Method and apparatus for diminishing grid complexity in a tablet

• US 6,396,005 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2001
• Issued: 05/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rodgers Technology Center, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Rodgers Technology Center, Inc.
• Inventors: Rodgers, James L., Fowler, Billy C., Jaecks, Howard K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mengistu, Amare
• Application Number:
  US09/797,407
• Publication Number:
  US 20020018052A1
• Time in Patent Office: 453 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156,173,179,182 178/18.01,18.02,19.01
• US Class Current: 178/18.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/046 by electromagnetic means

Abstract

A grid consists of a first serpentine, and a second serpentine overlapping the first serpentine. Signals from the first and second serpentines are analyzed to determine transducer position. The first and second serpentines are foldback serpentines. The first serpentine is offset from the second serpentine by approximately ninety degrees.

Claims

1. A grid used to determine transducer position, consisting of:

a first serpentine to produce a first signal; and

a second serpentine overlapping the first serpentine to produce a second signal, wherein the second serpentine and the first serpentine form a pattern such that the second signal of the second serpentine compensates the first signal of the first serpentine so as to enhance linearity in determining the transducer position.

2. The grid of claim 1, wherein the first and second serpentines are foldback serpentines.

3. The grid pattern of claim 1, wherein the first serpentine is offset from the second serpentine by approximately ninety degrees.

4. A grid used to determine transducer position, comprising:

an x-grid;

a y-grid;

wherein the x-grid and y-grid each include a coarse and a fine resolution grid; and

wherein each fine resolution grid consists of;

a first serpentine to produce the first signal, and

a second serpentine overlapping the first serpentine to produce a second signal, wherein the second serpentine and the first serpentine form a pattern such that the second signal of the second serpentine compensates the first signal of the first serpentine so as to enhance linearity in determining the transducer position.

5. The grid of claim 4, wherein the x-grid and y-grid each further comprise a lateral resolution grid.

6. The grid of claim 4, wherein the first and second serpentines are foldback serpentines.

7. The grid of claim 4, wherein the first serpentine is offset from the second serpentine by approximately ninety degrees.

8. The grid of claim 4, wherein the coarse resolution grid comprises a plurality of segmented grids.

9. The grid of claim 4, wherein the coarse resolution grid consists of three serpentines.

10. A tablet used to determine transducer position, comprising:

an x-grid;

a y-grid;

an x-axis multiplexer coupled to the x-grid;

a y-axis multiplexer coupled to the y-grid;

an amplifier and filter coupled to the x-axis and y-axis multiplexors;

a synchronous detector coupled to the amplifier and filter;

an analog to digital (A/D) convertor coupled to the synchronous detector;

a NAND gate circuit coupled to the A/D converter;

a processor coupled to the NAND gate circuit;

a first level converter coupled to the processor;

a second level converter coupled to the processor;

wherein the x-grid and y-grid each include a coarse and a fine resolution grid; and

wherein each fine resolution grid consists of;

a first serpentine,

a second serpentine overlapping the first serpentine, and wherein signals from the first and second serpentines are analyzed to determine the transducer position.

11. The grid of claim 10, wherein the x-grid and y-grid each further comprise a lateral resolution grid.

12. The grid of claim 10, wherein the first and second serpentines are foldback serpentines.

13. The grid of claim 10, wherein the first serpentine is offset from the second serpentine by approximately ninety degrees.

14. The grid of claim 10, wherein the coarse resolution grid comprises a plurality of segmented grids.

15. The grid of claim 10, wherein the coarse resolution grid consists of three serpentines.

16. A system, comprising:

a processor;

a tablet, coupled to the processor, including,

an x-grid;

a y-grid;

an x-axis multiplexer coupled to the x-grid;

a y-axis multiplexer coupled to the y-grid;

an amplifier and filter coupled to the x-axis and y-axis multiplexors;

a synchronous detector coupled to the amplifier and filter;

an analog to digital (A/D) convertor coupled to the synchronous detector;

a NAND gate circuit coupled to the A/D converter;

a second processor coupled to the NAND gate circuit;

a first level converter coupled to the second processor;

a second level converter coupled to the first and second processors;

wherein the x-grid and y-grid each include a coarse and a fine resolution grid; and

wherein each fine resolution grid consists of;

a first serpentine,

a second serpentine overlapping the first serpentine, and

wherein signals from the first and second serpentines are analyzed to determine the transducer position.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the x-grid and y-grid each further comprise a lateral resolution grid.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the first and second serpentines are foldback serpentines.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the first serpentine is offset from the second serpentine by approximately ninety degrees.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the coarse resolution grid comprises a plurality of segmented grids.

21. The grid of claim 16, wherein the coarse resolution grid consists of three serpentines.

22. A method of determining transducer position, comprising:

determining a first set of possible transducer positions using a first resolution grid, wherein determining the first set includes using a first serpentine that produces a first signal and a second serpentine that produces a second signal, and wherein the first signal of the first serpentine compensates the second signal of the second serpentine to enhance linearity;

determining a second set of possible transducer positions using a second resolution grid; and

intersecting the first and second sets of possible transducer positions to determine transducer position.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein determining a first set of possible transducer positions comprises use of a first foldback serpentine and second foldback serpentine.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein use of a first foldback serpentine and second foldback serpentine comprises offsetting the second foldback serpentine approximately ninety degrees from the first foldback serpentine.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein determining a second set of possible transducer positions comprises use of a multi-wire resolution grid.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein use of a multi-wire resolution grid comprises a multi-wire resolution grid comprising a plurality of foldback serpentines.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein use of a multi-wire resolution grid comprises a multi-wire resolution grid comprising a plurality of segmented serpentines.

28. The method of claim 22 wherein:

determining a first set of possible transducer positions comprises determining a relative transducer position and period section;

determining a second set of possible transducer positions comprises determining a period segment; and

intersecting the first and second sets of possible transducer positions to determine transducer position comprises intersecting the period section and period segment, and scaling the relative transducer position based on the intersection of the period section and period segment.

29. A method of determining transducer position, comprising:

determining a first set of possible transducer positions using a first resolution grid, wherein determining the first set includes using a first serpentine that produces a first signal and a second serpentine that produces a second signal, and wherein the first signal of the first serpentine compensates the second signal of the second serpentine to enhance linearity;

determining a second set of possible transducer positions using a second resolution grid;

determining a third set of possible transducer positions using a third resolution grid;

intersecting the first, second and third sets of possible transducer positions to determine transducer position.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein determining a first set of possible transducer positions comprises use of a first foldback serpentine and second foldback serpentine.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein use of a first foldback serpentine and second foldback serpentine comprises offsetting the second foldback serpentine approximately ninety degrees from the first foldback serpentine.

32. The method of claim 29 wherein determining a second set of possible transducer positions comprises use of a multi-wire resolution grid.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein use of a multi-wire resolution grid comprises a multi-wire resolution grid comprising a plurality of foldback serpentines.

34. The method of claim 32 wherein use of a multi-wire resolution grid comprises, a multi-wire resolution grid comprising a plurality of segmented serpentines.

35. The method of claim 29 wherein determining a third set of possible transducer positions comprises use of a lateral resolution grid.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein use of a lateral resolution grid comprises a lateral resolution grid comprising a foldback serpentine and a fragmented foldback serpentine.

37. The method of claim 29 wherein:

determining a first set of possible transducer positions comprises determining a relative transducer position and period section;

determining a second set of possible transducer positions comprises determining a period segment; and

determining a third set of possible transducer positions comprises determining a period side; and

intersecting the first, second and third sets of possible transducer positions to determine transducer position comprises intersecting the period section, period segment and period side, and scaling the relative transducer position based on the intersection of the period section, period segment and period side.

38. A grid used to determine transducer position, comprising:

means for determining relative transducer position, wherein means for determining includes a first serpentine that produces a first signal and a second serpentine that produces a second signal, and wherein the first signal of the first serpentine compensates the second signal of the second serpentine to enhance linearity; and

means for scaling the relative transducer position.

39. The grid of claim 38 wherein the first and second serpentines are foldback serpentines.

40. The grid of claim 38 wherein the means for scaling the relative transducer position comprises a coarse resolution grid.

41. The grid of claim 40 wherein the coarse resolution grid comprises a plurality of segmented grids.

42. The grid of claim 40, wherein the coarse resolution grid consists of three serpentines.

43. The grid of claim 40 wherein the means for scaling the relative transducer position further comprises a lateral resolution grid.

44. The grid of claim 43 wherein the lateral resolution grid comprises a foldback serpentine and a fragmented foldback serpentine.