Digitizer with illuminable working surface
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A digitizer tablet structure having a working surface which may be illuminated, comprising:
- a light-transmitting layer one surface of which is said working surface;
a position determining structure disposed generally coextensive with said working surface and which cooperates with an object movable on or adjacent said working surface when at least one of said position determining structure and said movable object is energized to generate signals representative of the position of said movable object with respect to said working surface;
a substantial space between said position determining structure and said light-transmitting layer; and
spacer means in said space between said position determining structure and said light-transmitting layer for spacing said light transmitting layer from at least said position determining structure, said spacer means being light transmitting and occupying only a small volume of said space;
said digitizer structure being configured to project light from a source to said light-transmitting layer through said space to illuminate said working surface.
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Abstract
Digitizer tablet and digitizer tablet structure having an illuminable working surface are disclosed. A space between a top translucent layer having the working surface and a source of light is provided so as to eliminate or minimize undesirable lighting effects at the working surface. In the preferred embodiments, the space is an air gap (e.g. 0.060-0.250 inch) immediately adjacent the top translucent layer. The air gap is formed by transparent optical fibers or solid glass or acrylic rods. Back-lighted, translucent, back-lightable (without light source) and surface lighted digitizer tablet embodiments are described.
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Citations
48 Claims
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1. A digitizer tablet structure having a working surface which may be illuminated, comprising:
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a light-transmitting layer one surface of which is said working surface; a position determining structure disposed generally coextensive with said working surface and which cooperates with an object movable on or adjacent said working surface when at least one of said position determining structure and said movable object is energized to generate signals representative of the position of said movable object with respect to said working surface; a substantial space between said position determining structure and said light-transmitting layer; and spacer means in said space between said position determining structure and said light-transmitting layer for spacing said light transmitting layer from at least said position determining structure, said spacer means being light transmitting and occupying only a small volume of said space; said digitizer structure being configured to project light from a source to said light-transmitting layer through said space to illuminate said working surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 38, 39)
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16. A translucent digitizer tablet structure having a working surface which may be illuminated, comprising:
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a light-transmitting layer one surface of which is said working surface; a substantially light-transmitting position determining structure generally coextensive with said working surface and which cooperates with an object movable on or adjacent said working surface when at least one of said position determining surface and said movable object is energized to generate signals representative of the position of said movable object with respect to said working surface; a substantial space between said position determining structure and said light-transmitting layer; and spacer means in said space between said position determining structure and said light-transmitting layer for spacing said light transmitting layer at least from said position determining structure, said spacer means being light transmitting and occupying only a small volume of said space; said digitizer tablet passing light projected from a side of said position-determining structure opposite said space to said working surface through said space to illuminate said working surface. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 40, 41)
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24. A digitizer tablet structure having a working surface which may be illuminated, comprising:
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a light-transmitting layer one surface of which is said working surface; a position determining structure generally coextensive with said working surface and which cooperates with an object movable on or adjacent said working surface when at least one of said position determining structure and said movable object is energized to generate signals representative of the position of said movable object with respect to said working surface; a substantial space between said position determining structure and said light-transmitting layer; and said digitizer structure being configured to project light from a source through said space to said light-transmitting layer without passing through said position determining structure to illuminate said working surface. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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42. A digitizer tablet structure having a working surface which may be illuminated, comprising:
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a light-transmitting layer one surface of which is said working surface; a position determining structure generally coextensive with said working surface and which cooperates with an object movable on or adjacent said working surface when at least one of said position determining structure and said movable object is energized to generate signals representative of the position of said movable object with respect to said working surface; a substantial space between said position determining structure and said light-transmitting layer; means for illuminating said working surface comprising means disposed between said position-determining structure and said space for projecting light through said space to said light-transmitting layer to illuminate said working surface; and means for joining said light-transmitting layer, said thin panel and said position determining structure into a single unit. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45)
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46. A tablet-type structure having a first outer generally flat surface which may function as a working surface and which may be illuminated and a second opposed outer surface, comprising:
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a light-transmitting layer one surface of which is said first outer surface; a substantial space adjacent a side of said light-transmitting layer opposite said first surface; a thin panel disposed adjacent said space for projecting light through space and through said light-transmitting layer to illuminate said first outer surface; and means for joining said first light-transmitting layer and said panel into a unit having said first and second opposed outer surfaces. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48)
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Specification