Sensing device

• US 7,660,490 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2004
• Issued: 02/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia, Lapstun, Paul, Walmsley, Simon Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Dang, Duy M
• Application Number:
  US10/943,856
• Publication Number:
  US 20050031227A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,968 Days
• Field of Search: 382/188, 382/312, 382/313, 382/314, 382/317, 345/169, 345/179, 358/1.15, 358/1.18, 235/375, 178/19.05
• 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 region identity data and generating movement data when the sensing device is moved relative to a region of a surface, the region identity data being indicative of an identity of the region, the movement data being indicative of the movement of the sensing device relative to the region, the surface having disposed upon it coded data indicative of at least one region associated with the surface, the sensing device including: region identity sensing means configured to sense the region identity data using at least some of the coded data; motion sensing means configured to generate the movement data; and communications means configured to communicate the region identity data and the movement data to a computer system.

Claims

1. A sensing device comprising:

an image sensor for capturing images of coded data on a surface when the sensing device is placed in an operative position relative to the surface, the coded data having a plurality of tags, each tag encoding a unique identity of a region of the surface and the position of the tag within the region;

region identity sensing means configured to determine the unique identity of the region from the images;

position sensing means configured to determine at least one position of the sensing device within the region;

motion sensing means configured to determine movement of the sensing device relative to the surface and generate movement data; and

,

communication means configured to communicate the unique identity of the region, the at least one position of the sensing device within the region, and the movement data to a computer system.

2. A sensing device according to claim 1, wherein each tag has four possible orientations relative to the surface and wherein each tag orientation contains one codeword placed at that orientation.

3. A sensing device according to claim 1, wherein the coded data further includes periodic elements, the motion sensing means being configured to generate the movement data on the basis of the sensing device'"'"'s movement relative to at least one of the periodic elements.

4. A sensing device according to claims 3, wherein the motion sensing means is configured to sample the position of the sensing device within the region or periodic element, thereby to generate the movement data.

5. A sensing device according to claim 4, further including a distance estimation means configured to estimate a distance of the sensing device from one of the determined positions or periodic element.

6. A sensing device according to claim 5, wherein the communications means is configured to communicate distance data to the computer system, the distance data being indicative of the distance.

7. A sensing device according to claim 1, further including orientation sensing means configured to sense an orientation of the sensing device relative to at least some of the coded data.

8. A sensing device according to claim 7, wherein the communications means is configured to communicate orientation data to the computer system, the orientation data being indicative of the orientation.

9. A sensing device according to claim 1, wherein the movement sensing means includes at least one acceleration sensing means, the acceleration sensing means being configured to sense acceleration of the sensing device as it is moved relative to the surface region, the movement sensing means being configured to generate the movement data by periodically sampling the acceleration.

10. A sensing device according to claim 9, wherein the acceleration sensing means is configured to sense at least two substantially orthogonal components of acceleration.

11. A sensing device according to claim 1, further including timer means configured to generate a time reference as the sensing device is moved relative to the surface region.

12. A sensing device according to claim 11, wherein the communications means 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 means.

13. A sensing device according to claim 1, wherein the communications means is a wireless communications means.

14. A sensing device according to claim 1, further including a force sensing means configured to sense a force applied to the surface by the sensing device.

15. A sensing device according to claim 14, wherein the communications means is configured to communicate force data to the computer system, the force data being indicative of the force.

16. A sensing device according to claim 14, further including a stroke detection means 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.

17. A sensing device according to claims 1, further including a marking nib for marking the surface.

18. A sensing device according to claim 17, wherein the sensing device is in the form of a stylus or pen.

19. A sensing device according to claims 1, wherein the coded data is substantially invisible to the unaided human eye.

20. A sensing device according to claim 19, wherein the coded data is printed using infrared ink, the sensing device being responsive in the infrared spectrum.