Device for electroconductive connection and reading

• US 3,934,120 A
• Filed: 07/18/1973
• Issued: 01/20/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nikolay Maymarev
• Original Assignee: Nikolay Maymarev
• Inventors: Maymarev, Nikolay
• Primary Examiner(s): Cook, Daryl W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kilgore, Robert M.
• Application Number:
  US05/380,468
• Time in Patent Office: 916 Days
• Field of Search: 235/61.12 C, 235/61.12 R, 235/61.11 A, 235/61.11 C, 235/61.11 R, 235/61.6 E, 235/61.7 R, 35/48 B, 340/149 A, 200/46 R
• US Class Current: 235/441
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 21/30 with provision for a number of operations at different times, e.g. ringing the bells in a school
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 23/08 Programming means
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 23/18 for operating one device at a number of different times
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06 characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/067 Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2019/06253 for a specific application
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/06 by means which conduct current when a mark is sensed or absent, e.g. contact brush for a conductive mark
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/065 for conductive marks
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/144 using a slot moved over the image; using discrete sensing elements at predetermined points; using automatic curve following means
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/224 of printed characters having additional code marks or containing code marks

Abstract

A device for electrical connection of marks produced by means of an electroconductive writing substance to a readout device, by applying said marks in electroconductive relationship with pairs of mutually isolated conductive paths on at least one isolating substrate. Said substrate with its pairs of paths is removably connectable to the readout device by means of separate connection elements for each path. A mark bridges the conductive paths in one pair and closes an electric circuit on at least one substrate, whereby readout can take place without mechanical motion, and all electric circuits on such a marked substrate exist at the same time and the marks are readable electrically as well as visually.

Claims

1. A data storage and retrieval memory device comprising:

a. at least one exchangable sheet of material which is electrically substantially non-conductive having a plurality of conductive paths and a plurality of data storage positions on at least one side, each data storage position defined by a gap between two conductive paths, at least one individual conductive path being provided for each data position, each data position adapted to be individually coded by the application on selected positions of marking material which is electrically substantially conductive;

b. a stationary pad on which said sheet is removably supported in overlying relationship having first means with a plurality of contacts for releasably engaging said side of said sheet said contacts including at least an individual one of said contacts contacting each said individual conductive paths provided for each data storage position;

c. second means coupled to said plurality of contacts providing an electrical readout device for sensing the presence and absence of said marking material at each of said data storage positions while said sheet is stationary on said stationary pad and said contracts are stationary; and

d. wherein said gaps defining data storage positions are located so as to be visibly exposed and available for coding even during sensing to permit a user to make marks closing said gaps using a conductive material as well as to open the gaps by removal of said material and can correlate marks on said sheet with a response of said electrical readout device by a visual inspection of said gaps.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each gap is formed between an individual conductive path and a conductive path acting as a bus for a plurality of gaps.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said gaps are physically exposed to permit coding even while sensing is in progress.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 and further comprising first and second clamping supports, at least one of said clamping supports having disposed thereon said plurality of contacts whereby opening of at least one of said clamping supports will permit insertion and removal of said exchangable sheet of material.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of conductive paths comprise a first plurality of essentially parallel conductive paths extending laterally and a second plurality of essentially parallel conductive paths extending transversely thereto with insulating means separating said first and second pluralities of conductive paths at their intersections in order to form said gaps.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1 where at least two sheets of material each containing a plurality of conductive paths thereon are provided and wherein said conductive paths are extended to the other side of said sheet, said sheets having said conductive paths aligned whereby the conductive paths of a top sheet on the other side will be in contact with the conductive path of a lower sheet on said one side said sheets all being releasably engaged together in said first means, said sheets of sufficient flexibility to permit lifting one to examine gaps on the other even during sensing.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said plurality of conductive paths and gaps on each sheet comprise a first plurality of paths and gaps defining said data positions and a second plurality of gaps and paths defining sheet selection positions.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said conductive paths comprise a first plurality of essentially parallel conductive paths embedded in said sheet extending in one direction and a second plurality of essentially parallel conductive paths located therebelow and extending in another direction so as to form a coordinate matrix with said first plurality insulated from said second plurality of conductive paths and wherein said plurality of data storage positions are defined by a plurality of pairs of thin extensions from said conductive paths brought to the surface of said one side of said sheet each pair formed by extensions from a path of said first plurality and a path of said second plurality adjacent the points of crossing.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said conductive paths are arranged so as to form pluralities of gaps, each plurality of gaps arranged essentially on two abutting circles and symmetrically disposed about said circles with one gap at the point of abutment thereof whereby, by writing on said area of a plurality of gaps with a conductive material figures can be formed and coded.

10. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said first element carrying said contacts includes means releasably pressing said element against said pad.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said contacts comprise a plurality of spring contacts rigidly coupled on their one side at one end to said pad and having said element rigidly secured thereto at the other end on the other side whereby said element can be lifted against the spring force of said contacts to permit inserting and removing said sheet of material, said contacts being said means releasably pressing.

12. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said second means providing an electrical readout device are installed on said pad.