Patent•
Optical stylus and passive digitizing tablet data input system
IBM1
05 Jun 1990-
TL;DR: In this paper, a stylus and table X-Y data input system for a video display system is presented, where absolute positional information is encoded in binary form in the tablet in such a fashion that the pen position upon the tablet is automatically determinable by illuminating a particular area of the tablet and reading off the digitized XY coordinate data stored therein.
Abstract: A stylus and table X-Y data input system for a video display system. The pen includes an optical styling having a suitable pickup mechanism and the tablet is passive in nature and provides direct digitized data readout. Absolute positional information is encoded in binary form in the tablet in such a fashion that the pen position upon the tablet is automatically determinable by illuminating a particular area of the tablet and reading off the digitized X-Y coordinate data stored therein. The pen and supporting hardware/software are rotationally insensitive so that the pen may be held in any desired position comfortable to a user. The system provides greatly improved resolution, sampling rate accuracy and general robustness particularly for such applications as text recognition as well as a wide variety of other graphical input uses.
Citations
More filters
Patent•
10 Nov 1994
TL;DR: In this article, an information recording system includes a pen, having an instrument for writing on the writing surface, and an imaging system for providing image signals representative of images of the pixels near the pen tip when the tip is in contact with the surface.
Abstract: An information recording system includes a writing paper having a writing surface and a prerecorded invisible pattern of pixels associated with the writing surface. Each of the pixels contains encoded, optically readable position information which identifies a coordinate position on the writing surface. The system includes a pen, having an instrument for writing on the writing surface, and an imaging system for providing image signals representative of images of the pixels near the pen tip when the tip is in contact with the surface. The system further includes a recording/processing unit coupled to the pen. The recording/processing unit includes a processor responsive to the image signals for determining and electronically recording the positions of the pen tip on the writing surface as the markings are made on the writing surface, so that the recording/processing unit contains an electronic representation of the markings on the writing surface.
1,309 citations
Patent•
18 Dec 1995
TL;DR: In this article, the authors proposed the use of a data surface (e.g., paper) formatted with a position-related coding (figure 1a) for indicating X-Y coordinates capable of reflecting a frequency of light.
Abstract: The present invention is a form of a digitizer and absolute position determination device for indicating the instantaneous position and movement of a stylus (8) on a surface. It proposes the use of a data surface (e.g., paper) formatted with a position-related coding (figure 1a) for indicating X-Y coordinates capable of reflecting a frequency of light. The stylus (8) comprising a writing element (9) has a light source (17) of a frequency for illuminating the position-related coding (figure 1a). The frequency of light is absorbed by the data surface but reflected by the position-related coding (figure 1a) onto a charge-coupled device (CCD) (13) located within the stylus (8). The coordinate information from the CCD (13) is sent to a computer (16) for processing and finally the desired information output to the user.
1,229 citations
Patent•
03 Apr 1992
TL;DR: In this article, a coordinate sensor is proposed for detecting the position of a moveable detector relative to a data space coded with coordinate information by detecting and processing the coordinate information. But this sensor is not suitable for the detection of human motion.
Abstract: This invention relates to a coordinate sensor for detecting the position of a moveable detector relative to a data space coded with coordinate information by detecting and processing the coordinate information. It may be used for obtaining both two and three dimensional position related information, such as might be used for determining the position of a pen/pencil on paper for handwriting data input. It also may be used for detecting angular, rotational, and linear motion. The coordinate sensor provides an apparatus for precisely locating the position of a movable element within a space. More particularly, it provides an input/output apparatus for use with a computer that includes a movable element, whose exact position within a space can be determined without any physical connection between the movable element and the space. It comprises a data space formatted with a code for designating the coordinates of a point in the data space, a detector for detecting the code, a processor for processing data from the detector to determine the position of the point in the data space, and a data output method for human interface to the coordinate sensor.
1,146 citations
Patent•
11 Jul 1994
TL;DR: In this paper, an information recording system includes a writing paper having a writing surface and a prerecorded invisible pattern of pixels associated with the writing surface, each of the pixels contains encoded, optically readable position information which identifies a coordinate position on the writing surfaces.
Abstract: An information recording system includes a writing paper having a writing surface and a prerecorded invisible pattern of pixels associated with the writing surface. Each of the pixels contains encoded, optically readable position information which identifies a coordinate position on the writing surface. The system further includes a pen having a tip and including an instrument for writing on the writing surface and a detector for detecting the position of the tip on the writing surface by optically reading the pixels and obtaining position information when the tip is in contact with the surface. The system further includes a recording unit coupled to the pen and responsive to the position information for electronically recording the position of the pen tip on the writing surface as the markings are made on the writing surface so that the recording unit contains an electronic representation of the markings on the writing surface.
1,107 citations
Patent•
18 Dec 1995
TL;DR: In this article, the authors proposed the use of a data surface (e.g., paper) formatted with a position-related coding (figure 1a) for indicating X-Y coordinates capable of reflecting a frequency of light.
Abstract: The present invention is a form of a digitizer and absolute position determination device for indicating the instantaneous position and movement of a stylus (8) on a surface. It proposes the use of a data surface (e.g., paper) formatted with a position-related coding (figure 1a) for indicating X-Y coordinates capable of reflecting a frequency of light. The stylus (8) comprising a writing element (9) has a light source (17) of a frequency for illuminating the position-related coding (figure 1a). The frequency of light is absorbed by the data surface but reflected by the position-related coding (figure 1a) onto a charge-coupled device (CCD) (13) located within the stylus (8). The coordinate information from the CCD (13) is sent to a computer (16) for processing and finally the desired information output to the user.
991 citations
References
More filters
Patent•
23 Jun 1994
TL;DR: In this paper, a machine readable binary code which is dynamically variable in size, format and density of information is provided, where the binary code is formed as a matrix having a perimeter and data contained therein.
Abstract: A machine readable binary code which is dynamically variable in size, format and density of information is provided. The binary code is formed as a matrix having a perimeter and data contained therein. The perimeter is provided with density indicia for indicating the density of data contained within the matrix. The perimeter is also provided with size indicia for indicating the size of the matrix. By utilizing the density indicia and size indicia, a scanning device is able to calculate the size and information density of the binary code.
231 citations
Patent•
01 Nov 1982
TL;DR: In this article, a code reading system is disclosed utilizing a novel, multicolored, densely packed code read by a scanner which is placed over the code and held in place while the scanner performs its reading function.
Abstract: A code reading system is disclosed utilizing a novel, multicolored, densely packed code read by a scanner which is placed over the code and held in place while the scanner performs its reading function. The scanner includes lighting means which are sequentially flashed on the code, as well as optical means to pick up an image received from the code during each sequential flash. The optical means directs the received image onto an imager where it is recorded. After a predetermined sequence, the received images recorded on the imager are fed to a microprocessor for storage and manipulation.
164 citations
Patent•
18 Jan 1988
TL;DR: In this article, the authors used the Baum-Welch algorithm to calculate the probability that the vertical and horizontal components of the pen tip and the contacts between pen tip with the writing area could have been produced from the hidden Markov model.
Abstract: A signature to be verified is written on an area which carries horizontal and vertical lines using a pen. As the lines are crossed signals representative of the vertical and horizontal components of the pen tip velocity and whether the tip is in contact with the area are passed to a computer. A hidden Markov model derived from vertical and horizontal velocities and a "contact" signal occurring as a number of authentic signatures are written is stored by the computer. A forward pass of the Baum-Welch algorithm is used to calculate the probability that the vertical and horizontal components of the pen tip and the contacts between pen tip and the writing area could have been produced from the hidden Markov model. This probability is used to decide whether the signature is authentic. The hidden Markov model stored by the computer is derived from an initial model based on pen tip velocities and contacts occurring in an authentic signature, and re-estimation carried out using forward and backward passes of the Baum-Welch algorithm and velocities and contacts from further authentic signatures.
164 citations
Patent•
27 Feb 1986TL;DR: In this article, the authors present an approach for transferring data and other information between a data processing unit and a rectangular memory card which includes an optically readable data memory unit having a succession of concentric data storage tracks thereon, the card also including at least one microelectronic component which stores further information.
Abstract: Apparatus for transferring data and other information between a data processing unit and a rectangular memory card which includes an optically readable data memory unit having a succession of substantially concentric data storage tracks thereon, the card also including at least one microelectronic component which stores further information. Such component is connected to connection points on the surface of the card. Data is read from the tracks of the memory unit by optical scanning during rotation of the card about the axis of symmetry of the memory unit, and information is transferred between the microelectronic component and the data processing unit by an information transfer unit which is coupled to the connection points on the card and to the data processing unit.
115 citations
Patent•
03 Dec 1982TL;DR: In this article, an optical cursor control device or "optical mouse" is disclosed for use with an interactive display oriented computer system to provide movement for a visible cursor from position to position on a display screen of such a system.
Abstract: An optical cursor control device or "optical mouse" is disclosed for use with an interactive, display oriented computer system to provide movement for a visible cursor from position to position on a display screen of such a system. The cursor control device provides an output indicative of the amount and direction of movement of the device relative to an orthogonal coordinate system. The device relies on a planar grid pattern comprising orthogonally positioned grid lines of uniform spacing, one line and spacing defining a grid period. Means is provided to illuminate at least a portion of the grid pattern. Sensor array means comprising optical transducers are provided for each orthogonal direction. Each optical transducer has an elongated radiation detecting area to receive radiation from an elongated radiation collecting area at the plane of said grid pattern. The length of the radiation collecting area of each transducer is equal to or greater than a grid period and the width of these areas is equal to or narrower than the width of one half of the grid period.
101 citations