Writing instrument

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12067176-B2
Application number	US-202318181036-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 9, 2023
Priority date	Mar 10, 2022
Publication date	Aug 20, 2024
Grant date	Aug 20, 2024

Abstract

An attachment for a writing instrument, comprising a support member comprising a distal end (D) and a proximal end (P), wherein an attachment axis (A) is defined between the distal end and the proximal end, wherein the support member is configured to be attached to a writing instrument, an inertial measurement unit, wherein the inertial measurement unit is configured to measure a movement of the attachment axis (A) between a first and a second position of the attachment axis, a momentum wheel assembly, wherein the momentum wheel assembly comprises a first rotatable member coupled to a first motor, wherein the first motor is configured to apply a variable torque to the first rotatable member, and a control unit configured to actuate the first motor based on the movement of the attachment axis measured by the inertial measurement unit.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An attachment for a writing instrument, comprising:
a support member comprising a distal end (D) and a proximal end (P), wherein an attachment axis (A) is defined between the distal end and the proximal end, wherein the support member is configured to be attached to the writing instrument;
an inertial measurement unit, wherein the inertial measurement unit is configured to measure a movement of the attachment axis (A) between a first and a second position of the attachment axis (A);
a momentum wheel assembly, wherein the momentum wheel assembly comprises a first rotatable member coupled to a first motor, wherein the first motor is configured to apply a variable torque to the first rotatable member, wherein the movement of the attachment from the first position to the second position when the first rotatable member is rotating about a first rotation axis induces a torque on the attachment in a direction perpendicular to the first rotation axis, and wherein the momentum wheel assembly further comprises a second rotatable member coupled to a second motor, and a third rotatable member coupled to a third motor; and
a control unit configured to actuate the first motor based on the movement of the attachment axis (A) measured by the inertial measurement unit.

2. The attachment for the writing instrument of claim 1 , wherein the torque is a function of the rotational momentum of the first rotatable member, and the direction of the movement of the attachment.

3. The attachment for the writing instrument of claim 1 , wherein the second and third motors are configured to apply variable torques to corresponding second and third rotatable members.

4. The attachment for the writing instrument of claim 3 , wherein respective axes of rotation of the first, second, and third rotatable members are orthogonal.

5. The attachment for the writing instrument of claim 1 , wherein the inertial measurement unit is configured to measure one or more of roll, pitch, yaw, x translation, y translation, and/or z translation of the attachment axis.

6. The attachment for the writing instrument of claim 1 , wherein the support member further comprises a mounting element configured to rigidly fix the attachment to the writing instrument.

7. The attachment for the writing instrument of claim 1 , wherein the inertial measurement unit is configured to generate a movement signal characterising the movement of the attachment axis (A) between the first and the second position, and wherein the control unit is configured to use the movement signal to identify an attempt to form a predefined symbol.

8. The attachment for the writing instrument of claim 7 , wherein the control unit is configured to identify the attempt to form the predefined symbol by inputting the movement signal into a trained model, a control loop, and/or by comparison of the movement signal to a plurality of records of movement signals in a database of motion characteristics.

9. The attachment for the writing instrument of claim 7 , wherein the control unit is further configured to predict a subsequent symbol that a user of the attachment will attempt to form, based on the predefined symbol identified, and wherein the control unit is configured to actuate at least the first motor to apply a correction torque to the attachment, wherein the correction torque is dependent on the subsequent symbol.

10. The attachment for the writing instrument of claim 7 , further comprising:
a wireless modem,
wherein the control unit is configured to transmit the movement signal to an external computing apparatus, and to receive a prediction of a subsequent symbol that a user of the attachment will attempt to form from the external computing apparatus.

11. A method for assisted writing for the writing instrument of claim 1 , comprising:
detecting, during a writing operation, one or more movements of a position of the attachment axis (A) of the attachment, when the attachment is attached to the writing instrument;
generating one or more movement signals characterising the one or more movements;
generating at least one correction torque to be applied to the attachment by at least a first rotatable disk based on the detected one or more one or more movement signals of the attachment axis (A); and
actuating at least the first motor of the attachment to apply the correction torque to the first rotatable disk.

12. The attachment for the writing instrument of claim 1 , wherein the support member comprises a recess configured to provide a rigid fit to the writing instrument.

13. The attachment for the writing instrument of claim 12 , wherein the recess comprise a foam rubber for providing the rigid fit of the attachment to the writing instrument.

14. The attachment for the writing instrument of claim 1 , wherein the support member comprises a power source for providing electrical power to an electronic circuitry of the writing instrument.

15. The attachment for the writing instrument of claim 1 , wherein the first, second, and third rotatable members are formed of solid monolithic discs.

16. A writing instrument comprising:
a proximal end configured to contact a writing surface, and a distal end, wherein an attachment for the writing instrument is removably attached to, or integrally formed with, the writing instrument;
the attachment comprising:
a support member, wherein the support member comprises a distal end (D) and a proximal end (P), wherein an attachment axis (A) is defined between the distal end and the proximal end, wherein the support member is configured to be attached to the writing instrument, wherein
an inertial measurement unit, wherein the inertial measurement unit is configured to measure a movement of the attachment axis (A) between a first and a second position of the attachment axis (A);
a momentum wheel assembly, wherein the momentum wheel assembly comprises a first rotatable member coupled to a first motor, wherein the first motor is configured to apply a variable torque to the first rotatable member, wherein the momentum wheel assembly further comprises a second rotatable member coupled to a second motor, and a third rotatable member coupled to a third motor, and wherein the second and third motors are configured to apply variable torques to corresponding second and third rotatable members; and
a control unit configured to actuate the first motor based on the movement of the attachment axis (A) measured by the inertial measurement unit.

17. The writing instrument of claim 16 , wherein the movement of the attachment from the first position to the second position when the first rotatable member is rotating about a first rotation axis induces a torque on the attachment in a direction perpendicular to the first rotation axis, and wherein the torque is a function of the rotational momentum of the first rotatable member, and the direction of the movement of the attachment.

18. A method for assisted writing, comprising:
detecting, during a writing operation, one or more movements of a position of an attachment axis (A) of an attachment, when the attachment is attached to a writing instrument;
generating one or more movement signals characterising the one or more movements;
generating at least one correction torque to be applied to the attachment by at least a first rotatable disk based on the detected one or more one or more movement signals of the attachment axis (A);
actuating at least a first motor of the attachment to apply the correction torque to the first rotatable disk;
using the one or more

Assignees

• Bic Violex Single Member Sa

Inventors

• Kokozidis Michail
• Galanis Christos
• Polygerinos Panagiotis

Classifications

• G06F3/0383

  Signal control means within the pointing device · CPC title

• G06F3/03545

  Pens or stylus · CPC title

• G09B11/04

  Guide sheets or plates; Tracing charts (templets for drawing purposes B43L13/20) · CPC title

• G09B11/00

  Teaching hand-writing, shorthand, drawing, or painting · CPC title

• G09B19/003

  Repetitive work cycles; Sequence of movements · CPC title