Method of and apparatus for using the digitizer sensor loop array of a computing device as an antenna for a radio frequency link to an external data source

Claim 2

A pen-enabled computer system for use with an external radio frequency serial data signal source including a radio frequency transmitter for transmitting a serial datastream radio frequency signal, the computer system comprising: a digitizer pen; a digitizer sensor loop array for cooperatively communicating with said digitizer pen and for receiving the serial datastream radio frequency signal, wherein the serial datastream radio frequency signal is provided by a source other than said digitizer pen; and receiver circuitry electrically coupled to said digitizer sensor loop array, said receiver circuitry including means for retrieving the serial datastream radio frequency signal received by said digitizer sensor loop array and for providing a digital signal responsive to the serial datastream radio frequency signal.

Claim 3

The computer system of claim 1, wherein said digitizer pen provides a pen radio frequency signal, and further comprising: digitizer control circuitry coupled to said digitizer sensor loop array, said digitizer control circuitry including means for differentiating said pen radio frequency signal from the serial datastream radio frequency signal and means for translating said pen radio frequency signal received by said digitizer sensor loop array into pen location data for use by said computer system.

Claim 4

The computer system of claim 2, wherein the serial datastream radio frequency signal is modulated at a frequency different than the transmission frequency of the pen radio frequency signal, and wherein said means for differentiating includes a first filter tuned to pass the serial datastream radio frequency signal and a second filter tuned to pass said pen radio frequency signal.

Claim 5

The computer system of claim 2, wherein said means for differentiating includes data decoding circuitry for separating said pen radio frequency signal from the serial datastream radio frequency signal.

Claim 6

The computer system of claim 1, in which said external radio frequency serial data signal is provided by an external keyboard.

Claim 7

The computer system of claim 5 in which the keyboard includes light emitting diodes (LEDs) and keyboard receiver circuitry for reception of LED radio frequency control signals, the computer system further comprising: transmitter circuitry electrically coupled to said digitizer sensor loop array, said transmitter circuitry transmitting an LED control signal developed by said computer system for reception by the keyboard receiver circuitry for controlling LEDs on said external keyboard.

Claim 8

The computer system of claim 6, wherein said digitizer sensor loop array is integrated in a liquid crystal display unit.

Claim 9

The computer system of claim 1, in which said external radio frequency serial data signal is provided by a wireless computer networking interface.

Claim 10

The computer system of claim 1, wherein said means for retrieving includes frequency shift keying demodulation circuitry.

Claim 11

The computer system of claim 1, wherein said means for retrieving includes phase shift keying demodulation circuitry.

Claim 12

The computer system of claim 1, wherein said digitizer sensor loop array is integrated in a liquid crystal display unit.

Claim 13

A pen-enabled computer system with wireless connectivity, the pen-enabled computer system comprising: an external keyboard transmitting a serial datastream radio frequency signal; a pen-enabled computer, including: a digitizer pen; a digitizer sensor loop array for cooperatively communicating with said digitizer pen and for said serial datastream radio frequency signal from said external keyboard; and receiver circuitry electrically coupled to said digitizer sensor loop array, said receiver circuitry including means for retrieving the serial datastream radio frequency signal received by said digitizer sensor loop array and for providing a digital signal responsive to the serial datastream radio frequency signal to the pen-enabled computer.

Claim 14

A pen-enabled computer system with wireless connectivity, the pen-enabled computer system comprising: an external keyboard transmitting a serial datastream radio frequency signal; a pen-enabled computer, including: a digitizer pen; a digitizer sensor loop array for cooperatively communicating with said digitizer pen and for said serial datastream radio frequency signal from said external keyboard; and receiver circuitry electrically coupled to said digitizer sensor loop array, said receiver circuitry including means for retrieving the serial datastream radio frequency signal received by said digitizer sensor loop array and for providing a digital signal responsive to the serial datastream radio frequency signal to the pen-enabled computer.

Claim 15

The computer system of claim 12, wherein said digitizer pen provides a pen radio frequency signal, said pen-enabled computer further comprising: digitizer control circuitry coupled to said digitizer sensor loop array, said digitizer control circuitry including means for differentiating said pen radio frequency signal from the serial datastream radio frequency signal and means for translating said pen radio frequency signal received by said digitizer sensor loop array into pen location data for use by said computer system.

Claim 16

The computer system of claim 13, wherein the serial datastream radio frequency signal is modulated at a frequency different than the transmission frequency of the pen radio frequency signal, and wherein said means for differentiating includes a first filter tuned to pass the serial datastream radio frequency signal and a second filter tuned to pass said pen radio frequency signal.

Claim 17

The computer system of claim 13, wherein said means for differentiating includes data decoding circuitry for separating said pen radio frequency signal from the serial datastream radio frequency signal.

Claim 18

The computer system of claim 12, wherein said keyboard includes light emitting diodes (LEDs) and keyboard receiver circuitry for reception of LED radio frequency control signals, said pen-enabled computer further comprising: transmitter circuitry electrically coupled to said digitizer sensor loop array, said transmitter circuitry transmitting an LED control signal developed by said computer system for reception by the keyboard receiver circuitry for controlling LEDs on said external keyboard.

Claim 19

The computer system of claim 16, wherein said digitizer sensor loop array is integrated in a liquid crystal display unit.

Claim 20

The computer system of claim 12, wherein said means for retrieving includes frequency shift keying demodulation circuitry.

Claim 21

The computer system of claim 12, wherein said means for retrieving includes phase shift keying demodulation circuitry.

Claim 22

The computer system of claim 12, wherein said digitizer sensor loop array is integrated in a liquid crystal display unit.

Claim 25

The system of claim 21, wherein said digitizer pen provides a pen radio frequency signal, said pen-enabled computer further comprising: digitizer control circuitry coupled to said digitizer sensor loop array, said digitizer control circuitry including means for differentiating said pen radio frequency signal from the serial datastream radio frequency signal and means for translating said pen radio frequency signal received by said digitizer sensor loop array into pen location data for use by said computer system.

Claim 26

The system of claim 22, wherein the serial datastream radio frequency signal is modulated at a frequency different than the transmission frequency of the pen radio frequency signal, and wherein said means for differentiating includes a first filter tuned to pass the serial datastream radio frequency signal and a second filter tuned to pass said pen radio frequency signal.

Claim 27

The computer system of claim 22, wherein said means for differentiating includes data decoding circuitry for separating said pen radio frequency signal from the serial datastream radio frequency signal.

Claim 30

The method of claim 25, in which said external serial data signal source is a wireless computer networking interface.

Claim 31

The method of claim 25, in which said external serial data signal source is an external keyboard.

Claim 32

The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of: utilizing said digitizer sensor loop array as an antenna for transmitting an LED control signal developed by said computer system for controlling LED's on said external keyboard.

Claim 33

A pen-enabled computer system for use with an external radio frequency serial data signal source including a radio frequency transmitter for transmitting a serial datastream radio frequency signal, the computer system comprising: a digitizer pen; a digitizer sensor loop array for cooperatively communicating with said digitizer pen and for receiving the serial datastream radio frequency signal, wherein the serial datastream radio frequency signal is provided by a source other than said digitizer pen; and receiver circuitry electrically coupled to said digitizer sensor loop array, said receiver circuitry including demodulation circuitry for retrieving the serial datastream radio frequency signal received by said digitizer sensor loop array and for providing a digital signal responsive to the serial datastream radio frequency signal.

Claim 34

A pen-enabled computer system for use with an external radio frequency serial data signal source including a radio frequency transmitter for transmitting a serial datastream radio frequency signal, the computer system comprising: a digitizer pen; a digitizer sensor loop array for cooperatively communicating with said digitizer pen and for receiving the serial datastream radio frequency signal, wherein the serial datastream radio frequency signal is provided by a source other than said digitizer pen; and receiver circuitry electrically coupled to said digitizer sensor loop array, said receiver circuitry including demodulation circuitry for retrieving the serial datastream radio frequency signal received by said digitizer sensor loop array and for providing a digital signal responsive to the serial datastream radio frequency signal.

Claim 35

The computer system of claim 29, wherein said digitizer pen provides a pen radio frequency signal, and further comprising: digitizer control circuitry coupled to said digitizer sensor loop array, said digitizer control circuitry including discrimination circuitry for distinguishing said pen radio frequency signal from the serial datastream radio frequency signal and digital circuitry for translating said pen radio frequency signal received by said digitizer sensor loop array into pen location data for use by said computer system.

Claim 36

The computer system of claim 29, further comprising a keyboard, wherein said external radio frequency serial data signal is provided by said keyboard.

Claim 37

The computer system of claim 31, wherein said keyboard comprises: light emitting diodes (LEDs); and keyboard receiver circuitry for receiving LED radio frequency control signals; and the computer system further comprising: radio frequency transmitter circuitry electrically coupled to said digitizer sensor loop array, said radio frequency transmitter circuitry utilizing said digitizer sensor loop array as an antenna in transmitting an LED control signal developed by said computer system for reception by said keyboard receiver circuitry.

Claim 38

The computer system of claim 29, wherein said digitizer sensor loop array is integrated in a liquid crystal display unit.

Claim 39

The computer system of claim 29, wherein said digitizer sensor loop array is integrated in an active matrix display.

Claim 40

The computer system of claim 29, wherein said digitizer sensor loop array is integrated in a field emission display.

Claim 43

The system of claim 36, wherein said digitizer pen provides a pen radio frequency signal, and further comprising: digitizer control circuitry coupled to said digitizer sensor loop array, said digitizer control circuitry including discrimination circuitry for distinguishing said pen radio frequency signal from the serial datastream radio frequency signal and digital circuitry for translating said pen radio frequency signal received by said digitizer sensor loop array into pen location data for use by said computer system.