Extendable mouth stylus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9436298-B2
Application number	US-201414180988-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 14, 2014
Priority date	Feb 15, 2013
Publication date	Sep 6, 2016
Grant date	Sep 6, 2016

Abstract

An extendable stylus operated with a mouth, the stylus having an extending portion configured to have an adjustable length, a conductive tip that can interface with a touch screen device, the conductive tip located at a first end of the extending portion, a mouthpiece that engages the mouth of a user, wherein the mouthpiece is located at a second end of the extending portion opposite the first end and a control mechanism disposed at or near the second end of the extending portion, wherein the control mechanism is configured to control the length of the extending portion based on an operation by the mouth of the user.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An extendable stylus configured to be operated with a mouth, the extendable stylus comprising:
an extending portion configured to have an adjustable length, the extending portion comprising:
a linear portion having the conductive tip connected to a first end thereof;
a nut disposed at a second end of the linear portion opposite the first end;
a power screw, which screwingly engages the nut disposed at the second end of the linear portion, wherein the power screw is rotatable relative to the nut and linear portion; and
a motor configured to rotate the power screw relative to the nut and the linear portion;

a conductive tip configured to interface with a touch screen device, wherein the conductive tip is disposed at a first end of the extending portion;
a mouthpiece configured to engage the mouth of a user, wherein the mouthpiece is disposed at a second end of the extending portion, opposite the first end; and
a control mechanism configured to control the length of the extending portion based on an operation by the mouth of the user and disposed proximate to the second end of the extending portion, the control mechanism comprising:
a first bite sensor disposed in a first portion of the mouthpiece and a second bite sensor disposed in a second portion of the mouthpiece,
wherein the first bite sensor is configured to cause the motor to rotate in a first angular direction in response to sensing a pressure in the first portion of the mouthpiece and the second bite sensor is configured to cause the motor to rotate in a second angular direction in response to sensing a pressure in the second portion of the mouthpiece.

2. The extendable stylus according to claim 1 further comprising at least one guide rail connected to the motor at a first end of the guide rail and connected at a second end of the guide rail to a frame, wherein the frame is configured to allow the linear member to move linearly relative to the frame and is also configured to prevent rotation of the linear member relative to motor.

3. An extendable stylus configured to be operated with a mouth, the extendable stylus comprising:
an extending portion configured to have an adjustable length, the extending portion comprising:
a linear portion having the conductive tip connected to a first end thereof;
a nut disposed at a second end of the linear portion opposite the first end;
a power screw, which screwingly engages the nut disposed at the second end of the linear portion, wherein the power screw is rotatable relative to the nut and linear portion; and
a motor configured to rotate the power screw relative to the nut and the linear portion;

a conductive tip configured to interface with a touch screen device, wherein the conductive tip is disposed at a first end of the extending portion;
a mouthpiece configured to engage the mouth of a user, wherein the mouthpiece is disposed at a second end of the extending portion, opposite the first end; and
a control mechanism configured to control the length of the extending portion based on an operation by the mouth of the user and disposed proximate to the second end of the extending portion, the control mechanism comprising:
a tongue paddle connected to a first portion of the mouthpiece;
wherein the tongue paddle is configured to cause the motor to rotate in a first angular direction when the tongue paddle is manipulated in a first direction; and
wherein the tongue paddle is configured to cause the motor to rotate in a second angular direction when the tongue paddle is manipulated in a second direction different from the first direction.

4. An extendable stylus configured to be operated with a mouth, the extendable stylus comprising:
an extending portion configured to have an adjustable length, the extending portion comprising:
a linear portion having the conductive tip connected to a first end thereof;
a nut disposed at a second end of the linear portion opposite the first end;
a power screw, which screwingly engages the nut disposed at the second end of the linear portion, wherein the power screw is rotatable relative to the nut and linear portion; and
a motor configured to rotate the power screw relative to the nut and the linear portion;

a conductive tip configured to interface with a touch screen device, wherein the conductive tip is disposed at a first end of the extending portion;
a mouthpiece configured to engage the mouth of a user, wherein the mouthpiece is disposed at a second end of the extending portion, opposite the first end; and

a control mechanism configured to control the length of the extending portion based on an operation by the mouth of the user and disposed proximate to the second end of the extending portion, the control mechanism comprising:
a range finder configured to measure a distance between the stylus and the touch screen device; and
a processor configured to control the motor and rotate the power screw relative to the nut based on the distance measured by the range finder.

5. An extendable stylus configured to be operated with a mouth, the extendable stylus comprising:
an extending portion configured to have an adjustable length, the extending portion comprising:
a linear portion having the conductive tip connected to a first end thereof;
a nut disposed at a second end of the linear portion opposite the first end;
a power screw, which screwingly engages the nut disposed at the second end of the linear portion, wherein the power screw is rotatable relative to the nut and linear portion; and
a motor configured to rotate the power screw relative to the nut and the linear portion;

a conductive tip configured to interface with a touch screen device, wherein the conductive tip is disposed at a first end of the extending portion;
a mouthpiece configured to engage the mouth of a user, wherein the mouthpiece is disposed at a second end of the extending portion, opposite the first end; and

a control mechanism configured to control the length of the extending portion based on an operation by the mouth of the user and disposed proximate to the second end of the extending portion, the control mechanism comprising:
an IR sensor incorporated into the mouthpiece and configured to measure infrared radiation; and
a processor configured to control the motor to rotate the power screw relative to the nut when a change in IR radiation sensed by the IR sensor exceeds a threshold.

6. An extendable stylus configured to be operated with a mouth, the extendable stylus comprising:
an extending portion configured to have an adjustable length, the extending portion comprising:
a linear portion having the conductive tip connected to a first end thereof;
a nut disposed at a second end of the linear portion opposite the first end;
a power screw, which screwingly engages the nut disposed at the second end of the linear portion, wherein the power screw is rotatable relative to the nut and linear portion; and
a motor configured to rotate the power screw relative to the nut and the linear portion;

a conductive tip configured to interface with a touch screen device, wherein the conductive tip is disposed at a first end of the extending portion;
a mouthpiece configured to engage the mouth of a user, wherein the mouthpiece is disposed at a second end of the extending portion, opposite the first end; and

a control mechanism configured to control the length of the extending portion based on an operation by the mouth of the user and disposed proximate to the second end of the extending portion, the control mechanism comprising:
a wireless receiver incorporated into the stylus and configured to receive a wireless signal from a wireless control device; and
a processor configured to control the motor

Assignees

• Us Gov As Represented By The Dept Of Veterans Affairs
• Us Veterans Affairs

Inventors

• Draper Ursula
• Kerrigan Michael
• Craighead Jeffrey
• Jasiewicz Jan
• Caudill Telina

Classifications

• G06F3/03545 Primary

  Pens or stylus · CPC title

• A61F4/00

  Methods or devices enabling patients or disabled persons to operate an apparatus or a device not forming part of the body · CPC title

• G06F3/039

  Accessories therefor, e.g. mouse pads · CPC title

• G06F3/0393

  Accessories for touch pads or touch screens, e.g. mechanical guides added to touch screens for drawing straight lines, hard keys overlaying touch screens or touch pads · CPC title