US 5,420,607 A · Electronic paintbrush and color palette

Abstract

An electronic paintbrush and electronic palette which allow a user to generate images on a CRT screen in a manner which imitates traditional painting with paints on a canvas. The electronic brush has fiber optic bristles which channel light from a CRT screen to optical detectors. A microprocessor in the brush utilizes pulses generated by the incidence of the raster scan on photodiodes to determine the position of the brush, the pressure of the brush against the CRT screen, and its angular orientation about the longitudinal axis of the brush. The microprocessor utilizes color information generated by a CCD array to determine the area of contact of the brush with color swatches on the palette, and the angle between the longitudinal axis of the brush and the normal vector to the CRT screen. In an alternate embodiment the palette is also displayed on the CRT screen.

Claims41

Dependent claims

An apparatus with which a user manipulates an initial image displayed on an electronic image-display screen to generate a modified image, comprising:

(a) an elongated handle, said handle having a brush end, a back end, and a longitudinal axis extending through said brush end and said back end;
(b) a first brush head attached at said brush end of said handle;
(c) a number of flexible optic fiber bristles protruding therefrom in a direction away from said handle, said optic fiber bristles having a handle end proximal said handle and a working end opposite said handle end, said optic fiber bristles channeling light from said working end to said handle end;
(d) a plurality of transforming means for transforming said channeled light to electrical signals, said transforming means being located near said handle end of said optic fiber bristles;
and
(e) means for processing said electrical signals, said processing means including location determining means for determining a location of said optic fiber bristles on said screen when said bristles are in contact with a contact area of said screen, and angular orientation determining means for determining an angular orientation of said handle about said longitudinal axis when said optic fiber bristles are in contact with said contact area.

3 more elements

An apparatus with which a user manipulates an initial image displayed on an electronic image-display screen having a normal vector to generate a modified image, said apparatus comprising:

(a) an elongated handle, said handle having a brush end, a grip end, and a longitudinal axis;
(b) a brush head located at said brush end of said handle, said brush head having a number of optic fiber bristles for channeling light from a working end to a handle end of said optic fiber bristles, said handle end of said optic fiber bristles being adjacent said handle and said working end of said optic fiber bristles being opposite said handle end;
(c) a first plurality of transforming means for transforming time variations in brightness of said channeled light through said optic fiber bristles to first electrical signals, said transforming means being located near said handle end of said Optic fiber bristles;
(d) first means for processing said first electrical signals, said first processing means including location determining means for determining a location of said optic fiber bristles on said screen when said optic fiber bristles are in contact with a contact area of said screen, said location determining means using said time variations in brightness at a region within said contact area to determine said location, said location determining means including means for determining an angular orientation of said handle about said longitudinal axis when said optic fiber bristles are in contact with said contact area, said angular orientation determining means using said time variations in brightness at two regions within said contact area to determine said angular orientation;
(e) a second plurality of transforming means for transforming said channeled light to second electrical signals, said transforming means being located near said handle end of said optic fiber bristles;
and
(f) second means for processing said second electrical signals, said second processing means including means for determining a tilt angle of said longitudinal axis of said handle with said normal vector, said initial image having a first intensity at said contact area at a given time, said second processing means comparing a second intensity of said channeled light at said given time and said intensity of said initial image at said contact area at said given time in order to determine said tilt angle.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Electronic paintbrush and color palette

Life of this patent

Electronic paintbrush and color palette

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims41