Persistence-of-vision display with stylus input device

• US 8,866,703 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2013
• Issued: 10/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Crayola LLC (Hallmark Cards Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Crayola LLC (Hallmark Cards Incorporated)
• Inventors: Weiss, Stephen, Nungester, Gregory R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pervan, Michael
• Application Number:
  US13/781,028
• Publication Number:
  US 20130229392A1
• Time in Patent Office: 600 Days
• Field of Search: 345/31, 345180-183
• US Class Current: 345/31
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0386 for light pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/042 by opto-electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/33 being semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/005 forming an image using a quickly moving array of imaging elements, causing the human eye to perceive an image which has a larger resolution than the array, e.g. an image on a cylinder formed by a rotating line of LEDs parallel to the axis of rotation

Abstract

A persistence-of-vision display device that is configured to receive inputs via a stylus and methods for its use are described. The device includes a display housing with a rotating armature disposed therein. The armature includes arrays of light sources and sensors. A stylus is provided that is useable to provide input through the display housing in a manner similar to drawing on the housing. Angular locations of the inputs are identified and corresponding light sources are illuminated. The impression of drawing on the display device is thus provided. Controls for color selection, animation, and other features are provided.

Claims

1. A persistence-of-vision display device comprising:

a base unit that houses a drive motor;

a display housing coupled to the base unit and including a transparent or translucent hollow enclosure;

an armature disposed within the display housing and mechanically coupled to the drive motor, the drive motor rotating the armature about an axis, the armature including a first segment extending radially outward from the axis and a second segment extending at an angle to the first segment and away from the base unit;

a plurality of light sources disposed along the second segment of the armature;

a plurality of sensors disposed on the armature; and

an input stylus configured to provide an input through the display housing to one or more of the plurality of sensors.

2. The persistence-of-vision display device of claim 1, further comprising:

a control unit disposed within the base unit or on the armature that controls a display generated by one or more of the plurality of light sources and processes the input received via the sensors.

3. The persistence-of-vision display device of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more of a switch, knob, lever, or button disposed on the base unit and configured to receive a user input.

4. The persistence-of-vision display device of claim 1, wherein the input is a light input and the sensors are photosensors.

5. The persistence-of-vision display device of claim 4, wherein the light input is infrared or ultraviolet light.

6. The persistence-of-vision display device of claim 4, wherein a signal is embedded in the light input.

7. The persistence-of-vision display device of claim 1, wherein a signal emitting portion of the input stylus is in contact with or adjacent to the display housing, the signal passes through the display housing and is received by one or more of the plurality of sensors, and an angular location about the axis at which the signal is received is identified.

8. The persistence-of-vision display device of claim 7, wherein a light source associated with the one or more of the plurality of sensors is illuminated as the rotating armature and the light source pass the angular location.

9. The persistence-of-vision display device of claim 8, wherein inputs are received at a plurality of angular locations and one or more of the plurality of light sources is illuminated at each of the plurality of angular locations to display an image drawn by the input stylus.

10. The persistence-of-vision display device of claim 9, wherein the image is animated.

11. The persistence-of-vision display device of claim 1, wherein the light sources are light emitting diodes that illuminate in one or more colors of visible light.

12. The persistence-of-vision display device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of light sources and the plurality of sensors are aligned in one or more parallel columns along the length of the second segment.

13. The persistence-of-vision display device of claim 1, wherein the armature includes a third segment extending radially outward from the axis and a fourth segment extending at an angle to the third segment and away from the base unit, and wherein the plurality of sensors are disposed along the length of the fourth segment.

14. The persistence-of-vision display device of claim 13, wherein the second and fourth segments are diametrically opposed.

15. A method for generating a persistence-of-vision image display, the method comprising:

rotating a plurality of sensors disposed on a first segment of an armature, the first segment extending substantially parallel to an axis of rotation of the armature, and the armature being disposed within a display housing;

providing an input to one or more of the sensors via an input stylus;

identifying an angular location about the axis of rotation at which the input is received;

identifying a light source disposed on the armature that corresponds with the one or more sensors that received the input;

illuminating the light source at the angular location.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein, a plurality of inputs are received that form a drawing, and wherein the drawing is subsequently animated.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the input stylus is adjacent to or in contact with the display housing.

18. A persistence-of-vision display device comprising:

a base unit that houses a drive motor;

a display housing coupled to the base unit and including a transparent or translucent hollow enclosure;

an armature disposed within the display housing and mechanically coupled to the drive motor, the drive motor rotating the armature about an axis, the armature including a first segment extending radially outward from the axis and a second segment extending at an angle to the first segment and away from the base unit;

a plurality of light sources disposed along the second segment of the armature;

a plurality of sensors disposed on the armature;

an input stylus configured to provide an input through the display housing to one or more of the plurality of sensors, wherein when a signal-emitting portion of the input stylus is in contact with or adjacent to the display housing, a signal passes through the display housing and is received by one or more of the plurality of sensors, wherein an angular location about the axis at which the signal is received is identified; and

a control unit disposed within the base unit or on the armature that controls a display generated by the light sources and processes the input received via the sensors.

19. The persistence-of-vision display device of claim 18, wherein a light source associated with the one or more of the plurality of sensors is illuminated as the rotating armature and the light source pass the angular location, and further wherein inputs are received at a plurality of angular locations and one or more of the plurality of light sources is illuminated at each of the plurality of angular locations to display an image drawn by the input stylus.

20. The persistence-of-vision display device of claim 18, wherein processing the input received via the sensors comprises processing an indication of a color selection from a plurality of color selection options.