Digital pen

Abstract

To allow a user to remove a rechargeable battery from a digital pen.SOLUTION: A digital pen includes a slim pen section 11 equipped with a front pen segment 12 having a writing element formed especially as a pen tip for writing on a pad, and a pen segment 13 disposed behind the front pen segment 12, having, in particular, a housing, and containing, in particular, a slim rechargeable battery 14 for supplying electricity to an electronic component of the front pen segment 12. The rechargeable battery 14 includes an electric contact section. The digital pen is configured to supply, via the electric contact section, an electrical charging flow of a charging source to the rechargeable battery 14. The rechargeable battery 14 is arranged so as to be detached from the pen segment 13 disposed behind, in order to remove the rechargeable battery 14 from the pen section 11.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a digital pen having an elongated pen portion with a front pen segment having a writing element, in particular formed as a pen tip, for writing on a pad such as paper or a touch screen, and a further rearwardly arranged pen segment with respect to the front pen segment, in particular comprising a housing, in which a particularly elongated rechargeable battery is arranged entirely or partly for powering at least one electronic component of the front pen segment, the rechargeable battery having at least two electrical contacts via which an electrical charging current of a charging source can be supplied to the rechargeable battery. [Background technology]

[0002] Such digital pens with rechargeable batteries are known. A problem with such pens is, inter alia, that the user cannot remove each rechargeable battery from the digital pen. Therefore, if a rechargeable battery is damaged, it cannot be replaced with a new rechargeable battery. This is also problematic from an environmental point of view, since rechargeable batteries cannot be disposed of separately. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] Based on this, the object of the present invention is to develop the digital pen mentioned at the beginning. [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] The problem is solved by a digital pen having the features of claim 1.

[0005] Correspondingly, the digital pen according to the invention is characterized in that the rechargeable battery is removably arranged in the pen segment arranged further rearward in order to remove the rechargeable battery from the pen part, said removability being a prerequisite for the user to be able to take the rechargeable battery out of the pen segment arranged further rearward when necessary.

[0006] Such a digital pen may otherwise be based on or use any known technology for such digital input pens, and may thus be, for example, an electromagnetic, electro-optical, EMR (electromagnetic radiation), capacitive, inductive or resistive digital pen, among others.

[0007] According to the invention, the further rearward pen segment for removing the rechargeable battery can be removably fixed to the other pen segments, in particular the front pen segment, for example by snap-fitting and / or engagement. The removably fixing can be realized for example by using a screw connection, a snap connection or a bayonet connection, and is performed in such a way that the rechargeable battery can be removed from the further rearward pen segment through an opening of the further rearward pen segment facing the other pen segments, in a state where the further rearward pen segment has been detached from the other pen segments. In other words, in some cases, the user can first appropriately detach the further rearward pen segment, and then remove the rechargeable battery removably arranged in the further rearward pen segment.

[0008] Advantageously, according to the invention, one or both of the electrical contacts of the rechargeable battery that supply the charging current to the electrical contacts can be located in the region of the front end of the rechargeable battery facing the writing element and / or adjacent to said end. Alternatively or additionally, one or both of the electrical contacts of the rechargeable battery can also be located in the region of the rear end of the rechargeable battery facing away from the writing element and / or adjacent to said end.

[0009] Both electrical contacts of the rechargeable battery, which can supply an electrical charging current to the rechargeable battery, can be electrically connected conductively and removably to the electronic components of the front pen segment, respectively, at the electrical contacts of the front pen segment, in particular arranged in the front pen segment, i.e., for supplying power to the electronic components.

[0010] The rechargeable battery may comprise, in the region of or adjacent to the front end facing the writing element, two further electrical contacts for powering the electronic components of the front pen segment, in the region of or adjacent to the front end facing the writing element, in case both electrical contacts of the rechargeable battery are arranged in the region of or adjacent to the rear end of the rechargeable battery opposite the writing element for supplying a charging current, each of the contacts being removably electrically connected to an electrical contact of the front pen segment, which is respectively conductively connected to the electronic components of the front pen segment.

[0011] Each of the two electrical contacts of the rechargeable battery for supplying a charging current or each of the two electrical contacts of the rechargeable battery for supplying power to electronic components may in particular be components of a common connector part, in particular of a connector part connected to (at least) one current line, preferably formed as a current cable, connected to one of the two poles of the rechargeable battery.

[0012] In this case, the or each connector member can be removably connected to a connector counter member arranged in particular in the front pen segment while forming an electrical plug connection, the connector counter member having electrical contacts of the front pen segment, in particular electrical contacts capable of supplying a charging current to the rechargeable battery and / or a supply current from the rechargeable battery to the electronic components of the front pen segment.

[0013] Each of the two electrical contacts of the rechargeable battery for supplying a charging current or for powering electronic components can comprise a contact surface arranged directly on the rechargeable battery, in particular on its battery housing, preferably forming one of the poles of the rechargeable battery, or can be formed by such a contact surface, in particular a contact surface made of an electrically conductive material.

[0014] One of the contact surfaces may form the positive electrode of a rechargeable battery, and the other contact surface may form the negative electrode of the rechargeable battery.

[0015] Furthermore, one or both contact surfaces may be configured to be positioned on a particularly flat end face of the rechargeable battery, preferably extending at an angle, particularly transversely to the longitudinal axis of the pen portion, and forming the front free end of the rechargeable battery.

[0016] One or both contact surfaces may be formed as ring surfaces, and / or one contact surface may form the circumferential interior of a hollow cylindrical portion of the rechargeable battery.

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

[0018] Furthermore, the pen segment arranged further to the rear can have a particularly elongated, preferably hollow cylindrical, storage space in which a rechargeable battery is arranged in a fully or partially removable manner, in particular in sliding contact with a surrounding storage space wall that laterally defines the storage space.

[0019] Furthermore, the pen part, in particular the front pen segment or the rear pen segment, can be equipped with an electronic module for managing the charging process of the rechargeable battery, in particular an electronic module for managing the charging process electrically connected by a wired connection to both electrical contacts of the rechargeable battery for supplying the charging current.

[0020] Furthermore, the receiving means of the digital pen for receiving charging energy, in particular the receiving means arranged in the pen part or in a (separable) essentially elongated protective cap removably fixed to the pen part in the charging connection state, can be configured so that the charging energy of the in particular electrically operated charging source transmitted to said receiving means is further transmitted to the rechargeable battery for charging the rechargeable battery or is further retransmittably connected to the rechargeable battery.

[0021] In this case, the charging energy of the charging source can be connected to the receiving means by wire or can be transmitted wirelessly, in particular, by wire using an electric current, or by wireless using an inductive, capacitive or electromagnetic wave.

[0022] Furthermore, the receiving means can be formed by (at least) two electrical contacts to which an electrical charging current of a charging source can be supplied for charging the rechargeable battery, in particular by electrical contacts which are components of a connection point arranged in the digital pen, in particular in the front pen segment or the rear pen segment or in the protective cap, for detachable connection of a current cable or a current and data cable which is connected or connectable to a charging source.

[0023] In this case, the receiving means may include a unit for receiving charging energy inductively or capacitively or a unit for receiving electromagnetic waves transmitting charging energy.

[0024] If the protective cap is equipped with a receiving means, the receiving means can be connected to the rechargeable battery in a charging connection state between the protective cap and the pen part, in particular inductively, capacitively or wirelessly using electromagnetic waves, and / or by wire, so that the charging energy transmitted to the receiving means is further transmitted to the rechargeable battery.

[0025] The protective cap may comprise a sending unit, in particular including a sending coil, of the inductive energy transmission device of the digital pen for transmitting charging energy to the rechargeable battery, which sending unit is connected by wire to the receiving means, in particular to the electrical contacts, of the protective cap.

[0026] The pen portion, in particular the front pen segment or one or further rearwardly arranged pen segments, may be provided with a receiving unit including a receiving coil of the inductive energy transmission device of the digital pen, which receiving unit is connected to the rechargeable battery by a wired connection and inductively cooperates with the sending unit to transmit charging energy to the receiving unit for charging the rechargeable battery.

[0027] The electrical contacts of the protective cap forming the receiving means can be connected by wire connection to electrical contacts that are likewise conductively connected to a rechargeable battery arranged in the pen part, in particular in the front pen segment or in one or further rearward arranged pen segments, in the charging connection state of the protective cap and the pen part.

[0028] An electrical contact of the receiving means of the protective cap, in particular arranged further forward, can be connected by wire to an additional electrical contact, in particular arranged further rearward, of the protective cap, which additional electrical contact of the protective cap is in contact with an electrical contact of the pen part, which is conductively connected to the rechargeable battery, in the connected state of the protective cap and the pen part.

[0029] The receiving means of the protective cap can likewise be arranged on the (front) end face of the protective cap or in particular on the peripheral outside of the protective cap.

[0030] The electronic component capable of being supplied with current from a rechargeable battery may be or include, for example, the writing element of a digital pen.

[0031] The protective cap, in a charging connection state in which the protective cap is removably fixed to the pen portion, is capable of covering the writing element and at least one of the front pen segments or one or more further rearwardly arranged pen segments, preferably including the (rear) free end of the pen portion.

[0032] In this case, if the protective cap covers a pen segment located further back in the charging connection state, the protective cap may be removably fixable to the pen portion in another position where the protective cap covers the writing element and at least one segment of the forward pen segment.

[0033] Further features of the present invention will be apparent from the appended claims, the following description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0034] [Figure 1]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram (longitudinal cross section) of a first embodiment of a digital pen having a removable rechargeable battery, where the charging current for the rechargeable battery is supplied to a rear pen segment of the digital pen and is wired or cabled using electrical contacts located on the rear pen segment. [Figure 2] Schematic diagram (longitudinal cross section) of a second embodiment of a digital pen with a removable rechargeable battery, where charging current is provided wirelessly or via a radio frequency connection to the rear pen segment. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 shows a second embodiment of the digital pen (longitudinal cross section), in which the wireless supply of charging current to the rear pen segment is achieved by means of a protective cap of the digital pen that is removably placed on the rear pen segment. [Figure 4] 4 shows a protective cap for the digital pen according to FIG. 3 at a particular point (longitudinal section); [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram (longitudinal cross section) of a third embodiment of a digital pen having a removable rechargeable battery, where the charging current for the rechargeable battery is supplied to the front pen segment of the digital pen and is wired or cabled using electrical contacts located on the front pen segment. [Figure 6] Schematic diagram (longitudinal cross section) of a fourth embodiment of a digital pen having a removable rechargeable battery, in which charging current for the rechargeable battery is supplied to the front pen segment of the digital pen using electrical contacts located on the front pen segment that are conductively connected to a protective cap of the digital pen that is removably mounted on the front pen segment, with the charging current being supplied by a wired or cabled connection. [Figure 7] 10 is a schematic diagram (longitudinal cross section) of a fifth embodiment of a digital pen having a removable rechargeable battery, in which charging current for the rechargeable battery is supplied to the front pen segment of the digital pen via a wireless connection or a protective cap of the digital pen that is removably mounted on the front pen segment, with the charging current being supplied via a wired or cabled connection. [Figure 8] 1 is a schematic diagram (oblique cross section) of a first embodiment of a removable rechargeable battery for a digital pen, having two electrical (connection) contacts connected to the poles of the rechargeable battery via a current cable for removable connection of the rechargeable battery with the electrical (counter) contacts of the digital pen; [Figure 9] Schematic diagram (oblique cross section) of a second embodiment of a removable rechargeable battery for a digital pen, having two contact surfaces formed by circular battery poles for removable connection with the electrical (counter) contacts of the digital pen. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0035] The drawings show, by way of example, different simplified embodiments of a digital pen 10, which illustrate how the digital pen can be implemented according to the core idea of the present invention, but it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

[0036] The illustrated digital pen 10 comprises an elongated pen portion 11, which includes a front pen segment 12 and a rear pen segment 13. In accordance with the present invention, the digital pen 10 may be based on or use any known technology for such digital input pens. The digital pen may be, for example, an electromagnetic, electro-optical, electromagnetic radiation, capacitive, inductive or resistive digital pen.

[0037] The front pen segment 12 comprises a writing element 33, here formed as a stylus, for writing on a pad such as paper or a touch screen.

[0038] A rechargeable (here cylindrical) battery 14 is arranged in a hollow cylindrical receiving space 15, for example, of the pen segment 13 arranged further rearward. During operation of the digital pen 10, at least one electronically or electrically operating member 22 (such a member may also be understood in the present application as an assembly of multiple electronic / electrical structural elements) arranged in the front pen segment 12 of the digital pen 10 is supplied with current by the battery 14. In the case of an electro-optical pen, this may be, for example, an LED and / or a camera for determining the position of the pen, or in the case of an electromagnetic pen, a generator of an electromagnetic field or the like.

[0039] The rechargeable battery 14 is removably arranged or stored in the pen segment 13 or storage space 15 located further to the rear so that it can be replaced with a new rechargeable battery, for example at the end of its life, or so that it can be disposed of if the digital pen 10 is defective.

[0040] For this purpose, the outer contour of the rechargeable battery 14 can be configured, for example, to be adapted to the storage space 15, so that walls, protrusions or the like defining the storage space 15 contribute to a secure retention in the pen part 11 or in the pen segment 13 arranged further rearward, so that it is not necessary to protect the rechargeable battery 14 from undesirable relative movements within the storage space 15, for example by means of a non-removable covering or the like.

[0041] In this regard, the rechargeable battery 14 can be configured to slide and therefore easily removable contact the surrounding wall defining the storage space 15, so that the rechargeable battery 14 can be moved by the user out of the further rearwardly positioned pen segment 13 by a suitable relative axial movement.

[0042] Here, the rechargeable battery 14 is in contact with a housing wall 13b of the housing 13a of the pen segment 13 arranged further to the rear, which delimits the receiving space 15 for this purpose.

[0043] Furthermore, the pen segment 13 arranged further to the rear is removably fixed to the front pen segment 12 at the end 13c assigned to the front pen segment 12, for example by means of a screw connection, a snap connection or a bayonet connection.

[0044] Correspondingly, the further rearwardly arranged pen segment 13 can be detached from the front pen segment 12 if necessary, and the rechargeable battery 14 can be taken out from the further rearwardly arranged pen segment 13 or can be detached from the further rearwardly arranged pen segment 13 through the front opening 13d arranged on the end face side at the end 13c of the further rearwardly arranged pen segment 13.

[0045] In this case, the further rearwardly arranged pen segment 13 simultaneously forms the rear free end of the pen part 11. It is naturally theoretically also conceivable that the further rearwardly arranged pen segment 13 does not form a rear free end, but is for example removably connected to an additional further rearwardly arranged pen segment (in particular including the rear free end of the pen part). In this case, it may also be provided that the rechargeable battery 14 removably arranged in the further rearwardly arranged pen segment 13 can be removed through an opening in the further rearwardly arranged pen segment 13 facing towards the additional pen segment. Various embodiments are conceivable here.

[0046] A solution for charging the rechargeable battery 14 is shown in Figures 1 to 4 in which the electrical charging energy required for this is supplied via the further rearward arranged pen segment 13. In contrast to this, in the embodiment of Figures 5 to 7 the electrical charging energy is supplied via the front pen segment 12.

[0047] Here, in the embodiment of FIG. 1, the charging current of a separate charging source (e.g., a conventional current or voltage source) not shown here is configured to be supplied to the pen segment 13 arranged further back via a wired connection, i.e., here via a (at least two-core) current line or current cable 16.

[0048] In this case, the rechargeable battery 14 is provided with two electrical charging contacts (not shown) which are removably and conductively connected to a charging management module 17 which optimizes the charging process.

[0049] Likewise, the charging management module 17 is here galvanically / conductively coupled or connected to receiving means 28 of the digital pen 10 for receiving charging energy of a charging source, the receiving means 28 being formed in this case by (at least two) electrical connection contacts (not shown) which are arranged on the pen segment 13 arranged further back and which may, for example (but do not have to be part of) a connection point possibly with further contacts, for example for transmitting data.

[0050] In this case, the counter contacts 20, 21 are removably electrically connectable to electrical connection contacts of the receiving means 28 of the pen segment 13 arranged further rearward and are fixed to a current cable 16 which may be, for example, part of a connector part and which can extend / be extended to a charging source not shown.

[0051] It goes without saying that the charge management module 17 is not necessarily required. It is also possible to configure the receiving means 28 to be formed directly by the charging contacts of the rechargeable battery 14, which in this case are correspondingly detachably connectable or connected directly to the counter-contacts 20, 21 of the current cable 16.

[0052] The electrical charging contacts of the rechargeable battery 14 are, at least in this case, arranged directly on the rearward-facing end face of the rechargeable battery 14 and can be formed, for example, as particularly concentric ring-shaped contact surfaces 18, 19 made of an electrically conductive material, in this case facing the charge management module 17, see also FIG. 9. The contact surfaces 18, 19 are then preferably formed directly by the corresponding negative and positive poles of the rechargeable battery 14 and are in detachable contact with the electrical connection contacts of the charge management module 17.

[0053] Furthermore, in the region of its end facing the front pen segment 12, the rechargeable battery 14 is connected in a detachable and wired manner to at least one electronic component 22 for powering said electronic component, here by way of example via (e.g. cable-like) current lines 23a, 23b, 24a, 24b which are detachably connected to one another via corresponding detachable (electrical) connection contacts 25 or 26. Here, the connection contacts 26 can comprise, for example, connectors with connection contacts which are wiredly connected, for example via the current lines 24a, 24b, to power supply contacts of the rechargeable battery 14, in particular to the poles of the rechargeable battery 14. An example of a rechargeable battery 14 with corresponding connection contacts is shown in Figure 8.

[0054] However, it is also conceivable to omit the current lines 24a, 24b. The rechargeable battery 14 can thus also be provided, for example at its end facing the front pen segment 12, with contact surfaces 18, 19 which are in direct contact with the connecting contacts 25, as shown in Figure 9. It goes without saying that various embodiments are conceivable here.

[0055] To remove the rechargeable battery 14, in the embodiment of Figure 1, the user can detach the further rearward pen segment 13 from the forward pen segment 12, disconnect the connection contacts 25 from the connection contacts 26, and separate the charging contacts of the rechargeable battery 14 from the charge management module 17. The user can then remove the rechargeable battery 14 from the further rearward pen segment 13.

[0056] In the embodiment of FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the receiving means 28 for receiving the charging energy of the charging source is not arranged in the pen part 11 but in a separate protective cap 27 of the digital pen 10.

[0057] In this case, the electrical connection contacts of the receiving means 28, which can be connected to or are connected to the counter contacts 20, 21, are arranged on the end face side of the protective cap 27. Using connection lines 29a, 29b, the connection contacts are electrically or wired to a sending unit 30 of the protective cap 27, which is a device for transmitting charging energy for the digital pen 10 wirelessly or via a radio connection.

[0058] 3, the protective cap 27 is removably fastened to the pen part 11, i.e. to the pen segment 13 arranged further rearward therein, and is here fitted onto the rear free end of the further rear pen segment 13, the rear free end of which is then located in the receiving part 31 of the protective cap 27. The sending unit 30 of the protective cap 27 is then arranged in the area of the receiving part 31 and surrounds the rear free end of the further rear pen segment 13, so that the receiving unit 32 of the device for wirelessly transferring charging energy, which is a component of the pen part 11 or of the further rear pen segment 13, is surrounded by the sending unit 30.

[0059] In this case, the charging energy is transferred inductively between the sending unit 30 and the receiving unit 32, but it can also be transferred capacitively or by means of electromagnetic waves.

[0060] For inductive transmission, the sending unit 30 is equipped with a sending coil 30a known per se, and the receiving unit 32 is equipped with a receiving coil 32a known per se.

[0061] Furthermore, the receiving unit 32 or receiving coil 32a is connected by wire to the charging contacts of the rechargeable battery 14, which in the embodiment of Fig. 1 are arranged on the rearward-facing end side, so that the charging energy received wirelessly or via a radio-controlled connection by the receiving coil 32a is transmitted in the form of a current via corresponding current lines to the rechargeable battery 14. As in the embodiment of Fig. 1, for example, a charging management module 17 can also be interposed.

[0062] It should be noted that the protective cap 27 is not only removably connectable to the pen portion 11 in the position shown in FIG. 3, where it is normally fitted onto the further rearwardly disposed pen segment 13 in the charging connection state, but also removably connectable to the pen portion 11 in another protective position where it covers the writing element 33 (and at least one segment of the forward pen segment 12) to protect the writing element 33.

[0063] In the embodiment of Figure 5, the receiving means 28 are formed as in Figures 1 to 4, but are arranged outside the front pen segment 12 in the front pen segment 12. Here, the connecting contacts forming the receiving means 28, not shown, are connected to the rechargeable battery 14 in a wired connection via current lines 23a, 23b, 24a, 24b, via the charge management module 17 which is also arranged in the front pen segment 12.

[0064] As can be seen, the supply of charging energy via the front pen segment 12 allows the rechargeable battery 14 to be charged or provided with a charging current via its power supply contacts connected to the connecting contacts 26 by means of the current lines 24a, 24b, so that it is possible without problem to omit separate charging and power supply contacts in the opposite region of the rechargeable battery 14, which is at least sensible in the embodiment of FIG. 1 due to the small available construction space.

[0065] In the embodiment of Fig. 6, the charging energy is also supplied via the front pen segment 12, but similarly to the embodiment of Figs. 2 to 4, via the protective cap 27 or via receiving means 28 arranged in said protective cap. However, for this purpose, in its charging connection state, the protective cap 27 is not fitted in a detachable connection to the pen segment 13 arranged further back, but to the front pen segment 12. The position of the protective cap 27 in said charging connection state then corresponds to the protective position of the protective cap 27 described above.

[0066] 2 to 4, energy is not transmitted from the protective cap 27 to the front pen segment 12 by a wireless or radio-controlled connection. Rather, the connection contacts forming the receiving means 28 and arranged on the protective cap 27 are, in the illustrated charging-connected state of the protective cap 27, wired to the rechargeable battery 14 via the current lines 23a, 23b or 24a, 24b. This is achieved here by firstly connecting the connection contacts of the receiving means 28 by a wired connection to further electrical contacts 34 arranged on the protective cap 27, which in turn are matched by a wired connection to the electrical contacts 34 or 35 arranged on the opposite, front pen segment 12 in this state, by abutting the respective opposing contacts 34 or 35 in contact with each other.

[0067] Similarly, in the embodiment of Figure 7, similar to the embodiment of Figures 2 to 4, the charging energy received by the protective cap 27 from the charging source is transmitted wirelessly from the protective cap 27 to the front pen segment 12 by means of a sending unit with a sending coil 30a. For this purpose, the protective cap 27 is snapped onto the front pen segment 12 in its charging connection state, as in the embodiment of Figure 6. Furthermore, the pen segment 13 arranged further back does not have a receiving unit 32 with a receiving coil 32a as in the embodiment of Figures 2 to 4, whereas the front pen segment 12a correspondingly has a receiving unit 32 with a receiving coil 32a.

[0068] It should be noted that in all the embodiments shown, the electrical charging energy is transmitted from the charging source to the respective receiving means 28 of the digital pen 10 by a wired connection. However, of course, this does not necessarily have to be the case. Rather, the charging energy can also be transmitted by a wireless connection, in particular inductively, capacitively or by means of electromagnetic waves. [Explanation of symbols]

[0069] 10 Digital Pen 11 Pen part 12 forward pen segments 12a Housing 13 Pen segments further back 13a Housing 13b Housing wall 13c end 13d Front opening 14 Rechargeable Batteries 15 Containment Space 16 Current Cable 17 Charging management module 18 Contact surface 19 Contact surface 20 Counter contact part 21 Counter contact part 22 Electrically operated components 23a Current Line 23b Current Line 24a current line 24b Current Line 25 Connection contact 26 Connection contact 27 Protective Cap 28 Receipt Method 29a connecting line 29b Connection Line 30 Sending Unit 30a sending coil 31 Storage area 32 Receiving Unit 32a Receiving coil 33 Writing Elements 34 Contact area 35 Contact area

Claims

1. A digital pen having an elongated pen part (11) with a front pen segment (12) having a writing element, in particular formed as a pen tip, for writing on a pad such as paper or a touch screen, and a pen segment (13) arranged further rearward relative to the front pen segment (12), in particular comprising a housing, and in which a particularly elongated rechargeable battery (14) is arranged entirely or partially, in particular for powering at least one electronic component of the front pen segment (12), the rechargeable battery (14) having at least two electrical contacts via which an electrical charging current of a charging source can be supplied to the rechargeable battery (14), The digital pen is characterized in that the rechargeable battery (14) is removably arranged in the further rearwardly arranged pen segment (13) for removing the rechargeable battery (14) from the pen portion (11).

2. 2. The digital pen according to claim 1, characterized in that the further rearward pen segment (13) is removably fastened to the other pen segment, in particular the front pen segment (12), preferably by means of a screw connection, a snap connection or a bayonet connection, so that for removing the rechargeable battery (14), in particular the rechargeable battery (14) can be taken out of the further rearward pen segment through an opening in the further rearward pen segment (13) facing towards the other pen segment, in a state where the further rearward pen segment (13) has been detached from the other pen segment.

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

4. 4. The digital pen according to claim 1, wherein the two electrical contacts of the rechargeable battery (14), which are capable of supplying an electrical charging current to the rechargeable battery, are each removably electrically connected to an electrical contact of the front pen segment (12), in particular arranged in the front pen segment (12), i.e., for supplying power to the electronic components, and the electrical contacts are each conductively connected to the electronic components of the front pen segment (12).

5. 5. The digital pen according to claim 1, wherein the rechargeable battery (14) is provided with two further electrical contacts in the area of or adjacent to its front end facing the writing element for powering the electronic components of the front pen segment (12), when the two electrical contacts of the rechargeable battery (14) are arranged in the area of or adjacent to the rear end of the rechargeable battery (14) facing away from the writing element for supplying a charging current, each of the contacts being detachably electrically connected to an electrical contact of the front pen segment (12), which is respectively conductively connected to the electronic components of the front pen segment (12).

6. 6. A digital pen according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the two electrical contacts of the rechargeable battery (14) for supplying a charging current or each of the two electrical contacts of the rechargeable battery (14) for supplying power to the electronic components is a component of a common connector part, in particular of a connector part connected to (at least) one current line, preferably formed as a current cable, connected to one of the two poles of the rechargeable battery (14).

7. 6. A digital pen according to claim 5, characterized in that the or each connector element is detachably connected to a connector counter element arranged in particular on the front pen segment (12) forming an electrical plug connection, the connector counter element comprising electrical contacts of the front pen segment (12), in particular electrical contacts capable of supplying a charging current to the rechargeable battery (14) and / or a supply current from the rechargeable battery (14) to the electronic components of the front pen segment (12).

8. 8. The digital pen according to claim 1, wherein each of the two electrical contacts of the rechargeable battery (14) for supplying a charging current or for supplying power to the electronic components includes a contact surface arranged directly on the rechargeable battery (14), in particular on its battery housing, and preferably forming one of the poles of the rechargeable battery (14), or is formed by such a contact surface, in particular a contact surface made of an electrically conductive material.

9. 9. The digital pen of claim 8, wherein one of the contact surfaces forms the positive terminal of the rechargeable battery (14) and the other contact surface forms the negative terminal of the rechargeable battery (14).

10. 10. A digital pen according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that one or both contact surfaces are arranged on a particularly flat end face side of the rechargeable battery (14), which extends transversely, preferably at an angle, to the longitudinal axis of the pen part and forms the front free end of the rechargeable battery (14).

11. 11. A digital pen according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that one or both contact surfaces are formed in the shape of a ring and / or one contact surface forms the circumferential inside of a hollow cylindrical portion of the rechargeable battery (14).

12. The digital pen according to claim 11, wherein the two ring-shaped contact surfaces are concentrically arranged.

13. 13. A digital pen according to claim 1, characterized in that the further rearwardly arranged pen segment (13) comprises a particularly elongated, preferably hollow-cylindrical, storage space in which the rechargeable battery (14) is arranged wholly or partly removably, in particular in sliding contact with a surrounding storage space wall that laterally defines the storage space.

14. 14. The digital pen according to claim 1, wherein the pen part (11), in particular the front pen segment (12) or the rear pen segment (13), comprises an electronic module for managing the charging process of a rechargeable battery (14), in particular an electronic module for managing the charging process electrically connected by a wired connection to both electrical contacts of the rechargeable battery (14) for supplying a charging current.

15. 15. The digital pen according to claim 1, wherein the receiving means of the digital pen for receiving charging energy, in particular arranged on the pen part (11) or on a (separable) essentially elongated protective cap (27) removably fixed to the pen part (11) in the charging connection state, are further transferred to the rechargeable battery (14) for charging the rechargeable battery, in particular the charging energy of an electrically operated charging source transferred to the receiving means, or are further transferably connected to the rechargeable battery (14).

16. 16. The digital pen according to claim 15, wherein the charging energy of the charging source is connected to the receiving means by wire or can be transmitted wirelessly, in particular by wire using an electric current or wirelessly by inductive, capacitive or electromagnetic waves.

17. 17. The digital pen according to claim 16, characterized in that the receiving means is formed by an electrical contact capable of supplying an electrical charging current of the charging source in order to charge a rechargeable battery, in particular an electrical contact which is arranged on the digital pen, in particular on the front pen segment (12) or the rear pen segment (13) or on the protective cap (27), and which is a component of a connection point for detachably connecting a current cable or a current and data cable connected or connectable to the charging source.

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

19. 19. The digital pen according to any one of claims 15 to 18, characterized in that if the protective cap (27) is provided with the receiving means, the receiving means is connected to the rechargeable battery (14) in a charging connection state between the protective cap (27) and the pen part (11), in particular inductively, capacitively or wirelessly using electromagnetic waves and / or by wire, so that charging energy transmitted to the receiving means is further transmitted to the rechargeable battery (14).

20. 20. The digital pen according to claim 19, characterized in that the protective cap (27) is provided with a sending unit of an inductive energy transmission device of the digital pen, in particular including a sending coil, for transmitting charging energy to the rechargeable battery (14), the sending unit being connected by wire to the receiving means, in particular electrical contacts, of the protective cap (27).

21. 21. The digital pen according to claim 20, characterized in that the pen part (11), in particular the front pen segment (12) or one or the further rearwardly arranged pen segments (13), comprises a receiving unit of the inductive energy transmission device of the digital pen, including a receiving coil, which is connected to the rechargeable battery by a wired connection and cooperates inductively with the sending unit to transmit charging energy to the receiving unit for charging the rechargeable battery (14).

22. 22. The digital pen according to claim 17, wherein an electrical contact of the protective cap (27) forming the receiving means is connected by wire connection to an electrical contact arranged on the pen part (11), in particular on the front pen segment (12) or on one or the further rearwardly arranged pen segment (13), which is likewise electrically conductively connected to the rechargeable battery (14), in a charging connected state of the protective cap (27) and the pen part (11).

23. 23. The digital pen according to claim 22, characterized in that an electrical contact of the receiving means of the protective cap (27), in particular arranged further forward, is connected by wire to an additional electrical contact, in particular arranged further rearward of the protective cap (27), and that the additional electrical contact of the protective cap (27) is in contact with an electrical contact of the pen part (11) that is conductively connected to the rechargeable battery (14) in the connected state of the protective cap (27) and the pen part (11).

24. A digital pen according to any one of claims 15 to 23, characterized in that the receiving means of the protective cap (27) is arranged on the (front) end face side of the protective cap (27) or in particular on the outer peripheral side of the protective cap.

25. 25. The digital pen according to claim 1, wherein the electronic component that can receive current from the rechargeable battery is the writing element or a member that operates the writing element.

26. 26. A digital pen according to any one of claims 15 to 25, characterized in that in the charging connection state in which the protective cap (27) is removably fixed to the pen part (11), the protective cap (27) covers the writing element and at least one segment of the front pen segment (12) or one or the further rearwardly arranged pen segment (13), preferably including the (rear) free end of the pen part (11).

27. 27. The digital pen of claim 26, wherein when the protective cap covers the further rearwardly arranged pen segment (13) in the charging connection state, the protective cap (27) can be removably fixed to the pen part (11) in another position in which it covers the writing element and at least one segment of the forward pen segment (12).

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