Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display peripheral interface input device – Stylus
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-21
2001-06-19
Saras, Steven (Department: 2775)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display peripheral interface input device
Stylus
C345S157000, C401S008000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06249277
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to writing stylus for “touch screen” devices. “Touch screen” devices are devices that can sense and record when an object contacts their surface. The invention relates to such devices that sense and record or relay data when contacted by passive-non-electrical objects. Particularly, the invention is directed to a writing stylus for touch screen devices that the user can wear on or attach to their finger.
2. Related Art
Recently personal digital assistants (“PDA's”) such as the Palm Pilot from 3COM, Microsoft Windows CE based handheld PC's, the Apple Newton, or personal organizers such as the Sharp Zaurus have been produced with touch sensitive screens. These computing devices typically include a simple wooden or plastic pen-type stylus with a non-marking tip. The stylus is touched to the screen in order to act like a mouse (to move the cursor, highlight text, etc.) or to enter information (characters for handwriting recognition, drawings, etc.). A non-marking implement is used so that the screen of the device will not be scratched or damaged when touched. In addition, these pen-style styli must usually be over four inches (10 cm.) long to be properly supported by a user's hand. This requires a significant amount of space, within the case of a touch screen device, for storage of the stylus.
Moreover, the stylus for such devices is often lost. Copies of the original stylus may or may not be available. Therefore replacement styli are necessary. In addition, existing styli are pen-shaped. This requires the user to stop what they are doing and pick up or put down these specialized styli when they wish to enter information in the touch screen device while doing other work such as typing or writing. In place of the normal stylus a user will occasionally use a fingertip as a stylus; unfortunately a fingertip is blunt and a user often cannot position their finger with sufficient accuracy to locate the cursor or enter other data where needed on the screen.
Recently two patents have been issued regarding digital styli to the A. T. Cross Company. These U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,635,682 and 5,627,348 cover the creation of a replaceable non-marking stylus core in conventional pen-shaped writing instruments, and the composition of the non-marking stylus tip that will produce a “sound and feel” comparable to traditional writing on paper. Neither of these inventions contemplate the use of a non-marking stylus attached to or covering a portion of a user's finger.
Other prior art contemplates the use of a writing implement, i.e., a pencil or pen, attached to a finger. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 198,484 of 1877 uses a perforated finger sleeve to attach a pen, “a pencil or other writing or marking instrument” to one's finger. Other patents, including U.S. Pat. No. 361,535 of 1887, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,405,206, use an assortment of rings, metal clamps or thimble type devices to attach writing instruments (most of which use ink or some other physical marking process) to one's finger. U.S. Pat. No. 4,738,556 uses a Velcro strap to secure a pen in-line with the end of a finger. A recent fingertip stylus device has been shown on the Internet. The device is a rotatable bent wire ring including a tip extension for contacting a touch screen. Still other prior art contemplates the use of finger mounted writing implements for digital tablets, however, these patents contemplate use of devices which gather or send electrical signals from the device tips and do not contemplate a passive, non-marking tip. These patents include U.S. Pat. No. 4,954,817 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,706,026.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Generally, the purpose of the device is to provide a stylus for touch screen devices that the user can wear on or attached to their finger. It will allow a user to enter data on a touch screen without having to hold a separate stylus or pen-type implement, and will allow users to type on a keyboard or hold a normal (marking) pen without having to remove or adjust the finger mounted stylus, hereinafter called the “finger stylus”.
The current invention provides a finger stylus that can be attached in a variety of ways to the user's finger. It uses a strap type body with an easily removable fastener (such as a Velcro® hook and loop type material, or a magnetic clasp) or can be an elastic fabric or rubber ring, each with a passive non-marking tip attached or incorporated therein. The device will be attached to or cover a portion of the finger. The device may be manufactured as two or more pieces so that the attachment or “strap” portion of the preferred embodiment of the device and the non-marking tip can be made of different materials. The attachment or “strap” portion of the device can be made entirely of plastic “Velcro” material, or of rubber, leather, or fabric with Velcro material or other separable fastener at the ends. The non-marking tip of the device extends outwardly from a position above or to the side of a user's finger and in a general parallel direction to the user's fingertip so as not to interfere with a user's ability to type or otherwise use the finger. Since the non-marking tip may wear down with use and require replacement, the finger stylus preferably has a replaceable non-marking tip. The non-marking tip may be made of different materials such as wood, plastic or hard rubber or a combination of these and be of different shapes so that it can work on different screen surfaces without marking. The non-marking finger mounted stylus can be used not only with self contained touch screen “PDA's”, etc. but also with touch screen tablets or pads attached to other computing devices or computers, and other electrical devices incorporating touch screens such as cellular phones, etc.
The present invention will allow a user to enter data on a touch screen without having to hold a separate stylus or pen type implement, and will allow a user to type on a keyboard or hold a normal (marking) pen without having to remove or adjust the finger mounted stylus. The finger stylus on the user's finger will not interfere with the user's ability to perform other work such as typing, traditional cursory writing with a pen, operating a computer mouse, etc. while the finger stylus remains affixed to the user's finger.
The non-marking finger stylus can be rolled, unrolled, flattened or folded to a very small size so that it can be easily carried, or attached to or contained in touch screen devices, for example, by attaching the stylus fastening part to a complementary portion of Velcro material affixed to an edge of the computer screen or case. The finger stylus is adjustable longitudinally with respect to the user's finger so that the tip may accurately contact target areas of a touch screen device. The finger stylus is simple to use, inexpensive to make and is comfortable to wear or have attached to one's finger. The finger stylus cushions and redirects the impact force, resulting from the repetitive contact of the non-marking tip with the screen, away from the tip of ones finger or finger nail. The non-marking tip can be extended or retracted various distances beyond the tip of the user's finger to adjust for various finger lengths, finger diameter and fingernail length. Non-marking tips of various materials and shapes are provided for contacting the surface of a particular touch screen device. The non-marking tip can be extended various distances to compensate for the erosion of the non-marking tip as the tip is used. The finger stylus is so light-in-weight, e.g., about 1.4 grams, that after a minute or so the user is no longer aware that it is on his or her fingertip.
The finger stylus for a touch screen includes a flexible non-metallic elastic ring, or fabric-like strap having distal ends, each of the distal ends includes parts of an interconnect fastener such as a hooks and loops or a magnetic fastener. The strap forms a wraparound for a human fingertip such that, in us
Alphonse Fritz
Saras Steven
Skjerven Morrill & MacPherson LLP
Steuber David E.
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