Method and apparatus for tracking a hand-held writing instrument with ...

1. A method comprising:

obtaining sensor readings for each of a plurality of predefined positions of a writing instrument

generating a mapping of sensor outputs to writing instrument positions based, at least in part, on the sensor readings at the plurality of predefined positions with respect to a writing surface; and

generating a mapping of possible sensor outputs to possible writing instrument positions comprises determining a polynomial approximation of future writing instrument positions corresponding to future sensor outputs based on sensor outputs at the predetermined positions, wherein the polynomial approximation includes the sensor outputs for each predefined position.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising changing the mapping of possible sensor outputs to possible writing instrument positions to compensate for an angle of a writing surface.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising changing the mapping of possible sensor outputs to possible writing instrument positions based on measurable deviations of a mapped position to a known position.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein changing the mapping of possible sensor outputs to possible writing instrument positions is based on pattern recognition.

5. The method of claim 1, where in the sensors comprise a first accelerometer, a second accelerometer and a third accelerometer, wherein the outputs of the accelerometers are voltages in proportion to the force measured by the respective accelerometer.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensors comprise a first gyroscope, a second gyroscope, and a third gyroscope, wherein the outputs of the gyroscopes are voltages in proportion to angular velocities measured by the respective gyroscopes.

7. A method comprising:

obtaining sensor readings for each of a plurality of predefined positions of a writing instrument with respect to a writing surface; and

generating a mapping of sensor outputs to writing instrument positions based, at least in part, on the sensor readings at the plurality of predefined positions and the elected sensor readings at the plurality of predefined positions with respect to the writing surface, wherein generating a mapping of possible sensor outputs to possible writing instrument positions comprises:

mapping a first voltage output by a first sensor when the writing instrument is in a first predetermined position with respect to the writing surface; and

mapping a second voltage output by a second sensor when the writing instrument is in a second predetermined position with respect to the writing surface; and

mapping sensor output voltages between the first voltage and the second voltage to positions of the writing instrument between the first predetermined position and the second predetermined position.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

mapping a third voltage output by a third sensor when the writing instrument is in a third predetermined position with respect to the writing surface; and

mapping sensor output voltages between the second voltage and the third voltage to positions of the writing instrument between the second predetermined position and the third predetermined position.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the third predetermined position is at a second right angle to the second predetermined position and at a third right angle to the first predetermined position.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the third predetermined position a third accelerometer is substantially perpendicular to gravity.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the first predetermined position is at a first right angle to the second predetermined position.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein the first predetermined position a first accelerometer is substantially perpendicular to gravity.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the second predetermined position a second accelerometer is substantially perpendicular to gravity.

14. A system comprising:

a plurality of accelerometers that generate output voltages in response to accelerations in a corresponding direction; and

a calibration circuit to map the accelerometer output voltages to position data based on accelerometer output voltages when the writing instrument is in a plurality predetermined positions and to generate a mapping of possible sensor outputs to possible writing instrument positions comprises determining a polynomial approximation of future writing instrument positions corresponding to future sensor outputs based on sensor outputs at the predetermined positions, wherein the polynomial approximation includes the sensor outputs for each predefined position.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of accelerometers comprise:

a first accelerometer that outputs a first voltage when the writing instrument is in a first predetermined position and a second voltage when the writing instrument is in a second predetermined position; and

a second accelerometer that outputs a third voltage when the writing instrument is in the first predetermined position and a fourth voltage when the writing instrument is in the second predetermined position;

wherein the calibration circuit maps the first voltage and the third voltage to the first predetermined position and maps the second voltage and the fourth voltage to the second predetermined position, further wherein the calibration circuit maps voltages between the first voltage and second voltage and voltages between the third voltage and the fourth voltage to positions of the writing instrument between the first predetermined position and the second predetermined position.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the first predetermined position is at a first right angle with respect to the second predetermined position.

17. The system of claim 15 further comprising:

a third accelerometer that outputs a fifth voltage when the writing instrument is in the first predetermined position and a sixth voltage when the writing instrument is in the second predetermined position, and wherein the calibration circuit maps the fifth voltage to the first predetermined position and the sixth voltage to the second predetermined position, and further wherein the calibration circuit maps voltages between the fifth voltage and the sixth voltage to positions between the first predetermined position and the second predetermined position.