Position indicators
First Claim
1. Apparatus for indicating a coordinate of a point in a working area, comprising a plurality of generally coextensive, adjacent but spaced apart layers, each layer containing at least one conductor having at least one substantially planar rectangular surface area, each layer extending across the working area and being entirely divided, within the working area, into a number of rectangular zones by conductor surface area boundaries with two opposite boundaries of each zone extending completely across the area of interest substantially at right angles to the direction in which a coordinate is to be measured, each zone being constituted either by at least part of a conductor or by absence of a conductor, and the division into zones being different for each layer, the apparatus including a plurality of contact means, at least one associated with each conductor and spaced therefrom, and the layers and the contact means being so constructed that when a point in the working area is indicated by pressure at that point on an outer layer of the plurality of layers, each conductor which extends to the position corresponding to the point in the layer containing that conductor is pressed into contact with its associated contact means of one or its associated contact means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A graphical input tablet is described which is made up of layers of flexible material. The edges of planar conductors on the surfaces of the layers divide the layers into zones, with each layer having a unique combination of zones. When a point is indicated on the writing area of the tablet by applying pressure thereto, conductors on facing surfaces of the adjacent layers make contact and the contacts made are indicative of the position of the point.
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Citations
13 Claims
- 1. Apparatus for indicating a coordinate of a point in a working area, comprising a plurality of generally coextensive, adjacent but spaced apart layers, each layer containing at least one conductor having at least one substantially planar rectangular surface area, each layer extending across the working area and being entirely divided, within the working area, into a number of rectangular zones by conductor surface area boundaries with two opposite boundaries of each zone extending completely across the area of interest substantially at right angles to the direction in which a coordinate is to be measured, each zone being constituted either by at least part of a conductor or by absence of a conductor, and the division into zones being different for each layer, the apparatus including a plurality of contact means, at least one associated with each conductor and spaced therefrom, and the layers and the contact means being so constructed that when a point in the working area is indicated by pressure at that point on an outer layer of the plurality of layers, each conductor which extends to the position corresponding to the point in the layer containing that conductor is pressed into contact with its associated contact means of one or its associated contact means.
Specification