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: An influence by a vibration which is transmitted in the air is reduced, thereby preventing an erroneous detection of coordinates or a deterioration in a detecting precision. An elastic resin sheet is arranged on a coordinates input surface side of a vibration transmission plate so as to have a gap between the resin sheet and the vibration transmission plate and is fixed by an adhesive layer. When coordinates are inputted by a vibrator pen, namely, when a vibration is inputted, the resin sheet is warped by a writing pressure of the vibrator pen and the resin sheet comes into contact with the vibration transmission plate. Therefore, the vibration applied by the vibrator pen is efficiently transmitted to the vibration transmission plate.

Abstract: A touch panel comprises a substrate 11 allowing acoustic wave to be propagated and a transducer 13a, mounted to this substrate, for transmitting or receiving the acoustic wave. A chamfered portion 16 is formed in the end face or the corner portion of the substrate 11 to make the acoustic wave turn around and be propagated from the front surface to the rear surface through the end face of the substrate 11. The acoustic wave propagated through the chamfered portion is received by the transducer 13a placed on the rear surface of the substrate 11. The radius (R) of the chamfered portion 16 of the substrate is 0.5 mm or more. This touch panel may prevent from forming raised portions on the front surface of the propagation medium, so that the touch panel may be enhanced in applicability to thin LCD monitors, and simplified in structure.

Abstract: A molded article of a pen tip of an input pen for a coordinate input apparatus for inputting oscillation to an oscillation transmitting plate, detecting oscillation propagating through the oscillation transmitting plate and detecting indicated coordinates is molded by injecting a composition containing at least liquid crystalline resin into a mold member for molding the configuration of the pen tip. In a mold for the pen tip, at least one gate is formed in a molding member such that the gate is disposed at a position symmetric with respect to the center axis of the pen tip.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for acquiring the position co-ordinates of a source of mechanical waves optionally generated by impacting the surface of a plate (PLQ) of finite dimensions comprising a set of acoustic sensors (PZT00 to PZT11) each formed by a pair of piezoelectric transducers (PZTa, PZTb) facing each other on either side of the plate, the device including processing means for determining the co-ordinates of the source by analysing the difference in propagation time of the acoustic waves generated by the source to the different sensors. Said device is characterised in that the processing means comprise combined with each sensor (PZT00 to PZT11) a respective electronic circuit including means mounted in cascade for digitizing the amplified signal around a predetermined frequency, associated with means for limiting the digitization to a time window starting before the acoustic waves reach a sensor and ending when the acoustic waves have reached said sensor.

Abstract: A touch screen includes a transmitter capable of delivering an acoustic signal to the touch screen and a receiver adapted to detect acoustic signals on the touch screen and deliver a first signal representative of the detected acoustic signals. An automatic gain control amplifier has an input, output, and control terminal, and is adapted to receive the first signal on the input terminal and deliver an amplified version of the first signal on the output terminal. The control terminal is adapted to receive a control signal that varies the gain of the amplifier. An analog to digital converter is adapted to receive the amplified first signal and deliver a digital representation thereof. A first circuit is adapted to receive one of the amplified first signal and the digital signal, determine the difference between the received signal and a preselected value, and deliver a control signal to the control input of the amplifier. The control signal has a magnitude responsive to the determined difference.

Abstract: A virtual input device uses the acoustical signature of the user's fingers to determine which character is selected. Rows of acoustical sensors having different acoustical properties are spaced in the vertical direction. When a user touches a specific row with a particular finger a unique acoustical signature is produced. The acoustical signature is analyzed to determine the finger used, the row, and the specific action by the finger, e.g. slide, press, tap. The combinations of the row, finger and action define the character selected. The characters are associated with the combinations in such a way to provide a traditional keyboard setup. Visual feedback of the character selected is provided by a display device of the system.

Abstract: An ultrasonic touch-position sensing system comprises a nonpiezoelectric plate, at least one transducer-unit formed on an upper end surface of the nonpiezoelectric plate, and a signal analyzer. The transducer-unit consists of at least one input IDT Ti (i=1, 2, . . . , m), at least one output IDT Ri (i=1, 2, . . . , m), at least one transmitting IDT Mi (i=1, 2, . . . , m), a receiving IDT, an input piezoelectric substrate, and an output piezoelectric substrate. The output IDT Ri has the electrode-finger direction slanting to that of the input IDT Ti by an angle &thgr;. If an input electric signal is applied to the input IDT Ti, a first SAW is excited in the input piezoelectric substrate. The first SAW is transmitted to the output piezoelectric substrate along the upper end surface of the nonpiezoelectric plate, and then, transduced to electric signals Ej (j=1, 2, . . . , n) at the output. Thus, SAW propagation lanes Wj (j=1, 2, . . .

Abstract: A graphic data-acquisition system which employs an active tracking system provides a retrofittable apparatus for converting a substantially planar surface into an electronic data capture device, in which the components of the system are readily retrofittable, at relatively low cost, to a wide variety of otherwise conventional writing-surface structures, such as so-called dry-erase whiteboards. Conventional triangulation techniques are used to track the position and motion of a writer or eraser. An encoding facility associated with the writing implement provides the ability to distinguish whether the writing implement 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 surface wave touch screen) comprising a hydrophobic touch panel capable of propagating surface acoustic waves, wherein a touch on the touch panel causes a perturbation of a surface wave propagating through the region of the touch. Surface wave transducer means are coupled to the touch panel for transmitting and receiving surface acoustic waves on the panel and processing means are capable of determining the position of a touch on the panel. Use of a hydrophobic panel is advantageous in that operation of the touch screen is unaffected by moisture and so can be used in external environments.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adapting an acoustic touchscreen controller to the operating frequency requirements of a specific touchscreen are provided. The adaptive controller can either utilize look-up tables to achieve the desired output frequency or the it can use a multi-step process in which it first determines the frequency requirements of the touchscreen, and then adjusts the burst frequency characteristics, the receiver circuit center frequency, or both in accordance with the touchscreen requirements. In one embodiment, the adaptive controller compensates for global frequency mismatch errors. In this embodiment a digital multiplier is used to modify the output of a crystal reference oscillator. The reference oscillator output is used to control the frequency of the signal from the receiving transducers and/or to generate the desired frequency of the tone burst sent to the transmitting transducers.

Abstract: A graphic data-acquisition system which employs an active tracking system provides a retrofittable apparatus for converting a substantially planar surface into an electronic data capture device, in which the components of the system are readily retrofittable, at relatively low cost, to a wide variety of otherwise conventional writing-surface structures, such as so-called dry-erase whiteboards. Conventional triangulation techniques are used to track the position and motion of a writer or eraser. An encoding facility associated with the writing implement provides the ability to distinguish whether the writing implement 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: An acoustic touch panel or “touch screen” utilizes acoustic waves within a sensor substrate to determine the position of touch. The substrate is made of a temperable glass having an attenuation coefficient of less than or equal to about 0.6 dB/cm as determined at the substrate surface for 5.53 MHz Rayleigh waves as measured by the slope of a plot of amplitude versus distance for a signal through a pair of facing 0.5-inch wide wedge transducers mounted on a sample of the glass type under test having sufficient thickness to support Rayleigh wave propagation. An acoustic touch panel with a tempered low-acoustic-loss glass substrate. This makes possible large tempered acoustic touch panels. A glass substrate of the touch sensor comprises SiO2 as the main component with a total content of Na2O, CaO and MgO of 20% by weight or less and a total content of Al2O3, ZrO2, TiO2, B2O3, Y2O3, SnO2, PbO2, In2O3 and K2O of 5% by weight or more.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a multilayer substrate for use in touchscreen and touch sensor applications. The substrate, including a microsheet, a polymer sheet, and a plate supports the propagation of acoustic waves, including Love waves and Rayleigh-like waves. The microsheet and plate may be fabricated from glass, metal, or other suitable materials depending on the desired application for the touchscreen. The polymer sheet may be fabricated from polystyrene, polyacrylates, polyether sulfones, or polycyclic olefins. The disclosed touchscreen substrates are thin but durable and have increased touch sensitivity with decreased sensitivity to water and other surface contaminants.

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 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 receives 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 touchpad pointing device dynamically adjusts cursor control gain characteristics based on the x-y coordinates at which the finger first touches the touchpad for a given cursor control task. In this manner, cursor control gain such as simple cursor tracking rate or cursor acceleration profile may be optimized for each control task without changing settings. The x-y coordinates are preferably grouped into easily identifiable zones on the touchpad surface. Accordingly, a wide range of control gain is available, including very high cursor track rates where long distance cursor excursions are desired, and very low cursor tracking for tasks requiring fine cursor positioning. As a further aspect of the invention, the touchpad also allows control of other operational features such as tapping, tapping sensitivity, and button functionality, thus providing a touchpad that is highly customizable.

Abstract: A mechanical degree of freedom is provided between electrodes and sensors, thereby accomplishing both of the assurance of an arranging position precision of the sensors and the easiness of manufacturing. In a coordinates input apparatus for detecting a coordinates position on the basis of a delay time which is required until an elastic wave oscillation which propagates on an oscillation propagating plate arrives at an oscillation sensor, an oscillation sensor is fixed in a manner such that one electrode surface is come into contact with a conductive surface of an oscillation propagating plate. A contact member is positioned onto the other electrode surface of the oscillation sensor by an annular member by using an external shape of the sensor as a reference. An electrode unit includes a signal electrode and a ground electrode. The ground electrode is come into contact with the conductive surface so as to be electrically conductive thereto.

Abstract: A coordinates input apparatus which detects vibration, inputted by a vibration-input pen, by a plurality of vibration sensors provided on a vibration-transmitting tablet, and derives coordinates of a vibration-input point based on vibration transmitting time on the vibration-transmitting tablet. The vibration-transmitting tablet comprises a glass substrate and two sheets of resinous film laminated on the glass substrate. The two sheets of resinous film are laminated on both surfaces of the glass substrate in an orientation such that the stretched directions of the resinous film differ for 90 degrees. By this, a vibration-transmitting tablet where sheets of protection film are laminated, and a coordinates input apparatus which minimizes the changes in vibration propagation velocity depending on the propagation directions, are realized.

Abstract: A touch position sensing system including a transducer configured to transmit and modulate by pseudo random coding acoustic waves and to decode reflected waves generated by the acoustic waves by autocorrelating the pseudo random coding; a substrate configured to propagate the acoustic waves, including a touch surface having a first axis along a side of the perimeter of the substrate and a second axis which is perpendicular to the first axis and located along a second side of the perimeter; and, a first reflective array configured to reflect the acoustic waves transmitted by the transducer such that reflected waves are generated traveling parallel to the second axis, having a length substantially as long as the side of the perimeter corresponding to the first axis including partially reflective grating along the length and disposed lengthwise along the first axis of said substrate.

Abstract: An antenna for wireless communication into a touchpad module. A touchpad module, which can be inserted into an aperture in a laptop computer, includes a touch sensor for detecting touch in a touch sensor circuit for processing signals from the touch sensor. The antenna is connected to a port (input or output) on the touchpad module. The touchpad provides an open aperture for the antenna to communicate with the outside world, without being blocked by the shielding used in a laptop computer.

Abstract: A converter for connection between an electrographic sensor and an electrographic controller, and comprising: (a) a first set of contacts for connection to the sensor; (b) a second set of contacts for connection to the controller; and (c) an emulator for emulating at the second set of contacts: (i) a four-wire sensor when the first set of contacts is connected to a five-wire sensor and a second set of contacts is connected to a four-wire controller; and/or (ii) a five-wire sensor when the first set of contacts is connected to a four-wire sensor and a second set of contacts is connected to a five-wire controller.

Abstract: A coordinate-detecting device of a voltage-detecting type, the device including: a coordinate input pad having an upper sheet and a lower sheet opposing each other at a predetermined gap, the sheets being in electrical contact when there is a touch on the coordinate input pad; a voltage-detecting part for alternately detecting voltage values representing an X-coordinate and a Y-coordinate of a contact point; and a control part for generating a coordinate data from the voltage values detected at the voltage-detecting part. The upper sheet and the lower sheet oppose each other at the predetermined gap by a repulsive force between magnetic poles with the same polarity.

Abstract: A coordinate input apparatus for correcting the shift in an input coordinate system between different coordinate input apparatuses relative to an opening of each apparatus. A data processing block captures information from a coordinate detector PD to determine whether a tapping operation has been performed and determine whether the finger is being slid on a sensor board. A data analyzing block compares inputted absolute coordinates (X, y) with minimum coordinate values (Xmin, Ymin) and maximum coordinate values (Xmax, Ymax) indicative of a preset effective pointing area on the sensor board. A control block controls the data analyzing block to transfer replaced minimum coordinate values (Xmin, Ymin), maximum coordinate values (Xmax, Ymax) and the values of absolute coordinates (X, Y) to a data correcting block. Based on these minimum coordinate values (Xmin, Ymin) and maximum coordinate values (Xmax, Ymax), the data correcting block transforms the absolute coordinates (X, Y) into display coordinates.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and arrangement for creating a virtual keyboard for a terminal (800) used in a cellular network. The virtual keyboard is generated using an IR transceiver arrangement (12) in which a reflection from an obstacle (15) placed in the field of IR transmitters is registered by discrete IR receivers. The received reflection data are processed in a neural network arrangement (33). The purpose of the data processing is to find out the virtual key position/function that the received reflection data corresponds to.

Abstract: A piezoelectric transducer is provided, in which a piezoelectric cylindrical 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 by the signal input source, the piezoelectric layer resonates to produce an output signal waveform, typically having a characteristic sound pressure level, from the shell structure. Alternative embodiments include a flat piezoelectric layer with opposing conductive layers, which is then formed into a shell structure. In a preferred embodiment, an inner spool is located within the shell structure, which supports and maintains the circular cross-sectional profile of the piezoelectric cylindrical transducer, to insure radial transmission of the output signal. To increase the sound pressure level, the inner spool preferably includes a recessed area, which defines a void between the inner conductive layer on the shell and the recessed area.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a touch screen sensor 10 that reduces or eliminates echoes or reflections of ultrasonic waves generated by one or more transducers 12. The touch screen sensor 10 is comprised of a wave absorption material 16 positioned around at least a portion of the perimeter 35 of the touch screen sensor 10.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transcribing composite images. In one embodiment, a method comprises projecting a first image onto a surface, wherein a first coordinate system defines positions within the first image and a second coordinate system defines positions on the surface. The method further comprises forming a second image on the surface by using a stylus, and recording the formation of the second image relative to the first image by periodically detecting the position of the stylus relative to the second coordinate system by receiving and processing signals transmitted from the stylus. The method also comprises translating the position of the stylus relative to the second coordinate system to a position relative to the first coordinate system, and storing the composite image comprising the first image and the second image as machine-readable data.

Abstract: An assembly for mounting an ultrasound transmitter is provided. The assembly comprises an assembly body having a proximal end, a distal end and perimeters which are perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the assembly body. The assembly body includes a proximal mount section with a proximal outer perimeter and a proximal inner perimeter which is smaller than the proximal outer perimeter. The assembly body also includes a distal mount section with a distal outer perimeter and a distal inner perimeter which is smaller than the distal outer perimeter. A loop shaped ultrasound transducer abuts the proximal mount section and the distal mount section.

Abstract: Vibration is sensed as a signal by a vibration sensor and the signal level of the sensed signal is measured by an A/D converter. The distance between a position entered by a vibrating input pen and the vibration sensor is calculated and, on the basis of the calculated distance, input level information is obtained from the measured signal level by an arithmetic and control unit.

Abstract: A graphic data-acquisition system which employs an active tracking system provides a retrofittable apparatus for converting a substantially planar surface into an electronic data capture device, in which the components of the system are readily retrofittable, at relatively low cost, to a wide variety of otherwise conventional writing-surface structures, such as so-called dry-erase whiteboards. Conventional triangulation techniques are used to track the position and motion of a writer or eraser. An encoding facility associated with the writing implement provides the ability to distinguish whether the writing implement 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: The present invention discloses antenna structures for portable digital devices that continuously receive radio signals in both the extended and the retracted antenna positions. In addition, the disclosed antenna structures tune the antenna based on the position of the antenna to achieve good impedance matching, which is particularly useful in reducing the noise and interference, while maximizing the available power for radiation from the portable digital devices. More specifically, a multiple position stylus antenna is disclosed that incorporates an antenna into a stylus for use with a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA). The stylus antenna uses one radiating element tuned for optimal performance in the extended position and synthesizes a compensation impedance to match the impedance of the feeding transmission line in the retracted position.

Abstract: A proximity sensor system includes a sensor matrix array having a characteristic capacitance on horizontal and vertical conductors connected to sensor pads. The capacitance changes as a function of the proximity of an object or objects to the sensor matrix. The change in capacitance of each node in both the X and Y directions of the matrix due to the approach of an object is converted to a set of voltages in the X and Y directions. These voltages are processed by digital circuitry to develop electrical signals representative of the centroid of the profile of the object, i.e, its position in the X and Y dimensions. Noise reduction and background level setting techniques inherently available in the architecture are employed.

Abstract: An acoustic touch panel or “touch screen” utilizes acoustic waves within a sensor substrate to determine the position of touch. The substrate is made of a temperable glass having an attenuation coefficient of less than or equal to about 0.6 dB/cm as determined at the substrate surface for 5.53 MHz Rayleigh waves as measured by the slope of a plot of amplitude versus distance for a signal through a pair of facing 0.5-inch wide wedge transducers mounted on a sample of the glass type under test having sufficient thickness to support Rayleigh wave propagation. An acoustic touch panel with a tempered low-acoustic-loss glass substrate. This makes possible large tempered acoustic touch panels. A glass substrate of the touch sensor comprises SiO2 as the main component with a total content of Na2O, CaO and MgO of 20% by weight or less and a total content of Al2O3, ZrO2, TiO2, B2O3, Y2O3, SnO2, PbO2, In2O3 and K2O of 5% by weight or more.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transcribing composite images. In one embodiment, a method comprises projecting a first image onto a surface, wherein a first coordinate system defines positions within the first image and a second coordinate system defines positions on the surface. The method further comprises forming a second image on the surface by using a stylus, and recording the formation of the second image relative to the first image by periodically detecting the position of the stylus relative to the second coordinate system by receiving and processing signals transmitted from the stylus. The method also comprises translating the position of the stylus relative to the second coordinate system to a position relative to the first coordinate system, and storing the composite image comprising the first image and the second image as machine-readable data.

Abstract: A coordinate input device that selects actual write points from coordinates that can be combined in different ways to define a greater number of potential write points. In the example of detecting X-coordinates and Y-coordinates that can be combined into X,Y pairs defining potential write points, the device identifies as X,Y pairs for actual write pairs the X,Y combinations that are most likely to correspond to actual write points, based on factors such as the time of detection of an X-coordinate relative to the times of detection of Y-coordinates (or vice versa), or the distances between actual points found in a preceding time period and the potential points of a current time period, or the distances between coordinates of actual points found in a preceding time period and corresponding coordinates of potential write points identified in a current time period.

Abstract: A co-ordinates input device having a transparent substrate member is composed of: a transparent substrate; an ITO film formed on a surface of the transparent substrate; a pair of electrodes formed at a given distance from each other on the ITO film; an operation region formed between the pair of electrodes; and lead electrodes, extending from the pair of electrodes, formed on the ITO film; in which at least one of the lead electrodes extending from the pair of electrodes is formed on the ITO film on a side of the operation region, and between the lead electrode and the operation region, a groove is formed in the ITO film alone or in the ITO film and continuously extending into the transparent substrate.

Abstract: In a transcription system which includes a plurality of signal receivers for positioning adjacent a writing surface and for receiving a position signal transmitted from a stylus when the stylus is positioned adjacent the writing surface, the signal receivers producing timing signals in response to receiving the position signal from the stylus, the transcription system using the timing signals to determine a position of the stylus adjacent the writing surface, a detector assembly comprising: a housing for mounting to the writing surface; a plurality of signal receivers; and at least one user activated control switch whose activation by a user when the detector assembly is mounted to the writing surface produces a control signal which causes the transcription system to perform a function in response.

Abstract: A coordinate input apparatus has an optical scanning/detection unit for touch input, and a vibration sensor for pen input. While no coordinate input is made, some components of the optical scanning/detection unit are activated to detect the size of an object that approaches or contacts an input board. When the detected size is smaller than a predetermined value (as large as about the fingertip), it is determined that touch input has been made, and the optical scanning/detection unit is activated to acquire the coordinate value of the touch input. On the other hand, when the detected size is larger than the predetermined value (larger than a fist), it is determined that pen input has been made, and coordinate detection using the vibration sensor is done.

Abstract: A digital input device for entering data into a digital system, comprises at least two remote sensors and a control unit. A working area is set up in proximity to the sensors and the position of an object within the working area is detected by the input device based on data provided by each sensor and transmitted, by said control unit, to said digital system. The position of an object outside said working area, if detected by said input device, is rejected by said control unit and is not transmitted to said digital system. The sensors can be ultrasonic sensors and the object can be a part of the body of a user. Use of a third sensor allows three-dimensional detection of the object.

Abstract: A pen positioning system is provided, in which a pen, having multiple output elements, is adapted to accurately determine the location of the pointing tip of the pen, in relation to an electronic tablet. The output elements, preferably ultrasonic transmitters having distinct frequencies, are located a fixed distance from each other, and are also related in space to the pointing tip of the pen. The geometric relationship between the output elements and the pointing tip of the pen allows the location of the pointing tip to be determined, independent of the angle which the pen is inclined against the surface of the writing tablet. A detection system is used to receive the output signals from the output elements, isolate the output signals from each other, and process them independently to determine the location of the output elements and of the pointing tip of the pen.