Patent · US Expired

System for sensing spatial coordinates

US4603231A · kind A · utility

55Cited by
21References
36Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 31, 1983
Grant dateJul 29, 1986
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 31, 2003

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F3/0383
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A system for sensing the spatial position of a moveable object with respect to an energized conductive surface whereby the spatial coordinates of the object are determined. The system provides a means of accurately measuring the coordinates of the object with respect to a two-dimensional coordinate system independent of the third orthogonal dimension, thereby avoiding significant measurement errors due to variations of the object's position in the third orthogonal dimension. The system also ascertains the coordinate position of the object in this third dimension, which can then be utilized as an independent control variable in the system. Further, the system can accommodate a number of energized conductive surfaces over which the object may be positioned and can determine the spatial coordinates of the object with respect to any such surface. In general, the system of the present invention can ascertain the generalized n-tuple position vector of the object with respect to each of a plurality of generalized, energized conductive surfaces. In any of the foregoing forms, the energized conductive surfaces can be transparent.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.