Abstract:
A multifunctional light beam pointer includes a case that houses a memory, a data transmission interface, a memory controller, and a laser light source. The memory controller is coupled to the memory and the data transmission interface for transferring data through the data transmission interface for storage in the memory. The laser light source emits a laser beam from the pointer.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a light beam pointer, and in particular, to a multifunctional light beam pointer that integrates a laser pointer with a data storage circuit.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0004]     Laser pointers are commonly used as aids in teaching or making presentations. Since a laser beam has the characteristic of parallel transmission and its illumination does not decrease drastically over transmission distance, people have widely used laser beams emitted from laser pointers to point at objects on a line or on a monitor for teaching or presentation purposes. Instructors or presenters can therefore move around a room without being restricted to the positions of objects or monitors.  
         [0005]     To facilitate the ease of transportation and to increase variety in use, a number of laser pointers have been provided with different functions and appearances. As a non-limiting example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,617,304 discloses a ballpoint pen integrated with a laser pointer, which, apart from the ease of transportation, can also be used as a pen for writing.  
         [0006]     With recent advances in computer technology, the digitalization of information has become an inevitable consequence. Nowadays, most presentations are made using computer equipment and digitally-stored information. Thus, there is a need to enhance the resources available for presentation and teaching applications.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     It is an object of the present invention to enhance the resources available for teaching and presentation purposes.  
         [0008]     It is another object of the present invention to provide a multifunctional light beam pointer which integrates a memory capable of storing digital information into an easily transportable laser pointer.  
         [0009]     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a multifunctional light beam pointer having a data transmission interface to access data so as to facilitate the users&#39; ease in storing and retrieving data.  
         [0010]     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a multifunctional light beam pointer which is capable of using the power provided by the data transmission interface to charge a rechargeable battery in the pointer.  
         [0011]     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a multifunctional light beam pointer having refills for writing or operating a personal digital assistant (PDA).  
         [0012]     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a multifunctional light beam pointer having a white light-emitting diode (LED) to provide lighting for users.  
         [0013]     In order to accomplish the objects of the present invention, the present invention provides a multifunctional light beam pointer. In one embodiment of the present invention, the multifunctional light beam pointer includes a case that houses a memory, a data transmission interface, a memory controller, and a laser light source. The memory controller is coupled to the memory and the data transmission interface for transferring data through the data transmission interface for storage in the memory. The laser light source emits a laser beam from the pointer.  
         [0014]     According to another embodiment of the present invention, the multifunctional light beam pointer has a case which houses a memory, a data transmission interface, a memory controller, a light source, a rechargeable battery, and a charging circuit. The memory controller is coupled to the memory and the data transmission interface for transferring data through the data transmission interface for storage in the memory. The light source generates a light. The rechargeable battery is coupled to the light source. The charging circuit is coupled to the battery, and connected with an external power through the data transmission interface to charge the battery. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a multifunctional light beam pointer in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the pointer of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view showing the upper and lower barrels of the pointer of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is a schematic block circuit diagram of the circuit board in  FIG. 2 .  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0019]     The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.  
         [0020]      FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate a multifunctional light beam pointer  100  according to one embodiment of the present invention, which includes an upper barrel  110 , a circuit board  120  arranged inside the upper barrel  110 , a lower barrel  130 , and a clamping element  140  arranged at the upper end  131  of the lower barrel  130 . The upper barrel  110  and the lower barrel  130  form a case for the pointer  100 . A touch refill  150  (which is capable of operating a PDA) and/or a writing refill (not shown) can be retained inside the lower barrel  130 . A conventional rotation-driven mechanism (not shown) can be provided at the upper end  131  of the lower barrel  130  to enable a user to selectively push the touch refill  150  or the writing refill out of the lower end  132  of the lower barrel  130  for operating a PDA or for writing.  
         [0021]     The circuit board  120  is secured inside the upper barrel  110  by a fixing part  121 . The clamping element  140  is secured in the upper end  131  of the lower barrel  130  by a press fit. Other conventional securing mechanisms (e.g., screws, snap-fits, etc.) can also be used for securing the fixing part  121  and the upper barrel  110 , and for securing the clamping element  140  and the lower barrel  130 .  FIG. 3  illustrates the assembled lower barrel  130  and the assembled upper barrel  110 .  
         [0022]     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , when the circuit board  120  is secured on the upper barrel  110  by the fixing part  121 , the USB interface  123  that is connected with the circuit board  120  will protrude out of the bottom end of the upper barrel  110 . In addition, the clamping element  140  is retained completely inside the upper end  131  of the lower barrel  130 . Consequently, when the upper barrel  110  is connected to the lower barrel  130 , the USB interface  123  can be secured to a clamping clip  141  provided on the clamping element  140 , thereby preventing the USB interface  123  from being detached from the pointer  100 .  
         [0023]      FIG. 4  is the schematic block circuit diagram of the circuit board  120 . The Vcc, D+, D−, and GND (Ground) pins of the USB interface  123  are coupled to a memory controller  410 , which is in turn coupled to a memory  420 . The Vcc and GND pins of the USB interface  123  are also coupled to a charging circuit  430  to provide power to the charging circuit  430  for charging a rechargeable battery  440 . The rechargeable battery  440  is coupled to a laser light source  470  and a white light-emitting-diode  480  by push-button switches  450  and  460 , respectively (see also  FIG. 2 ), which can be used to control the light beams produced by the laser light source  470  and the white light-emitting-diode  480 , respectively.  
         [0024]     When a user wishes to download data (e.g., for use in a presentation) into the memory  420 , the upper barrel  110  can be pulled out from the lower barrel  130  and the USB interface  123  can be inserted into the USB port of a first personal computer. Consequently, the data stored in the first personal computer can be transferred and saved in the memory  420  through the control of the memory controller  410 . When the user arrives at the location of the presentation, he or she can, with a similar connection of the memory  420  with the USB port of a second personal computer, transfer the data stored in the memory  420  to the second personal computer through the control of the memory controller  410 , so that the data can now be used for the presentation (in connection with the second personal computer).  
         [0025]     During a presentation, the push-button switch  450  can be pressed to supply the laser light source  470  with power from the rechargeable battery  440 , so that the laser light source  470  will produce a laser beam from the light exit window  111  of the upper barrel  110  for use in directing the audience to an intended target on a screen or monitor. Alternatively, when the user wishes to view documents or other materials during the presentation in a dark room where the lights have been turned off, the user can press the push-button  460  to supply the white light-emitting-diode  480  with power from the rechargeable battery  440 , thereby causing the white light-emitting-diode  480  to emit a white light as a light source for reading the documents or other materials. Both push buttons  450 ,  460  can be turned on at the same time to have the white light-emitting-diode  480  and the laser light source  470  operating at the same time.  
         [0026]     When a user wishes to charge the rechargeable battery  440 , the upper barrel  110  can be pulled out from the lower barrel  130  and the USB interface  123  can be inserted into the USB port of a personal computer. The power from the personal computer can be transferred over the USB interface  123  to recharge the rechargeable battery  440 .  
         [0027]     Preferred embodiments of the memory  420  and the memory controller  410  can include a flash memory and a flash memory controller, respectively. The laser light source  470  can be embodied in the form of a laser module that is capable of producing approximately parallel beams. The rechargeable battery  440  can also be replaced with a conventional (non-rechargeable) battery to reduce the cost of the charging circuit  430 . In addition, although the present invention illustrates the pointer  100  as being provided with a touch refill  150 , a writing refill, and a rotation-driven mechanism, it is also possible to omit these components and provide the lower barrel  130  with a simpler construction.  
         [0028]     While the description above refers to particular embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.