Piezoelectric data entry devices
First Claim
1. A transmitter eraser, comprising:
- an erasing pad having a diameter;
a piezoelectric transducer located near said erasing pad, said piezoelectric transducer having a piezoelectric shell having an outer surface and an inner surface, and having a bottom edge and a top edge, said inner surface defining an inner region, an outer conductive layer on said outer surface of said piezoelectric shell, an inner conductive layer on said inner surface of said piezoelectric shell; and
means for applying a voltage to said inner conductive layer and said outer conductive layer.
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Accused Products
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. The void acts to increase the characteristic output sound pressure level for the transducer. In marking and erasing implement embodiments, one or more piezoelectric transducers are located on a data entry device, and are either used alone, or in conjunction with second output transmitters, such as infrared transmitters, to transmit repeated signals from the data entry device to a receiver, which can be used to accurately determine the location of the pointing tip of the data entry device, in relation to an electronic tablet or white board.
115 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A transmitter eraser, comprising:
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an erasing pad having a diameter;
a piezoelectric transducer located near said erasing pad, said piezoelectric transducer having a piezoelectric shell having an outer surface and an inner surface, and having a bottom edge and a top edge, said inner surface defining an inner region, an outer conductive layer on said outer surface of said piezoelectric shell, an inner conductive layer on said inner surface of said piezoelectric shell; and
means for applying a voltage to said inner conductive layer and said outer conductive layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A transmitter pen, comprising:
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an transmitter pen enclosure having a writing end and an access end opposite said writing end, an a writing pen cavity defined within said transmitter pen enclosure from said access end through said writing end;
a plurality of piezoelectric ceramic transducers having an inner surface and an inner surface located around said writing end of said transmitter pen enclosure, wherein said outer surfaces of each of said plurality of piezoelectric ceramic transducers face outward from said writing end of said transmitter pen enclosure; and
means for applying a voltage to said inner surface and said outer surface of each of said plurality of piezoelectric ceramic transducers. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A data entry device, comprising:
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an enclosure having a writing end and an erasing end opposite said writing end, and a writing pen cavity defined within said enclosure and extending through said writing end;
an erasing pad located on said erasing end of said enclosure;
at least one piezoelectric writing transducer located at said writing end of said enclosure;
at least one piezoelectric erasing transducer located at said erasing end of said enclosure;
means for applying a voltage to said piezoelectric writing transducer; and
means for applying a voltage to said piezoelectric erasing transducer. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification