Stylus actuated electrical device and electrical kit including same

• US 3,914,548 A
• Filed: 03/01/1974
• Issued: 10/21/1975
• 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:
  US05/447,333
• Time in Patent Office: 599 Days
• Field of Search: 35/9C,19A,61,62,63,66 178/18,19,20 339/18R,18B,18C,18P 235/61.11H,61.12C 346/21
• US Class Current: 178/18.06
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0414 using force sensing means to determine a position

Abstract

Described is a stylus-actuated electrical device including a printed circuit board and an overlying flexible impression sheet, both carrying an electrically conductive pattern. The two conductive patterns are normally insulated from each other by a coating of a soft, pressure-flowable, tacky, insulating material, such as wax. When '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'writing'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' with a stylus, portions of the two conductive patterns are brought into contact with each other along the line of write, which contact is broken by separation of the impression sheet, as in a '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'Magic Slate'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' device. Both conductive patterns are in the form of discrete conductive deposits each insulated from the others on all sides by narrow interruptions, such that a conductive pathway is formed by the successive electrical contacts between the conductive patterns of the two members under the pressure of the stylus, the conductive deposits of one member bridging the interruptions of the other along the line of movement of the stylus. Also described is a kit including the stylus-actuated electrical device and a plurality of selectively insertable electrical components enabling various electrical circuits to be produced in a simple manner by drawing same with a stylus, and to be erased in an even simpler manner by merely separating the impression sheet from the printed circuit board.

Claims

1. An electrical 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 applied 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, said conductive elements on both of said members being in the form of discrete conductive deposits insulated from the others on all sides by narrow interruptions between them, such that a conductive pathway is formed along the lIne of the stylus pressure by the successive electrical contacts between the conductive deposits of the two members, the conductive deposits of one member bridging the interruptions of the other along the line of movement of the stylus, said conductive pathway being erasable by the separation of the two members.

2. An electrical device as defined in claim 1, wherein said supporting member is a printed circuit board.

3. An electrical device as defined in claim 1, wherein said insulating coating comprises wax.

4. An electrical device as defined in claim 1, wherein the discrete conductive deposits are of polygonal shape, the deposits of one member being rotationally displaced to the deposits of the other member.

5. An electrical device as defined in claim 1, further including a plurality of electrical terminals carried by the supporting member for connection to electrical components each of said terminals being connected to one of said conductive deposits of the supporting member enabling electrical circuits to be traced by the stylus to various component terminals.

6. An electrical device as defined in claim 5, wherein said electrical terminals are uniformly spaced connectors for removably receiving various electrical components in selected arrangements to enable different electrical circuits to be produced with them by the stylus.

7. A kit including the electrical device as defined in claim 6, and a plurality of electrical components having uniformly spaced electrical terminals according to the uniform spacing of the connectors in said electrical device, said components being selectively receivable in the connectors in various arrangements to enable different electrical circuits to be produced with them by the stylus.

8. A kit as defined in claim 7, wherein the supporting member is a printed circuit board and is surrounded on at least three sides by said connectors for receiving the electrical components.

9. A kit including a supporting member, a stylus-actuated device enabling various electrically conductive pathways to be formed by a stylus, a plurality of electrical components having uniformly spaced terminals, and a plurality of electrical connectors on the supporting member and uniformly spaced from each other according to the uniform spacing of the terminals on the electrical components, for removably receiving electrical components in various arrangements to enable different electrical circuits to be produced therewith by the stylus-actuated device.

10. A kit as defined in claim 9, wherein the stylus-actuated device comprises 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 applied 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, said conductive elements on both of said members being in the form of discrete conductive deposits insulated from the others on all sides by narrow interruptions between them, such that a conductive pathway is formed along the line of the stylus pressure by the successive electrical contacts between the conductive deposits of one member bridging the interruptions of the other along the line of movement of the stylus, said conductive pathway being erasable by the separation of the two members.