Abstract: Disclosed is a user-friendly electronic apparatus having a pen and a panel as the input devices. The pen is tethered to the apparatus by a cord on which position data is recorded along its length direction. Responding to the readout of the position data, the CPU controls the reel-in operation according to the standby mode or the sleep mode of the apparatus. As the pen is held at a proper position on the apparatus by the CPU's control, the user is free from worrying about dropping, spoiling, or losing the pen. Besides, the operation of reeling-out the pen from a housing position in the apparatus allows the apparatus to automatically come back into an active mode from its sleep mode or standby mode.

Abstract: A control device provides a variable control signal to electrical apparatus and has a control member, such as a stylus or a turnable or slidable member, that is manipulated to vary the signal. Photoelectric sensors detect and track movement of the control member. The control member is disposed at the face of an electronic image display screen which can display calibration marks, identifying labels, current setting and/or other graphics pertinent to operation of the control device. The display screen also operates as the light source for the photoelectric sensors.

Abstract: A device is provided for capturing complete analog motion, rather than digital events. A beam of columnated light, generated from a laser emitting diode, it directed at a clear, rotatable ball bearing having a series of reflecting indicia within the surface of the ball bearing. The reflection of columnated light off of these indicia makes the analog motion of the ball bearing a capturable, optical event. A sensor reads through the clear ball bearing and converts this motion into memory. The raw data then goes into the temporary RAM, which holds all excess data as other date is streamed into the microprocessors. Those processors change the raw data into digital code, which can then be understood and translated by most modern personal computers. The digital code can then be stored in the unit's non-volatile RAM, where it remains until it is uploaded into a PC resident software program.

Abstract: A wireless input device having an outward appearance resembling a standard ballpoint pen operates as both a standard ballpoint pen or similar writing instrument as well as an input device. The pen includes directional sensors for determining the direction and length of each pen stroke. A transmitter is provided in the pen barrel for transmitting the stroke signals directly to a computer for input and processing each stroke to provide an accurate representation of the pen stroke as it is being made. The transmitter may be a wireless device for transmitting a low frequency radio signal to a receiver associated with the computer. This permits the pen to be utilized anywhere within the transmitting range of the device, and in any orientation, with the computer picking up, processing and storing the signal representing the pen strokes.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and a device for obtaining precision data acquisition via hand writing/drawing without requiring the use of a transducer pad, the screen of a monitor, or a scanner. As such, writing/drawing can be applied to almost all kinds of material surfaces, including books, fabrics, labels, etc., with or without showing an ink mark. Graphic and text images can all be effectively processed. Data acquisition function is accomplished by continuously monitoring the orientation of a magnet ball installed at the tip of a magnetomechanical ball-pen device whose outlook resembles a regular pen. When powered by a battery with self data-storage capability, the disclosed method and device allow for a new class of instrumentations that data acquisition function is carried out at the same time whenever hand writing/drawing is applied in the normal manner.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a coordinate input pen for specifying and outputting coordinates of the pen by detecting two infrared beams that are emitted from two separate positions for pivotally scanning over a plane parallel to a surface of a display panel. The coordinate input pen includes: a shaft portion; a transparent conical light scattering member with a rough surface, which is, placed at the end of the shaft portion; and a light receiving element for detecting an infrared beam scattered within the light scattering member.

Abstract: A mechanism for ejecting stylus includes the locking apparatus and the ejecting apparatus. When the stylus is put in the slide groove, the movable arm of the locking apparatus exactly hooks the rabbet of the stylus resulting in the retention of stylus. The ejecting apparatus is used for ejecting the stylus along the slide groove. The locking apparatus and the ejecting apparatus are set separately at the end of the slide groove, and the distance between two apparatus is exactly equal to the length of the stylus.

Abstract: A control device provides a variable control signal to electrical apparatus and has a control member, such as a stylus or a turnable or slidable member, that is manipulated to vary the signal. Photoelectric sensors detect and track movement of the control member. The control member is disposed at the face of an electronic image display screen which can display calibration marks, identifying labels, current setting and/or other graphics pertinent to operation of the control device. The display screen also operates as the light source for the photoelectric sensors.

Abstract: A small-sized pen-shaped input apparatus precisely detects handwriting input. The apparatus compensates for the effects of the inclination of the pen-shaped input apparatus. An initial inclination angle calculating section calculates the initial value of the inclination angle of a pen shaft in a gravity coordinate system. The inclination angle variation calculating section calculates a variation value of the inclination angle of the pen shaft. A handwriting inclination angle calculating section calculates the inclination angle of the pen shaft when writing. A coordinates conversion calculating section converts the coordinate system of the acceleration from the pen shaft coordinate system to the gravity coordinate system. A movement amount calculating section calculates the movement direction and the movement distance of the pen's tip end. Finally, a handwriting detecting section detects a state of handwriting or non-handwriting.

Abstract: A coordinate input apparatus has an optical scanning/detection unit for touch input, and a vibration sensor for pen input. While no coordinate input is made, some components of the optical scanning/detection unit are activated to detect the size of an object that approaches or contacts an input board. When the detected size is smaller than a predetermined value (as large as about the fingertip), it is determined that touch input has been made, and the optical scanning/detection unit is activated to acquire the coordinate value of the touch input. On the other hand, when the detected size is larger than the predetermined value (larger than a fist), it is determined that pen input has been made, and coordinate detection using the vibration sensor is done.

Abstract: A digitizer pen includes a barrel section, a nose section removably attached to the barrel section, and an ink cartridge disposed in the barrel section and having a writing tip protruding from an end of the nose section, a cylindrical ferrite core disposed in the nose section, a first portion of the ferrite core being rigidly attached to the nose section. A coil surrounding a second portion of the ferrite core is attached to the barrel section. A writing tip end of the ink cartridge extends through the ferrite core. The first portion of the ferrite core is separable from the coil, so that when the nose section is removed from the barrel section the first portion of the ferrite core is separated from the coil, leaving the coil attached in fixed relation to the barrel section and also leaving exposed a portion of the ink cartridge initially covered by the first portion of the ferrite core, whereby a user can easily grasp the exposed portion of the ink cartridge and remove it without the aid of a tool.

Abstract: A kit for use with a transcription system which includes a plurality of signal receivers for positioning adjacent a writing surface and for receiving position signals transmitted from a stylus when the stylus is positioned adjacent the writing surface, the transcription system recording writing performed by the stylus on the writing surface, the kit comprising: a background image coupleable to the writing surface; and a computer readable medium including logic for detecting a position of the background image on the writing surface, logic for detecting a position of the stylus relative to the background image on the writing surface, logic for recording writing by the stylus relative to the background image, and logic for forming a composite image comprising the background image and the writing by the stylus on the background image.

Abstract: A kit for use with a transcription system which includes a plurality of signal receivers for positioning adjacent a writing surface and for receiving one or more position signals transmitted from a stylus when the stylus is positioned adjacent the writing surface, the signal receivers producing timing signals in response to receiving position signals from the stylus, the kit comprising: a template coupleable to the writing surface, the template including one or more control sections; and a computer readable medium including logic for detecting when the stylus contacts a particular control section based on receipt by the signal receivers of one or more position signals transmitted from the stylus and logic for causing a function to be performed by the transcription system in response to detecting that the stylus has contacted the particular control section.