Abstract:
The invention provides an electronic stylus pen charging system for an interactive whiteboard with electronic stylus pen. The electronic stylus pen charging system uses a set of magnets and charging circuitry to charge the battery of the electronic stylus pen.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/404,096 filed Sep. 27, 2010. 
     
    
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    1. Field of Invention 
         [0005]    The embodiments of the invention relate to interactive whiteboards with an electronic stylus pen. The embodiments of the invention further relate to the field of charging the electronic stylus pen associated with the interactive whiteboard. More specifically, this invention relates to a charging device having a mechanism for charging an electronic stylus pen. 
         [0006]    2. Background of the Invention 
         [0007]    Interactive whiteboards with an electronic stylus pen are being used by more and more people. Many users share these interactive whiteboards with an electronic stylus pen. When sharing the device between users, the electronic stylus pen must be charged and ready for use before it can be used. When sharing the device between users the use of the electronic stylus pen and/or interactive whiteboard can be limited due to the required charging time of the electronic stylus pen. Multiple electronic stylus pens can be purchased however the electronic stylus pens&#39; are unusable until charged with the interactive whiteboard. Users who share these interactive whiteboards do not always have access to the interactive whiteboard in order to charge their electronic stylus pen rendering their interactive whiteboard electronic stylus pen unusable until the electronic stylus pen is charged. Also, the interactive whiteboard with electronic stylus pen must have access to power in order to charge the electronic stylus pen. Some users mount their interactive whiteboard with electronic stylus pen where there is no access to power. This then requires the user to remove the interactive whiteboard with electronic stylus pen in order to charge their electronic stylus pen and then remount their interactive whiteboard with electronic stylus pen. Removal and remounting of the interactive whiteboard with electronic stylus pen for charging can be cumbersome to users, and it reduces usage time of the device, and increases the chance of damage to the interactive whiteboard with electronic stylus pen. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention a charging system for an interactive whiteboard&#39;s electronic stylus pen is provided. In this embodiment, the charging system includes a charging mechanism, and a cradle or retention mechanism. The charging system charges the batteries of the electronic stylus pen through the metal contacts located on the electronic stylus pen that make contact with the magnets located in the cradle. The magnets extend through the top of the cradle case to enable direct contact between the metal contacts of the electronic stylus pen and the magnets in the cradle. The user places the electronic stylus pen in the receiving slot on the top of the cradle. By placing the electronic stylus pen in the receiving slot, the metal contacts are then secured into place by the magnetic pull of the magnets in the cradle. Once the electronic stylus pen is securely in place, the electronic stylus pen can begin charging. The magnets in the cradle charge the electronic stylus pen with 5V DC power. That power is received from an external computer. This is achieved when a user connects the cradle to a computer with an external USB cable, where one end of the cable is plugged into the computer and the other end is plugged into the micro USB port of the cradle. The cradle then receives power from the computer through the micro USB port on the cradle and that power is then routed through the internal PCBA (printed circuit board assembly) to all the parts of the cradle. The cradle will then turn on. Once turned on, the LED light on the cradle will turn on to indicate that the cradle is powered on. The magnets will then receive power. The electronic stylus pen will then begin charging automatically. Once the cradle is powered on, the user can charge their electronic stylus pen. 
         [0009]    The cradle in this embodiment also includes a six port USB 2.0 hub with an integrated HC SD card reader. The user can transfer data between the computer and the six USB 2.0 ports and the HC SD Card reader through the micro USB port independently of the charging capabilities of the cradle. The user has the ability to place the cradle horizontally on any flat surface. The magnets and anti-skid tape on the bottom of the cradle give the user another option for placement of the cradle vertically on any flat metal surface. The magnets and anti-skid tape help secure the device to the metal surface. Once the user disconnects the external USB cable from the cradle, it is then powered off. The LED light also turns off indicating to the user that the cradle is now powered off. 
         [0010]    Other systems, methods, features, and advantages will be or become apparent to one with ordinary skills in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a charging system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of a recharging system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a charging system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, and an electronic stylus pen, USB cable, SD card, and computer. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an internal printed circuit board assembly. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a top view of a charging system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a bottom view of a charging system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a front view of a charging system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a back view of a charging system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is a right side view of a charging system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  is a left side view of a charging system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    The aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be appreciated when considered with reference to the following description of preferred embodiments and accompanying figures. In describing the preferred embodiments of the invention illustrated in the figures, specific terminology will be used for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is to be understood that each term selected includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective front-angle view of the charging cradle device  22  for charging an electronic stylus pen  26 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the charging cradle device  22  includes the front USB ports  13   a , 13   b , 13   c , 13   d , 13   e . The USB ports  13   a ,  13   b , 13   c , 13   d , 13   e  may be varying types, varying amounts, changed locations, be spaced at different intervals or be removed. The receiving slot  12  for the electronic stylus pen  26  is on the top of the charging cradle device  22 . The magnets  11   a , 11   b  protrude through the top of the charging cradle device  22  in order to make contact with the metal contacts on the electronic stylus pen  26 . While  FIG. 1  shows the charging cradle device  22  having a specific size, receiving slot  12 , location of charging magnets  11   a , 11   b , and shape, it should be understood that the charging cradle device  22  is not limited to this particular size, receiving slot  12 , location of charging magnets  11   a , 11   b , or shape and may instead be of any material, configuration and design such that it can enable charging of an electronic stylus pen  26 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 2  illustrates an exploded view of the charging cradle device  22 . The top of the charging cradle device  27  connects to the bottom of the charging cradle device  28  with the PCBA (printed circuit board assembly)  20  inside the charging cradle device  22 . The PCBA board  20  rests on the stand offs  21  on the inside bottom of the charging cradle device  28 . Varying methods to place or secure the PCBA  20  inside the charging cradle device  22  can be employed. The PCBA  20  has the front USB ports  13   a , 13   b , 13   c , 13   d , 13   e ; the side USB port  15 ; the micro USB port  16 ; the HC SD Reader  17 : the LED light  14 ; and the magnets  11   a , 11   b . The USB ports  13   a , 13   b , 13   c , 13   d , 13   e ; the side USB port  15 ; the micro USB port  16 ; the HC SD Reader  17 : and the LED light  14  can be of varying types, or amounts, be spaced at different intervals or locations or any or all can be removed. Two magnets  18   a , 18   b , used to help secure the charging cradle device  22  to a magnetic metal surface, attach to the outside bottom of the device  22  with anti-skid tape  19   a , 19   b , covering those magnets  18   a , 18   b . The magnets  18   a , 18   b  can be located inside or other various locations, they can be increased or decreased in number, they can be varying sizes, shapes, material, magnetic pull, or thicknesses or they can be removed from the charging cradle device  22 . The anti-skid tape  19   a , 19   b , used to help prevent slippage of the charging cradle device  22 , can be of varying sizes, types, shapes, consistencies, materials, tensile strengths, adhesiveness, temperature use ranges, backings, physical properties, thicknesses, amounts, locations, etc. or can be removed from the charging cradle device  22 . 
         [0024]    Thus, in one alternative embodiment, the anti-skid tape  19   a , 19   b  could be replaced with any form of anti-skid material. 
         [0025]      FIG. 3  shows the PCBA board  20  that sits inside the charging cradle device  22 . The magnets  11   a , 11   b ; the front USB ports  13   a , 13   b , 13   c , 13   d , 13   e ; the side USB port  15 ; the HC SD card reader  17 ; and the LED light  14  will be powered through the PCBA board  20  which receives power from an external computer  23  (shown in  FIG. 4 ) through the micro USB port  16 . Alternately, the charging cradle device  22  may have varying types of an LED light  14 . The LED light  14  can be different colors or shapes or replaced by laser diodes, OLED&#39;s, passive-matrix or active-matrix liquid crystal displays, or other electric lighting sources. The LED light  14  can be removed or additional LED lights can be added or replaced or added to by various color or shape laser diodes, OLED&#39;s, passive-matrix or active-matrix liquid crystal displays, or other electric lighting sources. The placement of the LED light  14  or the placement of additional LED lights or laser diodes, OLED&#39;s, passive-matrix or active-matrix liquid crystal displays, or other electric lighting sources can be moved to various places on or in the device. The LED light  14  can be replaced with various indicator mechanisms or can be removed. 
         [0026]    Thus, in one alternative embodiment, various selecting or indicating mechanisms for various functions can be added to the charging cradle device  22 . The selecting mechanism can be any kind of selecting mechanism, including a mechanical selector such as a switch, toggle, dial, jog shuttle or slide button. Alternatively, the selecting mechanism may be an electronic selector such as a programmable “soft button” or “soft key” that may be interoperable with a user interface of the charging cradle device  22 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 4  shows the device  22  and the items that will work with the device  22 . The illustrated electronic stylus pen  26  makes contact with the magnets  11   a , 11   b  for charging of the electronic stylus pen  26 . The micro USB port  16  will get power through an external USB cable  24  that will be connected to an external computer  23 . Alternately, differing power capabilities can be added to or take the place of the existing power input to the charging cradle device  22  such as AC power, or batteries for internal or external power. The SD card  25  will be placed into the HC SD card reader  17  and transfer data to and from the external computer  23  through the USB cable  24  connected to the micro USB port  16 . Alternately, A USB cable can be incorporated in the device instead of or in addition to or in place of the USB ports in the device. 
         [0028]    Thus, in one alternative embodiment, wireless capabilities can be added to the charging cradle device  22  for data transfer. 
         [0029]      FIG. 5  shows the top  27  view of the charging cradle device  22 . It shows the receiving slot  12  for the electronic stylus pen  26  and the magnets  11   a , 11   b  that make contact with the electronic stylus pen  26 . The magnets  11   a , 11   b  on the PCBA board  20  that make contact with the electronic stylus pen  26  can be different materials, heights, sizes, magnetic pull, or thicknesses, lengths, depths, widths or shapes. 
         [0030]    Thus, in one alternative embodiment, a cover for the charging cradle device  22  of various materials, shapes, attachment techniques, sizes, or colors can be added to the charging cradle device  22 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 6  shows the bottom view of the charging cradle device  22 . It shows the magnets  18   a , 18   b  and the anti-skid tape  19   a , 19   b  that cover the magnets  18   a , 18   b.    
         [0032]      FIG. 7  shows the front view of the charging cradle device  22 . It is shows the top  27  and bottom  28  of the charging cradle device  22 . It also shows where the front USB ports  13   a , 13   b , 13   c , 13   d , 13   e  are placed. 
         [0033]      FIG. 8  shows the back view of the charging cradle device  22 . It shows the top  27  and the bottom  28  of the charging cradle device  22 . It also shows where the HC SD card reader  17  and the LED light  14  are placed. 
         [0034]      FIG. 9  shows the right view of the charging cradle device  22 . It shows the top  27  and the bottom  28  of the charging cradle device  22 . It also shows where the side USB port  15  is placed. 
         [0035]      FIG. 10  shows the left view of the charging cradle device  22 . It shows the top  27  and the bottom  28  of the charging cradle device  22 . It also shows where the micro USB port  16  is placed. 
         [0036]    Although the invention herein has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present invention. It is therefore to be understood that modifications or changes may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.