Shielding materials for electromagnetic digitizers

• US 5,218,173 A
• Filed: 10/17/1991
• Issued: 06/08/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Russell, Gregory F., Garwin, Richard L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schreyer, Stafford
• Application Number:
  US07/778,025
• Time in Patent Office: 600 Days
• Field of Search: 178/18, 178/19
• US Class Current: 178/18.08
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/046 by electromagnetic means

Abstract

Shielding materials used in electromagnetic digitizers which are packaged in a notebook computer environment. Shielding materials with sufficiently high magnetic permeability to increase the magnetic signal detected by the digitizer sensor grid can be used in such an environment, and can be placed in direct contact with the sensor grid. Aluminum or copper shields can also be placed in direct contact with the sensor grid to provide the requisite shielding. A combination of conductive and ferrite material can also be used as the conductive base material provides for shielding and a layer of ferrite material increases the magnetic signal and prevents signal attenuation by the conductor.

Claims

1. An electromagnetic digitizer, comprising:

a sensor grid, and

a shield plate disposed under said sensor grid, wherein said shield plate comprises a material with sufficiently high magnetic permeability to increase the magnetic signal in said sensor grid.

3. An electromagnetic digitizer according to claim 1, wherein

said sensor grid comprises a multiplicity of wires such that said wires form loops, and wherein said shield plate comprises a non-conductive material and the product of the magnetic permeability and the thickness of said non-conductive material is greater than the width of said loops in said sensor grid.

4. An electromagnetic digitizer according to claim 1, wherein

said shield plate comprises Mumetal.

5. An electromagnetic digitizer according to claim 1, wherein

said shield plate comprises ferrites.

6. An electromagnetic digitizer according to claim 1, wherein

said sensor grid includes a sensor grid substrate;

and

said shield plate is in direct contact with said sensor grid substrate.

7. An electromagnetic digitizer according to claim 6, wherein

said shield plate comprises Mumetal.

8. An electromagnetic digitizer according to claim 6, wherein

said shield plate comprises ferrites.

2. An electromagnetic digitizer according to claim wherein

said sensor grid comprises a multiplicity of wires such that said wires form loops, and wherein said shield plate comprises a conductive material and the product of the magnetic permeability and skin depth of said conductive material is greater than the width of said loops in said sensor grid.

9. An electromagnetic digitizer, comprising:

a sensor grid comprising a multiplicity of wires,

a pen comprising a pen coil, and

a shield plate disposed under said sensor grid, wherein said shield plate comprises conductive material such that said conductive material is of sufficient thickness and conductivity to prevent penetration of the magnetic field of said pen coil, said shield plate being in contact with said sensor grid substrate.

10. An electromagnetic digitizer according to claim 9, wherein:

said shield plate comprises copper.

11. An electromagnetic digitizer according to claim 9, wherein

said shield plate comprises aluminum.

12. An electromagnetic digitizer according to claim 9, wherein

the separation between said shield plate and said wires of said sensor grid is one millimeter or less.

13. An electromagnetic digitizer according to claim 12, wherein

said shield plate comprises copper.

14. An electromagnetic digitizer according to claim 12, wherein

said shield plate comprises aluminum.

15. An electromagnetic digitizer, comprising:

a shield plate disposed under a sensor grid,

wherein said shield plate comprises a base material of conductive material with a layer of magnetic material disposed on one side of said base material.

16. An electromagnetic digitizer according to claim 15, wherein

said magnetic material comprises ferrites.

17. An electromagnetic digitizer according to claim 16, wherein

said conductive material comprises copper.

18. An electromagnetic digitizer according to claim 16, wherein

said conductive material comprises aluminum.

19. An electromagnetic digitizer, comprising:

a shield plate disposed under a sensor grid,

wherein said shield plate comprises a material that increases the magnetic signal in said sensor grid and which prevents penetration of magnetic fields.

20. An electromagnetic digitizer according to claim 19, wherein

said shield material comprises a Nickel alloy.

21. An electromagnetic digitizer according to claim 19, wherein

said shield plate comprises Mumetal.