Position sensing computer input device

Claim 2

A position sensing input device, comprising: a sensor having on analog sensing surface and including a single layer of one or more conductive sheets; means for detecting without electromagnetic radiation either a human touch or the touch of an inanimate object or both on said sensor; and means for discriminating between the two types of touch for allowing input with at least one of an inanimate object and a human touch.

Claim 3

The input device of claim 1 in which said sensor includes an insulative substrate with a single conductive surface coating.

Claim 4

The input device of claim 1 in which said means for detecting a human touch includes means for supplying current to each said conductive sheet.

Claim 5

The input device of claim 3 in which said means for detecting a human touch further includes means for determining the current flow to each said conductive sheet responsive to the human touch.

Claim 6

The input device of claim 3 in which said current is time-varying.

Claim 7

The input device of claim 2 in which said inanimate object is conductive.

Claim 8

The input device of claim 6 in which said means for detecting an inanimate object touch includes means for supplying a current to said inanimate object.

Claim 9

The input device of claim 7 in which said means for detecting an inanimate object touch further includes means for determining the current flow through said inanimate object into said conductive surface coating responsive to the inanimate object touch on said sensing sensor surface.

Claim 10

The input device of claim 1 in which said means for discriminating includes means for alternately enabling said means for detecting a human touch and said means for detecting an inanimate object touch.

Claim 11

The input device of claim 1 in which said means for discriminating includes means for detecting the inanimate object touch when that touch is concurrent with a human touch to establish touch priority to the inanimate object touch.

Claim 12

The input device of claim 1 further including means for determining the inanimate touch location on said surface.

Claim 13

The input device of claim 9 in which said means for alternately enabling includes a switch.

Claim 14

The input device of claim 12 in which said switch is mounted on the inanimate object for operator control.

Claim 15

The input device of claim 9 in which said means for alternately enabling includes means for resolving human touch on the inanimate object.

Claim 16

The input device of claim 14 in which said means for resolving includes one or more capacitive sensors.

Claim 17

The input device of claim 14 in which said means for resolving includes a pair of resistive contacts.

Claim 18

The input device of claim 9 in which said means for alternately enabling includes means for determining the relative attitude of said inanimate object.

Claim 19

The input device of claim 17 in which said means for determining the relative attitude includes a tilt-sensitive switch for said inanimate object.

Claim 20

The input device of claim 9 in which said means for alternately enabling includes a sensor in an inanimate-object holding device.

Claim 21

The input device of claim 1 further including means for determining the human touch location on said surface.

Claim 22

The input device of claim 5 in which said means for determining the current flow includes means for detecting current out of phase with the voltage.

Claim 23

The input device of claim 8 in which said means for determining the current flow includes means for detecting current in phase with the voltage.

Claim 24

The input device of claim 1 in which said means for detecting includes a phase-sensitive detector.

Claim 25

The input device of claim 1 further including means for allowing human or inanimate object touch selection of discrete portions of said sensor for providing preestablished touch-sensitive areas.

Claim 26

The input device of claim 1 in which said means for detecting includes separate human touch and inanimate object touch sensors aligned to accurately report touch prints.

Claim 27

The input device of claim 1 further including means for calibrating touch position of both a human touch and an inanimate-object touch.

Claim 28

A position sensing input device, comprising: an insulative substrate with a single conductive surface coating; means for supplying time-varying current to said surface coating; means for resolving current flow to said surface coating out of phase with the supply voltage responsive to a human touch on said surface coating for detecting the human touch; a conductive stylus; means for supplying time-varying current to said stylus; means for resolving current flow from said stylus to said surface coating in phase with the supply voltage responsive to stylus touch on said surface coating for detecting the stylus touch; and means for discriminating between the human and stylus touch for allowing input with at least one of said stylus and a human touch.

Claim 29

A position sensing input device, comprising: an insulative substrate with a single conductive surface coating; means for supplying time-varying current to said surface coating; means for resolving current flow to said surface coating out of phase with the supply voltage responsive to a human touch on said surface coating for detecting the human touch; a conductive stylus; means for supplying time-varying current to said stylus; means for resolving current flow from said stylus to said surface coating in phase with the supply voltage responsive to stylus touch on said surface coating for detecting the stylus touch; and means for discriminating between the human and stylus touch for allowing input with at least one of said stylus and a human touch.

Claim 30

The input device of claim 27 in which said means for supplying time-varying current to said surface coating and said means for resolving current flow from said stylus to said surface coating includes a current buffer.

Claim 31

A position sensing input device, comprising: an insulative substrate with a single conductive surface coating; means for supplying time-varying current to said surface coating; means for resolving current flow to said surface coating out of phase with the supply voltage responsive to a human touch on said surface coating for detecting the human touch; a conductive stylus; means for supplying time-varying current to said stylus; means for resolving current flow from said stylus to said surface coating in phase with the supply voltage responsive to stylus touch on said surface coating for detecting the stylus touch; and means for alternately enabling said means for resolving current flow to said surface coating responsive to a human touch and said means for resolving current flow from said stylus to said surface coating for discriminating between the two types of touch.

Claim 32

A position sensing input device, comprising: an insulative substrate with a single conductive surface coating; means for supplying time-varying current to said surface coating; means for resolving current flow to said surface coating out of phase with the supply voltage responsive to a human touch on said surface coating for detecting the human touch; a conductive stylus; means for supplying time-varying current to said stylus; means for resolving current flow from said stylus to said surface coating in phase with the supply voltage responsive to stylus touch on said surface coating for detecting the stylus touch; and means for alternately enabling said means for resolving current flow to said surface coating responsive to a human touch and said means for resolving current flow from said stylus to said surface coating for discriminating between the two types of touch.

Claim 33

The input device of claim 29 in which said means for alternately enabling includes means for detecting stylus touch when that touch is concurrent with human touch to establish touch priority to the stylus touch.

Claim 34

A position sensing input device, comprising: a sensor having an analog sensing surface; an input stylus; means for detecting without electromagnetic radiation either a human touch or a stylus touch or both on said sensor; means for determining when the stylus is being used; and means, responsive to said means for determining, for reporting only stylus touch points when said stylus is being used, to allow the user to physically touch the sensing surface while using the stylus.

Claim 35

A position sensing input device, comprising: a sensor having an analog sensing surface; an input stylus; means for detecting without electromagnetic radiation either a human touch or a stylus touch or both on said sensor; means for determining when the stylus is being used; and means, responsive to said means for determining, for reporting only stylus touch points when said stylus is being used, to allow the user to physically touch the sensing surface while using the stylus.