Method and apparatus for the wireless capture of coordinate-shift information

• US 6,476,799 B1
• Filed: 11/12/1999
• Issued: 11/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: KYE Systems Corporation
• Original Assignee: KYE Systems Corporation
• Inventors: Lee, Jeffrey, Chien, Kenny, Hsien, Po-Hsun
• Primary Examiner(s): Liang, Regina
• Application Number:
  US09/439,222
• Time in Patent Office: 1,089 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173-179, 178/18.01, 178/18.03, 178/18.07, 178/18.08, 178/19.01, 178/19.03, 178/19.06, 178/19.07
• US Class Current: 345/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/046 by electromagnetic means

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for the wireless capture of coordinate-shift information. The apparatus includes a pulse generator that generates a pulse signal and simultaneously distributes the pulse signal into a first signal along the first path and a second signal along the second path. The apparatus further includes a working area defined by a plurality of crossing X-axis signal lines and Y-axis signal lines, and at least one coil surrounding the working area for generating a magnetic field. The apparatus also includes a scanning circuit coupled to the working area, and a synchronic determination circuit coupled to the pulse generator and the scanning circuit for receiving the first and second signals, and for determining the time delay between the receipt of the first and second signals. The apparatus further includes a signal processing circuit coupled to the scanning circuit and the synchronic determination circuit. The first signal passes through the working area and the scanning circuit to the synchronic determination circuit, and contains coordinate shift information. The position indicator can include a resonance circuit that receives signals from the magnetic field, and then re-transmits resonance signals having different pulse widths to the working area.

Claims

1. A method for the wireless capture of coordinate shift information using movement of a position indicator within a working area, comprising:

generating a signal;

simultaneously distributing the signal along a first path that includes the working area, and a second path;

detecting the times at which the signals from the first and second paths arrive at a common location; and

determining the coordinate shift information based on the difference between the arrival times of the signals from the first and second paths;

wherein each generated signal has a period with a first sub-duration that contains the coordinate shift information, and a second sub-duration that contains information regarding whether a push button on the position indicator has been actuated.

2. The method of claim 1, further including:

utilizing the signal from the first path to power the position indicator.

3. The method of claim 2, further including:

the position indicator modulating the signal received from the first path, and providing a resonance signal back to the working area from which the resonance signal is provided to the common location.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the resonance signal includes coordinate shift information and information regarding whether a push button has been actuated.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the information regarding whether a push button has been actuated includes the identity of an actuated push button.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the presence of the position indicator in the working area delays the transmission of the signal in the first path to the common location.

7. The method of claim 1, further including:

surrounding the working area with at least one coil that receives the pulse signal from the first path and thereupon generates a magnetic field.

8. Apparatus for the wireless capture of coordinate shift information, comprising:

a pulse generator that generates a pulse signal and simultaneously distributes the pulse signal into a first signal along a first path and a second signal along a second path;

a working area defined by a plurality of crossing X-axis signal lines and Y-axis signal lines;

at least one coil surrounding the working area for generating a magnetic field;

a scanning circuit coupled to the working area;

a synchronic determination circuit coupled to the pulse generator and the scanning circuit for receiving the first and second signals, and for determining the time delay between the receipt of the first and second signals; and

a signal processing circuit coupled to the scanning circuit and the synchronic determination circuit;

wherein the first signal passes through the working area and the scanning circuit to the synchronic determination circuit, and contains coordinate shift information.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further including:

an amplifier coupled to the scanning circuit for amplifying the first signal received from the working area; and

a limiter coupled to the amplifier for stabilizing and limiting the amplified first signal.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first signal also contains push button status information.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the signal processing circuit includes:

a controller coupled to the scanning circuit for controlling the scanning of the working area;

a coordinate detection circuit coupled to the synchronic determination circuit and the controller;

a push button demodulator coupled to the scanning circuit and the controller for demodulating the push button status information; and

wherein the controller determines the coordinate shift information received from the coordinate detection circuit.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the second signal is directly transmitted to the synchronic determination circuit.

13. A system, comprising:

(a) an apparatus for the wireless capture of coordinate shift information, including;

a pulse generator that generates a pulse signal and simultaneously distributes the pulse signal into a first signal along a first path and a second signal along a second path;

a working area defined by a plurality of crossing X-axis signal lines and Y-axis signal lines;

at least one coil surrounding the working area for generating a magnetic field;

a scanning circuit coupled to the working area;

a synchronic determination circuit coupled to the pulse generator and the scanning circuit for receiving the first and second signals, and for determining the time delay between the receipt of the first and second signals; and

a signal processing circuit coupled to the scanning circuit and the synchronic determination circuit;

wherein the first signal passes through the working area and the scanning circuit to the synchronic determination circuit, and contains coordinate shift information; and

(b) a position indicator positioned in the working area, including;

a resonance circuit having means for receiving signals from the magnetic field, and for re-transmitting resonance signals having different pulse widths to the working area;

a pulsewidth control circuit coupled to the resonance circuit for changing the width of the resonance signals; and

a push-button circuit coupled to the pulsewidth control circuit and the resonance circuit.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the resonance signals contain coordinate shift information.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the resonance signals further contains push button status information.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the second signal is directly transmitted to the synchronic determination circuit.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the resonance circuit has a capacitor and an inductor that combine to generate the resonance signals.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the position indicator further includes a plurality of push buttons, and wherein the push-button circuit includes a set of resistors and capacitors for each push button, with each set of resistors and capacitors producing a different RC constant for each push button.