/815.49, 340/815.53, 340/331, 340/568.1, 340/686.1, 340/689, 340/669, 340/670, 340/671, 340/691.6, 340/691.1, 340/815.04, 340/815.45, 362/559, 362/561, 362/579, 345/179, 345/126, 345/156, 178/18.01, 178/19.05, 178/19.04, 178/19.01
• US Class Current: 340/321
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 29/007 with advertising means
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 29/08 with measuring, computing or indicating devices

Abstract

A writing instrument including an integrated display module. The display module is used to provide a presentation to a user or consumer. The presentation can be in the form of scrolling text, a still image, a flashing image, an image that fades in and out of view or a movie. The presentation can be an advertisement, for entertainment or informative in nature.

Claims

1. A writing instrument comprising:

a housing;

an LCD display module joined to the housing;

an electrically operated storage device;

a computer port for accepting an external connection, wherein an external device is coupled to the computer port for downloading a selectively customized presentation from the external device to the writing instrument;

a power supply; and

an actuation switch,

wherein the LCD display module displays the selectively customized presentation that is programmed and stored in the electrically operated storage device, and the presentation is displayed in response to triggering of the actuation switch.

2. The writing instrument of claim 1 wherein the semiconductor chip is connected to a flexible printed circuit board.

3. The writing instrument of claim 1, wherein the power supply is comprised of a solar cell.

4. The writing instrument of claim 3, wherein the housing comprises a chamber, and wherein the storage device, display module and solar cell are arranged in the chamber.

5. The writing instrument of claim 1, wherein the presentation is provided in the form of an image automatically scrolling across the LCD display module, the scrolling image being viewable by a user when the writing instrument is stationary.

6. The writing instrument of claim 1, wherein the presentation is provided in the form of a flashing image.

7. The writing instrument of claim 1, wherein the presentation is provided in the form of a non-moving image that fades in and out of view.

8. The writing instrument of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a chamber, and wherein the storage device and display module are arranged in the chamber.

9. The writing instrument of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a chamber, and wherein the storage device, display module and power supply are arranged in the chamber.

10. The writing instrument of claim 1, wherein the actuation switch is triggered by movement.

11. The writing instrument of claim 1, wherein the actuation switch is triggered by propelling or repelling an ink cartridge within the writing instrument.

12. The writing instrument of claim 1, wherein the external source is a computer.

13. The writing instrument according to claim 1, wherein the writing instrument is a pen.

14. The writing instrument according to claim 1, wherein the computer port is a Universal Serial Bus (“

USB”

) port.

15. The writing instrument according to claim 1, wherein the computer port is an IEEE 1394 compliant port.

16. The writing instrument according to claim 1, wherein the presentation is in a motion video format.

17. The writing instrument according to claim 1, wherein the storage device is a rewritable nonvolatile memory.

18. A method for displaying a presentation on a writing instrument comprising:

providing a power source;

providing a storage unit coupled to the power source;

providing a computer port for accepting an external connection;

providing an external device coupled to the computer port;

downloading a selectively customized presentation from the external device to the writing instrument;

storing the presentation in the storage unit;

providing an electronic ink display module coupled to the power source and coupled to the storage unit;

providing an actuation member, wherein the actuation member signals the power source to send current to the storage unit and the electronic ink display module when the actuation member is triggered; and

displaying the presentation on the electronic ink display module in response to current supplied to the storage unit by the power source in response to signaling by the actuation member.

19. The writing instrument according to claim 18, wherein the writing instrument is a pen.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein the computer port is a Universal Serial Bus (“

USB”

) port.

21. The method according to claim 18, wherein the computer port is an IEEE 1394 compliant port.

22. The method according to claim 18, wherein the electronic ink display module is housed within a pen.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the presentation is in a motion video format.

24. The method according to claim 18, wherein the storage device is a rewritable nonvolatile memory.