Position detecting apparatus having a tablet and a position pointing device

• US 5,898,136 A
• Filed: 09/10/1996
• Issued: 04/27/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wacom Co Limited (Wacom)
• Original Assignee: Wacom Co Limited (Wacom)
• Inventors: Katsurahira, Yuji
• Primary Examiner(s): Shankar, Vijay
• Application Number:
  US08/712,052
• Time in Patent Office: 959 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/174, 345/179, 345/176, 178/18.01, 178/18.03, 178/18.06, 178/19.01, 178/19.03
• US Class Current: 178/18.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/046 by electromagnetic means

Abstract

A position detecting apparatus includes a position point device and a tablet. The position pointing device has a simple configuration as well as an easy way of adjusting a resonance frequency, without requiring a wide range of frequencies for inputting information. The position pointing device has a resonance circuit and an amplitude control circuit that limits a signal level generated in the resonance circuit. The tablet transmits an electromagnetic wave with at least two kinds of energy per transmission, thereby identifying operation of the position pointing device based on a comparison of signal levels received by the tablet.

Claims

1. A position detecting apparatus, comprising a position pointing device and a tablet;

the position pointing device comprising;

a resonance circuit comprising at least a coil and a capacitor; and

an amplitude control circuit for adjustably limiting the maximum amplitude of a signal generated by the resonance circuit according to operation of the amplitude control circuit; and

the tablet comprising;

an electromagnetic transmission means for transmitting at least two kinds of energy as electromagnetic waves during one transmission;

an electromagnetic reception means for receiving an electromagnetic wave reflected from said resonance circuit in response to an electromagnetic wave from the electromagnetic transmission means; and

an operation information identification means for identifying an operation by comparing the electromagnetic waves received by the electromagnetic wave reception means as a result of the two kinds of energy in relation to the maximum amplitude.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, the position pointing device further comprising:

a rectifier circuit for picking up a direct current signal from the resonance circuit, a capacitor for charging by an output signal of the rectifier circuit, and a load circuit connected to both ends of the capacitor wherein an impedance of the load circuit varies in accordance with an operation; and

wherein the operation information identification means detects changes of impedance in the load circuit.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, the position pointing device further comprising:

a rectifier circuit for picking up a direct current signal from the resonance circuit, a capacitor for charging by an output signal of said rectifier circuit, a load circuit connected to both ends of the capacitor, a switch, and a resistance element connected in series with the switch wherein the switch changes to ON/OFF in accordance with an operation; and

wherein the operation information identification means detects a difference or ratio of intensity of electromagnetic waves received by said electromagnetic wave reception means, and detects changes of impedance in said load circuit.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, the position pointing device further comprising a diode connected in parallel to the resonance circuit via a switching means;

and

wherein the operation information identification means detects a difference or ratio of intensity of electromagnetic waves received by said electromagnetic wave reception means.

5. The apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1-4 wherein the electromagnetic transmission means transmits intermittent electromagnetic waves with at least two kinds of transmission duration.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the electromagnetic transmission means transmits intermittent electromagnetic waves with at least two kinds of transmission duration, and wherein the operation information identification means compares the first intensity of the electromagnetic wave received by the electromagnetic reception means to the second intensity of the electromagnetic wave received by the electromagnetic reception means and judges whether the first intensity and the second intensity are almost the same or not.

7. The apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1-4 wherein the electromagnetic transmission means transmits intermittent electromagnetic waves with at least two kinds of transmission power.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the electromagnetic transmission means transmits intermittent electromagnetic waves with at least two kinds of transmission power;

and wherein the operation information identification means compares the first intensity of the electromagnetic wave received by the electromagnetic reception means to the second intensity of the electromagnetic wave received by the electromagnetic reception means electromagnetic second transmission power, and judges whether the first intensity and the second intensity are almost the same or not.

9. The apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2, 3, or 4 wherein a resonance frequency of the resonance circuit is configured to change in accordance with pressure, and the tablet further comprises a phase angle difference detecting means for detecting the phase angle difference between the electromagnetic wave transmitted from the electromagnetic transmission means and the electromagnetic wave received by the electromagnetic wave reception means, and pressure information identification means for detecting the pressure from the phase angle difference detected by the phase angle difference detecting means.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, the position pointing device further comprising:

maximum amplitude setting means for setting the maximum amplitude.

11. The device as claimed in claim 10 further comprising a rectifier circuit to pick up a direct current signal from the resonance circuit;

a capacitor charged by an output signal from the rectifier circuit, and a load circuit connected to both ends of the capacitor that changes impedance according to an operation.

12. The device as claimed in claim 11 further comprising a switch and a resistance element in series to the load circuit, wherein the switch turns ON/OFF according to the operation.

13. The device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the resonance circuit is connected to a diode in parallel via a switch turnable ON/OFF according to operation of the switch.

14. A device as claimed in any of claims 10-13, wherein a resonance frequency of the resonance circuit changes in accordance with pressure.

15. The apparatus as claimed in one of claims 2 and 3, the position pointing device further comprising a diode connected in parallel to the resonance circuit via a switching means;

and

wherein the operation information identification means detects a difference or ratio of intensity of electromagnetic waves received by the electromagnetic wave reception means.