Retractable pen tether for a digitizer pen and method of attaching a digitizer pen to a digitizer
First Claim
1. A digitizer pen for use with a digitizer, said digitizer pen coupled to a tethering apparatus for attaching the digitizer pen to a digitizer housing, the apparatus comprising:
- a tether string having a first end attached to said digitizer housing and a second end attached to said digitizer pen; and
tether retraction means for retracting said tether string wherein;
said tether retraction means is attached to said digitizer pen; and
said second end of said tether string is attached to said digitizer pen via said tether retraction means.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A retractable pen tether and a method for connecting a digitizer pen to a hand-held computer or other digitizer housing are provided. A tether attaches a digitizer pen to the digitizer to prevent the accidental loss of the digitizer pen. The tether length is variable so that an individual user can choose the desired amount of tether. The tether can be caused to retract into a cavity within the digitizer pen. The addition of the tether does not prevent storing the digitizer pen within a pen storage chamber of the digitizer housing. The tether mechanism and tether anchor are designed so that existing digitizer housings can be upgraded with tethered pens without extensive modifications to the digitizer housing.
75 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A digitizer pen for use with a digitizer, said digitizer pen coupled to a tethering apparatus for attaching the digitizer pen to a digitizer housing, the apparatus comprising:
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a tether string having a first end attached to said digitizer housing and a second end attached to said digitizer pen; and tether retraction means for retracting said tether string wherein; said tether retraction means is attached to said digitizer pen; and said second end of said tether string is attached to said digitizer pen via said tether retraction means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A digitizer pen for use with a digitizer, said digitizer coupled to an apparatus for securing the digitizer pen to a digitizer housing, said digitizer pen having a first end, a second end, and a cavity substantially bounded by an interior surface of said digitizer pen, said cavity being exposed to the exterior of said digitizer pen by an orifice in said second end, the apparatus comprising:
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a tether string having a long dimension and cross section perpendicular to the long dimension, having a first end for attachment to said digitizer housing, and a second end which extends through said orifice into said cavity; a tether spool, positioned within said cavity and attached to said second end of said tether string, for storing said tether string and for releasing said stored tether string when said digitizer pen is moving away from said digitizer housing; and a tether retraction mechanism, positioned within said cavity, for storing potential energy as said tether spool releases said stored tether string and for using said stored potential energy to cause said tether spool to retract said tether string when said digitizer pen is moving towards said digitizer housing. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of securing a digitizer pen to a digitizer housing, said digitizer pen having a first end, a second end, and a cavity substantially bounded by an interior surface of said digitizer pen, said cavity being exposed to the exterior of said digitizer pen by an orifice in said second end, the method comprising the steps of:
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attaching a first end of a tether string to said digitizer housing, said tether string having a long dimension and cross section perpendicular to the long dimension; extending a second end of said tether string through said orifice into said cavity; attaching said second end of said tether string to a tether spool which is positioned within said cavity and which stores said tether string and releases said tether string when said digitizer pen is moving away from said digitizer housing; and coupling to said tether spool a tether retraction mechanism which stores potential energy as said tether spool releases said tether string and which uses said stored potential energy to cause said tether spool to retract said tether string when said digitizer pen is moving towards said digitizer housing. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A retractable tethered digitizer pen for use in a computer system having a digitizer housing, the pen comprising:
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a pen body; a tether string having a first end attached to said digitizer housing and a second end; and tether retraction means for retracting said tether string wherein; said tether retraction means is attached to said pen body; and said second end of said tether string is attached to said digitizer pen via said tether retraction means.
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Specification