Pin

Abstract

The invention relates to a pen with a lead having a working end and an accelerometer. According to the invention, a push button is provided at the end of the pen opposite the working end of the lead, wherein the acceleration sensor is located in the push button.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a pen with a lead having a working end and an inertial sensor.

[0002] Pens of the above-mentioned type are well known. These are electronic pens, usually with wireless data transmission. Typically, the pens are designed for writing on paper. In these pens, the sensor is located near the working end of the lead, while the radio unit for data transmission is located at the end of the pen opposite the working end, because there the radio signal is not disrupted by the hand of the person writing with the pen. Connecting the sensor and radio unit requires several parallel electrical connections, which in these pens are implemented on a rigid-flex circuit board. The reason for this is that such circuit boards are easy to install, additional sensors, such as a force sensor for measuring writing pressure, can be positioned flexibly, and this component is minimal, thus not significantly increasing the diameter of the pen.Rigid-flex boards consist of a polyimide film coated with conductive traces and are stiffened with conventional board material made of fiberglass and epoxy resin in the areas where electronic components are soldered.

[0003] Rigid-flex circuit boards are expensive. Furthermore, their price increases with the length of the board. For a pen with an overall length of, say, 150 mm, the flexible section of the board can be up to 70% of its length. To assemble such a long board, it is advantageous to split the pen barrel into two halves, making it impossible to replace the refill by unscrewing the barrel. Instead, a sleeve, which closes the pen barrel with a cone at the working end of the refill, must be slid onto the assembled barrel halves and snapped into place. This results in a higher number of parts and higher material and manufacturing costs.

[0004] In view of the above problems, the object of the invention is to further develop the pen of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that the material and manufacturing costs are reduced.

[0005] According to the invention, the stated object is achieved by a push button located at the end of the pen opposite the working end of the lead, wherein the acceleration sensor is located in the push button.

[0006] Because the accelerometer has been relocated to the end of the push-button opposite the working end of the lead, the circuit board can be significantly shortened and constructed entirely as a rigid circuit board, significantly reducing manufacturing costs. At the same time, the pen barrel can be constructed from two screwed-together parts (grip zone and central barrel), reducing the number of parts and assembly effort.

[0007] Surprisingly, it was discovered that the quality of the acceleration data increases when processed, particularly using machine learning methods, as a result of this shift. This initially seems counterintuitive because, at first glance, data collected near the working end of the lead should better describe the writing movement. In fact, however, during typical writing movements, the rear end of the pen, i.e., the end farthest from the working end of the lead, experiences larger deflections than the working end, resulting in a larger and thus more favorable ratio of the useful signal from the acceleration sensor to the always present acceleration due to gravity.

[0008] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the pen has a rotation rate sensor located in the push-button. Such a rotation rate sensor can be used, together with the acceleration sensor, to (more accurately) detect the writing motion.

[0009] According to the invention, it can also be provided that the acceleration sensor and the yaw rate sensor are combined to form a combined acceleration and yaw rate sensor, thus referred to as an inertial sensor. The acceleration and yaw rate data provided by such an inertial sensor are referred to as inertial data.

[0010] According to the invention, it is further preferably provided that the push button is coupled to the lead and can be switched back and forth between two positions, namely a first position in which the lead is in a working position and a second position in which the lead is in a rest position, wherein the pen has an energy store and an electronic circuit and the electronic circuit is designed to supply the acceleration sensor and / or the rotation rate sensor with energy from the energy store in response to an adjustment of the push button into the first position.

[0011] In other words, according to this embodiment of the invention, the acceleration sensor and / or the yaw rate sensor and / or the inertial sensor are switched on via the push button, whenever the refill is moved into the working position.

[0012] The energy storage device can be a battery or an accumulator.

[0013] It is further preferably provided that the electronic circuit is designed to respond to the expiration of a predetermined period of time by switching off the power supply of the acceleration sensor and / or the yaw rate sensor and / or the inertial sensor, unless an output signal of the acceleration sensor and / or the yaw rate sensor and / or the inertial sensor has changed within the predetermined period of time.

[0014] In this embodiment, the acceleration sensor and / or the yaw rate sensor and / or the inertial sensor are deactivated when the pen is not used for a predetermined period of time. This period is, for example, 6 to 14 minutes, preferably 8 to 12 minutes. This allows energy to be saved if the person using the pen does not press the button to retract the lead after writing, even though writing is complete.

[0015] The electronic circuit can be designed to reset a timer for the predetermined period of time whenever an output signal of the inertial sensor and / or the yaw rate sensor and / or the inertial sensor changes.

[0016] This is a particularly simple way of implementing energy saving mode.

[0017] An even greater saving of energy is achieved if, in addition to the sensors, the power supply for the processor unit and the radio unit, which are both further components of the electronics, is also switched off if the signal from the inertial sensors does not change significantly over a predetermined period of time.

[0018] According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the pin has a monostable flip-flop for the aforementioned purposes. This allows a voltage signal to be applied to a circuit of the electronics for a predetermined period of time, which serves to activate the electronics. After the predetermined period of time has elapsed, the flip-flop switches this voltage signal off again, even if the push-button remains in the operating position. This prevents the electronics from switching on again if the processor or the inertial sensor itself shuts off the power supply for energy conservation purposes.

[0019] Preferably, the electronic circuit is located in the push button. It is thus close to the acceleration sensor and, if applicable, the yaw rate sensor, which shortens travel distances and saves space.

[0020] A circuit board can be provided which, in addition to the electronic circuit, carries the acceleration sensor and / or the yaw rate sensor and / or the inertial sensor.

[0021] This board can be a rigid board, which can be designed cost-effectively and easily assembled according to the above descriptions.

[0022] In addition to the sensors mentioned above, the force with which the writer presses the tip onto the paper can be recorded. This force is also called writing pressure here, even if it is a force and not pressure (i.e. force per area). To enable a force sensor remote from the writing tip, this force must be transferred to the rear of the pen. To do this, the battery, which should be located as close as possible to the writing tip to ensure a favorable center of gravity, can be stored in a longitudinally movable tray. This also has the advantage that this tray allows the installation of batteries with considerable dimensional tolerances. By holding the battery force-fitted in the elastic tray, it can be securely fixed relative to this tray, and the writing force is transferred from the longitudinally movable lead via the tray to the electronics in the rear end of the pen.

[0023] There are various possibilities for applying writing pressure to the force sensor: 1. By mounting the force sensor perpendicular to the pin axis. Since the circuit board itself must be installed parallel to the pin axis, the force sensor can be connected to the main board via a flexible cable or by attaching an auxiliary board perpendicular to the main board, which is electrically connected to the main board at four points via solder bridges, a connector, or a cable. A suitable force sensor for this purpose would be the HSFPAR003A product from the Japanese company ALPS Denki Kabushiki Kaisha. 2. By actuating the force sensor mounted on the mainboard (also, for example, the HSFPAR003A product from the Japanese company ALPS Denki) via a lever mechanism located between the battery tray and the circuit board. This lever mechanism can be mounted in various ways: 2.1. By inserting or clipping it into a corresponding mount on the end bulkhead of the battery tray. This mount can be something as simple as a hole into which a pin of the lever mechanism is inserted, or at least a pair of jaws that accommodate a lever mechanism spindle. 2.2.Through a one-piece design with the battery tray, whereby the connection between the tray and the lever mechanism is designed as a flexible bridge or as a foil hinge. 2.3.By inserting a suitably shaped lever, which is held in the correct position by steps and / or ramps on the end bulkhead of the battery tray. No assembly steps beyond inserting the components into the pin sleeve in the correct order and orientation are required for the pin assembly. 3. By implementing the force sensor as a capacitive sensor, for example, with a sensor surface printed on foil and a supply line attached to it, also on foil. The connection between the supply line and the circuit board can be implemented, for example, using a plug-socket combination such as the products 5035520622 and 5035480622 from the US company Molex, LLC.

[0024] An electronic circuit for the pen can be built into the pen's push-button. This offers several advantages. Firstly, it eliminates the need for a pen cap to prevent ink from leaking out when not in use. These pen caps are often lost due to their small size, which causes frustration when the pen is used frequently. A second advantage of a pen with a switching mechanism for the refill is that the writer has already learned a specific action when using the pen and can then use it to turn the electronics on and off. This makes it possible to save power by only running the electronics when writing, while also allowing the electronics to be switched on using an action that every pen user is already familiar with, preventing them from forgetting to turn the electronics on and off.A further advantage is that if the pen is designed with a switching mechanism for the lead, the lead must already be mounted in the pen body so that it can be moved longitudinally. This makes actuating a force sensor via the lead a trivial task, provided the force sensor can be installed in the pen as described above.

[0025] The push button can be made from one or more parts. It comprises all components that are mechanically firmly coupled to the end of the push button that protrudes backwards from the end of the pin and that fully or partially encloses the circuit board. To simplify assembly, it can be helpful to make the push button in several parts, for example by constructing it from two halves with the circuit board placed between them and a push-on end that closes off at the back. It is also conceivable, however, to make the push button in one piece, with it being open at the front end so that the circuit board can be inserted there. A disadvantage of the one-piece push button when using a conventional switching mechanism, however, is that the switching ring or switching star, which is required to lock the switching mechanism in its two states, can only be held on one side.Alternatively, a rotary mechanism, a clip that can be lowered by pressing and which simultaneously switches the mechanism, or a gate mechanism can be provided, as is known from DE000001267570B. Conversion of acceleration signals

[0026] To determine the acceleration of the pen tip (working end of the lead), the signals from an acceleration sensor installed at the rear of the pen can be converted as follows, provided the rotation rates are also available. The following also applies to the case of the inertial sensor. If ẍ1, ÿ s, z̈1 denote the accelerations in the three orthogonal axes of a Cartesian coordinate system with the zero point at position 1 on the longitudinal axis of the pen and the X-axis of this coordinate system coincides with the longitudinal axis of the pen, ẍ0, ÿ0 z̈0 denote the accelerations in the three orthogonal axes of a Cartesian coordinate system with the zero point at the position of the writing ball and ẋ, ẏ, ż denote the rotational velocities in the three orthogonal axes of a Cartesian coordinate system, whereby a position-dependent index can be omitted for the rotational velocities, since this is a free vector, and if elastic deformations of the pen during the writing movement can be excluded, then the conversion can be carried out according to the following scheme: x¨0=x¨1+Δx⋅(y˙2+z˙2), y¨0,t=1=y¨1,t=1−Δx⋅z˙t=2−zt=0Δt, z¨0,t=1=z¨1,t=1+Δx⋅y˙t=2−y˙t=0Δt, where Δx is the distance of point 1 from the writing ball, and the indices t=0, t=1, and t=2 denote three consecutive points in time, each separated by a time interval of Δt / 2. Since the inertial sensor system measures intermittently, three consecutive measurement points should be selected for the times t=0, t=1, and t=2. While the y- and z-acceleration must be modified by the change in the angular rate times the distance Δx, the x-acceleration must be modified by the centrifugal force, so that all values ​​apply at the same time and time-dependent indices can be dispensed with.

[0027] To attenuate unusually high or low signals from the yaw rate sensor due to sensor noise, more complex equations can be used that include measured values ​​from more than just three points in time. The common approaches for this should be familiar to the expert and need not be explained individually here.

[0028] The above conversions can be applied analogously for the lateral distances of the sensor axes from the longitudinal axis of the pen. Care should be taken to ensure that the inertial and gyroscope sensors are oriented as parallel as possible to the longitudinal axis of the pen; otherwise, the values ​​must first be rotated into a coordinate system parallel to the longitudinal axis. The physical position of the inertial and gyroscope sensors in the pen is irrelevant. Both discrete components for each sensor and combination components that combine acceleration and gyroscope sensors in one housing can be used.

[0029] The units of acceleration are m / s 2 , the rotation rates rad / s and the distance m.

[0030] A pen according to the invention can consist of nine components: 1. a shaft, i.e. a tube for holding the internal components, which can optionally carry a clip (front housing part) and can optionally consist of two parts screwed together (grip and central shaft), 2. a rear closure that closes the shaft to the rear, can be rotated against the shaft and optionally carries a clip (rear housing part), 3. a lead, i.e. a component for producing a line on a writing substrate, preferably paper, which is arranged in the front area of ​​the shaft so as to be longitudinally displaceable and which, in a working position, protrudes from the shaft with its tip, while in its rest position it lies entirely within the shaft, 4. an elastic element which applies a preload to the mine towards the rear end of the shaft, preferably a coil spring, 5. a tray located behind the lead in the shaft to accommodate the energy storage device, which is arranged in the shaft so as to be longitudinally displaceable and is in contact at its front end with the rear end of the writing lead in order to transfer the force acting on the tip of the writing lead to subsequent components, 6. a push button arranged in the rear area of ​​the shaft so as to be longitudinally movable, which also houses the electronics (see position 8) and whose rear end protrudes from the rear end of the shaft in order to trigger the change between the working and the rest position when actuated by the user, 7. a switching mechanism which ensures the alternating locking of the switching element in the working and rest positions, for example a switching star which is arranged in a rotationally movable manner on the circumference of a push-button and at the same time runs in grooves on the inner surface of the shaft or the rear end, 8. an electronic circuit (electronics) which is primarily installed within the push-button and consists of at least one acceleration sensor and optionally one yaw rate sensor (preferably combined to form an inertial sensor) and one force sensor, whereby the optional force sensor is in contact with the rear end of the battery compartment in the writing position, so that the flow of force when writing runs from the tip of the writing lead via the battery compartment, the force sensor, the push-button and the switching star, either via the rear end into the barrel, or directly into the barrel, and from there into the user's hand, 9. and an energy storage device, which is preferably arranged in the battery tray and is in electrically conductive contact with the electronics, at least in the working position.

[0031] Depending on the design of the energy storage device, it can be either replaceable or rechargeable. In the latter case, the electronics can also include at least one charging socket for the electrically conductive connection of at least one external power source for charging the energy storage device built into the pen. Switching on and off

[0032] In the preferred solution, the electronics are permanently connected to the battery. The power supply is switched on and off by an integrated circuit (IC), which can be switched from idle to operating state via its own input by applying a positive voltage to this input for a minimum time (typically 0.8 seconds). During operation, this input is pulled to ground potential by a resistor connected to the ground wire. The power supply can be activated and switched on by a switching element, for example in the form of a pushbutton, which is activated by pressing the pushbutton and switches the battery voltage to the input directly or indirectly, for example via a monostable multivibrator.

[0033] However, a direct connection would have the disadvantage that the pin could be left switched on, which would lead to the energy storage device being completely discharged over a longer period of time. This would be particularly detrimental to lithium-ion batteries, as they are destroyed by deep discharge. Therefore, it is desirable to disable the power supply IC via software. Modern versions of such an IC allow this by connecting them to the electronics processor via a communication line.

[0034] In order for a pin that remains in the switched-on state to be switched off via a processor command (the trigger for this command can be, for example, monitoring a change in the signal from at least one inertial sensor), the power supply input must only be supplied with voltage for the duration of the switch-on process. Once the power supply is switched on, the voltage value at the switch-on input is ignored until the power supply IC is switched back to the idle state. This short-term voltage signal, which is maintained long enough to trigger the switch-on process but is then switched off again, can be generated, for example, by a monostable multivibrator, which in turn is controlled by a switching element activated by pressing the push button.

[0035] So the switching on sequence in this preferred solution is: 1. The switching mechanism is operated by means of the push button, whereby the switching element allows the voltage of the battery to pass through. 2. The monostable multivibrator (e.g., the Nexperia 74LVC1G123GN component) is activated, causing a positive voltage to be applied to one output for a predetermined time. After this time, the output drops back to ground, regardless of the voltage at the input of the multivibrator. 3. The positive voltage of the flip-flop is connected to the input for switching on the power supply IC, which changes the IC from the idle to the working state and maintains this state until it is switched off by a signal from the processor.

[0036] Of course, the pen electronics can also be switched off by pressing the button. To do this, the voltage behind the switching element activated by pressing the button is evaluated by the pen's processor unit, and the power supply is switched off when the switch is in the off position.

[0037] In the preferred solution according to the invention, the electronics are limited to the space behind the energy storage device and the battery compartment, i.e., they are installed in the pusher, whereby parts of the electronics can protrude from the contour of the pusher housing. For example, a force sensor can be in direct contact with the rear end of the battery compartment. Likewise, a switching element can protrude from the pusher housing, which, through contact with a suitably shaped contour on the inner surface of the shaft, reports the current position of the pusher to the processor unit of the electronics. In the case of a rechargeable battery, the then required charging socket will also protrude at least partially through an opening in the pusher housing. For example, in the case of a non-rechargeable battery, the processor unit can sense the position of the pusher via elastic electrical contacts that only close the circuit with the power source in the writing position. Alternative embodimentsAlternative 1

[0038] Instead of a directly actuated pusher, it can be moved indirectly by twisting the two shaft sections relative to each other. It is guided in the front shaft section for linear movement but with a rotational coupling. In the rear shaft section, the rotational movement is converted into a linear movement of the pusher by a ramp or a guide. In this case, the pusher does not need to protrude from the back of the pin, and instead of a thread, the two shaft sections are connected by a locking mechanism that connects them positively but allows limited rotation relative to each other. Alternative 2

[0039] If the pen doesn't contain a rechargeable power source, its design can be significantly simpler, which supports the goal of a particularly cost-effective design. However, the energy storage device would then have to be replaced regularly during operation, leading to higher operating costs.

[0040] The battery tray contains a zinc-carbon cell or an alkaline cell of the appropriate size. In this embodiment, no charging socket is provided, and instead of the power supply IC, which also controls the charging of a rechargeable power source, a simple boost or buck converter can be installed, which raises or lowers the voltage of the non-rechargeable power source to the desired operating voltage of the electronics, depending on the voltage of the power source.

[0041] A further simplification is possible if the switching on and off of the electronics is not controlled by a switching element activated by the actuation of the switching mechanism, but rather by spring contacts that, in the operating position, make galvanic contact with contact surfaces on the corresponding opposite side. In the rest position, they are lifted from these contact surfaces by the further movement of the pusher relative to the travel path of the battery tray, thus completely separating the voltage source from the electronics. The springs can be attached to both the battery tray and the pusher containing the electronics. Fig. Figure 12 shows such a design, with the contact springs mounted on the push-button side and the contact surfaces on the side of the battery tray. An additional return spring ensures safe lifting of the contact springs in the rest position.

[0042] To facilitate the replacement of the power source and the writing lead, this version has an extended tray ( Fig. 13), which simultaneously houses both the voltage source and the mine in separate compartments.

[0043] The invention is explained in more detail below using preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of an embodiment of the invention, the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 the same view as Fig. 1, but from other embodiments, Fig. 4 the same view as Fig. 3, but with retracted mine, Fig. 5 schematically shows a lever mechanism, Fig. 6 an embodiment of a tray for the pen according to the Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, Fig. 7 the same view as Fig. 4, but from an embodiment with a two-part pusher, Fig. 8a and Fig. 8b Individual parts of the pusher from Fig. 2 or 7, partially cut, Fig. 9 the same view as Fig. 7, but with extended mine, Fig. 10 an embodiment of a part of the pusher, Fig. 11 the same view as the Fig. 4 and Fig. 7, but from another embodiment, Fig. 12 the same view as the Fig. 1 to 3 and 9, but from a further embodiment and in two different rotational positions, and Fig. 13 a schematic view of another embodiment of a tub.

[0044] The drawings show the following details of the pen shown:

[0045] A grip 1, a barrel tube 2, a rear end 3, a writing lead 4, a tray 5 for a battery 50, which encloses it in a form-fitting manner, a front push-button housing 6, a rear push-button housing 7, a circuit board 8, a switching star 9, a passage opening 11 for a writing tip 41 of the writing lead 4, a switching spring 12, a thread 21, a locking mechanism 23 of the end piece 3, a clip 31, a lead tube 42 of the writing lead 4, a lead filling (ink 43 and follower 45), an optional plug 44, a front tray bulkhead 51, a rear tray bulkhead 52, a shield 53 (if part of the tray) or 32 (if part of the barrel end) for closing a charging socket opening 24, webs 54, a shoulder 55, a lever 56, a lens 57, an edge 58, a seat 61 for the circuit board of the force sensor 81, a cutout 62 for a charging socket 82, a locking bead 63 for the rear pusher housing 7, a receptacle 64, a tooth profile 71 for the switching star transport,a locking groove 72 in the rear push-button housing 7, a force sensor 81, a charging socket 82, which in the illustrated embodiment is a USB-C charging socket, a button 83 serving as a switching element, a combined inertial sensor 84, an acceleration sensor 84a, a yaw rate sensor 84b, a processor 85, an antenna 86, an outer toothed ring 91 for locking, an inner toothed ring 92 for the switching star transport and a touch lever 831.

[0046] The Fig. 12 and Fig. 13 the following details can be found: A front stop 101 for the refill, a front compartment 102 of the tray 5 for the refill, a rear compartment 103 for the voltage source, a rear opening 104 for a contact surface, a further opening 105 for the positive pole of the voltage source, webs 106 as a stop for the switching spring 12, a spring-loaded metal contact 121 for the negative pole of the voltage source, a rear contact surface 122, a contact spring 130 and a return spring 131 for the safe lifting of the push button and its electronics.

[0047] In the embodiment according to Fig. 1, a lever 56 is provided, which transmits the force acting on the writing tip 41 during use to the force sensor 81. The lever 56 is inserted into the rear hull frame 52. The pusher consists of the front pusher housing 6 and the rear pusher housing 7. Within the pusher are the force sensor 81, the combined inertial sensor 84, a processor 85, and an antenna 86. The processor 85 represents the electronic circuit that, for example, switches the sensors 81 and 84 on and off. Another component is a monostable flip-flop (no reference numeral).

[0048] The embodiment according to Fig. 2 differs from that according to Fig. 1 in that the lever 56 is molded onto the rear hull frame 52.

[0049] In the embodiment according to the Fig. 3 to 5, the lever 56 is attached to the rear hull frame 52 and is held in position there, see the above mounting option under section 2.3. For this purpose, the lever 56 has a lens 57 for contact with the force sensor 81 and an edge 58 around which the lever 56 can pivot. Fig. 5 shows the lever 56 in three views for clarity.

[0050] Fig. 6 shows the tub 5 of the pen after the Fig. 3 and Fig. 4. It has webs 54 for orienting the lever 56 and a shoulder 55 on which the edge 58 of the lever 56 is supported.

[0051] The Fig. 8 shows various views (partially sectioned) of the pusher for the embodiment according to Fig. 7. The rear pusher housing 7 is designed as a pusher cap. The circuit board 8 is housed in the front pusher housing 6, which is designed as a pusher tube. The switching mechanism is of a known type, which is why it will not be explained in detail. Fig. 9 is the embodiment according to Fig. 7 shown again, but in this case with the mine extended (working position).

[0052] Fig. 10 shows an alternative design of the pusher tube 6. It has a cutout 62 for the charging socket 82, a locking bead 63 for the pusher cap 7, a receptacle 64 for the circuit board of the force sensor 81 and a seat 61 for the circuit board of the force sensor 81, which is orthogonal to the circuit board 8, cf. Fig. 7 and Fig. 9.

[0053] While in the embodiment according to the Fig. 11 the charging socket opening 24 is closed by a shield 32 molded onto the rear end 3, is according to the Fig. 6 the relevant plate 53 is attached to the tub 5. The Fig. 11 The plate 32 attached to the rear end 3 can be designed as a tube having a cutout 62 in the area of ​​the charging socket 82, through which the charging socket 82 can protrude outward. At the same time, the cutout enables the pusher to be rotationally coupled to the rear end 3, which, in the case of a plate attached to the battery tray 5, is only possible through grooves and tongues between the pusher cap 7 and the rear end 3 or an elliptical pusher cap.

[0054] In the embodiment according to Fig. 12 shows, in particular, the spring-loaded metal contact 121 for the negative pole of the battery 50 and a contact spring 130, as well as a rear contact surface 122, with which the operating voltage can be applied to the circuit board 8 and thus to the individual components mounted thereon when the refill 4 is in the working position. In the rest position, the battery 50 is disconnected.

[0055] Fig. 13 shows an embodiment of the battery tray 5 for a non-rechargeable voltage source (battery).

[0056] The features of the invention disclosed in the above description, the claims and the drawings may be essential both individually and in any combination for the realization of the invention in its various embodiments. QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 000001267570B

[0025]

Claims

[1] Pen with a mine (4) having a working end (41) and an acceleration sensor (84, 84a), characterized by a push button (6, 7) located at the end of the pencil opposite the working end (41) of the lead, wherein the acceleration sensor (84, 84a) is located in the push button. [2] Pen according to claim 1, characterized by a rotation rate sensor (84, 84b) located in the push button (6, 7). [3] Pen according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the acceleration sensor (84a) and the yaw rate sensor (84b) are combined to form a combined inertial sensor (84). [4] Pen according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the pusher (6, 7) is coupled to the mine (4) and can be switched back and forth between two positions, namely a first position in which the mine is in a working position, and a second position in which the mine is in a rest position, whereby the pin has an energy store (5) and an electronic circuit (85), and the electronic circuit is designed to supply the acceleration sensor (84a) and / or the rotation rate sensor (84b) and / or the inertial sensor (84) with energy from the energy store in response to a displacement of the pusher into the first position. [5] Pen according to claim 4, characterized by that the electronic circuit (85) is designed to respond to the expiration of a predetermined period of time by switching off the power supply of the acceleration sensor (84a) and / or the rotation rate sensor (84b) and / or the inertial sensor (84), unless an output signal of the acceleration sensor and / or the rotation rate sensor and / or the inertial sensor (84) has changed within the predetermined period of time. [6] Pen according to claim 4 or 5, characterized bythat the electronic circuit (85) is designed to reset a timer for the predetermined period of time whenever an output signal of the acceleration sensor (84a) and / or the rotation rate sensor (84b) and / or the inertial sensor (84) changes. [7] Pen according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized by that the electronic circuit (85) is located in the push button (6, 7). [8] Pen according to one of claims 4 to 7, characterized by a circuit board (8) which, in addition to the electronic circuit (85), carries the acceleration sensor (84a) and / or the yaw rate sensor (84b) and / or the inertial sensor (84). [9] Pen according to claim 8, characterized by that the circuit board (8) is a rigid circuit board.

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