Digitizer Pad

Referring initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, a digitizer pad 20 in accordance with the invention comprises a base ply 22 and a top ply 24. Disposed at selected spaced locations on the top surface 34 of the base ply 22 are conductive terminals 26, 28, 30 and 32. The terminals 26 and 28 are paired together and positioned on opposite sides of the base ply 22 in parallel relationship to one another. Similarly, the terminals 30 and 32 are likewise paired together and oriented parallel to one another on opposite edges of the base ply 22.

A resistor ply 36 is disposed on the top surface 34 of the base ply 22 so that the resistor ply 36 is in electrical contact with the terminals 26, 28, 30 and 32 and extends across the region of the top surface 34 interior to and bounded by the terminals 26, 28, 30 and 32. In the preferred embodiment, the resistor ply 36 does not extend to cover corner regions 40, 42, 44 and 46 so that the conduction paths through the resistor ply 36 between the edges of adjacent terminals will be made longer thereby increasing the resistance along each such conduction path. Such increased resistance results in increased isolation between adjacent terminals.

The digitizer pad 20 includes the top ply 24 which has a surface 50 on which is disposed a conductive ply 52. In the preferred embodiment of the digitizer pad, a pressure sensitive, semiconductive ply 54 is incorporated between the conductive ply 52 and the resistor ply 36.

In accordance with the invention, the conductive ply 52 is in normally nonconducting relationship to the resistor ply 36. This may be accomplished in any of a number of ways. For example, the conductive ply 52 may be physically spaced from the resistor ply 36 as illustrated in FIG. 1 so that the top ply 24 will have to be displaced downwardly to force the conductive ply 52 into electrically conductive relationship with the resistor ply 36.

In one embodiment such as that shown in FIG. 1, the pressure sensitive ply 54 is disposed in intimate, electrically conducting relationship on top of the resistor ply 36. In another embodiment, such as that shown in FIG. 3, an additional pressure sensitive ply 56 is disposed to cover and is in intimate, electrically conducting relationship with the conductive ply 52. Hence, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, there are two pressure sensitive plys 54 and 56 in facing and touching but non-electrically conducting relationship to one another.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, illustrated in FIG. 4, the pressure sensitive conductive ply 54 of FIG. 3 is eliminated and the pressure sensitive ply 56 is applied to cover the surface of the conductive ply 52. When a pressure sensitive ply such the plys 54 or 56 or both 54 and 56 are disposed between the conductor ply 52 and the resistor ply 36, facing contact surfaces 60 and 62 (also shown in FIGS. 1 and 3) of the base ply 22 and the top ply 24, respectively, may be in touching relationship. A light touching of the contact surfaces 60 and 62 in such an embodiment will result in virtually no conduction through the pressure sensitive ply resulting in a normally opened, that is, a normally non-conducting relationship between the conductive ply 52 and the terminals 26, 28, 30 and 32. As a force F is applied to the top ply 24, the junction resistance across the junction between the surfaces 60 and 62 will decrease, thereby allowing conduction to occur between the conductive ply 52 and one of the terminals 26, 30, 28 or 32. A complete description and explanation of the pressure sensitive ply is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,315,238.

The conductive ply 52, as well as the terminals 26, 28, 30 and 32, may be made of silver, copper, aluminum, or any other suitable conductive material. The resistor ply may be formed from a composition including, for example, carbon particles or from carbon ruthenium or any other suitable material which exhibits a resistance gradient along a length of the resistor material.

Referring to FIG. 5, electrical isolation between adjacent terminals may be enhanced by providing a resistor ply with a varying resistance gradient across the resistor ply. Thus, the resistor ply 36 may be configured to have greater resistance in the regions 80, 82, 84, 86 adjacent to terminals 26, 28, 30 and 32, respectively, with the central region 88 of the resistor ply having a lesser resistive gradient. Such a variable resistive gradient may be provided in any of a number of different ways such as by varying the concentration of conductive particles in the various regions. Hence, in the regions 80, 82, 84 and 86, the concentration of conductive particles would be lessened to increase the resistive gradient whereas the concentration of conductive particles in the region 88 would be increased to lower the resistive gradient.k

It should be appreciated that the resistor ply 36 may have a varying or non-linear resistive gradient across its length and width. For example, FIG. 6 shows a resistor ply 36 which as a resistive gradient which increases from right to left. This may be accomplished by providing a resistive ply with an increasing concentration of conductive particles in a direction from left to right. In such an embodiment, the resistive gradient between terminals 26 and 28 will be non-linear. However, the resistive gradient between terminals 30 and 32 will be substantially constant.

It can therefor be seen from a consideration of FIGS. 1-6 that the resistor ply 36 allows for the creation of an electrical potential profile across the surface of the resistor ply which can be varied in accordance with user requirements.

In addition to a resistive ply possibly with a varying resistive gradient across its surface, the present invention may be configured with more than two pairs of terminals. Referring to FIG. 7, a circular digitizer pad apparatus 100 in accordance with the invention has three pairs of terminals, for example, terminal pair 102 and 104, terminal pair 106 and 108, and terminal pair 110 and 112. A resistor ply 114 is provided in the central region bounded by the terminals where resistor ply 114 is configured to increase electrical isolation between adjacent terminals.

In an alternative configuration of the digitizer pad apparatus 100 of FIG. 7, a central, preferably grounded, terminal 116 may be provided. In this alternative configuration, the digitizer pad apparatus 100 will comprise six terminal pairs where each terminal pair includes the terminal 116 and one of the terminals 102, 104, 106, 108, 110 or 112.

Referring to FIG. 8, another embodiment includes a first pair of terminals comprising a terminal 120 and an opposite, spaced apart, parallel terminal 122 and a second pair of terminals comprising a first terminal 124 and a second terminal 126. The terminals 124 and 126 are in a non-parallel orientation relative to each other. The voltage drop across the resistor ply between the two terminals 124 and 126 will therefore occur across a progressively shorter physical distance. This, of course, will affect the potential profile across the width and length of a resistor ply 128 between the terminals.

Referring to FIG. 9, the digitizer pad identifies both the spatial location and the magnitude of force applied at a point on the surface of the digitizer pad. In order to determine the spatial coordinates as well as the amount of pressure applied, for example, at the point 80, a switching apparatus 160 is provided whereby each terminal 26, 28, 30 and 32 is coupled via suitable lead 70, 72, 74 and 76, respectively (see FIG. 1 also), to selectively couple the terminals to an open switch contact, a grounded switch contact or a switch contact 6 to which a voltage from a voltage source is applied. The operation of the switch may be sequential under either manual or computer control to determine the X-coordinate, Y-coordinate and then pressure (Z coordinate) of the point of contact 80 between the conductive ply 52 and the resistor ply 36.

More specifically, to measure the X-coordinate, that is, the distance from terminal 26 to the point of contact 80. terminal 30 and 32 are connected to the opened contact of switches 92 and 90, respectively. Simultaneously, the lead 72 is connected via switch 91 to the voltage source +V and the terminal 26 is connected via lead 70 and switch 93 to ground. A lead 78, connected to the conductive ply 52, is coupled to an amplifier 79 so that the voltage at the output of the amplifier 79 will be the same as the voltage drop along the resistor ply 36 from the contact point 80 to the terminal 26. As the point of contact 80 moves closer to the terminal 26, the voltage will decrease and the output voltage from the amplifier 79 will decrease. Hence, a direct relationship between the voltage and the "X" coordinate location exists and the "X" coordinate can therefore be determined from the value of the output voltage from amplifier 79.

Once the X-coordinate voltage has been determined, the Y-coordinate voltage may be determined by interconnecting the terminal 32 to the voltage source +V via switch 90, interconnecting the terminal 30 to ground via switch 92, and coupling the terminals 26 and 28 to the opened contacts of switches 91 and 93, respectively. The voltage drop between the point of contact 80 and the terminal 32 will be a measure of the distance Y from the terminal 30 to the contact point 80 as described in conjunction with the measurement of the coordinate X.

Finally, the pressure can be determined if a pressure sensitive ply 54 is disposed between the conductive ply 52 and the resistor ply 36 by coupling the terminals 26, 28, 30 and 32 to ground via switches 90, 91, 92 and 93 while simultaneously using switch 94 to connect the conductive ply 52 to a voltage source through resistor 161. Thus, there will be a potential across the junction between the pressure sensitive ply 54 and the resistor ply 36. As the pressure is increased, the junction resistance will decrease and the potential drop across the junction resistance will decrease, thus resulting in an increased output voltage from amplifier 79 proportional to applied pressure.

By sequentially sampling the X-coordinate, Y-coordinate and pressure coordinate as above described; digitizing the output from the amplifier 79; and storing the resultant digitized values, it is possible to provide data necessary to perform such functions as signature analysis or any other desired computer input.

Turning next to FIG. 10, another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated whereby one pair of terminals 202 and 204 are disposed in spaced relationship to one another on a base ply 200 and a second pair of terminals 206 and 208 are disposed in spaced relationship on a top ply 210. In one embodiment, the base ply 200 and the top ply 210 may be a single ply with a fold 212 in the center whereby the top and base plys are folded into facing relationship to each other. Alternatively, the base ply 200 and the top ply 210 may be entirely separate.

Disposed between the terminals 202 and 204 is a resistor ply 214 on top of which is disposed a pressure sensitive ply 216 such as the particulated molybdenum disulfide material described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,315,238. Similarly, the top ply 210 has disposed thereon, between the terminals 206 and 208, a resistor ply 218 on top of which may be disposed a pressure sensitive semiconductor ply 220. In accordance with the invention, when the top ply 210 and the base ply 200 are positioned and aligned in proper facing alignment, the terminals 206 and 208 will not come in contact with the terminals 202 and 204.

The operation of the embodiment of FIG. 10 is illustrated in FIGS. 11A, 11B and 11C. Referring specifically to the FIG. 11A, to measure the X-coordinate at point 240, the terminal 202 is connected to ground via switch 230 and the terminal 204 is connected to the voltage source +V via switch 230 to provide a voltage drop across the resistor ply between terminals 202 and 204. Simultaneously, terminals 206 and 208 are each coupled via switch 232 and 236 to the input of an amplifier 238. Thus, the voltage at the point of contact between the base ply 200 and the top ply 210 will be applied to the input of the amplifier 238 and hence the output of the amplifier 238.

Similarly, as shown in FIG. 11B, to obtain the Y-coordinate of the location 240 of force application, the terminals 202 and 204 are connected via switch 230 to the input of the amplifier 238 while the terminal 206 is connected to ground via switch 232. Thus, the Y-coordinate voltage at point 240, which is the point on the surface of the digitizer pad at which the force F is applied, will appear at the output of the amplifier 238.

Finally, referring to FIG. 11C, in the embodiment where a pressure sensitive ply is positioned between the base ply 200 and the top ply 210, the measure of pressure may be obtained by connecting terminals 202 and 204 to voltage source +V via appropriate switching of switches 230 and 234 while simultaneously connecting the terminals 206 and 208 to ground via appropriate switching of switches 232 and 236. The voltage drop between the top ply 210 and the bottom ply 200 will then be the voltage drop across the junction between the base ply 200 and the top ply 210 with the resistance varying, and hence the potential drop across the junction varying, as the pressure varies.

Referring to FIGS. 12A and 12B, another digitizer pad 300 is illustrated including a base ply 302 on which is disposed three terminals 304, 306 and 308 in space apart, preferably parallel relationship. Disposed across a surface 310 of the base ply 302 on which the terminals 304, 306 and 308 are affixed is a resistor ply 312. The resistor ply may be of any configuration and may have any desired resistive gradient profile. In any event, the resistor ply 312 is applied to cover each of the terminals 304, 306 and 308 so as to be in electrical conducting relationship with those terminals. Digitizer pad 300 also includes a top ply 314 which, like the base ply 302, includes three terminals 3-6, 318 and 320 which are in parallel orientation relative to one another and are spaced apart from one another. In the preferred embodiment, insulator pads 322 are positioned at selected locations along each of the terminals 316, 318 and 320. The insulator pads 322 are positioned so that when the top ply 314 is folded over onto the base ply 302, the pads 322 will be between the crossover points between the terminals 316, 318 and 320 and the terminals 304, 306 and 308. In the preferred embodiment, the terminals 304, 306 and 308 are orthogonally oriented with respect to the terminals on the top ply at the terminals 316, 318 and 320 on the top ply 314.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, a pressure sensitive semiconductive ply 324 is disposed over the surface of the top ply 314 covering the terminals 316, 318 and 320 so that the semiconductor ply 324 will be located immediately adjacent to but in normally nonconducting relationship to the resistor ply 312. In accordance with the invention, a switching network 326 has leads X1, X2 and X3 which are coupled respectively to terminals 304, 306 and 308 and leads Y1, Y2 and Y3, respectively coupled to leads 316, 318 and 320.

When the top ply 314 is folded over the base ply 302 so that the terminals 316, 318 and 320 are orthogonal to, and overlay, the terminals 304, 306 and 308 as illustrated by the dash lines in FIG. 12A, the regions bounded by the terminals 316, 308, 320 and 304 will be divided by terminals 318 and 306 into quadrants. The switching network 326 provides a means of applying the voltage from voltage source 328 across a selected two terminals from the set of three terminals on the base ply 302 or a select pair of terminals from the set of three terminals on the top ply 314. For example, if it is desired to determine the location of the application of a force F in quadrant I, in the X direction, then thee voltage from voltage source 328 may be applied to the terminal 306 through lead X2 with terminal 304 coupled to ground. Similarly, lead 316 and 318 will be coupled by the switching network 326 to the output. In a manner similar to that described in conjunction with FIGS. 11A, 11B and 11C, the output voltage will be a measure of the X dimension spatial coordinate in quadrant I. In a similar manner, the Y-coordinate in quadrant I can likewise be determined.

The switching network 326 can be configured to sequentially monitor quadrants I, II, III and IV in the X, Y and pressure (Z) coordinates to identify any point of force application. Once a particular point of force application is identified, the switching network 326 can eliminate scanning of all four quadrants and can remain in the quadrant of force application, continually sequencing through and determining the X, Y and pressure (Z) coordinates. By recording the parameters in the coordinates for a period of time, a profile of a change in the location of the application of force can be stored for later use in verifying future profiles.

Referring to FIG. 13, an embodiment of a digitizer pad 400 is illustrated having a configuration somewhat similar to that disclosed in FIGS. 12A and 12B. However, rather than having single terminals such as terminals 304, 306 and 308, each terminal consists of a pair of leads. Hence, terminal 404 (corresponding to terminal 304) consists of a pair of leads W7 and W8. Similarly, terminal 406 consists of a pair of leads W9 an W10. When a voltage is to be applied in the X direction in quadrant I, a voltage from a voltage source 428 is applied via switching network 426 to lead W9 with lead W8 coupled to ground. To provide isolation from spurious voltages that could reside on other leads, leads W7 and W10 are also coupled to ground. Similarly, leads W1 and W4 will be coupled to ground when a voltage is applied across leads W2 and W3. When, for example, the point of force application is in quadrant IV, then leads W9 and W12, W6 and W3 will be coupled to ground while leads W10 and W11 and leads W4 and W5 are alternately coupled across the voltage source 428 and ground to sequentially determine a voltage constituting a measure of the X and Y coordinates of the point of force application in quadrant IV. The coupling of the leads W9, W12 and W6 and W3 to ground surrounds the fourth quadrant with grounded leads thereby isolating quadrant IV.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in this continuation-in-part, a digitizer pad capable of measuring position and pressure along three axes is presented. The digitizer pad comprises a sandwich arrangement having two conductor plys respectively defining the X-axis and Y-axis with an insulative substrate between having a pressure sensitive semiconductive ply disposed on each side which is used in measuring the "Z-axis" or pressure parameter.

Referring to FIGS. 14A, 14B and 15, a base ply 500 has thereon three terminals 512, 514 and 516, a resistor ply 502, and a plurality of conductors 504 extending from resistor ply 501 and a plurality of second conductors 505, interleaved between but spaced from conductors 504. Terminals 512 and 514 are coupled across resistor ply 502.

In FIG. 14B, a base ply 506 has thereon three terminals 518, 520 and 522, resistor ply 508, and a plurality of third conductors 510, extending from the resistor ply 508 and a plurality of fourth conductors 511 interleaved between but spaced from conductors 510. Terminals 518 and 520 are coupled across resistor ply 508.

Turning to FIG. 15, a cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the digitizer pad of the present invention arising from this continuation-in-part is illustrated. A nonconductive ply 528 has disposed thereon a first pressure sensitive semiconductive layer 524 and a second pressure sensitive semiconductive layer 526. The pressure sensitive semiconductive layer 524 generally corresponds to the area covered by conductors 504 and 505. The pressure sensitive semiconductive layer 526 generally corresponds to the area covered by conductors 510 and 511. This nonconductive ply 528 is then sandwiched between base plys 500 and 506 with conductors 504 and 505 correspondingly placed adjacent to pressure sensitive semiconductive layer 524 and conductors 510 and 511 being adjacent to pressure sensitive semiconductive layer 526. Ply 530 represents the aggregate conductors and terminals 502, 504, 505, 512, 514, and 516. Ply 532 represents the aggregate conductors and terminals 508, 510, 511, 518, 520 and 522.

In operation, a force F is applied to the digital pad illustrated in FIG. 15 and is registered via use of a switching means interconnected to the terminals and to a voltage source for selectively providing a voltage differential singly across selected pairs of terminals. Thus, a voltage may be applied across terminal 512 and 514 (or 518 and 520) with the voltage at terminal 516 being proportional to the spatial location along the axis defined between terminal 512 and 514 (518 and 520) at which pressure is applied. The amount of pressure (a "Z" axis parameter) applied is measured by setting the voltage at terminals 512 and 514 (518 and 520) at the same value (connecting the two terminals together) and applying a voltage across the terminals 512 and 516 (or 514 and 516) and then measuring the voltage drop across those terminals when pressure is applied.

The particular mechanism for switching voltage between the various terminals is conventional and need not be discussed in detail.

Although switching networks have been discussed in connection with application of voltages across regions of the digitizer pad, it will be appreciated that electronic pulses of predefined voltages can be utilized under computer control to sequence through the steps illustrated in FIGS. 11A, 11B and 11C.

It will also be appreciated that various other electrical profiles may be created across the surface of a digitizer pad in accordance with the invention. Such changes in the potential profile may be effected, for example, by positioning of terminals, the shape of the terminals, the application of varying voltages to the different terminals, or the variation of resistive gradients along the resistor ply.

In addition, while the above description has been made with reference to the application of DC voltages, AC voltages, either in-phase or out-of-phase, may be applied to the various terminals in accordance with the invention.