Method for sensing the orientation of an object

• US 7,187,370 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2004
• Issued: 03/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Lapstun, Paul, Silverbrook, Kia
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): ABDULSELAM, ABBAS I
• Application Number:
  US10/948,157
• Publication Number:
  US 20050088419A1
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• Field of Search: 345/158, 345/166, 345/179, 345/175, 345/173, 178/18.01, 178/18.09, 178/19.05, 178/18.03, 178/19.01
• US Class Current: 345/179
• 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: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/12 Details of acquisition arrangements; Constructional details thereof
• 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: G08C 21/00 Systems for transmitting the position of an object with respect to a predetermined reference system, e.g. tele-autographic system

Abstract

A sensing device for generating orientation data when positioned or moved relative to a surface, the orientation data being indicative of an orientation of the sensing device relative to the surface, the surface having coded data disposed upon it, the coded data being indicative, when sensed by the sensing device, of the orientation, the sensing device including: a housing; orientation sensing means configured to generate the orientation data using at least some of the coded data; and communications means configured to communicate the orientation data to a computer system.

Claims

1. A sensing device for generating orientation data and region identity data when the device is positioned or moved relative to a region of a surface having coded data disposed thereon, the coded data being indicative of an orientation and of an identity of the region, the sensing device comprising:

a housing;

a sensor located in the housing, the sensor being configured to sense at least some of the coded data within the region;

a processor located in the housing, the processor being configured to;

generate, using at least some of the sensed coded data, orientation data indicative of three dimensions of a rotational orientation of the sensing device relative to the surface, and

generate, using at least some of the sensed coded data, region identity data indicative of the region; and

a transmitter located in the housing, the transmitter being configured to communicate the orientation data and the region identity data to a computer system.

2. A sensing device, according to claim 1, the device further comprising memory, located in the housing, the memory being configured to store a sensing device identifier which distinguishes the sensing device from other sensing devices of the same type.

3. A sensing device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to generate, using at least some of the sensed coded data, movement data when the sensing device is moved relative to the surface, the transmitter being configured to communicate the movement data to the computer system.

4. A sensing device according to claim 3, further comprising a timer, located in the housing, the timer being configured to generate a time reference as the sensing device is moved relative to the surface region.

5. A sensing device according to claim 4, wherein the transmitter is configured to communicate time reference data to the computer system, the time reference data being indicative of the time reference of the movement data as generated by the timer.

6. A sensing device according to claim 1, wherein the coded data is also indicative of a plurality of reference points of the region, each reference point being a two-dimensional co-ordinate position on the surface, the processor being configured to generate, using at least some of the sensed coded data, position data on the basis of a position of the sensing device relative to at least one of the reference points.

7. A sensing device according to claim 6, wherein the coded data includes periodic elements, the periodic elements being substantially identical marks within the coded data which assist the sensing device in locating the coded data.

8. A sensing device according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter is a wireless transmitter.

9. A sensing device according to claim 1, further comprising a force sensor, located in the housing, the force sensor being configured to sense a force applied to the surface by the sensing device.

10. A sensing device according to claim 9, wherein the transmitter is configured to communicate force data to the computer system, the force data being indicative of the force.

11. A sensing device according to claim 9, further comprising a stroke detector, located in the housing, the stroke detector being configured to detect, by way of the force, when the sensing device is applied to the surface and removed from the surface, thereby to identify the duration of a stroke.

12. A sensing device according to claim 1, wherein the orientation sensor is configured to infer the orientation from perspective distortion of at least some of the coded data.