Summagraphics Corporation

Michael J Padula

Frank R Chiappetta

Robert M McDermott

David A Siefer

Henry G Matthews

Paul D Smith

Tomas Trousil

A stylus for use with a digitizer tablet has a tip element that includes a front portion with a tip for engaging the surface of the tablet, and a back portion of the tip element within the stylus housing. The back portion of the tip element is adapted to apply pressure to a pressure sensitive resistance element. The front and back portions of the tip element are coupled together by a spring, in order that the tip element be resiliently compressible in the axial direction of the stylus.

Pressure sensitive stylus having resiliently compressible tip element

A digitizer tablet and puck(cursor) for use therewith, characterized that in one aspect the puck is provided with at least one additional control which will provide the user with the ability to control at least one N-dimensional signal in addition to the normal X-Y coordinate data. In accordance with another aspect, any pointing device for the tablet is provided with the capability to control the manner in which the N-dimensional signal varies in response to user manipulation of the pointing device.

Graphics tablet with N-dimensional capability

A novel cursor construction for a digitizer tablet, wherein the cursor coil is wound on a one-sided bobbin which is then seated in a blind hole of a transparent base, with a crosshair molded into the base and aligned with the coil.

Cursor for digitizer tablet

A stylus switch is activated automatically when the tip of the stylus is pressed against a digitizer tablet with sufficient force. The pressure switch includes a transducer in the form of an ink layer having electrical resistance which varies as a function of the pressure applied thereon. Electrodes of conductive ink contact the ink layer of the transducer, providing a circuit element including a variable resistance. The current which flows between the two conductive ink electrodes varies as a function of the force with which the stylus tip is pressed against the data tablet, thus providing an analog output which can be detected as a function of pressure or which can be detected to determine when the pressing force exceeds a predetermined value. Processing of the data representing the coordinates of the stylus tip is enabled only when the tip is being pressed with at least a predetermined force, i.e. the amount of force applied by a stylus user during writing. The ink layers of the electrodes and transducer, as well as the stylus anode, are applied on a single piece of flexible plastic film which is wrapped around a central assembly and inside a coaxial barrel. A collapsible dome of metal is arranged to provide tactile feedback to the user when the predetermined force is obtained.

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Sandy Hook, CT, United States of America

Michael J Padula