Optical system, an analysis system and a modular unit for an electronic pen

• US 7,868,878 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2004
• Issued: 01/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Anoto Group AB
• Original Assignee: Anoto Group AB
• Inventors: Strömberg, Ola, Gredinger, Peter, Wassvik, Ola, Craven-Bartle, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Wang; Quan-Zhen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rainey; Robert R
• Application Number:
  US10/582,780
• Publication Number:
  US 20070114367A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,218 Days
• Field of Search: 345/179
• US Class Current: 345/179
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/00 Special procedures for taking photographs; Apparatus therefor
• 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: H05K 1/18 Printed circuits structurally associated with non-printed electric components H05K1/0201, H05K1/023, H05K1/0243, and H05K1/16 take precedence

Abstract

A modular unit is designed for an electronic pen. The modular unit comprises a carrier (70) with a receiver for a writing implement, a printed circuit board (72), a two-dimensional radiation sensor (78) mounted on the printed circuit board, and an imaging unit (82) which defines an image plane. The carrier (70), the printed circuit board (72), and the imaging unit (82) are joined together with the imaging unit (82) facing the radiation sensor (78) to locate the image plane at the radiation sensor (78). The modular unit may comprise an analysis system dedicated to a particular optical analysis application, such as position determination based on images of a position-coding pattern. A radiation source, such as an LED or a laser diode, may be arranged on the printed circuit board or mounted in a holder on the imaging unit. The imaging unit (82) may be implemented as a boresight unit for controlling the spatial origin of radiation transmitted towards the radiation sensor (78). The boresight unit may comprise a radiation-transmitting channel, an imaging lens, and a redirecting mirror in the channel.

Claims

1. A modular unit for an electronic pen having a writing implement, said modular unit comprising:

a carrier having a receiver for receiving the writing implement,

a printed circuit board mounted on the carrier, the printed circuit board having at least one hole,

a two-dimensional radiation sensor surface-mounted on the printed circuit board, the sensor positioned on the printed circuit board with respect to the least one hole,

an imaging unit designed to control a spatial origin of radiation reaching the radiation sensor, the imaging unit defining an image plane and an object plane, the imaging unit having a body and a holder that is associated with an outer part of the body, the imaging unit further having at least one pin, and

a radiation source for illuminating the object plane, the radiation source being held by the holder of the imaging unit,

wherein the imaging unit is aligned with the printed circuit board such that the at least one pin of the imaging unit is inserted in the at least one hole of the printed circuit board to align the imaging unit to locate the image plane on the radiation sensor, and

wherein the carrier, the printed circuit board, and the imaging unit are coupled together such that the printed circuit board is positioned between the carrier and the imaging unit.

2. The modular unit according to claim 1, further comprising an electrical connection between the radiation source and the printed circuit board.

3. The modular unit according to claim 2, wherein the electrical connection exerts a clamping force between the imaging unit and the printed circuit board.

4. The modular unit according to claim 1, wherein the printed circuit board is supported by the carrier.

5. The modular unit according to claim 1, wherein the printed circuit board is attached to the carrier.

6. The modular unit according to claim 1, wherein the imaging unit is supported by the printed circuit board.

7. The modular unit according to claim 1, wherein the imaging unit is attached to the printed circuit board.

8. The modular unit according to claim 1, further comprising at least one connector for attaching at least part of an outer casing of said electronic pen.

9. The modular unit according to claim 1, wherein the holder is integrated with the outer part of the body.

10. The modular unit according to claim 1, wherein the holder is attached to the outer part of the body.

11. The modular unit according to claim 1, wherein the carrier further includes a guide pin, the printed circuit board has a guide pin receiving hole, and

wherein the printed circuit board is mounted on the carrier such that the guide pin is inserted into the guide pin receiving hole.

12. A modular unit for an electronic pen having a writing implement, said modular unit comprising:

a carrier having a receiver for receiving the writing implement,

a printed circuit board mounted on the carrier,

a two-dimensional radiation sensor surface-mounted on the printed circuit board,

an imaging unit designed to control a spatial origin of radiation reaching the radiation sensor, the imaging unit defining an image plane and an object plane, the imaging unit having a body and a holder that is associated with an outer part of the body, and

a radiation source for illuminating the object plane, the radiation source being held by the holder of the imaging unit,

wherein the carrier, the printed circuit board, and the imaging unit are coupled together such that the printed circuit board is positioned between the carrier and the imaging unit.

13. The modular unit according to claim 12, wherein:

the printed circuit board has at least one hole,

the sensor is positioned on the printed circuit board with respect to the least one hole,

the imaging unit has at least one pin, and

the imaging unit is aligned with the printed circuit board such that the at least one pin of the imaging unit is inserted in the at least one hole of the printed circuit board to align the imaging unit to locate the image plane on the radiation sensor.

14. The modular unit according to claim 12, wherein the carrier includes a guide pin, the printed circuit board has a guide pin receiving hole, and wherein the printed circuit board is mounted on the carrier such that the guide pin is inserted into the guide pin receiving hole.

15. The modular unit according to claim 12, further comprising an electrical connection between the radiation source and the printed circuit board.

16. The modular unit according to claim 15, wherein the electrical connection exerts a clamping force between the imaging unit and the printed circuit board.

17. The modular unit according to claim 12, wherein the printed circuit board is supported by the carrier.

18. The modular unit according to claim 12, wherein the printed circuit board is attached to the carrier.

19. The modular unit according to claim 12, wherein the imaging unit is supported by the printed circuit board.

20. The modular unit according to claim 12, wherein the imaging unit is attached to the printed circuit board.

21. The modular unit according to claim 12, further comprising at least one connector for attaching at least part of an outer casing of said electronic pen.

22. The modular unit according to claim 12, wherein the holder is integrated with the outer part of the body.

23. The modular unit according to claim 12, wherein the holder is attached to the outer part of the body.

24. A modular unit for an electronic pen having a writing implement, said modular unit comprising:

a carrier having a receiver for receiving the writing implement,

a printed circuit board mounted on the carrier, the printed circuit board having at least one hole,

a two-dimensional radiation sensor surface-mounted on the printed circuit board, the sensor positioned on the printed circuit board with respect to the least one hole,

an imaging unit designed to control a spatial origin of radiation reaching the radiation sensor, the imaging unit defining an image plane and an object plane, the imaging unit having a body and a holder that is associated with an outer part of the body, the imaging unit further having at least one pin, and

a radiation source for illuminating the object plane, the radiation source being held by the holder of the imaging unit,

wherein the imaging unit is aligned with the printed circuit board such that the at least one pin of the imaging unit is inserted in the at least one hole of the printed circuit board to align the imaging unit to locate the image plane on the radiation sensor.

25. The modular unit according to claim 24, wherein the carrier, the printed circuit board, and the imaging unit are coupled together such that the printed circuit board is positioned between the carrier and the imaging unit.

26. The modular unit according to claim 24, wherein the carrier includes a guide pin, the printed circuit board has a guide pin receiving hole, and wherein the printed circuit board is mounted on the carrier such that the guide pin is inserted into the guide pin receiving hole.

27. The modular unit according to claim 24, further comprising an electrical connection between the radiation source and the printed circuit board.

28. The modular unit according to claim 27, wherein the electrical connection exerts a clamping force between the imaging unit and the printed circuit board.

29. The modular unit according to claim 24, wherein the printed circuit board is supported by the carrier.

30. The modular unit according to claim 24, wherein the printed circuit board is attached to the carrier.

31. The modular unit according to claim 24, wherein the imaging unit is supported by the printed circuit board.

32. The modular unit according to claim 24, wherein the imaging unit is attached to the printed circuit board.

33. The modular unit according to claim 24, further comprising at least one connector for attaching at least part of an outer casing of said electronic pen.

34. The modular unit according to claim 24, wherein the holder is integrated with the outer part of the body.

35. The modular unit according to claim 24, wherein the holder is attached to the outer part of the body.