Digital pen and system and method for using digital pen

Abstract

The invention provides a digital pen and a system and method for using the digital pen. The digital pen includes a nib having two tines made of a flexible material defining a slit, wherein its slit width varies according to pressure applied to the nib and / or the orientation of the digital pen relative to the writing surface. The digital pen further includes a sensor module configured to measure the variable slit width; an orientation detection module configured to determine a position and tilt of the pen relative to the writing surface; and a communication module configured to transmit the slit width data and / or orientation data to a connected computing device. The computing device utilizes the slit width data and the orientation data to dynamically control the amount of digital ink dispensed onto the digital paper to simulate the writing experience and ink output of the stationery pen.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of digital pens, and more particularly to a digital fountain pen and a system and method for using the digital fountain pen. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid adoption of digital writing pads such as tablets, electronic tablets, and pen tablets, people are increasingly taking notes in the form of handwritten data within handwritten documents provided by digital writing pads. Handwritten documents offer several advantages over typed documents, such as the personal touch of the user's handwriting, authenticity that is especially important in legal or historical documents, the flexibility to customize and personalize based on individual requirements for font, color, or style, and time savings by allowing for rapid note-taking.

[0003] However, traditional digital pens, typically used with digital writing tablets, such as those for computers, mobile phones, tablets, and personal digital assistants (PDAs), are typically designed with cylindrical or tapered nibs characterized by a rounded tip. These existing digital pens have significant limitations in replicating the tactile and visual writing experience offered by traditional fountain pens. A major problem with current digital pens is their inability to mimic the interaction between the nib and the writing surface of a traditional fountain pen. This inability results in an unpleasant or unnatural writing experience, lacking the dynamic variability of line width or ink flow characteristics found in fountain pens.

[0004] Furthermore, existing digital pens cannot provide optimal control over ink output during writing, unlike traditional fountain pens, resulting in less realistic representations of handwriting or drawing. This non-dynamic ink flow control in traditional digital pens fails to capture the organic variations observed in fountain pen writing, where ink flow is influenced by the pressure applied by the user and / or the angle at which the user is writing.

[0005] Therefore, there is a need for an improved digital pen that can provide a more satisfying writing experience and better control over ink output, closely mimicking the functionality and feel of a stationery fountain pen. Summary of the Invention

[0006] One or more embodiments relate to digital pens and systems and methods for using digital pens. Digital pens and associated mechanisms simulate the writing experience of traditional stationery pens, overcoming the limitations of existing digital pens. To this end, digital pens have specially designed nibs and advanced sensing technology to replicate the tactile and visual aspects of pen writing. The nib consists of two teeth made of a flexible material, with a slit between the teeth. The width of this slit varies depending on the applied pressure and the orientation of the digital pen relative to the writing surface. Furthermore, this variation in slit width is used to select ink flow and stroke width to mimic the behavior of traditional pen nibs.

[0007] To accurately capture and utilize changes in slit width, digital pens are equipped with a sensor module. This module includes capacitor plates embedded within two serrations of the pen tip, such that the capacitance between these plates changes as the slit width changes, and this change is then detected by electronic circuitry. Various methods can be used to measure these capacitance changes, including LRC circuits, oscillator circuits, bridge circuits (such as Wheatstone bridges), time constant measurement techniques, and application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) designed for capacitance sensing. These measurements are converted into digital signals representing the real-time slit width. In addition to the sensor module for measuring slit width, the digital pen includes an orientation detection module that determines the pen's position and tilt, providing data such as X and Y coordinates, as well as XTilt (X-tilt) and YTilt (Y-tilt) angles. This comprehensive dataset allows for precise control of writing dynamics, enabling computing devices—i.e., digital writing tablets (such as tablet PCs, electronic tablets, pen tablets, etc.)—to adjust stroke width and ink density based on both the slit width and the pen's orientation.

[0008] To achieve this, the digital pen transmits slit width and orientation data to a connected computing device via a communication module that enables seamless data transmission using wireless communication protocols. The computing device, equipped with a processor and memory, interprets the received data to control the digital ink output on the display screen, which functions as digital paper. The software dynamically adjusts the stroke width and ink density, creating a realistic writing experience that closely mirrors the experience of using a traditional fountain pen.

[0009] Embodiments of this disclosure relate to a digital pen. The digital pen includes a nib having two teeth made of a flexible material and defining a slit with a variable slit width, the variable slit width varying depending on the pressure applied to the nib and / or the orientation of the digital pen relative to a writing surface. The two teeth of the nib are made of a metal alloy providing both flexibility and durability, allowing consistent performance under varying pressure and orientation.

[0010] In one embodiment, the digital pen further includes a sensor module for measuring the variable slit width. The sensor module further includes two capacitor plates incorporated within two tines, electronic circuitry for detecting changes in capacitance between the two capacitor plates as the slit width changes, and a digital-to-digital converter for converting the detected capacitance into a digital signal representing the slit width. In one embodiment, the sensor module includes an LRC circuit configured to measure a change in resonant frequency caused by the change in slit width, wherein the change in resonant frequency is converted into a corresponding slit width measurement. In one embodiment, the sensor module includes an oscillator circuit for detecting a frequency shift corresponding to the change in slit width and converting it into slit width data. In one embodiment, the sensor module includes a bridge circuit for comparing the capacitance of the slit width with a reference capacitor to detect changes in slit width. In one embodiment, the sensor module is configured to measure the time constant of the capacitor charging and discharging through a resistor, the time constant indicating the slit width.

[0011] In one embodiment, the digital pen further includes an orientation detection module for determining the position and tilt of the digital pen relative to the writing surface to provide orientation data. The orientation data includes X-coordinate, Y-coordinate, XTilt angle, and / or YTilt angle.

[0012] In this embodiment, the digital pen also includes a communication module for transmitting slit width data and / or orientation data to a connected computing device. The communication module uses a wireless communication protocol to transmit the slit width data and orientation data to the connected computing device. Furthermore, the computing device uses the slit width data and orientation data to dynamically control the amount of digital ink dispensed onto the digital paper, thereby simulating the writing experience and ink output of a stationery pen. The computing device dynamically controls the amount of digital ink dispensed onto the digital paper by adjusting the stroke width and ink density on the digital paper based on the interpretation of the slit width data and orientation data. In this embodiment, the tip width of the pen nib is a predefined constant passed to the computing device, allowing the computing device to calculate the stroke width using the predefined constant in conjunction with the slit width data.

[0013] Embodiments of this disclosure relate to a system for writing on digital paper using a digital pen. The system includes a digital pen and a computing device. In an embodiment, the digital pen includes a nib with two serrations defining a slit with a variable slit width, the variable slit width varying according to pressure applied to the nib and / or the orientation of the digital pen relative to a writing surface. The digital pen includes a sensor module for measuring the variable slit width. The sensor module further includes two capacitor plates incorporated within the two serrations, electronic circuitry for detecting changes in capacitance between the capacitor plates as the slit width changes, and a digital converter for converting the detected capacitance change into a digital signal representing the slit width. Further, the digital pen includes an orientation detection module for determining the position and tilt of the digital pen relative to the writing surface to provide orientation data including X-coordinate, Y-coordinate, XTilt angle, and / or YTilt angle. The digital pen also includes a communication module for transmitting the slit width data and / or orientation data.

[0014] In this embodiment, the computing device receives slit width data and orientation data from the digital pen. Furthermore, the computing device includes a processor, a memory storing instructions executable by the processor, and a display screen configured to function as digital paper. Additionally, the instructions, when executed by the processor, are configured to interpret the slit width data and orientation data to dynamically control the amount of digital ink dispensed onto the digital paper. The computing device is further configured to adjust the stroke width and ink density on the digital paper based on the slit width and the position and tilt of the digital pen, thereby simulating the writing experience and ink output of a stationery pen.

[0015] Embodiments of this disclosure relate to a method of writing on digital paper using a digital pen. The method includes measuring the variable width of a slit between two teeth of the digital pen tip. The variable slit width varies in response to pressure applied to the pen tip and / or the orientation of the digital pen relative to the writing surface. Next, the method includes detecting a change in capacitance between two capacitor plates incorporated within the two teeth, which varies with the changing slit width. The two teeth of the digital pen tip are made of a metal alloy providing both flexibility and durability, allowing for consistent performance under varying pressure and orientation.

[0016] Next, the method includes the step of converting the detected capacitance change into a digital signal representing the slit width. In one embodiment, the method includes the step of measuring the resonant frequency change caused by the change in slit width, wherein the resonant frequency change is converted into a corresponding slit width measurement. In another embodiment, the method includes the steps of detecting frequency shifts corresponding to the change in slit width and converting them into slit width data. In yet another embodiment, the method includes the step of comparing the capacitance of the slit width with a reference capacitor to detect a change in slit width. In yet another embodiment, the method includes the step of measuring the time constant of the capacitor charging and discharging through a resistor, the time constant indicating the slit width. Next, the method includes the step of determining the position and tilt of the digital pen relative to the writing surface to provide orientation data including X coordinates, Y coordinates, XTilt angle, and / or YTilt angle.

[0017] Next, the method includes the step of transmitting slit width data and / or orientation data from the digital pen to a computing device. Next, the method includes the step of receiving the slit width data and orientation data from the digital pen by the computing device. Next, the method includes the step of interpreting the slit width data and orientation data to dynamically control the amount of digital ink dispensed onto the digital paper.

[0018] The method then includes steps of adjusting the stroke width and ink density on the digital paper based on the slit width and the position and tilt of the digital pen, thereby simulating the writing experience and ink output of a stationery pen. In an embodiment, the method includes a step of calculating the stroke width using a predefined constant related to the tip width of the pen nib, incorporating slit width data.

[0019] The features and advantages of this disclosure will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the selected embodiments, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. As will be appreciated, the disclosed subject matter is capable of being modified in various aspects without departing from the scope of the subject matter. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be considered illustrative in nature. Attached Figure Description

[0020] In the accompanying drawings, similar components and / or features may have the same reference numerals. Furthermore, various components of the same type may be distinguished by a second label following the reference numerals, used to differentiate among similar components. If only the first reference numeral is used in the specification, the description applies to any of the similar components having the same first reference numeral, regardless of the second reference numeral.

[0021] Figure 1 The illustration shows a system for writing on digital paper using a digital pen, according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0022] Figure 2AThe illustration shows a detailed view of a digital pen according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0023] Figure 2B The illustration shows the nib of a digital pen according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0024] Figure 2C The illustration shows the nib of a digital pen with an increased slit width according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0025] Figure 3A The illustration shows a flowchart of operations performed at the user terminal according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0026] Figure 3B The illustration shows a flowchart of operations performed at the tip of a digital pen according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0027] Figure 3C A flowchart illustrating operations performed at a computing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0028] Figure 4 The illustration shows a plane illustrating the height and azimuth angle between a digital pen and a writing surface according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0029] Figure 5A The illustration shows a writing surface with a first exemplary ink stroke according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0030] Figure 5B The figure illustrates the shape of a first exemplary ink stroke according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0031] Figure 6A The illustration shows a writing surface with a second exemplary ink stroke according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0032] Figure 6B The figure illustrates the shape of a second exemplary ink stroke according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0033] Figure 7 The illustration shows a flowchart of a method for writing on digital paper using a digital pen according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0034] Figure 8 An exemplary computer system, in which or which may utilize embodiments of the present disclosure, is illustrated.

[0035] Other features of the embodiments of this disclosure will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description. Detailed Implementation

[0036] Embodiments of this disclosure include various steps described below. These steps may be performed by hardware components or may be embodied in machine-executable instructions stored on a non-transitory medium, which can be used to cause a general-purpose or special-purpose processor programmed with these instructions to perform the steps. Alternatively, the steps may be performed by a combination of hardware, software, firmware, and / or a human operator.

[0037] Embodiments of this disclosure can be provided as a computer program product that may include a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium on which instructions are tangibly embodied, which can be used to program a computer (or other electronic device) to perform a process. Machine-readable media may include, but are not limited to, fixed (hard) drives, magnetic tape, floppy disks, optical discs, optical disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) and magneto-optical discs, semiconductor memories such as ROM, PROM, random access memory (RAM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable PROM (EPROM), electrically erasable PROM (EEPROM), flash memory, magnetic cards or optical cards, or other types of media / machine-readable media suitable for storing electronic instructions (e.g., computer program code, such as software or firmware).

[0038] The various methods described herein can be practiced by combining one or more machine-readable storage media containing code according to this disclosure with suitable standard computer hardware to execute the code contained herein. Apparatus for practicing the various embodiments of this disclosure may relate to one or more computers (or one or more processors within a single computer) and a storage system containing or having network access to a computer program encoded according to the various methods described herein, and the method steps of this disclosure may be implemented as modules, routines, subroutines, or sub-parts of a computer program product.

[0039] the term

[0040] The following are brief definitions of the terms used throughout this application.

[0041] The terms “connection” or “coupling” and related terms are used in an operational sense and are not necessarily limited to direct connection or coupling. Thus, for example, two devices can be directly coupled or coupled via one or more intermediate media or devices. As another example, devices can be coupled in such a way that information can pass between them without sharing any physical connection with each other. Based on the disclosure provided herein, those skilled in the art will understand the various ways in which connection or coupling exists according to the foregoing definitions.

[0042] If the specification states that a component or feature "may," "can," "may," or "may" be included or have that feature, then that particular component or feature is not required to include or have that feature.

[0043] Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms “a,” “an,” and “the” as used in the description herein and throughout the appended claims have the meaning of plural references. Furthermore, as used in the description herein, unless the context otherwise requires, “in” has the meaning of both “in” and “on”.

[0044] The phrases “in an embodiment,” “according to an embodiment,” etc., generally mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic following the phrase is included in at least one embodiment of this disclosure, and may be included in more than one embodiment of this disclosure. Importantly, such phrases do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment.

[0045] Exemplary embodiments will now be described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments are illustrated. However, this disclosure may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. These embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of this disclosure to those skilled in the art. Furthermore, all statements and specific examples of embodiments of this disclosure described herein are intended to cover both their structural and functional equivalents. Additionally, such equivalents are intended to include both currently known equivalents and those developed in the future (i.e., any element developed that performs the same function, regardless of its structure).

[0046] Therefore, for example, those skilled in the art will understand that figures, schematic diagrams, illustrations, etc., represent conceptual diagrams or processes embodying the systems and methods of this disclosure. The functionality of the various elements shown in the figures can be provided using dedicated hardware and hardware capable of executing associated software. Similarly, any switches shown in the figures are merely conceptual. Their functionality can be performed by the operation of program logic, by dedicated logic, by interaction between program control and dedicated logic, or even manually, with the specific techniques chosen by the entity implementing this disclosure. Those skilled in the art will further understand that the exemplary hardware, software, processes, methods, and / or operating systems described herein are for illustrative purposes and are therefore not intended to be limited to any particular designation.

[0047] One or more embodiments relate to digital pens and systems and methods for using digital pens. Digital pens and associated mechanisms simulate the writing experience of traditional stationery pens, overcoming the limitations of existing digital pens. To this end, digital pens have specially designed nibs and advanced sensing technology to replicate the tactile and visual aspects of pen writing. The nib consists of two teeth made of a flexible material, with a slit between the teeth. The width of this slit varies depending on the applied pressure and the orientation of the digital pen relative to the writing surface. Furthermore, this variation in slit width is used to select ink flow and stroke width to mimic the behavior of traditional pen nibs.

[0048] To accurately capture and utilize changes in slit width, digital pens are equipped with a sensor module. This module includes capacitor plates embedded within two serrations of the pen tip, such that the capacitance between these plates changes as the slit width changes, and this change is then detected by electronic circuitry. Various methods can be used to measure these capacitance changes, including LRC circuits, oscillator circuits, bridge circuits (such as Wheatstone bridges), time constant measurement techniques, and application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) designed for capacitance sensing. These measurements are converted into a digital signal representing the real-time slit width. In addition to the sensor module for measuring slit width, the digital pen includes an orientation detection module that determines the pen's position and tilt, providing data such as X and Y coordinates and XTilt and / or YTilt angles. This comprehensive dataset allows for precise control of writing dynamics, enabling computing devices—such as digital writing tablets (e.g., tablet PCs, electronic tablets, pen tablets, etc.)—to adjust stroke width and ink density based on both slit width and pen orientation.

[0049] To achieve this, the digital pen transmits slit width and orientation data to a connected computing device via a communication module that enables seamless data transmission using wireless communication protocols. The computing device, equipped with a processor and memory, interprets the received data to control the digital ink output on the display screen, which functions as digital paper. The software dynamically adjusts the stroke width and ink density, creating a realistic writing experience that closely mirrors the experience of using a traditional fountain pen.

[0050] Figure 1The illustration depicts a system 100 for writing on digital paper using a digital pen 104, according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. System 100 may include a digital pen 104 accessible to a user 102 for writing on a computing device 106. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that system 100 can mimic the use of a traditional fountain pen while utilizing the advantages of digital technology. As a result, user 102 can obtain a writing or drawing experience that may feel natural and closely resemble the use of a traditional fountain pen. Furthermore, the digital pen 104 may have a nib with two serrations made of a flexible material. The two serrations can create a slit whose width can vary in response to pressure and orientation. It is understood that this variable slit width can be a key factor in simulating ink flow in a traditional fountain pen in a digital environment. Additionally, the two serrations of the digital pen 104 may be fitted with two capacitor plates, such that the capacitance can be a variable dependent on the slit width, allowing the slit width to be determined by measuring the capacitance between the capacitor plate filters in the two serrations. Furthermore, the digital pen 104 can also track the position and tilt of the slit based on the X and Y coordinates and / or the XTilt and YTilt angles. The digital pen 104 will be explained in detail in the following paragraphs.

[0051] In this embodiment, computing device 106 may correspond to a digital writing tablet that can provide or be used as digital paper, such as a tablet computer, electronic tablet, pen tablet, etc. Computing device 106 may include a display screen that can be used as a digital writing surface, and may be a touch-sensitive screen to detect the presence and movement of digital pen 104. Furthermore, computing device 106 may receive measured slit width, position, and / or tilt data to interpret the slit width and orientation data to dynamically control the flow of digital ink. Computing device 106 may adjust the stroke width and ink density to reflect changes in pressure and angle, thereby simulating the experience of writing with a pen. Computing device 106 and its operation will be explained in detail in the following paragraphs.

[0052] In operation, when user 102 begins writing or drawing, user 102 can apply pressure to the pen tip, causing the two serrations to bend and the slit width to change. Simultaneously, the orientation detection module can track the pen's position and tilt. During such writing and / or drawing, the sensor module can measure the capacitance change between capacitor plates and convert these measurements into a digital signal representing the slit width. This data, along with the orientation data, can then be wirelessly transmitted to computing device 106. Computing device 106 can receive the data and then process it to determine appropriate digital ink output, adjusting the stroke width and ink density based on the slit width and pen orientation to render the strokes on the display screen. In this embodiment, when user 102 writes or draws, user 102 can immediately see the results on the screen of computing device 106, making the experience smooth and responsive. Furthermore, this seamless integration of the digital pen 104 with computing device 106 ensures that the user experiences a highly realistic and satisfying digital writing environment. Precise measurements of slit width variation and pen orientation allow for accurate simulation of traditional pen behavior, while digital platforms offer additional benefits such as editing, saving, and sharing of work.

[0053] Figure 2A A detailed view 200 of a digital pen 104 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated. Figure 2B The illustration shows the nib 202 of a digital pen 104 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 2C The illustration shows the nib 202 of a digital pen 104 with an increased slit width according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. For simplicity, they will be explained together. Figure 2A , 2B And 2C.

[0054] In an embodiment, the digital pen 104 may include a body, as shown in the prior art, and a nib 202 for writing on a digital writing surface, such as... Figure 2A As shown. Furthermore, as... Figure 2B As shown, the nib 202 of the digital pen 104 may have two serrations 204A and 204B. These serrations 204A and 204B may be made of a flexible material and may be smooth and soft, such that they should not scratch the surface of the digital writing tablet during writing and / or drawing. Furthermore, the serrations 204A and 204B may have a gap defining a slit 206A (also designated 206) between them. Because the material of the serrations 204A and 204B is flexible, the slit may have a variable slit width, which can vary in response to the pressure applied to the nib 202 and / or the orientation of the digital pen 104 relative to the writing surface. For example, if more pressure is applied to the slit 206A, the slit width can be increased, such as... Figure 2CAs shown in 206B. Additionally, two serrations 204A and 204B can be attached to the upper end 208, wherein the pen tip 202 is attached to the body of the digital pen 104. In an embodiment, the two serrations 204A and 204B of the pen tip 202 can be made of a metal alloy that provides both flexibility and durability, allowing for consistent performance under varying pressure and orientation.

[0055] In one embodiment, the digital pen 104 may further include a sensor module for measuring a variable slit width. The sensor module may include two capacitor plates incorporated within two tips 204A and 204B of the pen tip 202. Therefore, a capacitance proportional to the slit width can be generated between the two tips 204A and 204B of the pen tip 202, such that the capacitance increases or decreases as the slit width increases or decreases. Furthermore, the sensor module may include electronic circuitry for detecting changes in this capacitance between the two capacitor plates as the slit width changes. In one embodiment, the sensor module may include an LRC circuit configured to measure a change in resonant frequency caused by a change in slit width, such that the change in resonant frequency can be converted into a corresponding slit width measurement. In another embodiment, the sensor module may include oscillator circuitry for detecting a frequency shift corresponding to a change in slit width, such that the frequency shift can be converted into slit width data. In yet another embodiment, the sensor module may include bridging circuitry for comparing the capacitance of the slit width with a reference capacitor to detect changes in slit width. In yet another embodiment, the sensor module can be configured to measure the time constant of a capacitor charging and discharging through a resistor, which can indicate the slit width. Furthermore, the sensor module may include a digital converter for converting the detected capacitance into a digital signal representing the slit width.

[0056] In an embodiment, the digital pen 104 may further include an orientation detection module for determining the position and tilt of the digital pen relative to the writing surface to provide orientation data. The orientation data includes at least one of the X-coordinate, Y-coordinate, XTilt angle, and / or YTilt angle. In an embodiment, the orientation detection module may include a combination of an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and / or a magnetometer, which may work together to measure the pen's X and Y coordinates, as well as the XTilt and YTilt angles. By continuously monitoring these parameters, the orientation detection module can ensure that every minute movement and tilt of the pen is captured and converted into digital data. Such data can be crucial for the computing device 106 to dynamically adjust stroke width and ink flow, replicating the subtle effects of a traditional fountain pen, as can be discussed in the following paragraphs.

[0057] In an embodiment, the digital pen 104 may further include a communication module for transmitting slit width data and / or orientation data to a connected computing device 106. The communication module employs a wireless communication protocol such as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi to transmit the slit width data and orientation data to the connected computing device. The robust and low-latency nature of the communication module ensures that every nuance of the user's handwriting or drawing is captured and rendered instantly on the digital screen. Furthermore, the computing device 106 can utilize the slit width data and orientation data to dynamically control the amount of digital ink dispensed onto the digital paper, thereby simulating the writing experience and ink output of a stationery pen. The computing device 106 dynamically controls the amount of digital ink dispensed onto the digital paper by adjusting the stroke width and ink density on the digital paper based on the interpretation of the slit width data and orientation data. In an embodiment, the tip width and / or shape of the pen nib may be a predefined constant passed to the computing device 106, allowing the computing device 106 to calculate the stroke width using the predefined constant in conjunction with the slit width data.

[0058] Figure 3A A flowchart 300A illustrating operations performed at a user terminal according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. In the embodiment, when user 102 uses digital pen 104, user 102 can perform a series of operations, such as pen press 302 initiating an active connection between digital pen 104 and digital writing tablet, pen movement 304 for writing or drawing on digital writing tablet with digital pen 104, and pen release 306 for terminating the active connection between digital pen 104 and digital writing tablet.

[0059] Figure 3B A flowchart 300B illustrating operations performed at the tip of a digital pen according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. When user 102 performs a pen stroke 302, the digital pen can record the pen stroke 308 and activate its sensors, as shown in 310, for continuous monitoring and measurement of variables of the digital pen 104. Furthermore, during the user's pen movement operation, the sensor module of the digital pen 104 can measure the slit width 312, and the orientation detection module can measure the X and Y coordinates 314, as well as the XTilt and YTilt angles 316. While measuring the slit width data and the orientation data including the X and Y coordinates and the XTilt and YTilt angles, the digital pen 104 can transmit the measured data to the computing device 106.

[0060] Figure 3C A flowchart 300C illustrating operations performed at a computing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. Figure 4 The illustration shows a plane 400 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, illustrating the height and azimuth angle between the digital pen and the writing surface 402. For simplicity, they will be explained together. Figure 3C and4 .

[0061] The computing device 106 can remain in a receiving state, ready to process new information as soon as it is received, thereby ensuring real-time response to the user's writing or drawing actions. Accordingly, the computing device 106 can receive input data transmitted from the digital pen 104, as shown in step 320. Next, at step 322, when receiving data from the digital pen 104, the computing device 106 can map the X and Y coordinates to corresponding positions on the display screen. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that this can involve converting the physical position data of the digital pen into appropriate pixel positions on the digital writing surface, ensuring that the user's movements are accurately reflected on the screen. Next, at step 324, the computing device 106 can convert the tilt angles XTilt and YTilt of the pointer into azimuth angle 406 and height 404. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the azimuth angle 406 can refer to an angular deviation in the horizontal plane, while the height 404 can refer to an angle in the vertical plane.

[0062] Next, at step 326, the effective tip width of the nib 202 can be calculated using the slit width data from the digital pen 104. The calculated tip width can then be scaled to the display's view coordinates to ensure that the stroke width rendered on the screen accurately represents the pressure and curvature of the pen tip, similar to how ink flow in a real pen would change. Next, at step 328, the computing device 106 can calculate the pen speed by analyzing changes in the X and Y coordinates over time. Such a calculation can involve measuring the distance traveled by the pen tip in a given time interval. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that pen speed can be a significant factor in determining ink flow rate and stroke appearance, as, for example, faster movement can result in thinner, lighter strokes, while slower movement can produce thicker, denser lines. Subsequently, at step 330, the computing device 106 can use the mapped coordinates, the transformed tilt angle, the calculated tip width, and the pen speed to calculate and generate the geometry of the stroke. In one embodiment, such generation may involve creating a visual representation of lines on a digital canvas, allowing the rendering process to take all dynamic variables into account to produce strokes that mimic the flow of natural ink and the variations seen with a traditional pen.

[0063] Figure 5A An example 500 is illustrated with a writing surface 502 having a first exemplary ink stroke 504 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 5B The shape of a first exemplary ink stroke 504 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated. Figure 6A Another example 600 of a writing surface 602 having a second exemplary ink stroke 604 is illustrated according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 6BThe illustration shows the shape of a second exemplary ink stroke according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. For simplicity, they will be explained together. Figure 5A , 5B 6A and 6B.

[0064] In embodiments of this disclosure, ink strokes can be composed of samples that can have various shapes, such as... Figure 5A and 5B The ellipse shown, and as Figure 6A and 6B The circle shown. In an embodiment, as... Figure 5A and 5B As shown, multiple ellipses can be connected together to form a continuous shape or can be rendered as separate particles. Further, the rotation angle of each ellipse can be equal to the azimuth angle 506 of the digital pen 104 at the sampling moment. Additionally, the longer (major) axis of the ellipse can be scaled to equal the tip width at the sampling moment, and therefore, a varying tip width can produce ink strokes with varying widths. In another embodiment, as... Figure 6A and 6B As shown, multiple circles can be connected together to form a continuous shape or can gradually be separated into individual particles. Furthermore, the rotation angle of each circle can be equal to the azimuth angle 606 of the digital pen 104 at the sampling moment. Additionally, the diameter of the circle can be scaled to equal the tip width at the sampling moment, and thus, a varying tip width can produce ink strokes with varying widths. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that, without departing from the scope of this disclosure, the shape of the ink strokes can be chosen from sources other than ellipses and circles, such as squares, rectangles, etc.

[0065] Figure 7 A flowchart 700 illustrates a method for writing on digital paper using a digital pen according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The method may begin at step 702.

[0066] First, at step 704, the variable width of the slit between the two tines of the digital pen tip can be measured. The variable slit width can vary in response to pressure applied to the pen tip and / or the orientation of the digital pen relative to the writing surface. The method may include the step of detecting a change in capacitance between two capacitor plates incorporated within the two tines, the change in capacitance varying with the changing slit width. The two tines of the digital pen tip may be made of a metal alloy that provides both flexibility and durability, allowing for consistent performance under varying pressure and orientation. The method may also include the step of converting the detected capacitance change into a digital signal representing the slit width. In one embodiment, the method may include the step of measuring a change in resonant frequency caused by the change in slit width, wherein the change in resonant frequency is converted into a corresponding slit width measurement. In another embodiment, the method may include the step of detecting a frequency shift corresponding to the change in slit width and converting it into slit width data. In yet another embodiment, the method may include the step of comparing the capacitance of the slit width with a reference capacitor to detect a change in slit width. In yet another embodiment, the method may include a step of measuring the time constant of a capacitor charging and discharging through a resistor, which indicates the slit width. Next, at step 706, the method may include a step of determining the position and tilt of the digital pen relative to the writing surface to provide orientation data including X-coordinate, Y-coordinate, XTilt angle, and / or YTilt angle.

[0067] Next, at step 708, the slit width data and / or orientation data can be transmitted from the digital pen to the computing device. Next, at step 710, the computing device can receive the slit width data and / or orientation data from the digital pen. Next, at step 712, the slit width data and / or orientation data can be interpreted to dynamically control the amount of digital ink dispensed onto the digital paper.

[0068] Subsequently, at step 714, the stroke width and ink density on the digital paper can be adjusted based on the slit width and the position and tilt of the digital pen to simulate the writing experience and ink output of a stationery pen. In an embodiment, the method may include the following step: calculating the stroke width using a predefined constant related to the tip width of the pen nib, incorporating the slit width data. The method may terminate at step 716.

[0069] Figure 8 An exemplary computer system that can utilize embodiments of the present disclosure is illustrated. For example... Figure 8 As shown, the computer system 800 includes an external storage device 814, a bus 812, a main memory 806, a read-only memory 808, a mass storage device 810, a communication port 804, and a processing circuit system (processor) 802.

[0070] Those skilled in the art will understand that the computer system 800 may include more than one processing circuitry (processor) 802 and a communication port 804. Examples of the processor 802 include, but are not limited to, Intel processors. Itanium Either Itanium 2 processor, or AMD Opteron or Athlon MP Processor, Motorola Processor line, An on-chip system processor or other future processor. Processor 802 may include various modules associated with embodiments of this disclosure.

[0071] Communication port 805 can be any port used with modem-based dial-up connections, such as an RS-232 port, a 10 / 100 Ethernet port, a gigabit or 10 gigabit port using copper or fiber optics, a serial port, a parallel port, or other existing or future ports. Communication port 812 can be selected depending on the network, such as a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), or any network to which the computer system is connected.

[0072] Memory 806 may be random access memory (RAM) or any other dynamic storage device known in the art. Read-only memory 808 may be any static storage device, such as, but not limited to, a programmable read-only memory (PROM) chip for storing static information, such as boot or BIOS instructions for processor 802.

[0073] Mass storage 810 can be any current or future mass storage solution that can be used to store information and / or instructions. Exemplary mass storage solutions include, but are not limited to, parallel advanced technology accessory (PATA) or serial advanced technology accessory (SATA) hard disk drives or solid-state drives (internal or external, for example, with Universal Serial Bus (USB) and / or FireWire interfaces), such as those available from Seagate (e.g., the Seagate Barracuda 7200 family) or Hitachi (e.g., the Hitachi Deskstar 7K1000), one or more optical discs, redundant array (RAID) storage of individual disks, such as disk arrays (e.g., SATA arrays) available from various vendors including Dot Hill Systems Corp., LaCie, Nexsan Technologies, Inc., and Enhance Technology, Inc.

[0074] Bus 812 communicatively couples processor 802 with other memory, storage, and communication blocks. Bus 812 may be, for example, a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) / PCI Expansion (PCI-X) bus, a Small Computer System Interface (SCSI), USB, etc., for connecting expansion cards, drives, and other subsystems, as well as other buses, such as connecting processor 802 to the front side bus (FSB) of a software system.

[0075] Optionally, operator and management interfaces, such as a monitor, keyboard, and cursor control devices, can also be coupled to bus 812 to support direct operator interaction with the computer system. Additional operator and management interfaces can be provided via a network connection connected through communication port 804. External storage device 814 can be any type of external hard disk drive, floppy disk drive, or IOMEGA drive. Zip drives, optical disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), optical disc rewritable memory (CD-RW), digital video disc read-only memory (DVD-ROM). The above components are intended only to illustrate various possibilities. The exemplary computer systems described above do not in any way limit the scope of this disclosure.

[0076] While embodiments of the present disclosure have been illustrated and described, it will be clear that the present disclosure is not limited to these embodiments. Many modifications, alterations, variations, substitutions, and equivalents will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as described in the claims.

[0077] Therefore, for example, those skilled in the art will understand that figures, schematic diagrams, illustrations, etc., represent conceptual diagrams or processes embodying the systems and methods of this disclosure. The functionality of the various elements shown in the figures can be provided using dedicated hardware and hardware capable of executing associated software. Similarly, any switches shown in the figures are merely conceptual. Their functionality can be performed by the operation of program logic, by dedicated logic, by interaction between program control and dedicated logic, or even manually, with the specific techniques chosen by the entity implementing this disclosure. Those skilled in the art will further understand that the exemplary hardware, software, processes, methods, and / or operating systems described herein are for illustrative purposes and are therefore not intended to be limited to any particular designation.

[0078] As used herein, and unless the context otherwise requires, the term “coupled to” is intended to include both direct coupling (where two elements coupled to each other are in contact with each other) and indirect coupling (where at least one additional element is located between the two elements). Therefore, the terms “coupled to” and “coupled with” are used synonymously. In the context of this document, the terms “coupled to” and “coupled with” are also used to indicate “communicative coupling” over a network, where two or more devices can exchange data with each other via a network—possibly via one or more intermediate devices.

[0079] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that further modifications are possible beyond those already described without departing from the inventive concept of this document. Therefore, the subject matter of this invention is not limited except as described in the appended claims. Furthermore, in interpreting the specification and claims, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms “comprising” and “including” should be interpreted in a non-exclusive manner as referring to an element, component, or step that indicates that the referenced element, component, or step may be present or utilized or combined with other elements, components, or steps not expressly referenced. Where a claim in the specification refers to at least one selected from the group consisting of A, B, C, ... and N, the text should be interpreted as requiring only one element from the group, not A plus N, or B plus N, etc.

[0080] While various embodiments of this disclosure have been described above, other and further embodiments of this disclosure may be devised without departing from the basic scope of this disclosure. The scope of this disclosure is defined by the following claims. This disclosure is not limited to the described embodiments, versions, or examples, but is included to enable those skilled in the art to make and use this disclosure when combined with information and knowledge available to them.

Claims

1. A digital fountain pen, comprising: The pen tip has two sharp teeth made of a flexible material, wherein the two sharp teeth define a slit with a variable slit width, the variable slit width varying in response to at least one of the following: pressure applied to the pen tip or the orientation of the digital pen relative to the writing surface; A sensor module configured to measure the variable slit width; An orientation detection module, configured to determine the position and tilt of the digital pen relative to the writing surface, to provide orientation data, the orientation data including at least one of the following: X coordinate, Y coordinate, XTilt angle, or YTilt angle; and A communication module configured to transmit at least one of the slit width data or the orientation data to a connected computing device, wherein the computing device uses the slit width data and / or the orientation data to dynamically control the amount of digital ink dispensed onto digital paper, thereby simulating the writing experience and ink output of a stationery pen.

2. The digital pen according to claim 1, wherein, The sensor module includes: Two capacitor plates are incorporated within the two sharp teeth; An electronic circuit that detects changes in capacitance between the capacitor plates as the slit width changes; and A digital converter that converts the detected capacitance into a digital signal representing the slit width.

3. The digital pen according to claim 2, wherein, The sensor module includes an LRC circuit configured to measure the change in resonant frequency caused by the change in the slit width, wherein the change in resonant frequency is converted into a corresponding slit width measurement value.

4. The digital pen according to claim 2, wherein, The sensor module includes an oscillator circuit configured to detect a frequency shift corresponding to a change in the slit width, wherein the frequency shift is converted into slit width data.

5. The digital pen according to claim 2, wherein, The sensor module includes a bridging circuit configured to compare the capacitance of the slit width with a reference capacitor for detecting changes in the slit width.

6. The digital pen according to claim 2, wherein, The sensor module measures the time constant of the capacitor charging and discharging through the resistor, wherein the time constant indicates the slit width.

7. The digital pen according to claim 1, wherein, The two serrations of the pen tip are made of a metal alloy that provides both flexibility and durability, allowing for consistent performance under varying pressure and orientation.

8. The digital pen according to claim 1, wherein, The communication module uses a wireless communication protocol to transmit the slit width data and / or the orientation data to the connected computing device.

9. The digital pen according to claim 1, wherein, The computing device dynamically controls the amount of digital ink distributed onto the digital paper by adjusting the stroke width and ink density on the digital paper based on the interpretation of the slit width data and / or the orientation data.

10. The digital pen according to claim 9, wherein, The tip width of the pen tip is a predefined constant passed to the computing device, which uses the predefined constant in conjunction with the slit width data to calculate the stroke width.

11. A system for writing on digital paper using a digital pen, the system comprising: (a) A digital pen, the digital pen comprising: The pen tip has two sharp teeth made of a flexible material, wherein the two sharp teeth define a slit with a variable slit width, the variable slit width varying in response to at least one of the following: pressure applied to the pen tip or the orientation of the digital pen relative to the writing surface; A sensor module configured to measure the variable slit width; An orientation detection module, configured to determine the position and tilt of the digital pen relative to the writing surface, to provide orientation data, the orientation data including at least one of the following: X coordinate, Y coordinate, XTilt angle, or YTilt angle; and A communication module configured to transmit at least one of the following: the slit width data or the orientation data; and (b) A computing device configured to receive the slit width data and / or the orientation data from the digital pen, the computing device comprising: processor; A memory that stores instructions executable by the processor; A display screen configured to function as digital paper; wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, are configured to: Interpreting the slit width data and the orientation data to dynamically control the amount of digital ink dispensed onto the digital paper; and Based on the slit width and / or position and tilt of the digital pen, the stroke width and ink density on the digital paper are adjusted to simulate the writing experience and ink output of a stationery pen.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein, The sensor module of the digital pen includes at least one of the following: Two capacitor plates are incorporated within the two serrations; electronic circuitry detects changes in capacitance between the capacitor plates as the slit width changes; And a digital converter that converts the detected capacitance change into a digital signal representing the slit width; An LRC circuit is configured to measure the change in resonant frequency caused by the change in the slit width, wherein the change in resonant frequency is converted into a corresponding slit width measurement value. An oscillator circuit configured to detect a frequency shift corresponding to a change in the slit width, wherein the frequency shift is converted into slit width data; or A bridging circuit configured to compare the capacitance of the slit width with a reference capacitor for detecting changes in the slit width.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein, The sensor module of the digital pen measures the time constant of the capacitor charging and discharging through a resistor, wherein the time constant indicates the slit width.

14. The system according to claim 11, in, The two serrations of the nib of the digital pen are made of a metal alloy that provides both flexibility and durability, allowing for consistent performance under varying pressure and orientation; and The tip width of the pen tip is a predefined constant passed to the computing device, which allows the computing device to calculate the stroke width using the predefined constant in conjunction with the slit width data.

15. The system according to claim 11, wherein, The communication module of the digital pen uses a wireless communication protocol to transmit the slit width data and / or the orientation data to the connected computing device.

16. A method for writing on digital paper using a digital pen, the method comprising: Measure the variable slit width between two teeth of the tip of the digital pen, wherein the variable slit width varies in response to at least one of the following: pressure applied to the tip or the orientation of the digital pen relative to the writing surface; The position and tilt of the digital pen relative to the writing surface are determined to provide orientation data, which includes at least one of the following: X coordinate, Y coordinate, XTilt angle, or YTilt angle; The digital pen transmits at least one of the slit width data or the orientation data to a computing device. The computing device receives the slit width data and / or the orientation data from the digital pen; Interpret the slit width data and / or the orientation data to dynamically control the amount of digital ink dispensed onto the digital paper; as well as Based on the slit width and / or position and tilt of the digital pen, the stroke width and ink density on the digital paper are adjusted to simulate the writing experience and ink output of a stationery pen.

17. The method of claim 16, comprising at least one of the following: The capacitance change between the two capacitor plates incorporated within the two sharp teeth is detected, the capacitance change varying with the changing slit width, wherein the capacitance change is converted into a digital signal representing the slit width. The change in resonant frequency caused by the change in the slit width is measured, wherein the change in resonant frequency is converted into a corresponding slit width measurement value. Detect a frequency shift corresponding to the change in the slit width, wherein the frequency shift is converted into slit width data; or The capacitance of the slit width is compared with that of a reference capacitor to detect changes in the slit width.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising measuring the time constant of the capacitor charging and discharging through a resistor, wherein, The time constant indicates the slit width.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein, The two serrations of the tip of the digital pen are made of a metal alloy that provides both flexibility and durability, allowing for consistent performance under varying pressure and orientation.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising calculating the stroke width using a predefined constant relating to the tip width of the pen nib, incorporating the slit width data.

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