Sensing device with inductive charging

• US 7,982,725 B2
• Filed: 08/17/2004
• Issued: 07/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia, Lapstun, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Mandeville; Jason M
• Application Number:
  US10/919,379
• Publication Number:
  US 20050017958A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,527 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-179, 369170-173, 178 1801- 1906
• US Class Current: 345/179
• 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 2/17523 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 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• 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: 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 coded data disposed on or in a surface includes operative circuitry including sensing means for sensing the coded data. Processing means are provided for processing the sensed coded data. An internal power supply supplies electrical power to the operative circuitry. A first inductor is connected, or connectable, to the internal power supply to enable charging thereof while the first inductor is electromagnetically coupled with an external electromagnetic field generator.

Claims

1. A sensing device for sensing coded data printed on a surface, the sensing device including:

marking and non-marking nibs for contact with the surface;

a selection mechanism for moving the marking and non-marking nibs relative to each other thereby selecting the marking nib or the non-marking nib for surface contact;

operative circuitry including;

an image sensor for sensing the coded data printed on the surface, the coded data being encoded in a plurality of coded tags printed across the surface, the coded data of each tag indicating the position of that tag on the surface and an identity of the surface which is associated with a digital description of the surface maintained by a remote processing device;

memory for storing respective identities of the marking and non-marking nibs; and

processing means for identifying the selected one of the marking and non-marking nibs from the stored respective identities of the marking and non-marking nibs and processing the sensed coded data to determine an orientation and a position of the sensing device relative to the surface from the digital description, an observed perspective distortion on an imaged tag and a known spatial relationship between a physical axis of the sensing device relative to the identified nib and an optical axis of the image sensor,

an internal power supply for supplying electrical power to the operative circuitry; and

a first inductor connected, or connectable, to the internal power supply to enable charging thereof whilst the first inductor is electromagnetically coupled with an external electromagnetic field generator.

2. A sensing device according to claim 1, wherein the first inductor is a coil.

3. A sensing device according to claim 2, wherein the sensing device takes the form of an elongate stylus, the coil being positioned within the stylus such that an axis about which the coil is formed is parallel with a longitudinal axis of the coil.

4. A sensing device and complementary charging device, the sensing device being in accordance with claim 3, the charging device including:

the electromagnetic field generator; and

a recess configured to receive the sensing device such that, when the sensing device is received in the recess, the first inductor and the electromagnetic field generator are electromagnetically coupled with each other.

5. A sensing device and complementary charging device according to claim 4, wherein the electromagnetic field generator includes a second inductor, the second inductor comprising a coil that encircles the recess.

6. A sensing device and complementary charging device according to claim 5, wherein the recess is defined by a cylindrical wall and a floor, the second inductor encircling the cylindrical wall.

7. A sensing device and complementary charging device according to claim 4, wherein, in use, an alternating current is supplied to the second inductor to effect the electromagnetic coupling.