Pre-assembled part with an associated surface convertible to a transcription apparatus

1. A method of converting a pre-assembled part for use as an electronic transcription apparatus that uses a set of sensors to determine the location of a pointing device that transmits, the method comprising:

upgrading the pre-assembled part to cause the pre-assembled part to be configured as the electronic transcription apparatus having at least one transcription capability, the pre-assembled part including built-in components including built-in electronics, and having associated therewith a surface or a frame for a surface,

wherein the upgrading includes a user adding at least one external module, the adding of one or more particular external modules causing the pre-assembled apparatus to be configured, using the built-in components and the one or more particular external modules, as an electronic transcription apparatus having at least one particular set of transcription capabilities including the capability that when a pointing device that includes at least one transmitter of energy transmits energy, the transmitted energy is sensed at least some of the set of sensors, and the sensed energy is used to determine the position of the pointing device on or near the surface,

wherein either the pre-assembled part or the external module includes a plurality of sensors,

wherein the built-in components include one or more identifiable characteristics, and connecting to an external module includes automatically identifying a particular set of one or more of the identifiable characteristics, such that when connected to the external module, the identified one or more identifiable characteristics cause a particular set of one or more of the capabilities of the resulting transcription apparatus to be automatically defined from a plurality of possible sets of capabilities,

wherein the at least one external module includes at least one of: at least one of the sensors; a video component; an audio component; a component to match a built-in RFID component; a USB connector; a network component; a component with a processor storage with software in the storage; a projector; a small display; one or more interaction elements to provide a user interface; one or more input devices; one or more environmental sensors; and a stylus, and

wherein the particular set of one or more of the identifiable characteristics include at least one of: the number and nature of the sensors, whether the built-in or the external module has the plurality of sensors, whether or not a projection surface, one or more identifiable characteristics of a connector; identifiable wireless connection characteristics of components for a wireless connection to an external module; RFID component to provide an identifiable connection using RFID; at least one of data encryption and a unique key; one or more authorization characteristics.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the built-in components include a connector that has one or more identifiable characteristics and configured to match any of a plurality of matching connectors of a respective plurality of external modules, such that a particular matching connector connected to the connector having the one or more identifiable characteristics causes the particular set of one or more capabilities to be automatically defined from the plurality of possible sets of capabilities.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the built-in components include components for a wireless connection to an external module using an identifiable wireless connection that is configured to define one or more sets of the plurality of possible sets of capabilities of the resulting transcription apparatus, such that the particular set of one or more of the capabilities are defined as a result of wireless connection.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the identifying a particular set of the identifiable characteristics uses data encryption and/or a unique key of a plurality of possible data encryption and/or keys, such that a particular data encryption and/or a particular unique key matches the pre-assembled part to an external module to define the particular set of one or more capabilities of the resulting transcription apparatus from the plurality of possible sets of capabilities.

5. An apparatus configured for upgrading to an electronic transcription apparatus that uses a set of sensors to determine the location of a pointing device that transmits, the apparatus comprising:

a pre-assembled part having associated therewith a surface or a frame for a surface, the pre-assembled part including built in components including electronic components,

wherein either the pre-assembled part or the external module includes a plurality of sensors,

wherein the pre-assembled part is configured such that a user's upgrading the pre-assembled part causes the pre-assembled part to be configured as an electronic transcription apparatus having at least one transcription capability, the upgrading including a user adding at least one external module, the adding of one or more particular external modules causing the pre-assembled part to be configured as an electronic transcription apparatus having at least one particular set of transcription capabilities including the capability that when a pointing device that includes at least one transmitter of energy transmits energy, the transmitted energy is sensed by the plurality of sensors, and the sensed energy is used to determine the position of the pointing device on or near the surface,

wherein the built-in components include one or more identifiable characteristics, and connecting to an external module includes automatically identifying a particular set of one or more of the identifiable characteristics, such that when connected to the external module, the identified one or more identifiable characteristics cause a particular set of one or more of the capabilities of the resulting transcription apparatus to be automatically defined from a plurality of possible sets of capabilities,

wherein the at least one external module includes at least one of: at least one of the sensors; a video component; an audio component; a component to match a built-in RFID component; a USB connector; a network component; a component with a processor storage with software in the storage; a projector; a small display; one or more interaction elements to provide a user interface; one or more input devices; one or more environmental sensors; and a stylus, and

wherein the particular set of one or more of the identifiable characteristics include at least one of: the number and nature of the sensors, whether the built-in or the external module has the plurality of sensors, whether or not a projection surface, one or more identifiable characteristics of a connector; identifiable wireless connection characteristics of components for a wireless connection to an external module; RFID component to provide an identifiable connection using RFID; at least one of data encryption and a unique key; one or more authorization characteristics.

6. An apparatus as recited in claim 5 , wherein the sensors include at least two acoustic sensors pre-assembled to be at pre-defined positions and a sensor of electromagnetic energy.

7. An apparatus as recited in claim 6 ,

wherein the preassembled part includes a pre-assembled board having the surface or a frame for the surface, and

wherein the acoustic sensors include ultrasound transducers configured to work together with sound focusing elements on the surface, the ultrasound transducers being pre-mounted on a circuit assembly, the board including apertures through which the transducers protrude to extend to or beyond the front surface of the board or frame when the circuit assembly is pre-assembled in the board or frame, and

wherein each sound focusing elements each has a shaped surface such that ultrasound waves emitted from a transmitting pointing device are directed to the respective ultrasound transducer in the respective aperture.

8. An apparatus as recited in claim 6 ,

wherein the preassembled part includes a pre-assembled board having the surface or a frame for the surface, and

wherein the acoustic sensors include sound transducers positioned at or close to the front surface of the board, each sound transducer configured such that focusing elements are not required when the transducers are so positioned at or close to the front surface.

9. An apparatus as recited in claim 8 , wherein the sound transducers include transducers selected from the set consisting of piezoelectric film transducers, MEMS microphones, and electret microphones.

10. An apparatus as recited in claim 8 ,

wherein the acoustic sensors are spring-loaded, such that the transducers protrude from front surface 14 when the electronic transcription is desired to be used, and may be retracted when use of the electronic transcription apparatus is not desired.

11. An apparatus as recited in claim 6 , wherein the sensor of electromagnetic energy is configured for communication with a remote control device that includes a transmitter of the electromagnetic energy.

12. An apparatus as recited in claim 5 , wherein identifying the identifiable characteristics uses data encryption and/or a unique key of a plurality of possible data encryption and/or keys, such that a particular data encryption and/or a particular unique key matches the pre-assembled part to an external module to automatically define the particular set of one or more capabilities of the resulting transcription apparatus from the plurality of possible sets of capabilities.

13. An apparatus as recited in claim 5 , wherein the built-in components include a connector that has one or more identifiable characteristics and configured to match any of a plurality of matching connectors of a respective plurality of external modules, such that a particular matching connector connected to the connector having the one or more identifiable characteristics causes the particular set of one or more capabilities to be automatically defined from the plurality of possible sets of capabilities.

14. An apparatus as recited in claim 5 , wherein the built-in components include components for a wireless connection to an external module using an identifiable wireless connection that is configured to define one or more sets of the plurality of possible sets of capabilities of the resulting transcription apparatus, such that the particular set of one or more capabilities are automatically defined as a result of wireless connection.

15. An apparatus as recited in claim 14 , wherein the built-in components include an RFID component to provide an identifiable connection to the external module using RFID.

16. An apparatus as recited in claim 5 , wherein the built-in components include components usable to provide communication capacities, including networking capabilities.

17. An apparatus as recited in claim 5 , wherein the pre-assembled part includes a projector and wherein the associated surface is the surface onto which the projector is configured to display the image.

18. An apparatus as recited in claim 17 , wherein the projector includes the plurality of sensors built-in, the built in sensors coupled to at least some of the electronic components.

19. An apparatus as recited in claim 17 , where each external module includes the plurality of sensors.

20. An apparatus as recited in claim 17 , further comprising an interactivity connection hub with a connection port close to the surface to enable connection of other devices or peripherals to the apparatus.

21. An apparatus as recited in claim 20 , wherein the interactivity connection hub is a USB hub.

22. An apparatus as recited in claim 5 , wherein the pre-assembled part includes the plurality of sensors built-in, the built in sensors being coupled to at least some of the electronic components, and wherein the built-in components include an analog-to-digital conversion device configured to convert the output of the sensors to digital data and to sends the data to the external module for processing when the external module is connected to the pre-assembled part.

23. An apparatus as recited in claim 5 , wherein the built-in components include one or more sensors for wireless communication configured to communicate with a remote control device that includes a wireless transmitter.

24. An apparatus as recited in claim 23 , where multiple remote devices can be used for input to the apparatus at one time.

25. An apparatus as recited in claim 5 , wherein the built-in components when combined with an external module are inoperative until an activation method or device is used to activate or enable the electronic transcription apparatus.

26. An apparatus as recited in claim 5 , wherein the built-in components include one or more sensors for detecting environmental information.

27. An apparatus as recited in claim 5 , wherein the built-in components include a temperature sensor, and wherein the apparatus when upgraded to be configured as an electronic transcription apparatus is configured to cause a calibration method to be carried out using an indication of temperature obtained from the temperature sensor.

28. An apparatus as recited in claim 5 , wherein the external module includes a battery charger for wireless peripherals used for the electronic transcription apparatus.

29. An apparatus as recited in claim 5 , wherein the external module includes a display and/or one or more interaction elements to provide a user interface function to a user.

30. An apparatus as recited in claim 5 , wherein the external module is programmable and configurable to be operational for one or more of a limited period of time and/or limited capabilities.

31. An apparatus as recited in claim 5 , wherein the external module defines the mode of operation of the combination of the pre-assembled part with the external module.

32. An apparatus as recited in claim 31 , wherein the mode of operation is as a projection apparatus, a transcription apparatus, or a mixed projection and transcription apparatus.

33. An apparatus as recited in claim 5 ,

wherein the preassembled part includes a pre-assembled board having the surface or a frame for the surface, and

wherein the combination of the board or frame and a connected external module can work in mixed transcription and projection mode and the division of the board between transcription and projection surface is defined by a mechanical divider that is configured to provide information indicative of its location to the external module.

34. An apparatus as recited in claim 5 ,

wherein the preassembled part includes a pre-assembled board having the surface or a frame for the surface, and

wherein the built-in components include a sensor for the orientation of the transcription apparatus, such that when the board or frame is upgraded, the transcription apparatus is provided with an indication of whether the board or frame is perpendicular or horizontal.

35. An apparatus as recited in claim 5 ,

wherein the preassembled part includes a pre-assembled board having the surface or a frame for the surface, and

wherein the built-in components include a plurality of sets of sensors that can cover a larger area than is coverable by a single set of sensors, and wherein the active size of the board is defined by the type of external module connected to it.

36. An apparatus as recited in claim 5 ,

wherein the preassembled part includes a pre-assembled board having the surface or a frame for the surface, and

wherein the built-in components include a plurality of sets of sensors that can cover a larger area than is coverable by a single set of sensors, and wherein the active size of the board is defined by the type of external module connected to it.