Electronic device capable of input from a detachably attached digitizer panel and input method and system therefor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9563231-B2
Application number	US-201414481506-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 9, 2014
Priority date	Sep 10, 2013
Publication date	Feb 7, 2017
Grant date	Feb 7, 2017

Abstract

A digitizer panel for input with an electronic pen is detachably attached a laptop PC. The laptop PC includes a touch screen housed in a display housing. The display housing is formed of material having electromagnetic wave transmissivity such as GFRP or CFRP. On the back face of the display housing, an electromagnetic induction type digitizer panel can be detachably attached. The digitizer panel and the laptop PC are able to wirelessly communicate with each other. When the digitizer panel is attached, an electronic pen is brought close to the touch screen for input. When the digitizer panel is not attached, the electronic pen is directly brought close to the digitizer panel for input.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device, comprising:
a display;
a housing having electromagnetic wave transmissivity for housing the display;
a mounting structure for detachably mounting a digitizer panel on the back face of the housing, wherein a size of a coil array of the digitizer panel is wirelessly transmitted to the electronic device responsive to the digitizer panel being attached to the back face of the housing, and one or more of a resolution and a position of the display are adjusted based on the size of the coil array; and
an interface through which coordinates are received from the digitizer panel responsive to detecting an electronic pen positioned in proximity of the surface of the display, the coordinates received wirelessly over a short-range wireless communication interface.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the digitizer panel has an electromagnetic induction type sensor coil.

3. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the electronic pen is not equipped with a power supply.

4. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the display is formed of a touch screen including a touch panel function.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is a laptop personal computer with the housing openable and closable through a hinge mechanism.

6. The electronic device of claim 5 , wherein the mounting structure includes magnets and the hinge mechanism.

7. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a panel formed of carbon fiber-reinforced resin (CFRP).

8. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a panel formed of glass fiber-reinforced resin (GFRP).

9. An input system, comprising:
a display;
a housing having electromagnetic wave transmissivity for housing the display;
a digitizer panel mounted on the back face of the housing, wherein a size of a coil array of the digitizer panel is wirelessly transmitted to the input system responsive to the digitizer panel being attached to the back face of the housing, and one or more of a resolution and a position of the display are adjusted based on the size of the coil array;

an interface for communication with the digitizer panel; and
an electronic pen, wherein coordinates are received from the digitizer panel responsive to detecting the electronic pen positioned in proximity to the surface of the display, the coordinates received wirelessly over a short-range wireless communication interface.

10. The input system of claim 9 , wherein the digitizer panel has an electromagnetic induction type sensor coil.

11. The input system of claim 9 , wherein the electronic pen is not equipped with a power supply.

12. The input system of claim 9 , wherein the display is formed of a touch screen including a touch panel function.

13. The input system of claim 9 , wherein the electronic device is a laptop personal computer with the housing openable and closable through a hinge mechanism.

14. The input system of claim 13 , further comprising a mounting structure that includes magnets and the hinge mechanism.

15. The input system of claim 9 , wherein the housing includes a panel formed of carbon fiber-reinforced resin (CFRP).

16. The input system of claim 9 , wherein the housing includes a panel formed of glass fiber-reinforced resin (GFRP).

17. A method comprising:
recognizing, by a processor, that a digitizer panel is attached to the back face of a housing of an electronic device formed of material having electromagnetic wave transmissivity, the housing of the electronic device comprising a display;
determining a size of a coil array of the digitizer panel responsive to the digitizer panel being attached to the back face of the housing of the electronic device, the size of the coil array wirelessly transmitted to the electronic device;
adjusting one or more of a resolution and a position of the display based on the size of the coil array;
detecting coordinates on the coil array responsive to an electronic pen being positioned within a proximity of the display; and
transmitting the coordinates detected on the coil array, the coordinates detected on the coil array transmitted wirelessly over a short-range wireless communication interface.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
establishing communication between a computer and the digitizer panel;
detecting the attachment of the digitizer panel; and
displaying reference marks for alignment with the digitizer panel on the display.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the coordinates detected on the coil array are detected through the housing of the electronic device.

Assignees

• Lenovo Singapore Pte Ltd
• Lenovo Singapore Pte Ltd

Inventors

• Suzuki Takayuki
• Yamauchi Takehito
• Ishihara Yoshihisa
• Ishikawa Keita

Classifications

• G06F3/03545

  Pens or stylus · CPC title

• G06F3/046

  by electromagnetic means · CPC title

• G06F3/038

  Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry · CPC title

• G06F1/1616 Primary

  with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position · CPC title