US5369262A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic stylus type optical reader
Assignee: Symbol Technologies LLC
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Filing: 1993-08-02
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Granted: 1994-11-29
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Expires: 2013-08-02
Abstract
Abstract An electronic stylus, for use with a computer having a digitizer, has a light emitter for emitting light to illuminate optically encoded information. A photodetector senses light reflected from the illuminated optically encoded information and produced an electrical signal representative of the optically encoded information. Stylus electronics provide positional input data by contacting a digitizer tablet with the stylus. The stylus housing contains the light emitter, photodetector and stylus electronics. A tip at a fore end of the housing is adapted for contact with the digitizer tablet and the light is emitted from other than the fore end of the housing.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul Dvorkis
- 👤 Ralph Thomas
- 👤 David Goren
- 👤 Robert Fuller
- 👤 Leonard H. Goldner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 07:10
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/10; G06K7/10544; G06K7/10821; G06K7/10881; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/03; G06F3/033; G06F3/0354; G06F3/03543; G06F3/03545
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
An electronic stylus for use with a computer having a digitizer, said stylus comprising: a light emitter for emitting light for illumination of optically encoded information; a photodetector for sensing light reflected from the illuminated optically encoded information and producing an electrical signal representative of the optically encoded information; stylus electronics for providing positional input data by contacting a digitizer tablet with said stylus; and a stylus housing containing said light emitter, said photodetector and said stylus electronics, said stylus housing having a tip disposed at a fore end of said housing adapted for contact with the digitizer tablet; wherein said light is emitted from other than said fore end of said housing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
113 words
An electronic stylus for use with a computer having a digitizer, said stylus comprising: a light emitter for emitting light for illumination of optically encoded information; a photodetector for sensing light reflected from the illuminated optically encoded information and producing an electrical signal representative of the optically encoded information; stylus electronics for providing positional input data by contacting a digitizer tablet with said stylus; and a stylus housing containing said light emitter, said photodetector and said stylus electronics, said stylus housing having a tip disposed at a fore end of said housing adapted for contact with the digitizer tablet; wherein said light is emitted from other than said fore end of said housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising a wireless transmitter for sending data signals representative of the optically encoded information from said apparatus to a computer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said stylus housing includes a fore end portion which tapers to a point for contact with a digitizer tablet during operation of the apparatus as a stylus.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
An apparatus as in claim 3, wherein a distal end of said housing contains the light emitter and the photodetector, said light emitter being oriented to emit the light from said distal end of said housing in a direction toward the point of the fore end portion of the housing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
An apparatus as in claim 3, wherein a distal end of said housing contains the light emitter and the photodetector, said light emitter being oriented to emit the light from said distal end of said housing in a direction away from the fore end of the housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
64 words
An apparatus as in claim 3, wherein: said housing is elongated in a direction; said fore end portion contains said stylus electronics, and a distal end portion contains said light emitter and photodetector; and said distal end portion has a cross sectional area orthogonal to said direction which is larger than a cross sectional area of said fore end portion orthogonal to said direction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said digitizer tablet includes signal processing circuitry for processing a signal corresponding to said electrical signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein a distal end of said housing contains said light emitter and said light is emitted from said distal end of said housing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein: said tip and said light emitter are separated by a distance; and said light emitter is disposed from said optically encoded information by said distance during the emitting of light.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said tip is a conductive electrical contact.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said light emitter includes a scanning motor for repetitively oscillating a light source, and said emitted light is a scanning light beam.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus as in claim 11, wherein said scanning motor also repetitively oscillates said photodetector.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-11-28 | 1998-05-30 | 1998-11-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-11-28 | 2002-05-30 | 2002-11-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-11-28 | 2006-05-30 | 2006-11-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |