Digital fountain pen, and system and method for using it.

Abstract

We offer an improved digital fountain pen that meticulously mimics the functionality and feel of a standard office fountain pen, providing a more satisfying writing experience and superior control over ink output. [Solution] The digital fountain pen includes a nib with two tines made of a flexible material that define a slit, the width of which varies according to the pressure applied to the nib or the orientation of the digital fountain pen relative to the writing surface. The digital fountain pen also includes a sensor module configured to measure the variable slit width, an orientation detection module configured to determine the position and tilt of the fountain 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 uses the slit width data and orientation data to dynamically control the amount of digital ink distributed onto the digital paper, thereby simulating the writing experience and ink output of an office fountain pen.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of digital pens, and in particular, to digital fountain pens and systems and methods for using the same.

Background Art

[0002] With the rapid adoption of digital writing pads such as tablets, electronic boards, and pen tablets, people are starting to take more notes in the form of handwritten data on handwritten documents provided by digital writing pads. Handwritten documents offer various advantages over typed documents, such as the personal writing style of the user, the authenticity that is particularly important in legal or historical documents, the flexibility to customize and personalize based on requirements for personal fonts or colors or styles, and the time savings by enabling quick note-taking.

[0003] However, conventional digital pens, generally adopted in conjunction with digital writing pads such as computers, mobile phones, tablets, personal digital assistants (PDAs), etc., are typically designed to have a cylindrical nib or a conical nib with a rounded tip morphology. These existing digital pens exhibit significant limitations in reproducing the tactile and visual writing experience provided by traditional office fountain pens. One major problem with current digital pens is their lack of ability to mimic the interaction between the nib of a traditional fountain pen and the writing surface. Such a lack of ability results in a clumsy or unnatural writing experience lacking the dynamic variability of the line width or ink flow characteristics of an office fountain pen.

[0004] Furthermore, unlike traditional fountain pens, existing digital pens fail to provide optimal control over ink output during writing, resulting in less authentic handwriting or line drawing. Such non-dynamic ink flow control in conventional digital pens fails to capture the inherent variations seen in fountain pen writing, where ink flow is affected 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, while meticulously mimicking the functionality and feel of a standard office fountain pen. [Overview of the project]

[0006] One or more embodiments relate to a digital fountain pen, as well as systems and methods utilizing it. The digital fountain pen and associated mechanisms mimic the writing experience of a traditional office fountain pen and address the limitations of existing digital pens. To do so, the digital fountain pen has a specially designed nib and advanced sensing technology that replicates the tactile and visual aspects of fountain pen writing. The nib consists of two tines made of a flexible material, with a slit between the two tines whose width varies depending on the applied pressure and the orientation of the digital fountain 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 a traditional fountain pen nib.

[0007] To accurately capture and utilize variations in slit width, the digital fountain pen is equipped with a sensor module. The sensor module includes capacitor plates embedded inside the two tines of the nib. As the slit width changes, the capacitance between these plates fluctuates, and this capacitance is then detected by an electronic circuit. These capacitance changes can be measured using various methods, including LRC circuits, oscillator circuits, bridge circuits (such as a Wheatstone bridge), time constant measurement techniques, and special-purpose integrated circuits designed for capacitance detection. These measurements are converted into a digital signal representing the real-time slit width. In addition to the sensor module that measures the slit width, the digital fountain pen also includes an orientation detection module that determines the position and tilt of the digital fountain pen, providing data such as X and Y coordinates and X and Y tilt angles. This comprehensive set of data allows for precise control over writing dynamics, enabling computing devices—i.e., digital writing pads (such as tablets, electronic boards, and pen tablets)—to adjust stroke width and ink density based on both the slit width and the orientation of the fountain pen.

[0008] To facilitate these adjustments, the digital fountain pen transmits stroke width and orientation data to a connected computing device via a communication module that can utilize wireless communication protocols for seamless data transmission. The computing device, equipped with a processor and memory, interprets the received data and controls the digital ink output on a display screen that functions as digital paper. The software dynamically adjusts stroke width and ink density to create an authentic writing experience that meticulously replicates the genuine writing experience of using a traditional fountain pen.

[0009] One embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a digital fountain pen. The digital fountain pen includes a nib that defines a slit having two tines made of a flexible material and having a variable slit width, the slit width of which varies according to the pressure applied to the nib and / or the orientation of the digital fountain pen relative to the writing surface. The two tines of the nib are made of an alloy that provides both flexibility and durability, enabling consistent performance under varying pressure and orientation.

[0010] In one embodiment, the digital fountain pen also includes a sensor module for measuring a variable slit width. The sensor module further includes two capacitor plates incorporated inside two tines, an electronic circuit for detecting changes in capacitance between the two capacitor plates as the slit width varies, and a 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 changes in resonant frequency caused by variations in the slit width, the changes in resonant frequency being converted into a corresponding slit width measurement. In one embodiment, the sensor module includes an oscillator circuit for detecting frequency shifts corresponding to changes in the slit width and converting the frequency shifts into slit width data. In one embodiment, the sensor module includes a bridge circuit for detecting variations in the slit width by comparing the capacitance of the slit width with a reference capacitor. In one embodiment, the sensor module is configured to measure the charging and discharging time constants of a capacitor through a resistor, which represent the slit width.

[0011] In one embodiment, the digital fountain pen also includes an orientation detection module that determines the position and tilt of the digital fountain pen relative to the writing surface and provides orientation data. The orientation data includes the X coordinate, Y coordinate, X tilt angle, and / or Y tilt angle.

[0012] In one embodiment, the digital fountain pen also includes a communication module that transmits nib width data and / or orientation data to a connected computing device. The communication module transmits the nib width data and orientation data to the connected computing device using a wireless communication protocol. Furthermore, the computing device uses the nib width data and orientation data to dynamically control the amount of digital ink distributed on the digital paper, thereby simulating the writing experience and ink output of an office fountain pen. The computing device dynamically controls the amount of digital ink distributed on the digital paper by adjusting the stroke width and ink density on the digital paper based on its interpretation of the nib width data. In one embodiment, the tip width of the nib is a predetermined constant communicated to the computing device, which uses this predetermined constant in combination with the nib width data to calculate the stroke width.

[0013] One embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a system for writing on digital paper using a digital fountain pen. The system includes a digital fountain pen and a computing device. In one embodiment, the digital fountain pen includes a nib having two tines 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 fountain pen relative to the writing surface. The digital fountain pen includes a sensor module for measuring the variable slit width. The sensor module further includes two capacitor plates incorporated inside the two tines, an electronic circuit for detecting changes in capacitance between the two capacitor plates as the slit width varies, and a digital converter for converting the detected change in capacitance into a digital signal representing the slit width. Furthermore, the digital fountain pen includes an orientation detection module for determining the position and tilt of the digital fountain pen relative to the writing surface and providing orientation data including an X coordinate, a Y coordinate, an X tilt angle, and / or a Y tilt angle. The digital fountain pen also includes a communication module for transmitting slit width data and / or orientation data.

[0014] In one embodiment, a computing device receives slit width data and orientation data from a digital fountain pen. Furthermore, the computing device includes a processor, a memory storing instructions that can be executed by the processor, and a display screen configured to function as digital paper. Furthermore, the instructions are configured so that, when executed by the processor, they interpret the slit width data and orientation data to dynamically control the amount of digital ink distributed 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, position, and tilt of the digital fountain pen, thereby simulating the writing experience and ink output of an office fountain pen.

[0015] One embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a method for writing on digital paper using a digital fountain pen. The method includes measuring a variable width of a slit between two tines of the nib of the digital fountain pen. The variable slit width varies depending on the pressure applied to the nib and / or the orientation of the digital fountain pen relative to the writing surface. The method then includes detecting a change in capacitance between two capacitor plates incorporated inside the two tines, which varies along with the variable slit width. The two tines of the digital fountain pen nib are made of an alloy that provides both flexibility and durability, enabling consistent performance under varying pressure and orientation.

[0016] Next, this method includes the step of converting the detected change in capacitance into a digital signal representing the slit width. In one embodiment, this method includes the step of measuring a change in resonant frequency caused by a variation in the slit width, wherein the change in resonant frequency is converted into a corresponding slit width measurement. In another embodiment, this method includes the step of detecting a frequency shift corresponding to a change in the slit width and converting the frequency shift into slit width data. In yet another embodiment, this method includes the step of detecting a variation in the slit width by comparing the capacitance of the slit width with a reference capacitor. In yet another embodiment, this method includes the step of measuring the charging and discharging time constants of a capacitor through a resistor that represent the slit width. Next, this method includes the step of determining the position and tilt of the digital fountain pen relative to the writing surface and providing orientation data including the X coordinate, Y coordinate, X tilt angle, and / or Y tilt angle.

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

[0018] The method then includes the step of adjusting the stroke width and ink density on digital paper based on the slit width, position, and tilt of the digital fountain pen, thereby simulating the writing experience and ink output of the office fountain pen. In one embodiment, the method includes the step of calculating the stroke width using a predetermined constant related to the tip width of the nib in combination with slit width data.

[0019] The features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent in light of the following description of the invention for carrying out the invention with respect to selected embodiments as shown in the accompanying drawings. As will be understood, the disclosed subject matter is capable of various modifications without departing from the scope of the subject matter. Accordingly, the drawings and the description of the invention for carrying out the invention are to be regarded essentially as illustrative.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0020] In the figures, similar components and / or features may have the same reference numerals. Further, various components of the same type may be distinguished by following the reference numeral with a second numeral to distinguish similar components. Where only the first reference numeral is used herein, the description of the invention for carrying out the invention is applicable to any of the similar components having the same first reference numeral regardless of the second reference numeral.

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

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

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

[0024] [Figure 2C] FIG. 2C shows the nib of a digital fountain pen with an increased cutting width according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0025] [Figure 3A] FIG. 3A shows a flowchart of operations performed on the user side according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0026] [Figure 3B] Figure 3B shows a flowchart of operations performed on the digital fountain pen side according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0027] [Figure 3C] Figure 3C shows a flowchart of operations performed on the computing device side according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0028] [Figure 4] Figure 4 shows a plane indicating the elevation angle and azimuth angle between the digital fountain pen and the writing surface according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

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

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

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

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

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

[0034] [Figure 8] Figure 8 shows an exemplary computer system in which embodiments of the present disclosure may be utilized or with which embodiments of the present disclosure may be used in combination.

[0035] Other features of embodiments of this disclosure will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and the embodiments for carrying out the invention described below. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0036] Embodiments of this disclosure include various steps described below. These steps may be performed by hardware components, or they may be embodied in the form of machine-executable instructions stored in a non-temporary medium, and the machine-executable instructions may be used to cause a general-purpose or dedicated processor programmed with the instructions to perform the steps. Alternatively, the steps may be performed by a combination of hardware, software, and firmware, and / or by human operation. Embodiments of the present disclosure may be provided as a computer program product that may include a non-temporary machine-readable storage medium in which instructions are embodied as tangible objects, and a computer (or other electronic device) may be programmed to perform a process using the computer program product. Machine-readable media may include, but are not limited to, fixed (hard) drives, magnetic tapes, floppy disks, optical disks, compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), and magneto-optical disks, semiconductor memories such as ROMs and PROMs, random access memory (RAM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable PROM (EPROM), electrically erasable PROM (EEPROM), flash memory, magnetic or optical cards, or other types of media / machine-readable media suitable for storing electronic instructions (e.g., computer programming code such as software or firmware).

[0037] The various methods described herein may be implemented by combining one or more machine-readable storage media containing code with appropriate standard computer hardware that executes the contained code. Apparatus for implementing the various embodiments of the disclosure may include one or more computers (or one or more processors within a single computer) and a storage system that contains or provides network access to encoded computer programs(s) in the various methods described herein, and the method steps of the disclosure may be performed by modules, routines, subroutines, or subcomponents of a computer program product.

[0038] (terminology) The following are brief definitions of terms used throughout this application.

[0039] The terms “connected” or “joined,” and related terms, are used in a functional sense and are not necessarily limited to direct connection or joining. Therefore, for example, two devices may be directly joined or joined through one or more intermediaries or devices. Another example is when devices are joined in such a way that they can exchange information with each other without sharing a physical connection. Based on the disclosures provided herein, those skilled in the art will recognize the diverse ways in which connection or joining as defined above can exist.

[0040] Whereever this specification states that a particular component or feature "may, can, could, or might" be included or "may, can, could, or might" have a particular characteristic, that particular component or feature is not required to be included or to have that characteristic.

[0041] In the modes of carrying out the inventions described herein, and throughout the claims that follow, the meanings of “a, an” and “the” include plural references unless the context indicates otherwise. Similarly, in the modes of carrying out the inventions described herein, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context indicates otherwise.

[0042] The phrases "in one embodiment" and "according to one embodiment" generally mean that the specific features, structure, or characteristics that follow the phrase are included in at least one embodiment of the Disclosure, and may be included in two or more embodiments of the Disclosure. Importantly, such phrases do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment.

[0043] Next, exemplary embodiments will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating exemplary embodiments. However, this disclosure may be embodied in many different forms and should not be considered limited to the embodiments detailed herein. These embodiments are provided so that this disclosure may be complete and finished and so as to convey the scope of this disclosure in detail to those skilled in the art. Furthermore, all statements herein relating to embodiments of this disclosure and specific examples of embodiments are intended to encompass both their structural and functional equivalents. In addition, such equivalents are intended to include both currently known equivalents and equivalents to be developed in the future (i.e., any elements to be developed that perform the same function regardless of their structure).

[0044] Therefore, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that diagrams, schematics, explanatory drawings, etc., represent conceptual views or processes illustrating systems and methods embodying this disclosure. The functionality of the various elements shown in the diagrams may be provided through the use of dedicated hardware and hardware capable of running associated software. Similarly, any switches shown in the diagrams are purely conceptual. Their functionality may be performed by operations of program logic, by dedicated logic, by the interaction of program control and dedicated logic, or even manually, and specific techniques may be selected by entities implementing this disclosure. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will see that the exemplary hardware, software, processes, methods, and / or operating systems described herein are illustrative and are therefore not intended to be limited to any particular designation.

[0045] One or more embodiments relate to a digital fountain pen, as well as systems and methods utilizing it. The digital fountain pen and associated mechanisms mimic the writing experience of a traditional office fountain pen and address the limitations of existing digital pens. To do so, the digital fountain pen has a specially designed nib and advanced sensing technology that replicates the tactile and visual aspects of fountain pen writing. The nib consists of two tines made of a flexible material, with a slit between the two tines whose width varies depending on the applied pressure and the orientation of the digital fountain 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 a traditional fountain pen nib.

[0046] To accurately capture and utilize variations in slit width, the digital fountain pen is equipped with a sensor module. The sensor module includes capacitor plates embedded inside the two tines of the nib. As the slit width changes, the capacitance between these plates fluctuates, and this capacitance is then detected by an electronic circuit. These capacitance changes can be measured using various methods, including LRC circuits, oscillator circuits, bridge circuits (such as a Wheatstone bridge), time constant measurement techniques, and special-purpose integrated circuits designed for capacitance detection. These measurements are converted into a digital signal representing the real-time slit width. In addition to the sensor module that measures the slit width, the digital fountain pen also includes an orientation detection module that determines the position and tilt of the digital fountain pen, providing data such as X and Y coordinates and X and Y tilt angles. This comprehensive set of data allows for precise control over writing dynamics, enabling computing devices—i.e., digital writing pads (such as tablets, electronic boards, and pen tablets)—to adjust stroke width and ink density based on both the slit width and the pen's orientation.

[0047] To facilitate these adjustments, the digital fountain pen transmits stroke width and orientation data to a connected computing device via a communication module that can utilize wireless communication protocols for seamless data transmission. The computing device, equipped with a processor and memory, interprets the received data and controls the digital ink output on a display screen that functions as digital paper. The software dynamically adjusts stroke width and ink density to create an authentic writing experience that meticulously replicates the genuine writing experience of using a traditional fountain pen.

[0048] Figure 1 shows a system 100 for writing on digital paper using a digital fountain pen 104, according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. The system 100 may include a digital fountain pen 104 accessible by a user 102 writing on a computing device 106. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the system 100 can mimic the use of a traditional fountain pen while leveraging the advantages of digital technology. As a result, the user 102 can obtain a writing or drawing experience that feels natural and closely resembles the use of a traditional fountain pen. Furthermore, the digital fountain pen 104 may have a nib comprising two tines made of a flexible material. The two tines may produce a slit whose width can vary depending on pressure and orientation. This variable slit width may be a key factor in mimicking the ink flow of a traditional fountain pen in a digital environment. Furthermore, the two tines of the digital fountain pen 104 are fitted with two capacitor plates, and the capacitance can be variable depending on the width of the slit, which can be determined by measuring the capacitance between the capacitor plate filters in the two tines. In addition, the digital fountain pen 104 can also track the position and tilt of the slit with respect to the X and Y coordinates and / or the X tilt angle and Y tilt angle. The digital fountain pen 104 is described in detail in the following paragraphs.

[0049] In one embodiment, the computing device 106 may correspond to a digital writing pad, such as a tablet, electronic board, or pen tablet, that can provide or function as digital paper. The computing device 106 may include a display screen that can act as a digital writing surface and may be a touch-sensitive screen that detects the presence and movement of a digital fountain pen 104. Furthermore, the computing device 106 may receive measured slit width data, position data, and / or tilt data, and interpret the slit width data and orientation data to dynamically control the digital ink flow. The computing device 106 may adjust the stroke width and ink density to reflect pressure and angle fluctuations, simulating the experience of writing with a fountain pen. The computing device 106 and its operation will be described in detail in the following paragraphs.

[0050] During operation, when user 102 begins writing or drawing, user 102 can apply pressure to the nib, flex the two tines, and vary the slit width. Simultaneously, the orientation detection module can track the position and tilt of the fountain pen. During such writing and / or drawing processes, the sensor module can measure changes in capacitance between capacitor plates and convert these measurements into a digital signal representing the slit width. This data, along with orientation data, can then be transmitted wirelessly to computing device 106. Computing device 106 receives the data and then processes it to determine an appropriate digital ink output that adjusts stroke width and ink density based on the slit width and the orientation of the fountain pen, and can render the stroke on a display screen. In one embodiment, when user 102 is writing and drawing, user 102 can see the results immediately on the screen of computing device 106, making the experience smooth and responsive. Furthermore, such seamless integration between the digital fountain pen 104 and the computing device 106 can ensure that users experience a highly realistic and satisfying digital writing environment. Precise measurement of variations in slit width and the orientation of the fountain pen can enable accurate simulation of the behavior of traditional fountain pens, while this digital platform offers additional benefits such as editing, saving, and sharing works.

[0051] Figure 2A shows a detailed view 200 of a digital fountain pen 104 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 2B shows the nib 202 of the digital fountain pen 104 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 2C shows the nib 202 of the digital fountain pen 104 with an increased slit width according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. For the sake of brevity, Figures 2A, 2B, and 2C will be described together.

[0052] In one embodiment, the digital fountain pen 104 may include a body as shown in the general art and a nib 202 adapted for writing on a digital writing surface, as shown in Figure 2A. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 2B, the nib 202 of the digital fountain pen 104 may have two tines 204A and 204B which may be made of a flexible material and may be smooth and flexible so that the two tines 204A and 204B do not scratch the surface of the digital writing pad during writing and / or drawing. The two tines 204A and 204B may also have a gap defining a slit 206A (also numbered 206) between them. Because the material of the two tines 204A and 204B is flexible, the slit may have a variable slit width that can vary depending on the pressure applied to the nib 202 and / or the orientation of the digital fountain pen 104 relative to the writing surface. For example, if greater pressure is applied to the slit 206A, the slit width may increase, as shown by 206B in Figure 2C. In addition, the two tines 204A and 204B may be attached to the upper end where the nib 202 is attached to the body of the digital fountain pen 104. In one embodiment, the two tines 204A and 204B of the nib 202 may be made of an alloy that provides both flexibility and durability, enabling consistent performance under varying pressure and orientation.

[0053] In one embodiment, the digital fountain pen 104 may also include a sensor module for measuring a variable slit width. The sensor module may include two capacitor plates incorporated inside the two tines 204A and 204B of the nib 202. Thus, a capacitance proportional to the slit width can be generated between the two tines 204A and 204B of the nib 202, and as the slit width increases or decreases, the capacitance may increase or decrease. Furthermore, the sensor module may include electronic circuitry for detecting such changes in capacitance between the two capacitor plates as the slit width fluctuates. In one embodiment, the sensor module may include an LRC circuit configured to measure a change in resonant frequency caused by a variation in the slit width, wherein the change in resonant frequency is converted into a corresponding slit width measurement. In another embodiment, the sensor module may include an oscillator circuit for detecting a frequency shift corresponding to a change in the slit width, wherein the frequency shift can be converted into slit width data. In another embodiment, the sensor module may include a bridge circuit that detects variations in the slit width by comparing the capacitance of the slit width with a reference capacitor. In yet another embodiment, the sensor module may be configured to measure the charging and discharging time constants of a capacitor through a resistor, which can indicate the slit width. Furthermore, the sensor module may include a digital converter that converts the detected capacitance into a digital signal representing the slit width.

[0054] In one embodiment, the digital fountain pen 104 may also include an orientation detection module that determines the position and tilt of the digital fountain pen relative to the writing surface and provides orientation data. The orientation data includes at least one of the X coordinate, Y coordinate, X tilt angle, and / or Y tilt angle. In one embodiment, the orientation detection module may include a combination of an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and / or a magnetometer, which can work together to measure the X and Y coordinates and X and Y tilt angles of the fountain pen. By continuously monitoring these parameters, the orientation detection module can ensure that any slight movement and tilt of the fountain pen is captured and converted into digital data. Such data is crucial for the computing device 106 to dynamically adjust stroke width and ink flow to reproduce the subtly different effects of conventional fountain pens, as may be discussed in the following paragraphs.

[0055] In one embodiment, the digital fountain pen 104 may also include a communication module that transmits stroke width data and / or orientation data to a connected computing device 106. The communication module transmits the stroke width data and orientation data to the connected computing device using a wireless communication protocol such as Bluetooth® or WiFi. A robust, low-latency communication module can ensure that any subtle differences in the user's handwriting or drawing are captured and instantly rendered on the digital screen. Furthermore, the computing device 106 can use the stroke width data and orientation data to dynamically control the amount of digital ink distributed on the digital paper, thereby simulating the writing experience and ink output of a fountain pen. The computing device 106 dynamically controls the amount of digital ink distributed on the digital paper by adjusting the stroke width and ink density on the digital paper based on its interpretation of the stroke width data and orientation data. In one embodiment, the tip width and / or shape of the nib may be a predetermined constant transmitted to the computing device 106, which can use the predetermined constant in combination with the slit width data to calculate the stroke width.

[0056] Figure 3A shows a flowchart 300A of operations performed on the user side according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, when user 102 uses the digital fountain pen 104, user 102 may perform a series of operations, such as pen down 302 to initiate an active connection between the digital fountain pen 104 and the digital writing pad, pen move 304 to write or draw on the digital writing pad using the digital fountain pen 104, and pen up 306 to interrupt the active connection between the digital fountain pen 104 and the digital writing pad.

[0057] Figure 3B shows a flowchart 300B of an operation performed on the digital fountain pen side according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. When user 102 performs pen down 302, the digital fountain pen 104 may self-record the pen down 308 and activate its sensors, as indicated by 310, for continuous monitoring and measurement of the variables of the digital fountain pen 104. Furthermore, during the user's pen movement, the sensor module of the digital fountain pen 104 may measure the slit width 312 and the orientation detection module may measure the X and Y coordinates 314 and the X tilt angle and Y tilt angle 316. Having measured the slit width data and the orientation data including the X and Y coordinates and the X tilt angle and Y tilt angle, the digital fountain pen 104 may transmit the measured data to the computing device 106.

[0058] Figure 3C shows a flowchart 300C of an operation performed on the computing device side according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 4 shows a plane 400 showing the elevation and azimuth angles between the digital fountain pen and the writing surface 402 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. For brevity, Figures 3C and 4 will be described together.

[0059] The computing device 106 maintains a waiting state, ready to process new information as soon as it is received, thus ensuring a real-time response to the user's writing or drawing actions. Thus, the computing device 106 can receive input data transmitted from the digital fountain pen 104, as shown by 320. Next, in step 322, upon receiving data from the digital fountain pen 104, the computing device 106 may map the X and Y coordinates to corresponding positions on the display screen. It may be apparent to those skilled in the art that this may involve converting the physical position data of the digital fountain pen 104 into appropriate pixel positions on the digital writing surface to ensure that the user's movements are accurately reflected on the screen. Next, in step 324, the computing device 106 may convert the X tilt angle and Y tilt angle, indicating the tilt of the fountain pen, into azimuth angle 406 and elevation angle 404. The azimuth angle 406 can refer to angular deflection in the horizontal plane, while the elevation angle 404 can refer to an angle in the vertical plane.

[0060] Next, in step 326, the effective tip width of the nib 202 can be calculated using the slit width data from the digital fountain pen 104. The calculated tip width can then be scaled to the view coordinates of the display to ensure that the stroke width rendered on the screen accurately represents the pressure and flex of the fountain pen nib, mimicking how the ink flow of a real fountain pen would fluctuate. Next, in step 328, the computing device 106 can calculate the speed of the fountain pen by analyzing the changes in the X and Y coordinates over time. Such a calculation may involve measuring the distance the fountain pen nib travels at a given time interval. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the speed of the fountain pen can be an important factor in determining the ink flow and the appearance of the stroke, for example, because faster movement can result in thinner, lighter strokes, while slower movement can produce thicker, darker lines. Subsequently, in step 330, the computing device 106 may calculate and generate the geometric shape of the stroke using the mapped coordinates, the transformed tilt angle, the calculated tip width, and the speed of the fountain pen. In one embodiment, such generation may involve the rendering process creating a visual representation of the line on a digital canvas, taking all dynamic variables into account to produce a stroke that mimics the natural ink flow and variation seen in conventional fountain pens.

[0061] Figure 5A shows an example 500 of a writing surface 502 with a first exemplary ink stroke 504 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 5B shows the shape of the first exemplary ink stroke 504 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 6A shows another example 600 of a writing surface 602 with a second exemplary ink stroke 604 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 6B shows the shape of the second exemplary ink stroke according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. For brevity, Figures 5A, 5B, 6A, and 6B are described together.

[0062] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, an ink stroke may consist of samples of various shapes, such as ellipses as shown in Figures 5A and 5B, and circles as shown in Figures 6A and 6B. In one embodiment, as shown in Figures 5A and 5B, multiple ellipses may be connected together to form a continuous shape, or they may be rendered as separate particles. Furthermore, the rotation angle of each ellipse may be equal to the azimuth angle 506 of the digital fountain pen 104 at the moment of sampling. Furthermore, the longer axis of the ellipse may be scaled to be equal to the tip width at the moment of sampling, so that the fluctuating tip width can produce an ink stroke with a fluctuating width. In another embodiment, as shown in Figures 6A and 6B, multiple circles may be connected together to form a continuous shape, or they may be rendered as separate particles. Furthermore, the rotation angle of each circle may be equal to the azimuth angle 606 of the digital fountain pen 104 at the moment of sampling. Furthermore, the diameter of the circle may be scaled to be equal to the tip width at the moment of sampling, thereby allowing the fluctuating tip width to produce an ink stroke with a fluctuating width. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the shape of the ink stroke may be selected to be different from an ellipse and a circle, such as a square or a rectangle, without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

[0063] Figure 7 shows a flowchart 700 of a method for writing on digital paper using a digital fountain pen according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. This method can be initiated in step 702.

[0064] First, in step 704, a variable width of the slit between the two tines of the nib of the digital fountain pen 104 may be measured. The variable slit width may vary depending on the pressure applied to the nib and / or the orientation of the digital fountain pen relative to the writing surface. This method may include the step of detecting a change in capacitance between two capacitor plates incorporated inside the two tines, which varies along with the variable slit width. The two tines of the nib of the digital fountain pen may be made of an alloy that can provide both flexibility and durability, enabling consistent performance under varying pressure and orientation. This method may also include the step of converting the detected change in capacitance into a digital signal representing the slit width. In one embodiment, this method may include the step of measuring a change in resonant frequency caused by a variation in the slit width, the change in resonant frequency being converted into a corresponding slit width measurement. In another embodiment, this method may include the step of detecting a frequency shift corresponding to a change in slit width and converting the frequency shift into slit width data. In another embodiment, the method may include the step of detecting variations in the slit width by comparing the capacitance of the slit width with a reference capacitor. In yet another embodiment, the method may include the step of measuring the charging and discharging time constants of the capacitor through a resistor, which represent the slit width. Next, in step 706, the method may include the step of determining the position and tilt of the digital fountain pen relative to the writing surface and providing orientation data including the X coordinate, Y coordinate, X tilt angle, and / or Y tilt angle.

[0065] Next, in step 708, the digital fountain pen may transmit the slit width data and / or orientation data to the computing device 106. Next, in step 710, the computing device may receive the slit width data and / or orientation data from the digital fountain pen. Next, in step 712, the slit width data and / or orientation data may be interpreted to dynamically control the amount of digital ink distributed on the digital paper.

[0066] Subsequently, in step 714, the stroke width and ink density are adjusted on the digital paper based on the slit width and / or position and tilt of the digital fountain pen, thereby simulating the writing experience and ink output of the office fountain pen. In one embodiment, this method may include the step of calculating the stroke width using a predetermined constant related to the tip width of the nib in combination with the slit width data. This method may end in step 716.

[0067] Figure 8 shows an exemplary computer system in which embodiments of the present disclosure may be used, or which embodiments of the present disclosure may be used in combination. As shown in Figure 8, the computer system 800 includes an external storage device 814, a bus 812, main memory 806, read-only memory 808, mass storage device 810, a communication port 804, and a processing circuit (processor) 802.

[0068] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the computer system 800 may include two or more processing circuits (processors) 802 and a communication port 804. Examples of processors 802 include, but are not limited to, Intel® Itanium® or Itanium 2 processors, AMD® Opteron® or Athlon MP® processors, Motorola® processor lines, FortiSOC® system-on-chip processors, or other future processors. Processor 802 may include various modules associated with embodiments of this disclosure.

[0069] Communication port 804 may be an RS-232 port used for modem-based dial-up connections, a 10 / 100 Ethernet port, a Gigabit or 10 Gigabit port using copper or fiber, a serial port, a parallel port, or other existing or future ports. Communication port 812 may 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.

[0070] Memory 806 may be random access memory (RAM) or any other dynamic storage device commonly known in the art. Read-only memory 808 may be a static storage device(s), such as a programmable read-only memory (PROM) chip that stores static information, such as start instructions or BIOS instructions for processor 802.

[0071] Mass storage 810 can be any current or future mass storage that can be used to store information and / or instructions. Exemplary mass storage solutions include, but are not limited to, parallel advanced technology attachment (PATA) or serial advanced technology attachment (SATA) hard disk drives, or solid-state drives (internal or external, e.g., having Universal Serial Bus (USB) and / or Firewire® interfaces), e.g., those available from Seagate (e.g., the Seagate Barracuda 7200 family) or Hitachi (e.g., the Hitachi Deskstar 7K1000), one or more optical disks, or redundant array of independent disks (RAID) storage, e.g., arrays of disks (e.g., SATA arrays) available from various vendors, including Dot Hill Systems Corp., LaCie, Nexsan Technologies, Inc., and Enhance Technology, Inc.

[0072] Bus 812 connects the processor(s) 802 to other memory, storage, and communication blocks in a communicative manner. Bus 812 connects to expansion cards, drives, and other subsystems, as well as other buses that connect the processor(s) 802 to software systems, such as the front side bus (FSB), which may be a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) / PCI Extended (PCI-X) bus, Small Computer System Interface (SCSI), USB, etc.

[0073] Optionally, operator and administrator interfaces, such as a display, keyboard, and cursor control device, can be connected to bus 812 to support direct operator interaction with the computer system. Other operator and administrator interfaces can be provided through network connections connected via communication port 804. The external storage device 814 may be any type of external hard drive, floppy drive, IOMEGA® ZIP drive, compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), rewritable compact disc (Compact Disc - Re-Writable, CD-RW), or digital video disc read-only memory (Digital Video Disk - Read Only Memory, DVD-ROM). The components described above are merely illustrative of various possibilities. In no way does the aforementioned exemplary computer system limit the scope of this disclosure.

[0074] While embodiments of this disclosure are illustrated and described, it will be clear that this disclosure is not limited to these embodiments. Numerous modifications, changes, alterations, substitutions, and equivalents will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of this disclosure as described in the claims.

[0075] Therefore, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that diagrams, schematics, explanatory drawings, etc., represent conceptual views or processes illustrating systems and methods embodying this disclosure. The functionality of the various elements shown in the diagrams may be provided through the use of dedicated hardware and hardware capable of running associated software. Similarly, any switches shown in the diagrams are purely conceptual. Their functionality may be performed by operations of program logic, by dedicated logic, by the interaction of program control and dedicated logic, or even manually, and specific techniques may be selected by entities implementing this disclosure. Furthermore, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the exemplary hardware, software, processes, methods, and / or operating systems described herein are illustrative and are therefore not intended to be limited to any particular name.

[0076] As used herein, unless the context indicates otherwise, the term "joined" is intended to include both direct joining (two elements joined together are in contact with each other) and indirect joining (at least one additional element is located between the two elements). Thus, the terms "joined" and "joined with" are used synonymously. Within the context of this document, the terms "joined" and "joined with" are also used euphemistically to mean "communicatively joined with" over a network, when two or more devices can exchange data with each other over a network, and possibly through one or more intervening devices.

[0077] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many more modifications are possible without departing from the inventive concept set forth herein. Therefore, the subject matter of the invention is not limited except to the claims provided in the appendix. Furthermore, in interpreting both this specification and the claims, all terms are to be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” are to be interpreted as referring to an element, component, or step in a non-exclusive manner indicating that the mentioned element, component, or step may exist, be utilized, or be combined with other elements, components, or steps not explicitly mentioned. Where the claims of this specification refer to at least one selected from the group consisting of A, B, C... and N, this phrasing is to be interpreted as requiring only one element from the group, and not A plus N, or B plus N, and so on.

[0078] While the foregoing describes various embodiments of the present disclosure, other embodiments and further embodiments of the present disclosure may be invented without departing from their fundamental scope. The scope of the present disclosure is determined by the claims that follow below. The present disclosure includes, but is not limited to, the embodiments, versions, or examples described herein, and includes information and knowledge available to those skilled in the art that would enable a person skilled in the art to create and use the present disclosure.

Claims

1. It's a digital fountain pen, A nib having two tines made of a flexible material, wherein the two tines define a slit having a variable slit width that varies in response to at least one of the pressure applied to the nib or the orientation of the digital fountain pen relative to the writing surface, A sensor module configured to measure the variable cutting width, An orientation detection module configured to determine the position and tilt of the digital fountain pen relative to the writing surface and to provide orientation data including at least one of the X coordinate, Y coordinate, X tilt angle, or Y tilt angle, A communication module configured to transmit at least one of the cut width data or the orientation data to a connected computing device, wherein the computing device uses the cut width data and / or the orientation data to dynamically control the amount of digital ink distributed on the digital paper, thereby simulating the writing experience and ink output of an office fountain pen. Digital fountain pen.

2. The aforementioned sensor module is Two capacitor plates are incorporated inside the two aforementioned tines, An electronic circuit for detecting the change in capacitance between the two capacitor plates when the cutting width changes, The system includes a digital converter that converts the detected capacitance into a digital signal representing the cutting width, The digital fountain pen according to claim 1.

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

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

5. The sensor module includes a bridge circuit configured to detect variations in the cutting width by comparing the capacitance of the cutting width with a reference capacitor. The digital fountain pen according to claim 2.

6. The sensor module measures the time constants of charging and discharging the capacitor through a resistor, and the time constants indicate the cutting width. The digital fountain pen according to claim 2.

7. The two tines of the nib are made of an alloy that provides both flexibility and durability, enabling consistent performance under fluctuating pressure and orientation. The digital fountain pen according to claim 1.

8. The communication module transmits the cut width data and / or orientation data to the connected computing device using a wireless communication protocol. The digital fountain pen according to claim 1.

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

10. The tip width of the nib is a predetermined constant transmitted to the computing device, and the computing device uses the predetermined constant in combination with the slit width data to calculate the stroke width. The digital fountain pen according to claim 9.

11. A system for writing on digital paper using a digital fountain pen, wherein the system is (a) A digital fountain pen, A nib having two tines made of a flexible material, wherein the two tines define a slit having a variable slit width that varies in response to at least one of the pressure applied to the nib or the orientation of the digital fountain pen relative to the writing surface, A sensor module configured to measure the variable cutting width, An orientation detection module configured to determine the position and tilt of the digital fountain pen relative to the writing surface and to provide orientation data including at least one of the X coordinate, Y coordinate, X tilt angle, or Y tilt angle, A digital fountain pen comprising: a communication module configured to transmit at least one of the cutting width data or the orientation data; (b) A computing device configured to receive the slit width data and / or orientation data from the digital fountain pen, wherein the computing device Processor, A memory storing instructions that can be executed by the aforementioned processor, A display screen configured to function as digital paper is provided, and when the instruction is executed by the processor, The cutting width data and orientation data are interpreted to dynamically control the amount of digital ink distributed on the digital paper. A computing device is configured to adjust the stroke width and ink density on the digital paper based on the slit width and / or position and tilt of the digital fountain pen, thereby simulating the writing experience and ink output of an office fountain pen. system.

12. The sensor module of the digital fountain pen is Two capacitor plates incorporated inside the two tines, an electronic circuit for detecting changes in capacitance between the capacitor plates when the cutting width fluctuates, and a digital converter for converting the detected change in capacitance into a digital signal representing the cutting width. An LRC circuit configured to measure the change in resonant frequency caused by the variation in the cutting width, wherein the change in resonant frequency is converted into a corresponding cutting width measurement value. An oscillator circuit configured to detect a frequency shift corresponding to a change in the cutting width, wherein the frequency shift is converted into cutting width data, or The system comprises at least one of the following bridge circuits configured to detect variations in the cutting width by comparing the capacitance of the cutting width with a reference capacitor. The system according to claim 11.

13. The sensor module of the digital fountain pen measures the time constants of charging and discharging of a capacitor through a resistor. The aforementioned time constant indicates the cutting width. The system according to claim 11.

14. The two tines of the nib of the digital fountain pen are made of an alloy that provides both flexibility and durability, enabling consistent performance under varying pressure and orientation. The tip width of the nib is a predetermined constant transmitted to the computing device, and the computing device uses the predetermined constant in combination with the slit width data to calculate the stroke width. The system according to claim 11.

15. The communication module of the digital fountain pen transmits the slit width data and / or orientation data to the connected computing device using a wireless communication protocol. The system according to claim 11.

16. A method of writing on digital paper using a digital fountain pen, wherein the method is Measuring the variable width of the slit between two tines of the nib of the digital fountain pen, wherein the variable slit width varies in accordance with at least one of the pressure applied to the nib or the orientation of the digital fountain pen relative to the writing surface. The position and tilt of the digital fountain pen relative to the writing surface are determined, and orientation data including at least one of the X coordinate, Y coordinate, X tilt angle, or Y tilt angle is provided. The digital fountain pen transmits at least one of the slit width data or the orientation data to a computing device. The computing device receives the cut width data and / or orientation data from the digital fountain pen, Interpreting the aforementioned cutting width data and / or orientation data, the amount of digital ink distributed on the digital paper is dynamically controlled. This includes adjusting the stroke width and ink density on the digital paper based on the slit width and / or position and tilt of the digital fountain pen, thereby simulating the writing experience and ink output of an office fountain pen. method.

17. The detection of a change in capacitance between two capacitor plates incorporated inside the two tines, which varies along with the fluctuating cut width, wherein the change in capacitance is converted into a digital signal representing the cut width. Measuring the change in resonant frequency caused by the variation in the cutting width, wherein the change in resonant frequency is converted into a corresponding cutting width measurement. The detection of the frequency shift corresponding to the change in the cutting width, wherein the frequency shift is converted into the cutting width data, or The process includes at least one of the following: comparing the capacitance of the cut width with a reference capacitor to detect variations in the cut width, The method according to claim 16.

18. Measuring the time constant of charging and discharging a capacitor through a resistor, wherein the time constant is the cutting width, and the measurement includes this. The method according to claim 16.

19. The two tines of the nib of the digital fountain pen are made of an alloy that provides both flexibility and durability, enabling consistent performance under varying pressure and orientation. The method according to claim 16.

20. This includes calculating the stroke width by using a predetermined constant related to the tip width of the nib in combination with the slit width data, The method according to claim 16.

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