TOUCH-WIRE OVERLAY MASKS FOR CATHODE RAY TUBES

• US 3,773,989 A
• Filed: 01/22/1971
• Issued: 11/20/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gec-Plessey Crypto Limited
• Original Assignee: William Frank Hacon
• Inventors: Hacon, William Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Scott, J. R.
• Application Number:
  US05/200,720
• Time in Patent Office: 1,033 Days
• Field of Search: 200/52R,DIG.1 340/365R
• US Class Current: 200/52.00R
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 29/98 Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the tube and not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/967 having a plurality of control members, e.g. keyboard H03K17/969, H03K17/972, H03K17/98 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/98 having a plurality of control members, e.g. keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0289 having a matrix lay-out, i.e. having selectively interconnectable sets of X-conductors and Y-conductors in different planes
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0298 Multilayer circuits
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 200/02 Body attached switches

Abstract

A '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'touch-wire'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' mask for use in conjuncion with a cathode ray tube which comprises at least one thin flexible transparent plastic sheet carrying metallic touch elements and related conductors formed by printed circuit techniques.

Claims

1. A flexible touch-wire mask mountable with one surface in abutment with the face of a cathode-ray tube and for use with associated circuitry in the defining of information-display locations at said face, characterized in that it has metallic touch-elements exposed for selective touching by a human finger at its other surface, and comprises at least one thin flexible sheet of transparent plastics material having printed conductor tracks formed on one surface, said tracks providing connections between at least some of said touch-elements and contact-making regions of an integral multi-point connector, the mask being further characterized in that said touch-elements are formed integrally with the conductor tracks.

2. A flexible touch-wire mask mountable with one surface in abutment with the face of a cathode-ray tube and for use with associated circuitry in the defining of information-display locations at said face, characterized in that it has rows and columns of pairs of metallic touch-elements exposed for touching as pairs by a human finger at its other surface and includes first and second thin flexible sheets of transparent plastics material each having printed conductor tracks formed on one of its surfaces, the second of said flexible sheet overlaying and being bonded to the first with the conductor tracks of both sheets directed away from said one surface of the mask, and each track of one sheet is connected to one of the touch-elements of each pair of a separate row and each track of the other sheet is connected to a counterpart touch-element of each pair of a separate column, and in which the touch-elements are formed integrally with the conductor tracks, and a third thin flexible sheet of transparent plastics material overlays and is bonded to the second of said sheets to form a three-layer construction, the second sheet is provided with perforations corresponding to the touch-elements of the first sheet, and the third sheet is provided with perforations corresponding to the touch-elements of the first and second sheets and said touch-elements are so formed with respect to the tracks as to extend their touch surfaces into substantially co-planar relationship with said other surface of the mask.

3. A flexible touch-wire mask as claimed in claim 2 in which said first and second sheets are each provided with a tail-portion along which the pertinent conductor tracks extend in side-by-side relationship and the end region of each said tail-portion is formed around, and secured to, a plate of insulating material to constitute a multi-point plug connector.

4. A flexible touch-wire mask mountable with one surface in abutment with the face of a cathode-ray tube and for use with associated circuitry in the defining of information-display locations at said face, characterized in that it has rows and columns of pairs of metallic touch-elements exposed for touching as pairs by a human finger at its other surface and, includes first and second thin flexible sheets of transparent plastics material Each having printed conductor tracks formed on one of its surfaces, the second of said flexible sheet overlaying and being bonded to the first with the conductor tracks of both sheets directed towards said one surface of the mask, and each track of one sheet is connected to one of the touch-elements of each pair of a separate row and each track of the other sheet is connected to a counterpart touch-element of each pair of a separate column, and in which the touch-elements are formed integrally with the conductor tracks, and both sheets are provided with perforations corresponding to all touch-elements of both sheets and the touch-elements are displaced through appropriate perforations and adhesively secured to said other surface of the mask.

5. A flexible touch-wire mask as claimed in claim 4 in which said first and second sheets are each provided with a tail-portion along which the pertinent conductor tracks extend in side-by-side relationship and the end region of each said tail-portion is formed around, and secured to, a plate of insulating material to constitute a multi-point plug connector.