Abstract:
A handheld apparatus includes a body including a laser portion having a laser lens, a stylus portion having a conductive tip, and a connection portion coupled to the laser portion and the stylus portion. The connection portion has a charging port. The laser portion and the stylus portion are movable relative to each other between a first position, in which at least one of the laser portion and the stylus portion covers the charging port of the connection portion, and a second position, in which the charging port of the connection portion is exposed. The handheld apparatus also includes a power source positioned within the body and coupled to the charging port, and a laser module positioned within the laser portion. The laser module is operable to output a directed laser through the laser lens.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/670,551, filed Jul. 11, 2012, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     SUMMARY 
       [0002]    Embodiments of the present invention relate to compact multi-functional human interface devices. Specifically, embodiments of the present invention comprise the functionality of a presentation or media controller, a stylus for interacting with the display of an electronic device, and a laser pointer, as well as being capable of including other components or devices (e.g. voice recorder, memory stick, etc.). Embodiments of the present invention minaturize the individual functions into a sleek, slender, compact, and user-friendly handheld apparatus. 
         [0003]    As tablets and other mobile electronics have grown in popularity, these electronics have become a centerpiece of giving a presentation to a group as well as interacting with customers, clients, peers, and/or suppliers. As such, a need exists for a tool that can be used to interact with a tablet device, control a presentation, and interact with the presentation in a sleek, compact, unobtrusive handheld human interface device. 
         [0004]    Embodiments of the present invention address these and other problems, individually and collectively. 
         [0005]    In one embodiment, the invention provides a handheld apparatus including a body including a laser portion having a laser lens, a stylus portion having a conductive tip, and a connection portion coupled to the laser portion and the stylus portion. The connection portion has a charging port. The laser portion and the stylus portion are movable relative to each other between a first position, in which at least one of the laser portion and the stylus portion covers the charging port of the connection portion, and a second position, in which the charging port of the connection portion is exposed. The handheld apparatus also includes a power source positioned within the body and coupled to the charging port, and a laser module positioned within the laser portion. The laser module is operable to output a directed laser through the laser lens. 
         [0006]    In another embodiment, the invention provides a handheld apparatus including a body including a laser portion having a laser lens, a stylus portion having a conductive tip, a control pad supported by one of the laser portion and the stylus portion, and a connection portion coupled to the laser portion and the stylus portion. The connection portion has a charging port. The laser portion and the stylus portion are slidable relative to each other between a closed position, in which at least one of the laser portion and the stylus portion covers the charging port of the connection portion, and an extended position, in which the charging port of the connection portion is exposed. The handheld apparatus also includes a power source positioned within the body and coupled to the charging port, and a laser module positioned within the laser portion. The laser module is operable to output a directed laser through the laser lens in response to a first input by a user on the control pad. The handheld apparatus further includes a short-range communication module including an antenna, and a computer readable medium coupled to a processor. The computer readable medium includes a presentation control module configured to send a command to an electronic device using the antenna of the short-range communication module in response to a second input by the user on the control pad. The command controls a presentation on the electronic device. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  shows a block diagram of the components in an exemplary embodiment of a tablet stylus with presentation interaction functionality. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2A  shows a front top perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the tablet stylus with presentation interaction functionality in a closed position. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2B  shows a front top perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the tablet stylus with presentation interaction functionality in an extended position. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2C  shows a front bottom perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the tablet stylus with presentation interaction functionality in the extended position. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2D  shows a left front perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the tablet stylus with presentation interaction functionality in the extended position. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2E  shows a right rear perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the tablet stylus with presentation interaction functionality in the extended position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    Embodiments of the present invention are directed to multi-functional hardware interface devices (e.g. a tablet stylus) that provide fast, easy, and efficient interactions with a wide variety of different devices in a suitable handheld size for holding as a stylus or pen. 
         [0014]    The tablet stylus combines the functions of a small profile human interface device controller, a laser presentation controller, a media controller, a pressure sensitive response tip, a proximity detection controller, a gesture controller, or a voice controller into a tablet stylus product. The multi-functional aspects of the table stylus allow the handheld tablet stylus device or apparatus to control and draw on the screen of a tablet while allowing the user to control other functions of the tablet over a short distance (e.g. 10 meters) via a Bluetooth™ connection. Embodiments of the tablet stylus apparatus combine this functionality into a single sleek, small, and slender component body. 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  shows a block diagram of the components in an exemplary embodiment of a tablet stylus  100  with presentation interaction functionality. The tablet stylus  100  may comprise a processor  101 , antenna  102 , power source  103 , power interface  104 , speaker  105 , short-range communication module  106 , accelerometer  107 , computer readable medium  108 , laser module  109 , input components  110 , and a presentation control module  111 . 
         [0016]    The short-range communication module may be a Bluetooth™ communication chip or device (e.g. a Bluetooth™ transmitter circuit), a radio frequency (RF) chip, or any other transceiver that is capable of communicating with electronic devices over a short distance (e.g.  10  meters). The short-range communication module may comprise a separate antenna (not shown) from the antenna  102  of the tablet stylus  100  or may use the antenna  102  of the tablet stylus  100  to communicate with other electronic devices (not shown). 
         [0017]    The power source  103  may be a rechargable battery with sufficient power storage capability to supply power to the handheld tablet stylus  100  for a week (based on average usage) between charges. The power interface  104  may be an interface for charging the power source  103  from an external power source (not shown). For example, the power interface  104  may be a USB input port as shown in  FIGS. 2A-2E . As such, the power interface  104  may be connected to the processor  101  (as shown) but may also be connected to the power source  103  so that energy may be transferred from the power interface  104  and stored in the power source  103 . Alternatively, the power source  103  may be replaceable batteries or any other suitable power source as one of ordinary skill would recognize. 
         [0018]    The laser module  109  may comprise a chip or device for generating a directed or focused laser that may be directed through a laser lens on the body of the tablet stylus. The laser generated by the laser module  109  may be used as a laser pointer during a presentation. Additionally, an input on the tablet stylus body (e.g. an input on a control pad) may activate and de-activate the laser such that the laser module  109  generates the directed laser or not. 
         [0019]    The input components  110  may comprise a power button, a control pad, and a pressure sensitive stylus tip. The control pad may comprise a 4 button presentation controller interface (e.g. a “rocker button”—as shown in  FIGS. 2A-2E ) or any other suitable number and format of input buttons. The control pad may comprise buttons for undoing or erasing a mark, creating a blank page, annotating a voice into the text, skipping to the next or last page, a laser point trigger button, as well as allow the pen width of the stylus to change based on an input button. Additionally there may be more than one control pad or no control pad and instead input buttons arranged in different areas on the controller. Any other suitable inputs may be implemented depending on the particular functions implemented in the table stylus. 
         [0020]    A presentation control module  111  may be implemented either separately within the tablet stylus  100  (as shown) or on the computer readable medium  108  of the tablet stylus  100  (not shown). The presentation control module is configured to communicate with another electronic device and allow a user to control a presentation being provided on the electronic device. The presentation control module may be configured to send commands to the electronic device using the antenna of the short-range communication module or the antenna of the tablet stylus  100  in response to an input by the user on the control pad or through voice commands. The commands may be related to a presentation being performed on the electronic device and may control the presentation such as to skip to the next slide, move to a previous slide, create a new slide, end a presentation, start a video embedded in the presentation, or any other command relevant to a presentation as one of ordinary skill would recognize. Additionally, the commands could be directed to any application on the electronic device and are not limited to slide programs and could be used to generate content on the tablet as well. 
         [0021]    Additionally, some embodiments of the tablet stylus  100  may comprise modules and components for wireless proximity detection, a pressure sensitive tip, voice control and voice recording functionality using a microphone, gesture control using an accelerometer  107 , or digital note taking using the stylus tip. Additionally, some embodiments allow over-the-air firmware programming to enable user-defined functions. 
         [0022]      FIG. 2A  shows a front top perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the tablet stylus  200  with presentation interaction functionality in a closed position. The tablet stylus  200  comprises a body having a laser portion  201 , a stylus portion  202 , and a connecting portion  203  ( FIG. 2B ). The connecting portion is not shown in  FIG. 2A  because the tablet stylus is in a closed position. The laser portion and the stylus portion are pushed toward each other such that they appear to be a continuous part of the body of the tablet stylus  200 . However, the laser portion and the stylus portion are slidably coupled to a connecting portion  203  (shown in  FIG. 2B ) such that they can be slid away from each other but still physically coupled to the body of the tablet stylus  200  by the connecting portion  203 . When the laser portion  201  and stylus portion  202  are slid away from each other, the tablet stylus  200  is considered to be in an extended position (shown in  FIGS. 2B-2E ). 
         [0023]      FIG. 2B  shows a front top perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the tablet stylus  200  with presentation interaction functionality in an extended position. The connecting portion  203  comprises a charging port  104  and a charging status indicator  222 . The charging port (i.e. power interface)  104  may be coupled with an external power supply (not shown) to charge the power source  103  or battery of the table stylus  200 . In  FIG. 2B , the charging port  104  is a USB input port. The charging status indicator  222  informs the user of the status of the power source  103 . For example, the charging status indicator  222  may show a green light when the battery is fully charged, a yellow light when the battery is currently charging, and a red light when the charge is not operating correctly or is failing. 
         [0024]    Returning to  FIG. 2A , the tablet stylus body comprises a laser lens  211 , a control pad  212 , and a stylus tip  213 . The stylus tip  213  may be made of silicon or other soft material that will not damage, scratch, smudge the display of an electronic device (not shown). Accordingly, the tablet stylus  200  is designed to be used to write, draw, or direct images on an electronic display. The laser lens  211  may be a hole in the body of the tablet stylus  200  which directs the laser light generated by the laser module to where the user points the laser lens  211 . As such, a concentrated laser can be generated and pointed out the laser lens  211  to direct an audience&#39;s attention to a location as desired by the user. The control pad  212  in  FIG. 2  shows a  4  input rocker button that allows one button to contact at least four separate inputs depending on the side of the rocker button the user applies pressure to. These inputs correspond to a command for the presentation to skip to a next slide, back a slide, engage the laser pointer on the tablet stylus  200 , and stop the presentation, however, any suitable functionality for a presentation may be implemented using the input buttons and the user inputs should not be limited to the discussion above. 
         [0025]      FIG. 2C  shows a front bottom perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the tablet stylus  200  with presentation interaction functionality in an extended position. Many of the features shown in  FIG. 2C  are described above but the power button  214  on the bottom of the tablet stylus  200  allows the user to engage or disengage the power button  214  to turn the tablet stylus  200  functionality on or off. 
         [0026]      FIG. 2D  shows a left front perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the tablet stylus  200  with presentation interaction functionality in an extended position. Finally,  FIG. 2E  shows a right rear perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the tablet stylus  200  with presentation interaction functionality in an extended position. The components and functionality of the tablet stylus  200  has been described in  FIGS. 2A-2C  and  FIGS. 2D-2E  merely provide additional viewpoints of the tablet stylus  200 . 
         [0027]    Embodiments of the present invention provide a number of advantages including the non-obvious benefits of combining multiple separate components including a laser pointer, human interface device (e.g. Bluetooth™) presentation controller, and stylus into a compact device that is more user-friendly, efficient, and interactive than the original individual components. The combination of the stylus and the presentation functionality into a single compact form factor provides miniaturization of the components and provides increased usability and functionality for the user. The combined function of Bluetooth transmitter and stylus control enable the user to perform presentations on a tablet or smartphone with a single device, without the use of a wireless connection dongle, in a thin and compact design. The device is rechargeable so there is no need to replace batteries, and the charging port may be hidden within the body of the handheld apparatus. 
         [0028]    The above description is illustrative and is not restrictive. Many variations of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the disclosure. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined not with reference to the above description, but instead should be determined with reference to the pending claims along with their full scope or equivalents. 
         [0029]    One or more features from any embodiment may be combined with one or more features of any other embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention. 
         [0030]    A recitation of “a”, “an” or “the” is intended to mean “one or more” unless specifically indicated to the contrary.