Apple Wins a Patent for a Super Smart Pen

Apple has received a major Granted Patent relating to a smart-pen. In Apple's patent FIGS. 1 and 2 shown below you'll see a smart-pen which the invention describes as incorporating a plastic waterproof casing which uses a wax polythene to complete the seal.

The smart-pen is described as incorporating a speech recorder capable of recording up to 60 seconds of content. The unit incorporates a built-in microphone, speaker and touch-based pause and play control functions. The smart-pen also incorporates all kinds of sensors including GPS and uniquely doubles as a pager, set with either an alarm or vibration alert. The invention further notes that when the smart-pen is docked with a device or iPhone, the smart-pen will be able to receive data by way of cellular or radio transmission and display such on the pen's display. Technically this might be able to extend to instant messaging as well. In fact, patent FIG. 1 above illustrates that the pen will also be able to present email, provide the time and assist users by playing back their own audio to-do list.  

Note that the smart-pen is designed to work with iPhone and iPad-like devices which the patent technically describes as being cellular telephones and hand held PC's.

Shown below in patent FIG. 3 is a block schematic diagram of the component parts of the computer. In a preferred embodiment the document states that "an ARM processor with a larger memory is used."

About the Device's Power Sources

As will be appreciated one of the major problems with any hand-held portable device is the use of rechargeable batteries which have a limited power life between charges. Apple's smart-pen therefore incorporates a number of power saving facilities arranged particularly to close down back lighting of the small LCD screen when not in use.

In Apple's patent FIG. 15, the pyroelectric detector conversion detects presence of movement to maintain back lighting. Pyroelectric detectors tend to detect presence of a person by movement through a parallel beam of infrared such that when movement is detected across a Fresnel lens an AC signal is generated.

Thus the pyroelectric system could be used to detect the presence of a user and in the absence of use powering down the back lighting. Infrared sensors may similarly be used to detect the presence or absence of body heat.

In a further implementation of back lighting power down, we learn that the system is responsive to the viewer's vision in addition to the viewer's presence. It is known that when a subject looks directly at a lens and a flash occurs blood vessels at the rear of the eyes reflect back to the camera. It is thus possible to periodically flash a low level light and to sense red reflection using a photodiode sensor. Thus as shown at FIG. 15, the microcontroller 30 periodically causes an LED 60 to pulse. At the same time a photodiode 61 is monitored and, assuming presence of a user's eye 62 reflecting light from the pulse, the LCD will remain back lit as indicated at 58. It is further noted that a custom-built solar cell (not shown) may be used to assist triple charging of the battery.

The invention's original patent filing dates all the way back to 1998 which predates the very existence of Livescribe Inc. This is likely a patent that Apple has acquired as the inventor is noted as being Hillary Williams of Great Britain. To review Apple's 71 patent claims and detailing, see granted patent RE42,738. Also see our Archives: Smart Pens

Notice: Patently Apple presents only a brief summary of granted patents with associated graphics for journalistic news purposes as each Granted Patent is revealed by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. Readers are cautioned that the full text of any Granted Patent should be read in its entirety for full details. About Comments: Patently Apple reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit comments.

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