Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to reduce power consumption caused by controlling circuit in transmitting/receiving process between tablet system and cord less-battery less pointer apparatus. The present invention provides multi-channel switches set produced in semi-conductor process to replace traditional analog switch and tri-state element used in prior art as signal transmitting/receiving selector of inductive loops of tablet, which can simplify controlling circuit, enhance power efficiency of signal transmitting/receiving between tablet system and cord less and cell less pointer apparatus, and increase speed of response of signal transmitting/receiving between tablet and cord less-battery less pointer apparatus.

Abstract: A glass touch sensing circuit which is capable of accurately detecting a sense signal resulting from a user's touch under no influence of variations in temperature. The glass touch sensing circuit is adapted to compare the level of an output signal from a switching device, which indicates whether the user touches a touch sensor, with that of a reference signal and convert the output signal from the switching device into a wave-shaped signal in accordance with the compared result. The present glass touch sensing circuit is further adapted to determine the level of the reference signal for compensation for a variation in the output signal from the switching device with temperature. Therefore, the glass touch sensing circuit can be employed in a human body touch-based key input sensing system to provide a constant performance irrespective of a variation in temperature so as to sense a key input based on a touching operation.

Abstract: The system with cordless pressure-sensitivity and electromagnetic-induction of the present invention comprises the first wireless apparatus and the second wireless apparatus. The first wireless apparatus comprises the first sub-circuit for emitting and receiving an electromagnetic wave with a specific frequency, and the second wireless apparatus comprises the second sub-circuit for emitting and receiving an electromagnetic wave with a specific frequency. The first sub-circuit comprises: an inductance coil, a rectifier that is coupled with the inductance coil and a charge sub-circuit. The second sub-circuit comprises: a sub-circuit for generating a specific frequency that is coupled with the control sub-circuit and a two-way gate control sub-circuit.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention an apparatus is provided for remotely controlling a digital processing system, comprising a housing, a scrolling detector, a cursor positioning detector, and a transmitter. The housing has a wall having an outer scrolling surface over which a finger of a person's hand is movable in a scrolling movement. The scrolling detector is located within the housing. The scrolling detector detects the scrolling movement remotely through the wall and generates a scrolling signal. The cursor positioning detector is secured to the housing and is actuable by the hand to generate a position signal. The transmitter transmits the scrolling signal and the position signal to the digital processing system.

Abstract: A position detector includes a position indicator. Transmission/reception of electromagnetic waves relative to the position indicator is performed at least twice while the same loop coil is being selected. With a counter circuit and a switch circuit, a phase difference less than or equal to one cycle of a resonant frequency fO is added to a signal in each transmission/reception. The phase of a reception signal generated at the loop coil is adjusted, and the phase-adjusted signal is used as a detection clock by a synchronous detector circuit to perform synchronous detection. By computing the average or the sum of the results, external noise in the reception signals is cancelled out.

Abstract: In an input pen having a pen-shaped casing, a ferrite core with a coil wound thereon and a ferrite chip are placed opposed to each other via an O-ring. The ferrite chip has a projection. When the input pen is operated, the projection and the ferrite core are moved closer together. When the ferrite chip is moved closer to the ferrite core during operation, the projection is placed substantially close to the ferrite core. Therefore, high responsivity is ensured without moving the ferrite chip into the coil, and there is no need to form an opening or a cavity in the ferrite core.

Abstract: When a voltage difference diff of a vertex (maximum value) of a standard Position Resolving Table (PRT) is Dps, the voltage difference diff of a vertex (maximum value) of a tilted PRT is Dp, an amount of shift of the vertex in a horizontal direction is &Dgr;S, and a half of a coil placement pitch is Ls/2, a ratio of Dps to Dp (Gain) is equal to Dps/Dp (Gain=Dps/Dp). A value showing a proportion of a displacement of the vertex of the titled PRT with respect to the vertex of the standard PRT and the range of Ls/2 (Slide) is equal to &Dgr;S/(Ls/2). Therefore, a positional error due to a tilt of a stylus or a change in a battery voltage can be corrected.

Abstract: A nib for a stylus for use with a tablet and stylus computer. The nib provides a desired amount of firmness and friction between the stylus and a writing surface of the tablet and stylus computer. A nib substrate material approximates a desired nib-and-writing-surface firmness and a desired amount of friction between the nib and the writing surface. A secondary material is optionally added to the nib substrate material to alter the amount of friction between the stylus nib and the writing surface.

Abstract: The present invention allows a user to draw a closed periphery around an amount of information on the display of a pen-based computer system. The periphery information is transmitted to the computer system by a digitizing tablet. When received by the computer system, the computer system divides the area enclosed by the periphery into a number of lines. The computer system then processes each of these lines and determines the information to erase on a given line.

Abstract: A piezoelectric transducer is provided, in which a piezoelectric shell has conductive layers on the outside and inside of the shell, which are adapted to be connected to a signal input source. When the conductive layers are activated, the piezoelectric layer resonates to produce an output signal waveform from the shell structure. An alternative embodiment includes a flat piezoelectric layer with opposing conductive layers, which is then formed into a shell structure. In preferred embodiments, an inner spool is located within the shell structure, which acts to increase the output sound pressure level for the transducer. To increase the sound pressure level further, the inner spool preferably includes a recessed area, which defines a void between the inner conductive layer on the shell and the recessed area. The void acts to increase the characteristic output sound pressure level for the transducer.

Abstract: A device has a light-receiving element for receiving light coming from a pointing tool, and a plurality of linear sensors for sensing a beam spot. A controller discriminates if a first signal output from the light-receiving element and a second signal output from the linear sensors are synchronized. A coordinate computation unit outputs a coordinate value corresponding to the beam spot on the basis of the discrimination result.

Abstract: A pen cylinder has at its front end a front input member made of a synthetic resin and at its rear end a rear input member made of a soft elastic material such as rubber. When performing an input operation onto a hard panel or an input operation of fine letters, an accurate input is achieved by using the front input member of synthetic resin provided on the front end of the pen cylinder. When performing input onto a soft panel or pointing input, an input free from damage to the panel is achieved by using the rear input member composed of soft elastic material.

Abstract: A digital pen that has a writing tip includes an ultrasonic (US) transducer on a pen body that generates frames of US pulses toward a receiver base in response to an infrared (IR) synchronizing signal from the base. The first pulse of a frame is adjusted by a modulo of the US period &tgr; when the time of arrival (TOA) of the first pulse varies from an expected TOA by more than one-half &tgr;. The TOAs of successive ith pulses in the frame, which are one wavelength apart from each other, are adjusted forward in time by subtracting from each pulse TOA (i−1)&tgr;, and then several of the adjusted pulse TOAs in a single frame are averaged together to determine a frame TOA. The frame TOAs from plural receivers on the base are then triangulated to determine a pen position for that frame, with the pen positions being input to a handwriting recognition module.

Abstract: Disclosed is a user-friendly electronic apparatus having a pen and a panel as the input devices. The pen is tethered to the apparatus by a cord on which position data is recorded along its length direction. Responding to the readout of the position data, the CPU controls the reel-in operation according to the standby mode or the sleep mode of the apparatus. As the pen is held at a proper position on the apparatus by the CPU's control, the user is free from worrying about dropping, spoiling, or losing the pen. Besides, the operation of reeling-out the pen from a housing position in the apparatus allows the apparatus to automatically come back into an active mode from its sleep mode or standby mode.

Abstract: A low cost x-y digitising system is provided for use in consumer electronic devices, such as portable digital assistants, mobile telephones, web browsers and the like. The digitiser includes a resonant stylus, an excitation winding for energising the resonant stylus and a set of sensor windings for sensing the signal generated by the stylus, from which the x-y position of the stylus is determined.

Abstract: A touch screen device and method for co-extensively and contrastingly presenting text characters (34) and rendering ink (36) in a common area of a user interface. The text characters (34) and the rendering ink (36) are presented in relative contrast such that co-extensive text characters (34) and rendering ink (36) are independently legible.

Abstract: A wireless input device having an outward appearance resembling a standard ballpoint pen operates as both a standard ballpoint pen or similar writing instrument as well as an input device. The pen includes directional sensors for determining the direction and length of each pen stroke. A transmitter is provided in the pen barrel for transmitting the stroke signals directly to a computer for input and processing each stroke to provide an accurate representation of the pen stroke as it is being made. The transmitter may be a wireless device for transmitting a low frequency radio signal to a receiver associated with the computer. This permits the pen to be utilized anywhere within the transmitting range of the device, and in any orientation, with the computer picking up, processing and storing the signal representing the pen strokes.

Abstract: A coordinate reader includes a base member having a plurality of X-loop wires provided in a first surface of the base member, a plurality of Y-loop wires provided in a second surface of the base member, a first input plane provided over the plurality of X-coils and a second input plane provided over the plurality of Y-loop coils. When a coordinate input device generates an alternating magnetic field for inputting its coordinates into the coordinate reader, the coordinate reader detects signals generated on the X-loop wires and the Y-loop wires in response to the alternating magnetic field. Then, the coordinate reader determines, based on the detected signals, which of the first input plane or the second input plane the coordinate input device is placed on, and the coordinates of the coordinate input device on the first input plane or the second input plane.

Abstract: An electronic graphic system comprises an image store for storing data defining an image, a stylus and touch tablet device for generating position data representing a sequence of positions including a first position, a brush store for storing data defining a drawing implement, and processor for processing data in the image store. Data is processed by reading patches of initial image data from the store at locations related to the position represented by the position data. An image value is determined as the value of a predetermined pixel in a patch of data at a location corresponding to the first position. Patches of image data are modified with the determined image value depending on the brush data.

Abstract: A device for detecting a rotation angle is provided. The device include a first coil, a second coil, and a twist prevention mechanism. The first coil detects a coordinate value. The second coil detects the rotation angle. The second coil includes signal lines extending therefrom. The second coil is rotatable around a center of the first coil without rotating the first coil. The twist prevention mechanism prevents the signal lines from twisting. The device is preferably included in a pack-shaped pointer that operates on a tablet. The pointer and tablet preferably utilize an electromagnetic induction principle to detect the coordinate value and the rotation angle.

Abstract: A coordinate input apparatus includes light sources, a reflecting member, light receiving members, a signal analyzing mechanism, and a coordinate determining mechanism. Each light source is fixed around a perimeter of a predefined input region at a fixing position different from others and is configured to emit light extending in a deltaic form centered at the fixing position and approximately in parallel to the input region. The reflecting member is fixed around the perimeter of the input region and is configured to recursively reflect the light so that the light returns towards the light sources. The light receiving members are fixed around the perimeter of the input region and are configured to receive the light recursively reflected from the reflecting member and to convert the light into an electric signal. The signal analyzing mechanism analyzes the electric signal to detect a position of an obstacle when the obstacle is placed in the input region and blocks the light.

Abstract: A hand-writing input and recording device is housed in a case and may be hand-held by a user when in use. The device includes a contact element, an amplifying element, a sense element, an X-Y axes matrix element, a recording and storing element, a transmitting element and a receiving element. When the contact element generates a displacement variation in the X-Y axes, the X-Y axes displacement variation value will be emitted from the transmitting element to the receiving element and input into a computer for display on a computer screen to show the characters or patterns generated from the X-Y axes displacement variation value.

Abstract: A position indicator contains a resonant circuit. A first resistor having a minimum resistance, a second resistor having a maximum resistance, and a variable resistor whose resistance varies within the range of minimum to maximum resistances are connected to the resonant circuit at first, second, and third specific times based on predetermined timing information supplied from a tablet. Signal levels detected by the tablet at the first and second specific times are used as a lower limit and an upper limit of an operation quantity. Within this range, a signal level detected at the third specific time is converted into an operation quantity. Thus, the continuous quantity can be detected at a fast sampling rate without being influenced by the height and tilt of the position indicator.

Abstract: A touch-type pointing device with wireless input capability is disclosed, which includes a touch unit and a sensing pen. The touch unit has a transparent electrode and a control circuit connected to the transparent electrode for detecting a variance of impedance in the transparent electrode to obtain a signal representing a coordinate point, and transmitting and receiving signals. The sensing pen has a plurality of switches, each being closed to form a LC loop for transmitting signals in response to the signals from the touch unit.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and a device for obtaining precision data acquisition via hand writing/drawing without requiring the use of a transducer pad, the screen of a monitor, or a scanner. As such, writing/drawing can be applied to almost all kinds of material surfaces, including books, fabrics, labels, etc., with or without showing an ink mark. Graphic and text images can all be effectively processed. Data acquisition function is accomplished by continuously monitoring the orientation of a magnet ball installed at the tip of a magnetomechanical ball-pen device whose outlook resembles a regular pen. When powered by a battery with self data-storage capability, the disclosed method and device allow for a new class of instrumentations that data acquisition function is carried out at the same time whenever hand writing/drawing is applied in the normal manner.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for the wireless capture of coordinate-shift information. The apparatus includes a pulse generator that generates a pulse signal and simultaneously distributes the pulse signal into a first signal along the first path and a second signal along the second path. The apparatus further includes a working area defined by a plurality of crossing X-axis signal lines and Y-axis signal lines, and at least one coil surrounding the working area for generating a magnetic field. The apparatus also includes a scanning circuit coupled to the working area, and a synchronic determination circuit coupled to the pulse generator and the scanning circuit for receiving the first and second signals, and for determining the time delay between the receipt of the first and second signals. The apparatus further includes a signal processing circuit coupled to the scanning circuit and the synchronic determination circuit.

Abstract: There is provided a position detector including a member having a surface and a plurality of vertically and horizontally arranged antennas; a controller for sequentially driving the vertically arranged antennas in vertical positive and vertical negative directions, and for sequentially driving the horizontally arranged antennas in horizontal positive and horizontal negative directions so that the antennas sequentially radiate radio waves; a receiver for receiving the sequentially radiated radio waves on the surface of the member; and a detector for detecting the position of the receiver on the surface of the member based on the levels of the received radio waves.

Abstract: The invention relates to the transmission of telemetry data from a stylus to a host computer via a serial, asynchronous data channel. The telemetry data is encoded into code-words using a specially selected error detecting or error correcting code, the code-words are transmitted from the stylus in a continuous, homogeneous data stream without the use of framing delimiters between adjacent code-words, and the code-words are then received by the host computer which separates the code-words according to the unique characteristics of the selected code. The code may be chosen based on both the error detection/correction requirements of the system and the probability that the code will create invalid intermediate code matches between consecutive back-to-back code-words. In one embodiment, the invention provides a synchronization scheme which greatly reduces the probability that invalid intermediate code matches will be recognized in the host computer as validly transmitted code-words.

Abstract: An arrangement for safely keeping a stylus as the input unit in the housing of a palm-sized computer contains a guide opening formed in one side of the housing, a stylus holding channel extending from the guide opening towards the inside of the housing for holding the stylus inserted through the guide opening, the cross section of the stylus holding channel being designed to snugly receive the stylus, at least a groove formed on the circumference of the stylus, a resilient strip formed integrally with the inside of the stylus holding channel by cutting the wall of the stylus holding channel, the resilient strip elongated in the direction of the stylus holding channel and having a free end, and a hook projected from the free end of the resilient strip towards the inside of the stylus holding channel, wherein the hook may engage the groove to safely keep the stylus inserted into the stylus holding channel.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an information processing apparatus comprising a display device to display images and a touch panel device to output signals for a depressing position and a depressing pressure. The images of the icons that are displayed are changed depending on the output from the touch panel device. The composite icon display control is determined for the depressing pressure level information as the comparison result of the depressing pressure and reference depressing pressure and depressing position change information as the monitoring result of depressing position in addition to the depressing position information of the touch panel device. When the touch panel is depressed with a weak pressure, the icon corresponding to the depressing position is displayed in the highlight display mode.

Abstract: A flexibly interfaceable portable computing device includes a display coupled to a processor, which is coupled or selectively coupled to either or both of a keyboard and a recording unit. The display and the keyboard provide a first user interface to the processor. The recording unit is superimposable with a removable markable surface. A stylus allows user marking on the markable surface. The stylus provides a stroke signal and a stroke mark. The recording unit, the markable surface, and the stylus provide a second user interface to the processor. Optionally, the display also contributes to providing the second user interface to the processor. Switching among viewing modes for the display, and synchronization of information between the processor and a processor of the recording unit are also provided. A casing can enfold the display, the keyboard, and the recording unit to form a relatively slim profile.

Abstract: A transmitter device is disclosed for use with a conventional pen in which the ultrasound transmitter is a cylindrical element lying coaxial with the pen and adjacent to its tip, and a jointed eraser structure. Conventional triangulation techniques are used to track the position and motion of a writer or eraser. An encoding facility associated with the pen provides the ability to distinguish whether the pen is used for marking or an as erasing implement, as well as determining the nature or character of written line width or eraser swath. A data stream thus generated can be used in a variety of ways, such as for example, to feed information into the memory of a digital computer, and/or to feed information for transmission to remote stations.

Abstract: A presentation board digitizer system for large boards preferably employs at least three spaced-apart ultrasound receivers assemblies. A current position of an ultrasound transmitter is assigned as a weighted centroid of time of-flight position measurements based on at least two pairs of receiver assemblies. The weighting used varies as a function of the position of the transmitter across the board. A preferred structure of an ultrasound receiver assembly for use in the system employs a pair of ultrasound receivers arranged side-by-side in a line perpendicular to the surface of the presentation board. The receivers are connected so as to generate a total output signal corresponding to the instantaneous sum of the ultrasound signals received at each, such that the receiver assembly is most sensitive to ultrasound signals incident from a plane adjacent to the presentation board.

Abstract: A method and corresponding system for tracking variations in distance D calculated from time-of-flight measurements of a sequence of pulses of a pressure wave oscillation from a transmitter to a receiver identifies a state of synchronous operation by obtaining at least two time-of-flight measurements derived from successive pressure wave pulse which satisfy given synchronicity criteria. Successive time-of-flight measurements are then monitored to identify a shifted time-of-flight measurement which varies by at least half of the wave period from a predicted time-of-flight value calculated from a number of preceding time-of-flight measurements. A shift factor is then identified corresponding to an integer multiple of the wave period by which the shifted time-of-flight measurement must be corrected to obtain a corrected time-of-flight measurement falling within half of the wave period from the predicted time-of-flight value.

Abstract: A low cost x-y digitising system is described for use in consumer electronic devices, such as portable digital assistants, mobile telephones, web browsers and the like. The digitizer includes a resonant stylus, an excitation winding for energising the resonant stylus and a set of sensor windings for sensing the signal generated by the stylus, from which the x-y position of the stylus is determined. The excitation signals applied to the excitation winding are designed to reduce the power drawn from the power supply which makes the digitising system particularly suited to battery operation.

Abstract: A wireless type coordinate reading apparatus, in which a coordinate value of a position indicated by a coordinate indicator can be calculated in high resolution, the coordinate indicator can be made simple, and further widths of a pen shaft and a pen tip can be narrowed is disclosed. A coordinate reading apparatus is constituted by AC magnetic field generating means for generating an AC magnetic field; a coordinate indicator having a magnetic material for producing a magnetic pulse caused by the Large Barkhausen effect when the magnetic material is positioned in the magnetic field generated from the AC magnetic field generating means; magnetic field detecting means for detecting the magnetic pulse caused by the Large Barkhausen effect; and coordinate calculating means connected to the magnetic field detecting means, for calculating a position indicated by the coordinate indicator in response to a signal produced based upon the magnetic pulse detected by the magnetic field detecting means.

Abstract: A small-sized pen-shaped input apparatus precisely detects handwriting input. The apparatus compensates for the effects of the inclination of the pen-shaped input apparatus. An initial inclination angle calculating section calculates the initial value of the inclination angle of a pen shaft in a gravity coordinate system. The inclination angle variation calculating section calculates a variation value of the inclination angle of the pen shaft. A handwriting inclination angle calculating section calculates the inclination angle of the pen shaft when writing. A coordinates conversion calculating section converts the coordinate system of the acceleration from the pen shaft coordinate system to the gravity coordinate system. A movement amount calculating section calculates the movement direction and the movement distance of the pen's tip end. Finally, a handwriting detecting section detects a state of handwriting or non-handwriting.

Abstract: A position sensor is used in conjunction with one or more batons, each baton having a transmitter that transmits a distinct radio frequency signal at a position in space. The position sensor determines the current position of each baton transmitter in terms of X, Y, and Z coordinates. The position sensor includes a tablet having a flat support member, with at least two pairs of electrodes coupled to the flat support member. Each of the electrodes is a separate antenna. A first pair of the electrodes is shaped so that the amount of capacitive coupling between each baton transmitter and the first pair of electrodes corresponds to the position of the baton transmitter with respect to the X axis. A second pair of the electrodes is shaped so that the amount of capacitive coupling between each baton transmitter and the second pair of electrodes corresponds to the position of the baton transmitter with respect to the Y axis.

Abstract: A digitizer pen includes a barrel section, a nose section removably attached to the barrel section, and an ink cartridge disposed in the barrel section and having a writing tip protruding from an end of the nose section, a cylindrical ferrite core disposed in the nose section, a first portion of the ferrite core being rigidly attached to the nose section. A coil surrounding a second portion of the ferrite core is attached to the barrel section. A writing tip end of the ink cartridge extends through the ferrite core. The first portion of the ferrite core is separable from the coil, so that when the nose section is removed from the barrel section the first portion of the ferrite core is separated from the coil, leaving the coil attached in fixed relation to the barrel section and also leaving exposed a portion of the ink cartridge initially covered by the first portion of the ferrite core, whereby a user can easily grasp the exposed portion of the ink cartridge and remove it without the aid of a tool.

Abstract: A marking device is provided. The marking device (MD) includes an elongated housing that has a tip configured to contact a surface. The MD also includes a pressure sensor disposed within the housing. The pressure sensor is coupled to the tip and is configured to detect when the tip contacts the surface. The MD further includes first and second acceleration sensors disposed within the housing and adjacent the tip of the MD. The first and second acceleration sensors are configured to sense acceleration of the tip in first and second directions. Responsive to the sensing of acceleration, first and second acceleration sensors generate a signal indicative of acceleration in first and second directions. The MD also includes a conversion device configured to receive first and second signals and convert first and second signals into at least one computer readable signal.