Piezoelectric transducer for data entry device
DCFirst Claim
1. A transmitter pen comprising:
- piezoelectric transducer formed from a flexible film having an inner surface and an outer surface, the transducer having a bottom edge and a top edge, the outer surface extending from the bottom edge to the top edge, the transducer also having a hollow inner region defined between the bottom edge and the top edge, the inner surface extending from the bottom edge to the top edge within the hollow inner region, an outer conductive layer deposited on the outer surface of the film, and an inner conductive layer deposited on the inner surface of the film, the piezoelectric transducer having an axis extending from the bottom edge to the top edge within the hollow inner region;
a writing tip which extends through the hollow inner region and beyond the top edge;
means for activating the inner conductive layer and the outer conductive layer by an applied voltage;
such that the piezoelectric transducer resonates upon the activation to produce an output signal waveform that is transmitted radially outward from the outer conductive layer about the axis of the transducer.
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Abstract
A piezoelectric transducer is provided, in which a piezoelectric shell has conductive layers on the outside and inside of the shell, which are adapted to be connected to a signal input source. When the conductive layers are activated, the piezoelectric layer resonates to produce an output signal waveform from the shell structure. An alternative embodiment includes a flat piezoelectric layer with opposing conductive layers, which is then formed into a shell structure. In preferred embodiments, an inner spool is located within the shell structure, which acts to increase the output sound pressure level for the transducer. To increase the sound pressure level further, the inner spool preferably includes a recessed area, which defines a void between the inner conductive layer on the shell and the recessed area. The void acts to increase the characteristic output sound pressure level for the transducer. In some embodiments, the piezoelectric transducer is placed into a data entry device, such as a transmitter pen, and is used to transmit a signal from the pen to one or more receivers, which can be used to accurately determine the location of the pen, in relation to an electronic tablet or white board. The transmitter pen preferably includes a writing pen, wherein the writing tip extends through the shell structure of the piezoelectric transducer.
53 Citations
77 Claims
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1. A transmitter pen comprising:
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piezoelectric transducer formed from a flexible film having an inner surface and an outer surface, the transducer having a bottom edge and a top edge, the outer surface extending from the bottom edge to the top edge, the transducer also having a hollow inner region defined between the bottom edge and the top edge, the inner surface extending from the bottom edge to the top edge within the hollow inner region, an outer conductive layer deposited on the outer surface of the film, and an inner conductive layer deposited on the inner surface of the film, the piezoelectric transducer having an axis extending from the bottom edge to the top edge within the hollow inner region;
a writing tip which extends through the hollow inner region and beyond the top edge;
means for activating the inner conductive layer and the outer conductive layer by an applied voltage;
such that the piezoelectric transducer resonates upon the activation to produce an output signal waveform that is transmitted radially outward from the outer conductive layer about the axis of the transducer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A transmitter pen comprising:
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a piezoelectric transducer having a bottom edge, a top edge, an outer surface extending from the bottom edge to the top edge, a hollow inner region defined between the bottom edge and the top edge, and an inner surface extending from the bottom edge to the top edge within the hollow inner region, an outer conductive layer deposited on the outer surface, and an inner conductive layer deposited an the inner surface, the piezoelectric transducer having an axis extending from the bottom edge to the top edge within the hollow inner region;
a writing tip which extends through the hollow inner region and beyond the top edge;
means for activating the inner conductive layer and the outer conductive layer by an applied voltage; and
a spool having an outer surface, a bottom edge having a first circumference and a top edge having a second circumference, and a hollow inner region defined between the bottom edge and the top edge, the spool located within the inner region of the piezoelectric shell, the bottom edge of the spool substantially aligned with the bottom edge of the piezoelectric shell, the top edge of the spool substantially aligned with the top edge of the piezoelectric shell, and the writing tip extending through the hollow inner region of the spool and extending from the top edge of the hollow inner region of the spool, such that the piezoelectric transducer resonates upon the activation to produce an output signal waveform that is transmitted radially outward from the outer conductive layer about the axis of the transducer, and such that the spool acts to increase the output sound pressure level for the transducer. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
a central surface between the bottom edge of the spool and the top edge of the spool having a central circumference less than the first circumference of the bottom edge of the spool and the circumference of the top edge of the spool, such that a substantially uniform air cavity is defined between the central surface of the spool and the inner surface of the piezoelectric shell.
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8. The transmitter pen of claim 4, wherein the piezoelectric shell is a piezoelectric film.
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9. The transmitter pen of claim 4, wherein the piezoelectric shell further comprises a first lead extension tab and second lead extension tab on the bottom edge of the piezoelectric shell, wherein the outer conductive layer extends onto the first lead extension tab, and the inner conductive layer extends onto the second lead extension tab.
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10. A transmitter pen comprising:
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a piezoelectric transducer having a bottom edge, a top edge, an outer surface extending from the bottom edge to the top edge, a hollow inner region defined between the bottom edge and the top edge, and an inner surface extending from the bottom edge to the top edge within the hollow inner region, an outer conductive layer deposited on the outer surface, and an inner conductive layer deposited on the inner surface, the piezoelectric transducer having an axis extending from the bottom edge to the top edge within the hollow inner region;
a writing tip which extends through the hollow inner region and beyond the top edge; and
means for activating the inner conductive layer and the outer conductive layer by an applied voltage;
such that the piezoelectric transducer resonates upon the activation to produce an output signal waveform that is transmitted radially outward from the outer conductive layer about the axis of the transducer, wherein one or both of the outer and inner conductive layers contains silver. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A transducer activatable by an applied voltage, the transducer comprising:
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a piezoelectric shell fanned from a flexible film having an inner surface and an outer surface, the piezoelectric shell having a bottom edge and a top edge, the outer surface extending from the bottom edge to the top edge, the piezoelectric shell also having a hollow inner region defined between the bottom edge and the top edge, the inner surface extending from the bottom surface to the top surface within the hollow inner region, the piezoelectric shell having an axis extending from the bottom edge to the top edge within the hollow inner region;
an outer conductive layer deposited on the outer surface of the film; and
an inner conductive layer deposited on the inner surface of the film;
such that when the outer deposited conductive layer and the inner deposited conductive layer are activated by the applied voltage, the piezoelectric shell resonates to produce an output signal waveform that is transmitted radially outward from the outer surface about the axis of the transducer. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
means for applying an input signal to the outer conductive layer and the inner conductive layer.
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20. The ultrasonic transducer of claim 18, wherein the piezoelectric shell comprises a cylindrical piezoelectric shell.
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21. The ultrasonic transducer of claim 18, wherein the piezoelectric shell comprises a polygonal piezoelectric shell.
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22. A transducer activatable by an applied voltage, the transducer comprising:
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a piezoelectric shell having a bottom edge, a top edge, an outer surface extending from the bottom edge to the top edge, a hollow inner region defined between the bottom edge and the top edge, and an inner surface extending from the bottom surface to the top surface within the hollow inner region, the piezoelectric shell having an axis extending from the bottom edge to the top edge within the hollow inner region;
an outer conductive layer deposited on the outer surface;
an inner conductive layer deposited on the inner surface; and
a spool having an outer surface, bottom edge having a first circumference and a top edge having a second circumference located within the hollow inner region of the piezoelectric shell, the bottom edge of the spool substantially aligned with the bottom edge of the piezoelectric shell, and the top edge of the spool substantially aligned with the top edge of the piezoelectric shell, such that when the outer deposited conductive layer and the inner deposited conductive layer are activated by the applied voltage, the piezoelectric shell resonates to produce an output signal waveform that is transmitted radially outward from the outer surface about the axis of the transducer, and such that the spool acts to increase the output sound pressure level for the transducer. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
a central surface between the bottom edge of the spool and the top edge of the spool having a central circumference less than the first circumference of the bottom edge of the spool and the circumference of the top edge of the spool, such that a substantially uniform air cavity is defined between the central surface of the spool and the inner surface of the piezoelectric shell.
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26. The ultrasonic transducer of claim 22, wherein the spool further comprises a hollow inner region defined between the bottom edge and the top edge, and further comprising:
a writing pen having a pointing tip, wherein the pointing tip extends through the hollow inner region of the spool and extends from the top edge of the hollow inner region of the spool.
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27. The ultrasonic transducer of claim 22, wherein the piezoelectric shell comprises a piezoelectric film.
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28. The ultrasonic transducer of claim 22, wherein the piezoelectric shell further comprises a first lead extension tab and a second lead extension tab on the bottom edge of the piezoelectric shell, wherein the outer deposited conductive layer extends onto the first lead extension tab, and the inner conductive layer extends onto the second lead extension tab.
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29. A transducer activatable by an applied voltage, the transducer comprising:
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a piezoelectric shell having a bottom edge, a top edge, an outer surface extending from the bottom edge to the top edge, a hollow inner region defined between the bottom edge and the top edge, and an inner surface extending from the bottom surface to the top surface within the hollow inner region, the piezoelectric shell having an axis extending from the bottom edge to the top edge within the hollow inner region;
an outer conductive layer deposited on the outer surface;
an inner conductive layer deposited on the inner surface;
a protective coating layer over one or both of the inner and the outer deposited conductive layers; and
means for activating the inner conductive layer and the outer conductive layer by an applied voltage;
such that when the outer deposited conductive layer and the inner deposited conductive layer are activated by the applied voltage, the piezoelectric shell resonates to produce an output signal waveform that is transmitted radially outward from the outer surface about the axis of the transducer.
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30. A transducer activatable by an applied voltage, the transducer comprising:
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a piezoelectric shell having a bottom edge, a top edge, an outer surface extending from the bottom edge to the top edge, a hollow inner region defined between the bottom edge and the top edge, and an inner surface extending from the bottom surface to the top surface within the hollow inner region, the piezoelectric shell having an axis extending from the bottom edge to the top edge within the hollow inner region;
an outer conductive layer deposited on the outer surface; and
an inner conductive layer deposited on the inner surface, such that when the outer deposited conductive layer and the inner deposited conductive layer are activated by the applied voltage, the piezoelectric shell resonates to produce an output signal waveform that is transmitted radially outward from the outer surface about the axis of the transducer, wherein one or both of the outer and inner conductive layers contains silver. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A transducer activatable by an applied voltage, the transducer comprising:
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a substantially rectangular formable piezoelectric film having an outer surface, an inner surface, a bottom edge, a top edge opposite the bottom edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge opposite the first side edge;
an outer conductive layer on the outer surface; and
an inner conductive layer on the inner surface opposite the outer conductive layer;
the formable piezoelectric film being rollably formed into a continuous piezoelectric shell with a hollow inner region defined from the bottom edge to the top edge, and having a connected overlapping region between the first side edge and the second side edge, the continuous piezoelectric shell having an axis extending from the bottom edge to the top edge within the hollow inner region;
such that when the outer deposited conductive layer and the inner deposited conductive layer are activated by the applied voltage, the formed continuous piezoelectric shell resonates to produce an output signal waveform that is transmitted radially outward from the outer surface about the axis of the transducer. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
a spool having a bottom edge having a first circumference and a top edge having a second circumference located within the inner region of the piezoelectric shell, the bottom edge generally aligned with the bottom edge of the piezoelectric shell, and the top edge generally aligned with the top edge of the piezoelectric shell, such that the spool acts to increase the output sound pressure level for the transducer.
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40. The transducer of claim 39, further comprising:
means for applying an input signal to the outer conductive layer and the inner conductive layer.
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41. The transducer of claim 39, wherein the bottom edge of the piezoelectric shell is attached to bottom edge of the spool.
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42. The transducer of claim 39, wherein the top edge of the piezoelectric shell is attached to the top edge of the spool.
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43. The transducer of claim 39, wherein the spool further comprises:
a central surface between the bottom edge of the spool and the top edge of the spool having a central circumference less than the first circumference of the bottom edge of the spool and the circumference of the top edge of the spool, such that a substantially uniform air cavity is defined between the central surface of the spool and the inner surface of the piezoelectric shell.
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44. The transducer of claim 39, further comprising:
a writing pen having a pointing tip, wherein the pointing up extends through the hollow region of the formed continuous shell of the piezoelectric film.
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45. The transducer of claim 39, wherein the formed continuous shell of the piezoelectric film is a cylindrical continuous shell.
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46. The transducer of claim 38, wherein the formed continuous shell of the piezoelectric film is a polygonal continuous shell.
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47. The transducer of claim 38, further comprising:
a protective coating layer over the outer conductive layer.
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48. The transducer of claim 38, further comprising:
a protective coating layer over the inner conductive layer.
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49. The transducer of claim 38, wherein the outer conductive layer is silver.
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50. The transducer of claim 38, wherein the outer conductive layer is a silver based compound.
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51. The transducer of claim 38, wherein the outer conductive layer is a silver based alloy.
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52. The transducer of claim 38, wherein the outer conductive layer is a mixture of carbon and silver.
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53. The transducer of claim 38, wherein the inner conductive layer is silver.
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54. The transducer of claim 38, wherein the inner conductive layer is a silver based compound.
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55. The transducer of claim 38, wherein the inner conductive layer is a silver based alloy.
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56. The transducer of claim 38, wherein the inner conductive layer is a mixture of carbon and silver.
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57. The transducer of claim 38, wherein the piezoelectric shell includes a first lead extension tab and a second lead extension tab on the bottom edge of the piezoelectric shell, wherein the outer conductive layer extends onto the first lead extension tab, and the inner conductive layer extends onto the second lead extension tab.
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58. A process for forming a transducer which is activatable by an applied voltage, the process comprising:
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depositing an outer conductive layer on a first surface of a generally rectangular piezoelectric film layer having a bottom edge, a top edge, a first side edge and a second side edge;
depositing an inner conductive layer on an opposing second side of the piezoelectric film layer;
rolling the piezoelectric film layer into a piezoelectric shell having an outer surface and a hollow inner region defined therein, wherein the first side edge and the second side edge overlap to form an overlapping region, wherein the outer deposited conductive layer is located on the outer surface, and wherein the inner deposited conductive layer is located within the hollow inner region, the piezoelectric shell having an axis extending from the bottom edge to the top edge within the hollow inner region; and
connecting the first side edge and the second side edge within the overlapping region;
such that when the outer deposited conductive layer and the inner deposited conductive layer are activated by the applied voltage, the piezoelectric shell resonates to produce an output signal waveform that is transmitted radially outward from the outer surface about the axis of the piezoelectric shell. - View Dependent Claims (59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77)
providing a means for applying an input signal to the outer conductive layer and the inner conductive layer.
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60. The process of claim 58, further comprising the step of:
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placing a spool having a bottom edge having a first circumference and a top edge having a second circumference located within the inner region of the formed piezoelectric shell, the bottom edge generally aligned with the bottom edge of the piezoelectric shell, and the top edge generally aligned with the top edge of the piezoelectric shell, such that the spool acts to increase the output sound pressure level for the transducer.
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61. The process of claim 60, wherein the bottom edge of the formed piezoelectric shell is attached to the bottom edge of the spool.
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62. The process of claim 60, wherein the top edge of the formed piezoelectric shell is attached to the top edge of the spool.
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63. The process of claim 60, wherein the spool further comprises:
a central surface between the bottom edge and the top edge having a central circumference less than the first circumference of the bottom edge and the circumference of the top edge.
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64. The process of claim 58, further comprising the step of:
locating a pointing tip of a writing pen through the hollow region of the formed piezoelectric shell.
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65. The process of claim 58, wherein the piezoelectric shell comprises a cylindrical piezoelectric shell.
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66. The process of claim 58, wherein the piezoelectric shell comprises a polygonal piezoelectric shell.
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67. The process of claim 58, further comprising the step of:
forming a protective coating layer over the outer conductive layer.
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68. The process of claim 58, further comprising the step of:
forming a protective coating layer over the inner conductive layer.
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69. The process of claim 58, wherein the outer conductive layer is silver.
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70. The process of claim 58, wherein the outer conductive layer a silver based compound.
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71. The process of claim 58, wherein the outer conductive layer is a silver based alloy.
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72. The process of claim 58, wherein the outer conductive layer is a mixture of carbon and silver.
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73. The process of claim 58, wherein the inner conductive layer is silver.
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74. The process of claim 58, wherein the inner conductive layer is a silver based compound.
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75. The process of claim 58, wherein the inner conductive layer is a silver based alloy.
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76. The process of claim 58, wherein the inner conductive layer is a mixture of carbon and silver.
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77. The process of claim 58, wherein the piezoelectric film includes a first lead extension tab and a second lead extension tab on the bottom edge of the piezoelectric film, wherein the outer conductive layer extends onto the first lead extension tab, and the inner conductive layer extends onto the second lead extension tab.
Specification