Sensing device for sensing a position within a region

• US 7,590,311 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2005
• Issued: 09/15/2009
• 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, Walmsley, Simon Robert, Silverbrook, Kia
• Primary Examiner(s): Dang, Duy M
• Application Number:
  US11/155,556
• Publication Number:
  US 20050232516A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,548 Days
• Field of Search: 382/188, 382/312, 382/313, 382/314, 382/317, 382/119, 345/169, 345/179, 358/1.15, 358/1.18, 235/375, 178/19.05, 713/182
• 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 sensing device for sensing a region provided on or in a surface having at least one region. The at least one region having printed therein or thereon coded data indicative of an identity of the at least one region, and visible information at least some of the information being at least partially related to the at least one region. The sensing device includes a sensor for sensing at least some of the coded data when the sensing device is placed in an operative position relative to the at least one region and generating indicating data. The indicating data is at least partially indicative of the identity of the at least one region and at least one of movement and a position of the sensing device relative to the at least one region. The sensing device includes a communicator configured to communicate the indicating data to a computer system.

Claims

1. A sensing device for sensing a region provided on or in a surface, the surface including at least one region, having printed therein or thereon coded data indicative of an identity of the at least one region, and visible information at least some of the information being at least partially related to the at least one region, the coded data including a number of data portions, each data portion in the at least one region having an identical data portion identity, the sensing device including:

a sensor for;

sensing a number of images of the coded data when the sensing device is placed in an operative position relative to the at least one region;

comparing the images to determine common features in sequential images; and

determining movement of the sensing device relative to the at least one region by determining changes in position of the common features between the sequential images; and

generating, using the sensed coded data, indicating data at least partially indicative of the identity of the at least one region; and

,

a communicator configured to communicate the indicating data to a computer system.

2. A sensing device according to claim 1, wherein the surface includes a plurality of regions, and wherein the identity distinguishes the at least one region from each other one of the plurality of regions.

3. A sensing device according to claim 1, wherein the indicating data is in the form of a stroke, the stroke being indicative of at least one position of the sensing device relative to the region.

4. A sensing device according to claim 3, wherein the stroke extends from a position where the sensing device is placed in the operative position to a position when the sensing device is removed from the operative position.

5. A sensing device according to claim 3, wherein the stroke defines a sequence of sensing device positions determined from the sensed coded data, the sequence of sensing device positions being at least one of:

a sequence of relative positions; and

,

a sequence of absolute positions.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein each data portion in the at least one region further has a unique data portion identity indicative of a location of the coded data portion in the region, and wherein the sensor:

senses a number of images of the coded data;

determines at least one unique data portion identity from each image; and

,

generates the indicating data using each of the determined unique data portion identities.

7. A sensing device according to claim 1, wherein the sensing device includes:

a nib; and

,

a nib sensor for sensing when the sensing device is in the operative position.

8. A sensing device according to claim 1, wherein any 10 millimeter diameter subregion of the region includes sufficient coded data to identify the region.

9. A sensing device according to claim 1, wherein the coded data is indicative of a plurality of reference points of the at least one region, the motion sensor being configured to generate at least one of the movement data and the position data on the basis of at least one of the movement and position of the sensing device relative to at least one of the reference points.

10. A sensing device according to claim 1, wherein the coded data comprises a plurality of substantially undifferentiated marks positioned relative to a set of predetermined nominal mark positions.

11. A sensing device according to claim 10, wherein each mark represents one of a plurality of coded values.

12. A sensing device according to claim 11, wherein the coded value represented by a mark is at least partially determined by the position of the mark relative to the set of predetermined nominal mark positions.

13. A sensing device according to claim 10, wherein the predetermined nominal mark positions are arranged relative to a plurality of nominal lines.

14. A sensing device according to claim 10, wherein the marks have centers and wherein the relative spacing of the centers of at least one pair of adjacent marks is less than 12 millimeters.

15. A sensing device according to claim 10, wherein each mark has a minimum radius and a maximum radius and wherein the length of a mark'"'"'s minimum radius is greater than 40% of the length of that mark'"'"'s maximum radius.

16. A sensing device according to claim 10, the region corresponding substantially to the zone of an interactive element.

17. A sensing device according to claim 1, wherein the coded data is substantially invisible to the unaided eye, at least some of the coded data being coincident to the visible information.

18. A method of sensing a region provided on or in a surface, the surface including at least one region having printed therein or thereon coded data indicative of an identity of the at least one region, and visible information at least some of the information being at least partially related to the at least one region, the coded data including a number of data portions, each data portion in the at least one region having an identical data portion identity, the method including:

in a sensor;

sensing a number of images of the coded data when the sensing device is placed in an operative position relative to the at least one region;

comparing the images to determine common features in sequential images; and

determining movement of the sensing device relative to the at least one region by determining changes in position of the common features between the sequential images; and

generating, using the sensed coded data, indicating data at least partially indicative of the identity of the at least one region; and

communicating the indicating data to a computer system.