Writing tip position sensing and processing apparatus

#This invention relates to a device for collection and assimilation of data, and more particularly, relates to a self-contained writing device that collects, recognizes or compacts data symbols, stores such symbols and transfers those symbols to a host computer.

#Prior art data collection and recognition devices generally employ some sort of special writing surface on which a special stylus is applied and is limited to a particular character set or symbol set. Such prior devices are generally not very light in weight nor are they self-contained. Further, they require some sort of fixed physical interconnection with a host computer in order for them to be able to satisfactorily perform.

#However, Texas Instruments has recently (summer of 1991) provided a commercial product that is approximately the size of a hand-held calculator and contains a small writing surface upon which handwriting may be sensed and recognized. This device also contains a screen that displays the recognized characters or symbols as they are written on the small writing surface. The recognized symbols may then be downloaded via a high speed RF or IR transmitter to a host computer for processing, and storage as an electronic audit trail. In addition, it contains a conventional numeric keyboard for performing arithmetic functions. Including the battery, this so-called audit terminal weighs about one pound.

#FIG. 1 depicts a presently preferred embodiment of the self-contained pen computer of the present invention writing a letter on a writing surface.

#FIG. 2 depicts a functional block diagram of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

#FIG. 3 depicts a simplified functional block diagram of the various types of inputs a handwriting detector employed in the present invention may provide.

#Referring now to FIG. 1, there may be seen a preferred embodiment of a self-contained pen computer of the present invention for collection of written data associated with the use of the stylus of the pen. The recognition of such data (the letter "A" in FIG. 1) and conversion of the data into recognized characters, figures, drawings, and/or symbols is accomplished by at least one special computer processor or chip located in the pen. The terms "symbol" or "character" (either singular or plural) are used interchangeably herein to mean the data written by the pen stylus. Then the symbols are stored in a memory located in the pen. Alternatively, the data from the stylus may be compacted by the computer chip and then stored. The recognized or compacted symbols that are stored in the memory in the pen computer may later be transmitted by the user to a host computer (not shown) by means of a transmitter, also located in the pen. Optionally, the transmission may be on a continuous, real-time basis. These recognized or compacted symbols are received at the host computer by an associated host computer receiver and are either displayed on its screen, displayed and processed, or stored, as may be appropriate.

#Continuing to refer to FIG. 1, it may be seen that the self-contained pen computer of the present invention has been employed to write the printed letter A on any writing surface. As also may be seen from this figure, the self-contained pen computer of the present invention also includes two external lights associated therewith. One of these lights is associated with memory status, i.e. the remaining storage capacity of the memory in the pen. The other external indicator is associated with the power status of the battery contained within the pen. That is, this external power light indicates when the battery is about to become exhausted and therefore operations with the pen must cease.

#In addition, it may be seen that there is a mode switch on the exterior of the pen for changing the various modes in which the pen may operate. This switch may be a two-position push-button switch, or a selectable multi-position switch. Also depicted in FIG. 1 is a solar panel contained on one or more sides of the pen near the top of the pen. When exposed to interior or exterior light of sufficient intensity, the panel(s) provide power for the pen or charge the battery inside the pen, when the pen is not being used. At the non-stylus end of the pen is a removable screw cap which covers a multi-pin plug which may be used with a multi-pin receptacle plug associated with a host computer to download data and/or reprogram certain aspects of the internal operations of the pen computer, as described more fully later herein.