Electronic pen and electronic pen system

• US 20080055279A1
• Filed: 08/24/2007
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Izumi, Konami, Yamaguchi, Mayumi, Osada, Takeshi
• Granted Patent: US 10,168,801 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/179
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/033 Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor digitisers characterised by the transducing means G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03542 Light pens for emitting or receiving light
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0442 using active external devices, e.g. active pens, for transmitting changes in electrical potential to be received by the digitiser
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0445 using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• 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: G06V 30/32 Digital ink

Abstract

To provide a small and light-weight writing instrument that can accurately read information written down on a display portion as electronic information. A pen-shaped device which includes a battery capable of being charged wirelessly from the outside, a first sensor which detects whether a pen nib has contact with a surface, a second sensor which detects movement of the pen nib in contact with the surface, a control circuit which is electrically connected to the first sensor and the second sensor, and a memory which is electrically connected to the control circuit, where the first sensor, the second sensor, the control circuit, and the memory operate by supply of electric power from the battery.

Claims

1. An electronic pen comprising:

a battery which can be charged wirelessly from outside the electronic pen;

a first sensor which detects whether a pen nib has contact with a surface;

a second sensor which detects movement of the pen nib on the surface;

a control circuit which is electrically connected to the first sensor and the second sensor; and

a memory which is electrically connected to the control circuit,

wherein the first sensor, the second sensor, the control circuit, and the memory operate by supply of electric power from the battery.

2. The electronic pen according to claim 1, wherein the battery is one selected from the group consisting of a lithium battery, a lithium polymer battery, a lithium ion battery, a nickel metal hydride battery, a nickel-cadmium battery, an organic radical battery, a lead-acid battery, an air secondary battery, a nickel-zinc battery, a silver-zinc battery, and an electric double layer capacitor.

3. The electronic pen according to claim 1, wherein the battery is electrically connected to a constant current source circuit and a switch circuit, and depending on a charge state of the battery, the battery is electrically connected to a charge control circuit which controls the switch circuit.

4. The electronic pen according to claim 1, wherein the battery is electrically connected to a remaining amount detection circuit which detects a remaining amount of the battery and a modulation circuit which modulates output of the remaining amount detection circuit.

5. The electronic pen according to claim 1, wherein the first sensor is a light sensor, a pressure sensor, or an RFID chip.

6. The electronic pen according to claim 1, wherein the second sensor is a motion sensor.

7. The electronic pen according to claim 6, wherein the motion sensor is an acceleration sensor or an angular rate sensor.

8. An electronic pen system comprising:

an electronic pen comprising;

a battery which can be charged wirelessly from outside the electronic pen,

a first sensor which detects whether a pen nib has contact with a surface,

a second sensor which detects movement of the pen nib on the surface,

a control circuit which is electrically connected to the first sensor and the second sensor, and

a memory which is electrically connected to the control circuit; and

a display portion comprising the surface and an antenna which transmits an electromagnetic wave for charging the battery,

wherein the first sensor, the second sensor, the control circuit, and the memory operate by supply of electric power from the battery.

9. The electronic pen system according to claim 8, wherein the battery is one selected from the group consisting of a lithium battery, a lithium polymer battery, a lithium ion battery, a nickel metal hydride battery, a nickel-cadmium battery, an organic radical battery, a lead-acid battery, an air secondary battery, a nickel-zinc battery, a silver-zinc battery, and an electric double layer capacitor.

10. The electronic pen system according to claim 8, wherein the battery is electrically connected to a constant current source circuit and a switch circuit, and depending on a charge state of the battery, the battery is electrically connected to a charge control circuit which controls the switch circuit.

11. The electronic pen system according to claim 8, wherein the battery is electrically connected to a remaining amount detection circuit which detects a remaining amount of the battery and a modulation circuit which modulates output of the remaining amount detection circuit.

12. The electronic pen system according to claim 8, wherein the first sensor is a light sensor, a pressure sensor, or an RFID chip.

13. An electronic pen system comprising:

an electronic pen comprising a battery which can be charged wirelessly from outside the electronic pen, a first sensor, a control circuit electrically connected to the first sensor, and a memory electrically connected to the control circuit; and

a display portion comprising an antenna which transmits an electromagnetic wave for charging the battery and a second sensor,

wherein the first sensor, the control circuit, and the memory operate by supply of electric power from the battery.

14. The electronic pen system according to claim 13, wherein the battery is one selected from the group consisting of a lithium battery, a lithium polymer battery, a lithium ion battery, a nickel metal hydride battery, a nickel-cadmium battery, an organic radical battery, a lead-acid battery, an air secondary battery, a nickel-zinc battery, a silver-zinc battery, and an electric double layer capacitor.

15. The electronic pen system according to claim 13, wherein the battery is electrically connected to a constant current source circuit and a switch circuit, and depending on a charge state of the battery, the battery is electrically connected to a charge control circuit which controls the switch circuit.

16. The electronic pen system according to claim 13, wherein the battery is electrically connected to a remaining amount detection circuit which detects a remaining amount of the battery and a modulation circuit which modulates output of the remaining amount detection circuit.

17. The electronic pen system according to claim 13, wherein the first sensor is a light sensor, a pressure sensor, or an RFID chip.