System for digitizing freehand graphics on a printed surface

• US 7,832,640 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2009
• Issued: 11/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia, Lapstun, Paul, Lapstun, Jacqueline Anne
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech; Karl D.
• Application Number:
  US12/363,778
• Publication Number:
  US 20090135163A1
• Time in Patent Office: 653 Days
• Field of Search: 235/454, 235/435, 235/439, 235/375, 235/487, 715/500, 715/500.1, 715/513, 717/101, 717/106, 382/313, 382/314, 382/315, 178/18.01, 178/18.03, 178/19.01, 178/19.05, 345/153, 345/156, 345/158, 345/166, 345/173, 345/177, 345/179, 345/181
• US Class Current: 235/454
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/0439 using geographical maps
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/186 Guessing games
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/241 Touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/532 using secure communication, e.g. by encryption, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/183 electric
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 13/106 for the sheet output section
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17503 Ink cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17553 Outer structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/2114 Ejecting transparent or white coloured liquids, e.g. processing liquids B41J2/211 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B42C 9/0081 applying adhesive to individual sheets for binding them together by fusing, welding B42C9/0093
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/362 received from an external device or application, e.g. PDA, mobile phone or calendar application
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3623 using a camera or code reader, e.g. for optical or magnetic codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• 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: G09B 29/007 using computer methods
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/02 with visual presentation of the material to be studied, e.g. using film strip
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 : with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00358 : Type of the scanned marks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00376 : Means for identifying a mark sheet or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00567 : Handling of original or reproduction media, e.g. cutting, separating, stacking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32101 : Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32122 : in a separate device, e.g. in a memory or on a display separate from image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32128 : attached to the image data, e.g. file header, transmitted message header, information on the same page or in the same computer file as the image for information embedded in the image H04N1/32144
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32133 : on the same paper sheet, e.g. a facsimile page header
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32771 : in response to a request, e.g. for a particular document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32778 : using a mark-sheet or machine-readable code request
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 : of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3207 : of an address
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3226 : of identification information or the like, e.g. ID code, index, title, part of an image, reduced-size image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3242 : of processing required or performed, e.g. for reproduction or before recording H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/327 : which are undetectable to the naked eye, e.g. embedded codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3271 : Printing or stamping
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3278 : Transmission

Abstract

A system for digitizing a freehand graphic. The system comprises: a base including a surface; a position-coding pattern printed on the surface and detectable by an optical sensor; a first area of the surface; and a second area of the surface. The system further comprises a drawing device including an optical sensor for detecting a position in the position-coding pattern; and a transmitter for transmitting interaction data to a processor. The interaction data identifies the detected position. The processor is adapted to determine if the detected position is in the first area or the second area. If the detected position is in the first area of the surface, then the processor interprets the position as a point in the freehand graphic. If the detected position is in the second area of the surface, then the processor interprets the position as a selection of a property for the freehand graphic.

Claims

1. A system for digitizing a freehand graphic, the system comprising:

a base including;

a surface;

a position-coding pattern printed on the surface and detectable by an optical sensor;

a first area of the surface; and

a second area of the surface;

a drawing device comprising;

an optical sensor for detecting a position in the position-coding pattern; and

communication means for communicating interaction data to a processor, said interaction data identifying the detected position;

wherein said processor is adapted to perform the following actions;

determining if the detected position is in the first area or the second area;

if the detected position is in the first area of the surface, then interpreting the position as a point in the freehand graphic; and

if the detected position is in the second area of the surface, then interpreting the position as a selection of a property for the freehand graphic.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor resides externally of the drawing device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said processor resides in a server.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is adapted to determine an identity of the surface using the interaction data.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the second area is physically separated from the first area.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein at least one sub-area of the second area comprises a label representing a property for a freeform graphic.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein at least one sub-area of the second area comprises an indication of a color for a freeform graphic.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein at least one sub-area of the second area comprises an indication of a line style for a freeform graphic.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said drawing device comprises a nib and a force sensor for detecting when said nib is in contact with said surface.

10. The system of claim 1, which includes said processor.