Light-emitting stylus and user input device using same
First Claim
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1. A stylus for use with a light sensitive user input device, comprising:
- a light-emitting device configured to emit a light beam through a tip of the stylus when the tip is not in contact with an input surface of the input device, the light beam having a property that abruptly changes when the tip of the stylus sufficiently contacts the input surface, the abrupt change in the light beam being detectable by the light sensitive user input device.
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Abstract
The present invention provides a light-emitting stylus configured to abruptly change a property of an emitted light beam when the stylus sufficiently contacts a surface. The abrupt change in the light beam is detectable by an array of light sensitive detectors that can be used to determine the position of the light beam when the light beam is transmitted through an input surface. When the stylus contacts the input surface, the detectors can detect the abrupt change in the emitted light, signaling a change from a stylus hover mode to a stylus touch down mode.
189 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A stylus for use with a light sensitive user input device, comprising:
a light-emitting device configured to emit a light beam through a tip of the stylus when the tip is not in contact with an input surface of the input device, the light beam having a property that abruptly changes when the tip of the stylus sufficiently contacts the input surface, the abrupt change in the light beam being detectable by the light sensitive user input device. - 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 user input device comprising:
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a plurality of light sensors disposed to detect light transmitted through an input surface of the input device;
a stylus configured to emit a light beam through a tip independent of whether the tip is in contact with the input surface, the light beam being detectable by the sensors; and
electronics coupled to the sensors and configured to determine the light beam location at a reference plane, wherein when the tip contacts the input surface, a property of the light beam abruptly changes in a manner detectable by the sensors. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method for using an input device that includes a light-emitting stylus for emitting a light beam and a plurality of light sensors disposed to detect the light beam transmitted through an input surface of the input device, the method comprising:
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detecting the light beam when the stylus is not contacting the input surface;
detecting the light beam when the stylus is contacting the input surface;
abruptly changing a property of the light beam when the stylus sufficiently contacts the input surface; and
detecting the abruptly changed property of the light beam. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35)
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Specification