Abstract:
An apparatus for precisely locating the position of a transmitter either along a line, or a surface, or within a three dimensional space. More particularly the apparatus of the invention is adapted for use with a computer and includes a pen sized movable transmitter, or mouse, whose exact position can be determined without the use of any physical connection between the transmitter and the balance of the apparatus.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This is a Continuation-In-Part of presently copending application Ser. No. 07/292,947 filed 1-3-89 now U.S. Pat. No. 4,885,433. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a position determining apparatus. More particularly, the invention concerns an input device for use with a computer in which the transmitter of the device, or mouse, is in the configuration of a pen sized writing instrument. 
     DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART 
     The conventional prior art mouse comprises an input device, usually connected by a wire or other physical linkage to the computer. The mouse typically has a roller on its bottom designed to roll along the desk top beside the computer. When the mouse is moved, the cursor on the computer screen will move in the same direction that the mouse is moved. 
     The drawbacks of the conventional prior art mouse and of prior art position determining devices are several. In the first place the shape of the mouse is ill-suited for use as a writing instrument and disadvantageously requires some physical connection with the computer system. Further, the conventional mouse only has the ability to determine position changes relative to a previous position as opposed to being able to determine an absolute position relative to a fixed reference. Additionally, unlike the device of the present invention, many prior art position locating devices must be used with a special surface such as a digitizing tablet. Finally prior art position locating devices are typically two dimensional and cannot determine position three dimensionally. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for precisely locating the position of a transmitter within either a plane, within a three dimensional space, or along a line. More particularly, it is an object of the invention to provide an input apparatus for use with a computer which includes a compact movable transmitter, whose exact position within a plane, three dimensional space, or along a line can be determined without the use of any physical connection between the transmitter and the rest of the apparatus. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide apparatus of the aforementioned character in which the transmitter has the shape of a writing instrument such as a pen. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a device of the character described in the preceding paragraph in which the absolute position of the pen sized transmitter can be precisely determined relative to a fixed reference. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character described which does not require the use of any special writing surface. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the class described in which the transmitter comprises a laser diode driver and in which the apparatus includes photodiode receivers for receiving signals from the transmitter. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a generally perspective view of the one form of the apparatus of the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a generally diagrammatic view illustrating the interaction among the various subsystems which comprise the apparatus of the invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a generally diagrammatic view illustrating the phase relationship of the transmitter signals at the three receivers of the apparatus with the transmitter in a first location. 
     FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view similar to FIG. 3, showing the phase relationship of the signals at the three receivers with the transmitter in a second location. 
     FIG. 5 is a generally diagrammatic view similar to FIGS. 3 and 4, but showing the phase relationship of the signals at the three receivers with the transmitter in a third location. 
     FIG. 6 is a generally schematic view of the circuitry of the basic transmitter of one embodiment of the apparatus of the invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a generally schematic view illustrating the circuitry of the basic receiver of one embodiment of the apparatus of the invention. 
     FIG. 8 is a generally schematic view showing the circuitry of basic phase detector of one form of the apparatus of the invention. 
     FIG. 9 is a generally perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the invention. 
     FIG. 10 is a generally diagrammatic view illustrating an alternate method of operation of the apparatus of the invention. 
     FIG. 11 is a generally schematic view of one form of the phase detector device of the apparatus of the invention. 
     FIG. 12 is a generally diagrammatic view illustrating the interaction among certain of the various subsystems which comprise an alternate embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 13 is a generally diagrammatic view illustrating the interaction among certain of the subsystems which comprise yet another form of the invention. 
     FIG. 14 is a generally diagrammatic view illustrating the interaction among certain of the subsystems which comprise still another alternate embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, one form of position determining apparatus of the present invention is there shown. In this embodiment of the invention the apparatus comprises transmitting means for transmitting a detectable signal and three coplanar, spaced apart receiving means for receiving the signal transmitted by the transmitting means. The transmitting means is here shown as comprising a housing 12 having the general configuration of a writing pen within which is mounted a laser diode adapted to emit a series of flashes of light. The receiving means, in turn, comprises first second and third receivers 14, 16, and 18 respectively, each being capable of sensing the flashes of light emitted by the laser diode. Upon sensing the flashes of light, each receiver generates and transmits corresponding first output signals as, for example, electrical signals. 
     As best seen in FIG. 2, the apparatus further includes first and second detector means here provided in the form of first and second phase detectors 20 and 22. Phase detector 20 is adapted to receive first output signals S1 and S2 from receivers 14 and 16 while phase detector 22 is adapted to receive first output signals S2 and S3 from receivers 16 and 18. Upon receiving signals S1 and S2 from receivers 14 and 16 respectively, phase detector 20 generates and transmits a second output signal Vφ1. Similarly, upon receiving signals S2 and S3 from receivers 16 and 18 respectively, phase detector 22 generates and transmits a third output signal Vφ2. 
     Cooperatively associated with phase detectors 20 and 22 is computation means shown here as a position computation device 24, for receiving and analyzing the second and third output signals transmitted by the phase detectors. The function and operation of the detector and computation means will be described more fully in the paragraphs which follow. 
     Referring now particularly to FIG. 2, with the transmitter positioned as shown by the solid lines, the device functions as follows: 
     Consider first the receivers 14 and 16, that is, the receivers, numbered 1 and 2. In the position indicated by the solid lines and the numeral 12, the transmitter is equidistant from receivers 1 and 2. Turning to FIG. 3, the signals detected by receivers 1 and 2, that is, S1 and S2 respectively, will be in phase with each other, and phase detector 1 will generate the appropriate second output signal, Vφ1. 
     From the signal Vφ1 it can be readily determined that the transmitter means must lie somewhere on a line which is equidistant from receivers 1 and 2. The line is shown in FIG. 2 as the perpendicular bisector between receivers 1 and 2. The exact position of the transmitter means along this line can be determined from the signals available from receivers 2 and 3. 
     With the transmitter in the position shown by the solid lines, it is obviously closer to receiver 2 than it is to receiver 3. Accordingly, by referring again to FIG. 3 it can be seen that the signal detected by receiver 2 will lead the signal S3 detected by receiver 3 and phase detector 2 will generate the appropriate third signal, Vφ2. 
     From Vφ2 it can be determined that the transmitter must lie on a line such that the distance from any point on the line to receiver 2 and the distance from the same point on the line to receiver 3 are different by an amount (a constant) that results in a phase difference, d1, as indicated in FIG. 3. This line is a hyperbola, designated in the drawings by the numeral 26, whose equation is determined uniquely by the phase difference d1 as indicated by the third signal Vφ2 and the distance between receivers 2 and 3. 
     Having signals Vφ1 and Vφ2 available, the position of the transmitter within the plane defined by receivers 1, 2, and 3 can be readily determined. To recapitulate, with the transmitter in the position shown by the solid lines in FIG. 2, second signal Vφ1 indicates that the transmitter lies on the perpendicular bisector between receivers 1 and 2. Further, third signal Vφ2 indicates that the transmitter lies on the hyperbola 26 determined by the phase difference d1 and the distance between receivers 2 and 3. Since the transmitter lies on both the hyperbola 26 and the perpendicular bisector, the transmitter must be at the intersection of the hyperbola and the bisector as illustrated in FIG. 2. 
     The actual computation of the transmitter&#39;s position is carried out by the computation device 24. This device has as its input signals Vφ1 and Vφ2 from which the transmitter&#39;s position is determined. 
     If the transmitter&#39;s position is altered to that shown by the phantom lines 12a in FIG. 2, it is still equidistant from receivers 1 and 2, but it is further away from the receivers. With the transmitter in this second position 12a, the operation of the apparatus is as follows: 
     Referring particularly to FIG. 4, signals S1 and S2 are still in phase since the transmitter remains on the perpendicular bisector between receivers 1 and 2. The signal from phase detector 1, that is, second signal Vφ1, still indicates this condition. However, as depicted in FIG. 4, signal S2 still leads signal S3 as before since the transmitter is still closer to receiver 2 than to receiver 3. However, the phase difference d2 is now smaller than d1 since the distances from the transmitter to receivers 2 and 3 is more nearly equal. In FIG. 4, the third signal Vφ2, as determined by phase detector 2, reflects this change. 
     As before, having signals Vφ1 and Vφ2, the position of the transmitter can readily be determined. Signal Vφ1 again indicates that the transmitter is located on the perpendicular bisector between receivers 1 and 2, and signal Vφ2 indicates that the transmitter lies on a hyperbola 28 determined by signal Vφ2 and the distance between receivers 2 and 3. Since Vφ2 has changed, the hyperbola on which the transmitter lies has also changed. As before, since the transmitter lies on both the bisector and the hyperbola 28, it must be located at the point where the bisector and hyperbola 28 intersect. This position is readily calculated by the position computation means 24 using signals Vφ1 and Vφ2. 
     As a further illustration of the operation of this form of position determination apparatus, assume movement of the transmitter to the position 12b as indicated by the phantom lines designated as 12b in FIG. 2. The operation of the apparatus is now as follows: 
     The location of the transmitter is such that it is closer to receiver 2 than it is to receiver 1. This results in signal S2 leading S1, or equivalently, S1 is delayed with respect to S2. This condition is illustrated in FIG. 5. Correspondingly, signal Vφ2 now indicates that S2 leads S3 by the amount d4. 
     With the transmitter in the location 12b, it no longer lies on a perpendicular bisector and a given hyperbola, but rather lies on two hyperbola. One hyperbola 30 is uniquely determined by Vφ1 and the distance between receivers 1 and 2, and the second hyperbola 32 is uniquely determined by Vφ2 and the distance between receivers 2 and 3. 
     For the reasons previously discussed, the transmitter must lie on each of two different hyperbola and more particularly must lie at the location 12b where the two hyperbola 30 and 32 intersect. 
     It should be noted that in the simplified operation of the apparatus just described, information regarding the phase relationship between signals S1 and S3 was not used. In a minimal realization, this information is not necessary. However, if desired, this extra information could be used to improve the accuracy of the apparatus. Such a scheme would be useful in rejecting &#34;noise&#34; and making the apparatus generally more precise. 
     Turning now to FIG. 6 there is illustrated a simple embodiment of the laser diode driver used in the transmitter of the instant form of the apparatus of the invention. The laser diode illustrated in this figure functions to emit the transmitted first, or light flash, signal described in the preceding paragraphs. The laser diode driver is responsible for applying the necessary power to the laser diode at a frequency dictated by the input oscillator. The circuitry shown in FIG. 6 is of a character well known to those skilled in the art and the details thereof will not be further described herein. 
     Referring to FIG. 7, a simple receiver circuit is there illustrated. The signal from the transmitter is received by the photodiode detector. The detected signal is then passed to the phase detector in a manner well understood by those skilled in the art. 
     In FIG. 8 a simple phase detector arrangement is shown. The first stage of the phase detector is a set-reset flip-flop whose inputs are driven by signals from two receivers. Due to the nature of set-reset flip-flops, if the two received signals are exactly in phase, the output of the flip-flop, &#34;Q&#34;, is always low. If the two signals are π radians (180 degrees) out of phase, the output of the flip-flop is a 50% duty cycle square wave. If the two signals are 2 π radians (360 degrees) out of phase, the output of the flip-flop will always be high. In this fashion, the duty cycle of the flip-flop output varies linearly with the phase difference between the two input signals. 
     FIG. 8 also shows a low-pass filter following the output of the flip-flop. This filter has a cutoff frequency that is below the frequency of the input signals. Thus the filter allows only the DC and low-frequency components of the flip-flop output to pass. If the flip-flop output is a 50% duty cycle square wave, the output of the low-pass filter will be a voltage that is 50% of the square wave peak voltage. The plot of output voltage versus phase angle shows how the output of the phase detector rises linearly as the phase angle between the two input signals increases. Once again the construction and operation of the phase detector subassembly illustrated in FIG. 8 is well understood by those skilled in the art. 
     Before discussing alternate forms of the present invention, it is to be understood that the subsystems of the apparatus, that is the transmitter means, the receiver means, the detector means and the computation means can take several forms. The precise forms of the aforementioned means, as described in the preceding paragraphs and as illustrated in the drawings, are meant to be exemplary only. For example, the transmitter means can be such as to transmit various types of signals such as any electro-magnetic or acoustic radiation and any sort of modulation as, for example, frequency, amplitude, pulse width, phase and the like. Similarly the receiver means can take numerous forms adapted to receive the various types of signals that may be transmitted by the transmitter means. Additionally, the detector and computation means can take various forms of a character well understood by those skilled in the art, their precise form depending upon the end application of the apparatus of the invention. 
     Turning to FIG. 10 an alternate approach for transmitter position determination with a plane is there schematically illustrated. The locations and configurations of the receivers, transmitter, and phase detector are substantially the same as described previously. However, analog-to-digital (A/D) converters have been shown for the purposes of explanation, but are not essential to the basic invention. Each of the A/D converters 36 and 38 has as its input the output of a phase detector hereshown as phase detectors 1 and 2. In such a configuration, the output of the A/D converter is a digital word that is equal (within a known constant multiplier) to the phase difference between the input signals to the phase detector. The digital word is also equal (within a known constant multiplier) to the difference between the distances from the transmitter to one receiver and from the transmitter to the other receiver. 
     The transmitter coordinates X and Y are the two unknown variables which are to be determined. Referring to FIG. 10 and the geometric relationships illustrated therein, we have the following mathematical relationships: ##EQU1## 
     From the Measurements from the Phase Detectors: 
     
         Δ.sub.1 =D.sub.1 -D.sub.2 
    
     
         Δ.sub.2 =D.sub.3 -D.sub.2 
    
     a 1  and a 2  are known values (distances between the receivers), as are Δ 1  and Δ 2  (values measured by the phase detectors). 
     The five unknown values are D 1 , D 2 , D 3 , X and Y. From these relationships, it is to be observed that there are 5 equations and 5 unknown variables. Given that the number of unknown variables is equal to the number of equations, these equations can be solved using any of a number of methods well known to those skilled in the art, a digital computer being one expedient means. With the equations solved, the transmitter coordinates X and Y will be known. 
     Referring now to FIG. 9 an alternate form of the apparatus of the invention is shown. This embodiment, unlike that previously described and illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, is suitable for determination of the transmitter location within any three dimensional space. To accomplish this three dimensional location a fourth receiver 42 must be added. The other subsystems remain the same and like numerals have been used in the drawings to identify like components. The fourth receiver 42 must be noncoplanar with the previous three. With such a receiver, a third hyperbola can readily be determined which provides the third piece of information necessary to locate the transmitter in three dimensions, the theory of operation and calculation remaining the same as previously described herein. 
     As previously discussed, most of the components of the apparatus of the invention are well known to those skilled in the art and are readily commercially available. For example, a laser diode of the character manufactured by the Sony Company and identified as SLD 301V, or any of a number of others may be used. In some applications, an LED such as manufactured by the Mitsubishi Company and identified as ME7022 can be used. 
     A Laser Diode Driver of the character manufactured by the Sony Company and identified as CXB1108Q, or any of a number of other integrated laser drivers may be used. Alternatively, the driver can be fabricated from discrete components as identified in FIG. 6. If assembled from discrete components, the resistors, capacitor, and transistor may be selected from a number that are commonly available. 
     Photo Diode Detector such as those manufactured by the Mitsubishi Company and identified as PD1002, as well as other photo diodes, may be used. 
     With respect to the Phase Detectors, set-reset flip-flops are typically configured from more generic logic gates. Shown in FIG. 11 is a Sony CXB1104Q D-type flip-flop configured as an edge triggered set-reset flip-flop. 
     As to the Analog-to-Digital Converters, a device manufactured by Analog Devices and identified as AD578 is one of many A/D converters suitable for the present application. 
     In summary it is to be understood that substantial departures from the embodiments of the invention described herein are possible without departing from the scope of the invention. Some possible departures from the apparatus as previously described are as follows: 
     As to the Transmitter: 
     The transmitter need not be pen-shaped. It may be any shape suitable for the position location task at hand. 
     The signal emitted by the transmitter could lie anywhere within the electromagnetic spectrum or could be an acoustic signal. In principle, the emitted signal could be any form of energy that could be modulated and detected. 
     The medium of operation need not be air, but could a vacuum, water, or any other medium capable of conveying the energy emitted by the transmitter. 
     The transmitter need not have only one point of emission of the transmitted energy. The precision of the locating function could be improved if another point of emission were added, and furthermore, the device would become useful for the determination of rotational orientation of the transmitter if additional emitters were added. 
     As to the Receivers: 
     The receivers could be of any form suitable for converting the signal from the transmitter into a signal with which the necessary computations can be performed. For example, if the transmitted energy were acoustic, the receiver could be a microphone which converted the acoustic signal into an electrical signal. 
     If more than the minimum number of receivers is used, the accuracy and reliability of the system can be improved. (The minimum number of receivers to determine the position of the transmitter along a line is two. The minimum number of receivers to determine the position of the transmitter within a plane is three. The minimum number of receivers to determine the position of the transmitter in three dimensional space is four.) 
     With respect to the Phase Detector: 
     A wide variety of phase detectors well known to those skilled in the art are available other than the set-reset flip-flop type described herein, such as exclusive-or gates and various different types of mixers. 
     As to Position Computation: 
     The position computation may be accomplished any of a number of ways, using either a digital or analog representation of the data. 
     Referring now to FIG. 12, another embodiment of the positioning determining apparatus of the present invention is thereshown. This form of the invention includes only two receivers and is used in situations where the signal transmitting means is known to lie along a predetermined line. The transmitting means is similar to that previously described herein and comprises a housing 50 having the general configuration of a writing pen within which is mounted a laser diode 52 adapted to emit a series of flashes of light. The receiving means here comprises only first and second receivers 54 and 56 respectively, each being capable of sensing the flashes of light emitted by the laser diode 52. Upon sensing the flashes of light, each receiver generates and transmits corresponding first output signals as, for example, electrical signals. 
     The apparatus further includes first detector means provided in the form of first phase detector 20 of the character previously described and illustrated in FIG. 2. Phase detector 20 is adapted to receive first output signals S1 and S2 from receivers 54 and 56. Upon receiving signals S1 and S2 from receivers 54 and 56 respectively, phase detector 20 generates and transmits a second output signal Vφ1. 
     Cooperatively associated with phase detector 20 is computation means, such as the position computation device previously described and identified in FIG. 2 by the numeral 24. Position computation device 24 receives and analyses the signal transmitted by the phase detector. 
     Referring again to FIG. 12, with the transmitter positioned as shown by the solid lines, the device functions as follows: 
     Since the transmitter is known to be located on a predetermined line L, which may be a curved line, the position of the transmitter along that line can be determined using only two receivers. For example, with the transmitter in the position shown in FIG. 12, it is obviously closer to receiver 54 than it is to receiver 56. Accordingly, the signals detected by receiver 54 will lead the signal detected by receiver 56 and the phase detector will generate the appropriate signal, Vφ1. 
     From Vφ1 it can be determined that the transmitter must lie on a line such that the distance from any point on the line to receiver 54 and the distance from the same point on the line to receiver 56 are different by an amount (a constant) that results in a phase difference, d1. This line is a hyperbola, designated in FIG. 12 by the numeral 58, whose equation is determined uniquely by the phase difference d1 as indicated by the signal Vφ1 and the distance between receivers 54 and 56. The position of the transmitter is now known since it must be at the intersection of the hyperbole just determined and the predetermined line L. 
     Referring now to FIG. 13 still another form of position determining apparatus of the present invention is thereshown. This embodiment of the invention is similar in many respects to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and like numerals are used to identify like components. In the form of the invention shown in FIG. 13 the apparatus also comprises two transmitting means for transmitting a detectable signal and three, spaced apart receiving means for receiving the signal transmitted by the transmitting means. The transmitting means is hereshown as comprising a housing 60 having the general configuration of a writing pen within which is mounted a pair of laser diodes 62 and 64, each of which is adapted to emit a series of flashes of light. The receiving means, in turn, comprises first, second and third receivers 14, 16, and 18 respectively, each being capable of sensing the flashes of light emitted by the laser diodes. As before, upon sensing the flashes of light, each receiver generates and transmits corresponding first output signals as, for example, electrical signals. 
     With the second transmitter added to the previously described position determining apparatus, the orientation of the transmitting unit or housing 60 can be determined in addition to its position. For the sake of illustration, in FIG. 13 the first transmitter or laser diode 62 is shown as constrained to lie on a flat surface such as a table top. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 2, the apparatus of this latter form of the invention further includes first and second detector means here provided in the form of first and second phase detectors 20 and 22. Phase detector 20 is adapted to receive first output signals S1 and S2 from receivers 14 and 16 while phase detector 22 is adapted to receive first output signals S2 and S3 from receivers 16 and 18. Upon receiving signals S1 and S2 from receivers 14 and 16 respectively, phase detector 20 generates and transmits a second output signal Vφ1. Similarly, upon receiving signals S2 and S3 from receivers 16 and 18 respectively, phase detector 22 generates and transmits a third output signal Vφ2. 
     Cooperatively associated with phase detectors 20 and 22 is the previously identified computation means, or computation device 24, for receiving and analyzing the second and third output signals transmitted by the phase detectors. 
     In order to determine the orientation (that is, the &#34;tilt&#34;) of the housing 60 which carries the laser diodes 62 and 64, one first uses the previously described method for locating the position of each of the two transmitters. (See FIGS. 2 through 8 and Pages 5 through 7 of the specification). With the position of these two points now known, a line can be constructed connecting the two points. Using standard geometric and trigonometric relationships, the orientation of this line may be calculated. More particularly, when the position of laser diode 62 is known, the second laser diode 64 is now constrained to lie on a uniquely determined spherical surface 66 defined by the first transmitter&#39;s position and the distance between the first and second transmitter. Given now the position information available from the three receivers and given the fact that the second receiver must lie on a uniquely defined surface, the determination of the second transmitter&#39;s position is completely analogous to determining the position of the first transmitter. 
     With these two points defined, the position and orientation of a unique line passing through these points is also defined. 
     If neither transmitter is constrained in either one or two dimensions (i.e., the transmitters are &#34;free&#34; within three dimensional space), then the orientation of the transmitting unit may be determined with two transmitters and four receivers. 
     The position of one of the transmitters may be determined using the method previously described in the specification for the determination of positions within three dimensional space. (See FIG. 9 and Page 11 of the specification). The position of the second transmitter may also be determined in a direct fashion as was done with the first transmitter. Again, with these two positions determined, the position and orientation of the unique line passing through these points is also defined. 
     Alternatively, with the position of the first transmitter known, the second transmitter is constrained to lie on a spherical surface defined by the position of the first transmitter and the distance between the first and second transmitters. Given this constraint, finding the position of the second transmitter reduces to finding a position on a surface, and this may be accomplished using only information from three receivers as has been previously described. With this done, the position and orientation of the unique line passing through the two transmitter positions is again defined. 
     Turning now to FIG. 14 yet another embodiment of the invention is thereshown. In this form of the invention, two transmitters and two receivers are used. With this construction, if the second transmitter is constrained to lie on a surface 72 while the first is constrained to lie on a line 74, the position and orientation of the transmitting unit may be determined using two receivers 76 and 78. 
     The position of the first transmitter is determined as previously described. The second transmitter is then constrained to lie on a (curved) line 74 determined by the position of the first transmitter, the distance between the two transmitters, and the surface in which the second transmitter must lie. The position of the first transmitter and the distance between the two transmitters defines a spherical surface; the intersection of this surface with the surface in which the second transmitter must lie defines the line. 
     With the position of the second transmitter now known to lie on a particular line, the position of the transmitter along this line may be determined using two receivers in the manner previously described herein. 
     Having now described the invention in detail in accordance with the requirements of the patent statutes, those skilled in this art will have no difficulty in making changes and modifications in the individual parts or their relative assembly in order to meet specific requirements or conditions. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, as set forth in the following claims.