Electrostatic pen apparatus and method having an electrically conductive and flexible tip
First Claim
Patent Images
1. In combination:
- a digitizing tablet; and
a stylus having a compliant, single-piece tip that is electrically conductive, and means for generating an electrical signal.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electrostatic pen is disclosed wherein the pen'"'"'s tablet engaging tip is both electrically conductive and flexible, thus providing an increasing tip contact area to a digitizing tablet as the tip of the manually held pen is pressed downward onto the tablet'"'"'s top insulating layer. A signal source and signal detector are connected in series between the pen tip and the tablet'"'"'s lower conductive layer. The increased contact area of the tip increases the capacitance between the tip and the tablet'"'"'s lower conductive layer, thus improving the signal to noise ratio of the detected signal.
81 Citations
28 Claims
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1. In combination:
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a digitizing tablet; and a stylus having a compliant, single-piece tip that is electrically conductive, and means for generating an electrical signal. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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- 3. A stylus comprising signal means for generating an electrical signal, said stylus having a compliant, uniform tip for radiating said electrical signal.
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5. An apparatus for improving a signal-to-noise ratio of an electrical signal received by a digitizing tablet, comprising:
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a stylus including signal means for generating said electrical signal, said stylus having a compliant, elastomeric contact area for radiating said electrical signal; and a receiver for receiving said radiated electrical signal. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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7. A method for generating an electrical signal to a signal detector, comprising the steps of:
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providing a touch pen having an elastomeric and electrically conductive contact area for engaging an upper surface of an insulating layer; and providing a signal source having a first signal conductor, said first signal conductor being connected to said contact area. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for receiving a variable strength signal by a tablet from a pen that is operable with said tablet, comprising the steps of:
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providing a pen including an elastomeric and conductive contact area; receiving a signal of a first signal strength by the tablet when the pen engages the tablet with a first force; and receiving a signal of a second signal strength by the tablet when the pen engages the tablet with a second force. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. In combination:
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a signal detector; a tablet having a base member including a generally planar upper surface, a generally uniform thickness conductive coating overlaying said upper surface, and a generally uniform thickness insulating layer overlaying said conductive coating; a pen having a manually holdable pen body and a physically deformable, elastomeric and electrically conductive area of contact that is a function of the force by which said pen body is manually pressed down onto said insulating layer; and a signal source coupled to said area of contact. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A pen for use with a dielectric tablet having an upper insulating layer, a lower conductive layer, and an electrical conductor connected to the conductive layer and adapted to connect the conductive layer to a signal detector, the pen comprising;
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a pen body having a lower end; an elastic, physically deformable, and electrically conductive area of contact that is a function of the force by which said pen body is manually pressed down onto the insulating layer; and a signal source coupled to said area of contact. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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26. A method for improving the signal to noise ratio of a detection signal that is provided to a digitizing tablet, the method comprising the step of:
providing a pen having a tablet engaging contact area that is electrically conductive, elastomeric and flexible, thus providing a variable contact area to the tablet as the pen is pressed against the tablet with variable manual force. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
Specification