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`K~nohoz 655> Vgmk 6
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`1
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`EP 0 556 999 A1
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`2
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`The present invention relates to data processing
`apparatus.
`When manually inputting data into a machine or
`system, the benefits of feedback to the user are well
`known. This feedback can serve to indicate to the
`
`user that he has accomplished his objective.
`Data capture surfaces may include a digitizer or
`a combination of a display and an overlying transpar-
`ent digitizer. The digitizer responds to pressure from
`a finger or writing instrument by generating a signal
`which is filtered, processed, and measured to deter-
`mine the position of the pressure source on the digi-
`tizer.
`
`When the data capture surface comprises a rigid
`surface, for example when an overlying transparent
`display forms the data acapture surface, or when the
`surface is generally inflexible, a user is disadvanta-
`geously faced with the unfamiliarfeel of a solid writing
`instrument such as a ballpoint pen or stylus against
`a hard and rigid surface.
`It is an objet of the present invention to provide
`data processing apparatus which does not have the
`above disadvantage.
`In accordance with the present invention, there is
`provided data processing apparatus having a data in-
`put surface and data input means for touching said
`surface so as to input data into said apparatus, char-
`acterized by detection means for providing a signal
`when said input means comes within a predeter-
`mined distance from said surface, and feedback
`means connected to said detection means for provid-
`ing feedback to a user in response to receiving said
`signal.
`It should be understood that the term within a
`
`predetermined distance as used in the preceding
`paragraph includes a value of zero distance, such as
`when the data input means touches the surface.
`It is an advantage of the present invention that a
`data capture system is provided with feedback in the
`form of displacement of the data capture surface
`when a data capture instrument touches the data cap-
`ture surface so that the surface moves in response
`to use of the instrument.
`
`The invention is described further hereinafter, by
`way of example only, with reference to the accompa-
`nying drawings in which:
`Fig. 1 is a block diagram of apparatus embodying
`the present invention;
`Fig. 2 shows a first type of data capture surface
`for use in the present invention;
`Fig. 3 shows a second type of data capture sur-
`face for use in the present invention;
`Fig. 4 shows a third type of data capture surface
`for use in the present invention;
`Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of apparatus ac-
`cording to one embodiment of the present inven-
`tion;
`Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of apparatus ac-
`
`cording to another embodiment of the present in-
`vention; and
`Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view of apparatus ac-
`cording to a further embodiment of the present in-
`vention.
`
`Referring now to Figs. 1-7, data capture system
`10 of the present invention includes a data capture
`surface 12 and a surface proximity detection system
`14. Data capture surface 12 may include a liquid crys-
`tal display with a transparent digitizer or one or more
`touch sensitive elements across its top surface (Figs.
`5-7). It could be a touch sensitive elementwithin avid-
`eo monitor (Fig. 2). Alternatively, data capture surface
`12 may be a hard surface with printed captions in
`blocks and a transparent digitizer or touch sensitive
`overlay to enable the selection of a particular block
`(Fig. 3). Finally, data capture surface 12 may be a re-
`sistive or other type of digitizer underneath an over-
`lay containing printed indicia thereon (Fig. 4).
`Surface proximity detection system 14 includes a
`surface proximity detector 16, an electronic driver 18,
`a feedback actuator 20, and a data capture surface
`mount 22. Surface proximity detector 16 senses
`when a data input instrumenttouches or comes within
`a predetermined distance of data capture surface 12
`and provides a signal 24 to electronic driver 18.
`Electronic driver 18 amplifies and rectifies signal
`24 to a level sufficient to activate feedback actuator
`20.
`
`Feedback actuator 20 provides feedback to the
`user when a data input instrument touches or comes
`within a predetermined distance of data capture sur-
`face 12. Feedback actuator 20 may include a tactile
`actuator 26, an aural actuator 28, and a visual actua-
`tor 30.
`
`Tactile actuator 26 displaces data capture sur-
`face 12 when a touch is applied to data capture sur-
`face 12. Displacement may assist or oppose the
`touch force. Preferably, tactile actuator 26 includes an
`electromagnet, and a metal plate affixed to data cap-
`ture surface 12. Tactile actuator 26 works in conjunc-
`tion with data capture surface mount 22 to displace
`data capture surface 12. Surface mount 22 may in-
`clude a hinge at one end of data capture surface 12.
`Aural actuator 28 actuates aural
`indicator 32
`
`when a data capture instrument touches or comes
`within a predetermined distance of data capture sur-
`face 12.
`Visual actuator 30 actuates visual indicator 33
`
`when a data capture instrument touches or comes
`within a predetermined distance of data capture sur-
`face 12.
`
`Turning now to Fig. 2, a touch sensitive element
`34 is shown on a video monitor 35.
`
`Turning now to Fig. 3, a transparent digitizer 36
`is shown over a hard surface 37 having printed cap-
`tions in blocks.
`
`Turning now to Fig. 4, a resistive digitizer 38 is
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`K~nohoz 655> Vgmk 7
`Exhibit 1008 Page 2
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`3
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`EP 0 556 999 A1
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`4
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`shown underneath an overlay 39 containing printed
`indicia thereon.
`
`Turning now to Fig. 5, a first embodiment 40 of
`data capture system 10 is shown in which data cap-
`ture surface 12 is a transparent digitizer 41 overa liq-
`uid crystal display 45. Data capture surface mount 22
`includes a hinge 42 coupled to one end 44 of data cap-
`ture surface 41, 45. Hinge 42 is normally biased by a
`spring 43 at the other end 48 ofthe surface 41,45 so
`that data capture surface 12 is in an upward position.
`Data capture surface 12 moves in a downward direc-
`tion during a touch when an electromagnet 50 attracts
`plate 46 mounted at end 48 of data capture surface
`12.
`
`In operation, when pressure is applied by writing
`instrument 52, data capture surface 12 rotates about
`hinge 42 in opposition to spring force from spring 43.
`End 48 deflects downward with the aid of the mag-
`netic force from electromagnet 50. Thus, the user is
`provided with a sensation of having pushed data cap-
`ture surface 12. Tactile feedback may be accompa-
`nied by an audible or visual indication from aural and
`visual indicators 32 and 33.
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`Preferably, downward travel of end 48 is limited
`to as small as about five thousandths of an inch
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`25
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`(0.13mm) to minimize any adverse effects, if any, on
`the writing process. For data capture surfaces incor-
`porating simple push-button motions, the limit of trav-
`el may be significantly greater to achieve an appropri-
`ate sensation.
`
`Referring now to Fig. 6, a second embodiment 60
`of data capture system 10 of the present invention is
`shown. Embodiment 60 is similar to embodiment 40,
`except that activated motion is in an upward direction,
`opposing the direction of the touch force. Embodi-
`ment 60 provides increased sensation to the user and
`tends to keep writing instrument 52 in contact with
`data capture surface 12.
`Referring now to Fig. 7, a third embodiment 70 of
`data capture system 10 is shown. Instead of using
`hinge 42, embodiment 70 supports data capture sur-
`face 12 with a supporting frame 72. Springs 74 or
`some other type of resilient means bias the data cap-
`ture surface 12 away from supporting frame 72 in an
`upward direction. Tactile actuator 26 includes a T-
`shaped armature 76, which moves upward to impact
`data capture surface 12 when electromagnet 50 is
`energized by contact from data capture instrument 52
`with data capture surface 12. Magnitude and duration
`of tactile, aural, or visual sensations are established
`by the signal input to electromagnet 50, the weight
`and travel of armature 76, and the type of material
`from which the impacting surfaces are made. While
`embodiment 70 illustrates upward motion of armature
`50, a downward direction of motion can be easily ob-
`tained by changes in the mechanical mounting of ar-
`mature 76.
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`Claims
`
`1. Data processing apparatus having a data input
`surface (12) and data input means (52) for touch-
`ing said surface (12) so as to input data into said
`apparatus, characterized by detection means
`(16) for providing a signal when said input means
`(52) comes within a predetermined distance from
`said surface (12), and feedback means (20) con-
`nected to said detection means (16) for providing
`feedback to a user in response to receiving said
`signal.
`
`2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in
`that said feedback means (20) comprises dis-
`placement means (26) fordisplacing said surface
`(12) in response to said signal.
`
`3. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in
`that said displacement means (26) includes a
`driver (18) for amplifying and rectifying said sig-
`nal from said detecting means (16) and actuator
`means (26) coupled to said driver (1 8) for displac-
`ing said surface (12).
`
`4. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized by
`hinge means (42) at one end of said surface (12)
`and resilient means (43) at another end of said
`surface (12) for biasing said surface (12) in a pre-
`determined direction.
`
`5. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized by
`a frame member (72) for displaceably supporting
`said surface (12) and resilient means (74) mount-
`ed between said surface (12) and said frame
`member (72) for outwardly biasing said surface
`(12).
`
`6. Apparatus according to claim 3, 4 or 5, character-
`ized in that said actuator means (26) comprises
`plate means (46) coupled to said data output sur-
`face (12) and electromagnetic means (50) for at-
`tracting said plate means and thereby displacing
`said surface.
`
`7. Apparatus according to claim 3, 4 or 5, character-
`ized in that said actuator means (26) comprises
`a plunger means (76) for displacing said surface
`(12) in a predetermined direction and electromag-
`netic means (50) for driving said plunger means
`(76).
`
`8. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding
`claims, characterized in that said data input sur-
`face (12) comprises a digitizer layer (41) and a
`display layer (45).
`
`9. Apparatus according to any one ofthe preceding
`
`K~nohoz 655> Vgmk 8
`Exhibit 1008 Page 3
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`5
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`EP 0 556 999 A1
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`6
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`claims, characterized by audio means (32) for
`providing an aural indication when said data input
`means (52) is within a predetermined distance
`from said data input surface (12).
`
`. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding
`claims, characterized by visual indication means
`(33) for providing a visual indication when said
`data input means (52) is within said predeter-
`mined distance from said data input surface (12).
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`K~nohoz 655> Vgmk 9
`Exhibit 1008 Page 4
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`EP 0 556 999 A1
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`EUROPEAN SEARCH REPORT
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`llelevnnt
`to daim
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`
`* the whole document *
`
`DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED TO BE RELEVANT
`Citation of douunent with indication, Ivlnte appropriate.
`oi relevant pigs
`US-A-4 885 565 (EMBACH)
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`"""‘°"‘°“““"""'
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`EP
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`93 30 0948
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`CLAsS[FlCA'l10N OF THE
`APPLICATION (Int. (15)
`G06F3/033
`
`TECHNICAL FIEIDS
`SEAIUIED (Int. CL5)
`
`G06F
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`
`
`W0-A-9 200 559 (HEWLETT-PACKARD C0.)
`* page 1,
`line 15 - line 19 *
`* page 3,
`line 1 - line 31 *
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`EP-A-0 445 906 (SONY CORP.)
`‘ abstract *
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`1,8-10
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`1.8.10
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`
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`‘flue present march report has been dawn up for all dlilli
`Pluzennetcl
`Ddaofmlqaldheafthllltl
`BERLIN
`21 APRIL 1993
`
`kiln’
`
`DURAND J.
`
`
`
`CATEGORY 0|? CITED DOCUMENTS
`T : thmry or principle underlying the invention
`E : earlier patuat document, but published on, or
`X : particularly relevant if taken alone
`aft: the filing date
`
`Y : particularly relevant ll combined with another
`D : document and in the application
`
`doaunent of the same utegory
`L: docunnt dted for utha reasons
`A : technological background
`...................................................................................................
`0 : non-wrlttn disclosure
`& : llllllbel of the same patent family, corresponding
`P : intermediate document
`document
`
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`Exhibit 1008 Page 11