Mobile writer for erasable media

• US 9,285,834 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2009
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center, Inc. (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Shrader, Eric J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Giesy, Adam R
• Assistant Examiner(s): HEYI, HENOK G
• Application Number:
  US12/555,317
• Publication Number:
  US 20110057869A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,380 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G03C 1/73 containing organic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1647 including at least an additional display G06F1/1692 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1692 the I/O peripheral being a secondary touch screen used as control interface, e.g. virtual buttons or sliders
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1694 the I/O peripheral being a single or a set of motion sensors for pointer control or gesture input obtained by sensing movements of the portable computer

Abstract

A mobile imaging system includes an erasable medium and an imaging device. The erasable medium can be a UV imageable photochromic medium. The imaging device includes an input for generating imageable content in the device, a sensor for detecting and interpreting interaction of the device with respect to an imageable surface of the erasable medium, and an imaging component, responsive to the sensor, for outputting the generated content onto the imageable surface of the erasable medium.

Claims

1. A mobile imaging device for use with erasable media, the device comprising:

a housing sized to be held and operating using a single hand and arranged to house internal components, the housing comprising a first side and a second side opposite the first side;

wherein the first side comprising;

an input for generating imageable content in the device;

a display for displaying the imageable content;

an actuation selector for initiating imaging of the imageable content; and

an erase selector for initiating an erase action;

the second side comprising;

a sensor for detecting interaction of the device with respect to an imageable surface of an erasable medium, wherein the sensor comprises a surface tracking system configured to correlate a position of the device with respect to the erasable media with a position in the imageable content; and

an imaging component, responsive to the sensor, for outputting the imageable content onto the imageable surface of the erasable medium, the imaging component comprising an ultraviolet light-emitting diode (UV LED) that images or erases the erasable medium,

wherein at least the imaging component is movable with respect to the erasable medium.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the input for generating imageable content comprises a camera.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the input for generating imageable content comprises a keypad.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the input for generating imageable content comprises a wireless input.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the input comprises at least one of Internet content, text message, and voice mail.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the input comprises audible input, the audible input convertible to digital data at the device.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein a display shows the imageable content.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the imageable content comprises digital data.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the imaging component comprises an array of UV LEDs.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising memory.

11. The device of claim 1, further comprising control components for directing the functions of the imaging device.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the sensor is configured to determine a proximity to an erasable medium, and in connection with the control components, cause the imaging component to image the erasable medium or erase an image from an imaged erasable medium, or both.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the erasable media comprises photochromic paper.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the mobile device comprises a personal digital assistant (PDA).

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the mobile device comprises a cellular telephone.

16. The device of claim 1, further comprising an erase device for erasing an imaged surface of the erasable medium.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the erase device outputs an amount of heat suitable to erase the imaged surface.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein the imaging component is configured to image the erasable medium without physically contacting the erasable medium.

19. A mobile imaging system, comprising:

an erasable medium; and

an imaging device that is movable with respect to the an erasable medium, the imaging device comprising,

a housing sized to be held and operating using a single hand and arranged to house internal components, the housing comprising a first side and a second side opposite the first side;

wherein the first side comprising;

an input for generating imageable content in the device, a display for displaying the imageable content;

an actuation selector for initiating imaging of the imageable content; and

an erase selector for initiating an erase action;

the second side comprising;

a sensor for detecting and interpreting interaction of the device with respect to an imageable surface of the erasable medium, wherein the sensor comprises a surface tracking system configured to correlate a position of the device with respect to the erasable media with a position in the imageable content, and

an imaging component, responsive to the sensor, for outputting the generated content onto the imageable surface of the erasable medium, the imaging component comprising an ultraviolet light-emitting diode (UV LED) that images or erases the erasable medium.