Summagraphics Corporation

Display Interface Corporation

Albert L Whetstone

Kerry L Shaklee

Khosrow Modjallal

Stanley C Phillips

A mouse comprises a housing for sliding movement on a nonspecific work surface, and a stylus depending from the housing and contacting the work surface. The stylus bends and vibrates during movement, and the direction and distance of movement are derived from such bending and vibration. Strain gauges, mounted directly to the stylus or to a diaphragm mounting the stylus, are used to ascertain bending and vibration. Photocell means are also disclosed to ascertain bending a vibration of the stylus.

Stylus mouse

An improved position determination device utilizes an energized movable pointer which is inductively coupled to a grid of spaced parallel electrical conductors for each coordinate direction. The termini of the spaced conductors of each grid are traversed by a respective magnetostrictive element. Strain waves are propagated from the region where each magnetostrictive element is traversed by the respective energized conductors to a sensor and the time between arrival of the strain waves and the arrival of reference strain waves from reference points on the magnetostrictive elements is computed to determine the coordinates of the pointer.

Digital tablet system with calibration means

A mouse comprises a cover and a displacement pad which is displaced upon movement of the mouse over a surface. Displacement transducer means, e.g., strain gauges mounted in a parallel arm linkage, are used to ascertain direction of motion. Noise created by sliding motion is monitored by a microphone, the output of which is a function of velocity and therefore distance. The microphone may be mounted to the displacement pad, and the pad and microphone covered with a friction and vibration enhancing medium, such as felt. The displacement pad may also be suspending in a computer terminal and be 'stroked' to achieve displacement and noise. Calculating means produce cursor dot control signals based on displacement and noise.

Noise mouse

A position determining device has two perpendicular longitudinal magnetostrictive elements. A grid of a plurality of closed loop conductors has two parallel straight legs which form the grid. A flux producing element inductively coupled to at least one of said grid conductors causes an electrical current in that conductor. In turn that current induces a strain wave in the magnetostrictive element. Near the end of the magnetostrictive element is a sensing means to detect the strain wave comprising a lumped inductive capacitive delay line substantially having a plurality of evenly spaced inductive coils aligned with the magnetostrictive elements. The lumped delay line is defined by the formulas ##EQU1## where w is the overall length of the delay line; L is the total inductance, C is the total capacitance, Z is the terminating impedance, c is capacitance of the capacitance associated with each coil, and n is the number of coils.

Position determination device

Coordinate digitizers comprise a data tablet having perpendicular X and Y axes grids, which cross each other to define a data surface. Each grid has a plurality of parallel evenly-spaced-apart grid wires having their ends connected by end busses. An inductor connected to an alternating electrical input signal is movable on the data surface, and induces current flow in loops comprised of individual grid wires and end busses, with the strength of the current strongest in the grid wires near the inductor. Each grid has a receptor loop into which signals from the grid are induced, and the receptor loop is preferably deployed in a receptor area off the data surface. The receptor loops are configured such that signals induced therein correlate to inductor position on the data surface. The receptor loops are preferably composite loops providing complimentary signals to compensate for variations in the input signal or an induction-to-grid coupling. The data tablet may be translucent and backlighted to form a light-box digitizer. A microprocessor calculates inductor position from the receptor loop signals. A self-contained cursor comprising an inductor coil, signal generator means and a battery power supply in a housing for use on the data tablet eliminates input leads.

Coordinate digitizing device

A digitizing graphic system including a digitizing area, first and second coordinate arms extendable over the area, first and second magnetostrictive elements each positioned respectively in the first and second coordinate arms. A positionable device is movable with respect to the first and second arms on the area, each of the magnetostrictive elements having associated therewith a sending device and a receiving device. An energizing system is coupled to each of the sending devices for inducing magnetostrictively a strain wave longitudinally propagating along the magnetostrictive element to the respective receiving means. A digitizing system is coupled to each of the sending and receiving devices for digitizing the time duration of the strain wave propagation, the positionable device coupled to each of the coordinate arms for varying the propagating distance along each of the magnetostrictive elements in accordance with the position of the positionable device.

Growing community of inventors

Stratford, CT, United States of America

Albert L Whetstone