Universal pen with image sensor

• US 7,168,867 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2004
• Issued: 01/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Lapstun, Paul, Silverbrook, Kia, King, Tobin Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAU, MINH H
• Application Number:
  US10/962,400
• Publication Number:
  US 20050079004A1
• Time in Patent Office: 839 Days
• Field of Search: 400 61- 63, 400/70, 400/76, 400/88, 401/195, 401/28, 401/45, 178 1801- 19, 345/179, 235376-494, 347 14- 19, 347/107, 347/109
• US Class Current: 400/62
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 13/106 for the sheet output section
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17503 Ink cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17553 Outer structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/2114 Ejecting transparent or white coloured liquids, e.g. processing liquids B41J2/211 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/36 for portability , i.e. hand-held printers or laptop printers B41J3/4075 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B42C 9/0081 applying adhesive to individual sheets for binding them together by fusing, welding B42C9/0093
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 23/008 Holders comprising finger grips B43K23/004, B43K23/012 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 29/08 with measuring, computing or indicating devices
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 8/003 Pen barrels
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 8/006 using a spraying system, e.g. airbrushes
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 8/22 with electrically or magnetically activated writing-points
• 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: 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 1/00358 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 1/0461 part of the apparatus being used in common for reading and reproducing simultaneous scanning of the original picture and the reproduced picture with a common scanning device H04N1/207
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/047 : Detection, control or error compensation of scanning velocity or position H04N1/0402 and H04N1/17 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/107 : with manual scanning
• 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 1/32128 : 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 2201/04717 : on the scanned sheet, e.g. a reference sheet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 : of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3207 : of an address
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3226 : of identification information or the like, e.g. ID code, index, title, part of an image, reduced-size image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3242 : of processing required or performed, e.g. for reproduction or before recording H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3271 : Printing or stamping
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3278 : Transmission

Abstract

A pen with a sensor is capable of marking a visible path on a surface, and effecting a change in an attribute of the visual path. The change is derived to a color or image sensed by the sensor.

Claims

1. A pen for marking a visible path on a surface, the pen comprising:

a marking device adapted to change one or more attributes of the visible path;

a sensing device sensing images, colors or both; and

,

control means linked to the sensing device and the marking device;

such that,

the changes to the or each attribute are derived from colors or images sensed by the sensing device.

2. A pen according to claim 1 further comprising a user interface such that a user can change the at least one attribute.

3. A pen according to claim 2 wherein the user interface has one or more user interface mechanisms, wherein the or each mechanism is selected from the group comprising a slider, a control button, a slider and at least one other control button.

4. A pen according to claim 3 wherein the visual path has a plurality of attributes and at least one is attribute is derived from the user interface mechanisms and at least one other attribute is derived from an image or color sensed by the sensing device.

5. A pen according to claim 2 wherein the user interface has a display for displaying information relating to the or each attribute.

6. A pen according to claim 1 further comprising a memory for storing at least one pre-defined attribute of the visible path.

7. A pen according to claim 6 wherein the memory stores a plurality of pre-defined attributes and the user interface is operable to cycle through the pre-defined attributes.

8. A pen according to claim 7 wherein the pre-defined attributes are cycled by sequentially displaying information on a display.

9. A pen according to claim 1 wherein the sensing device is capable of sensing images including coded data relating to the or each attribute of the visible path.

10. A pen according to claim 1 wherein the sensing device is located adjacent the marking device.

11. A pen according to claim 1 wherein the sensing device is located at one end of the pen and the marking device is located at the other end of the pen.

12. A pen according to claim 1 wherein the sensing device activates when it is pushed against a surface.

13. A pen according to claim 1 further comprising a position sensing device or a motion sensing device or both and the or each attribute is dependent on the position of the pen, the speed of the pen or both.

14. A pen according to claim 1 wherein the at least one attribute includes marking or not marking.