Surface position location system and method

Abstract

An electrographic sensor unit and method for determining the position of a user selected position thereon. The electrographic sensor unit includes a layer of a conductive material having an electrical resistivity and a surface, at least three spaced apart contact points electrically interconnected with a layer of conductive material, a processor connected to the spaced apart contacts and disposed to selectively apply a signal to each of the contact points, and a probe assembly, that includes either a stylus of a flexible conductive layer spaced apart from the layer, coupled to the processor with the stylus disposed to be positioned by a user in vicinity of a user selected position on the surface of the layer, or that position being selected with a user's finger on the flexible layer and to receive signals from the layer when the contact points have signals selectively applied thereto. The user selected position is determined by the processor from signals received from the stylus, or flexible layer, each in relation to a similar excitation of different pairs of the contact points under control of the processor. The conductive layer may be either two or three dimensional and may be a closed three dimensional shape. There may also be multiple layers with the processor being able to discern on which of those layers the user selected position is located. Further, provision is made to correct the calculated coordinates of the selected position for variations in contact resistance of each of the contact points individually. Additionally, a nonconductive skin having selected graphics printed thereon, such as a map, can be placed over the layer and the proces-sor further convert the calculated coordinates of the selected position to coordinates that relate to the graphical information printed in the skin, and even electro-nically (e.g., audio or visual) present information to the user relative to the graphical location selected as the selected position.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An electrographic sensor unit for use in determining the position of a selected point, which comprises: 
       a layer of a conductive material having an electrical resistivity and a surface;  
       K spaced apart contact points electrically interconnected with said layer of conductive material;  
       a processor connected to said K spaced apart contacts and disposed to selectively apply a signal to N of said K contact points relative to a signal neutral point, and where N has an integer value of 3 to K; and  
       a probe assembly including:  
       a cable having a first conductor and a second conductor with the proximate end of said one conductor coupled to said processor and the proximate end of said second conductor connected to said signal neutral point; and  
       a stylus coupled to said cable and incorporating therein distal ends of said first and second conductors with the distal end of said first conductor disposed to receive signals from said layer when said contact points have signals selectively applied thereto and said user positions said stylus in vicinity of a user selected point on said surface, and with the distal end of said second conductor disposed to be contacted by said user when holding said stylus to connect said user to said signal neutral point;  
       wherein said position of said stylus relative to said surface of said layer is determinable by said processor from signals received from said first conductor of said stylus each in relation to a similar excitation of J different pairs of said K contact points under control of said processor, where J is an integer between 2 and (N−1).  
     
     
       2. An electrographic sensor unit as in  claim 1  wherein: 
       said processor selectively applies AC signals to selected ones of said K spaced apart contact points;  
       said distal end of said first conductor detects signals radiated from said layer of conductive material as an antenna without making physical contact with said layer; and  
       said distal end of said second conductor when contacted by said user connects said user to said signal neutral point to minimize any noise radiated by said user from being received by said distal end of said first conductor and being delivered to said processor.  
     
     
       3. An electrographic sensor unit as in  claim 1  wherein said stylus further includes an electrically conductive contact making electrical contact to said distal end of said second conductor, and located externally and positioned to be contacted by the user during use of said stylus. 
     
     
       4. An electrographic sensor unit as in  claim 3  wherein said electrically conductive contact is a flexible conductive polymer that encircles said stylus at a position to maximize the user's comfort when holding said stylus. 
     
     
       5. An electrographic sensor unit for use in determining the position of a selected point, which comprises: 
       a layer of a conductive material having an electrical resistivity and a surface;  
       three spaced apart contact points electrically interconnected with said layer of conductive material;  
       a processor connected to said three spaced apart contacts and disposed to selectively apply a signal to each of said three contact points relative to a signal neutral point; and  
       a probe assembly including:  
       a cable having a first conductor and a second conductor with the proximate end of said one conductor coupled to said processor and the proximate end of said second conductor connected to said signal neutral point; and  
       a stylus coupled to said cable and incorporating therein distal ends of said first and second conductors with the distal end of said first conductor disposed to receive signals from said layer when said contact points have signals selectively applied thereto and said user positions said stylus in vicinity of a user selected point on said surface, and with the distal end of said second conductor disposed to be contacted by said user when holding said stylus to connect said user to said signal neutral point;  
       wherein said position of said stylus relative to said surface of said layer is determinable by said processor from signals received from said first conductor of said stylus each in relation to a similar excitation of two different pairs of said three contact points under control of said processor.  
     
     
       6. An electrographic sensor unit as in  claim 5  wherein: 
       said processor selectively applies AC signals to selected ones of said three spaced apart contact points;  
       said distal end of said first conductor detects signals radiated from said layer of conductive material as an antenna without making physical contact with said layer; and  
       said distal end of said second conductor when contacted by said user connects said user to said signal neutral point to minimize any noise radiated by said user from being received by said distal end of said first conductor and being delivered to said processor.  
     
     
       7. An electrographic sensor unit as in  claim 5  wherein said stylus further includes an electrically conductive contact making electrical contact to said distal end of said second conductor, and located externally and positioned to be contacted by the user during use of said stylus. 
     
     
       8. An electrographic sensor unit as in  claim 7  wherein said electrically conductive contact is a flexible conductive polymer that encircles said stylus at a position to maximize the user's comfort when holding said stylus. 
     
     
       9. An electrographic sensor unit in the form of a globe for use in determining the position of a user selected point on the surface thereof, which comprises: 
       a sphere formed of a layer of a conductive material having a substantially uniform electrical resistivity and an outer surface;  
       a set of four spaced apart contact points electrically interconnected with said layer of conductive material of said sphere;  
       a processor connected to said set of four spaced apart contacts and disposed to selectively apply a signal to each of said four contact points relative to a signal neutral point; and  
       a probe assembly including:  
       a cable having a first conductor and a second conductor with the proximate end of said one conductor coupled to said processor and the proximate end of said second conductor connected to said signal neutral point; and  
       a stylus coupled to said cable and incorporating therein distal ends of said first and second conductors with the distal end of said first conductor disposed to receive signals from said layer when said contact points have signals selectively applied thereto and said user positions said stylus in vicinity of a user selected point on said sphere, and with the distal end of said second conductor disposed to be contacted by said user when holding said stylus to connect said user to said signal neutral point;  
       wherein said position of said stylus relative to said surface of said sphere is determinable from three signals received from said stylus by said processor each in relation to a similar excitation of three different pairs of said four contacts on said sphere by said processor.  
     
     
       10. An electrographic sensor unit as in  claim 9  wherein: 
       said processor selectively applies AC signals to selected ones of said four spaced apart contact points;  
       said distal end of said first conductor detects signals radiated from said layer of conductive material as an antenna without making physical contact with said layer of said sphere; and  
       said distal end of said second conductor when contacted by said user connects said user to said signal neutral point to minimize any noise radiated by said user from being received by said distal end of said first conductor and being delivered to said processor.  
     
     
       11. An electrographic sensor unit as in  claim 9  wherein said stylus further includes an electrically conductive contact making electrical contact to said distal end of said second conductor, and located externally and positioned to be contacted by the user during use of said stylus. 
     
     
       12. An electrographic sensor unit as in  claim 11  wherein said electrically conductive contact is a flexible conductive polymer that encircles said stylus at a position to maximize the user's comfort when holding said stylus. 
     
     
       13. An electrographic sensor unit for use in determining the position of a selected point, which comprises: 
       a first layer of a conductive material having an electrical resistivity and a first surface;  
       a first set of three spaced apart contact points electrically interconnected with said first layer of conductive material;  
       a second layer of a conductive material having an electrical resistivity and a second surface;  
       a second set of three spaced apart contact points electrically interconnected with said second layer of conductive material;  
       a processor connected to each of said first and second sets of three spaced apart contacts and disposed to selectively apply a signal to each of said three contact points in each of said first and second sets thereof; and  
       a probe assembly including:  
       a cable having a first conductor and a second conductor with the proximate end of said one conductor coupled to said processor and the proximate end of said second conductor connected to said signal neutral point; and  
       a stylus coupled to said cable and incorporating therein distal ends of said first and second conductors with the distal end of said first conductor disposed to receive signals from said layer with said usser selected point when said corresponding set of contact points have signals selectively applied thereto and said user positions said stylus in vicinity of a user selected point on one of said first and second surfaces, and with the distal end of said second conductor disposed to be contacted by said user when holding said stylus to connect said user to said signal neutral point;  
       wherein identification of which of said first and second surfaces said stylus is adjacent to is accomplished by said processor by independently measuring two signals from each of said first and second layers received by said stylus, combining said signals from the same layer independent of the signals received from the other layer to form a first and a second comparative value with each said comparative value associated with a different one of said first and second layers, and independently comparing each of said first and second comparative values to a preselected threshold value with the layer associated with the one of said first and second comparison value that is greatest and is greater than said threshold being the layer said stylus is closest to and therefore an identified layer of said first and second layers; and  
       wherein said position of said stylus relative to said identified one of said first or second layers is determinable by said processor from signals received from said stylus each in relation to a similar excitation of all of said three contact points on the identified one of said first and second layers and two different pairs of said three contact points on the identified one of said first and second layers under control of said processor.  
     
     
       14. An electrographic sensor unit as in  claim 13  wherein: 
       said processor selectively applies AC signals to selected ones of said four spaced apart contact points;  
       said distal end of said first conductor detects signals radiated from said layer of conductive material as an antenna without making physical contact with said layer of said sphere; and  
       said distal end of said second conductor when contacted by said user connects said user to said signal neutral point to minimize any noise radiated by said user from being received by said distal end of said first conductor and being delivered to said processor.  
     
     
       15. An electrographic sensor unit as in  claim 13  wherein said stylus further includes an electrically conductive contact making electrical contact to said distal end of said second conductor, and located externally and positioned to be contacted by the user during use of said stylus. 
     
     
       16. An electrographic sensor unit as in  claim 15  wherein said electrically conductive contact is a flexible conductive polymer that encircles said stylus at a position to maximize the user's comfort when holding said stylus. 
     
     
       17. An electrographic sensor unit comprising: 
         a )  a surface;    
         b )  a processor;    
         c )  a speaker operatively coupled to the processor;    
         d )  a signal neutral point; and    
         e )  a probe assembly including    
       ( i )  a cable including a first conductor with a proximate end and a distal end, the first conductor coupled to the processor, and a second conductor with a proximate end and a distal end, the second conductor coupled to the signal neutral point; and    
       ( ii )  a stylus having an electrically conductive contact at an exterior of the stylus, wherein the stylus incorporates the distal ends of the first and second conductors, and wherein the second conductor is electrically coupled to the conductive contact.   
     
     
       18. The electrographic sensor unit of  claim 17  wherein the signal neutral point is ground. 
     
     
       19. The electrographic sensor unit of  claim 17  further comprising a random access memory in communication with the processor. 
     
     
       20. The electrographic sensor unit of  claim 17  further comprising a memory operatively coupled to the processor, the memory including a database comprising information relative to positions on the surface, wherein the information is capable of being presented via the speaker. 
     
     
       21. The electrographic sensor unit of  claim 17  wherein the distal end of the first conductor is capacitively coupled to the surface. 
     
     
       22. The electrographic sensor unit of  claim 17  wherein the distal end of the first conductor is an antenna. 
     
     
       23. The electrographic sensor unit of  claim 17  wherein the electrically conductive contact is positioned to be contacted by a user when the user uses the stylus. 
     
     
       24. The electrographic sensor unit of  claim 17  wherein the electrically conductive contact comprises a flexible conductive polymer that encircles the stylus. 
     
     
       25. The electrographic sensor unit of  claim 17  wherein the electrically conductive contact comprises a conductive polymer. 
     
     
       26. The electrographic sensor unit of  claim 17  wherein the stylus further includes a tip, wherein the distal end of the first conductor is closer to the tip than the distal end of the second conductor. 
     
     
       27. The electrographic sensor unit of  claim 17  wherein the surface is two- dimensional.   
     
     
       28. The electrographic sensor unit of  claim 17  wherein the surface is three- dimensional.   
     
     
       29. An electrographic sensor unit for use in determining the position of a selected point, the electrographic sensor unit comprising: 
         a )  a surface;    
         b )  a processor;    
         c )  a speaker operatively coupled to the processor;    
         d )  a signal neutral point;    
         e )  a cable; and    
         f )  a stylus coupled to the cable, the stylus comprising  ( i )  a main body,  ( ii )  a first conductor coupled to the processor,  ( iii )  a second conductor coupled to the signal neutral point, and  ( iv )  a conductive grip on the main body, wherein the conductive grip is coupled to the second conductor,    
       
         wherein the position of the stylus relative to the surface is determinable by the processor. 
       
     
     
       30. The electrographic sensor unit of  claim 29  wherein the signal neutral point is ground. 
     
     
       31. The electrographic sensor unit of  claim 29  wherein the first conductor comprises a distal end comprising an antenna, wherein the antenna receives signals from the surface. 
     
     
       32. The electrographic sensor unit of  claim 29  wherein a distal end of the first conductor is an antenna. 
     
     
       33. The electrographic sensor unit of  claim 29  wherein the conductive grip comprises a conductive polymer. 
     
     
       34. The electrographic sensor unit of  claim 29  wherein the conductive grip comprises a conductive polymer comprising carbon. 
     
     
       35. The electrographic sensor unit of  claim 29  wherein the second conductor is in the form of a shield that shields the first conductor. 
     
     
       36. The electrographic sensor unit of  claim 29  wherein the conductive grip encircles the main body. 
     
     
       37. The electrographic sensor unit of  claim 29  wherein a user is grounded when the user is in contact with the conductive grip. 
     
     
       38. The electrographic sensor unit of  claim 29  further comprising a tip, and wherein the first conductor comprises a distal end and the second conductor comprises a distal end, the distal end of the first conductor being closer to the tip than the distal end of the second conductor. 
     
     
       39. The electrographic sensor unit of  claim 29  further comprising a memory operatively coupled to the processor, the memory including a database comprising information relative to positions on the surface, wherein the information is capable of being presented via the speaker. 
     
     
       40. The electrographic sensor unit of  claim 29  further comprising a random access memory. 
     
     
       41. The electrographic sensor unit of  claim 29  wherein the surface is two- dimensional.   
     
     
       42. The electrographic sensor unit of  claim 29  wherein the surface is three- dimensional.