Brightpen/pad II

• US 5,073,770 A
• Filed: 08/03/1990
• Issued: 12/17/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hugh G. Lowbner
• Original Assignee: Hugh G. Lowbner
• Inventors: Lowbner, Hugh G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brier, Jeffery A.
• Application Number:
  US07/563,096
• Time in Patent Office: 501 Days
• Field of Search: 340/706, 340/707, 340/708, 340/709, 340/712, 178/18, 382/58, 382/68, 358/488, 358/496
• US Class Current: 345/180
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0428 by sensing at the edges of the touch surface the interruption of optical paths, e.g. an illumination plane, parallel to the touch surface which may be virtual sensing beam interruptions in a planar beam grid of an optical touch-screen G06F3/0421

Abstract

A scanning and digitizing device where the same photodetectors are used in a scanning mode and in a digitizing mode. In the scanning mode graphic information is scanned. In the digitizing mode coordinate positions of a stylus is determined. The photodetectors are used in the imaging portion of this device which imaging portion is a rangefinder in the digitizing mode.

Claims

1. An apparatus for digitizing graphic information on sheets of paper comprising photodetectors and imaging systems capable of imaging graphic information on said sheets of paper, and which said photodetectors are also used to digitize the coordinate position of a light emitting stylus or light absorbing stylus by means of converting analog signals from said photodetectors to digital signals suitable for input into a computer or the like.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which said photodetectors are capable of digitizing the coordinate position of the stylus by means of systems capable of forming images of the stylus on the said photodetectors and the means of imaging graphic information on said sheets of paper is by means of imaging successive lines of information on said sheets of paper by means of transporting said sheets paper.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 in which the means for forming said images of stylus indicating X, Y, coordinate position of said stylus consists of a rangefinder.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3 consists of means for acquiring separate views of said stylus, means for forming images of said separate views, and means for projecting said images upon said photodetectors.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4 in which means for acquiring separate views consists of mirrors.

6. An apparatus according to claim 4 in which means for forming said images are slits.

7. An apparatus according to claim 4 in which means for forming said images are pinholes.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which the photodetector consists of a CCD detector array.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which the photodetector consists of a vidicon tube.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which the photodetector consists of an array of photoelectric cells.