Pressure sensitive stylus having resiliently compressible tip element

• US 5,581,052 A
• Filed: 07/26/1995
• Issued: 12/03/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GTCO Corporation (GTCO Calcomp, Incoporated)
• Original Assignee: Summagraphics Corp.
• Inventors: Siefer, David, Padula, Michael J., Trousil, Tomas, Chiappetta, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Wellington
• Assistant Examiner(s): LOOMIS, PAUL A
• Application Number:
  US08/506,900
• Time in Patent Office: 496 Days
• Field of Search: 178/18, 178/19, 178/20, 345/179, 345/180, 345/181, 345/182
• US Class Current: 178/19.04
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus

Abstract

A stylus for use with a digitizer tablet has a tip element that includes a front portion with a tip for engaging the surface of the tablet, and a back portion of the tip element within the stylus housing. The back portion of the tip element is adapted to apply pressure to a pressure sensitive resistance element. The front and back portions of the tip element are coupled together by a spring, in order that the tip element be resiliently compressible in the axial direction of the stylus.

Claims

1. In a stylus for use with a digitizer tablet having a working surface, wherein the stylus has a housing, an elongated tip element axially movable in said housing with one end of said tip element extending from said housing and being positioned to be pressed against the working surface of the tablet and the other end of said tip element being positioned within said housing, and a pressure sensitive element positioned within said housing to receive axial pressure from the other end of said tip element resulting from pressure on said one end thereof, the improvement wherein said tip element is resiliently axially compressible.

2. The stylus of claim 1 wherein said resiliently axially compressible tip element comprises a tip portion mounted to have a tip end extend from said housing, a back portion within said housing positioned to engage said pressure sensitive element, and a spring coupling said tip and back portions within said housing.

3. The stylus of claim 1 wherein said pressure sensitive element is a pressure sensitive resistance element.

8. The stylus of claim 2 further comprising a socket element mounted within said housing so as to be axially movable within said housing, said socket holding said back portion of said tip element.

9. The stylus of claim 2 wherein said housing is provided with a sleeve for axially guiding said tip portion of said tip element.

4. A tip element for a stylus comprising first and second axially aligned tip element portions, and means for resiliently coupling said first and second tip element portions, whereby said tip element is axially resiliently compressible.

5. The tip element of claim 4 wherein said means for resiliently coupling said first and second tip element portions comprises a helical compression spring.

6. The tip element of claim 5 further comprising means for adjusting the length of one of said first and second tip element portions.

7. The tip element of claim 4 wherein one of said first and second tip element portions has a pin mounted to slide axially in a central hole the other of said first and second tip element portions.

10. A tip element for use in a stylus used with a digitizer tablet, the stylus having a housing and a pressure sensitive element positioned within the housing, the tip element comprising a first end at least a portion of which extends from the housing and is positioned to be pressed against the tablet and a second end positioned within the housing to apply axial pressure to the pressure sensitive element when pressure is applied to the first end, the tip element assuming a first configuration when pressure is not applied to the first end and a second configuration when pressure is applied to the first end, wherein in the second configuration the first end of the tip element is not displaced by the same amount as the second end as compared to the first configuration.

11. The tip element of claim 10 wherein the first end comprises a tip portion mounted to have a tip end extend from the housing, wherein the second end comprises a back portion positioned within the housing to engage the pressure sensitive element, and wherein the tip element further comprises means for resiliently coupling the tip and back portions to return the tip element from the second configuration to the first configuration when pressure ceases to be applied to the first end.

12. The tip element of claim 11 wherein the means for resiliently coupling comprises a helical compression spring.

13. The tip element of claim 11 wherein one of the tip and back portions of the tip element has a pin mounted to slide axially in a central hole of the other of the tip and back tip element portions.