U.S. patent application number 16/423254 was filed with the patent office on 2020-09-17 for input device and digital pen thereof.
The applicant listed for this patent is PRIMAX ELECTRONICS LTD.. Invention is credited to WUN-TING JHENG, TING-YU LIU, SHOU-KUO TAI.
Application Number | 20200293123 16/423254 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000004127527 |
Filed Date | 2020-09-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20200293123 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
TAI; SHOU-KUO ; et
al. |
September 17, 2020 |
INPUT DEVICE AND DIGITAL PEN THEREOF
Abstract
An input device includes a digital pad and a digital pen. When a
color picking switch of the digital pen is pressed by the user, the
color picking switch generates a color picking signal. The color
picking signal is transmitted to the digital pad or a computer
through a wireless transmission module of the digital pen.
According to the color picking signal, a color pointed through the
digital pen is picked.
Inventors: |
TAI; SHOU-KUO; (Taipei City,
TW) ; LIU; TING-YU; (Taipei City, TW) ; JHENG;
WUN-TING; (Taipei City, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
PRIMAX ELECTRONICS LTD. |
Taipei City |
|
TW |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000004127527 |
Appl. No.: |
16/423254 |
Filed: |
May 28, 2019 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 1/1698 20130101;
G06F 3/03545 20130101; H03K 17/9625 20130101; G06F 3/0414
20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/0354 20060101
G06F003/0354; G06F 1/16 20060101 G06F001/16; G06F 3/041 20060101
G06F003/041; H03K 17/96 20060101 H03K017/96 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 15, 2019 |
TW |
108108946 |
Claims
1. A digital pen, comprising: a pen body, operable on a digital
pad; an electromagnetic circuit module disposed within the pen
body, wherein the electromagnetic circuit module issues an
electromagnetic signal to the digital pad when the pen body is in
operation, and the digital pad or a computer having a display
screen in communication with the digital pad implements an input
action according to the electromagnetic signal; a color picking
switch, wherein at least a portion of the color picking switch is
exposed outside the pen body and a color picking signal is
generated when a specific color shown on a screen image of the
display screen is pointed at by the digital pen and the color
picking switch is pressed; and a wireless transmission module
disposed within the pen body and electrically connected with the
color picking switch, wherein the color picking signal is outputted
through the wireless transmission module, and the specific color
shown on the screen image pointed at by the digital pen is picked
according to the color picking signal.
2. The digital pen according to claim 1, wherein the digital pad is
a graphics tablet, and the graphics tablet is in communication with
the computer.
3. The digital pen according to claim 2, wherein the graphics
tablet further comprises a wireless receiving module to receive the
color picking signal from the wireless transmission module, and the
computer acquires the color picking signal through the digital pad,
and after the color picking signal is acquired, the specific color
is picked according to the color picking signal for subsequent
writing or drawing.
4. The digital pen according to claim 2, wherein the computer
further comprises a wireless receiving module to receive the color
picking signal from the wireless transmission module, wherein after
the color picking signal is received by the wireless receiving
module, the specific color is picked according to the color picking
signal for subsequent writing or drawing.
5. The digital pen according to claim 1, wherein the digital pad is
a touch screen.
6. The digital pen according to claim 5, wherein the digital pad
further comprises a wireless receiving module to receive the color
picking signal from the wireless transmission module, wherein after
the color picking signal is received by the wireless receiving
module, the specific color is picked according to the color picking
signal for subsequent writing or drawing.
7. The digital pen according to claim 1, wherein the color picking
switch is a touch-sensitive switch or a pressure sensitive
switch.
8. The digital pen according to claim 7, wherein the pen body has a
grasping surface, and a region between the color picking switch and
the grasping surface is a non-protruded flat surface.
9. The digital pen according to claim 1, wherein the color picking
switch is a physical key switch.
10. The digital pen according to claim 1, wherein the wireless
transmission module is a Bluetooth transmission module or a 2.4G
wireless radio frequency transmission module.
11. An input device, comprising: a digital pad in communication
with a computer having a display screen; and a digital pen
comprising: a pen body, operable on the digital pad; an
electromagnetic circuit module disposed within the pen body,
wherein when the electromagnetic circuit module issues an
electromagnetic signal to the digital pad when the pen body is in
operation, the computer implements an input action according to the
electromagnetic signal; a color picking switch, wherein at least a
portion of the color picking switch is exposed outside the pen body
and a color picking signal is generated when a specific color shown
on a screen image of the display screen is pointed at by the
digital pen and the color picking switch is pressed; and a wireless
transmission module disposed within the pen body and electrically
connected with the color picking switch, wherein the color picking
signal is transmitted to the digital pad or the computer through
the wireless transmission module, and after the color picking
signal is acquired by the computer, the specific color shown on the
screen image of the computer pointed at by the digital pen is
picked according to the color picking signal.
12. The input device according to claim 11, wherein the digital pad
is a graphics tablet, and the graphics tablet comprises a control
circuit module, wherein after the electromagnetic signal from the
electromagnetic circuit module is received by the control circuit
module, the electromagnetic signal is converted into an input
signal by the control circuit module, and the computer implements
the input action according to the input signal.
13. The input device according to claim 12, wherein one of the
graphics tablet and the computer further comprises a wireless
receiving module to receive the color picking signal from the
wireless transmission module, and when the graphics tablet
comprises the wireless receiving module, the computer acquires the
color picking signal through the digital pad, and the specific
color is picked for subsequent writing or drawing according to the
color picking signal, and when the computer comprises the wireless
receiving module, the specific color is picked for subsequent
writing or drawing according to the color picking signal after the
color picking signal is received by the wireless receiving
module.
14. The input device according to claim 11, wherein the color
picking switch is a touch-sensitive switch or a pressure sensitive
switch.
15. The input device according to claim 11, wherein the pen body
has a grasping surface, and a region between the color picking
switch and the grasping surface is a non-protruded flat
surface.
16. The input device according to claim 11, wherein the wireless
transmission module is a Bluetooth transmission module or a 2.4G
wireless radio frequency transmission module.
17. An input device, comprising: a digital pad, wherein a screen
image is shown on the digital pad; and a digital pen comprising: a
pen body, operable on the digital pad; an electromagnetic circuit
module disposed within the pen body, wherein the electromagnetic
circuit module issues an electromagnetic signal to the digital pad
when the pen body in in operation, and the digital pad implements
an input action according to the electromagnetic signal; a color
picking switch, wherein at least a portion of the color picking
switch is exposed outside the pen body and a color picking signal
is generated when a specific color shown in the screen image is
pointed at by the digital pen and the color picking switch is
pressed; and a wireless transmission module disposed within the pen
body and electrically connected with the color picking switch,
wherein the color picking signal is transmitted to the digital pad
through the wireless transmission module, and after the color
picking signal is acquired by the digital pad, the specific color
shown on the screen image and pointed at by the digital pen is
picked according to the color picking signal.
18. The input device according to claim 17, wherein the color
picking switch is a touch-sensitive switch or a pressure sensitive
switch.
19. The input device according to claim 18, wherein the pen body
has a grasping surface, and a region between the color picking
switch and the grasping surface is a non-protruded flat
surface.
20. The input device according to claim 17, wherein the wireless
transmission module is a Bluetooth transmission module or a 2.4G
wireless radio frequency transmission module.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to an input device, and more
particularly to an input device with a digital pen.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] With the increasing development of science and technology,
computer systems become essential electronic devices. Generally, a
computer system comprises a host, a display screen and an input
device. For example, the common input device includes a mouse or a
keyboard. In addition, the cooperation of a digital pen and a
graphics tablet provides the function of an input device. When the
user holds the digital pen to write or draw on the graphics tablet,
the writing content or the drawing content is sensed by the
graphics tablet. Then, an input signal corresponding to the writing
content or the drawing content is transmitted from the graphics
tablet to the host. According to the input signal, the characters,
symbols or drawings that written or drawn on the graphics tablet
with the digital pen are shown on the display screen.
[0003] Generally, an editing program is installed on the host in
order to operate the digital pen and the graphics tablet. When the
editing program is executed, a tool bar is shown for the user to
click, set or use. For example, the user may set the thickness,
type or color of the input line on a corresponding position of the
tool bar, or the user may use an eyedropper tool (or a color
picker) of the tool bar to pick a color shown on the screen image
to perform the subsequent drawing operation.
[0004] As mentioned above, the conventional digital pen has some
drawbacks. When the user intends to pick a color shown on the
screen image, the user cannot directly operate the digital pen with
a finger to achieve this purpose. That is, after the editing
program in the host is executed and the eyedropper tool (or the
color picker) is used, the subsequent drawing operation is
performed. The digital pen and the graphics tablet are not
user-friendly to the regular users such as computer graphics
designer.
[0005] In other words, the input device for writing or drawing by
hand need to be further improved.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] An object of the present invention provides a digital pen
with a color picking switch. When the user's finger presses the
color picking switch of the digital pen, a certain color shown on a
screen image of a computer or a digital pad is picked and a
subsequent action is performed.
[0007] Another object of the present invention provides an input
device with the digital pen.
[0008] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a
digital pen is provided. The digital pen includes a pen body, an
electromagnetic circuit module, a color picking switch and a
wireless transmission module. When the pen body is held by a user,
the pen body is operable on the digital pad. The electromagnetic
circuit module is disposed within the pen body. When the pen body
is operated by the user, the electromagnetic circuit module issues
an electromagnetic signal to the digital pad, and the digital pad
or a computer in communication with the digital pad implements an
input action according to the electromagnetic signal. At least a
portion of the color picking switch is exposed outside the pen
body. When the color picking switch is pressed by the user, a color
picking signal is generated. The wireless transmission module
disposed within the pen body and electrically connected with the
color picking switch. The color picking signal is outputted through
the wireless transmission module, and a color pointed through the
digital pen is picked according to the color picking signal.
[0009] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
an input device is provided. The input device includes a digital
pad and a digital pen. The digital pad is in communication with a
computer. The digital pen includes a pen body, an electromagnetic
circuit module, a color picking switch and a wireless transmission
module. When the pen body is held by a user, the pen body is
operable on the digital pad. The electromagnetic circuit module is
disposed within the pen body. When the pen body is operated by the
user, the electromagnetic circuit module issues an electromagnetic
signal to the digital pad, and the computer implements an input
action according to the electromagnetic signal. At least a portion
of the color picking switch is exposed outside the pen body. When
the color picking switch is pressed by the user, a color picking
signal is generated. The wireless transmission module is disposed
within the pen body and electrically connected with the color
picking switch. The color picking signal is transmitted to the
digital pad or the computer through the wireless transmission
module. After the color picking signal is acquired by the computer,
a color shown on a screen image of the computer and pointed through
the digital pen is picked according to the color picking
signal.
[0010] In accordance with a further aspect of the present
invention, an input device is provided. The input device includes a
digital pad and a digital pen. A screen image is shown on the
digital pad. The digital pen includes a pen body, an
electromagnetic circuit module, a color picking switch and a
wireless transmission module. When the pen body is held by a user,
the pen body is operable on the digital pad. The electromagnetic
circuit module is disposed within the pen body. When the pen body
is operated by the user, the electromagnetic circuit module issues
an electromagnetic signal to the digital pad, and the digital pad
implements an input action according to the electromagnetic signal.
At least a portion of the color picking switch is exposed outside
the pen body. When the color picking switch is pressed by the user,
a color picking signal is generated. The wireless transmission
module is disposed within the pen body and electrically connected
with the color picking switch. The color picking signal is
transmitted to the digital pad through the wireless transmission
module. After the color picking signal is acquired by the digital
pad, a color shown on the screen image and pointed through the
digital pen is picked according to the color picking signal.
[0011] The above objects and advantages of the present invention
will become more readily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in
the art after reviewing the following detailed description and
accompanying drawings, in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a usage concept of an input
device according to a first embodiment of the present
invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the
communication between the input device of FIG. 1 and a
computer;
[0014] FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a usage concept of an input
device according to a second embodiment of the present
invention;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the
communication between the input device of FIG. 3 and a
computer;
[0016] FIG. 5 schematically illustrates a usage concept of an input
device according to a third embodiment of the present invention;
and
[0017] FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the
communication between the input device of FIG. 5 and a
computer.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0018] Please refer to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 schematically
illustrates a usage concept of an input device according to a first
embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic block
diagram illustrating the communication between the input device of
FIG. 1 and a computer. The input device 1A comprises a digital pad
11A and a digital pen 12A. The digital pad 11A is in communication
with the computer 2A. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the digital pad
11A is in communication with the computer 2A in a wired connection
manner. Alternatively, the digital pad 11A is in communication with
the computer 2A in a wireless connection manner. When the user
holds the digital pen 12A to perform an operation on the digital
pad 11A, the information about the operation is sensed by the
digital pad 11A and a corresponding input signal S1 is transmitted
from the digital pad 11A to the computer 2A. According to the input
signal S1, the computer 2A implements a corresponding input action.
For example, when the input action is implemented, the handwriting
content or the hand-drawing content on the digital pad 11A through
the use of the digital pen 12A is shown on a display screen 21 of
the computer 2A.
[0019] In an embodiment, the digital pad 11A is a graphics tablet.
Moreover, the digital pad 11A comprises a control circuit module
111. The digital pen 12A comprises a pen body 121 and an
electromagnetic circuit module 122. The electromagnetic circuit
module 122 is disposed within the pen body 121. The electromagnetic
circuit module 122 comprises an oscillation circuit, which is
composed of an inductor, a capacitor and associated components.
When the user holds the pen body 121 to write or draw on the
digital pad 11A, the inductance value or the inductance value of
the electromagnetic circuit module 122 undergoes a continuous
change. According to the continuous change of the inductance value
or the inductance value, a corresponding electromagnetic signal S2
is generated. After the electromagnetic signal S2 from the digital
pen 12A is received by the control circuit module 111 of the
digital pad 11A, the electromagnetic signal S2 is converted into an
input signal S1 by the control circuit module 111. Then, the input
signal S1 is transmitted to the computer 2A. According to the input
signal S1, the computer 2A acquires the coordinate information of
the digital pen 12A on the digital pad 11A and the pressure level
of using the digital pen 12A. Consequently, the handwriting content
or the hand-drawing content on the digital pad 11A through the use
of the digital pen 12A is shown on the display screen 21 of the
computer 2A.
[0020] In this embodiment, the digital pad 11A further comprises a
wireless receiving module 112, and the digital pen 12A further
comprises a color picking switch 123 and a wireless transmission
module 124. The wireless transmission module 124 is connected with
the color picking switch 123. At least a portion of the color
picking switch 123 is exposed outside the pen body 121. When the
user holds the pen body 121 to write or draw on the digital pad
11A, the user may press the color picking switch 123. Consequently,
the color shown on the screen image of the display screen 21 of the
computer 2A and pointed through the pen body 121 is picked.
[0021] For example, when the user intends to use a specified color
shown on the screen image of the display screen 21 to implement the
subsequent action, the user may move the digital pen 12A on the
digital pad 11A to point the specified color on the display screen
21. Then, the color picking switch 123 of the digital pen 12A is
pressed. After the color picking switch 123 is pressed, the color
picking switch 123 issues a color picking signal S3. The color
picking signal S3 is transmitted to the wireless receiving module
112 of the digital pad 11A through the wireless transmission module
124 of the digital pen 12A. Then, the color picking signal S3 is
transmitted to the computer 2A through the digital pad 11A.
According to the color picking signal S3, the color pointed through
the digital pen 12A is picked by the computer 2A. Consequently, the
subsequent writing or drawing contents have the picked color.
[0022] In an embodiment, the wireless transmission module 124 of
the digital pen 12A is a Bluetooth transmission module, the
wireless receiving module 112 of the digital pad 11A is a Bluetooth
receiving module, and the color picking switch 123 is a
touch-sensitive switch. Preferably but not exclusively, the pen
body 121 of the digital pen 12A has a grasping surface 1211.
Moreover, the region between the color picking switch 123 and the
grasping surface 1211 is a non-protruded flat surface.
Consequently, when the pen body 121 of the digital pen 12A is held
to write or draw, the color picking switch 123 will not become
hindrance from operating the digital pen 12A.
[0023] It is noted that numerous modifications and alterations may
be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. For
example, in another embodiment, the wireless transmission module
124 of the digital pen 12A is a 2.4G wireless radio frequency
transmission module, and the wireless receiving module 112 of the
digital pad 11A is a 2.4G wireless radio frequency receiving
module. Moreover, in another embodiment, the color picking switch
123 of the digital pen 12A is a pressure sensitive switch or a
physical key switch.
[0024] Please refer to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 schematically
illustrates a usage concept of an input device according to a
second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic
block diagram illustrating the communication between the input
device of FIG. 3 and a computer. Component parts and elements
corresponding to those of the first embodiment are designated by
identical numeral references, and detailed descriptions thereof are
omitted. Similarly, the input device 1B of this embodiment
comprises a digital pad 11B and a digital pen 12B. In comparison
with the first embodiment, the computer 2B in communication with
the digital pad 11B of this embodiment further comprises a wireless
receiving module 22B.
[0025] When the user presses the color picking switch 123 of the
digital pen 12B, the color picking switch 123 issues a color
picking signal S3. The color picking signal S3 is directly
transmitted to the wireless receiving module 22B of the computer 2B
through the wireless transmission module 124 of the digital pen
12B. That is, the computer 2B acquires the color picking signal S3
not through the digital pad 11B. Similarly, according to the color
picking signal S3, the color pointed through the digital pen 12B is
picked by the computer 2B. Consequently, the subsequent writing or
drawing contents have the picked color.
[0026] Please refer to FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. 5 schematically
illustrates a usage concept of an input device according to a third
embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic block
diagram illustrating the communication between the input device of
FIG. 5 and a computer. Component parts and elements corresponding
to those of the first embodiment are designated by identical
numeral references, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.
Similarly, the input device 1C of this embodiment comprises a
digital pad 11C and a digital pen 12C. In comparison with the first
embodiment, the digital pad 11C is a touch screen that shows an
image and allows the user to perform a touch control operation.
When the user holds the digital pen 12C to click, write or draw on
the digital pad 11C, the information about the operation is sensed
by the digital pad 11C. Consequently, the input device 1C
implements a corresponding input action. For example, when the
input action is implemented, the handwriting content or the
hand-drawing content on the digital pad 11C through the use of the
digital pen 12C is shown on a display screen 113 of the digital pad
11C.
[0027] When the user holds the pen body 121 to write or draw on the
digital pad 11C, the inductance value or the inductance value of
the electromagnetic circuit module 122 undergoes a continuous
change. According to the continuous change of the inductance value
or the inductance value, a corresponding electromagnetic signal S2
is generated. After the electromagnetic signal S2 from the digital
pen 12C is received by the control circuit module 111 of the
digital pad 11C, the electromagnetic signal S2 is processed by the
control circuit module 111. Consequently, the control circuit
module 111 of the digital pad 11C acquires the coordinate
information of the digital pen 12C on the digital pad 11C and the
pressure level of using the digital pen 12C. Consequently, the
handwriting content or the hand-drawing content on the digital pad
11C through the use of the digital pen 12C is shown on the display
screen 113 of the digital pad 11C.
[0028] Similarly, the digital pad 11C further comprises a wireless
receiving module 112. When the user intends to use a specified
color shown on the screen image of the display screen 113 of the
digital pad 11C to implement the subsequent action, the user may
move the digital pen 12C on the digital pad 11C to point the
specified color. Then, the color picking switch 123 of the digital
pen 12C is pressed. After the color picking switch 123 is pressed,
the color picking switch 123 issues a color picking signal S3. The
color picking signal S3 is transmitted to the wireless receiving
module 112 of the digital pad 11C through the wireless transmission
module 124 of the digital pen 12C. After the color picking signal
S3 is received by the digital pad 11C, the color pointed through
the digital pen 12C is picked by the digital pad 11C. Consequently,
the subsequent writing or drawing contents have the picked
color.
[0029] From the above descriptions, the present invention provides
the input device. When the input device is used to write or draw
and the user intends to pick a color shown on the screen image of
the computer or the digital pad to implement the subsequent action,
it is not necessary to select the eyedropper tool (or the color
picker) of the editing program. Instead, when the color picking
switch of the digital pen is pressed by the user, the purpose of
picking the color is achieved. Consequently, the input device of
the present invention can effectively enhance the working
efficiency of the user. In other words, the input device of the
present invention is industrially valuable.
[0030] While the invention has been described in terms of what is
presently considered to be the most practical and preferred
embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention needs not be
limited to the disclosed embodiments. On the contrary, it is
intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements
included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims which
are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to
encompass all modifications and similar structures.
* * * * *