This application claims priority of Taiwanese application No. 099138137, filed on Nov. 5, 2010.
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a stylus input device, more particularly to a stylus input device capable of generating a three-dimensional input signal.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to
The touch panel 9 includes a sensing antenna 92 and a processing unit 93. The sensing antenna 92 is disposed in the touch panel 9 for sensing resonant frequency generated by the resonant circuit when the stylus input device 8 moves on the touch panel 9, and generates a two-dimensional signal, i.e., X-Y coordinate data of the stylus input device 8, according to the resonant frequency sensed thereby. The processing unit 93 is electrically connected to the sensing antenna 92 for receiving the two-dimensional signal and generating a positioning signal.
However, the conventional stylus input device 8 is designed for use with a touch panel that includes a sensing antenna and a processing unit, which results in inconvenience and increased manufacturing costs. Additionally, an axial displacement of the stylus input device 8 relative to the touch panel 9 is not detected.
Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a stylus input device capable of overcoming the above drawbacks of the prior art.
According to this invention, a stylus input device operable for movement on a working surface comprises a grip, a surface-contacting member, a pivot joint, first and second sensor modules, a processing unit, and a transmitting module. The grip defines an axis, and the surface-contacting member has an end wall configured for intimate contact with the working surface. The pivot joint is disposed to connect pivotally the grip to the surface-contacting member, is disposed to permit tilting of the grip relative to the working surface when the end wall of the surface-contacting member is in intimate contact with the working surface, and is provided with an elongated through slot extending parallel to the axis of the grip and a pin extending into the elongated through slot so as to permit and guide displacement of the grip relative to the surface-contacting member along the axis of the grip. The first sensor module is disposed in the surface-contacting member for sensing two-dimensional movement of the surface-contacting member on the working surface and generating a two-dimensional movement signal according to the two-dimensional movement sensed thereby. The second sensor module is disposed in the grip and includes a resonant circuit operable to generate a resonant frequency that varies according to the displacement of the grip relative to the surface-contacting member along the axis of the grip, and a sensor unit for sensing the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit and generating an axial displacement signal according to the sensed resonant frequency. The processing unit is disposed in the grip, and is electrically coupled to the first and second sensor modules for receiving the two-dimensional movement signal and the axial displacement signal and converting the two-dimensional movement signal and the axial displacement signal into a positioning signal. The transmitting module is electrically coupled to the processing unit for receiving and transmitting the positioning signal.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Referring to
The surface-contacting member 32 includes an end wall 322 having a contact surface 3220 for intimate contact with the working surface 7. The grip 5 defines an axis (A) and has a receiving space defining wall 11 that is formed at one end of the grip 5, that defines a receiving space 110 for receiving the pivot joint 2 therein, and that is provided with a pin 12 extending transverse to the axis (A) of the grip 5.
In this embodiment, the pivot joint 2 is a ball and socket joint disposed to connect pivotally the grip 5 to the surface-contacting member 32 and disposed to permit tilting of the grip 5 relative to the working surface 7 when the contact surface 3220 of the end wall 322 of the surface-contacting member 32 is in intimate contact with the working surface 7. The pivot joint 2 includes a socket wall 21, a hollow ball segment 31, and a restoring unit 4.
The hollow ball segment 31 is formed on the surface-contacting member 32, has a portion rotatably confined by the socket wall 21, and is formed with an elongated through slot 310 that extends parallel to the axis (A) of the grip 5 and that permits the pin 12 of the receiving space defining wall 11 to extend therethrough so as to allow and guide displacement of the grip 5 relative to the surface-contacting member 32 along the axis (A) of the grip 5.
The restoring unit 4 is for biasing the grip 5 away from the surface-contacting member 32 and restoring the grip 5 and the surface-contacting member 32 such that the axis (A) of the grip 5 is substantially perpendicular to the contact surface 3220 of the end wall 322 of the surface-contacting member 32 when the end wall 32 of the surface-contacting member 32 is released from intimate contact with the working surface 7. The restoring unit 4 includes a bar component 41, a pair of resilient components 431, 432, a pair of slots 311, 312, and a limiting structure.
The bar component 41 is disposed in the ball segment 31 and has two free ends 411, 412. Each of the resilient components 431, 432 connects the socket wall 21 to a portion 451, 452 of the bar component 41 proximate to a respective one of the free ends 411, 412. The slots 311, 312 are formed in the ball segment 31, and each of the slots 311, 312 permits a respective one of the free ends 411, 412 of the bar component 41 to extend movably therethrough to be movable in a plane transverse to the pin 12.
The limiting structure includes a pair of arc-shaped restraining grooves 111, 112 formed in the receiving defining wall 11 for receiving the free ends 411, 412 of the bar component 41, respectively. The restraining grooves 111, 112 are for limiting angular movement of the bar component 41 in the receiving space 110 about the pin 12, and are configured such that movement of the grip 5 relative to the ball segment 31 causes the receiving space defining wall 11 to abut against the free ends 411, 412 of the bar component 41.
The first sensor module 61 is disposed in the surface-contacting member 32 for sensing two-dimensional movement of the surface-contacting member 32 on the working surface 7 and generates a two-dimensional movement signal (i.e., X-Y coordinate data) according to the two-dimensional movement sensed thereby. Preferably, the first sensor module 61 is a two-dimensional (2D) infrared positioning sensor.
The second sensor module 62 is one of an electromagnetic positioning sensor. The second sensor module 62 is disposed in the grip 5, and includes a sensor unit 622 and a resonant circuit 623. The resonant circuit 623 is operable to generate a resonant frequency that varies according to the displacement of the grip 5 relative to the surface-contacting member 32 along the axis (A) of the grip 5.
In this embodiment, the resonant circuit 623 is an inductor having a configurable inductance and includes a casing 611, a core 612, a sensing coil 613, and a core support 614. The casing 611 is retained by a sensor holder 511 formed in an interior of the grip 5, the sensing coil 613 is wound around the casing 611, and the core 612 is disposed in the casing 611. The core support 614 is spaced apart from the casing 611 along the axis (A) of the grip 5, and is disposed on a supporting surface 210 of the socket wall 21 for supporting the core 612 thereon. The casing 611 and the sensing coil 613 are movable with the grip 5 relative to the core 612.
The sensor unit 622 is for sensing the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit 623 and generating an axial displacement signal (i.e., Z coordinate data) according to the sensed resonant frequency. The processing unit 63 is disposed in the grip 5, and is electrically coupled to the first and second sensor modules 61, 62 for receiving the two-dimensional movement signal and the axial displacement signal and converting the two-dimensional movement signal and the axial displacement signal into a positioning signal. The transmitting module 64 is electrically coupled to the processing unit 63 for receiving and transmitting the positioning signal for subsequent reception by a wired receiving unit 82 of a host 81.
In this embodiment, the transmitting module 64 includes a wired transmitting unit 641 for outputting a wired signal corresponding to the positioning signal. Referring to
Further referring to
Referring to
Therefore, the stylus input device 100 of the present invention can be used with various touch panels and generate a three-dimensional positioning signal.
While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretations and equivalent arrangements.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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099138137 | Nov 2010 | TW | national |