Data processing system comprising a graphic tablet and a stylus and stylus for use in such a system

• US 5,889,237 A
• Filed: 11/21/1995
• Issued: 03/30/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: US Philips Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: US Philips Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Makinwa, Kofi A. A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shankar, Vijay
• Application Number:
  US08/560,237
• Time in Patent Office: 1,225 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/158, 345/179, 345/180, 178/18.01, 178/18.03, 178/18.07, 178/18.1, 178/19.01, 178/19.03
• US Class Current: 178/18.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus

Abstract

In a data processing system comprising a graphic tablet and a wireless stylus cooperating with the tablet, the stylus is activated by an activation signal transmitted by a display screen integrated with the tablet. For the activation signal use is made of a signal which is transmitted any way by the display screen in the normal operational mode. The stylus is arranged to receive the signal and to change over from a battery-saving standby mode to an operational mode upon reception of this signal.

Claims

1. A data processing system, comprising a graphic tablet, a stylus capable of transmitting a stylus signal which serves for the detection of a position of the stylus relative to the tablet, and activation means for activating the stylus under the influence of a wireless activation signal, characterized in that:

the system further comprises a display screen adjacent the tablet, which display screen transmits the wireless activation signal as a consequence of an operational behavior of the display screen, and that the stylus comprises the activation means and is arranged to receive the activation signal transmitted by the display screen.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the activation means comprise a detector for detecting the activation signal and a switch for activating the stylus, the detector being arranged to operate the switch.

3. A system as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the detector comprises an aerial for receiving the activation signal.

4. A system as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the detector is arranged to compare a level of the activation signal at the area of the stylus with a predetermined threshold level and to operate the switch on the basis of the comparison result.

5. A system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the activation means makes a determination as to whether the activation signal is below a second predetermined threshold level for a predetermined period of time, and to switch the stylus to a standby mode on the basis of said determination.

6. A system as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the activation means are switched off in the standby mode of the stylus.

7. A system as claimed in claims 2, characterized in that the detector is sensitive to a predetermined frequency of the activation signal.

8. A system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the activation signal is one of the following signals:

an M signal, an LCD screen illumination (back light or edge light), or a flyback signal.

9. A stylus for use in a system as claimed in claim 1.

10. A system as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the detector is arranged to compare a level of the activation signal at the area of the stylus with a predetermined threshold level and to operate the switch on the basis of the comparison result.

11. A data processing system, comprising:

a display screen, said display screen emitting electromagnetic radiation during operation;

a positioning tablet adjacent the screen,

a stylus including transmitting means for transmitting a stylus signal, the positioning tablet receiving the stylus signal to determine the position of the stylus relative to the tablet, said stylus including activating means for activating the transmitting means, said activating means detecting the electromagnetic radiation from the display screen and activating the transmitting means in dependence on the electromagnetic radiation from the display screen.

12. A data processing system according to claim 11, wherein the electromagnetic radiation detected by said activating means for activating said transmitting means is radiation emitted by the display screen as a result of normal operation of the display screen, independent of the stylus.

13. A data processing system according to claim 12, wherein said screen is a CRT and said electromagnetic radiation detected by said activating means is a flyback signal of the CRT.

14. A data processing system according to claim 12, wherein said screen is an LCD including at least one of (i) a back light and (ii) an edge light driven at a driving frequency, and said electromagnetic radiation detected by said activating means is the driving frequency of said at least one of the back light and edge light.

15. A data processing system according to claim 12, wherein said screen is an LCD having an M signal and said electromagnetic radiation detected by said activating means is the M signal.

16. A data processing system, comprising:

a display screen, said display screen emitting electromagnetic radiation with a characteristic frequency signature at least recurrently during operation;

a positioning tablet adjacent the screen, a stylus including transmitting means for transmitting a stylus signal, the positioning tablet receiving the stylus signal to determine the position of the stylus relative to the tablet, said stylus including activating means for activating the transmitting means, and a battery for powering said transmitting means and said activating means, said transmitting means when activated having a higher power drain on said battery than when inactivated, said activating means detecting the electromagnetic radiation from the display screen and activating the transmitting means in dependence on detection of electromagnetic radiation from the display screen with (i) the characteristic frequency signature and (ii) a preselected signal strength corresponding to a selected distance of the stylus from the display screen, so that the transmitter is inactive and power drain on the battery is reduced when (i) the stylus is further from the screen than the selected distance from the display screen and (ii) the display screen is inoperative.

17. A data processing system according to claim 16, wherein the electromagnetic radiation detected by said activating means for activating said transmitting means is radiation emitted by the display screen as a result of normal operation of the display screen, independent of the stylus.

18. A data processing system according to claim 17, wherein said screen is a CRT and said electromagnetic radiation detected by said activating means is a flyback signal of the CRT.

19. A data processing system according to claim 17, wherein said screen is an LCD including at least one of (i) a back light and (ii) an edge light driven at a driving frequency, and said electromagnetic radiation detected by said activating means is the driving frequency of said at least one of the back light and edge light.

20. A data processing system according to claim 17, wherein said screen is an LCD having an M signal and said electromagnetic radiation detected by said activating means is the M signal.