Writing tablet information recording device

• US 9,134,561 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2013
• Issued: 09/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kent Displays Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Kent Displays Incorporated
• Inventors: Marhefka, Duane W.
• Primary Examiner(s): MARINELLI, PATRICK
• Application Number:
  US14/057,261
• Publication Number:
  US 20140043547A1
• Time in Patent Office: 697 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-184, 178 1801- 2004
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13338 Input devices, e.g. touch panels
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04162 for exchanging data with external devices, e.g. smart pens, via the digitiser sensing hardware
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/046 by electromagnetic means

Abstract

A drawing tablet device, utilizing a data capture device in connection with a pressure sensitive display, provides electronic information corresponding to images drawn on the pressure sensitive display to an external device. The drawing tablet includes a communication interface to couple the drawing tablet to the external device to transmit electronic information corresponding to images in real-time or as stored files.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a drawing tablet device; and

an external processing device configured to receive image data from the drawing tablet device,

the drawing tablet device comprising;

a bistable cholesteric liquid crystal display configured to display an image drawn upon the bistable cholesteric liquid crystal display by application of pressure on the bistable cholesteric liquid crystal display, and to continue displaying the image without the bistable cholesteric liquid crystal display consuming electrical energy to display the image;

an erase switch for selecting an erase function provided by the drawing tablet device to erase the image from the bistable cholesteric liquid crystal display;

an electronic data capture device including a data capture layer configured to electronically capture movements of a stylus upon the bistable cholesteric liquid crystal display as electronic information representing the movements of the stylus; and

an interface configured to connect to the external processing device, wherein the drawing tablet device is configured to transmit the image data to the external processing device, based on the electronic information representing the movements of the stylus, and wherein the image data comprises at least position information concerning positions of the stylus as the image is drawn and information related to pressure applied to the bistable cholesteric liquid crystal display as the image is drawn,

the external processing device comprising;

a further interface configured to connect to the drawing tablet device and receive the image data; and

a further display that replicates the image drawn upon the bistable cholesteric liquid crystal display including replicating line widths in the image drawn upon the bistable cholesteric liquid crystal display, based on the information related to pressure applied to the bistable cholesteric liquid crystal display as the image is drawn,

wherein the drawing tablet device automatically transmits, to the external processing device upon establishing communications with the external processing device, a plurality of image files stored in a memory on the drawing tablet device and representing a plurality of separate images captured by the electronic data capture device, and

wherein the external processing device is configured to automatically forward the plurality of image files to another external processing device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the drawing tablet device automatically transmits, to the external processing device without receiving a corresponding transmit command from a user, the plurality of image files stored on the drawing tablet device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the drawing tablet device further comprises a flash memory for storing data received from the external processing device via the interface, wherein said flash memory is configured to appear as a removable storage drive to the external processing device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the image data received by the external processing device comprises a digital ink file embedded in a document file comprising the image drawn upon the bistable cholesteric liquid crystal display.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the digital ink file is an Ink Markup Language file.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the external processing device is configured to automatically forward the plurality of image files to a remote web server.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the drawing tablet device includes a power switch for turning the drawing tablet device on, and wherein a simultaneous activation of the power switch and the erase switch causes the drawing tablet device to enter one of a communication establishing mode to establish communications with the external processing device and a communication disable mode to disable communications through the interface.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the drawing tablet device further comprises:

a power switch for turning the drawing tablet device on; and

a save switch for selecting a save function provided by the drawing tablet device to save the image data in the memory,

wherein a simultaneous activation of a plurality of switches on the drawing tablet device causes the drawing tablet device to enter a communication pairing mode to establish communications with the external processing device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein a simultaneous activation of another plurality of the switches causes the drawing tablet device to enter a communication disable mode to disable communications through the interface.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface of the drawing tablet device and the further interface of the external processing device are wirelessly connected, and wherein the image data received by the external processing device comprises an Ink Markup Language file embedded in a portable document format (PDF) file.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the drawing tablet device converts the electronic information to a document file.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the document file is a portable document format (PDF) file.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the drawing tablet device converts the electronic information to a digital ink file.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface is a wireless communication interface.

15. A system, comprising:

a drawing tablet device; and

an external processing device configured to receive image data from the drawing tablet device,

the drawing tablet device comprising;

a bistable cholesteric liquid crystal display configured to display an image drawn upon the bistable cholesteric liquid crystal display by application of pressure on the bistable cholesteric liquid crystal display, and to continue displaying the image without the bistable cholesteric liquid crystal display consuming electrical energy to display the image;

an erase switch for selecting an erase function provided by the drawing tablet device to erase the image from the bistable cholesteric liquid crystal display;

an electronic data capture device including a data capture layer configured to electronically capture movements of a stylus upon the bistable cholesteric liquid crystal display as electronic information representing the movements of the stylus; and

an interface configured to connect to the external processing device, wherein the drawing tablet device is configured to transmit the image data to the external processing device, based on the electronic information representing the movements of the stylus, and wherein the image data comprises at least position information concerning positions of the stylus as the image is drawn and information related to pressure applied to the bistable cholesteric liquid crystal display as the image is drawn,

the external processing device comprising;

a further interface configured to connect to the drawing tablet device and receive the image data; and

a further display that replicates the image drawn upon the bistable cholesteric liquid crystal display including replicating line widths in the image drawn upon the bistable cholesteric liquid crystal display, based on the information related to pressure applied to the bistable cholesteric liquid crystal display as the image is drawn, wherein the image data further comprises speed information concerning a drawing speed, and the line widths replicated on the further display are determined and replicated by processing both of the information related to pressure applied to the bistable cholesteric liquid crystal display as the image is drawn and the speed information.

16. A system, comprising:

a drawing tablet device; and

a capture application configured to execute on an external device having a processor coupled to a non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing the capture application and a display, the capture application is configured to acquire image data from the drawing tablet device,

the drawing tablet device, comprising;

a bistable cholesteric liquid crystal display having a drawing surface configured to display an image drawn upon the drawing surface by application of pressure on the drawing surface, the bistable cholesteric liquid crystal display maintains display of the image on the drawing surface without consuming electrical energy;

a data capture device configured to generate electronic information corresponding to movement of a stylus on the drawing surface, the data capture device operating separately and independently from the bistable cholesteric liquid crystal display; and

a communication interface to transmit image data based on the electronic information to the capture application executing on the external device, in real-time or near real-time, upon generation by the data capture device,

wherein the capture application is configured to render an image to the display of the external device, the image being a replica of the image displayed on the drawing surface by the bistable cholesteric liquid crystal display and based on the image data received from the drawing tablet device,

wherein the image data transmitted by the drawing tablet device comprises a plurality of pairs of position information and magnitude information relating to contacts of the stylus on the drawing surface, and

the capture application is further configured to convert the pairs of position information and magnitude information to an image file for storage on the external device, display on the external device, or sharing via the Internet, and

wherein the capture application is further configured to analyze the pairs of position information and magnitude information to recognize handwriting within the electronic information.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the capture application is further configured to receive user input via an input device of the external device and to update the image rendered on the display based on the user input.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the capture application renders the replica of the image displayed on the drawing surface with line widths matching the image displayed by the bistable cholesteric liquid crystal display.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the electronic information is transmitted by the drawing tablet device and comprises position information and magnitude information, and

the capture application matches line widths with the image displayed by the bistable cholesteric liquid crystal display based on the position information and the magnitude information.