Digital pen

Abstract

The invention relates to a digital pen comprising an elongated pen portion (11) having: a front pen portion section (12) with writing elements for writing on a base pad, such as paper or a touch screen; and a pen section (13) arranged further rearward than the front pen section (12), in which pen section a rechargeable battery (14) for powering at least one electronic component of the front pen section (12) is arranged entirely or partially, the rechargeable battery (14) having at least two electrical contacts, a charging current of a charging source can be supplied to the rechargeable battery (14) via the electrical contacts. The invention is characterized in that the rechargeable battery (14) is detachably arranged in the more rearward arranged pen section (13) in order to remove the rechargeable battery (14) from the pen section (11).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a digital pen, which includes an elongated pen body having: a front pen body section with a writing element (especially configured as a writing tip) for writing on a backing pad such as paper or a touch screen; and a pen body section arranged more rearward relative to the front pen body section, especially having a housing, in which a (especially elongated) rechargeable battery for powering at least one electronic component of the front pen body section is wholly or partly arranged, wherein the rechargeable battery has at least two electrical contacts through which a charging current of a power source for charging the rechargeable battery can be supplied to the rechargeable battery. Background Art

[0002] Such digital pens with rechargeable batteries are known. The problem with these pens is especially that the user cannot remove the corresponding rechargeable battery from the digital pen. Therefore, in case of damage, the old battery cannot be replaced with a new rechargeable battery. This is also problematic from an environmental perspective because the rechargeable battery cannot be disposed of separately. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Starting from this, the object of the present invention is to further improve the digital pen described at the beginning.

[0004] This object is achieved by a digital pen having the features of claim 1.

[0005] Therefore, the digital pen of the present invention is characterized in that, different from the prior art, the rechargeable battery is detachably arranged in the more rearwardly arranged pen body section so as to remove the rechargeable battery from the pen body. The prerequisite for such detachability is that the user can take out the rechargeable battery from the more rearwardly arranged pen body section when needed.

[0006] In addition, such a pen can be based on any known technology for such digital input pens or use any known technology. Therefore, the digital pen can especially be an electromagnetic, optoelectronic, EMR, capacitive, inductive or resistive digital pen, for example.

[0007] According to the present invention, a pen section for removing a rechargeable battery and arranged more rearwardly can be detachably fixed to another pen section, in particular to a front pen section, for example, fixed in a force-locking and / or form-fitting manner. Such a detachable fixing can be achieved, for example, by means of a threaded connection, a snap connection or a bayonet connection, and in particular in such a way that the rechargeable battery can be removed from the more rearwardly arranged pen section through an opening of the more rearwardly arranged pen section facing the other pen section in a state where it is removed from the other pen section. In other words, in this case, the user can first detach the more rearwardly arranged pen section accordingly and then remove the rechargeable battery detachably arranged therein.

[0008] Preferably, according to the present invention, one or both of the electrical contacts of the rechargeable battery (through which a charging current is supplied to the rechargeable battery) can be arranged in a region of the front end portion of the rechargeable battery facing the writing element and / or adjacent to the front end portion. Alternatively or additionally, one or both of the electrical contacts of the rechargeable battery can also be arranged in a region of the rear end portion of the rechargeable battery facing away from the writing element or adjacent to the rear end portion.

[0009] Two electrical contacts of the rechargeable battery (through which a charging current can be supplied to the rechargeable battery) can each be detachably electrically connected to an electrical contact of the front pen section that is respectively electrically conductive to an electronic component of the front pen section, in particular arranged in the front pen section, for powering the electronic component.

[0010] In the case where the two electrical contacts of the rechargeable battery for supplying a charging current are arranged in a region of the rear end portion of the rechargeable battery facing away from the writing element or adjacent to the rear end portion, arranged in a region of the front end portion of the rechargeable battery facing the writing element or adjacent to the front end portion, the rechargeable battery can have two additional electrical contacts for powering the electronic components of the front pen section, and each of the two additional electrical contacts can be detachably electrically connected to an electrical contact of the front pen section that is conductively connected to the electronic components of the front pen section.

[0011] Each of the two electrical contacts for supplying a charging current of the rechargeable battery or each of the two electrical contacts for powering the electronic component of the rechargeable battery can be part of a common plug connector component, in particular part of the following plug connector component, on which (at least one) electrical conductor preferably configured as a power line is connected, and the electrical conductor is electrically connected to one of the two poles of the rechargeable battery.

[0012] Here, the or each plug connector component can be detachably connected to a plug connector mating part (in particular arranged on the front pen section) to form an electrical plug connection, and the plug connector mating part has electrical contacts of the front pen section, in particular the following electrical contacts, through which a charging current can be supplied to the rechargeable battery and / or through which a power supply current from the rechargeable battery can be supplied to the electronic components of the front pen section.

[0013] Each of the two electrical contacts for supplying a charging current of the rechargeable battery or each of the two electrical contacts for powering the electronic component of the rechargeable battery can include a contact surface (in particular a contact surface made of a conductive material) directly arranged on the rechargeable battery, in particular arranged on its battery housing, and preferably forming one of the poles of the rechargeable battery, or is formed by such a contact surface.

[0014] Here, one of the contact surfaces can form the positive pole of the rechargeable battery, while the other contact surface can form the negative pole of the rechargeable battery.

[0015] It can also be provided that one or both of the contact surfaces are arranged on the preferably flat end side of the rechargeable battery that extends at an angle (in particular transversely) with respect to the longitudinal axis of the pen and forms the front free end of the rechargeable battery.

[0016] One or both of the contact surfaces can be configured in a ring-shaped surface, and / or one contact surface can form the surrounding inner side of the hollow cylindrical section of the rechargeable battery.

[0017] Two ring-shaped contact surfaces can also be arranged concentrically.

[0018] In addition, the more rearwardly arranged pen section can have an accommodation cavity that is particularly elongated and preferably hollow cylindrical, and the rechargeable battery can be detachably arranged completely or partially in the accommodation cavity, in particular slidingly abutting against the surrounding accommodation cavity wall that laterally defines the accommodation cavity.

[0019] The pen part, in particular the front or rear pen part section, can also have an electronic module for managing the charging process of a rechargeable battery, in particular an electronic module for managing the charging process, which is electrically connected in a wired manner to two electrical contacts of the rechargeable battery for supplying a charging current.

[0020] It can also be provided that a receiving device of the digital pen for receiving charging energy, in particular a receiving device arranged on the pen part or on a (separable) substantially elongated protective cap that can be detachably fixed to the pen part in the charging connection state, is coupled to the rechargeable battery such that the charging energy transferred to the receiving device from a (particularly electrically operated) charging power source for charging the rechargeable battery can be further transferred or is capable of being further transferred to the rechargeable battery.

[0021] Here, the charging energy of the charging power source can be transferred to the receiving device either in a wired or wireless manner, in particular in a wired manner by means of current transfer or wirelessly by induction, capacitive means or by electromagnetic wave transmission.

[0022] Furthermore, the receiving device can be formed by (at least) two electrical contacts to which the charging current of the charging power source can be supplied for charging the rechargeable battery. The receiving device is in particular formed by electrical contacts that are part of an interface arranged on the digital pen, in particular on the front or rear pen part section, or on the protective cap, for detachably connecting a power supply line or a power data line that is connected or can be connected to the charging power source.

[0023] Here, the receiving device can include a unit for inductively or capacitively receiving charging energy or a unit for receiving electromagnetic waves for transferring charging energy.

[0024] In the case where the protective cap has a receiving device, the receiving device can be wirelessly coupled (in particular inductively, capacitively or by means of electromagnetic waves) and / or wiredly coupled to the rechargeable battery in the charging connection state of the protective cap and the pen part, so that the charging energy transferred to the receiving device is further transferred to the rechargeable battery.

[0025] The protective cap for transferring charging energy to the rechargeable battery can have a transmitting unit of the inductive energy transmission device of the digital pen, in particular including a transmitting coil, which is connected in a wired manner to the receiving device of the protective cap, in particular the electrical contacts.

[0026] The pen part (especially the front pen part section or one or the more rearwardly arranged pen part sections) can have a receiving unit of the inductive energy transmission device of the digital pen, especially including a receiving coil, which is wired to a rechargeable battery and acts inductively with a transmitting unit to transmit charging energy for charging the rechargeable battery to the receiving unit.

[0027] In the charging connection state between the protective cap and the pen part, the electrical contacts forming the receiving device of the protective cap can be wired to electrical contacts arranged on the pen part, especially arranged on the front part or one or the more rearwardly arranged pen part sections, and these electrical contacts are in turn conductively connected to the rechargeable battery.

[0028] The especially more frontwardly arranged electrical contacts of the receiving device of the protective cap can be wired to additional, especially more rearwardly arranged electrical contacts of the protective cap, wherein the additional electrical contacts of the protective cap are in contact with the electrical contacts of the pen part conductively connected to the rechargeable battery in the connected state between the protective cap and the pen part.

[0029] The receiving device of the protective cap can also be arranged on the (front) end side of the protective cap or on the especially circumferential outer side of the protective cap.

[0030] The electronic component that can be supplied with current by the rechargeable battery can be, for example, or include the writing element of the digital pen.

[0031] In its charging connection state detachably fixed to the pen part, the protective cap of the digital pen can cover at least one sub-section of the writing element and the front pen part section, or cover one or the more rearwardly arranged pen part sections, preferably including the (rear) free end of the pen part.

[0032] Here, in the case where the protective cap covers the more rearwardly arranged pen part section in the charging connection state, the protective cap can be detachably fixable to the pen part in another position, and in this other position, the protective cap covers at least one sub-section of the writing element and the front pen part section.

[0033] Other features of the present invention result from the appended claims, the following description of the preferred embodiments, and the drawings. Description of the Drawings

[0034] In the figures:

[0035] Figure 1Schematic diagram (longitudinal sectional view) showing a first embodiment of a digital pen with a removable and rechargeable battery, wherein the charging current for the rechargeable battery is supplied to the rear pen section of the digital pen, more precisely, by wire connection or cable connection via electrical contact wires arranged on the rear pen section.

[0036] Figure 2 Schematic diagram (longitudinal sectional view) showing a second embodiment of a digital pen with a removable and rechargeable battery, wherein the charging current is supplied to the rear pen section without wire connection or wirelessly.

[0037] Figure 3 Schematic diagram (longitudinal sectional view) showing a second embodiment of a digital pen, wherein the wireless supply of the charging current to the rear pen section is carried out by means of a protective cap detachably mounted on the rear pen section of the digital pen.

[0038] Figure 4 Shown separately for Figure 3 the protective cap (longitudinal sectional view) of the digital pen in

[0039] Figure 5 Schematic diagram (longitudinal sectional view) showing a third embodiment of a digital pen with a removable and rechargeable battery, wherein the charging current for the rechargeable battery is supplied to the front pen section of the digital pen, more precisely, by wire connection or cable connection via electrical contact wires arranged on the front pen section.

[0040] Figure 6 Schematic diagram (longitudinal sectional view) showing a fourth embodiment of a digital pen with a removable and rechargeable battery, wherein the charging current for the rechargeable battery is supplied to the front pen section of the digital pen, more precisely, by means of electrical contacts arranged on the front pen section, the electrical contacts being conductively connected to a protective cap detachably mounted on the front pen section of the digital pen, and the charging current is supplied to the protective cap by wire connection or cable connection.

[0041] Figure 7 Schematic diagram (longitudinal sectional view) showing a fifth embodiment of a digital pen with a removable and rechargeable battery, wherein the charging current for the rechargeable battery is supplied to the front pen section of the digital pen, more precisely, without wire connection or wirelessly through a protective cap detachably mounted on the front pen section of the digital pen, and the charging current is supplied to the protective cap by wire connection or cable connection.

[0042] Figure 8Schematic diagram (oblique view) showing a first embodiment of a removable, rechargeable battery for a digital pen, with two electrical (connection) contacts connected to the poles of the rechargeable battery via a power cord, said contacts being used to detachably connect the rechargeable battery to the electrical (mating) contacts of the digital pen,

[0043] Figure 9 The schematic diagram (oblique view) shows a second embodiment of a removable, rechargeable battery for a digital pen, with two annular contact surfaces formed by battery poles for detachable connection of electrical (mating) contacts of the digital pen. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] The accompanying drawings exemplarily illustrate various simplified exemplary embodiments of the digital pen 10 as may be implemented according to the core concept of the present invention. It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

[0045] The illustrated digital pen 10 has an elongated pen portion 11 comprising a front pen section 12 and a further rearwardly disposed pen section 13. According to the present invention, the digital pen 10 can be based on or utilize any known technology for such digital input pens. For example, the digital pen can be an electromagnetic, photoelectric, EMR, capacitive, inductive, or resistive digital pen.

[0046] The front pen section 12 has a writing element 33 , designed here as a writing tip, for writing on a substrate such as paper or a touch screen.

[0047] A rechargeable (here cylindrical) battery 14 is located in a, for example, hollow-cylindrical, receiving chamber 15 of the further rearwardly disposed pen section 13. During operation of the digital pen 10, this battery 14 supplies current to at least one electronic or electrically operated component 22 (within the scope of this application, such a component may also be understood as an assembly consisting of multiple electronic / electrical components) in the front pen section 12 of the digital pen 10. For an electro-optical pen, these components may be, for example, LEDs and / or cameras for determining the pen's position, or for an electromagnetic pen, an electromagnetic field generator, etc.

[0048] In order to be able to replace the rechargeable battery 14 with a new one, for example, at the end of its service life, or to be able to separately dispose of the rechargeable battery in the event of damage to the digital pen 10, the rechargeable battery 14 can be removably arranged in the further rearward pen section 13 or in the receiving chamber 15 or supported there.

[0049] For this purpose, it can be provided that the outer contour of the rechargeable battery 14, for example, is adapted to the receiving cavity 15 such that the walls, projections or the like defining the receiving cavity 15 ensure that the rechargeable battery is reliably held in the pen part 11 or in a more rearwardly arranged pen part section 13, so that, for example, it is not necessary to prevent disturbing relative movement of the rechargeable battery 14 inside the receiving cavity 15 by means of non-detachable adhesion or the like.

[0050] In this regard, it can be provided that the rechargeable battery 14 bears only slidably and thus removably easily against the surrounding wall part defining the receiving cavity 15, so that this wall part can be moved out of the more rearwardly arranged pen part section 13 by the user by means of a corresponding relative movement in the axial direction.

[0051] Here, the rechargeable battery bears slidably for this purpose against the housing wall 13b of the housing 13a of the more rearwardly arranged pen part section 13 that defines the receiving cavity 15.

[0052] Furthermore, the more rearwardly arranged pen part section 13 is detachably fixed to the front pen part section 12 at the end section 13c facing the front pen part section 12, for example, by means of a threaded connection, a snap connection or a bayonet connection.

[0053] Accordingly, the more rearwardly arranged pen part section 13 can be detached from the front pen part section 12 when required, and the rechargeable battery 14 is removed or taken out of this pen part section through the front opening 13d arranged on the end side of the end section 13c of the more rearwardly arranged pen part section 13.

[0054] In the present case, the more rearwardly arranged pen part section 13 simultaneously forms the rear free end of the pen part 11. Of course, it is theoretically also conceivable that the more rearwardly arranged pen part section 13 does not form the rear free end and is, for example, detachably connected to an additionally even more rearwardly arranged pen part section (especially including the rear free end of the pen part). It can also be provided here that, in this case, the removal of the rechargeable battery 14 detachably arranged in the more rearwardly arranged pen part section 13 is carried out through the opening of the more rearwardly arranged pen part section 13 facing the additional pen part section. Various different variants can be envisaged here.

[0055] In order to charge the rechargeable battery 14, Figures 1 to 4 shows a solution for supplying the required charging electrical energy through the more rearwardly arranged pen part section 13. In contrast, in the Figures 5 to 7 embodiment, the charging electrical energy is supplied through the front pen part section 12.

[0056] In Figure 1In the embodiments herein, it is stipulated that the charging current of an independent charging power source (such as a common current source or voltage source) not shown is supplied to the rearwardly arranged pen section 13 wireline, i.e., herein through an (at least two-core) electrical wire or power cord 16.

[0057] In this case, the rechargeable battery 14 has two charging electrical contacts not shown, which are detachably conductively connected to the charging management module 17, and the charging management module optimizes the charging process.

[0058] The charging management module 17 is herein further conductively / wireline coupled or connected to the receiving device 28 of the digital pen 10 for receiving the charging energy of the charging power source. Herein, the receiving device 28 is formed in the current case by (at least two) electrical connection contacts not shown, which are arranged on the rearwardly arranged pen section 13 and can be, for example (but not necessarily), part of an interface, and the interface optionally also has additional contacts, such as contacts for data transmission.

[0059] In the current case, the mating contacts 20, 21 can be detachably electrically connected to the electrical connection contacts of the receiving device 28 of the rearwardly arranged pen section 13. The mating contacts can be, for example, part of a plug member and are fixed on the power cord 16 leading to / can lead to a charging power source not shown.

[0060] It should be understood that the charging management module 17 is not necessary. It can also be stipulated that the receiving device 28 is directly formed by the charging contacts of the rechargeable battery 14, and the charging contacts are then directly detachably connectable or connected to the mating contacts 20, 21 of the power cord 16.

[0061] At least in the current case, the electrical charging contacts of the rechargeable battery 14 are directly arranged on the rearward-facing end surface of the rechargeable battery 14 and can be, for example, constructed as concentric, annular contact surfaces 18, 19 made of conductive material, also see Figure 9 In this case, these contact surfaces 18, 19 face the charging management module 17. Herein, these contact surfaces 18, 19 are preferably directly formed by the corresponding negative and positive electrodes of the rechargeable battery 14 and detachably abut against the electrical connection contacts of the charging management module.

[0062] To supply power to the at least one electronic component 22, the rechargeable battery 14 is also detachably and wiredly connected to the electronic component in the region of the end of its front-facing pen section 12. Specifically, this is exemplarily achieved by (e.g., cable-shaped) electrical conductors 23a, 23b, 24a, 24b, and the electrical conductors are detachably interconnected via corresponding detachable (electrical) connection contacts 25 or 26. The connection contact 26 can, for example, include a plug having connection contacts, and the plug is wiredly (e.g., via electrical conductors 24a, 24b) connected to the charging contacts of the rechargeable battery, in particular the poles of the rechargeable battery 14. Figure 8 An example of a rechargeable battery 14 with corresponding connection contacts 26 is shown.

[0063] It is also conceivable to omit the electrical conductors 24a, 24b. Thus, as Figure 9 shown, the rechargeable battery 14 can, for example, also have contact surfaces 18, 19 directly abutting on the connection contact 25 at the end of its front-facing pen section. It should be understood that various different variants can be envisaged here.

[0064] To remove the rechargeable battery 14, in Figure 1 the exemplary embodiment, the user can disassemble the more rearwardly arranged pen section 13 from the front pen section 12, disassemble the connection contact 25 from the connection contact 26, and disassemble the charging contacts of the rechargeable battery 14 from the charging management module 17. Then, the user can remove the rechargeable battery 14 from the more rearwardly arranged pen section 13.

[0065] In Figure 2 , 3 and the embodiment of 4, the receiving device 28 for receiving the charging energy of the charging power source is not arranged on the pen 11, but on the separate protective cap 27 of the digital pen 10.

[0066] The electrical connection contacts of the receiving device 28 that can be connected or are already connected to the mating contacts 20, 21 are arranged on the end side of the protective cap 27. Via connection lines 29a, 29b, these electrical connection contacts are conductively or wiredly connected to the transmitting unit 30 of the protective cover 27 of the device for wirelessly or without-wire connection to transmit charging energy to the digital pen 10.

[0067] In Figure 3In the charging connection state shown, the protective cap 27 is detachably fixed to the pen part 11 here, that is, detachably fixed to the more rearwardly arranged pen part section 13 there, more precisely, inserted onto the rear free end of the more rearwardly arranged pen part section 13 here. The rear free end of the more rearwardly arranged pen part section 13 is located in the receiving section 31 of the protective cap 27 here. The transmitting unit 30 of the protective cap 27 is arranged in the region of the receiving section 31 here and surrounds the rear free end of the more rearwardly arranged pen part section 13, such that the receiving unit 32 of the device for wirelessly transmitting charging energy (the device being a component of the pen part 11 or the more rearwardly arranged pen part section 13) is surrounded by the transmitting unit 30.

[0068] In the present case, the charging energy is inductively transmitted between the transmitting unit 30 and the receiving unit 32, but the charging energy can also be transmitted capacitively or by means of electromagnetic waves.

[0069] For inductive transmission, the transmitting unit 30 has a transmitting coil 30a known per se, while the receiving unit 32 has a receiving coil 32a known per se.

[0070] The receiving unit 32 or the receiving coil 32a is also wired-coupled to the charging contact of the rechargeable battery 14 (such as arranged on the rear end side in the Figure 1 embodiment), such that the charging energy received wirelessly or without a wire connection by the receiving unit 32 is transferred in the form of an electric current to the rechargeable battery 14 through the corresponding electric wires. As shown in the Figure 1 embodiment, for example, a charging management module 17 can also be interposed.

[0071] It should be noted that the protective cap 27 can generally be detachably connected to the pen part 11 not only in the Figure 3 position shown (in which the protective cap is inserted onto the more rearwardly arranged pen part section 13 in the charging connection state), but also in another protective position, in which the protective cap covers the writing element 33 (and at least one sub-section of the front pen part section 12) to protect the writing element 33.

[0072] In Figure 5 the embodiment, the receiving device 28 is constructed as shown in Figures 1 to 4 but is arranged on the front pen part section 12, that is, on its outer side. Here, the unshown connection contacts forming the receiving device 28 are wired-connected to the rechargeable battery 14 through electric wires 23a, 23b, 24a, 24b with a charging management module 17 also arranged in the front pen part section 12 interposed.

[0073] As shown in the figure, supplying charging energy through the pen section 12 at the front enables the rechargeable battery 14 to be charged or supplied with charging current via its power supply contacts connected to the connection contacts 26 by means of electrical conductors 24a, 24b. As a result, separate charging contacts and power supply contacts in the regions on the opposite side of the rechargeable battery 14 can be undoubtedly dispensed with, which is meaningful at least in the Figure 1 embodiment.

[0074] As a result, in the Figure 6 embodiment, the charging energy is also supplied through the pen section 12 at the front. However, similar to the Figures 2 to 4 embodiment, the charging energy is transmitted through the protective cap 27 or the receiving device 28 arranged on the protective cap. For this purpose, in its charging connection state, the protective cap 27 is not sleeved on the more rearwardly arranged pen section 13 in a detachable connection manner, but on the pen section 12 at the front. Here, the position of the protective cap 27 in this charging connection state corresponds to the protective position of the protective cap 27 mentioned above.

[0075] In addition, the energy transmission from the protective cap 27 to the pen section 12 at the front is not carried out wirelessly or without a wire connection, which is different from the Figures 2 to 4 embodiment. More precisely, the connection contacts arranged on the protective cap 27 forming the receiving device 28 are connected to the rechargeable battery 14 in a wired manner through electrical conductors 23a, 23b or 24a, 24b in the shown charging connection state of the protective cap 27. Here, the connection contacts of the receiving device 28 are first connected in a wired manner to other electrical contacts 34 arranged on the protective cap 27, and the other electrical contacts are in turn connected in a wired manner to the electrical contacts 35 arranged on the pen section 12 at the front and opposed thereto in this state, in such a way that the respective opposed contacts 34 or 35 are in contact with each other.

[0076] Similar to the Figures 2 to 4 embodiment, in the Figure 7 embodiment, the charging energy obtained by the protective cap 27 from the power source is also wirelessly transmitted by the protective cap 27 with the aid of a transmitting unit having a transmitting coil 30a, but transmitted to the pen section 12 at the front. For this purpose, similar to the Figure 6 embodiment, the protective cap 27 is sleeved on the pen section 12 at the front in its charging connection state. In addition, different from the Figures 2 to 4 embodiment, the more rearwardly arranged pen section 13 does not have a receiving unit 32 with a receiving coil 32a, but instead the pen section 12a at the front correspondingly has this receiving unit.

[0077] It should also be noted that, although in all the illustrated embodiments the charging electrical energy is transmitted wired from a charging source to the corresponding receiving device 28 of the protective cap 27 of the digital pen 10. However, this is obviously not necessary. More precisely, the charging energy can also be transmitted wirelessly, in particular inductively, capacitively or by means of electromagnetic waves.

[0078] List of reference signs:

[0079] 10 Digital pen

[0080] 11 Pen part

[0081] 12 Front pen part section

[0082] 12a Housing

[0083] 13 More rearwardly arranged pen part section

[0084] 13a Housing

[0085] 13b Housing wall

[0086] 13c End section

[0087] 13d Front opening

[0088] 14 Rechargeable battery

[0089] 15 Receiving cavity

[0090] 16 Power cord

[0091] 17 Charging management module

[0092] 18 Contact surface

[0093] 19 Contact surface

[0094] 20 mating contact

[0095] 21 mating contact

[0096] 22 Electrically operating component

[0097] 23a Electric wire

[0098] 23b Electric wire

[0099] 24a Electric wire

[0100] 24b Electric wire

[0101] 25 Connecting contact

[0102] 26 Connecting contact

[0103] 27 Protective cap

[0104] 28 Receiving device

[0105] 29a connection line

[0106] 29b connection line

[0107] 30 transmitting unit

[0108] 30a transmitting coil

[0109] 31 receiving section

[0110] 32 receiving unit

[0111] 32a receiving coil

[0112] 33 writing element

[0113] 34 contact

[0114] 35 contact

Claims

1. A digital pen, comprising an elongated pen body (11), which has: a front pen body section (12), the front pen body section having a writing element, in particular a writing tip configured as a writing nib, for writing on a base pad, such as paper or a touch screen; and a pen body section (13) arranged further back relative to the front pen body section (12), the pen body section arranged further back especially having a housing, and a rechargeable battery for powering at least one electronic component of the front pen body section (12), in particular an elongated rechargeable battery (14), being arranged completely or partially in the pen body section arranged further back, the rechargeable battery (14) having at least two electrical contacts, through which a charging current of a charging power source can be supplied to the rechargeable battery (14), characterized in that the rechargeable battery (14) is detachably arranged in the pen body section (13) arranged further back, so as to remove the rechargeable battery (14) from the pen body (11).

2. The digital pen according to claim 1, characterized in that In order to remove the rechargeable battery (14), the pen body section (13) arranged further back is detachably fixed to another pen body section, in particular the front pen body section (12), preferably by means of a screw connection, snap connection or bayonet connection, in particular such that in a state where the pen body section (13) arranged further back is disassembled from the other pen body section, the rechargeable battery (14) can be taken out of the pen body section arranged further back via an opening of the pen body section (13) facing the other pen body section.

3. The digital pen according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, One or both of the electrical contacts of the rechargeable battery are arranged in a region of the front end portion of the rechargeable battery (14) facing the writing element and / or adjacent to the front end portion, or one or both of the electrical contacts of the rechargeable battery (14) are arranged in a region of the rear end portion of the rechargeable battery (14) facing away from the writing element or adjacent to the rear end portion.

4. The digital pen according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that The two electrical contacts of the rechargeable battery (14) are detachably electrically connected to respective electrical contacts of the front pen body section (12), which are respectively electrically conductive to the electronic components of the front pen body section (12), in particular arranged in the front pen body section (12), i.e., for powering the electronic components, and a charging current can be supplied to the rechargeable battery (14) through the two electrical contacts.

5. The digital pen according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that, In the case where the two electrical contacts of the rechargeable battery (14) are arranged in a region of the rear end portion of the rechargeable battery (14) facing away from the writing element or adjacent to the rear end portion for supplying a charging current, or are arranged in a region of the front end portion facing the writing element or adjacent to the front end portion, the rechargeable battery (14) has two additional electrical contacts for powering the electronic components of the front pen section (12), and each of the two additional electrical contacts is detachably electrically connected to an electrical contact of an electronic component electrically connected to the front pen section (12) of the front pen section (12).

6. The digital pen according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that, Each of the two electrical contacts of the rechargeable battery (14) for supplying a charging current or each of the two electrical contacts of the rechargeable battery (14) for powering the electronic component is a component of a plug connector part, in particular a common plug connector part, especially a component of a plug connector part to which (at least one) electrical wire preferably configured as a power supply wire is connected, and the electrical wire is electrically connected to one of the two poles of the rechargeable battery (14).

7. The digital pen according to claim 5, characterized in that, The or each plug connector part is detachably connected to a plug connector mating part, in particular a plug connector mating part arranged in the front pen section (12), to form an electrical plug connection, and the plug connector mating part has an electrical contact of the front pen section (12), in particular an electrical contact through which a charging current can be supplied to the rechargeable battery (14) and / or through which a power supply current from the rechargeable battery (14) can be supplied to the electronic components of the front pen section (12).

8. A digital pen according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that, Each of the two electrical contacts of the rechargeable battery (14) for supplying a charging current or each of the two electrical contacts of the rechargeable battery (14) for powering the electronic component includes a contact surface directly arranged on the rechargeable battery (14), in particular on its battery housing, preferably forming one of the poles of the rechargeable battery (14), or is formed by such a contact surface, in particular a contact surface made of a conductive material.

9. The digital pen according to claim 8, characterized in that, One of the contact surfaces forms the positive pole of the rechargeable battery (14), and the other contact surface forms the negative pole of the rechargeable battery (14).

10. The digital pen according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that, One or both of the contact surfaces are arranged on a preferably flat end side of the rechargeable battery (14) that extends at an angle, in particular transversely, with respect to the longitudinal axis of the pen and forms the front free end of the rechargeable battery (14).

11. The digital pen according to claim 8, 9 or 10, characterized in that, One or both of the contact surfaces are configured in the shape of an annular surface, and / or one contact surface forms the surrounding inner side of a hollow cylindrical section of the rechargeable battery (14).

12. The digital pen according to claim 11, characterized in that, The two annular surface-like contact surfaces are arranged concentrically.

13. The digital pen according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The more rearwardly arranged pen section (13) has a receiving cavity that is in particular elongate and preferably hollow cylindrical, in which the rechargeable battery (14) is removably arranged completely or partially, in particular slidingly abutting against the surrounding receiving cavity wall that laterally delimits the receiving cavity.

14. The digital pen according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The pen section (11), in particular the front or rear pen section (12, 13), has an electronic module for managing the charging process of the rechargeable battery (14), in particular an electronic module for managing the charging process as follows, which is electrically connected in a wired manner to two electrical contacts of the rechargeable battery (14) for supplying a charging current.

15. The digital pen according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The receiving means of the digital pen for receiving charging energy, in particular arranged on the pen section (11) or on a protective cap (27) that is (separable), substantially elongate and removably fixable to the pen section (11) in a charging connection state, is coupled to the rechargeable battery (14) such that the charging energy transmitted to the receiving means from a particularly electrically operated charging power source for charging the rechargeable battery is further transmitted or can be further transmitted to the rechargeable battery.

16. The digital pen according to claim 15, characterized in that, The charging energy of the charging power source can be transmitted to the receiving means either wired or wirelessly, in particular wired by means of current transmission or wirelessly by inductive, capacitive means or by electromagnetic wave transmission.

17. The digital pen according to claim 16, characterized in that, The receiving means is formed by a plurality of electrical contacts to which the charging current of the charging power source can be supplied to charge the rechargeable battery. The electrical contacts are in particular electrical contacts that are part of an interface arranged on the digital pen, in particular on the front or rear pen section (12, 13), or on the protective cap (27), for removably connecting a power cord or power data line that is connected or can be connected to the charging power source.

18. The digital pen according to one or more of the preceding claims 15 to 17, characterized in that, The receiving means includes a unit for inductively or capacitively receiving charging energy or a unit for receiving electromagnetic waves for transmitting charging energy.

19. The digital pen according to one or more of the preceding claims 15 to 18, characterized in that, In the case where the protective cap (27) has a receiving means, the receiving means is wirelessly coupled to the rechargeable battery (14) in the charging connection state of the protective cap (27) and the pen section (11), in particular inductively, capacitively or by means of electromagnetic waves, and / or wiredly coupled, such that the charging energy transmitted to the receiving means is further transmitted to the rechargeable battery (14).

20. The digital pen according to claim 19, characterized in that, The protective cap (27) for transmitting charging energy to the rechargeable battery (14) has a transmitting unit of the inductive energy transmission means of the digital pen, in particular including a transmitting coil, which is connected in a wired manner to the receiving means of the protective cap (27), in particular the electrical contacts.

21. The digital pen according to claim 20, wherein, The pen part (11), in particular the front pen part section (12) or one or the more rearwardly arranged pen part sections (13), has a receiving unit of the inductive energy transmission device of the digital pen, which receiving unit includes in particular a receiving coil, is wired to the rechargeable battery and acts inductively together with the transmitting unit in order to transmit charging energy for charging the rechargeable battery (14) to the receiving unit.

22. The digital pen according to one or more of the preceding claims 17 to 21, characterized in that In the charging connection state of the protective cap (27) and the pen part (11), the electrical contacts forming the receiving device of the protective cap (27) are wired to the electrical contacts arranged on the pen part (11), in particular on the front pen part section or one or the more rearwardly arranged pen part sections (12, 13), and these electrical contacts are in turn conductively connected to the rechargeable battery (14).

23. The digital pen according to claim 22, wherein, The electrical contacts of the receiving device of the protective cap (27), in particular the more forwardly arranged electrical contacts, are wired to the additional electrical contacts of the protective cap (27), in particular the more rearwardly arranged electrical contacts, wherein in the connection state of the protective cap (27) and the pen part (11), the additional electrical contacts of the protective cap (27) are in contact with and bear against the electrical contacts of the pen part (11) that are conductively connected to the rechargeable battery (14).

24. The digital pen according to one or more of the preceding claims 15 to 23, characterized in that, The receiving device of the protective cap (27) is arranged on the (front) end side of the protective cap (27) or on the outer side of the protective cap, in particular on the circumferential outer side.

25. The digital pen according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that The electronic components that can be supplied with current by the rechargeable battery (14) are writing elements or components for operating the writing elements.

26. The digital pen according to one or more of the preceding claims 15 to 25, characterized in that In its charging connection state in which it is detachably fixed to the pen part (11), the protective cap (27) covers the writing element and at least one sub-section of the front pen part section (12), or covers one or the more rearwardly arranged pen part sections (13), preferably including the (rear) free end of the pen part (11).

27. The digital pen according to claim 26, wherein, In the case where the protective cap (27) covers the more rearwardly arranged pen part section (13) in the charging connection state, the protective cap (27) can be detachably fixed to the pen part (11) in another position, in which position the protective cap covers the writing element and at least one sub-section of the front pen part section (12).

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