Capacitively coupled tablet
First Claim
1. A capacitively coupled tablet for use with a probe comprising:
- two sets of mutually insulated conductors spaced apart along coordinate axes to define a conductor matrix;
one set of conductors being sequentially pulsed before the other set of conductors are pulsed in a repeated manner during use of the tablet;
an overlay disposed above the sets of conductors and having a plurality of key segments defined in its surface, each key segment being located above a point of intersection of the conductors of each set; and
a plurality of electrode plates disposed between the conductors and the overlay and being isolated from each other and corresponding to each of the key segments;
whereby the probe can be applied against a particular key segment from over the overlay to achieve capacitive coupling with associated conductors of the respective sets through the electrode plate thereby sensing pulses of given timings from the conductors.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A capacitively coupled tablet for use with a probe comprises two sets of conductors spaced apart along coordinate axes to form a matrix, and an overlay disposed above the conductors and forming a plurality of key segments associated with the individual points of intersection of the matrix. A plurality of isolated electrode plates are disposed between the sets of conductors and the overlay at positions corresponding to each of the key segments, the electrode plates each being formed of a conductive material and having a size commensurate with the key segment. When a probe is applied against a particular key segment from over the overlay, the probe is capacitively coupled with selected conductors of the respective sets through the electrode plates.
60 Citations
11 Claims
-
1. A capacitively coupled tablet for use with a probe comprising:
- two sets of mutually insulated conductors spaced apart along coordinate axes to define a conductor matrix;
one set of conductors being sequentially pulsed before the other set of conductors are pulsed in a repeated manner during use of the tablet;
an overlay disposed above the sets of conductors and having a plurality of key segments defined in its surface, each key segment being located above a point of intersection of the conductors of each set; and
a plurality of electrode plates disposed between the conductors and the overlay and being isolated from each other and corresponding to each of the key segments;
whereby the probe can be applied against a particular key segment from over the overlay to achieve capacitive coupling with associated conductors of the respective sets through the electrode plate thereby sensing pulses of given timings from the conductors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
- two sets of mutually insulated conductors spaced apart along coordinate axes to define a conductor matrix;
-
6. A capacitively coupled tablet comprising:
- first, second, third and fourth dielectric layers which are successively disposed one above the other;
two sets of conductors spaced apart along coordinate axes to define a conductor matrix, one set of conductors being disposed between the first and second layers and the other set of conductors being disposed between the second and third layers;
a plurality of electrodes disposed between the third and fourth layers and being isolated from each other, each electrode being located above the point of intersection between conductors of the two sets; and
a shield layer of a conductive material disposed between the third and fourth dielectric layers and surrounding each electrode with a clearance therebetween.
- first, second, third and fourth dielectric layers which are successively disposed one above the other;
-
7. A capacitively coupled tablet comprising:
- first, second, third and fourth dielectric layers which are successively disposed one above the other;
two sets of conductors spaced apart along coordinate axes to define a conductor matrix, one set of conductors being disposed between the first and second layers and the other set of conductors being disposed between the second and third layers;
a shield layer of a conductive material disposed between the third and fourth dielectric layers and having a plurality of apertures formed therein which are located above the points of intersection between the conductors of the two sets; and
a plurality of electrodes disposed on the surface of the fourth dielectric layer and being isolated from each other, each electrode occupying a position corresponding to each aperture formed in the shield layer. - View Dependent Claims (10)
- first, second, third and fourth dielectric layers which are successively disposed one above the other;
-
8. A capacitively coupled tablet comprising:
- first, second, third, fourth and fifth dielectric layers successively disposed one above another;
two sets of conductors spaced apart along coordinate axes to define a conductor matrix, one set of conductors being disposed between the first and second layers and the other set of conductors being disposed between the second and third layers;
a plurality of electrodes disposed between the third and fourth layers and being isolated from each other, each electrode being located above the point of intersection between the conductors of the two sets; and
a shield layer of a conductive material disposed between the fourth and fifth dielectric layers and having apertures formed therein which are aligned with the respective electrodes.
- first, second, third, fourth and fifth dielectric layers successively disposed one above another;
-
9. A capacitively coupled tablet comprising:
- first, second, third, fourth and fifth dielectric layers successively disposed one above another;
two sets of conductors spaced apart along coordinate axes to define a conductor matrix, one set of conductors being disposed between the first and second layers and the other set of conductors being disposed between the second and third layers;
a shield layer of a conductive material disposed between the third and fourth dielectric layers and having a plurality of apertures formed therein which are located above the points of intersection between the conductors of the two sets; and
a plurality of electrodes disposed between the fourth and fifth dielectric layers and being isolated from each other, each electrode being located in alignment with a corresponding aperture in the shield layer.
- first, second, third, fourth and fifth dielectric layers successively disposed one above another;
-
11. A keyboard unit comprising
(a) a tablet including two sets of conductors spaced apart along coordinate axes to define a conductor matrix and being electrically insulated from each other, each set of conductors being sequentially pulsed during use of the keyboard unit, (b) an overlay disposed above the sets of conductors and having a plurality of key segments defined in its surface, each key segment being located to cover a point of intersection between the conductors of the respective sets, (c) a probe operable to be applied against a particular key segment from over the overlay to pick up particular pulses from the associated conductors of the respective sets, and (d) a plurality of electrode plates isolated from each other and disposed over the points of intersection between the conductors of the respective sets, the plates being electrically insulated from the conductors, (e) whereby the probe can be capacitively coupled with the sets of conductors associated with the particular key segment through the corresponding electrode plate.
Specification