Stylus actuated electrical devices

• US 3,894,183 A
• Filed: 07/22/1974
• Issued: 07/08/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Benjamin J. Barish
• Original Assignee: Benjamin J. Barish
• Inventors: Barish, Benjamin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Robinson, Thomas A.
• Application Number:
  US05/490,682
• Time in Patent Office: 351 Days
• Field of Search: 178/18,19,20 35/61,66 200/159B,61.19,16D,86R,61.59,DIG.5,DIG.21 340/146.35Y 346/139C
• US Class Current: 178/18.05
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/047 using sets of wires, e.g. crossed wires

Abstract

A stylus-actuated electrical switch comprises a printed circuit board and a flexible sheet carrying an electrical conductor placeable on top of the printed circuit board, with the conductive elements of the latter facing the conductive elements of the flexible sheet, the board and/or the flexible sheet including a coating of soft, pressure-flowable, tacky insulating material, such as wax, normally insulating the conductive elements from each other. When a stylus is applied to the flexible sheet, the insulating material parts, causing the conductive elements to make contact, the tacky nature of the material holding the elements in contact until separated. Also described is a graphic input device for controlling a display panel or recording elements in accordance with the message written by the stylus. Further described is a flexible conductive-carrying sheet useful in such devices.

Claims

1. An electrical switcHing device comprising a supporting member carrying at least one electrically conductive element, and a flexible sheet member carrying at least one electrically conductive element placeable on top of the supporting member with the two conductive elements facing each other, at least one of said members including a coating of insulating material to insulate the conductive elements from each other when the flexible sheet member is placed on top of the supporting member, said insulating coating being of a soft, pressure-flowable material which parts under the pressure of a stylus upon the application thereof to the flexible sheet member to thereby bring the two conductive elements into contact with each other, said insulating coating also being tacky to hold the two conductive elements in contact with each other upon removing the pressure of the stylus, the flexible sheet member being separable from the supporting member to interrupt said contact.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said insulating coating comprises wax.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein said wax coating is carried by the supporting member on the face thereof carrying its conductive element and over same.

4. A device according to claim 2, wherein said wax coating is carried by the flexible sheet member on the face thereof carrying its conductive element and over same.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein said supporting member is a printed circuit board carrying a plurality of mutually insulated conductive elements.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein said electrically conductive element carried by the flexible sheet member is in the form of a thin conductive layer covering the sheet member.

7. A device according to claim 5, wherein said plurality of mutually insulated conductive elements carried by the printed circuit board is in the form of spaced, parallel conductive strips extending in one direction, and wherein said conductive element carried by the flexible sheet member includes another plurality of spaced, parallel conductive strips adapted to extend at right angles to said conductive strips of the printed circuit board when the flexible sheet is placed thereon.

8. A flexible sheet for use in an electrical switching device comprising a thin insulating layer, at least one thin electrically conductive element thereover, and a continuous insulating coating of substantially uniform thickness covering said conductive element, said insulating coating being of a soft, pressure-flowable material which parts under the pressure of a stylus applied to the opposite face of the flexible sheet to bring said conductive element into electrical contact with another conductive element when the flexible sheet is placed thereon, said insulating coating also being tacky to hold the conductive element of the flexible sheet in contact with the other conductive element when the pressure of the stylus is removed, and being easily separable therefrom to interrupt said electrical contact.

9. A flexible sheet according to claim 8, wherein said insulating coating includes wax.

10. An electrical switching device comprising a printed circuit board member carrying a plurality of mutually insulated electrically conductive elements, and a flexible sheet member carrying at least one electrically conductive element placeable on top of the printed circuit board member with the conductive elements of both members facing each other, at least one of said members including a coating of a wax insulating material to insulate the conductive elements of the two members from each other when the flexible sheet member is placed on top of the printed circuit board member, said wax insulating coating being soft and pressure-flowable so as to part under the pressure of a stylus applied to the flexible sheet member and thereby to bring the conductive elements of the two members into contact with each other.

11. A device according to claim 10, wherein said plurality of mutually-insulated conductive elements caRried by the printed circuit board are in the form of spaced, parallel conductive strips extending in one direction, and wherein said conductive element carried by the flexible sheet member includes another plurality of spaced, parallel conductive strips adapted to extend at right angles to said conductive strips of the printed circuit board when the flexible sheet is placed thereon.