Optical digitizer system with position-unique photoluminescent indicia

• US 9,557,827 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2015
• Issued: 01/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Geaghan, Bernard O., Free, Michael Benton, Hagermoser, Edward S., Marino, Rachael P., Nagarkar, Pradnya V., Wolk, Martin B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaworecki, Mark R
• Application Number:
  US14/723,655
• Publication Number:
  US 20150261317A1
• Time in Patent Office: 614 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0317 in co-operation with a patterned surface, e.g. absolute position or relative movement detection for an optical mouse or pen positioned with respect to a coded surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0321 by optically sensing the absolute position with respect to a regularly patterned surface forming a passive digitiser, e.g. pen optically detecting position indicative tags printed on a paper sheet constructional details of pen-shaped pointing devices G06F3/03545, G06F3/03542, G06F3/037
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06046 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/1423 the instrument generating sequences of position coordinates corresponding to handwriting preprocessing or recognising digital ink G06V30/32

Abstract

A digitizer system including a substrate having a position-unique photoluminescent indicia pattern. A stylus component receives optical signals indicative of the indicia pattern and determines therefrom the position of the stylus relative to the substrate. Methods of disposing indicia on the substrate, and styli suitable for sensing photoluminescent indicia are also described.

Claims

1. An article comprising:

a substrate having position-unique photoluminescent indicia comprising a plurality of patterns of dots, each pattern of dots configured to emit distinguishable wavelengths, the pattern and the emitted distinguishable wavelengths, in combination, uniquely defining a location of the pattern.

2. The article of claim 1, wherein at least one first dot is configured to emit light in a first wavelength range, at least one second dot is configured to emit light in a different second wavelength range, and at least one third dot is configured to emit light in the first and second wavelength ranges.

3. The article of claim 2, wherein the photoluminescent indicia are visible light transmissive.

4. The article of claim 3, wherein the substrate is visible light transmissive.

5. The article of claim 4, wherein the photoluminescent indicia luminesce upon exposure to radiation within a first wavelength range.

6. The article of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprise polyethylene terephthalage, polyethylene naphthalate, cellulose triacetate, or glass.

7. The article of claim 1, wherein the photoluminescent indicia are comprised of photoluminescent material.

8. The article of claim 7, wherein the photoluminescent material comprises quantum dots.

9. The article of claim 7, wherein the photoluminescent material comprises inorganic nanoparticles.

10. The article of claim 7, wherein the photoluminescent material is organic.

11. A method comprising:

disposing position-unique photoluminescent indicia on a substrate, wherein the photoluminescent indicia define local regions of the substrate comprising of patterns of dots, each pattern of dots configured to emit distinguishable wavelengths, the pattern and the emitted distinguishable wavelengths, in combination, uniquely defining a location of the pattern.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein disposing comprises printing.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the photoluminescent indicia are visible light transmissive.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the substrate is visible light transmissive.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the photoluminescent indicia luminesce upon exposure to radiation within a first wavelength range.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the substrate comprise polyethylene terephthalage, polyethylene naphthalate, cellulose triacetate, or glass.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the photoluminescent indicia are comprised of photoluminescent material.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the photoluminescent material comprises quantum dots.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the photoluminescent material comprises inorganic nanoparticles.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the photoluminescent material is organic.

21. A stylus for a digitizer system comprising:

a radiation source providing excitation radiation in a first wavelength range; and

,

a sensor configured to detect a pattern of dots and distinguish multiple wavelengths emitted by the dots in response to the excitation radiation in the first wavelength range, and based on the pattern and the distinguishing of the multiple wavelengths, uniquely identify a location of the pattern.

22. The stylus of claim 21, further comprising:

a processor communicatively coupled to the radiation source and the sensor.