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US 5,210,380 AGranted

Digitizer with serpentine-type conductor grid having uniform conductor repeat increments

AssigneeSummagraphics Corporation

InventorsRobert M. McDermott, Paul D. Smith, Scott McDermott

Life of this patent

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Abstract

Disclosed herein are position determining apparatus and conductor structures or grids therefor. The conductor structure for each axis includes a number of conductors which are run in a serpentine-type path each with uniform repeat increment. The repeat increment, which is the spacing or span between one run and the next of the same serpentine-type conductor, are uniform for each conductor (but may change from conductor to conductor) and is constrained by a maximum repeat increment, or a minimum repeat increment. In the preferred embodiments, there is at least a constraint on the maximum repeat increment to provide noise immunity. The conductors are arranged for each axis of the grid in a pattern such that signals obtained for that axis may be processed to provide binary numbers in a Gray-type code each unique to a small region of the active area in which the coil center is located. The small region for a given axis corresponds to the space between two immediately adjacent, active conductor portions for that axis, with a possible ambiguity of one space. Small regions in each axis define the coarse location of the coil center. Fine location within a region may be determined from the magnitudes of currents induced in selected runs preferably by interpolation.

Claims39

Dependent claims

Claim 1A conductor structure for a position-determining device which includes a movable element and determines the location of said movable element relative to said conductor structure · 205 wordsNo dependents Claim 2A conductor structure for a position-determining device which includes a movable element and determines the location of said movable element relative to said conductor structure · 213 words1 dependent Claim 4A conductor structure for a position-determining device which includes a movable element and determines the location of said movable element relative to said conductor structure · 233 wordsNo dependents Claim 5Apparatus for determining the location of a movable element relative to a given area · 309 wordsNo dependents Claim 6Apparatus for determining the location of a movable element relative to a given area · 317 wordsNo dependents Claim 7Apparatus for determining the location of a movable element relative to a given area · 336 wordsNo dependents Claim 8A conductor system for a position-determining device which includes a movable element and determines the location of said movable element relative to said conductor system · 331 wordsNo dependents Claim 9Apparatus for determining the location of a movable element relative to a given area · 438 wordsNo dependents Claim 10A conductor structure for a position-determining device which includes a movable element and determines the location of said movable element relative to said conductor structure · 259 words4 dependent Claim 15Apparatus for determining the location of a movable element relative to a given area · 316 words7 dependent Claim 23A conductor system for a position-determining device which includes a movable element and determines the location of said movable element relative to said conductor system · 316 words7 dependent Claim 31Apparatus for determining the location of a movable element relative to a given area · 422 words6 dependent Claim 38A method for determining the location of a movable element relative to a conductor structure which interacts with said movable element when said movable element is adjacent said conductor structure upon energization of at least one of said conductor structure and said movable element · 273 wordsNo dependents Claim 39A method for determining the maximal length span sequence for n conductors of a conductor structure for a position-determining device which determines the position of a movable element relative to the conductor structure · 316 wordsNo dependents

A conductor structure for a position-determining device which includes a movable element and determines the location of said movable element relative to said conductor structure;

said conductor structure comprising;
at least first, second and third conductors each of which includes at least three active portions extending substantially in a first direction substantially in or adjacent a common plane substantially parallel to each other, said conductors each having repeat increments which space adjacent active portions of the same conductor;
said conductors being arranged in a pattern such that:
(a) each of said active portions of all of said conductors or spaces therebetween may be uniquely identified by a unique binary number, respective binary digits of each of said unique binary numbers corresponding to respective conductors, whereby upon interaction between said movable element and respective conductors binary logic signals may be obtained corresponding to said binary digits which are indicative of the location of said movable element relative to said conductor structure;
(b) said conductors each having a uniform repeat increment;
(c) said conductors each having a repeat increment different from that of some of the others of said conductors;
and
(d) said conductors each having a maximum repeat increment determined in relation to desired noise immunity.

5 more elements

A conductor structure for a position-determining device which includes a movable element and determines the location of said movable element relative to said conductor structure;

said conductor structure comprising;
at least first, second and third conductors each of which includes at least three active portions extending substantially in a first direction substantially in or adjacent a common plane substantially parallel to each other, said conductors each having repeat increments which space adjacent active portions of the same conductor;
said conductors being arranged in a pattern such that:
(a) each of said active portions of all of said conductors or spaces therebetween may be uniquely identified by a unique binary number, respective binary digits of each of said unique binary numbers corresponding to respective conductors, whereby upon interaction between said movable element and respective conductors binary logic signals may be obtained corresponding to said binary digits which are indicative of the location of said movable element relative to said conductor structure;
(b) said conductors each having a uniform repeat increment;
(c) said conductors each having a repeat increment different from that of some of the others of said conductors;
and
(d) said conductors each having a minimum repeat increment which is greater than twice the spacing between adjacent spaced active portions of said conductors.

5 more elements

A conductor structure for a position-determining device which includes a movable element and determines the location of said movable element relative to said conductor structure;

said conductor structure comprising;
at least first, second and third conductors each of which includes a plurality of active portions extending substantially in a first direction substantially in or adjacent a common plane substantially parallel to each other, said conductors each having repeat increments which space adjacent active portions of the same conductor;
said conductors being arranged in a pattern such that:
(a) each of said active portions of all of said conductors or spaces therebetween may be uniquely identified by a unique binary number, respective binary digits of each of said unique binary numbers corresponding to respective conductors, whereby upon interaction between said movable element and respective conductors binary logic signals may be obtained corresponding to said binary digits which are indicative of the location of said movable element relative to said conductor structure;
and
(b) said conductors each having a uniform repeat increment;
(c) said conductors each having a repeat increment different from that of some of the others of said conductors;
and
(d) said conductors each having a repeat increment constrained by a maximum repeat increment that is determined in relation to desired noise immunity and a minimum repeat increment which is greater than twice the spacing between adjacent spaced active portions of said conductors.

6 more elements

Apparatus for determining the location of a movable element relative to a given area comprising:

a conductor structure which interacts with said element when said element is on or adjacent said given area and upon energization of at least one of said conductor structure and said element;
said conductor structure comprising:
at least first, second and third conductors each of which includes a plurality of active portions extending substantially in a first direction substantially in or adjacent a common plane substantially parallel to each other, said conductors each having repeat increments which space adjacent active portions of the same conductor;
said conductors being arranged in a pattern such that:
(a) each of said active portions of all of said conductors or spaces therebetween may be uniquely identified by a unique binary number, respective binary digits of each of said unique binary numbers corresponding to respective conductors, whereby upon interaction between said movable element and respective conductors binary logic signals may be obtained corresponding to said binary digits which are indicative of the location of said movable element relative to said conductor structure;
and
(b) said conductors each having a uniform repeat increment;
(c) said conductors each having a repeat increment different from that of some of the others of said conductors;
and
(d) said conductors each having a maximum repeat increment determined in relation to desired noise immunity;
said apparatus including:
means for energizing one of said conductor structure and said movable element to cause location-determining signals to be present in the other;
means for processing said location-determining signals in the other of said conductor structure and said movable element, said processing means including first means for obtaining from said location-determining signals binary signals corresponding to said binary digits which identify said conductor runs and are indicative of the location of said movable element relative to said given area.

10 more elements

Apparatus for determining the location of a movable element relative to a given area comprising:

a conductor structure which interacts with said element when said element is on or adjacent said given area and upon energization of at least one of said conductor structure and said element;
said conductor structure comprising:
at least first, second and third conductors each of which includes a plurality of active portions extending substantially in a first direction substantially in or adjacent a common plane substantially parallel to each other, said conductors each having repeat increments which space adjacent active portions of the same conductor;
said conductors being arranged in a pattern such that:
(a) each of said active portions of all of said conductors or spaces therebetween may be uniquely identified by a unique binary number, respective binary digits of each of said unique binary numbers corresponding to respective conductors, whereby upon interaction between said movable element and respective conductors binary logic signals may be obtained corresponding to said binary digits which are indicative of the location of said movable element relative to said conductor structure;
and
(b) said conductors each having a uniform repeat increment;
(c) said conductors each having a repeat increment different from that of some of the others of said conductors;
and
(d) said conductors each having a minimum repeat increment which is greater than twice the spacing between adjacent spaced active portions of said conductors;
said apparatus including:
means for energizing one of said conductor structure and said movable element to cause location-determining signals to be present in the other;
means for processing said location-determining signals in the other of said conductor structure and said movable element, said processing means including first means for obtaining from said location-determining signals binary signals corresponding to said binary digits which identify said conductor runs and are indicative of the location of said movable element relative to said given area.

10 more elements

Apparatus for determining the location of a movable element relative to a given area comprising:

a conductor structure which interacts with said element when said element is on or adjacent said given area and upon energization of at least one of said conductor structure and said element;
said conductor structure comprising:
at least first, second and third conductors each of which includes a plurality of active portions extending substantially in a first direction substantially in or adjacent a common plane substantially parallel to each other, said conductors each having repeat increments which space adjacent active portions of the same conductor;
said conductors being arranged in a pattern such that:
(a) each of said active portions of all of said conductors or spaces therebetween may be uniquely identified by a unique binary number, respective binary digits of each of said unique binary numbers corresponding to respective conductors, whereby upon interaction between said movable element and respective conductors binary logic signals may be obtained corresponding to said binary digits which are indicative of the location of said movable element relative to said conductor structure;
and
(b) said conductors each having a uniform repeat increment;
(c) said conductors each having a repeat increment different from that of some of the others of said conductors;
and
(d) said conductors each having a repeat increment constrained by a maximum repeat increment that is determined in relation to desired noise immunity and a minimum repeat increment which is greater than twice the spacing between adjacent spaced active portions of said conductors.
said apparatus including:
means for energizing one of said conductor structure and said movable element to cause location-determining signals to be present in the other;
means for processing said location-determining signals in the other of said conductor structure and said movable element, said processing means including first means for obtaining from said location-determining signals binary signals corresponding to said binary digits which identify said conductor runs and are indicative of the location of said movable element relative to said given area.

10 more elements

A conductor system for a position-determining device which includes a movable element and determines the location of said movable element relative to said conductor system;

said conductor system comprising first and second conductor structures;
said first conductor structure comprising:
at least first, second and third conductors each of which includes a plurality of active portions extending substantially in a first direction substantially in or adjacent a common plane substantially parallel to each other, said conductors each having repeat increments which space adjacent active portions of the same conductor;
said second conductor structure comprising:
at least fourth, fifth and sixth conductors each of which includes a plurality of active portions extending substantially in a second direction transverse to said first direction substantially in or adjacent a common plane substantially parallel to each other, said fourth, fifth and sixth conductors each having repeat increments which space adjacent active portions of the same conductor;
said conductors of said first conductor structure and said conductors of said second conductor structure being arranged in respective patterns such that for each pattern:
(a) each of said active portions of all of said conductors or spaces therebetween of each conductor structure may be uniquely identified by a unique binary number with respect to that conductor structure, respective binary digits of each of said unique binary numbers corresponding to respective conductors, whereby upon interaction between said movable element and respective conductors binary logic signals may be obtained corresponding to said binary digits which are indicative of the location of said movable element relative to said conductor structure;
and
(b) said conductors each having a uniform repeat increment;
(c) said conductors each having a repeat increment different from that of some of the others of said conductors;
and
(d) said conductors each having a repeat increment constrained by a maximum repeat increment that is determined in relation to desired noise immunity and a minimum repeat increment which is greater than the spacing between adjacent spaced active portions of said conductors.

9 more elements

Apparatus for determining the location of a movable element relative to a given area comprising:

a conductor system which interacts with said movable element when said movable element is on or adjacent said given area and upon energization of at least one of said conductor system and said movable element;
said conductor system comprising first and second conductor structures;
said first conductor structure comprising:
at least first, second and third conductors each of which includes a plurality of active portions extending substantially in a first direction substantially in or adjacent a common plane substantially parallel to each other, said conductors each having repeat increments which space adjacent active portions of the same conductor;
said second conductor structure comprising:
at least fourth, fifth and sixth conductors each of which includes a plurality of active portions extending substantially in a second direction transverse to said first direction substantially in or adjacent a common plane substantially parallel to each other, said fourth, fifth and sixth conductors each having repeat increments which space adjacent active portions of the same conductor;
said conductors of said first conductor structure and said conductors of said second conductor structure being arranged in respective patterns such that for each pattern:
(a) each of said active portions or spaces therebetween of all of said conductors of each conductor structure may be uniquely identified by a unique binary number with respect to that conductor structure, respective binary digits of each of said unique binary numbers corresponding to respective conductors, whereby upon interaction between said movable element and respective conductors binary logic signals may be obtained corresponding to said binary digits which are indicative of the location of said movable element relative to said conductor structure;
and
(b) said conductors each having a uniform repeat increment;
(c) said conductors each having a repeat increment different from that of some of the others of said conductors;
and
(d) said conductors each having a repeat increment constrained by a maximum repeat increment that is determined in relation to desired noise immunity and a minimum repeat increment which is greater than the spacing between adjacent spaced active portions of said conductors.
said apparatus including:
means for energizing one of said conductor system and said movable element to cause location-determining signals to be present in the other;
means for processing said location-determining signals in the other of said conductor system and said movable element, said processing means including first means for obtaining from said location-determining signals binary signals corresponding to said binary digits which identify said conductor active portions and are indicative of the location of said movable element relative to said given area.

13 more elements

A conductor structure for a position-determining device which includes a movable element and determines the location of said movable element relative to said conductor structure;

said conductor structure comprising;
at least first, second and third conductors each of which include a plurality of active portions extending substantially in a first direction substantially in or adjacent a common plane substantially parallel to each other, adjacent active portions of the same conductor being separated by first spaces and adjacent active portions of all of said conductors being separated by second spaces;
said conductor structure having an extent in a second direction that is different from said first direction;
said conductors being arranged in a pattern such that:
(a) said conductors each having uniform first spaces between adjacent active portions thereof and of at least one of said conductors are different;
(b) said conductors each having first spaces different from those of the others of said conductors
(c) the maximum first space between any two adjacent active portions of the same conductor is less than one-half of said extent of said conductor structure;
and
(d) each of said second spaces between adjacent active portions or said active portions of all of said conductors may be uniquely identified by a unique binary number, respective binary digits of each of said unique binary numbers corresponding to respective conductors, whereby upon interaction between said movable element and respective conductors binary logic signals may be obtained corresponding to said binary digits which are indicative of the location of said movable element relative to said conductor structure.

6 more elements

Apparatus for determining the location of a movable element relative to a given area comprising:

a conductor structure which interacts with said element when said element is on or adjacent said given area and upon energization of at least one of said conductor structure and said element;
said conductor structure comprising:
at least first, second and third conductors each of which include a plurality of active portions extending substantially in a first direction substantially in or adjacent a common plane substantially parallel to each other, adjacent active portions of the same conductor being separated by first spaces and adjacent active portions of all of said conductors being separated by second spaces;
said conductor structure having an extent in a second direction that is different from said first direction;
said conductors being arranged in a pattern such that:
(a) said conductors each having uniform first spaces between adjacent active portions thereof;
(b) said conductors each having first spaces different from those of the others of said conductors
(c) the maximum first space between any two adjacent active portions of the same conductor is less than one-half of said extent of said conductor structure;
and
(d) each of said second spaces between adjacent active portions or said active portions of all of said conductors may be uniquely identified by a unique binary number, respective binary digits of each of said unique binary numbers corresponding to respective conductors;
said apparatus including:
means for energizing one of said conductor structure and said movable element to cause location-determining signals to be present in the other;
means for processing said location-determining signals in the other of said conductor structure and said movable element, said processing means including first means for obtaining from said location-determining signals binary signals corresponding to said binary digits which identify said second spaces and are indicative of the location of said movable element relative to said given area.

10 more elements

A conductor system for a position-determining device which includes a movable element and determines the location of said movable element relative to said conductor system;

said conductor system comprising first and second conductor structures;
said first conductor structure comprising:
at least first, second and third conductors each of which include a plurality of active portions extending substantially in a first direction substantially in or adjacent a common plane substantially parallel to each other, adjacent active portions of the same conductor being separated by first spaces and adjacent active portions of all of said conductors being separated by second spaces;
said first conductor structure having an extent in a second direction that is different from said first direction;
said second conductor structure comprising:
at least fourth, fifth and sixth conductors each of which include a plurality of active portions extending substantially in said second direction substantially in or adjacent a common plane substantially parallel to each other, adjacent active portions of the same conductor being separated by first spaces and adjacent active portions of all of said conductors being separated by second spaces;
said second conductor structure having an extent in said first direction;
said conductors of said first conductor structure and said conductors of said second conductor structure being arranged in respective patterns such that for each pattern:
(a) said conductors each having uniform first spaces between adjacent active portions thereof;
(b) said conductors each having first spaces different from those of the others of said conductors
(c) the maximum first space between any two adjacent active portions of the same conductor is less than one-half of said extent of said conductor structure;
and
(d) each of said second spaces between adjacent active portions or said active portions of all of said conductors may be uniquely identified by a unique binary number, respective binary digits of each of said unique binary numbers corresponding to respective conductors.

10 more elements

Apparatus for determining the location of a movable element relative to a given area comprising:

a conductor system which interacts with said movable element when said movable element is on or adjacent said given area and upon energization of at least one of said conductor system and said movable element;
said conductor system comprising first and second conductor structures;
said first conductor structure comprising:
at least first, second and third conductors each of which include a plurality of active portions extending substantially in a first direction substantially in or adjacent a common plane substantially parallel to each other, adjacent active portions of the same conductor being separated by first spaces and adjacent active portions of all of said conductors being separated by second spaces;
said first conductor structure having an extent in a second direction that is different from said first direction;
said second conductor structure comprising:
at least fourth, fifth and sixth conductors each of which include a plurality of active portions extending substantially in said second direction substantially in or adjacent a common plane substantially parallel to each other, adjacent active portions of the same conductor being separated by first spaces and adjacent active portions of all of said conductors being separated by second spaces;
said second conductor structure having an extent in said first direction;
said conductors of said first conductor structure and said conductors of said second conductor structure being arranged in respective patterns such that for each pattern:
(a) said conductors each having uniform first spaces between adjacent active portions thereof;
(b) said conductors each having first spaces different from those of the others of said conductors
(c) the maximum first space between any two adjacent active portions of the same conductor is less than one-half of said extent of said conductor structure;
and
(d) each of said second spaces between adjacent active portions or said active portions of all of said conductors may be uniquely identified by a unique binary number, respective binary digits of each of said unique binary numbers corresponding to respective conductors;
said apparatus including:
means for energizing one of said conductor system and said movable element to cause location-determining signals to be present in the other;
means for processing said location-determining signals in the other of said conductor system and said movable element, said processing means including first means for obtaining from said location-determining signals binary signals corresponding to said binary digits which identify said second spaces and are indicative of the location of said movable element relative to said given area.

14 more elements

A method for determining the location of a movable element relative to a conductor structure which interacts with said movable element when said movable element is adjacent said conductor structure upon energization of at least one of said conductor structure and said movable element;

said conductor structure comprising at least first, second and third conductors each of which including at least three active portions extending substantially in a first direction substantially in or adjacent a common plane substantially parallel to each other, said conductors each having repeat increments which space adjacent active portions of the same conductor;
said conductors being arranged in a pattern such that:
(a) each of said active portions of all of said conductors or spaces therebetween may be uniquely identified by a unique binary number, respective binary digits of each of said unique binary numbers corresponding to respective conductors, whereby upon interaction between said movable element and respective conductors binary logic signals may be obtained corresponding to said binary digits which are indicative of the location of said movable element relative to said conductor structure;
and
(b) said conductors each having a uniform repeat increment;
(c) said conductors each having a repeat increment different from that of the others of said conductors;
and
(d) said conductors each having a maximum repeat increment determined in relation to desired noise immunity;
said method comprising the steps of:
energizing one of said conductor structure and said movable element;
and
processing signals obtained from the other of said conductor structure and movable element to provide a unique binary number which uniquely identifies a space or conductor active portion close to said movable element.

9 more elements

A method for determining the maximal length span sequence for n conductors of a conductor structure for a position-determining device which determines the position of a movable element relative to the conductor structure, when n is an integer greater than 3 and the sequence has a minimum span and a maximum span, the conductor structure having the following characteristics:

each of said n conductors having a plurality of active portions extending substantially in a first direction substantially in or adjacent a common plane substantially parallel to each other, the conductors each having repeat increments which space adjacent active portions of the same conductor:
the conductors being arranged in a pattern such that;
(1) each of the active portions of all of the conductors or spaces therebetween may be uniquely identified by a unique binary number, respective binary digits of each of the unique binary numbers corresponding to respective conductors, whereby upon interaction between the movable element and respective conductors binary logic signals may be obtained corresponding to the binary digits which are indicative of the location of the movable element relative to the conductor structure:
(2) the conductors each having a uniform repeat increment;
and
(3) the conductors each having a repeat increment different from that of some of the others of the conductors;
said method comprising:
(a) finding an infinite length sequence for said n wires;
(b) determining the number of unique regions defined for said infinite length sequence;
(c) remembering said sequence;
(d) repeating step (a) to find another infinite length span sequence;
(e) repeating step (b) for said another infinite length span sequence;
(f) remembering said another infinite length span sequence if the number of unique regions is greater than found previously;
(g) repeating steps (d), (e) and (f) until no sequence has more unique regions than the previous sequences;
and
(h) reporting the largest remembered sequence as said maximal length span sequence.

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 07/741,032Filed 6 Aug 1991 · continuation in part
Priority: 6 Apr 1990
Granted: 11 May 1993
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

G06F 3/046
Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means: by electromagnetic means
G06F 3/041
Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form: digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads,…
G06F 3/047
Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means: using sets of wires, e.g. crossed wires
G06F
Computing and data processing

Family

Serial505,944Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 6 Apr 1990
US 5,051,545 AParent of this continuation-in-part · filed 24 Sep 1991
US 5,210,380 AThis patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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