Sensing device with mode changes via nib switch

• US 7,971,784 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2008
• Issued: 07/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Dehghani, Zhamak, Newman, Andrew Timothy Robert, Silverbrook, Kia, Lapstun, Paul, Hollins, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Colbert; Ella
• Application Number:
  US12/015,512
• Publication Number:
  US 20080134101A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,265 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/380, 235/487, 235/492, 235/494, 345156-158, 345/173, 345/179, 345/180, 382/175, 382180-189, 382/306, 382/314, 715/201, 715/856, 715/863, 358/403, 705/1, 705/1.1, 435/69.1, 362/313, 362/379, 362380-383
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0337 Status LEDs integrated in the mouse to provide visual feedback to the user about the status of the input device, the PC, or 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 3/033 Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor digitisers characterised by the transducing means G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus

Abstract

A sensing device for enabling a user to interact with a computer system. The sensing device is operable in a cursor control mode and a substrate-interaction mode. The sensing device includes: a nib; a nib switch configured to effect a mode change between the cursor control mode and the substrate-interaction mode; an optical sensor for sensing coded data printed on a substrate; a processor for generating cursor control data or interaction data; and a transceiver for communicating the cursor control data or the interaction data to a computer system. The cursor control data initiates a cursor control response in the computer system, while the interaction data initiates a substrate interaction response in the computer system.

Claims

1. A sensing device for interacting with a substrate and communicating with a computer system, said sensing device being operable in a plurality of modes including a cursor control mode and a hyperlinking mode, said sensing device comprising:

a nib for interacting with the substrate and experiencing a nib force from said interaction;

a nib switch cooperating with said nib, said nib switch being configured for actuation when said nib force exceeds a predetermined threshold, said nib switch being configured to effect a mode change between said cursor control mode and said hyperlinking mode;

an optical sensor for imaging at least some of the coded data printed on the substrate when operating in at least said hyperlinking mode, said coded data being indicative of a region identity associated with the substrate and of a plurality of coordinate locations on the substrate;

a processor for generating;

cursor control data in said cursor control mode, said cursor control data being generated using a motion sensor; and

interaction data using the imaged coded data in said hyperlinking mode, said interaction data being indicative of the region identity and of at least one coordinate position of the sensing device relative to the substrate; and

a transceiver for communicating said cursor control data or said interaction data to a computer system,

wherein the cursor control data initiates a cursor control response in said computer system and the interaction data initiates a hyperlinking response in said computer system.

2. The sensing device of claim 1, wherein said nib switch indicates a pen-up or a pen-down state of said sensing device.

3. The sensing device of claim 2, wherein said pen-up state configures said sensing device in said cursor control mode, and said pen-down state configures said sensing device in said hyperlinking mode.

4. The sensing device of claim 3, wherein said nib is biased towards said pen-up state.

5. The sensing device of claim 1, wherein said nib switch comprises a force sensor.

6. The sensing device of claim 1, wherein said motion sensor is configured to generate relative motion data indicative of relative position changes of the sensing device.

7. The sensing device of claim 1, wherein said motion sensor comprises said optical sensor and said processor configured to generate motion data, said cursor control data comprising said motion data.

8. The sensing device of claim 7, wherein, in said cursor control mode, said processor is configured to generate relative motion data using sensed coded data, said relative motion data being indicative of relative position changes of the sensing device.

9. The sensing device of claim 1, wherein said motion sensor comprises said optical sensor and said processor, and wherein said cursor control data comprises said interaction data and an indication for said computer system to interpret positions of said sensing device as cursor movement.

10. The sensing device of claim 9 wherein, in said cursor control mode, the at least one button emulates at least one corresponding mouse button.

11. The sensing device of claim 10, wherein said cursor control data comprises mouse button data.

12. The sensing device of claim 1, further comprising at least one button for effecting further functionality in either said cursor control mode or said hyperlinking mode.

13. The system sensing device of claim 12, wherein the at least one button is a momentary finger switch on said sensing device.

14. An interactive system comprising:

a printed substrate, said substrate comprising user information and coded data indicative of a region identity associated with the substrate and of a plurality of locations on the substrate; and

a sensing device operable in a plurality of modes, said plurality including a cursor control mode and a hyperlinking mode, said sensing device comprising;

a nib for interacting with the substrate and experiencing a nib force from said interaction;

a nib switch cooperating with said nib, said nib switch being configured for actuation when said nib force exceeds a predetermined threshold, said nib switch being configured to effect a mode change between said cursor control mode and said hyperlinking mode;

an optical sensor for imaging at least some of the coded data when the sensing device is operatively positioned or moved relative to the substrate in at least said hyperlinking mode;

a processor for generating;

cursor control data in said cursor control mode, said cursor control data being generated using a motion sensor; and

interaction data in said hyperlinking mode, said interaction data being generated using the sensed coded data, said interaction data being indicative of the region identity and of at least one position of the sensing device relative to the substrate; and

a transceiver for communicating said cursor control data or said interaction data to a computer system,

wherein the cursor control data initiates a cursor control response in said computer system and the interaction data initiates a hyperlinking response in said computer system.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said computer system is configured to:

receive the interaction data or an encoded form thereof;

identify a page description corresponding to the printed substrate using the region identity;

determine a hyperlink using the retrieved page description and the at least one position of the sensing device; and

initiate the hyperlinking response.

16. The system of claim 14, further comprising a display device for displaying the hyperlinking response to the user.