DATA INPUT DEVICE WITH A PRESSURE-SENSITIVE INPUT SURFACE

Abstract: The data input device (11) comprises, above a resistive layer arrangement (2), an arrangement (4) of deformable layers consisting at least partially of dielectric material. This material is elastically deformable so that, when pressure is applied onto the input surface, the distance between the input surface and the resistive layer arrangement (2) is reduced at the pressure point. On the side of the deformable layer arrangement (4) facing away from the resistive layer arrangement (2), there is arranged an electrode which preferably is formed as a conductive layer (1). Thus results in a change of the capacitive properties of the deformable layer arrangement (4) at the pressure point since the thickness of the deformable layer arrangement (4) is reduced on this site. This capacitive measurement is used for detection of the pressing force, while the position of the pressing point within the input surface is detected in two mutually orthogonal directions on the basis of the voltage divider forming in the resistive layer arrangement (2).

Description: Data input device with a pressure-sensitive input sur¬ face The present invention is concerned with a data input device with a pressure-sensitive input surface. By use of such data input devices, it is possible to convert handwritten notes, for example signatures, into computer readable data. Subsequently, these data can be processed by the computer such thar the signature trace resulting from the position signals is reconεtructable and s oothable to a degree that allows the exact com¬ parison with a signature already stored in the compu¬ ter. Devices for data input via pressure-sensitive input surfaces are known from EP-0 032 013 A3 and from U.S. Patent 4,636,582. These devices utilize the so-called "pressure sensitive method", wherein, for evaluation of the signature, the registration thereof is performed solely by the influence of the pressure of a writing instrument on an input surface provided as a sensor. The pen that is to be used therein is supposed to apply SUBSTITUTE SHEET a pressure on the input surface of the sensor in such a way that handwritten notes or the signature, respec¬ tively, can be recognized as pressure signals by the sensor and passed on to an evaluation circuit. The internal structure of the data input device featuring this sensor is arranged such that it can convert the position of the writing instrument whose tip is pressed on the surface of the input surface or the sensor sur¬ face into measurable electric magnitudes, which give a measure for the x- and y-position of the individual pressure- and contact-points of the pen while the sig¬ nature is produced. According to EP-0 032 013 A3 and U.S. Patent 4,636,582, the formation of the electric magnitudes is achieved by utilizing a data input device in which a flexible elec¬ trically conductive layer is located in a certain dis¬ tance above a resistive layer. If no pressure is ap¬ plied, these two layers are separated from each other by an electrically insulating layer. The insulating layer is flexible and is configured such that the in¬ sulating layer made by screen printing will be deformed in the pressure point of the writing instrument so that through the grating- or point-like mesh openings a galvanic contact between the upper conductive layer and the lower resistive layer is made. This leads to the formation of a voltage division across the resistive layer, where the partial resistances are given as a function of the position of the pen pressure. According to EP-0 032 013 A3, it is known that, at the four outer corners of a rectangular resistive layer, voltages are applied interchangingly and the resulting voltage division in the resistive layer is only eval- SUBSTITUTE SHEET uated in longitudinal and transverse direction of the resistive layer, whereby the respective x- and y-posi- tion signals of the pressure point are obtained. The measurement of the partial resistances of the volt¬ age division is done by DC-voltages applied to the resistive layer, wherein by the trough-like depression generated by the pressure point and by contact of the conductive layer with the resistive layer, the voltage of the divider is sensed. Thus, after long-term usage of these known data input devices (also referred to as pads), due to the direct contact between the upper conductive layer and the resistive layer, there are observed, in particular, heating and mechanical stress of the flexible insulat¬ ing layer located between these layers and of the resistive layer. This will result in a shortening of lifetime and decreased reliability of the data input device. This is the case especially because the in¬ sulating layer is produced by a screen printing method, wherein nap-like protruding segments, distributed in a screen-printing pattern and made from insulating mate¬ rial, cannot be fixed to an electrically conductive layer in a way satisfying the demands of this appli¬ cation. A further disadvantage of the known data input devices is that a measurement of the pressure with which the writing instrument is pressed onto the input surface, is not possible. From EP 0 194 861 A2, there is known a data input de¬ vice comprising a pressure-sensitive input surface wherein, in addition to the detection of the x- and y-coordinates of the pressing point, there is detected SUBSTITUTE SHEET also the force of the pressure acting on the pressure- sensitive input surface at the pressure point. Thus, in this device, electric signals are generated which re¬ present both the position of the pressure point within the pressure-sensitive input surface and the pressing force alike. In doing so, the detection of the x- and y-coordinates is performed on the basis of the partial resistances of an arrangement of resistive layers which are obtained between the pressure point and two elec¬ trodes, arranged opposite to each other, of this ar¬ rangement of resistive layers. The pressing force re¬ sults from the (contact) resistance between the ar¬ rangement of resistive layers and a conductive contact layer which is arranged above the arrangement of re¬ sistive layers and on which the pressure point is brought into more or less intensive contact with the arrangement of resistive layers. EP 0 288 692 teaches another pressure-sensitive data input device for a line generated on an input surface by a writing instrument or the like. In this device, there is used a compressible resistive layer which com¬ prises of individual conductive fibers being in abut¬ ting contact with each other. The resistive layer has its four edges provided with electrodes connected to the ends of the conductive fibers. Above and below the resistive layer, there is located a solid conductive layer. By use of the writing instrument, pressure is exerted onto the input surf ce which is arranged on one side of the combination of the resistive layer and the conductive layer. With increasing intensity of the abutting contact of the conductive fibers, the result¬ ing resistance will decrease correspondingly. The x/y position of the pressure point within the input surface SUBSTITUTE SHEET is detected on the basis of the currents through the individual electrodes when current is supplied to the conductive layer. The total magnitude of the current is a measure for the pressure of the writing instrument acting onto the input surface at the pressure point. From EP-0 189 590, there is known a device for the in¬ put of information by a writing instrument with simul¬ taneous display of this information. This device com¬ prises two groups of strip electrodes arranged at a distance from each other, i.e. mutually parallel row electrodes and also parallel column electrodes extend¬ ing orthogonally thereto. The space between both elec¬ trode groups is filled with a liquid crystal. Each of the row and column electrodes is provided with a driv¬ er. The column electrodes further comprise an input sensor connected in parallel to the driver. All of the electrodes are driven according to the time-division multiplex method. In addition, the input sensors are scanned sucessively. The drive and control electronics required for these processes is relatively complex. By the writing instrument, the distance of the column electrodes to the row electrodes is locally reduced whereby the resistance and/or the capacitance in the area where the column electrodes exposed to the writing pressure cross the row electrodes, is changed. This is detected by the input sensors. By corresponding conrrol of the thus localized electrodes via the associated drivers, the liquid crystal layer is caused to display the information written by the writing instrument. A data input device comprising a rigid resistive layer provided as a resistive paper sheet is known from Ger¬ man Laid-open 23 19 460. This device is provided with a SUBSTITUTE SHEET plurality of contact point electrodes arranged at equal distances along the edge of the resistive paper sheet. The electrodes of each of the four edge portions are respectively connected among each other by resistances. It is an object of the present invention -to provide a data input device with a pressure-sensitive input sur¬ face wherein the position detection of the writing pen is performed by electric signals without a direct elec¬ tric contact being generated between the conductive layer and the resistive layer. For solving the above object, there is proposed, in ac¬ cordance with the invention, a data input device having a pressure-sensitive input surface, said data input de¬ vice comprising - an input surface adapted to be locally exposed to a pressure or a pressing force particularly by a pen, a writing instrument or the like or by finger pressure, - a resistive layer arrangement comprising at least four mutually spaced electrodes, with two elec¬ trodes, respectively, being arranged in pair-wise configuration opposite each other with a distance therebetween, - an electrically insulating and at least partially dielectrical arrangement of deformable layers, arranged between the input surface and the resistive layer arrangement, which on application of a force at a pressure point of the input sur¬ face is locally deformed in such a manner that the thickness of the deformable layer arrangement is reduced at the pressure point, the deformable layer arrangement still having a thickness dif- SUBSTITUTE SHEET ferent from zero even on application of a maximum allowable pressure or a maximum allowable force at the pressure point, - a further electrode spaced from the resistive layer arrangement by at least the deformable layer arrangement, the distance of said further elec¬ trode from the resistive layer arrangement at the pressure point being reduced corresponding to the pressure or the pressing force, and an evaluating means electrically connected to the electrodes of the resistive layer arrangement and to said further electrode and receiving electric signals from these electrodes, said electric signals representing, on the one hand, the local capacitance of the deformable layer arrangement between said further electrode and the resistive layer arrangement at the pressure point and, on the other hand, the resulting electric partial resistances of the resistive layer arrangement between the pressure point and the electrodes of the resistive layer arrangement, and the evalua¬ ting means, on the basis of the capacitance and the resulting electric partial resistances, detecting and outputting data indicating the position of the pressure point within the input surface and the pressure and/or the pressing force. The data input device of the invention is provided with a preferably rigid resistive layer arrangement compris¬ ing at least four mutually spaced electrodes, with two electrodes respectively being arranged in pair-wise configuration opposite each other at distances. This resistive layer arrangement can comprise a single re- SU3STITUTE SHEE " sistive layer with electrodes arranged on its four edges. However, it is also possible to provide two resistive layers with an insulating layer therebetween, each resistive layer comprising two confronting elec¬ trodes and the orientation of the two electrode pairs of the two resistive layers being turned by 90° against each other. Between the input surface and the resistive layer arrangement, there is arranged a deformable layer arrangement comprising an electrically insulating and at least partially dielectric material being preferably elastically deformable. On the side of the deformable layer arrangement facing away from the resistive layer arrangement, there is arranged a further electrode. Said further electrode is spaced from the resistive layer arrangement by at least the deformable layer ar¬ rangement. Said further electrode can be an electri¬ cally conductive layer arranged e.g. adjacent the deformable layer arrangement, or the pen or the writing instrument by which writing or drawings are applied on the input surface or pressure is exerted thereon in some other manner. Thus, a capacitive coupling exists between said further electrode and the resistive layer arrangement. When pressing on the input surface, also the distance between the further electrode and the resistive layer arrangement is changed, notably at the pressure point of the input surface, which happens because of the deformability of the deformable layer arrangement. In an equivalent circuit diagram, the capacitive coupling between the further electrode and the resistive layer arrangement can be described as a capacitor having one terminal connected to the further electrode at the pressure point and having its other terminal connected to the resistive layer arrangement in that position which in the projection is located below the pressure point. SUBSTITUTE SHEET The evaluating means of the data input device of the invention is electrically connected to the electrodes of the resistive layer arrangement and to the further electrode. On application of a voltage to all of the electrodes, the evaluating means receives electric signals therefrom. These electric signals .represent, on the one hand, the magnitude of the (local) capacitance of the deformable layer arrangement between the further electrode and the resistive layer arrangement at the pressure point and, on the other hand, the resulting electric partial resistances of the resistive layer arrangement resulting from the respective distance be¬ tween the projection of the pressure point onto the resistive layer arrangement and the two electrodes of an electrode pair. On the basis of these partial re¬ sistances, the position of the pressure point between the two electrodes of an electrode pair of the resis¬ tive layer arrangement can be detected. Thus, there is obtained one coordinate of the pressure point within the input surface. The other coordinate, i.e. the position of the pressure point with regard to the elec¬ trodes of the other electrode pair, is detected on the basis of the electric signals delivered by these elec¬ trodes. On the basis of the amount of the (local) capa¬ citance, finally, there can be detected the pressure and/or the pressing force (when the surface measure of the pressure point is known or detected). The deformable layer arrangement of the data input de¬ vice of the invention is dimensioned and designed such that, also on application of a pressure or a force with the maximum allowable value onto the input surface, there is still enough material of the deformable layer arrangement located between the pressure point and the SUBSTITUTE SHEET resistive layer arrangement, i.e. there will never occur an electric contact between the further electrode and the resistive layer arrangement. Thus, detection of the pressure or pressing force is always performed in a capacitive manner. Accordingly, the galvanic separation of the further electrode from the resistive layer ar¬ rangement is realized by suitable selection of the thickness of the deformable layer arrangement and its deformation resistance. Preferably, the deformable layer arrangement comprises dielectric material with a comparatively large di¬ electric constant so that the deformable layer arrange¬ ment has a high capacitance. Most preferably, the deformable layer arrangement comprises a dielectric material merely over part of its thickness and other¬ wise comprises an electrically insulating material. Additionally, in this regard, it is advantageously provided that the further electrode is designed as an electrically conductive layer which is arranged on the side of the deformable layer arrangement averted from the resistive layer arrangement. In this constellation, the dielectric layer of the deformable layer arrange¬ ment faces towards the resistive layer arrangement, and the insulating layer of the deformable layer arrange¬ ment faces towards the conductive layer. The fact that the further electrode is formed as an electrically con¬ ductive layer has the advantage that the writing in¬ strument is not connected to the evaluating means, which would be the case if the writing instrument it¬ self were used as the further electrode. As practice has shown, it is advantageous if the total layer arrangement of the data input device is suited SUBSTITUTE SHEET for writing onto the input surface with a writing pres- 2 sure of between 600 to 1000 g/mm . Preferably, the de¬ formable layer arrangement comprises a porous or per¬ forated elastically deformable plastic. If this plastic material itself has dielectric properties, these can be increased by providing the cavities of the plastic lay¬ er with a dielectric liquid material. If " this is not the case, the dielectric properties of the plastic lay¬ er are determined exclusively by this dielectric mate¬ rial filling the cavities. For elimination or at least a considerable reduction of possible disturbing factors, e.g. noise or external electric fields, it is advantageous to provide a (fur¬ ther) electrically conductive layer which is connected to an input of a differential amplifier having its other input connected to the further electrode. In this manner, a differential measurement of the electric sig¬ nals of the electrodes takes place, improving the quality of the measuring results. In order to eliminate or at least reduce the influences of electric interference fields, it is of advantage to shield the conductive layer used as the further elec¬ trode, and/or the resistive layer arrangement by a grounded layer. This further grounded layer which is electrically conducitve, is electrically insulated with respect to the electrode (conductive layer) or the resistive layer to be shielded. In a further embodiment of the invention, the evaluat¬ ing means comprises at least one filtering circuit which is connected to the further electrode. This fil¬ tering circuit is also connected or connectible to one SUBSTITUTE SHEET of the confronting electrodes of an electrode pair of the resistive layer arrangement. If only one filtering circuit is provided, it is suitable to selectively con¬ nect the filtering circuit - via a controllable switch - to one of the two electrodes of the one or the other of the electrode pairs of the resistive layer arrange¬ ment. Preferably, there are provided two filtering cir¬ cuits,- one of .these filtering circuits being connected to one of the two electrodes of the one electrode pair, and the other one of these filtering circuits being connected to one of the two electrodes of the other electrode pair. The two filtering circuits are prefer¬ ably alternately connected to the electrode pairs such that always only one filtering circuit is connected with the associated electrode pair while the other filtering circuit is nc connected to its respective electrode pair. The output signal of the filtering cir¬ cuit upon application of an input voltage to the input of the filtering circuit serves for detection of the pressure or the pressing force acting at the pressure point, and of the position of the pressure point be¬ tween the two electrodes of that electrode pair which has one electrode connected to the filtering circuit. Preferably, the filtering circuit is provided with an operational amplifier whose inverting input is con¬ nected to the further electrode and whose output is connected or connectible to one of the two confronting electrodes of an electrode pair of the resistive layer arrangement, ith this circuit configuration, the operational amplifier, when a pressure point is gen¬ erated on the input surface, is connected by feedback to the inverting input via one of the two partial resistances of the resistive layer arrangement and the SUBSTITUTE SHEET capacitance between the resistive layer at the pressure point and the further electrode. Preferably, the poten¬ tial on the non-inverting input of the operational amplifier is equal to that of the other electrode of the electrode pair. This potential is preferably the mass potential. When applying a preferably, constant DC voltage as an input voltage to the inverting input of the operational amplifier, which is done via an elec¬ tric resistance, an output voltage is generated at the output of the operational amplifier as a (jump) response to the input voltage. The waveform of the out¬ put voltage is characterized by a voltage jump at the turn-on time of the input voltage and a voltage linearly increasing from then on. The rise of this linearly ascending leg is a measure for the capacitance and is inversely proportional thereto. The writing pressure itself is inversely proportional to the capa¬ citance so that, in the end, the rise is proportional to the writing pressure. The voltage jump at the turn-on time of the input volt¬ age represents the location of the pressure point be¬ tween the two electrodes of an electrode pair. Preferably, the change of the output voltage, i.e. the increase of the output voltage subsequent to the volt¬ age jump, is detected by sampling the output signal of the operational amplifier at two specified points of time after application of the input voltage, and the increase of the output voltage is detected from the difference of the output voltage at said two points of time and the time difference between the two points of time. This is effected preferably by suitable control of one or a plurality of sample-and-hold circuits con- SUBSTITUTE SHEET nected at the output terminal side of the operational amplifier. As evident from the above, the invention is based on the idea that by employing an only capacitive measuring method in a data input device, the further electrode, preferably formed as a conductive layer, and the re¬ sistive layer are separated in such a way that a direct electric contact between them is avoided. Thus, there are obtained an extended operating life and a higher reliability of the data input device. Further, the data input device of the invention is arranged in such a manner that, simultaneously with the measurement of the position of the pressure point, i.e. of the writing instrument, a measurement of the pressure or the press¬ ing force is performed. The electric signals of the data input device are registerable and convertible into a table for thus obtaining the coordinates of the pres¬ sure point and the magnitude of the pressure at dis¬ crete times. In the data input device of the invention, the contin¬ uous deformable layer arrangement between the further electrode (conductive layer) having a negligible re¬ sistance and the resistive layer arrangement having a comparatively high resistance, has dielectric proper¬ ties. The capacitance of the capacitor consisting of the further electrode (conductive layer), the insulat¬ ing deformable layer arrangement and the resistive layer arrangement, is increased locally at the position of the compression formed under the contact point, wherein at the same time the major part of the thus produced capacitance is located at the point of the resistive layer arrangement below the pressure site. In SUBSTITUTE SHEET this manner, the registration of electric properties due to the thus changing capacitive properties of the data input means, which give a measure for the position of the tip of the writing instrument or merely of a pen or finger on the input surface, can be performed in different ways. These electric measuring properties can be converted into a computer readable table form, which represents the position coordinates by an evaluation electronics in the conventional way. It has turned out that different electric properties at the same time provide a measure for the magnitude of the pressure acting on the input surface at the pressure point. In¬ sofar it is possible to simultaneously register the position coordinates and the pressure at discrete times. The electric properties are in particular measured by impedance measurement, wherein the relation between the two partial resistances of the voltage divider is mea¬ sured, which is formed respectively at the point below the trough-like depression (pressure site) towards both confronting electrodes of an electrode pair. At this point of the resistive layer arrangement, at the same time, the major part of the hereby produced capacitance is located. The ratio of the two partial resistances of the voltage divider is related to the position of the writing instrument between the two electrodes (i.e. either in x- or in y-direction) . Since between the layers located above each other no continuous galvanic connection is formed by pressure acting on the input surface and no current is trans¬ mitted by the layers in the direction of their thick¬ ness, the power dissipation of the data input device is SUBSTITUTE SHEET recuded significantly, whereby, in addition thereto, no thermal stress is exerted. Since the insulating dielec¬ tric deformable layer arrangement between the further electrode (conductive layer) and the resistive layer arrangement can be formed in a very simple way, wherein a continuous construction comprised in a solid flexible composition of its materials can be made across the complete layer .thickness, no wear or losses of material can be observed even after prolonged usage. The formation of a dielectric insulating deformative layer can be effected in different ways. Preferably it is formed in two layers, wherein a second layer in the form of a thin flexible layer made of insulating mate¬ rial is located between the conductive layer and the original dielectric layer. This insulating layer serves for galvanic decoupling of the resistive layer arrange¬ ment with respect to the conductive layer. Thus, it is not required that the thickness of the original deform¬ able dielectric layer and the stiffness of the material composing this layer is of such a magnitude that the galvanic separation of the conductive layer and the resistive layer arrangement is maintained even when a large writing pressure is applied. The evaluation of the increase of capacitance at -the point of the voltage division in the resistive layer due to the pressure of the writing instrument in this point is, according to the invention, done in a conve¬ nient way by detection of the magnitudes necessary for the calculation of the pressure and the position from the frequency- and phase-response of a filtering cir¬ cuit, which is contained in the evaluating means of the data input device. Advantageously, in order to apply SUBSTITUTE SHEEI this evaluation method, the following measures are taken: The data input device, for data registration of the input and output signals, comprises a reference voltage source actuatable by a control means, as well as a fil¬ tering circuit being supplied with the thus generated voltage and consisting of a resistance "R", an opera¬ tional amplifier, the total layer arrangement com¬ prising the four electrodes of the resistive layer ar¬ rangement and the further electrode, and of two analogue switches which on the longitudinal and trans¬ verse sides of the resistive layer arrangement make it possible - corresponding to the respective voltage sampling of the voltage divider - to perform a separate measurement of the x- and y-position signals through the partial resistance values in x- and y- direction. The inverting input of the operational amplifier is connected, on the one hand, via the re¬ sistance R with the switchable reference voltage source and, on the other hand, with the conductive layer. One of the two lengthwise sides of the resistive layer ar¬ rangement and one of the two electrodes associated to the transverse side of the resistive layer arrangement is connected to the two resting poles of one of the analogue switches. The switchable pole of this switching means, which in dependence of the switch position is connected to the one or the other resting pole, is connected to ground just as the non-inverting input of the operational amplifier. The output of the operational amplifier is connected to the switchable pole of the other analogue switch whose resting poles are connected to the two still remaining electrodes of the two electrode pairs. The switching of the two SUBSTITUTE SHEET analogue switches is performed in such a manner that measurements in longitudinal and transverse directions can be carried out independently of each other. The output of the filtering circuit is connected to at least one sample-and-hold amplifier which is followed by an analogue/digital converter; the sample-and-hold amplifier is connected to a control unit so as to be controlled thereby for the sampling of measurement points at points of time determined by the control unit. The control unit is further used to drive the analogue switches for separate measurement of the posi¬ tion signals in x- and y-direction and for switching the reference voltage. After activation of the refer¬ ence voltage (voltage jump), at least two measurement values are sampled from the jump response function of the filtering circuit; from these measurement values (voltage levels), it is possible to calculate the rise and the voltage jump or stroke at the starting time of the jump response function. The position of the x-co- ordinate or the y-coordinate of the pressure point is obtained from the relation a = — z—— as well as x -v R- and the pressure P is obtained from the relation b = R U -"0 t c (1 + -g R -l) with P - 1 , thus p ~ b, with R-. and R_ being the two partial resistances of the voltage divider between the pressure point and the two electrodes of an electrode pair and U EQ being the input voltage. From the partial resistances of the voltage SUBSTITUTE SHEET divider between the two electrodes of the other elec¬ trode pair, the second coordinate can then be detected on the basis of the above first relation. From the thus obvious relation of the partial resistan¬ ces of the voltage divider in x- and y-direction, the x- and y-coordinates are given. Furthermore a measure for the writing pressure of the writing instrument is obtained since this pressure, according to the above second equation, is inversely proportional to the capa¬ citance "C". The writing pressure should therein amount to approxi- mately 600 - 1000 g/mm 2, i.e. about 150 to 300 g. It has turned out, that at a pressure resistance of the input surface of more than 1,0 kg/cm 2, more than 200,000 signatures can be registered by one data input device. The material of the deformable layer arrangement should therein preferably have a high dielectric constant, so that the layer itself features a high capacitance. In¬ sofar it can be achieved by the formation of a dimple into the flexible, elastic or compressible material, which can, if necessary, be pushed out of the space between the conductive layer or the thin insulating layer and the resistive layer arrangement, that the change of capacitance produced in this place by the capacitor formed by the layered structure with the capacitance "C", can be measured more easily. Preferably, the evaluation of the frequency and phase response of the filtering circuit can be performed in the simplest way by first entering a switchable refer- SUBSTITUTE SHEET ence voltage, wherein the switchable reference voltage source, pereferably comprising an analogue switch with a Zener diode or a reference diode in parallel, is em¬ ployed. The Zener diode or reference diode can be short circuited to ground by the analogue switch and is con¬ nected to the supply voltage of the evaluation circuit via a resistance. The measurement of the output signal of the filtering circuit is carried out at discrete times. The electrodes of the resistive layer arrangement are conductively connected to the resistive layer or the resistive layers. In this respect, it is adavantageous if the electrodes are connected to the layers in a tight manner, i.e. if they are, as it were, "welded" thereto. To this purpose, there is used a substrate layer, e.g. a circuit board having four electrodes, serving as printed conductors, arranged on its four edges. During manufacture of the data input device, the resistive layer is laid onto the circuit board. Then, the electrodes are subjected to such a high electric current flowing therethrough that the resistive layer at its faces bordering on the electrodes is heated and becomes pasty and, upon cooling, connects with the electrodes of the circuit board. Also the evaluation method evident from the above de¬ scription of the operation of the data input means, said method being provided for detection of the co¬ ordinates and the pressure or the pressing force from the signals of the successive layers to be sampled by the electrodes, forms part of the invention. An embodiment of the invention will be explained in greater detail hereunder with reference to the drawing. SUBSTITUTE SHEET Fig. 1 shows a longitudinal section through the dif¬ ferent layers of the data input device, where in the intermediate arrangement of deformable dielectric layers below the trough-like depres¬ sion at the contact point of the writing instrument, the narrowing of this dielectric layer and the major part of the thereby pro¬ duced capacitance in the dielectric layer is represented by a schematically drawn capacitor, which is connected to a voltage divider with the partial resistances R. and R» located in the lower resistive layer; Fig. 2 shows an evaluation means of the data input device for connection to the partial resistan¬ ces of the voltage dividers which are produced respectively below the depression inside the resistive layer and the capacity C of the dielectric layer occuring thereabove, the total layer arrangement being partially shown in exploded view; Fig. 3 shows a filtering circuit, as it appears when omitting the analogue switches for the x- and y-coordinate; and Fig. 4 illustrates the jump response function of the filtering circuit according to Fig. 3. As can be seen from the section of the data input de¬ vice 11 in Fig. 1, the device is composed of a thin and insulating upper cover-layer 40 in which the writing pad is provided. Below this cover-layer 40 the conductive layer 1 (shown by hatched lines) and below this the separate resistive layer 2 are located. SUBSTITUTE SHEET In order to avoid a direct electric contact between the conductive layer 1 and the resistive layer 2 in the case of pressure on the writing instrument, schemati¬ cally shown at 30, on the input surface and the hereby created depression (see Fig. 1), a thin insulating layer 3 made of a thin flexible insulating material (for example PVC) and a dielectric layer 4 contacting the resistive layer 2 are situated between those layers. The dielectric material is flexible in such a manner or made of such an elastic solid material or liquid displacable material that, in the case of a pressure of the tip of the writing instrument 30 , a depression is formed under the pressure point, so that here a decrease of the layers thickness is produced. An elastic rubber, having a large dielectric constant, can also be employed as a dielectric material. As can be seen from the schematic view of Figure 1, the formation of a more or less pronounced depression (depending on the pressure of the writing instrument on the elastic and flexible layer system), which is pro¬ truding into the elastic dielectric material and dis¬ locating it from the space between the insulating layer 3 and the resistive layer 2 is observed. The capaci¬ tance "C" of a capacitor 10, which is shown symboli¬ cally in the compression of the dielectric material 4, is changed accordingly, wherein at the same time the major part of the thus produced change of capacitance is located between the bottom of the depression and the resistive layer. Such a change of capacitance is mea¬ surable the better, the higher the absolute value of the capacitance is. For that reason, a material of ma¬ ximum possible dielectric constant is used in layer 4. In difference to the circuit of the data input device SUBSTITUTE SHEET in U.S. Patent 4,636,582, in which the upper conductive layer 1 is connected directly to the midpoint of the voltage divider R 1 ,R_, only one pole of the capacitor "C" is connected to the voltage divider in 20 in Figure 1. The absence of a direct electric contact between the upper conductive layer 1 and the resistive layer 2 results in a longer lifetime and a higher reliability of the data input device. As can be seen from the circuit for data collection according to Figure 2, the evaluation circuit consists of an evaluation circuit having four leads to the ter¬ minals 12,13,14,15 of the resistive layer 3 of the data input device 11 and an additional lead to a terminal 16 of the conductive layer 1, wherein a connection with an operational amplifier 18 is made in the way shown in Figure 2. Herein a switching between the two coordinate axes x,y of the resistive layer 2 having rectangular shape is achieved by two alternating switches with three contacts (for example semiconductor based ana¬ logue switches), wherein those switches are also trig¬ gered by a control unit 21 controlling the evaluation. By these connections a filtering circuit 17 is pro¬ duced, whose frequency- and phase spectrum resulting from the switchable reference voltage source 7,8, is shaped in such a manner that by taking samples at the output, the interesting electric properties (which are functions of the position 30 of the tip and the writing pressure) are evident. The switchable reference voltage source 7,8 consists of an analogue switch S. and a Zener diode 7, which pro- SUBSTITUTE SHEET vides the input voltage for the filtering circuit 17 which has a resistance R leading to the inverting input of the operational amplifier 18, this operational amplifier and the actual data input device 11 with its five leads (four leads to the terminals 12,13,14,15 on the resistive layer 2 and one lead 16 to the conductive layer) in combination with two analogue switches for allowing a separate measurement in x- and y-direction. The inverting input of operational amplifier 18 is con¬ nected to the switchable reference voltage source via the resistance R on one side and to the conductive layer 1 of the data input device or its input 16, re¬ spectively. The output of the operational amplifier 18 is connected via the analogue switch S 2 to the termi¬ nals 12,13 of the resistive layer 2, and its terminals 14,15 are connected by a further analogue switch S 3 to ground or the reference potential for connection to the transversal or longitudinal side of the resistive layer 3. It is therein twice a lead connected to the resting pole of an analogue switch S 1 ,S 2 , one lead connected to the transversal and one lead connected to the longitu¬ dinal direction. The output of the operational ampli¬ fier is connected to the moving pole of one of the analogue switches and ground to the movable pole of the other analogue switch. The switching of the two ana¬ logue switches is performed in a way that allows an independent measurement in transverse and longitudinal direction. By using the filtering circuit 17 in which the data in¬ put device is provided, the thus resulting jump re¬ sponse function is analyzed at least at two discrete times t-. and t ? by taking samples at the output of the SUBSTITUTE SHEET filtering circuit. From the form of the obtained jump response function, the interesting quantities for posi¬ tion and pressure are obtained unambiguously. The output of the filtering circuit 17 is therefore connected to two sample-and-hold amplifiers 5,6 which are followed by an analogue-to-digital converter. The sample-and-hold amplifiers allow to take and to store measured points at arbitrary times determined by the control unit 21. The switches S.,S„ and S_ are trig¬ gered by this control unit 21 as well. In Figure 3 the filtering circuit is shown when the terminals 13 and 15 are electrically connected to the operational amplifier. In this circuity, the x-co- ordinate (and the writing pressure) can be determined on the basis of the voltage devider R, ,R~ between the terminals 13 and 15 (and the capacitance C). The following description, in a corresponding manner is true for the circuity in which the terminals 12 and 14 are electrically connected to the operational amplifier 18 in order to determine the y-coordinate (and, if desired, the writing pressure) on the basis of the voltage devider R'.,R' 2 between the terminals 12 and 14 (and the capacitance C). A detailed analysis of this circuit shows that the transfer function is given by equation (1): u A _ f- — (-1 + - • ÷ \ A For reasons of greater simplicity the resistance "R" has been chosen to be equal to the total resistance of SUBSTITUTE SHEET the data input device in one direction (R=R-.+R ? ). (In y-direction in which between the terminals 12 and 14 there is formed the voltage devider resulting from the partial resistances R' ,R'«, the condition R=R' 1 +R' 2 can be fulfilled in that the specific resistance or the resistance per area unit of the resistive layer in y-direction is different from that in x-direction. In case of an identical specific resistance or resistance per area unit in x- and y-direction, the switch S 2 or S 3 and the terminal pair comprising the less remote terminals 12,14, can have an additional resistance R' connected therebetween, thus obtaining the condition R=R-,+R 2 =R' +R' +R' . If, as mentioned in the introduc¬ tory part of the specification there are provided two filtering circuits adapted to be alternately connected to the different terminal pairs and comprising respec¬ tively a operational amplifier and a resistance R or R', respectively between the non-inverting input and the reference voltage source, then the resistances can be dimensioned such that the conditions R=R-+R 2 and R'=R , 1 +R' 2 are met.) It can be seen that equation (1) is basically composed of two terms, one constant term which reflects the position of the tip of the writing instrument, and an integrating term containing the capacitance "C". In order to elucidate the behavior of the circuit in the time domain, ito is replaced by the Laplace variable "s" and the jump response of the circuit is obtained by Laplace transformation. SUBSTITUTE SHEET Considering absolute values of the output voltage U 3., equation (2) can be represented as shown in Figure 3 as far as the jump response function of the circuit 17 is concerned. The curve shows a jump of the height a=U Q x(R-./R) fol¬ lowed by a ramp having the slope b=U E0 /(RxC)x(l+R-/R ) . It is thus obvious that by evaluation of a, the pen position (in a coordinate) can be obtained, since it is proportional to R. and we know the voltage E„ 0 and the resistance R. With this the resistance R» can also be calculated easily and with the help of b the capacitive "C" . Assuming the model of a plate capacitor for the capacitance "C", it is known from electrostatics that the value of the capacitance is inversely proportional to the plates distance, in the present case the bottom of the compression and the resistive layer. Now, use is made of the fact that b is also inversely proportional to the capacitance. Thereby b is altogether proportio¬ nal to the distance of the compression and the resis¬ tive layer and thus a measure for the pressure of the pen onto the surface. In order to obtain a and b, cor¬ responding to abscissa and slope of a line, indepen- SUBSTITUTE SHEET dently, two points at different times are necessary. For that reason, two separate sample-and-hold ampli¬ fiers have been used. For transforming the analogue signals delivered by these amplifiers into digitalized form, both amplifiers have an analogue-to-digital con¬ verter 19 connected at their output side, The outputs of the analogue-to-digital coverters 19 are connected to an evaluating circuit 22 in which - controlled by the control unit 21 - the delivered digital signals are to be evaluated in the above described manner for obtaining the x- or y-coordinate and the writing pres¬ sure. By taking at least two samples at two discrete times t-. , 2 from the jump response function of the filtering circuit 17, the calculation of the position coordinates (in x- and in y-direction) and the magnitude of the pressure can be performed immediately. An extrapolation of the jump response function based on the two samples is thus possible, giving evidence for the slope b and the abscissa a of the jump response function (at its switching on time) . 3y suitably frequent or fast switching of the alternat¬ ing switches S 2 and S 3 , the x- as well as the y-coor¬ dinate can be detected practically at every point which is run over by the writing instrument 30. By suitably frequent switching of the reference voltage (switching of switch S.), the writing pressure, the x- and the y-coordinate can be detected practically at every point of a (pressure) line generated by the writing instru¬ ment. After being evaluated, the digital signals deliv¬ ered by the analogue-to-digital coverters 19 can e.g. be stored as a writing pressure and x/y coordinates for later performing a comparison with stored values relating to a signature in order to verify the authen¬ ticity of that signature. SUBSTITUTE SHEET

Claims: Claims A data input device having a pressure-sensitive input surface, comprising - an input surface adapted to be locally exposed to a pressure or a pressing force particularly by a pen, a writing instrument or the like or by fin¬ ger pressure, a resistive layer arrangement comprising at least four mutually spaced electrodes, with two elec¬ trodes, respectively, being arranged in pair-wise configuration opposite each other with a distance therebetween, an electrically insulating and at least partially dielectrical arrangement of deform¬ able layers, arranged between the input surface and the resistive layer arrangement, which on application of a force at a pressure point of the input surface is locally deformed in such a manner that the thickness of the deformable layer arrangement is reduced at the pressure point, the deformable layer arrangement having a thickness different from zero even on appli¬ cation of a maximum allowable pressure at the pressure point, a further electrode spaced from the resistive layer arrangement by at least the deformable layer arrangement, the distance of said further electrode from the resistive layer arrangement at the pressure point being reduced corresponding to the pressure or the pressing force, and an evaluating means electrically connected to the electrodes of the resistive layer arrangement and to said further electrode and receiving electric SUBSTITUTE SHEET signals from these electrodes, said electric sig¬ nals representing, on the one hand, the local capacitance of the deformable layer arrangement between said further electrode and the resistive layer arrangement at the pressure point and, on the other hand, the resulting electric partial resistances of the resistive layer arrangement ' between the pressure point and the electrodes of the resistive layer arrangement, and the evaluat¬ ing means, on the basis of the capacitance and the resulting electric partial resistances, de¬ tecting and outputting data indicating the posi¬ tion of the pressure point within the input sur¬ face and the pressure and/or the pressing force. 2. The data input device according to claim 1, char¬ acterized in that the deformable layer arrangement comprises dielectric material. 3. The data input device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said further electrode is provided as an electrically conductive layer locat¬ ed above the deformable layer arrangement. 4. The data input device according to claim 3, char¬ acterized in that the deformable layer arrangement comprises a dielectric layer and an electrically insulating layer, the layer of the resistive layer arrangement and the insulating layer being arranged to face the conductive layer. 5. The data input device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, in the un- SUBSTITUTESHEET loaded condition of the input surface, the impe¬ dance of the deformable layer arrangement has a constant surface density over the input surface. 6. The data input device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the deformable layer arrangement and the dielectric layer, respectively, comprises an elastically deformable or displaceable material. 7. The data input device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the deformable layer arrangement is provided as a porous or per¬ forated elastically deformable plastic layer. 8. The data input device according to claim 7, char¬ acterized in that the cavities of the plastic layer are provided with a liquid dielectric material. 9. The data input device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a further electrically conductive layer is provided for per¬ forming, by means of a differential amplifier, a differential measurement of the electric signals of the electrodes for elimination of existing inter¬ fering magnitudes (noise, electric fields). 10. The data input device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, for elimi¬ nating or at least reducing the influences of dis¬ turbing electric fields, the conductive layer and/or the resistive layer arrangement are shielded by a grounded layer. SUBSTITUTE SHEET 11. The data input device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the evalua¬ tion circuit comprises at least a filtering circuit which is connected to said further electrode and is connectible to one of the two confronting elec¬ trodes of an electrode pair of the resistive layer arrangement, and that the pressure or the pressing force and the position of the pressure point be¬ tween the two electrodes of said electrode pair can be detected from the output signal of the filtering circuit upon application of an input voltage on the filtering circuit. 12. The data input device according to claim 11, char¬ acterized in that the filtering circuit is selec¬ tively connectible, by means of a controllable switch means, to an electrode of the one or of the other electrode pair of the resistive layer ar¬ rangement. 13. The data input device according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the filtering circuit com¬ prises an operational amplifier which by its invert¬ ing input is connected to said further electrode and which by its output is connected or connectible to one of the two confronting electrodes of an electrode pair of the resistive layer arrangement. 14. The data input device according to claim 13, char¬ acterized in that the potential at the non-invert¬ ing input of the operational amplifier is equal to that of the other electrode of the electrode pair. SUBSTITUTE SHEET 15. The data input device according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that a preferably constant input voltage can be applied to the inverting input of the operational amplifier, and that the position of the pressure point within the input surface between the two electrodes of an electrode . pair of the resistive layer arrangement can be detected from the magnitude of the output voltage of the operational amplifier at the time of application of the input voltage, and the pressure or the pressing force can be detected from the magnitude of the change of the output voltage. 16. The data input device according to claim 15, char¬ acterized in that the change of the output voltage can be detected by sampling the output signal of the operational amplifier at two specified points of time after application of the input voltage and by detecting the increase of the output voltage on the basis of the difference of the output voltages at said two points of time and the time difference between said two points of time. SUBSTITUTE SHEET

Inventors: FAUST BENEDIKT, FAUST, BENEDIKT
Applicants: SIGNAGRAPHICS CORP INC, SIGNAGRAPHICS CORPORATION (INC.)
Application year: 1992
Main classification: G06K11
IPC codes: G06F3