Controller arrangement for an optical sensing pen with an infrared data association (IRDA) interface

• US 8,358,289 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2008
• Issued: 01/22/2013
• 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): Mengistu, Amare
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rodriguez, Joseph G
• Application Number:
  US12/116,922
• Publication Number:
  US 20080210476A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,721 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173
• US Class Current: 345/179
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 19/207 Encoding along a bar
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/02 Framework
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/36 for portability , i.e. hand-held printers or laptop printers B41J3/4075 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1204 resulting in reduced user or operator actions, e.g. presetting, automatic actions, using hardware token storing data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1265 Printing by reference, e.g. retrieving document/image data for a job from a source mentioned in the job
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1288 in client-server-printer device configuration
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/1894 Outputting the image data to the printing elements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/21 Combinations with auxiliary equipment, e.g. with clocks or memoranda pads
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3269 of machine readable codes or marks, e.g. bar codes or glyphs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3271 Printing or stamping

Abstract

A controller arrangement for an optical sensing pen having a nib, the controller arrangement configured to operatively sense location data by sensing location tags on a page of printed media, and to calculate a nib-to-tag distance indicative of the location data. The controller arrangement includes an infrared (IR) illumination LED and image sensor assembly configured to transmit IR light onto, and receive IR light reflected from, respectively, the page of printed media. The arrangement also includes a force sensing infrared LED and photodiode assembly configured to detect when the nib contacts the page so that the sensor assembly is only activated when the nib is in contact with said page. The arrangement further has an infrared data association (IrDA) interface for short-range communication with a computing system, and a processor arranged in signal communication with, and configured to control, the sensor assembly, the photodiode assembly, and IrDA interface to operatively calculate the nib-to-tag distance and to transmit related location data to the computing system.

Claims

1. A controller arrangement for an optical sensing pen having a nib, the controller arrangement configured to operatively sense location data by a sensing location tag on a page of printed media, and to calculate a distance between the location tag sensed and the nib, said controller arrangement comprising:

an infrared (IR) illumination LED and image sensor assembly configured to transmit IR light onto, and receive IR light reflected from, respectively, the page of printed media;

a force sensing infrared LED and photodiode assembly configured to detect when the nib contacts the page so that the sensor assembly is only activated when the nib is in contact with said page;

an infrared data association (IrDA) interface for short-range communication with a computing system; and

a processor arranged in signal communication with, and configured to control, the sensor assembly, the photodiode assembly, and IrDA interface to operatively calculate the distance between the location tag sensed and the nib and to transmit related location data to the computing system.

2. The controller arrangement of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to enter a quiescent state after a period of inactivity when the nib is not in contact with the page.

3. The controller arrangement of claim 1, having a bus via which an exchange of data between components of the controller arrangement occurs, and an analog-to-digital converter arranged to convert analog signals from the photodiode assembly to a digital signal.

4. The controller arrangement of claim 1, having a tri-color status LED under control of the processor to indicate a status of the controller arrangement.

5. The controller arrangement of claim 1, wherein the processor includes a medium-performance general-purpose RISC processor configured to operate a frequency of approximately 40 MHz.

6. The controller arrangement of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to encrypt the location data prior to communicating said data to the computing system.

7. The controller arrangement of claim 1, having a buffer wherein the processor is configured to buffer the location data when the pen is out of range of the computing system.