Electrographic apparatus
First Claim
1. In an electrographic apparatus of the type comprising a transducer pad for providing electrical signals representing the coordinates of a location at which pressure is applied locally to a writing surface of the pad by a pen or stylus, the transducer pad including a base member having a conductive surface to which a voltage is applied, the improvement comprising a flexible frame member adapted to be mounted on said base member, a flexible membrane securely mounted on said flexible frame member, said flexible membrane being spaced from said base member and having a conductive surface adapted to make electrical contact with the conductive surface of the base member when a pen or stylus is applied to said flexible membrane, and means for applying voltage to the said conductive surface of said flexible membrane, said flexible frame member comprising four sides each of which is prestressed inwardly during the securing of said flexible membrane thereto and each of which increases in cross section from its ends to its center so as to cause said four sides to produce uniform tensile force in said flexible membrane secured thereto.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Electrographic apparatus includes a transducer pad having a flexible membrane mounted over a base member with facing surfaces of the membrane and base member being electrically conductive and having electrical voltages applied thereto whereby to provide electrical signals representing the coordinates of a location at which pressure is applied to the flexible membrane locally by a pen or stylus, wherein in order to maintain an appropriate tension in the flexible membrane, the membrane is attached to and mounted on an outwardly tensioned rectangular frame member. The frame member may comprise separate frame elements and spring members forcing the elements away from one another. Alternatively, the frame member may be resilient and be inwardly compressed during the attaching thereto of the flexible membrane whereby the inherent resilience of the frame member subsequently tensions the flexible membrane.
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Citations
10 Claims
- 1. In an electrographic apparatus of the type comprising a transducer pad for providing electrical signals representing the coordinates of a location at which pressure is applied locally to a writing surface of the pad by a pen or stylus, the transducer pad including a base member having a conductive surface to which a voltage is applied, the improvement comprising a flexible frame member adapted to be mounted on said base member, a flexible membrane securely mounted on said flexible frame member, said flexible membrane being spaced from said base member and having a conductive surface adapted to make electrical contact with the conductive surface of the base member when a pen or stylus is applied to said flexible membrane, and means for applying voltage to the said conductive surface of said flexible membrane, said flexible frame member comprising four sides each of which is prestressed inwardly during the securing of said flexible membrane thereto and each of which increases in cross section from its ends to its center so as to cause said four sides to produce uniform tensile force in said flexible membrane secured thereto.
- 4. In an electrographic apparatus of the type comprising a transducer pad for providing electrical signals representing the coordinates of a location at which pressure is applied locally to a writing surface of the pad by a pen or stylus, the pad including a base member having a conductive surface to which a voltage is applied, the improvement comprising a frame member adapted to be mounted on said base member, a flexible membrane securely mounted on said frame member, said flexible membrane being spaced from said base member and having a conductive surface adapted to make electrical contact with the conductive surface of the base member when a pen or stylus is applied to said flexible membrane, and means for applying voltage to said conductive surface of said flexible membrane, said frame member comprising four sides and including spring biasing means arranged to urge opposite ones of said sides apart from one another thereby to tauten said flexible membrane.
- 9. In an electrographic apparatus of the type comprising a transducer pad for providing electrical signals representing the coordinates of a location at which pressure is applied locally to a writing surface of the pad by a pen or stylus, the pad including a base member, the improvement comprising a flexible frame member adapted to be mounted on said base member, a first flexible membrane secured to said flexible frame member, a second flexible membrane secured to said flexible frame member in spaced relation to said first flexible membrane said first flexible membrane having a conductive surface adapted to make electrical contact with a conductive surface of said second flexible member when a pen or stylus is applied to said first flexible membrane, and means for applying voltages to the said conductive surfaces of said flexible membranes, said flexible frame member comprising four sides each of which is prestressed inwardly during the securing of said flexible membranes thereto to cause said four sides to produce uniform tensile force on said first and second flexible membranes secured thereto.
Specification