Flexible pen holder for a computer

• US 7,623,121 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2005
• Issued: 11/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Dodge, Steven P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Chanh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stone; Robert M
• Application Number:
  US11/118,376
• Publication Number:
  US 20060244737A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,667 Days
• Field of Search: 345/179, 345/178.01, 345/156, 361/686, 361/683, 178 1901- 1907
• US Class Current: 345/179
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0393 Accessories for touch pads or touch screens, e.g. mechanical guides added to touch screens for drawing straight lines, hard keys overlaying touch screens or touch pads

Abstract

A computer system includes a holder attached to a housing of a pen-based computer. The holder may comprise a number of alternative materials, such as woven and non-woven sheet material. The holder may have a plurality of loop members configured for retaining a stylus or a pen. The holder may have a visual indication system for assisting the user to guide the pen into the holder. The holder may be removably attached to the housing. A computer system includes a rotatable holder attached to the housing of pen-based computer. An angle of rotation of the holder may be reported to the computer for display.

Claims

1. A computer system, comprising:

a display screen attached to the housing in which the display screen is sensitive to input of a stylus; and

a resilient, rotatable holder attached to the housing, in which the holder is configured to retain the stylus therein, the holder comprising a holding portion wherein the holder senses movements of the stylus when at least a portion of the stylus is in the holding portion and facilitates generating data, based at least in part on the sensed movements, that is communicated to a processor to facilitate performance of at least one function associated with the display screen, the at least one function involves processing related to data associated with the display screen,

wherein a state of illumination of a portion of the holder is controlled based at least in part on in-air movement of the stylus in relation to at least one of the holder or the display screen, the portion of the holder is placed in an illuminated state when the in-air movement of the stylus is observed within a predetermined threshold distance of the at least one of the holder or the display screen while the stylus is outside of the holding portion of the holder, and

the holder is attached to one side of the housing that contains the display screen, wherein the one side of the housing is adjacent and perpendicular to another side of the housing that is directly connected to a portion of the housing that contains a keyboard, the holder is rotatable in relation to the display screen and the holder is automatically rotated in an opposite direction of movement of the display screen based at least in part on movement of the display screen to facilitate maintenance of a specified angle of the holder in relation to the keyboard associated with the housing.

2. The computer system of claim 1, the holder is of a tubular construction and includes a plurality of loop members.

3. The computer system of claim 2, the holder includes a woven material extending between the plurality of loop members.

4. The computer system of claim 3, at least one of the loop members is resilient.

5. The computer system of claim 2, the holder includes a visual target indication for guiding the stylus into the holder.

6. The computer system of claim 1, the holder is removably attached to the housing.

7. The computer system of claim 6, at least one of the holder or the housing includes a hook structure and the other of the holder and housing includes loops for engaging with the hook structure.

8. A computer system, comprising:

a display screen associated with a housing in which the display screen is sensitive to input of a stylus; and

a rotatable holder attached to the housing, in which the holder is configured to retain the stylus therein, the rotatable holder comprising a holding portion wherein the holder senses movements of the stylus when at least a portion of the stylus is in the holding portion and facilitates generating data, based at least in part on the sensed movements, that is communicated to the processor to facilitate performance of at least one function associated with the display screen, the at least one function is associated with processing related to data associated with the display screen, the processing related to data comprising at least one of scrolling, zooming, data selection, volume control, or navigation or movement in the display screen, associated with the data, and

wherein a state of illumination of a portion of the rotatable holder is controlled based at least in part on in-air movement of the stylus with respect to at least one of the rotatable holder or the display screen, the portion of the rotatable holder is placed in an illuminated state when the in-air movement of the stylus is sensed within a predetermined threshold distance of the least one of the rotatable holder or the display screen while the stylus is outside of the holder, and

wherein the rotatable holder is attached to a side portion of the housing that contains the display screen, and wherein the side portion is a side of the housing that does not have a hinge and is not directly connected to a portion of the housing that contains a keyboard, the rotatable holder is rotatable in relation to the display screen, and the rotatable holder is automatically rotated in relation to the display screen based at least in part on movement of the display screen to facilitate maintenance of a specified angle of the rotatable holder in relation to the keyboard associated with the housing.

9. The computer system of claim 8, the holder includes a resilient material.

10. The computer system of claim 8, the holder includes a plurality of loop members.

11. The computer system of claim 8, the holder includes a pin member and the housing includes a receiver portion configured to matingly engage the pin member.

12. The computer system of claim 8, a graphical object is generated, wherein the graphical object is displayed in the display screen and visually specifies an angle of rotation of the holder.

13. The computer system of claim 10, the holder has a frustoconical shape.

14. The computer system of claim 10, the housing comprises two pivotable case members and the holder is attached to one of the case members.

15. The computer system of claim 10, further comprising:

a stylus detection module that senses in-air movement of the stylus and determines a location of the stylus with respect to at least one sensor associated with the at least one of the rotatable holder or the display screen.

16. A computer system, comprising:

a display screen attached to a housing in which the display screen is sensitive to input of a stylus; and

a holder attached to the housing, in which the holder is rotatable and configured to retain the stylus therein, and wherein a state of illumination of a portion of the holder is controlled based at least in part on in-air movement of the stylus with respect to at least one of the holder or the display screen and the portion of the holder is placed in an illuminated state when the in-air movement of the stylus is sensed within a predetermined threshold distance of the at least one of the holder or display screen while the stylus is outside of the holder, the holder comprising a holding portion wherein the holder senses movements of the stylus when at least a portion of the stylus is in the holding portion and facilitates generating data, based at least in part on the sensed movements, that is communicated to a processor to facilitate performance of at least one function associated with the display screen, the at least one function relates to processing of data associated with the display screen,

wherein the holder is attached to a side portion of the housing that contains the display screen, and wherein the side portion is a side of the housing that does not have a hinge and is not directly connected to a portion of the housing that contains a keyboard, the holder is rotatable in relation to the display screen, and the holder is automatically rotated in relation to the display screen based at least in part on movement of the display screen to facilitate maintenance of a specified angle of the holder in relation to the keyboard associated with the housing.

17. The computer system of claim 16, the holder includes a plurality of loop members.

18. The computer system of claim 16, further comprising a sensor for sensing the in-air movement of the stylus.