Waldo L Landmeier

US Patent:

52351424, Aug 10, 1993

Filed:

Sep 16, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/760563

Inventors:

Waldo L. Landmeier - Phoenix AZ
James S. Watson - Phoenix AZ

Assignee:

CalComp, Inc. - Anahiem CA

International Classification:

G08C 2100

US Classification:

178 19

Abstract:

In a cordless, electro-magnetic digitizing system having a drive circuit outputting a square wave drive signal of known initial polarity to a transducer coil in a cursor to oscillate the transducer coil and cause a magnetic field output therefrom which is detected in an associated tablet, a method of operation and associated apparatus for determining the phase of a response signal induced by the magnetic field from the response signal itself. The method comprises the steps of, outputting bursts of a square wave drive signal of known initial polarity to the transducer coil; outputting a signal indicating the start of each burst to the transducer coil; additively outputting a single large current square wave signal pulse to the transducer coil of the same polarity and in phase with a first square wave pulse of the square wave drive signal when initially outputting a burst of the square wave drive signal to the transducer coil whereby additive initial drive currents cause the transducer coil to oscillate immediately and produce a detectable first half-wave in a response signal in the tablet; and, employing the first half-wave of the response signal of known polarity to determine the phase.

US Patent:

52471381, Sep 21, 1993

Filed:

Nov 8, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/789665

Inventors:

Waldo L. Landmeier - Phoenix AZ

Assignee:

CalComp Inc. - Anaheim CA

International Classification:

G08C 2100

US Classification:

178 19

Abstract:

In a cordless digitizing system wherein a cordless stylus having a manually operable button thereon transmits positional pulses to a tablet at a carrier frequency this invention is apparatus for transmitting status information about the button to the tablet. There is first status logic associated with the stylus for sensing the present status of the button and for encoding and transmitting the present status of the button as a binary 1 or 0 employing a first unique and recognizable sequence of carrier frequency cycles as a binary "1" and a second unique and recognizable sequence of carrier frequency cycles as a binary "0". Then, there is second status logic included in association with the tablet for recognizing the first unique and recognizable sequence of carrier frequency cycles to be a binary "1", for recognizing the second unique and recognizable sequence of carrier frequency cycles to be a binary "0", and for determining the present status of the button therefrom. The status of multiple buttons on the stylus is transmitted in the same manner by assigning the buttons positions in a binary data stream.

US Patent:

48067075, Feb 21, 1989

Filed:

Feb 12, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/155500

Inventors:

Waldo L. Landmeier - Scottsdale AZ

Assignee:

Calcomp Inc. - Anaheim CA

International Classification:

G08C 2100

US Classification:

178 18

Abstract:

An electronic pen for a digitizer capable of providing signals to a computer for pen movement in three dimensions relative to a planar tablet. There is a hollow, pen-shaped body member having a writing tip end. A sensing coil is disposed in the body member adjacent the writing tip end and having wires thereof connectable to the computer for use in developing X- and Y-axis positional signals relative to movement of the writing tip end over the surface of the tablet. A pen member is disposed in the body member for longitudinal slidable movement within the body member. The pen member has a writing tip passing out through the body member at the writing tip end and an opposite inner end. Finally, there is a linear position transducer disposed within the body member for producing on output wires therefrom connected to the computer Z-axis positional signals relative to the pressing of the writing tip end against the surface of the tablet. In the preferred embodiment, the linear position transducer comprises, a source of a light beam; an opto-sensor for developing a signal at an output thereof proportional to light impinging on an input surface thereof; and, a reflector operably connected to the inner end of the pen member for reflecting the light beam onto the input surface proportionally to the linear position of the pen member within the body member.

US Patent:

48733997, Oct 10, 1989

Filed:

Dec 20, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/286700

Inventors:

Waldo L. Landmeier - Scottsdale AZ

Assignee:

Calcomp Inc. - Anaheim CA

International Classification:

G08C 2100

US Classification:

178 18

Abstract:

A digitizer tablet and associated method of construction employing ink-on-glass technology. The method comprises first obtaining substrate having top and bottom surfaces. A plurality of parallel, spaced conductive ink first conductors are applied on the top surface of the substrate with the first conductors terminating in conductive ink pads adajcent a side edge of the substrate. A plurality of parallel, spaced conductive ink second conductors are then applied on the bottom surface of the substrate perpendicular to the first conductors with the second conductors terminating in conductive ink pads adjacent another side edge of the substrate. A flexible connector strip containing a plurality of flexible conductors terminating in conductive pad ends is then placed with the pad ends over respective ones of the conductive ink pads and an electrically conductive adhesive tape is placed between respective ones of the conductive pad ends and the conductive pad end's associated the conductive ink pad. Finally, respective ones of the conductive pad ends are pressed against the conductive pad end's associated conductive ink pad whereby the pad ends are adhesively attached and electrically connected to their associated conductive ink pads.

US Patent:

46598740, Apr 21, 1987

Filed:

Sep 23, 1985

Appl. No.:

6/779350

Inventors:

Waldo L. Landmeier - Phoenix AZ

Assignee:

Sanders Associates, Inc. - Nashua NH

International Classification:

G08C 2100

US Classification:

178 19

Abstract:

In a sketch pad embodying the present invention, the sensing pad has an array of generally parallel pairs of adjacent sensing conductors which, for the purpose of this explanation, will be condidered as extending in the horizontal or X direction. Each conductor has a generally triangular shape, with the base of the triangle at one edge of the pad and the apex at the opposite edge. The conductors in each pair are complementary, that is, their bases are at opposite edges of the pad. Preferably the stylus used with the sensing pad has an electrode at its tip to which it applies an alternating current signal at a frequency that is suitably high for capacitive coupling to the sensing pad. To ascertain the X position of the stylus on the pad, the right or left set of conductors is connected to sensing circuitry and the other of these two sets is grounded. The sensed voltage then corresponds to the X position.

US Patent:

53269403, Jul 5, 1994

Filed:

Jun 23, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/903605

Inventors:

Dana Doubrava - Phoenix AZ
Waldo L. Landmeier - Phoenix AZ

Assignee:

CalComp Inc. - Anaheim CA

International Classification:

G08C 2100

US Classification:

178 18

Abstract:

Methods and apparatus for setting the signal-sampling period of each grid wire in a digitizing tablet having grid wires that are sequentially and repetitively scanned to develop a positional signal related to a cursor so as to reduce jitter associated with non-movement of the cursor and signal error associated with rapid movement of the cursor. The method comprises setting the signal-sampling period of each grid wire to a longest signal-sampling period the digitizer tablet is designed to employ if the cursor is not moving and setting the signal-sampling period of each grid wire to a value inversely related to the present speed of movement of the cursor such that the faster the present speed of movement of the cursor the shorter the signal-sampling period of each grid wire as compared to the longest signal-sampling period the digitizer tablet is designed to employ. The present position of the cursor is then saved as the prior position of the cursor for the next time the steps of the method are performed. The method can also be applied to other positional determination devices in which a cursor is moved over a scanned sensing surface.

US Patent:

58566392, Jan 5, 1999

Filed:

Aug 28, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/520116

Inventors:

Waldo L. Landmeier - Phoenix AZ

Assignee:

CalComp Inc. - Anaheim, Ca

International Classification:

G08C 2100
G09G 302

US Classification:

178 18

Abstract:

A pointer position detection system for use in determining the position of a pointer relative to a tablet comprising a signal generating system coupled to the tablet for transmitting a driving signal, the signal generating system including a set of conductors for radiating the driving signal and the driving signal including information as to the particular conductor being activated by the signal generating system, a movable pointer responsive to the transmitted driving signal, the pointer including a signal processor responsive to the information and the amplitude of the driving signal on a selected plurality of successive conductors for generating a positional signal and causing the positional signal to be transmitted a selected time after receipt of the information and the amplitudes and further including a transmitter system coupled to the signal processor for transmitting the positional signal, and a signal detector system for detecting the transmitted positional signal.

US Patent:

6118084, Sep 12, 2000

Filed:

Oct 28, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/181351

Inventors:

Waldo L. Landmeier - Phoenix AZ

International Classification:

G08C 2100

US Classification:

178 1801

Abstract:

A pointer position detection system for use in determining the position of a pointer relative to a tablet comprising a signal generating system coupled to the tablet for transmitting a driving signal, a movable pointer responsive to the transmitted driving signal, the pointer including a signal processor responsive to the driving signal for processing information contained in the driving signal and for generating a processed signal indicative thereof, the pointer further including a storage circuit for storing energy from the driving signal, the storage circuit being coupled to the signal processor, the pointer further including a transmitter system coupled to the signal processor for transmitting the processed signal, the transmitter system being adapted to transmit the processed signal using the stored energy in the storage circuit from the driving signal, and a signal detector for detecting the transmitted processed signal. The use of the stored energy is particularly useful when the signal generator is not transmitting the driving signal. In a particular embodiment, the storage circuit for storing energy from the driving signal is a capacitor and the transmitter system includes a pair of field effect transistors.