Contact sensing device

• US 7,043,096 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2004
• Issued: 05/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Livescribe Incorporated (Anoto Group AB)
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia, Lapstun, Paul, Walmsley, Simon Robert, King, Tobin Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): Dang, Duy M.
• Application Number:
  US10/965,751
• Publication Number:
  US 20050067495A1
• Time in Patent Office: 568 Days
• Field of Search: 382312-317, 358/1.18, 358/1.15, 358473-474, 358/478, 345/169, 345/179
• US Class Current: 382/313
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 13/103 for the sheet feeding section
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 13/106 for the sheet output section
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17503 Ink cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1752 Mounting within the printer
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17523 Ink connection
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17546 electronically
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17553 Outer structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17556 Means for regulating the pressure in the cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17563 Ink filters
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/2114 Ejecting specialized liquids, e.g. transparent or processing liquids B41J2/211 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B42C 19/02 starting with single sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B42C 9/0006 by applying adhesive to a stack of sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B42C 9/0081 applying adhesive to individual sheets for binding them together by fusing, welding B42C9/0093
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 29/34 from supports slid from under the articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 37/04 for securing together articles or webs, e.g. by adhesive, stitching or stapling adhering replacement to expiring web during change of web roll B65H19/18
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0321 by optically sensing the absolute position with respect to a regularly patterned surface forming a passive digitiser, e.g. pen optically detecting position indicative tags printed on a paper sheet constructional details of pen-shaped pointing devices G06F3/03545, G06F3/03542, G06F3/037
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/10 Character recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/142 : using hand-held instruments; Constructional details of the instruments
• 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 30/1426 : by sensing position defining codes on a support
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/1444 : Selective acquisition, locating or processing of specific regions, e.g. highlighted text, fiducial marks or predetermined fields
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/1448 : based on markings or identifiers characterising the document or the area
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 : Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 : with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 : with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00326 : with a data reading, recognizing or recording apparatus, e.g. with a bar-code apparatus arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus G11B31/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00358 : Type of the scanned marks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00376 : Means for identifying a mark sheet or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00567 : Handling of original or reproduction media, e.g. cutting, separating, stacking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00968 : by scanning marks on a sheet mark-sheet input means H04N1/00355; sensing record carriers G06K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32101 : Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32122 : in a separate device, e.g. in a memory or on a display separate from image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32128 : attached to the image data, e.g. file header, transmitted message header, information on the same page or in the same computer file as the image for information embedded in the image H04N1/32144
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32771 : in response to a request, e.g. for a particular document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32778 : using a mark-sheet or machine-readable code request
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 : Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3243 : of type information, e.g. handwritten or text document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3269 : of machine readable codes or marks, e.g. bar codes or glyphs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/327 : which are undetectable to the naked eye, e.g. embedded codes

Abstract

A contact sensing device is provided. The sensing device comprises a housing having a nib and a position sensor mounted in the housing. The position sensor generates position data when the nib is positioned in contact with a surface having coded data disposed thereon, the coded data being indicative of a plurality of locations within the region and the position data being indicative of the position of the nib relative to the region. The position sensor comprises imaging optics, an image sensor, and a processor. The position sensor is configured to generate the position data by: (a) capturing, using the image sensor and via the imaging optics, an image of coded data in the vicinity of the nib; (b) determining, using the processor and from the image, data indicative of a rotation and a position of the region relative to the imaging optics; (c) determining, using the processor and from the data and a known relationship between the imaging optics and the nib, the position of the nib relative to the region; and (d) generating, using the processor and from the position of the nib, the position data.

Claims

1. A sensing device comprising:

a housing having a nib; and

a position sensor, mounted in the housing, for generating position data when the nib is positioned in contact with a surface having coded data disposed therein or thereon, the coded data being indicative of a plurality of locations within a region and the position data being indicative of the position of the nib relative to the region, the position sensor comprising;

imaging optics;

an image sensor; and

a processor,

wherein the position sensor is configured to generate the position data by;

capturing, using the image sensor and via the imaging optics, at least one image of at least some of the coded data in the vicinity of the nib;

determining, using the processor and from at least the at least one image, data indicative of a rotation and position of the region relative to the imaging optics;

determining, using the processor and from the data and a known relationship between the imaging optics and the nib, the position of the nib relative to the region; and

generating, using the processor and from the position of the nib, the position data.

2. The sensing device of claim 1, wherein the position data is further indicative of a rotation of the sensing device.

3. The sensing device of claim 1 further comprising a timing device, the position data being further indicative of a date and dine of position capture.

4. The sensing device of claim 1, wherein the coded data is further indicative of an identity of the region and the position data is further indicative of the identity of the region.

5. The sensing device of claim 4 further comprising a memory for storing the position data prior to transmission.

6. The sensing device of claim 3 further comprising a transmitter for transmitting the position data to a computer system.

7. The sensing device of claim 6, wherein the transmitter is a radio.

8. The sensing device of claim 1, wherein the nib is a marking nib.

9. The sensing device of claim 1, wherein the nib is coupled to a contact switch for sensing contact with the surface.

10. The sensing device of claim 1, wherein activation of the contact switch triggers capture of the at least one image and generation of the position data.

11. The sensing device of claim 1, wherein the nib is coupled to a force sensor for sensing a force exerted by the nib on the surface.

12. The sensing device of claim 11, wherein the position data is further indicative of the nib force.

13. The sensing device of claim 1, wherein the coded data includes a plurality of target structures and wherein the processor:

detects the target structures within the at least one image; and

uses the detected target structures to determine data indicative of at least one of a rotation and position of the region of the region relative to the imaging optics.

14. The sensing device of claim 13, wherein the coded data includes a plurality of target ring structures and wherein the processor:

detects the target ring structure in the at least one image; and

uses the target ring structure to determine a position of the region relative to the imaging optics.

15. The sensing device of claim 13, wherein the coded data includes a plurality of perspective target structures and wherein the processor:

detects the perspective target structures in the at least one image; and

uses the perspective target structures to determine an orientation of the region relative to the imaging optics.