Digitizer

• US 9,323,409 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2014
• Issued: 04/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Topaz Systems Inc
• Original Assignee: Topaz Systems Inc
• Inventors: Zank, Anthony E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sherman, Stephen
• Application Number:
  US14/570,099
• Publication Number:
  US 20150091871A1
• Time in Patent Office: 498 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-178, 178 1801- 1809, 178/18.11
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A system for receiving, storing, and displaying biometric input has a touchpad and a digitizer. The digitizer comprises a substantially transparent touch activatable overlay placed over the touchscreen and a plurality of sensors supported by the overlay to detect input to the overlay. The digitizer includes a data outlet for transferring the detected input as overlay data so the touchpad can visually display the detected input on its touchscreen. The digitizer has sufficient sensors that the overlay data contains more information than the touchpad data would if the touchscreen were contacted directly without the digitizer present.

Claims

1. A system for receiving, storing, and displaying biometric input comprising:

a. a touchpad having a touchscreen adapted for receiving input by contact with the touchscreen, detecting the input, storing the input as touchpad data in memory, and visually displaying the input on the touchscreen; and

b. a digitizer comprising;

i. a substantially transparent touch activatable overlay placed over the touchscreen;

ii. a plurality of sensors supported by the overlay to detect input to the overlay;

iii. at least one detectable element supported by the overlay for detection by the touchscreen so the touchscreen can determine the presence and position of the digitizer; and

iv. a data outlet for transferring the detected input as overlay data so the touchpad can visually display the detected input on its touchscreen;

wherein there are sufficient sensors that the overlay data contains more information than the touchpad data would if the touchscreen were contacted directly without the digitizer present; and

wherein the data outlet transfers the detected input as overlay data for storage in the touchpad memory and wherein the overlay data contains more information than the touchpad data would if the capacitive touchscreen were contacted directly without the device present.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the detectable element comprises a spacer.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the spacer is hemispherical in shape and electrically conductive.