Notebook-sized computer and input system of notebook-sized computer

• US 7,843,438 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2006
• Issued: 11/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wacom Co Limited (Wacom)
• Original Assignee: Wacom Co Limited (Wacom)
• Inventors: Onoda, Naoto
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh; Duc Q
• Application Number:
  US11/434,508
• Publication Number:
  US 20060267961A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,659 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-181
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0331 Finger worn pointing device

Abstract

A notebook-sized computer, comprising a main unit having a display screen portion with a display screen and a key input portion, said notebook-sized computer further comprising an electrostatic capacitance type input pad by which the touch operation by user'"'"'s finger is detectable, a palm rest portion arranged near the electrostatic capacitive type input pad underneath which the sensor substrate of a position detection device is placed, and a position detection device comprising the sensor substrate mounted internally in said notebook-sized computer and including a plurality of loop coil groups realized by one or a plurality of patterns on the sensor substrate, each of the loop coils comprising at least one turn, a position detection circuit electrically connected to the loop coils within the sensor substrate, a position indicator having a resonance circuit coupled to said coils in electromagnetic coupling fashion, wherein the detection circuit detects operations initiated by using the position indicator when the position indicator is placed in contact with or suspended a prescribed distance above the sensor substrate.

Claims

1. A notebook-sized computer, comprising a main unit having a display screen portion with a display screen and a key input portion, said notebook-sized computer further comprising an electrostatic capacitance type input pad by which the touch operation by user'"'"'s finger is detectable, a palm rest portion arranged near the electrostatic capacitive type input pad underneath which a sensor substrate of a position detection device is placed, a surface sheet affixed to the palm rest portion above the location of the sensor substrate including a visual delineation of an effective area of operation for position detection, the surface sheet comprising a synthetic resin or similar material having a prescribed coefficient of friction, and the position detection device comprising the sensor substrate mounted internally in said notebook-sized computer and including a plurality of loop coils realized by one or a plurality of patterns on the sensor substrate, each of the loop coils comprising at least one turn, a position detection circuit electrically connected to the loop coils within the sensor substrate, a position indicator having a resonance circuit coupled to said coils in electromagnetic coupling fashion, wherein the detection circuit detects operations initiated by using the position indicator when the position indicator is placed in contact with or suspended a prescribed distance above the sensor substrate, and wherein using the position indicator in contact with the surface sheet produces a sense of operation due to friction.

2. The notebook-sized computer according to claim 1, wherein said position indicator comprises a pressure operation portion which is used in pressure operation, and a pressure-response mechanism in which the inductance of said coil changes according to the depressing force applied to the pressure operation portion, and wherein said position detection device detects pressure operation in said pressure operation portion by detecting the change in inductance of said coil of said position indicator.

3. The notebook-sized computer according to claim 1, wherein said sensor substrate, placed in a position corresponding to an operation area, numerous loop coils formed from exceedingly thin wire, and configured in a corresponding area on the sensor substrate.

4. The notebook-sized computer according to claim 3, wherein a shield plate of a magnetic material is placed on the rear-surface side of said sensor substrate.

5. The notebook-sized computer according to claim 3, wherein said sensor substrate is affixed to the rear side of the panel constituting the upper surface of said main unit.

6. The notebook-sized computer according to claim 3, wherein a depression is formed in the upper surface of said main unit in a range comprising said operation area, and said sensor substrate is placed at the bottom of said depression.

7. The notebook-sized computer according to claim 1, wherein a hole is provided in the palm rest portion, and said sensor substrate is substantially aligned with the hole, and the surface sheet is configured over the hole to provide a cover protecting the sensor substrate and further has the function of producing the sense of operation using the position indicator in contact with the surface sheet.

8. The notebook-sized computer according to claim 1, wherein an operation area display member which displays said operation area is provided on the upper surface of said main unit.

9. The notebook-sized computer according to claim 1, wherein a relative position input device which inputs relative position coordinates is positioned on the upper surface of said main unit, extending on the forward side of said key input portion, and said operation area is positioned on the side of said relative position input device.

10. An input system for a notebook-sized computer, comprising a main unit having a display screen portion with a display screen and a key input portion, an electrostatic capacitance type input pad by which the touch operation by user'"'"'s finger is detectable, a palm rest portion arranged near the electrostatic capacitive type input pad underneath which a sensor substrate of a position detection device is placed, a surface sheet affixed to the palm rest portion above the location of the sensor substrate including a visual delineation of an effective area of operation for position detection, the surface sheet comprising a synthetic resin or similar material having a prescribed coefficient of friction producing a sense of operation using the position indicator in contact with the surface sheet, the position detection device comprising the sensor substrate mountable internally in said notebook-sized computer and including a plurality of loop coils realized by one or a plurality of patterns on the sensor substrate, each of the loop coils comprising at least one turn, a position detection circuit electrically connected to the loop coils within the sensor substrate, a hand held or worn position indicator having a resonance circuit coupled to said coils in electromagnetic coupling fashion, wherein the detection circuit detects operations initiated by using the position indicator when the position indicator is placed in contact with or suspended a prescribed distance above the sensor substrate.

11. The input system for a notebook-sized computer according to claim 10, wherein said position indicator comprises a pen-type housing incorporating said coil.

12. The input system for a notebook-sized computer according to claim 10, wherein said position indicator comprises a circuit accommodation portion which accommodates said coil, and a support portion which supports said circuit accommodation portion, and which has a shape of being held against a side face of a finger of the user, while maintaining a state of exposure of the fingertip of the finger of the user.

13. The input system for a notebook-sized computer according to claim 10, wherein said position indicator is a finger ring-type comprising a circuit-accommodation portion formed in substantially a planar shape, a protruding portion directed downward and sized for high precision position input and pressure operations, two arm portions protruding from the circuit-accommodation portion and curved as support portions to form a ring wearable on a user'"'"'s finger while leaving the user'"'"'s fingertip exposed.

14. The input system for a notebook-sized computer according to claim 10, wherein said position indicator is disposed adjacent an input pad.

15. The input system for a notebook-sized computer according to claim 10, wherein inductance of a coil of said position indicator varies as a function of pressure applied to the position indicator.

16. The input system for a notebook-sized computer according to claim 10, wherein said position indicator is remote from said display screen.

17. The input system for a notebook-sized computer according to claim 10, wherein said position indicator is overlaid by a protective sheet.

18. The input system for a notebook-sized computer according to claim 10, wherein a magnetic shield plate underlies said substrate.

19. The input system for a notebook-sized computer according to claim 10, wherein said position indicator is coupled to a plurality of loop coils.

20. The input system for a notebook-sized computer according to claim 19, wherein said loop coils are alternately actuated.

21. An input system for a notebook-sized computer, comprising a main unit having a display screen portion with a display screen and a key input portion, an electrostatic capacitance type input pad by which the touch operation by user'"'"'s finger is detectable, a palm rest portion arranged near the electrostatic capacitive type input pad underneath which a sensor substrate of a position detection device is placed, the position detection device comprising the sensor substrate mountable internally in said notebook-sized computer and including a plurality of loop coils realized by one or a plurality of patterns on the sensor substrate, each of the loop coils comprising at least one turn, a position detection circuit electrically connected to the loop coils within the sensor substrate, a hand held or worn position indicator having a resonance circuit coupled to said coils in electromagnetic coupling fashion, wherein the detection circuit detects operations initiated by using the position indicator when the position indicator is placed in contact with or suspended a prescribed distance above the sensor substrate wherein said position indicator is a finger ring-type indicator comprising a circuit-accommodation portion formed in substantially a planar shape, a protruding portion directed downward and sized for high precision position input and pressure operations, two arm portions protruding from the circuit-accommodation portion and curved as support portions to form a ring wearable on a user'"'"'s finger while leaving the user'"'"'s fingertip exposed.