Claims
- 1. A combined writing instrument and laser pointer unit for creating a visual display on a target, comprising:
a portable, hand-held housing aimable by a user at a target; a laser emitter supported by the housing, for emitting a laser light beam along a path outwardly of the housing towards the target and producing a beam spot on the target; and a writing instrument supported by the housing.
- 2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising an optical element in the housing which is mechanically moved in and out of the path of the emitted laser beam.
- 3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the optical element is a lens which focuses the laser beam at either a short range from the housing or at a substantially greater range.
- 4. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising a detector within the housing operative for detecting at least a portion of light of variable intensity reflected off the coded indicia and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected light intensity.
- 5. An apparatus as defined in claim 4, further comprising a processor for decoding the electrical signal into data represented by the coded indicia and a memory for storing the data within the housing.
- 6. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising a drive supported by the housing for scanning the emitted laser light beam across the target.
- 7. An apparatus as defined in claim 4, further comprising a manually actuatable switch for activating the detector to enable the unit to function as a bar code reader.
- 8. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the writing instrument is a pen.
- 9. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the writing instrument is a stylus for a touch screen of a portable computer.
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/794,782 filed Feb. 13, 1997.
[0002] This application is also related to copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/936,288 filed Sep. 24, 1997.
Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09227245 |
Jan 1999 |
US |
Child |
10043545 |
Jan 2002 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
08794782 |
Feb 1997 |
US |
Child |
09227245 |
Jan 1999 |
US |