The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 08, 2003
Filed:
Jun. 18, 2001
Beng Tiek Yap, Singapore, SG;
Hewlett-Packard Company, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and a method for locking and removing a pen using electromagnetism are provided. The apparatus includes a pen housing, a DC source, a coil, a first magnetic element attached to the pen, a second magnetic element and a switch. In some embodiments, a third magnetic element is included. To remove the pen from the pen housing, a user activates a button to magnetize one of the magnetic elements to mutually repel the other. Consequently, the pen is displaced by the repulsion of either the pen from its housing or the pen housing carrying the pen. The pen thus has a protruding end which the user grips to remove the pen from the housing. To lock the pen, the pen is inserted into the housing to be mutually attracted with a magnetic element to be retracted to a locked position.