Sensor coil pattern and the coordinate input apparatus thereof

• US 5,657,011 A
• Filed: 05/19/1995
• Issued: 08/12/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Wacom Co Limited (Wacom)
• Original Assignee: Wacom Co Limited (Wacom)
• Inventors: Komatsu, Kazuhiro, Obi, Katsuhito
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaffin, Jeffrey A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUYNH, TRANG N
• Application Number:
  US08/446,005
• Time in Patent Office: 816 Days
• Field of Search: 341/5, 341/15, 378/19, 378/20, 345/156, 345/157, 345/158, 345/173, 345/174, 345/175, 345/176, 345/177, 345/178, 345/179
• US Class Current: 341/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/046 by electromagnetic means

Abstract

A sensor coil pattern used in combination with a coordinate input apparatus is provided, which is adapted to exactly detecting positions if a noise source such as an converter or an electrically closed conductor exists in the periphery of the apparatus. The apparatus is provided with a sensor surface having a sensor coil pattern of many sensor coils arranged thereon in parallel with each other in position detecting directions, a position indicator, a coil or a resonance circuit incorporated therein and a switching means so connected as to select simultaneously one of a plurality of a sensor coils, wherein said many sensor coils include a predetermined number of sensor coils individually connected to the switching means, said predetermined number of sensor coils including at least one or a plurality of sensor coils counted from one end of the arrangement.

Claims

1. A sensor surface for use with a coordinate input apparatus, comprising:

a) a plurality of sensor coils arranged on said sensor surface in parallel with each other in a position detecting direction, a predetermined number of sensor coils from said plurality of sensor coils being selected and connected with each other; and

b) at least one of said plurality of sensor coils counted from one end of the arrangement for being individually connected to a switch for transmission of delivered or received signals to said plurality of sensor coils such that said at least one is not connected to any other sensor coils, whereby the received signals on said at least one will not adversely influence any of the other sensor coils when the received signals are subjected to adverse influence.

2. A sensor surface as in claim 1, wherein:

a) said at least one of said plurality of sensor coils includes the outermost sensor coils of the arrangement.

3. A sensor surface as in claim 1, wherein:

a) said predetermined number of sensor coils being connected to at least one other sensor coil.

4. A sensor surface as in claim 1, wherein:

a) said predetermined number of sensor coils being divided into groups, each sensor coil from one group being connected to a sensor coil in each of the other groups.

5. A coordinate input apparatus, comprising:

a) a sensor surface including a plurality of sensor coils arranged on said sensor surface in parallel with each other in a position detecting direction, a predetermined number of sensor coils from said plurality of sensor coils being selected and connected with each other;

b) a position indicator having a resonance circuit incorporated therein; and

c) at least one of said plurality of sensor coils counted from one end of the arrangement for being individually connected to a switch for transmission of delivered or received signals to said plurality of sensor coils such that said at least one is not connected to any other sensor coils, whereby the received signals on said at least one will not adversely influence any of the other sensor coils when the received signals are subjected to adverse influence.

6. A sensor surface as in claim 5, wherein:

a) said at least one of said plurality of sensor coils includes the outermost sensor coils of the arrangement.

7. A sensor surface as in claim 5, wherein:

a) said predetermined number of sensor coils being connected to at least one other sensor coil.

8. A sensor surface as in claim 5, wherein:

a) said predetermined number of sensor coils being divided into groups, each sensor coil from one group being connected to a sensor coil in each of the other groups.

9. A coordinate input apparatus as in claim 5, and further comprising:

a) a closed conductor surrounding said plurality of sensor coils.

10. A coordinate input apparatus as in claim 5, and further comprising:

a) an LCD unit disposed on top of said sensor surface.

11. A coordinate input apparatus as in claim 10, wherein:

a) said LCD unit includes an inverter; and

b) said at least one of said plurality of sensor coils is disposed in the neighborhood of said inverter.

12. A coordinate input apparatus as in claim 10, and further comprising:

a) a metal frame surrounding said plurality of sensor coils.