Abstract:
A color input device includes a stylus, a color input unit installed in the stylus. The color input unit includes a circuit board, an MCU, a color sensor, a color display device, a Bluetooth module, a memory, a control interface and a power supply device respectively connected to the MCU. Through the control interface, the color sensor can be activated to capture nature colors and to store intake colors in the memory, and the colors stored in the memory can be displayed on the full color LED display and selected and transmitted to a computing device via the Bluetooth module, enabling the APP of the computing device to temporarily store the inputted colors and synchronously display them on the display device of the computing device. Furthermore, the color input device can receive colors or patterns from the computing device for establishing a diversified color database.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    (a) Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to color input technology, and more particularly to a color input device and its application kit applicable to tablet computers, laptop computers, smart phones or other computing devices for capturing colors from natural objects and storing captured colors in a memory therein and transmitting captured colors to the computing devices. 
         [0003]    (b) Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    Modern tablet computers, laptop computers, smart phones and other mobile computing devices commonly use a touch panel for data input. Data input can be done by means of clicking a finger or stylus on the touch panel. However, there are some deficiencies in using a finger to input data. So, there are developed many styluses with special features. For example, styluses capable of inputting colors are seen in US 20140078109, US 20140084269, US 20060087497, CN 202742877U, and CN 103278243A. According to these designs, the stylus has a color sensor mounted therein for capturing colors from natural objects and then transmitting captured color signals to a tablet computer or smart phone so that the tablet computer or smart phone can get specific colors. 
         [0005]    However, conventional color sensor-equipped styluses or color pens are still not satisfactory in function. For example, these conventional color sensor-equipped styluses or color pens cannot capture vivid colors from the surfaces of natural objects in case of insufficient light. With respect to the concerns of how to store captured colors and how to transmit captured colors to a tablet computer or smart phone, conventional color sensor-equipped styluses or color pens cannot provide a definite answer. More particularly, when a user wishes to use a stylus as a color pen for drawing pictures on a tablet computer or smart phone and capturing colors from natural objects and establishing a color database in the tablet computer or stylus, the color sensor and the control interface for controlling the activation of the color sensor must be specially design so that the color sensor can capture more realistic colors from the surface of a natural object within the optical distance. Further, the operation of the color sensor of a stylus for children must be very convenient, so that children of all ages can easily get started. These are urgent issues to overcome. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is therefore the main object of the present invention to provide a color input device, which is capable of capturing colors from natural objects and storing captured colors in a built-in color database, and then transmitting color signals through a wireless transmission module thereof to a tablet computer, smart phone or other computing devices. 
         [0007]    To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, a color input device comprises a stylus and a color input unit located at one end of the stylus. The color input unit comprises an MCU (micro controller unit), and a color sensor, a memory, a full color LED display, a first Bluetooth module, a control interface and a power supply device respectively electrically coupled to the MCU. The color sensor is adapted for capturing colors from natural objects. The memory is adapted for storing signals of colors captured by the color sensor. The full color LED display is adapted for displaying the colors captured by the color input unit and the colors stored in the memory. The first Bluetooth module is adapted for transmitting color signals to a computing device. The control interface is adapted for controlling the color sensor to capture or to stop capturing colors, and switching colors being displayed on the full color LED display. The power supply device is adapted to provide the necessary electrical energy. 
         [0008]    The color input device of the present invention can be held by a user&#39;s one hand and directly pressed on the surface of any natural object to capture natural colors, avoiding interference of surrounding lights. 
         [0009]    To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, a color input device comprises a stylus, a color input unit located at one end of the stylus, a tip located at an opposite end of the stylus, and an elastically bendable neck member connected between the stylus and the color input unit. The color input unit comprises a color sensor and a control interface located in one face thereof. Thus, a user can hold the stylus with one hand and freely bend the color input unit by means of the elastically bendable neck member to keep the color sensor and control interface in one face of the color input unit in direct contact with the surface of an object, enabling the control interface to drive the color sensor to capture colors, preventing the interference of surrounding light. 
         [0010]    Another preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a color input device application kit, which enables a tablet computer, smart phone or other computing device to obtain and store colors from natural objects so that the computing device can establish a natural color database for use anytime. 
         [0011]    To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, a color input device application kit of the invention comprises a color input device and a computing device. The color input device is the same as the aforesaid design. The computing device has built therein an arithmetic unit and a second Bluetooth module. The arithmetic unit can be a mobile APP (mobile application program). The second Bluetooth module is linkable to the first Bluetooth module of the color input device for receiving color signals, enabling the computing device to establish a natural color database. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is an oblique top elevational view of a color input device in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  corresponds to  FIG. 1  when viewed from an opposite side. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a system block diagram of the color input device in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a schematic sectional side view of the color input device in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a schematic sectional lateral view of the color input device in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  corresponds to  FIG. 4  when viewed from the opposite side. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a lateral view of the color input device in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is an exploded view of the color input device in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a schematic view of the color input device being applied in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is a schematic drawing illustrating a color input device application kit in accordance with the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 10 , a color input device and its application kit is applicable to a computing device  300  such as a tablet computer, a laptop computer or a smart phone, more particularly for use as an electronic color stylus for children. In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the color input device  100  comprises a stylus  1 , and a color input unit  2  mounted at one end of the stylus  1 . The stylus  1  is a hollow cylindrical member made of an electrically conductive material, comprising a tip  3  located at one end thereof for touching a touchscreen of the computing device  300 . The touchscreen of the computing device  300  can be a capacitive touchscreen or resistive touchscreen. The material of the tip  3  is selected to match with the capacitive touchscreen or resistive touchscreen. 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 6 , the color input unit  2  comprises a circuit board  20 , a micro controller unit (MCU)  21  installed in the circuit board  20 , a color sensor  22 , a memory  23 , a full color LED display  24 , a white color LED  25 , a first Bluetooth module  26 , a control interface  27 , a buzzer  28  and a power supply device  29  installed in the circuit board  20  and respectively electrically coupled to the MCU  21 . 
         [0024]    The aforesaid memory  23  and first Bluetooth module  26  can be integrated into the MCU  21 . The color sensor  22  is preferably a RGB color sensor for picking up natural colors at a short distance. The memory  23  is preferably an electrically-erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM). The memory  23  can also be directly built in the MCU  21  for storing color signals captured by the color sensor  22  for the establishment of a color database in the color input device of the present invention. The full color LED display  24  is preferably a RGB &amp; white color LED adapted for displaying the colors being captured by the color sensor  22  at the real time, or the colors being read out from the memory by the user so that the user can confirm the selected colors. The white color LED  25  is preferably mounted at one side relative to the color sensor  22  or integrated with the color sensor  22  to form a module, and adapted to emit white light onto an object to reflect the colors of its surface so that the color sensor  22  can intake more realistic colors from the object. The first Bluetooth module  26  can be built in the MCU  21  or independently disposed outside the MCU  21  for transmitting each color signal obtained to the computing device  300 . The control interface  27  preferably comprises at least one capture button  271  and at least one selection button  272 . A sensor or any other control means can be used as a substitute. The capture button  271  is adapted for controlling the color sensor  22  to start and to stop capturing colors. The at least one selection button  272  is adapted for switching and selecting the colors being displayed on the full color LED display  24 , and transmitting the color signals through the first Bluetooth module  26 . The buzzer  28  is adapted for generating an alert sound or operating sound upon an error or other specific operations. The power supply device  29  is adapted for providing electrical energy to the aforesaid MCU and other functional components, comprising a charging circuit  291  (see  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 7 ), a battery  292  and a power PCB  293  (see  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 ) respectively electrically coupled to the MCU  21 . The battery  292  is preferably a rechargeable battery (such as Li-ion battery). 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , the color input unit  2  preferably comprises a housing  210  joined to an opposite end of the stylus  1 , and configured to house the aforesaid circuit board  20 , the MCU  21 , the color sensor  22  an other components that are installed in the circuit board  20 , wherein the color sensor  22  and the capture button  271  are exposed to the outside of a first face of the housing  210  (see  FIG. 1 ) so that the user can press the capture button  271  to drive the color sensor  22  to capture colors. The aforesaid full color LED display  24  is exposed to the outside of an opposing second face of the housing  210  (see  FIG. 2 ) for enabling the user to view the captured colors. The number of the aforesaid at least one selection button  272  is preferably  2 . The selection buttons  272  are located on the outside of one lateral side of the housing  210  (see  FIGS. 2 and 5 ) and pressable by the user to select stored colors. The charging circuit  291  of the power supply device  29  is electrically coupled to the circuit board  20  and the power PCB  293 , and exposed to the outside of an opposite lateral side of the housing  210  for enabling the user to charge the battery. The battery  292  and power PCB  293  of the power supply device  29  are preferably mounted within the stylus  1  and electrically coupled to the circuit board  20  to provide the necessary electrical energy. 
         [0026]    The color input device of the present invention is particularly suitable for children. It can be used as an electronic color stylus applicable to a computing device  300  such as a tablet computer, laptop computer or smart phone. The invention also has an improved connection structure between the color input unit  2  and the stylus  1 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 4 , the aforesaid color input unit  2  is located at a first end of the stylus  1 ; the aforesaid tip  3  is located at an opposing second end of the stylus  1 . Further, the invention provides an elastically bendable neck member  4  between the stylus  1  and the color input unit  2 . The aforesaid color sensor  22  and at least one capture button  271  of the aforesaid control interface  27  are mounted in on one face of the color input unit  2 . 
         [0027]    Thus, as shown in  FIG. 9 , through the elastically bendable neck member  4 , a user can bend the color input unit  2 . With the design of the positioning of the capture buttons  271  of the control interface  27 , a user can hold the stylus  1  to directly attach the color input unit  2  to the surface of an object  500  to capture colors, keeping the color sensor  22  closer to the surface of the object  500 , preventing surrounding color noises from interfering with the sensing of the color sensor  22  and enabling the capture buttons  271  to be pressed. At this time, the color sensor  22  is activated to capture colors, enabling the color signals fetched to be displayed on the full color LED display  24  and stored in the memory  23 . Then, when the capture button  271  of the color input unit  2  is moved away from the surface of the object  500 , the color sensor  22  is stopped from capturing colors. 
         [0028]    Further, as shown in  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 8 , the aforesaid neck member  4  is preferably an elastic member  41  that has its one end connected to the stylus  1  and its other end connected to the housing  210  of the color input unit  2 . Preferably, the elastic member  41  comprises a shaft  411  made out of silicon rubber or rubber. One end of the shaft  411  is fastened to the stylus  1  by one or multiple fasteners  42 . The other end of the shaft  411  has a plurality of hook blocks  43  fastened to the housing  210 . Thus, the elastic member  41  is connected between the housing  210  of the color input unit  2  and the stylus  1 , allowing the color input unit  2  to be bent. 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 6 , in order to let a user, particularly a child, to press the color input device on the surface of an object to further capture colors, the control interface  27  preferably provides two capture buttons  271  disposed outside the first face of the housing  210 . Thus, as shown in  FIG. 9 , when the user holds the stylus  1  with one single hand and then presses the color input unit  2  on the surface of an object  500 , the color sensor  22  will be activated only after the two capture buttons  271  have been completely pressed on the surface of the object  500 . Through this operation mode, the color sensor  22  can be kept in proximity to the surface of the object  500  and the light emitted from the white color LED  25  can effectively reflect the colors of the surface of the object  500 , enabling the color input device to capture more realistic colors from the object  500 . Thus, the color input device of the present invention is suitable for users of all ages, particularly children. Because the invention adopts a direct uptake method to capture colors by direct contact, the invention simplifies the operation of the color input device, making the color input device capable of capturing vivid colors. 
         [0030]    The color input device of the invention can be used as an electronic color stylus, particularly convenient for children. As illustrated in  FIG. 9  and described above, a user can use the color input device to capture colors from the surface of an object  500  and to store captured colors in the memory  23  of the color input unit  2 . When the color input device is used as an electronic color stylus, the user can press the selection buttons  272  to fetch color files from the memory  23  and to display fetched color files on the full color LED display  24  for selecting the desired colors. Thus, the user can freely fetch color files from the memory  2 . When using the color input device with a tablet computer or any other computing device  300 , the color input device can link to the Bluetooth module of the computing device  300  for synchronous color signal transmission to upload color files from the memory  23  to the computing device  300 , or to download color files or patterns from the computing device  300  for storing in the memory  23  for further selection. 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIG. 10  again, a user, even a child, can use the color input device to draw pictures on a tablet computer or any other computing device  300 . At this time, the selected color signal can be transmitted through the first Bluetooth module  26  to a second Bluetooth module (not shown) that is built in the computing device  300 , enabling the computing device  300  to open the color files through an arithmetic unit. Thus, the user can draw on the computing device  300  the colors provided by the color input unit  2 . The arithmetic unit of the computing device  300  is preferably a mobile APP. Through the application of the mobile APP, the color input device can be used with a computing device  300  (such as the aforesaid tablet computer or smart phone) to constitute an application kit without changing the hardware design of the computing device  300 . 
         [0032]    Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.