Stylus pointer for use in digitizer systems

Abstract: A digitizer pointer for use in conjunction with a digitizer system. The pointer is shaped so as to reduce finger/hand fatigue of users manipulating the pointer over and/or across a digitizer tablet. In certain embodiments, an enlarged grip area may flare toward the bottom which helps to prevent the pointer from sliding out of the user's hand. In certain other embodiments, a textured grip area is provided to improve the user's ability to hold onto and control the pointer. In yet further embodiments, a flare is provided near the tip of the pointer in order to reduce the force required by fingers of the user to manipulate and hold the pointer.

Description: The present invention relates to a digitizer pointer according to the preamble of claim 1. Pointer devices for use in digitizer systems are known in the art. For example, see U.S. Patent Nos. 5 969 296 A (JP 10 133 805 A) 5,028,745; 5,055,831; 5,109,141; and 5,004,871. Each of these references discloses a pointer (e.g. stylus) for use with the digitizer system including a digitizer tablet. The features in the preamble of claim 1 are known from JP 10 133 805 A. Unfortunately, each of these pointers has an exterior shape which is ergonomically inefficient in design. Digitizer pointers are used by graphic artists for drawing pictures via digitizer systems on a more and more frequent basis. The above-identified pointers were designed without regard to the issue of finger/hand fatigue and drawing accuracy of potential users. In view of the above, there exist a need in the art for an improved digitizer pointer which is designed so as to reduce finger/hand stress and allow pictures to be drawn more easily by users via a corresponding digitizer tablet. Accordingly it is the object of the invention to provide a digitizer pointer of the above mentioned kind which is designed so as to reduce finger/hand stress and allows pictures to be drawn more easily by users via a corresponding digitizer tablet. According to the present invention this object is solved by the features of claim 1. This invention will now be described with respect to certain embodiments thereof, along with reference to the accompanying illustrations. Figure 1 is side plan view of a pointer according to an embodiment of this invention, this pointer simulating the shape of an airbrush, this illustration including a plurality of sectional lines therein. Figures 2(a) - 2(j) are cross-sectional views of the Figure 1 pointer, taken along the corresponding sectional lines illustrated in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a top plan view of the pointer according to the Figure 1 embodiment of this invention. Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the Figure 1-3 pointer. Figure 5 is a side plan view of the Figure 1 - 4 pointer, this figure illustrating the pointer in an upside down position in that the finger dial/wheel and switch button are typically positioned on the top side of the pointer during use. Figure 6 is a front plan view of the Figure 1 - 5 pointer illustrating the pointer from the tip portion thereof. Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the Figure 3 pointer, taken along the sectional line A-A of Figure 3. Figure 8 is a rear plan view of the Figure 1 - 7 pointer, illustrating the rear or eraser end of the pointer. Figure 9 is a side plan view of a pointer in accordance with the Figure 1 - 8 embodiment of this invention. Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views. Figure 1 is a side plan view of pointer 1 in accordance with an embodiment of this invention. Pointer 1 may be used in conjunction with known digitizer systems, including digitizer tablets. Manipulation of pointer 1 on or over a digitizer tablet enables a cursor to move in a corresponding manner on a corresponding computer display screen. Pointer 1 includes housing 3, pressure sensitive tip 5, finger dial/wheel 7, finger on/off clicking switch 9, eraser tip 11, front tip support 13, textured grip areas 15 disposed on both sides of the pointer, and grip area 17 which is larger than both tip support 13 and rear elongated portion 19 of the pointer. In certain embodiments, the pointer 1 is electronic in that electrical signals pass through circuitry therein. Preferably, the pointer includes a tuning circuit therein (e.g. at least a capacitor and inductive coil), as disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,878,553. Additionally, housing 3 may be a single injection molded plastic piece, or alternatively may be made up of a plurality of different and connected plastic pieces that are adhered or otherwise attached to one another. Tip 5 is pressure sensitive, in that by varying the amount of pressure applied to the tip against the corresponding digitizer writing tablet, the pen outputs a signal to the tablet that varies as a function of the pressure being applied to the tip. The tablet detects the different signals and can thus determine how much pressure is being applied to the tip. Also, the tablet based upon signals received from the pointer can also determine the degree to which the finger dial is rotated from a predetermined position and whether the on/off switch is on or off. As it can be seen in Figure 1 and Figures 2(a) - 2(c) and 2(f) - 2(h), non-cylindrical grip portion 17 encompasses a much greater volume (and thus has a greater cross-section) than rear portion 19 and tip support 13. For example, a cross-sectional portion of area 17, taken between the F and G sectional lines, defines an area more than twice as large as a select cross-section of tip support 13 taken in a similar cross-sectional manner. This is also the case with regard to cross-sectional areas of rear elongated portion 19 of pointer 1. The illustrated shape of grip portion/area 17 more easily enables a user to hold pointer 1 with his/her thumb and middle finger, so that the user's index finger is free to operate rotatable dial 7 and/or switch 9, independent of the pressure applied by the user to tip 5 on the tablet surface. In certain embodiments, tip support 13 may be integrally formed with housing 3, or alternatively of a separate material or separate piece. As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2(c), rotatable finger dial 7 is symmetrically located in the top center of housing 3 of pointer 1. This enables dial 7 to be easily manipulated by both right and left-handed users. Grip area 17 is symmetric about a longitudinal center line of the pointer as shown in Figures 2(a) - 2(c) and 2(h) - 2(j). However, grip area 17 is not symmetrical (i.e. non-symmetrical), as viewed in Figure 1, with respect to, for example, section line F-F. As shown, grip area 17 slopes downwardly to a greater degree on the eraser side of section line F-F, than on the tip 5 side of section line F-F. The most downward protruding point 21 (or apex) of grip area 17 is along section line G-G, and is located rearwardly of the symmetrical center of grip area 17 (approximately at section line F-F) as shown in Figure 1. As illustrated in Figures 2 (a) , 2 (b) , 2(i), and 2(j), grip area 17 flares outwardly (i.e. becomes wider) as it extends further towards the bottom of the pointer. In other words, grip area 17 is wider at the bottom thereof (e.g. proximate lowest point or apex 21) than it is at a central point 23 thereof. This continuous increase in width of grip area 17, as it extends downwardly away from switch 9 and dial 7, makes pointer 1 easier to hold for a user. This helps to prevent the pointer from sliding out of a user's hand during normal gripping and pointer operation. As shown in Figures 1 and 2(c), a recess 25 is provided on each side of pointer 1 proximate section line C-C. Recess 25 is shaped in order to minimize pressure points on a finger of the user, while simultaneously maximizing the amount of control that a user has on the position of pointer 1 on the corresponding digitizer tablet and the pressure applied to tip 5 on the tablet. To see recess 25, compare the cross-sectional view of Figure 2(c), with that of Figure 2(b). A portion of recess 25, on each side of pointer 1, is located directly below a portion of dial 7, and proximate a front portion of a corresponding grip area 17. Grip area 17 is the portion which is enlarged relative to rear elongated portion 19 and front portion 27 of the pointer immediately behind tip support 13. A textured grip area 15, shown in a solid outline in Figure 1, and in Figures 3-6, is provided on each side surface of pointer 1, with each textured portion at least partially being disposed in grip area 17. Textured area 15 has a roughened surface texture relative to the remainder of housing 3. This texturing improves a user's ability to easily hold and control pointer 1. This texturing may be injection molded and integrally formed with housing 3, or alternatively may be rubberized. Alternatively, the entire grip area 17 may in some embodiments be textured/rubberized. Any suitable friction causing texture may be provided in area 15 on the surface of housing 3. Figure 9 is a side plan view of pointer 1, according to the same embodiment as shown in Figures 1 - 8. As illustrated in Figure 9, pointer 1 includes a tip or front center line or axis 31, as well as a rear center line or axis 33. Axis 31 extends through tip 5 of pointer 1. Meanwhile, axis 33 extends through eraser 11 and thus the rear end of pointer 1. Axes 31 and 33 may be parallel to one another in certain embodiments of this invention, but this not need necessarily be the case. They may be slightly angled relative to one another in alternative embodiments. In either event, axes 31 and 33 are not co-axial, but rather, are spaced from one another and offset as illustrated in Figure 9. This offset between axis 31 and axis 33 enables tip 5 of pointer 1 to be positioned closer to the bottom portion of the pointer including recess 25 and grip area 17. Such positioning of the tip, at an elevation below the eraser as shown in Figure 1, makes it easier for a user to apply pressure to tip 5 on the corresponding tablet. Still referring to Fig. 9, grip area 17 includes two separate sloped portions 81 and 82. Sloped portion 81 sloped toward the apex 21 of the grip area 17 from the rear of the pointer 1, while sloped portion 82 slopes toward the apex of the grip area from the front/tip of the pointer. As illustrated, slope 82, at one location thereon, slopes toward apex 21 so as to define an angle β relative to a plane parallel to axis 31. Thus, angles β may also be said to be the angle which surface portion 82 slopes relative to axis 31. In certain embodiments of this invention, portion 82 slopes at an angle β of from about 20-45 degrees, more preferably from about 25-40 degrees. Also shown in Fig. 9 is surface portion 81 sloping at one part thereof at an angle  relative to axis 33 and axis (or a plane parallel to axes 31 and 33), and at another part thereof at an angle  relative to axes 31 and 33 (or a plane parallel to these axes). In certain embodiments, angle  is from about 35-70 degrees (more preferably from about 30-50 degrees), and angle  is from about 110-135 degrees (more preferably from about 115-125 degrees). It is noted that surfaces 81 and 82 each vary with regard to slope, and the aforesaid angles only represent portions of these surfaces. In certain embodiments, substantial portions of surfaces 81 and 82 are sloped at the aforesaid angles. The portion immediately behind and adjacent tip support 13 slopes upwardly away from the tip at an angle α of from about 15-30 degrees relative to axes 31 and 33.

Claims: A digitizer pointer (1) for use with a digitizer system, the digitizer pointer comprising a housing (3); a tip (5), wherein a mid-point of the pointer (1) is located equidistant between said tip (5) and a rear end of the pointer (1); and a finger dial (7) and/or a switch (9) located in the top center of the housing (3); wherein said housing (3) defines an outer surface including an elongated rear portion (19) and a grip area (17) which is located between the elongated rear portion (19) and the tip (5), a selected cross section of said grip area (17) defining an area substantially greater than a selected cross section of said rear portion (19) and substantially greater than a selected cross section of said tip (5), and a substantial part of said grip area (17) being located between said mid- point of the pointer (1) and the tip (5), characterized in that the grip area (17) defines on the lower side of the housing (3) opposite to the finger dial (7) and/or the switch (9) an apex (21), which apex is defined as the part of the grip area (17) positioned farthest from a first axis (31) of the pointer (1) extending through the tip (5), wherein a first slope (82) on a first side of said apex (21) and a second slope (81) on a second side of said apex (21) are non-symmetrical relative to said apex (21) in that the first and second slopes (82, 81) are shaped differently as they slope away from said apex (21). The pointer according to claim 1, characterized in that the pointer includes a second axis (33) approximately parallel to the first axis (31), said second axis (33) extending through the rear end (11) of the pointer (1), wherein said first axis (31) and said second axis (33) are offset from one another. The pointer according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first slope (82) and the second slope (81) slope away from said apex (21) in different directions. The pointer according to claim 3, characterized in that the first slope (82) slopes toward said tip (5) of the pointer (1) and wherein at least a portion of a surface of said first slope (82) defines a slope β of from about 20 to 45 degrees relative to said first axis (31) of the pointer. The pointer according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the second slope (81) slopes toward the rear end of the pointer (1), wherein a first portion of a surface of said second slope (81) defines a slope angle  of from about 35 to 70 degrees relative to the second axis (33) of the pointer (1). The pointer according to any preceding claim, characterized in that a portion between the tip (5) and a switch (9) slopes upward at an angle a of from about 15 to 30 degrees relative to the first axis (31). The pointer according to any preceding claim, wherein the housing (3) at the apex (21) of the grip area (17) is wider than a width of the housing (3) in the grip area (17) at a location closer to the first axis (31). The pointer according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the grip area (17) includes a griping portion which includes a surface texture or a rubberized member for improving gripping characteristics.

Inventors: FLECK DAVID C, FUKUSHIMA YASUYUKI, HIPPEN JAN, HIROTA MASUO, POLLMANN KONRAD W, RAWLINGS SCOTT, SCHLUETER FOLKE, FLECK, DAVID C., FUKUSHIMA, YASUYUKI, HIPPEN, JAN, HIROTA, MASUO, POLLMANN, KONRAD W., RAWLINGS, SCOTT, SCHLUETER, FOLKE
Applicants: WACOM CO LTD, WACOM CO., LTD.
Application year: 1999
Main classification: G06K11
IPC codes: G06F3, G06K11