Abstract: In an information transmitting device, a variable capacitor which is charged to have a predetermined voltage discharges through a predetermined resistor. Until the voltage becomes lower than a predetermined threshold voltage, the number of AC signals having a predetermined frequency is counted. Accordingly, first continuous amount information of a binary code corresponding to a writing pressure is obtained and is converted to a Gray code, which is regarded as second continuous amount information. A resonant circuit is opened or shorted in accordance with ‘0’ or ‘1’ in the second continuous amount information, so as to transmit the second continuous amount information.

Abstract: The gesture-based input device for a user interface of a computer comprises two pairs of electrodes scalable for any screen size wherein the electrodes are arranged to capture the quasi-electrostatic field surrounding the user in order for the graphic user interface to provide different options or tasks to be selected by a user, a platform for supporting a user, a quasi-electrostatic field generator source connected to the platform and a circuitry connected to the electrodes for determining, relative to each of the electrodes, the position of that part of a user supported by the platform, e.g. a user's hand, being closest to the electrodes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of transferring data from a drawing device, which while utilizing a position-coding pattern, printed on a physical page, digitally records handwritten information, to an application in a computer system. The drawing device transfers recorded data to a memory in the computer system. A registering unit in the system determines from which part of the position-coding pattern the recorded data originates and activates, on the basis thereof, one or more applications which are registered as “subscribers” to data from this part of the pattern. When an application is activated and thus informed of the existence of new data relevant to the application, the application fetches this data. The fetching of data can be made on the basis of the contents of a page-describing file which defines the layout of the physical page.

Abstract: An enhanced touch-screen display system is disclosed for generating pixel coordinate estimates corresponding to a location on a display screen touched by a user. The system is an analog resistive touch-screen display system having a processor and associated software algorithms to allow for the calibration and validation of pixel coordinate estimates as an integral part of the real-time generation of the pixel coordinate estimates. Multiple calibrated pixel coordinate estimates are generated and processed at a pre-defined sampling rate to determine a valid pixel position to minimize sampling delays due to settling times. The x-axis position is also validated before the system attempts to generate a y-axis position to avoid the wasted time for generating y-axis estimates when x-axis estimates are corrupted. Noisy estimates are inherently reduced in the touch-screen display system by providing shunts across certain drivers in the system that also allow for detection of a “no touch” state.

Abstract: In an information transmitting device, a variable capacitor which is charged to have a predetermined voltage discharges through a predetermined resistor. Until the voltage becomes lower than a predetermined threshold voltage, the number of AC signals having a predetermined frequency is counted. Accordingly, first continuous amount information of a binary code corresponding to a writing pressure is obtained and is converted to a Gray code, which is regarded as second continuous amount information. A resonant circuit is opened or shorted in accordance with ‘0’ or ‘1’ in the second continuous amount information, so as to transmit the second continuous amount information.

Abstract: A mouth mounted computer input device is comprised of a curved housing shaped to closely engage the roof of the mouth against the front teeth. A touch pad is arranged on the bottom of the housing, and an electrical stimulator is arranged on the top of the housing. A microphone, a camera, a temperature sensor, a pulse monitor, and a first transceiver are also positioned in the housing. A fiber optic lens connected to the camera and projecting from the housing is arranged to be positioned between two front teeth. A second transceiver is connected to a personal computer. The touch pad is operable by the tongue for cursor control. The stimulator provides pulsed electrical stimulation to the mouth to present alphanumeric information. The microphone enables speech input, and the camera enables video input, the temperature sensor measures body temperature, and the pulse monitor measures heart rate.

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: 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.

Abstract: Processing circuitry is provided for processing signals received from, for example, sense coils forming part of a position encoder used to encode the relative positions of two relatively movable members. The position encoder is such that each of the plurality of signals from the sense coils varies sinusoidally with the relative position of the members but out of phase with respect to each other. The processing circuitry comprises mixers for multiplying each of the received signals with one of a corresponding plurality of periodic time varying signals, each having the same predetermined period and a different predetermined phase, and an adder for adding the signals from the mixers. The phase of the mixing signals are chosen so that the output signals from the adder contains a single periodic component having the predetermined period whose phase varies with the relative position of the two members.

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: Touch input systems for use with information display systems and methods distinguishing multiple touches overlapping in time. The touch input systems and methods analyze and optimize data collected on the X axis over time independently from that collected on the Y axis, and for each (X, Y) pair corresponding to a potential touch location, calculate correlation values between X magnitudes and Y magnitudes. The touch input system determines valid touch locations based on the correlation values. Because the touch input systems and methods of the present invention can process multiple concurrent touches, they can be used in applications for multiple users, such as games, and in other applications requiring the processing of concurrent touch inputs.

Abstract: Processing circuitry is provided for processing signals received from, for example, sense coils forming part of a position encoder used to encode the relative positions of two relatively moveable members. The position encoder is such that each of the plurality of signals from the sense coils varies sinusoidally with the relative position of the members but out of phase with respect to each other. The processing circuitry comprises mixers for multiplying each of the received signals with one of a corresponding plurality of periodic time varying signals, each having the same predetermined period and a different predetermined phase, and an adder for adding the signals from the mixers. The phase of the mixing signals are chosen so that the output signals from the adder contains a single periodic component having the predetermined period whose phase varies with the relative position of the two members.

Abstract: A first cylindrical lens and a first linear sensor are constructed on the X axis, a second cylindrical lens and a second linear sensor are constructed on the Y axis, the X and Y axes are orthogonal, and the image width of a beam spot formed by each of the first and second cylindrical lenses is larger than each pixel of the corresponding first and second linear sensors.

Abstract: In a method for position coding, positions are coded in a first dimension on a surface in accordance with a primary number sequence that has the property that the place in the primary number sequence of each partial sequence of a first predetermined length is unambiguously determined. Each position in the first dimension is coded by one of the partial sequences. The primary number sequence is built up of at least two secondary number sequences that have a smaller base than the base of the primary number sequence and that are used for determination of the partial sequences of the primary number sequence which correspond to the positions in the first dimension. This makes possible, among other things, realization of the method in devices with limited memory capacity, as the secondary number sequences require less memory in total than the primary number sequence. The secondary number sequences can also be used for decoding the position code.

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.

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 method and apparatus to convert geographic information to a binary representation, or bingeo. The geographic information can be converted to a bingeo for a selected reference or coordinate system, and with respect to a reference within the selected coordinate system. The coordinate system location to bingeo conversion can be hierarchical or iterative and can include segmenting the coordinate system or segments thereof. The iterative algorithm can include identifying a segment including the specified location, and segmenting the identified segment. During an iteration, segments can be assigned a binary code that can be incorporated into the bingeo. Successive segmentation iterations can be performed to provide increased precision. In one embodiment, a precision of 0.16 inches squared can be attained. Two bingeos can be compared, in the simplest form, using a bitwise logical XOR.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a process for coordinate data entered by a currently used coordinate input device is automatically performed first, without a special mode setting operation being required. First, a mouse driver is initialized, and then, a check is performed to determine whether a button on a digitizer is depressed. When the button on the digitizer is depressed, a corresponding process is performed, and the mouse driver is returned to the initial state after a predetermined time has elapsed. When a button on a mouse is depressed, a corresponding process is performed, and the mouse driver is returned to the initial state after a predetermined time has elapsed.

Abstract: In order to measure a scanning light cut-off region, an output of a light receiving element and a threshold value set by an MPU are compared by a comparator and a region where the former is smaller than the latter is measured as the scanning light cut-off region. During one cycle of optical scanning, this threshold value is switched in a plurality of stages according to the scanning angle. By accurately measuring the scanning light cut-off region, the correct position and size of an indicator such as a finger or pen are calculated.

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.

Abstract: A linear position encoder is provided which is not affected by ambient light, smoke, moisture, particulate matter, and also not affected by electrical interference such as may be caused by stray fields or permanent magnets or magnetic particles. The encoder comprises a linear scale having an excitation loop disposed along the length of the scale and having electrical terminals preferably disposed at one end of the scale. An alternating current is applied to the excitation loop to create an alternating magnetic field. At least one periodic conductive pattern is provided on an outer side of the excitation loop. The periodic pattern has electrical terminals preferably at the same end of the scale as the terminals of the excitation loop. A sensor is provided on a small printed circuit card that is movable in relation to the scale. The card has a pickup loop which receives energy coupled from the scale excitation loop and which induces current in the periodic pattern.

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.

Abstract: This invention provides a high-resolving-power, compact, lightweight, low-cost coordinate input apparatus which suppresses the influence of disturbance light. Signals in light emission and non-light emission states of a light spot flashed by a designation unit in a predetermined cycle are detected by sensors of a coordinate detection unit, and separately integrated by an integration means to obtain a difference signal. The difference signal is input to a coordinate arithmetic means and digitized at a data width of n bits or more to perform coordinate calculation, thereby outputting a coordinate value having a resolving power about the nth power of 2 of the number of sensor pixels.

Abstract: An optical digitizer is constructed for determining a position of a pointing object projecting a light and being disposed on a coordinate plane. In the optical digitizer, a detector is disposed on a periphery of the coordinate plane and has a view field covering the coordinate plane for receiving the light projected from the pointing object and for converting the received light into an electric signal. A processor is provided for processing the electric signal fed from the detector to compute coordinates representing the position of the pointing object. A collimator is disposed to limit the view field of the detector below a predetermined height relative to the coordinate plane such that through the limited view field the detector can receive only a parallel component of the light which is projected from the pointing object substantially in parallel to the coordinate plane.

Abstract: An angle information input apparatus has a main unit and a rotator. The main unit forms a peripheral portion of the input apparatus and has a first position-designating portion. The rotator is rotatable within the main unit and has a second position-designating portion. The input apparatus thus inputs any given angle information according to two positions which are respectively designated by the first and second position-designating portions placed on a tablet. Both first and second position-designating portions are displaced from the center position of the rotator. The distance between the first position-designating portion and the center position of the rotator is different from the distance between the second position-designating portion and the center position of the rotator. Accordingly, angle information is input only when the rotator is rotated, but it is not input when the input apparatus itself is merely moved.

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 as an 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 device (10) for obtaining information relating to the relative positions of first and second members (11, 12), the first member (11) comprising at least three isolated electrically conducting parts (13-16), and the second member (12) being electrically conducting and adjacent to and capacitively coupled to the first member (11), the first and second members (11, 12) being relatively movable such that the proportions of each of the respective parts (13-16) of the first member (11) in overlapping relationship with the second member (12) may be varied, oscillator means (25) to provide a first waveform signal (26) to one of the parts (13-16) of the first member (11) and a second waveform signal (27) to another of the parts (13-16) of the first member (11), means (40) to analyze a signal arising in the capacitively coupled second member (12) to provide a device output signal (50) containing positional information and characterized in that a switch means (31) is provided whereby when the switch means (31) is in a

Abstract: An angular information input system detects the inclined angle of a pointing device with a high accuracy without possible errors. This system is constituted so as to detect the induction voltage distribution in each axial direction generated by sensing coils (Ci) arranged under a display screen (16) by electromagnetic wave from a tuning circuit (34) contained in a pointing device (34). This system includes calculating means for calculating normalized values vpax, vpbx, vpay, and vpby in each axial direction by using a ratio between main peak voltage (Vp) representing the pointed coordinate by the pointing device (34) and auxiliary peak voltages (Vpa, Vpb). These normalized values are function parameters for calculating the inclined angles (.multidot..theta.x, .theta.y) in respective axial directions to input data representing the inclined angle .theta. and inclined direction of the pointing device into the associated computer.

Abstract: A coordinate detecting device and an angle information detecting method which are capable of detecting tilt angles of a stylus pen with high accuracy. A coordinate detecting device is made up of a plurality of sensor coils and a position indicator housing an electromagnetic coupling means, and detects coordinates and tilt angles of the position indicator by sensing an induced voltage developed in the sensor coil by means of electromagnetic interaction. The coordinate detecting device is also provided with an angle information detecting means. This angle information detecting means correct errors in a value of a predetermined function including main and sub-peaks, the errors arising from a difference between a main peak induced voltage distribution and a sub-peak induced voltage distribution within a detection width of one sensor coil, by converting either the main peak induced voltage distribution or the sub-peak induced voltage distribution so as to be similar to the other one.

Abstract: A position detecting device and a position pointing device thereof, which are capable of transmitting much information at high speed without lowering the sampling rate of coordinate detection. The position pointing device controls the resonance characteristic of a resonance circuit to one of at least four different resonance characteristics in accordance with at least two bits of binary code out of a plurality of bits of binary code, which represent pointing device information, at a preselected timing. A tablet detects the resonance characteristic of the resonance circuit by resonance characteristic detecting means from an electric wave generated from the resonance circuit at the preselected timing and converts it into at least two corresponding bits of binary code, thus enabling the transmission of information of two bits or more at a time.

Abstract: A sensor coil pattern used in combination with a coordinate input apparatus is provided, which is adapted to exactly detecting positions if a noise source such as an converter or an electrically closed conductor exists in the periphery of the apparatus. The apparatus is provided with a sensor surface having a sensor coil pattern of many sensor coils arranged thereon in parallel with each other in position detecting directions, a position indicator, a coil or a resonance circuit incorporated therein and a switching means so connected as to select simultaneously one of a plurality of a sensor coils, wherein said many sensor coils include a predetermined number of sensor coils individually connected to the switching means, said predetermined number of sensor coils including at least one or a plurality of sensor coils counted from one end of the arrangement.

Abstract: A rotatable member is positioned coaxial with a joint between a first element and a second element. The joint defines an angle to be measured. The rotatable member has coded information thereon. First and second sensing heads are attached to respective elements. Coded information is arranged on the rotatable member so as to periodically pass in readable proximity to the sensing heads once every revolution of the rotatable member. A decoding system is provided for each sensing head. Each decoding system includes threshold circuitry, a state machine, and a pulse generator for providing a timing strobe. A first timer uses a timing strobe from the first sensing head for continuously determining the average elapsed time for one complete revolution of the rotatable member. A second timer uses timing strobes from the first and second sensing heads to continuously determine the average elapsed time for the coded information on the rotatable member to travel from the first sensing head to the second head.

Abstract: A digital absolute position encoder is provided for determining absolute position of a first member with respect to a second member. The absolute position is determined within a resolution cell of L/2.sup.n, where n is an integer and L is a predetermined span. One of the members has a plurality of, m, tracks of binary indicia distributed over the predetermined span, L, where m is an integer less than n. The other member has a plurality of indicia detectors disposed on the second member for detecting the binary indicia. With such an arrangement, an encoder is provided having "a unit-distance code", yet uses less tracks than that used with a conventional Gray code encoder. Further, the encoder has a reduced number of transitions than that required on the track used with a conventional Gray code encoder. Both of these features simplify the design and fabrication for a given encoder resolution.

Abstract: An induction voltage signal induced at a detection electrode of a detection pen is binarized by a slice voltage "e.sub.s ". The number of pulses existing in the binary signal is counted by a counting device. The resulting count value obtained by the counting device and the number of times of electrode scanning in an x-coordinate detection period or a y-coordinate detection period are compared with each other by means of a comparator. When the number of pulses is greater, an error detection alarm signal is output by an alarm device. Thus the existence of the pulses based on the error detection signal is detected in the binary signal based on the induction voltage signal from the detection electrode to output the error detection alarm signal. The above arrangement allows the coordinates at the tip end of the detection pen to be detected in a stable and correct manner even when external noise is detected.

Abstract: A digitizing device includes a digitizing tablet having, for each of the two coordinate directions, a first grid winding divided into regularly repeated strip conductor groups and a second grid winding divided into regularly repeated strip conductor groups which are offset with respect to each other at different spacings over the entire work surface. A trigger circuit charges the grid windings with periodic signals in a predetermined sequence, the charges following each other essentially without interruption. However, an interruption time period is provided between the end of charging the grid windings for the other coordinate direction and the start of charging of the grid winding for the one coordinate direction. A scanning coil to be placed upon the digitizing table is connected to an evaluating circuit. The evaluating circuit and the trigger circuit galvanically are separated from each other and operate independently of each other.

Abstract: A coordinate detection device has upper and lower resistive plates. Pressure on the upper resistive plate causes the two plates to come into electrical contact at a point of the pressure allowing an external device to compute the coordinates of the applied pressure. Each resistive plate has a layer of transparent resistor material over a transparent substrate. Two parallel electrodes of silver are spaced apart on each resistive plate to create a linear potential gradient therebetween. The electrodes are connected across a voltage potential via lead wires which are made from the same material as the transparent resistor.

Abstract: The search position encoder includes a generally planar medium, a search probe and a device for moving the probe generally parallel to the surface of the planar medium, and indexing device for locating the actual position of the probe relative to a fixed location on the generally planar medium. A plurality of gratings consisting of alternating strips of conducting and non-conducting materials are arranged on or adjacent to the medium parallel to orthogonal axes of the medium, and a device for sensing the movement of the probe in a plane parallel to the gratings. The location of the probe may then be determined based upon the sensing of the passage of the probe relative to the gratings.

Abstract: A digitizer comprising a microprocessor, a quartz oscillator, a cursor or stylus, an overlapped loop assembly, a peak phase recognizer, an analog/digit converter and other matching devices including multiplexers, amplifiers, filters and etc., wherein the overlapped loop assembly includes a plurality of loops for horizontal axis respectively starting from the left and the middle and a plurality of loops for vertical axis respectively starting from the bottom and the middle to overlap on the loops for horizontal axis forming into an induction area, the first loop for the horizontal axis at the left being connected to the first loop for the horizontal axis at the middle and the posterior loops for the horizontal axis at the left as well as the loops for the vertical axis at the bottom being respectively connected to the posterior loops for the horizontal axis at the middle and the loops for the vertical axis at the middle.

Abstract: A wireless coordinate reader composed of:a sense line plate having a plurality of excitation lines and a plurality of sense lines arranged thereon; a coordinate indicator including a resonant circuit having a resonance frequency in proximity to the frequency of an excitation signal and composed of a coil and a first capacitor, and a switch circuit connected in parallel with the resonant circuit and composed of at least one series circuit of a switch and a resistor, and a second capacitor connected in series with one end of the the circuit; an amplification detection circuit for detecting the magnitude of an induction signal which is induced on a selected sense line when the excitation signal is applied to a selected excitation line and the coordinate indicator is placed above the sense line plate in the vicinity of the selected lines and for outputting an amplitude signal representative of the magnitude of the induction signal; a phase detection circuit for receiving a signal corresponding in phase to the exc

Abstract: A portable interactive electro-optic data input/output, processing, storage, and display device responsive to hand printed text and hand drawn graphics. The device preferably comprises a combined flat panel display and input pen sensing surface constructed from non-mechanical, non-emissive display elements, such as liquid crystal display elements. The device also comprises an input pen for manual entry of hand printed text and hand drawn graphics, as well as commands, directly onto the display surface for providing an electronic writing and drawing slate. The display elements themselves are preferably utilized as input pen sense locations. The flat panel display and input pen sensing surface is constructed so that there is no display distortion when the input pen is in contact with the surface. Rapid input pen sensing is provided for accommodating natural pen movement on a high resolution, large area display.

Abstract: An electromagnetic induction type coordinate reader composed of a main peak signal group detecting circuit for detecting a group of main peak signals out of induced signals which include a maximum-amplitude main peak signal, are close to one another, and are of the same phase; first and second secondary peak detecting circuits for detecting first and second secondary peak signals present before and after the group of main peak signals which are opposite in phase to the maximum-amplitude main peak signal and are taking maximal values of the induced signals; a main peak signal group adding circuit for obtaining the sum of amplitude of the group of main peak signals; a secondary peak subtracting circuit for obtaining the difference between the first and second secondary peaks; an inclination information calculating circuit for dividing the difference of the secondary peaks by the sum of amplitude of the group of main peak signals to deliver the inclination information of a coordinate pointer; and an inclination

Abstract: A method of evaluating designated responses to a series of questions includes the steps of forming on a surface of a markable sheet a number of response mark guides, whereby responses to the questions can be designated by placing marks on or within selected ones of the response mark guides. The response mark guides are arranged at certain positions on the sheet to define arrays of a certain reference form, e.g., a clock face, and each of the response mark guides of each array is associated with a different possible response such as a number from 0 to 9, according to the reference form. Responses are evaluated by interpreting the marks in accordance with their positions as placed on or within the response mark guides of the arrays and according to a selected response key.

Abstract: A pen-type computer input device is used to move a cursor on the display of a computer system or enter data such as of figures, letters, numerals, or the like into a computer system. The pen-type computer input device includes a shank, a ball rotatably supported on the tip end of the shank, the ball having a plurality of identifiable regions on an outer peripheral surface thereof, and a circuit including a sensor unit for detecting the identifiable regions in response to rotation of the ball, and for detecting the directions in which the ball rotates and the distances by which the ball moves two perpendicular directions in a plane, and producing an output signal representative of the directions and distances. Since the sensor unit can detect the distance by which the pen-type computer input device moves without any mechanical motion transmitting mechanism incorporated in the shank, the pen-type computer input device may be small in size and can be handled with ease.

Abstract: The coordinate detecting device according to this invention processes a plurality of detected adjoining input values scanned from an optical inputting grid and creates a single average value from the plurality which single value it provides to a host computer. It also evaluates data received from said optical inputting grid and restarts the scanning of the optical inputting grid independent of processing through a host computer when no input value is detected. It also receives and stores each input value received from said optical inputting grid, but does not provide an output to a host computer as long as an input value is detected, when an input value is no longer detected the last input value stored is outputted to a host computer.

Abstract: An optical digitizer or tablet employing a linear image sensor behind a microlouver strip and extending along a coordinate axis of a coordinate axes plane. In one embodiment, a non-directional light source floods the plane, and a cursor is provided with a reflector that reflects incident light. In another embodiment, the light source is on the reflector, and the sensor-microlouver combination is located along each tablet edge.

Abstract: An audio frequency based data capture tablet (26) includes a working surface (210) upon which a data collection document having marked responses is placed. A movable cursor (212, 222), which is mechanically disposed above the working surface (210), produces an audio signature indicating both its position and relative motion orthogonally. shaded bars (214, 216) along the top and sides of the tablet (26) which comprise binary encoded sections, cause a composite of audio frequencies to be produced. The intersecting members (212, 222) of the movable cursor are orthogonally disposed with the x-axis member including seven phototransistors (220) as does the y-axis member (225), with each of the phototransistors (220, 223) being uniquely associated with an audio frequency oscillator (330-342, 334-356) whose outputs are mixed and combined (400) to provide a composite audio signature; and optically alignable with the shaded bars (214, 216).

Abstract: In an optical coordinate input apparatus, an insect or mud may disturb optical coordinate input operation for a main computer. To avoid such a problem, light emitting element arrays and light receiving element arrays are arranged opposite to each other, a pair of these light emitting element and light receiving element are sequentially driven by a multiplexer, and a coordinate signal is output by a signal detecting device when an optical signal derived from the driven light emitting element cannot be received by the light receiving element positioned opposite to this driven light emitting element. Furthermore, a memory unit is employed to store the coordinate signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for the input and processing of characters and/or graphic patterns for use with electronic data processing systems includes an input unit and a control unit which transmits the input characters and/or graphic patterns to an output unit, a graphics tablet having an input layer, a plurality of sensor elements disposed on the input layer for converting pressure signals into electrical signals which are adapted for transmission to the control unit, a keyboard which is movable relative to the input layer from a keyboard operating position adjacent to the input layer to expose the input layer to enable direct entry thereto, and an operating mode detector for detecting whether the keyboard is in the operating position.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a vibration pen for generating a vibration, a transmission propagation member with which the vibration pen is brought into contact so as to propagate the vibration generated by the vibration pen, sensors for detecting the vibration propagating in the vibration propagation member, a CPU for calculating a contact position of the vibration pen from detection times of the vibration detected by the sensors, a mercury switch for detecting an obverse or reverse surface of the vibration propagation member, and a memory for storing coordinate values calculated by the CPU in different memory areas according to a detection result of the mercury switch. Coordinate data may be input selectively from either the obverse or the reverse side of the vibration propagation member, which thereby functions as a reversible input tablet.

Abstract: The position of the operator's finger or an actuating device on a transducing surface is used for controlling the level of utilization devices including theater lights controlled by an automated theater light control system. The transducing surface, which may be either an analog or a digital device, is elongated in shape and is immediately adjacent to an elongated display having individual light emitting devices to indicate the level of the utilization device being controlled. Circuitry connected to the transducing surface produces a first signal to indicate when an operator's finger or an actuating device is present on the transducing surface, and it produces a second signal to indicate the position of the operator's finger or the actuating device on the transducing surface. The second signal is supplied to the display, and the first and second signals are supplied to the utilization device.