US4423286A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for determining the position of a driven coil within a grid of spaced conductors
Assignee: Cal Comp Inc
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Filing: 1982-07-21
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Granted: 1983-12-27
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Expires: 2002-07-21
Abstract
Abstract A digitizing system includes a first plurality of spaced parallel grid conductors and a second plurality of spaced parallel grid conductors orthogonal to the first plurality of spaced parallel grid conductors. The location of a movable coil arranged on a pen or cursor is determined for each plurality of grid conductors coarsely by sampling the voltage induced in one of the grid conductors from a signal applied to the coil to determine whether the coil is above or below this grid conductor. Through careful selection, a very few grid conductors can be sampled to quickly locate the two grid conductors immediately adjacent to the center of the driven coil. The ratio of the voltages present on these two grid conductors is matched against a list of known ratios representing various positions between the two grid conductors.
Inventors
- 👤 Gary A. Bergeron
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 23:50
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/03; G06F3/041; G06F3/046
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
Apparatus for determining the position of a transmitting coil with respect to a grid of spaced parallel conductors located adjacent to the transmitting coil, comprising: means for sampling the signals induced in only a selected small percentage of the conductors so as to successively reduce the possible position of the coil to smaller and smaller areas until the position is determined to be intermediate two of the conductors; and means responsive to the signals induced in the two conductors to determine the precise position of the coil.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
87 words
Apparatus for determining the position of a transmitting coil with respect to a grid of spaced parallel conductors located adjacent to the transmitting coil, comprising: means for sampling the signals induced in only a selected small percentage of the conductors so as to successively reduce the possible position of the coil to smaller and smaller areas until the position is determined to be intermediate two of the conductors; and means responsive to the signals induced in the two conductors to determine the precise position of the coil.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said sampling means includes means for sampling the signal induced in a first of the conductors located in substantially the middle of the grid so as to determine that the coil is located in one particular half of the grid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said sampling means includes means for sampling the signal induced in a second of the conductors located in substantially the middle of the half of the grid determined to contain the coil so as to determine that the coil is located in one particular quarter of the grid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said sampling means includes means for sampling the signal induced in other conductors to further reduce the area in which the coil is located to an area intermediate two conductors.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said sampling means includes means for making successive determinations of the course position of the coil prior to determining which of the other conductors are to be sampled.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said means responsive includes means for establishing a ratio of the signals induced in the two conductors and means for comparing the ratio with predetermined ratios indicative of precise coil position location.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said sampling means includes means for ascertaining the polarity of the signals induced in the conductors to denote on which side of a sampled conductor the coil is located.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
66 words
Apparatus for determining the position of a transmitting coil with respect to a pair of spaced parallel conductors located adjacent to the transmitting coil, comprising: means for measuring the signals induced in each of the conductors; means for establishing a ratio of the signals induced in the conductors; and means for comparing the ratio with a listing of predetermined ratios indicative of precise coil position location.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
66 words
Apparatus for determining the position of a transmitting coil with respect to a pair of spaced parallel conductors located adjacent to the transmitting coil, comprising: means for measuring the signals induced in each of the conductors; means for establishing a ratio of the signals induced in the conductors; and means for comparing the ratio with a listing of predetermined ratios indicative of precise coil position location.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
204 words
Apparatus for determining the position of a transmitting coil with respect to a plurality of spaced parallel conductors located adjacent to the transmitting coil, comprising: means for sampling the voltage induced in a first one of the parallel conductors so as to determine on which side of the first conductor the coil is located thereby eliminating any necessity of sampling the voltage induced in any of the parallel conductors on the other side of the first conductor which does not contain the coil; means for sampling the voltage induced in a second of the parallel conductors located on the side of the first conductor which contains the coil so as to determine on which side of the second conductor the coil is located thereby elimimating any of the parallel conductors on the other side of the second conductor which does not contain the coil; means for sampling the voltage induced in selected others of the parallel conductors so as to coarsely locate the coil as being between two particular conductors; means for generating a ratio of the voltages induced in said two particular conductors; and means for comparing said ratio with a predetermined set of ratios to determine the fine position of the coil.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
204 words
Apparatus for determining the position of a transmitting coil with respect to a plurality of spaced parallel conductors located adjacent to the transmitting coil, comprising: means for sampling the voltage induced in a first one of the parallel conductors so as to determine on which side of the first conductor the coil is located thereby eliminating any necessity of sampling the voltage induced in any of the parallel conductors on the other side of the first conductor which does not contain the coil; means for sampling the voltage induced in a second of the parallel conductors located on the side of the first conductor which contains the coil so as to determine on which side of the second conductor the coil is located thereby elimimating any of the parallel conductors on the other side of the second conductor which does not contain the coil; means for sampling the voltage induced in selected others of the parallel conductors so as to coarsely locate the coil as being between two particular conductors; means for generating a ratio of the voltages induced in said two particular conductors; and means for comparing said ratio with a predetermined set of ratios to determine the fine position of the coil.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
237 words
Apparatus for determining the position of a transmitting coil with respect to a plurality of spaced parallel conductors located adjacent to the transmitting coil, comprising: means for sampling the voltage induced in a first one of the parallel conductors which is near the middle of the plurality of conductors so as to determine on which side of the first conductor the coil is located thereby eliminating any necessity of sampling the voltage induced in any of the substantially half of the conductors located on the side of the first conductor which does not contain the coil; means for sampling the voltage induced in a second of the parallel conductors which is near the middle of the parallel conductors located on the side of the first conductor which contains the coil so as to determine on which side of the second conductor the coil is located thereby eliminating any necessity of sampling the voltage induced in any of the substantially quarter of the conductors located on the side of the second conductor which does not contain the coil; means for sampling the voltage induced in selected others of the parallel conductors so as to coarsely locate the coil as being between two particular conductors; means for generating a ratio of the voltages induced in said two particular conductors; and means for comparing said ratio with a predetermined set of ratios to determine the fine position of the coil.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
237 words
Apparatus for determining the position of a transmitting coil with respect to a plurality of spaced parallel conductors located adjacent to the transmitting coil, comprising: means for sampling the voltage induced in a first one of the parallel conductors which is near the middle of the plurality of conductors so as to determine on which side of the first conductor the coil is located thereby eliminating any necessity of sampling the voltage induced in any of the substantially half of the conductors located on the side of the first conductor which does not contain the coil; means for sampling the voltage induced in a second of the parallel conductors which is near the middle of the parallel conductors located on the side of the first conductor which contains the coil so as to determine on which side of the second conductor the coil is located thereby eliminating any necessity of sampling the voltage induced in any of the substantially quarter of the conductors located on the side of the second conductor which does not contain the coil; means for sampling the voltage induced in selected others of the parallel conductors so as to coarsely locate the coil as being between two particular conductors; means for generating a ratio of the voltages induced in said two particular conductors; and means for comparing said ratio with a predetermined set of ratios to determine the fine position of the coil.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for determining the position of a transmitting coil with respect to a grid of spaced parallel conductors located adjacent to the transmitting coil, comprising the steps of: sampling the signals induced in only a selected small percentage of the conductors so as to successively reduce the possible position of the coil to smaller and smaller areas until the position is determined to be intermediate two of the conductors; and responding to the signals induced in the two conductors to determine the precise position of the coil.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for determining the position of a transmitting coil with respect to a grid of spaced parallel conductors located adjacent to the transmitting coil, comprising the steps of: sampling the signals induced in only a selected small percentage of the conductors so as to successively reduce the possible position of the coil to smaller and smaller areas until the position is determined to be intermediate two of the conductors; and responding to the signals induced in the two conductors to determine the precise position of the coil.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method as defined in claim 11, wherein said sampling step includes sampling the signal induced in a first of the conductors located in substantially the middle of the grid so as to determine that the coil is located in one particular half of the grid.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method as defined in claim 12, wherein said sampling step includes sampling the signal induced in a second of the conductors located in substantially the middle of the half of the grid determined to contain the coil so as to determine that the coil is located in one particular quarter of the grid.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method as defined in claim 13, wherein said sampling step includes sampling the signal induced in other conductors to further reduce the area in which the coil is located to an area intermediate two conductors.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method as defined in claim 14, wherein said sampling step includes means for successively determining the coarse position of the coil prior to determining which of the other conductors are to be sampled.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method as defined in claim 11, wherein said responding step includes establishing a ratio of the signals induced in the two conductors and comparing the ratio with predetermined ratios indicative of precise coil position location.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method as defined in claim 11, wherein said sampling step includes ascertaining the polarity of the signals induced in the conductors to denote on which side of a conductor the coil is located.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
64 words
A method for determining the position of a transmitting coil with respect to a pair of spaced parallel conductors located adjacent to the transmitting coil, comprising the steps of: measuring the signals induced in each of the conductors; establishing a ratio of the signals induced in the conductors; and comparing the ratio with a listing of predetermined ratios indicative of precise coil position locations.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
64 words
A method for determining the position of a transmitting coil with respect to a pair of spaced parallel conductors located adjacent to the transmitting coil, comprising the steps of: measuring the signals induced in each of the conductors; establishing a ratio of the signals induced in the conductors; and comparing the ratio with a listing of predetermined ratios indicative of precise coil position locations.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
206 words
A method for determining the position of a transmitting coil with respect to a plurality of spaced parallel conductors located adjacent to the transmitting coil, comprising the steps of: sampling the voltage induced in a first one of the parallel conductors so as to determine on which side of the first conductor the coil is located thereby eliminating any necessity of sampling the voltage induced in any of the parallel conductors on the other side of the first conductor which does not contain the coil; sampling the voltage induced in a second of the parallel conductors located on the side of the first conductor which contains the coil so as to determine on which side of the second conductor the coil is located thereby eliminating any necessity of sampling the voltage induced in any of the parallel conductors on the other side of the second conductor which does not contain the coil; sampling the voltage induced in selected others of the parallel conductors so as to coarsely locate the coil as being between two particular conductors; generating a ratio of the voltages induced in said two particular conductors; and comparing said ratio with a predetermined set of ratios to determine the fine position of the coil.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
206 words
A method for determining the position of a transmitting coil with respect to a plurality of spaced parallel conductors located adjacent to the transmitting coil, comprising the steps of: sampling the voltage induced in a first one of the parallel conductors so as to determine on which side of the first conductor the coil is located thereby eliminating any necessity of sampling the voltage induced in any of the parallel conductors on the other side of the first conductor which does not contain the coil; sampling the voltage induced in a second of the parallel conductors located on the side of the first conductor which contains the coil so as to determine on which side of the second conductor the coil is located thereby eliminating any necessity of sampling the voltage induced in any of the parallel conductors on the other side of the second conductor which does not contain the coil; sampling the voltage induced in selected others of the parallel conductors so as to coarsely locate the coil as being between two particular conductors; generating a ratio of the voltages induced in said two particular conductors; and comparing said ratio with a predetermined set of ratios to determine the fine position of the coil.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
231 words
A method for determining the position of a transmitting coil with respect to a plurality of spaced parallel conductors located adjacent to the transmitting coil, comprising the steps of: sampling the voltage induced in a first one of the parallel conductors which is near the middle of the plurality of conductors so as to determine on which side of the first conductor the coil is located thereby eliminating any necessity of sampling the voltage induced in any of the substantially half of the conductors located on the side of the first conductor which does not contain the coil; sampling the voltage induced in a second of the parallel conductors which is near the middle of the parallel conductors located on the side of the first conductor which contains the coil so as to determine on which side of the second conductor the coil is located thereby eliminating any necessity of sampling the voltage induced in any of the substantially quarter of the conductors located on the side of the second conductor which does not contain the coil; sampling the voltage induced in selected others of the parallel conductors so as to coarsely locate the coil as being between two particular conductors; generating a ratio of the voltages induced in said two particular conductors; and comparing said ratio with a predetermined set of ratios to determine the fine position of the coil.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
231 words
A method for determining the position of a transmitting coil with respect to a plurality of spaced parallel conductors located adjacent to the transmitting coil, comprising the steps of: sampling the voltage induced in a first one of the parallel conductors which is near the middle of the plurality of conductors so as to determine on which side of the first conductor the coil is located thereby eliminating any necessity of sampling the voltage induced in any of the substantially half of the conductors located on the side of the first conductor which does not contain the coil; sampling the voltage induced in a second of the parallel conductors which is near the middle of the parallel conductors located on the side of the first conductor which contains the coil so as to determine on which side of the second conductor the coil is located thereby eliminating any necessity of sampling the voltage induced in any of the substantially quarter of the conductors located on the side of the second conductor which does not contain the coil; sampling the voltage induced in selected others of the parallel conductors so as to coarsely locate the coil as being between two particular conductors; generating a ratio of the voltages induced in said two particular conductors; and comparing said ratio with a predetermined set of ratios to determine the fine position of the coil.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3832693A
Cited
US4029899A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-12-26 | 1987-06-27 | 1987-12-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-12-26 | 1991-06-27 | 1991-12-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-12-26 | 1995-06-27 | 1995-12-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |