Architecture for communication of remote devices to a digitizing display

• US 5,349,139 A
• Filed: 10/30/1992
• Issued: 09/20/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines SA (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: Donaldson, Robert L., Stein, Frank L., Verrier, Guy F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Tommy P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): AU, AMELIA MEGAN
• Application Number:
  US07/969,864
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• Field of Search: 340/706, 340/709, 340/710, 340/712, 340/707, 340/708, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 178/18, 178/19, 382/59, 345/179, 345/158, 345/180, 345/157, 345/169, 345/174, 345/177, 345/173
• US Class Current: 178/19.04
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04162 for exchanging data with external devices, e.g. smart pens, via the digitiser sensing hardware
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0441 using active external devices, e.g. active pens, for receiving changes in electrical potential transmitted by the digitiser, e.g. tablet driving signals
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0442 using active external devices, e.g. active pens, for transmitting changes in electrical potential to be received by the digitiser

Abstract

An architecture for communication of remote devices to a digitizing display includes a contact sensing mechanism and a position sensing mechanism whose outputs are multiplexed for transmission from the stylus to an antenna located proximate to the digitizing display. The digitizing display also includes a transmitter for transmitting information from a pen-based computer system to the stylus for storage or utilization in the stylus.

Claims

1. A data processing architecture for a pen-based computing system comprising:

a stylus which includes a pressure sensing transducer and a X-Y position sensing transducer;

said pressure sensing transducer coupled to a multiplexer and said X-Y position sensing transducer also connected to said multiplexer;

a transmitter in said stylus having an input connected to said multiplexer, for transmitting a multiplexed data stream of information representing contact pressure applied to said pressure transducer and X-Y information representing the position of the stylus;

said system further comprising a digitizing display which includes an electrostatic tablet which radiates electromagnetic radiation which is detected by said X-Y position sensing transducer in said stylus;

a receiver located proximate said electrostatic tablet in said pen-based computer system, for receiving a multiplexed data stream transmitted from said stylus;

whereby an event of contacting said pressure transducer on the surface of said electrostatic tablet and establishing an X-Y position of said stylus with respect to said electrostatic tablet are transmitted from said stylus to said receiver;

a second transmitter in said digitizing display, in said pen-based computer system, for transmitting information to said stylus;

a second receiver in said stylus, for receiving information from said second transmitter in said digitizing display; and

a utilization device in said stylus, coupled to said second receiver, for using information received from said digitizing display.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said utilization device is a RAM and information stored therein is originated in said pen-based computer system.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said utilization device is an annunciator device.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said annunciator device is a liquid crystal display device.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein said annunciator device is a beeper device.

6. The system of claim 3 wherein said annunciator device is a vibrator device.

7. The system of claim 1 which further comprises:

a personal identification number storage device in said stylus, having an output coupled to said multiplexer.

8. The system of claim 1 which further comprises:

a random access memory in said stylus, which stores data which can be output to a multiplexer device coupled therewith.

9. The system of claim 1 which further comprises:

an optical character recognition device in said stylus having an output coupled to said multiplexer.

10. The system of claim 1 which further comprises:

a bar code reader device in said stylus, having an output coupled to said multiplexer.

11. The system of claim 1 which further comprises:

a first antenna in said stylus coupled to said transmitter therein, for transmitting an electromagnetic signal from said stylus which contains said multiplexed data stream;

a second antenna embedded proximate to said electrostatic tablet, for receiving said electromagnetic signal transmitted from said first antenna in said stylus, said second antenna being coupled to said receiver located proximate to said electrostatic tablet.