Patent Publication Number: US-2022219483-A1

Title: Multifunction writing instrument

Description:
CROSS REFENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application is a National Stage Application of International Application No. PCT/EP2020/060306, filed on Apr. 10, 2020, now published as WO2020212277 and which claims benefit from European patent application 
     EP19305494.7 filed on 16 Apr. 2019, the entire contents of which being incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a multifunction writing instrument. A multifunction writing instrument is a writing instrument comprising a plurality of writing elements, each writing element being selectively usable. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Traditional writing instruments (i.e. writing instruments having ink/lead) may be used with digital slates in order to digitalize writing/drawing. However, when a multifunction writing instrument is used, it is not possible to detect whether the user changes the writing element used, for example different color inks. Such a change cannot be taken into account during digitalization. Therefore a need exists to improve the digitalization of multifunction writing instrument use. 
     SUMMARY 
     An embodiment relates to a multifunction writing instrument comprising a body extending along an axial direction and receiving at least two retractable writing elements, each retractable writing element comprising a writing tip, a reservoir and a button, each retractable writing element being movable between a writing position in which the writing tip extends from the body and a retracted position in which the writing tip is retracted within the body, and an electronic unit configured to detect which retractable writing element is in the writing position. 
     In the following and unless otherwise indicated, “writing instrument” is used for “multifunction writing instrument” and “writing element” is used for “retractable writing element”. 
     The axial direction corresponds to the axis of the body. In the present disclosure, a retractable writing element is formed by any retractable set comprising a writing point or tip, a reservoir and a button. The writing point may be a felt tip, a ballpoint tip, a mechanical pencil, a graphite pencil lead, chalk, or any other means making it possible to write on a substrate. The reservoir may be provided with ink or with one or several leads. The writing elements may be retractable by any mechanism known by the skilled person. The button of each writing element permits the actuation of the writing element in order to move the writing element from the retracted position to the writing position. The button may be used in order to move the writing element from the writing position to the retracted position. For example, a writing element in the writing element may automatically move to its retracted position when another writing element is moved from its retracted position to its writing position. Only one writing element may be in the writing position at a time. 
     The electronic unit may be active or passive (i.e. provided with an electric power unit such as a battery or not). The writing instrument may comprise a single electronic unit. The electronic unit may comprise several independent sub-units and a shared common main unit. The electronic unit is configured to detect which retractable writing element is in the writing position. Thus, the electronic unit may be used in order to automatically indicate to a digital slate which writing element is used and improve the friendliness of the writing instrument. 
     In some embodiments, the electronic unit may comprise the same number of switches as retractable writing elements, each retractable writing element being associated (or configured to interact) with a switch. 
     Each retractable writing element may be associated with a single switch. By associating each writing element to a switch, the movement of the writing element from its retracted position to its writing position may be reliably detected and thus improves the ease of use of the writing instrument. 
     In some embodiments, the electronic unit may comprise the same number of chips as retractable writing elements, each retractable writing element comprising one of the chips. 
     The button of each retractable writing element may comprise a chip. By providing a chip to each writing element, the movement of the writing element from its retracted position to its writing position may be reliably detected and thus improves the ease of use of the writing instrument. 
     In some embodiments, the electronic unit may comprise a wireless communication system configured to communicate with an outer device. 
     For example, the wireless communication system may be a Near Field Communication (NFC) system, a Bluetooth system, a Wi-Fi system, a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system, etc. Such a system allows automatic communication between the writing instrument and a digital slate and thus improves the ease of use. 
     In some embodiments, the chip of a retractable writing element may be electrically connected to the wireless communication system when the retractable writing element is in the writing position while the chip of a retractable writing element is electrically disconnected from wireless communication system when the retractable writing element is in the retracted position. 
     Such a configuration is cost effective, reliable and permits to save space within the writing instrument. For example, the wireless communication system may comprise some electrical contacts, for example two electrical contacts, while each retractable writing element comprises complementary electrical contacts. When a retractable writing element is in the writing position, the complementary contacts may be electrically connected with the respective contacts of the wireless communication system. Thus, in this position, the chip may be connected with the wireless communication system. When the retractable writing element is in the retracted position the complementary contacts may be electrically disconnected from the respective contacts of the wireless communication system. Thus, in this position, the chip may be disconnected from the wireless communication system. When a retractable writing element is in the writing position, a closed electrical circuit may be formed while an open electrical circuit is formed when the retractable writing element is in the retracted position. For example, the chip are different, each chip having a unique ID, and forms a unique passive RFID tag when the writing element is in the writing position. 
     In some embodiments, the multifunction writing instrument may comprise a rear part accommodating the buttons and a front part accommodating the writing tips, wherein the wireless communication system comprises an antenna placed within the front part. 
     For example the writing instrument may comprise a front barrel as a front part and a rear barrel as a rear barrel. Placing the antenna in the front part provides a space for the retraction mechanism in the rear part of the writing elements. Placing the antenna in the front part improves the wireless communication quality, the antenna being closer to an associated outer receiver, e.g. a receiver included within a digital slate. 
     In some embodiments, the multifunction writing instrument may comprise a device configured to be detected by a space detection system. 
     Some digital slates need a dedicated device to be provided to the writing instrument in order to digitalize the writing/drawing. The device may by unitary or integrated with the rest of the writing instrument, or may form a distinct element which is mountable onto the writing instrument. Such a device improves the ease of use. 
     In some embodiments, the device may be a magnet ring. 
     For example, the magnetic ring may be integrated within the front part of the writing instrument. Such a device is cost effective and reliable. 
     An embodiment relates to a set comprising a digital slate comprising a space detection system configured to detect the space position of a writing instrument and a multifunction writing instrument according to any one of the embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     In some embodiments, the digital slate may comprise a system for identifying which retractable writing element of the multifunction writing instrument is in the writing position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure can be better understood by reading the detailed description of various embodiments given as non-limiting examples. The description refers to the accompanying sheets of figures, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a multifunction writing instrument according to a first embodiment, 
         FIG. 2  shows a set comprising a digital slate and the multifunction writing instrument, and 
         FIG. 3  shows a multifunction writing instrument according to a second embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILLED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a multifunction writing instrument  10  according to a first embodiment. The multifunction writing instrument  10  comprises a body  12  receiving a plurality of retractable writing elements  14 , in this example four writing elements  14  is used however any appropriate number of writing elements may be used. It is noted that the inner elements of the writing instruments are shown in  FIG. 1  by transparency, however the body may not be transparent. 
     The body  12  extends along an axial direction X and may comprise a front barrel  12 A as a front part and a rear barrel  12 B as a rear part. The body  12  presents a first end  12 - 1 , or front end, and a second end  12 - 2 , or rear end, opposite to the first end  12 - 1  along the axial direction X. In this example, the front barrel  12 A has the first end  12 - 1  while the rear barrel  12 B has the second end  12 - 2 . The first end  12 - 1  is provided with a through hole  12 -A 1  for the passage of the writing point  14 A of the writing elements  14 . 
     Each retractable writing element  14  comprises a writing point  14 A, a reservoir  14 B and a button  14 C. In this example, the writing points  14 A may be ball points while the reservoir  14 B may be filed with ink. The inks of the different reservoirs  14 B may be of different colours. In other words, each of the writing elements  14  may be configured to write with a different colour. The buttons  14 C are disposed within the rear barrel  12 B while the front barrel  12 A accommodates the writing tips  14 A (in their retracted position). The reservoirs  14 B extend between the button  14 B and the writing tips  14 A, and are accommodated in both the front barrel  12 A and the rear barrel  12 B. 
     The writing elements  14  are movable between a writing position in which the writing tip  14 A extends from the body  12  and a retracted position in which the writing tip  14 A is retracted within the body  12 . In  FIG. 1 , one writing element  14  is in the writing position while all the other writing elements  14  are in the retracted position. The retraction mechanism of each writing element  14  is well known by the skilled person and is not described in detail. It is noted that the retraction mechanism may comprise a compression spring  13 . 
     The writing instrument  10  is provided with a single electronic unit  16 . In this example, the electronic unit  16  may comprise an integrated circuit  16 A, four switches  16 B and a wireless communication system  16 C, in this example a Near Field Communication (NFC) system, which comprises an antenna  16 C 1 . 
     The electronic unit  16  is configured to detect which retractable writing element  14  is in the writing position. In this example, the electronic unit  16  comprises as many switches  16 B as writing elements  14 . In this example, each button  14 C may be associated with a switch  16 B. Each button  14 C may be coupled to a switch  16 B, for example via the compression spring  13  of its retraction mechanism. For example, the switch  16 B may be a pressure sensitive switch which is turned on when a pressure higher or equal to a predetermined pressure is applied thereto and which is turned off when a pressure lower than the predetermined pressure is applied thereto. The antenna  16 C 1  is disposed within the front barrel  12 A. 
     The writing instrument  10  is provided with a device  18  configured to be detected by a space detection system. In this example, the device  18  may be a magnet ring. In this example, the magnet ring  18  may be accommodated within the front barrel  12 A 
     In this example both the antenna  16 C 1  and the magnet ring  18  have an annular shape, of axis X. They may be disposed co-axially within the front barrel  12 A. The antenna  16 C 1  is closer to the first end  12 - 1  than the magnet ring  18 . 
     In this example, when a button  14 C of a writing element  14  is actuated in order to place the writing element in the writing position, the button  14 C actuates the switch  16 B connected thereto. The actuation of the switch is detected by the electronic unit  16 , which then sends a signal  30  via the antenna  16 C 1  to indicate which writing element  14  is in the writing position. 
     For example, in a set  100  shown in  FIG. 2  comprising the writing instrument  10  and a digital slate  50 , the signal sent via the antenna  16 C may be received and processed by a digital slate  50 . In this example, the slate  50  may comprise a space detection system  52  which is configured to detect the position of the device  18  and a system  54  for identifying which writing element  14  is in the writing position. Such a space detection system  52  is known by the skilled person and is not described in detail. The system  54  may be a Near Field Communication (NFC) system configured to receive the signal  30  sent by the writing instrument  10 . The slate  50  is then able to digitalise the colour of writing/drawing which is written/drawn onto the slate  50  (or onto a sheet of paper placed onto the slate  50 ), for example, as shown in  FIG. 2  wherein the slate  50  is connected to a computer  80  (which is not part of the set  100 ), the computer  80  displays the writing/drawing with the appropriate colours which has been digitalized by the slate  50 . 
       FIG. 3  shows a multifunction writing instrument  20  according to a second embodiment. The multifunction writing instrument  20  of the second embodiment is similar to the multifunction writing instrument  10  of the first embodiment, except the electronic unit. 
     In the example of the second embodiment, the electronic unit  26  may comprise different chips  26 A and a wireless communication system  26 B, in this example a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system, which comprises an antenna  2661 . In this example, the electronic unit  26  comprises as many chips  26 A as writing elements  14 . The chips  26 A form independent sub-units while antenna  26 B 1  forms a shared common main unit. 
     In this example, each chip  26 A is embedded within a button  14 C. The antenna  26 B 1  comprises electrical contacts  27 A, in this example two electrical contacts  27 A. Complementary electrical contacts  27 B, in this example two complementary electrical contacts  27 B, are provided at the surface to each button  14 C, in order to electrically connect the antenna  26 B 1  with the chip  26 A embedded within a button  14 C when the associated writing element  14  is in the writing position. When say writing element  14  is in the retracted position, the complementary contacts  27 B are distant from the contact  27 A, and the chip  26 A is thus electrically disconnected from the antenna  2661 . The electrical contacts  27 A may have an annular shape. Due to this annular shape, the antenna  26 B 1  may have only two contacts  27 A, these contacts being configured to electrically connect the respective complementary contact  27 B of any of the writing elements  14 . 
     The set  100  shown in  FIG. 2  may comprise the writing instrument  10  of the first embodiment or the writing instrument  20  of the second embodiment. 
     Although the present disclosure is described with reference to specific examples, it is to be understood that these examples are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present disclosure. In particular, individual characteristics of the various embodiments shown and/or mentioned may be combined in additional embodiments. Consequently, the description and the drawings should be considered in a sense that is illustrative rather than restrictive. 
     Additionally, all of the disclosed features of an apparatus may be transposed, alone or in combination, to a method and vice versa. 
     It is intended that the specification and the examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope of the invention being indicated by the following claims.