Inductive Patents (Class 178/18.07)
  • Publication number: 20090152024
    Abstract: Objects of the present invention are to facilitate filling out by hand an electronic paper and to realize digitization of contents with which the electronic paper is filled out by hand with a simple structure. A read image is obtained by optically reading a reading-object of the electronic paper. Based on the document information written on the electronic paper and writing-conditions during document writing, which are represented by the document information, a display image of the document in accordance with the read image information is formed. A written image is separated and extracted by converting a density only of pixels among the respective pixels of the read image, whose densities vary in accordance with the document writing and which correspond to a portion, to which ink of a pen for the handwriting is not adhered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2009
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventors: Yoshiro Yamazaki, Setsuji Tatsumi, Kanji Nagashima, Seiichiro Oku, Toshiya Kojima, Kenichi Kodama, Seiichi Inoue, Naoki Kusunoki
  • Patent number: 7522149
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus according to the present invention includes a pixel array unit 1 having signal lines and scanning lines respectively arranged side by side, a signal line drive circuit 2 which drives the signal lines, a scanning line drive circuit 3 which drives the scanning lines, a signal processing output circuit 4 which serially outputs the picked-up image data supplied from the sensors, and a sync signal generation circuit 5. A black-white change obtained in the picked-up image data when a finger is brought close to or brought into contact with the pixel array unit 1 is detected, and the coordinate position of the finger is identified taking the ambient brightness into consideration. Regardless of whether the surroundings are bright or dark, therefore, the coordinate position can be detected with high precision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Toshiba Matsushita Display Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Nakamura, Masahiro Yoshida, Hirotaka Hayashi, Miyuki Ishikawa, Yasuharu Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20090078477
    Abstract: An electronic device including touch inductive apparatus having sound prompt function is provided, the electronic device comprises at least one touch inductive apparatus for sensing a finger touch thereto and accordingly changing an electrical character thereof; a memory configured for storing at least one prompt signal corresponding to at least one predetermined frequency interval; a frequency converter configured for outputting a frequency signal in accordance with the electrical character of the at least one touch inductive apparatus; a frequency scanning unit configured for scanning the frequency signal and outputting a frequency value accordingly; a processor configured for selecting the prompt signal if the frequency value is included in the at least one predetermined frequency interval; an audio processing unit configured for processing the prompt signal; and a speaker configured for outputting an audible sound of the prompt signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2008
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: JUI-LIN KE, HAN-CHE WANG, CHUAN-HONG WANG
  • Patent number: 7486270
    Abstract: An electronic whiteboard with built-in membrane antenna array lattice electromagnetic induction layer includes: a writing input portion; a covering frame provided around the periphery of the electronic whiteboard; and a control circuit; wherein, the writing input portion has multilayer structure and is enclosed in the frame, the said writing input portion includes a surface writing layer, an underlayer, and an input induction layer which is connected to the control circuit by its output; the said induction layer may be the antenna array printed on the insulation membrane and arranged along the X, Y axes, therein the area enclosed by each lattice unit constitutes one induction cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Tai Guen Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hsuan-Ming Shih
  • Publication number: 20080302583
    Abstract: A touch input device is provided which can improve considerably an optical transmittance without using dot spacers. A gas cell for a touch input device has: a parallel plate member 2 including two flat plates disposed in parallel and facing each other; a diaphragm 5 for sealing a peripheral portion of the parallel plate member 2 in such a manner that gas is accommodated in a gap between the two flat plates in a state that the two flat plates can conduct relative displacement along opposing directions; and a frame 7 for holding the peripheral portion of the parallel plate member 2 in such a manner that the two flat plates can conduct the relative displacement. In this invention, best touch sense is realized by utilizing elasticity of gas. A further feature resides in that the touch sense can be adjusted freely by a simple method. Each switch element adopts an electrostatic induction method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Inventor: Kazuo Tateishi
  • Patent number: 7450113
    Abstract: A method of indicating a gesture proximate a touch-sensor pad is provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises detecting a first presence of a conductive object proximate to the touch-sensor pad, and initiating a gesture signal if the first presence lasts a first duration of time that is less than a first reference amount of time. In this embodiment, the method further comprises detecting a second presence occurring a first elapsed time after an end of the first presence, and terminating the gesture signal if the first elapsed time is greater than a second reference amount of time, otherwise maintaining the gesture signal at least until an end of the first elapsed time and at least until an occurrence of a terminating event. This and other embodiments can be used to initiate virtual-button signals in response to specific gestures by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: David W. Gillespie, Timothy P. Allen, Ralph C. Wolf, Shawn P. Day
  • Patent number: 7400319
    Abstract: A pair of piezoelectric substrates, the length of which is shorter than the length of one side in the longitudinal direction of the operation panel or the supporting board, is respectively fixed to one side from the diagonal position along the longitudinal direction. At the time of detecting an inputting operation, a drive voltage is applied and the entire operation panel or the supporting board is vibrated. Even when the four corners of the operation panel or the supporting board are supported by the housing for accommodating the tablet apparatus or supported by the display device so that the vibration of the four corners is restricted, since either of the pair of piezoelectric substrates, which becomes a vibration source, a feeling of inputting operation can be transmitted to an operator by the vibration, the amplitude of which is not less than a predetermined value, irrespective of the inputting operation position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: SMK Corporation
    Inventors: Naomi Nakayama, Kazuo Imai, Yoshiaki Yamaguchi, Isamu Saito
  • Patent number: 7307616
    Abstract: A sensor for a coordinate input device includes an x-direction loop coil group including a plurality of loop coils arranged in an x direction, each loop coil having at least two linear sections perpendicular to the x direction, and a y-direction loop coil group including a plurality of loop coils arranged in a y direction, each loop coil having at least two linear sections perpendicular to the y direction. A terminal portion including a plurality of terminals is provided in the vicinity of an edge portion of the x-direction or y-direction loop coil group. Lines are disposed between the linear sections of the loop coils of the x-direction loop coil group or the y-direction loop coil group to provide connections between the terminals of the terminal portion and the corresponding loop coils of the x-direction loop coil group and the y-direction loop coil group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Wacom Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Obl Katsuhito, Toshihiko Horie, Koborl Takeshi
  • Patent number: 7292229
    Abstract: A digitizer for user interaction via an object with an electronically refreshable display screen, the digitizer comprising: a transparent sensing arrangement of detectors located at said electronically refreshable display screen for detecting an electric field of said object, said detectors having outputs, and an arrangement of differential amplifiers associated with said outputs, thereby to apply differential detection between said outputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: N-trig Ltd.
    Inventors: Meir Morag, Haim Perski
  • Patent number: 7289111
    Abstract: A touch pad for a data processing system includes a first film and an electrically conductive first thin film above the first film, a plurality of electrically non-conductive spacer dots above the first thin film, a second electrically conductive thin film above the plurality of spacer dots, and a second film above the second thin film. The density of spacer dots above the first thin film is non-uniform. In one implementation, the first film is a ceramic, the second film is a flexible polymer, and the first and second thin films are a metal-oxide compound. In one embodiment, the spacer dot density is in a first range over a first portion of the first film and in a second range over a second portion of the first film. The second portion of the first film may define a signature box suitable for receiving a user's signature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Roger Lee Asbill
  • Patent number: 7265303
    Abstract: An electromagnetic digitizer arrangement that may include a comb-like pattern of sensing traces that form various sensing loops depending upon the configurations of various switches is described. The comb arrangement of traces may be fabricated using only a single layer per sensing axis. Thus, the digitizer may be fabricated in a technology, such as indium tin oxide on glass, that cannot provide plated-through holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Charles P. Thacker
  • Patent number: 7187366
    Abstract: A coordinate detection input system includes two first elongated electric conductors with an insulation grounding device respectively, a control circuit and two elongated electric conductors with another insulation grounding device respectively. The two elongated electric conductors are disposed correspond to X-coordinate and Y-coordinate of the input system. The control circuit further includes a microprocessor, a field induced voltage transducer, an analog/digital converter and a signal transmission device. The elongated electric conductors are electrically connected to the microprocessor to induce electromagnetic fields sequentially every time after a zero checking has been done by the microprocessor. The field induced voltage transducer induces voltage in the magnetic field once the pulse current is operated to pass through any one of the electric conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Super Elite Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chih-Cheng Chen
  • Patent number: 7176907
    Abstract: The invention, an improved device and method for the pointer system of a digitizer tablet, is to repetitiously emit signals sequentially from a specific set of inductive loop when the position pointed by the wireless pointer device is located within a range formed by this specific set of inductive loop induced most intensively during a locally scanning process. After a transient energy storage of the wireless pointer device, corresponding resonant signals are emitted out and are received sequentially by several sets of inductive loop located on the digitizer tablet in the neighborhood of this specific set of inductive loop and, by these signals, the wireless pointer device's coordinate position on the digitizer tablet is calculated out relatively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Waltop International Corp.
    Inventors: Ching-Chuan Chao, Chung-Wen Hsu
  • Patent number: 7113175
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for transmitting power to active touch stimulating devices associated with a touch sensing apparatus. In this invention four methods of providing power supply to the touch-input device are presented. These methods are: EM induction transmission using a single loop antenna, EM induction transmission using a conductive layer, acoustic transmission through air, and acoustic transmission through an acoustic conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Intertact Corporation
    Inventors: Qianjun Liu, Denny Jaeger
  • Patent number: 7084860
    Abstract: A touch sensing apparatus for receiving input from one or more touch stimulating devices employs a direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) signaling arrangement to transmit signals from the touch stimulating devices for identification and location determination. Active devices are powered by an EM field and generate a touch stimulating signal that is spread spectrum encoded for identification, and signal pickups in a propagation layer receive the touch stimulation signals which are identified by the DSSS encoding and located using received signal strength (RSS) techniques. Semi-active devices are powered by an EM field and receive code instructions to generate specific spread spectrum signals and generate a touch-stimulating signal. Touch stimulating devices are either tethered or tether-free, and powered by batteries or EM fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Intertact Corporation
    Inventors: Denny Jaeger, Andrew Lohbihler
  • Patent number: 7038666
    Abstract: A panel sensing device and a positioning location searching method of the same are disclosed. A control unit serves to provide at least one reference voltage and at least one reference voltage with opposite phase. Thereby, a plurality of position blocks are defined by the electric field distributions produced by the reference voltages. A sensing pen is used to touch the sensing plate for sensing the object voltage of a touch position. The control unit searches the touch position according to the phase and level of the object voltage and the reference voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Sunplus Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Lih Shang Lo, Tung Tsai Liao
  • Patent number: 7030782
    Abstract: A position detector is provided for detecting the relative movement of first and second members which are mounted for relative movement along a measuring path. One of the members comprises a magnetic field generator for generating a magnetic field and the other member comprises first and second conductors which are inductively coupled to said magnetic field generator. The arrangement of the first and second conductors and the magnetic field generator is such that output signals are generated in a first and second receive circuits whose position varies with the relative movement between the two members. In addition to carrying information relating to the relative position between the two members, the signals induced in the receive circuits also comprise information defining the relative orientation of the two movable members, and by suitable processing of the received signals the relative orientation of the two members can also be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Synaptics (UK) Limited
    Inventors: David T. E. Ely, Ross P. Jones, James M. C. England, Alexander W. McKinnon, Robert M. Pettigrew, Andrew N. Dames, Andrew R. L. Howe
  • Patent number: 7019734
    Abstract: The present invention discloses resistive touch sensors that incorporate microstructured conductive layers. When local electrical contact is made between the microstructured conductive layer and an opposing conductive layer due to a touch input, the resulting signal can be used to determine the location of the touch. The microstructures can be used to penetrate a solid, deformable filler material disposed between the conductive layers, for example to provide more transmission of light through the sensor. The microstructures can also provide additional functionalities such as z-axis sensitivity, image direction, light control, light extraction, and so forth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Elisa M. Cross, Robert S. Moshrefzadeh, Leland R. Whitney
  • Patent number: 7015401
    Abstract: A digital system for mixing handwriting with an image is provided. The handwriting data is transmitted into the microprocessor of the image processing system, and then the microprocessor marks handwriting with a specific color and superimposes it on the image according to the coordinates and the degree of width of the handwriting, so as to form a new mixed image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Aiptek International, Inc.
    Inventor: Chia-Jui Yeh
  • Patent number: 6999007
    Abstract: In a linear position encoder, a support is provided upon which a pair of phase quadrature windings are mounted. The windings are arranged to have a sinusoidal magnetic sensitivity characteristic along the length of the support. Mounted on a movable element there is a resonant circuit including a coil and capacitor that can magnetically couple with the windings. When the circuit is excited, it induces currents in the windings that are dependent upon the position of the circuit within a period Ts of the windings. An excitation and processing unit is provided to energize the circuit and to process the signals induced in the windings. The excitation and processing unit is operably coupled to an external high permeability rod extending along the measurement path in a first plane having the windings but removed therefrom. The rod has first and second excitation coils connected in series and wound around the rod and disposed at opposite ends defining a length of the rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yingjie Lin, Warren Baxter Nicholson
  • Patent number: 6987507
    Abstract: A current feed circuit for feeding a high-frequency current to a plurality of sensor coils in a coordinate input device includes a high-frequency signal transmitting circuit for generating a high-frequency current corresponding to a high-frequency signal input; a plurality of driver transistors, each being provided between the high-frequency signal transmitting circuit and each of a plurality of sensor coils for transmitting the high-frequency current to the corresponding sensor coil; and a plurality of switches, each being provided with respect to each of the plurality of driver transistors for turning on/off the corresponding driver transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: Wacom Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuo Oda
  • Patent number: 6974917
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus is constructed to include a plurality of information recording media respectively having a generally paper shape with an image display surface for displaying various information, a holding part which holds a holding portion of each of the information recording media which are stacked, an input part for accepting an input of various information by handwriting on an arbitrary one of the information recording media, a recognizing part for recognizing the identification information recorded on the arbitrary information recording medium, a storing part for storing the various information accepted by the input part and the identification information recognized by the recognizing part in an information storage medium by linking corresponding various information and identification information, and an output part for outputting the various information stored in the information storage medium with respect to a storage which stores various information at storage locations specified in
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Hattori, Toshiyuki Furuta, Tomohiko Beppu
  • Patent number: 6952201
    Abstract: A three-dimensional information sensor device is disclosed in which sensor coils thereof are sequentially selected by a control section. Signals are communicated between indicating coils of a three-dimensional information indicating device and sensor coils by electromagnetic coupling. The signals received by each of the selected coils are detected by detecting means. The position and the direction of the indicating device in a three-dimensional apace are calculated by control means based on the detected signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Assignee: Wacom Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masamitsu Fukushima, Yasuo Oda, Masamitsu Ito, Toshihiko Horie
  • Patent number: 6937231
    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 with an O-ring therebetween. 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Wacom Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Fujitsuka, Yasuyuki Fukushima
  • Patent number: 6927762
    Abstract: The electromagnetic-induction system of the present invention comprises: a central processing unit (CPU); an application specific integrated circuit coupled with the central processing unit; a plurality of analogy switches that are coupled with the central processing unit and the application specific integrated circuit, individually; an antenna loop coupled with a plurality of analogy switches. The application specific integrated circuit further comprises: a digital filter that can reduce bandwidth error; a programmable gain amplifier that has the gain range with over eight-level; a latch device that can access the data at steady state; a multiplier and a divider that consist of hardware to increase the report rate; a programmable frequency generator can output the signal with the stable frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Aiptek International Inc.
    Inventor: Chung-Chen Lin
  • Patent number: 6909426
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Inventors: Ching-Chuan Chao, Chung-Wen Hsu
  • Patent number: 6888538
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Synaptics (UK) Limited
    Inventors: David T. E. Ely, Andrew N. Dames
  • Patent number: 6882339
    Abstract: A plurality of single-induction-loops are inserted in an electromagnetic induction system in which multi-induction-loop is deployed. Deployment of a multi-induction-loop layout is constituted by induction loops with sawtooth-shaped areas and close-like areas formed by -type sections of same and opposite phases for reducing the number of switch in use, completely deploying induction loops of X axis and Y axis on a same common contact, effectively reducing area demand of electromagnetic induction system, and thus increasing effective area of panel board in use. Moreover, in order to further enhance ability of interference immunity of electromagnetic induction system, a plurality of single-induction-loops are inserted around multi-induction-loop for isolating interference of noise to multi-induction-loop and thus relatively increasing linearity and efficiency of electromagnetic induction system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Aiptek International Inc.
    Inventors: Ching-Chuan Chao, Chih-An Chen, Shi-Hao Cheng
  • Patent number: 6862018
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Aiptek International Inc.
    Inventor: Chia Jui Yeh
  • Patent number: 6819316
    Abstract: A flexible, capacitive touch sensor, and a method of manufacturing a plurality of such touch sensors, are provided. The capacitive touch sensor comprises a thin, flexible, transparent, insulating substrate. A thin, flexible, transparent layer of resistive material is applied to one side of the substrate, and a thin, flexible, transparent, pressure-sensitive layer of adhesive material is applied to the substrate's other side. A releasable sheet may cover this adhesive layer. A plurality of thin, flexible electrodes, electrical leads and conductive areas are applied to the resistive layer. A thin, flexible, transparent layer of protective material protects the touch sensor's active touch area. Compounds may be added to this protective layer to enhance its conductivity and lubricity. A reel-to-reel process for manufacturing a plurality of such capacitive touch sensors also is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Stephen C. Schulz, Anthony F. Chernefsky, Bernard Geaghan
  • Patent number: 6801192
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Wacom Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Fujitsuka, Yashuyuki Fukushima
  • Patent number: 6784876
    Abstract: Y coil Y1 is mounted on the attachment panel 24 so that its long sides Y1f and Y1g follow the front surface 24n, and is bent at a first edge 24a1 onto an edge surface 24a, and is further bent at a second edge 24a onto a rear surface 24b. Even if the pen moves to near an edge portion of the writing surface, the signal generated by long sides Y1f, Y1g will have a little influence from a signal generated from the short side Y1d. When the X coordinate calculated in S1306 is judged to be a coordinate in the X axis edge (S1308:YES), then an X axis edge flag is set in S1310 and a correction coefficient K that corresponds to the distance of the pen from the edge of the Y coil is extracted in S1312 by referring to a correction table. When the Y coils are scanned in S1314, if the X axis edge flag is judged to be set (S1316:YES), then in S1318, all of the values detected for the Y coils in S1314 are multiplied by the correction coefficient K.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takuya Nagai, Tsuyoshi Ohashi
  • Patent number: 6781579
    Abstract: A touch screen panel including an insulative substrate; a resistive layer disposed on the insulative substrate; and a plurality of spaced conductive segments on the resistive layer along the border thereof. The conductive segments are disposed in rows, and every row has at least two segments which face at least a portion of three segments in the next inner row for optimizing the linearity of the touch screen panel and at the same time reducing the space occupied on the touch screen panel by the conductive segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Jianming Huang, Bernard O. Geaghan
  • Patent number: 6744426
    Abstract: A circuit mounted in the circuit board 69 of the pen 60 includes: a CR solution circuit 69e; an LC oscillation circuit 69c; and an FSK circuit 69d. The CR oscillation circuit 69e oscillates a signal with one of a plurality of different modulation frequencies that correspond to a plurality of different attributes, such as ink colors, pen tip thickness, and the like, of the pen. The LC oscillation circuit 69c is for oscillating a carrier wave for transmitting the signal oscillated by the CR oscillation circuit 69e. The FSK circuit 69d is for PSK modulating the oscillation frequency of the LC oscillation circuit 69c in accordance with the modulation frequency of the CR oscillation circuit 69e. The receiving side measures a time period at which the frequency of the carrier wave is maintained, thereby determining the period of the modulation frequency to know the pen attributes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsugio Okamoto, Takashi Kawaguchi, Tsuyoshi Ohashi
  • Patent number: 6730862
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: LSI Logic Corporation
    Inventor: Frank Gasparik
  • Patent number: 6731270
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Luidia Inc.
    Inventor: Carol A. Tosaya
  • Patent number: 6683601
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuo Okamoto
  • Patent number: 6661408
    Abstract: A touch screen capable of isolating noise signals is mainly a touch screen installing at the front side of a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen or cathode ray tube (CRT) for eliminating electromagnetic and radio frequency interference received by the LCD and CRT. The touch screen includes an antenna like conductive wire which is able to receive same noise signals mixed in the touch control signals. The touch screen controller uses the noise signals received by the antenna wire to offset the noise signals in the controller for increasing accuracy of the touch screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Eturbotouch Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Chi-Ruey Chen
  • Patent number: 6661410
    Abstract: Capacitive proximity sensing is carried out by detecting a relative change in the capacitance of a “scoop” capacitor formed by a conductor and a surrounding ground plane. The conductor may be a plate provided in the form of an adhesive label printed with conductive ink. Charge is transferred between the “scoop” capacitor and a relatively large “bucket” capacitor, and a voltage of the bucket capacitor is applied to an input threshold switch. A state transition (e.g., from low to high, or high to low) of the input threshold switch is detected and a value (TouchVal) indicative of a number of cycles of charge transfer required to reach the state transition is determined. The presence or absence of an object or body portion in close proximity to or contact with a device can be determined by comparing TouchVal with a predetermined threshold value (TouchOff).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Mark W. Casebolt, Gary Rensberger, Steven N. Bathiche, Mihai Abulet
  • Patent number: 6636184
    Abstract: A 4-4 distribution antenna layout and a five-stage coordinate positioning method of electromagnetic induction systems being provided by the present invention is disclosed. The 4-4 distribution antenna layout of the present invention divides antenna circuitries into x-axis and y-axis groups. The antenna circuitries within the same group are in equal distance displacements and in the same direction, which further comprise a plurality of antenna loops. The formation of each antenna loop comprises a dense multiple duplicate self-looping method. Moreover, the five-stage coordinate positioning method of electromagnetic induction systems comprising, first, carrying out a first procedure to confirm any signal with voltage amplitude greater than a standard minimum signal recognition value. Second, carrying out a second procedure to confirm signal existence of the previous scan as well as to confirm the nearest antenna loop to the transmission source. Third, carrying out a third procedure to obtain coordinate values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Aiptek International Inc.
    Inventor: Chia-Jui Yeh
  • Patent number: 6606087
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshitsugu Tomomatsu
  • Patent number: 6603464
    Abstract: A method of capturing data having the steps of writing on a form with a pen to leave an image on the form, scanning the written image as the written image is being written, and storing the scanned written image in a specific data field. A method of capturing an input, including written information, sounds and images includes the steps of specifying a data field by touching a pen tip to a data-field-specific area on a form; supplying the input; electronically capturing the input and associating the input with the specified data field. An information capturing system, includes a pen, the pen including a writing tip and a position transducer to determine the position of the writing tip relative to a form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Inventor: Michael Irl Rabin
  • Patent number: 6570103
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Saka, Kenichi Takekawa
  • Patent number: 6559834
    Abstract: A touch panel is constructed of a top sheet member having a resistive membrane on its inner surface and a base sheet member having a resistive membrane on its inner surface, the top and base sheet members facing each other with dot spacers being located in between. The top sheet member is formed by laminating a bulge-resistant film, a polarizing plate, a quarter wavelength plate, and a light isotropic film in this order from above. A PET film which is not heat-treated so as to have a higher thermal contraction rate than the other members of the top sheet member underneath such as the polarizing plate, is used as the bulge-resistant film. Since the bulge-resistant film contracts more than the polarizing plate under a high ambient temperature, after the ambient temperature returns to normal, the bulge-resistant film does not become slack against the polarizing plate. Accordingly, the top sheet member can be kept from bulging outward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignees: Gunze Limited, Sumitomo Chemical Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukio Murakami, Shunsuke Hirano, Keiichi Minakuchi
  • Publication number: 20030079921
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2001
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Inventor: Chia Jui Yeh
  • Publication number: 20020179339
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventors: David T.E. Ely, Andrew N. Dames
  • Patent number: 6489899
    Abstract: A position detector is provided for detecting the relative movement of first and second members which are mounted for relative movement along a measuring path. One of the members comprises a magnetic field generator for generating a magnetic field and the other member comprises first and second conductors which are inductively coupled to said magnetic field generator. The arrangement of the first and second conductors and the magnetic field generator is such that output signals are generated in a first and second receive circuits whose position varies with the relative movement between the two members. In addition to carrying information relating to the relative position between the two members, the signals induced in the receive circuits also comprise information defining the relative orientation of the two movable members, and by suitable processing of the received signals the relative orientation of the two members can also be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Synaptics (UK) Limited
    Inventors: David T. E. Ely, Ross P. Jones, James M. C. England, Alexander W. McKinnon, Robert M. Pettigrew, Andrew N. Dames, Andrew R. L. Howe
  • Patent number: 6476799
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: KYE Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Lee, Po-Hsun Hsien, Kenny Chien
  • Patent number: 6469696
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Sega Enterprises, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshifumi Ishimura, Hirotsugu Tomizawa
  • Patent number: 6424339
    Abstract: A touch screen assembly for contact input systems, with the touch screen including a base substrate with an electrically resistive coating thereon. An array of reticulated spaced raised projections are formed on the inner surface, with the raised projections consisting of a developed/cured photoresist. In its formation, the photoresist is applied as an adherent layer with a release-film backing, with the layer being applied onto a heated substrate. Thereafter, a laminate is formed by passing the photoresist layer beneath a heated pneumatically actuated nip roll to cause the photoresist layer to flow, thereby forming a layer of uniform thickness. Thereafter, the laminate is masked, exposed to incident radiation, and developed so as to provide a reticulated pattern of adherent raised projections. A flexible plastic film having a resistive coating thereon is thereafter mounted on the substrate in superimposed relationship to the raised projections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: The Bergquist Company
    Inventor: Mary L. Randall