Mounting arrangement for a position locating system

• US 4,355,202 A
• Filed: 12/08/1980
• Issued: 10/19/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bell Telephone Laboratories, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bell Telephone Laboratories, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Roe, David B., DeCosta, John, Mallos, James B.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/214,173
• Time in Patent Office: 680 Days
• Field of Search: 177/210 R, 177/210 C, 177/210 EM, 177/210 FP, 177/211, 177/212, 177/3, 177/185, 177/DIG. 3, 73/141 R, 73/141 A, 73/172, 73/763, 73/765, 73/767, 73/769, 73/770, 73/772, 73/777, 73/781, 73/DIG. 4, 178/18, 178/19, 178/20, 340/146.35 Y, 340/709, 340/712, 33/1 M
• US Class Current: 178/20.02
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04142 the force sensing means being located peripherally, e.g. disposed at the corners or at the side of a touch sensing plate

Abstract

Mechanical coupling apparatus for a position locating system comprises a force sensing device (504). One extremity of the coupling apparatus is joined to a rigid body (506) which may be fixed. A plate or a visual display screen (501) having a surface (501a or 501b) exposed to the application of a localized force is joined to the other extremity of the coupling apparatus. The force sensing device senses force changes which are proportionately related to the localized force (F) applied to the exposed surface of the plate or visual display screen. The force is sensed through a predetermined point of action (510) of the coupling apparatus. In order to decrease error, the point of action (510) is in substantially the same plane as the exposed surface of the plate or screen. The coupling apparatus provides support to the plate or screen (501) without creating any undesirable moments.

Claims

1. Apparatus for mechanically coupling a first rigid body (501) having a surface (501a or 501b) associated therewith which is exposed to the application of a localized force (F), a second rigid body (506), and a force sensing member (504) positioned between the first and second rigid bodies

characterized in that

the coupling apparatus is associated with the force sensing member (504) so that the force sensing member detects a perpendicular component force (F₁) comprising a perpendicular component of the applied localized force (F) at a predetermined point of action (510), the coupling apparatus providing support to the first rigid body (501).

2. Apparatus as presented in claim 1

further characterized by

a rigid, laminated structure comprising

a first layer consisting of a conducting material for providing a first means (801) of electrical access to the force sensing member (504),

a second layer comprising the force sensing member (504) and

a third layer comprising the coupling apparatus.

8. Apparatus as presented in claims 1, 3, 4, 5, or 6

further characterized in that

in order to prevent error,

the predetermined point of action (510) is substantially in the same plane as the exposed surface of the first rigid body.

3. Apparatus for mechanically coupling a first rigid body (501) having a surface associated therewith which is exposed to the application of a localized force (F), a second rigid body (506), and a force sensing member (504) positioned between the first and second rigid bodies

characterized in that

the mechanical coupling is achieved such that the force sensing member (504) detects a component force (F₁) at a predetermined point of action (510) of a pointed element (503) with an element (502) of the first rigid body for receiving the point of the pointed element, the detected component force (F₁) comprising a perpendicular component of the localized force (F) applied to the exposed surface of the first rigid body which is urged toward the second rigid body by a biasing means (707).

4. In a touch sensitive position locating system, apparatus for mechanically coupling a first rigid body having a surface associated therewith which is exposed to the application of a localized force, a second rigid body, and a force sensing member positioned between the first and second rigid bodies

characterized by

a ball-shaped element (503a),

an element having a socket (502) for receiving the ball-shaped element,

either the ball-shaped element or the element having the socket being associated with the force sensing member (504) for detecting a perpendicular component force (F₁) comprising a perpendicular component of the applied localized force (F) at a predetermined point of action (510),

the coupling apparatus providing support to the first rigid body (501).

5. In a touch sensitive position locating system, apparatus for mechanically coupling a first rigid body having a surface associated therewith which is exposed to the application of a localized force, a second rigid body which is fixed in relation to the first rigid body, and a force sensing member positioned between the first and second rigid bodies

characterized by

two cone-shaped elements (903 and 904), joined at their points so as to form a flexible hinge,

either one or the other cone-shaped element being associated with the force sensing member (504) for detecting a perpendicular component force (F₁) comprising a perpendicular component of the applied localized force (F) at a predetermined point of action (510), the point of juncture of the two cone-shaped elements,

the coupling apparatus providing support to the first rigid body (501).

6. Apparatus for mechanically coupling a first rigid body having a surface exposed to the application of a localized force, a second rigid body, and a force sensing member positioned between the first and second rigid bodies,

characterized in that

the apparatus comprises:

a pointed element (503),

an element (502) for receiving the point of the pointed element, and

a biasing means (707) for maintaining the pointed element in engagement with the receiving element,

either the pointed element, or the receiving element being associated with the force sensing member (504),

the force sensing member detecting a component force (F₁) at a predetermined point of action (510) of the pointed element and the receiving element, the detected component force (F₁) comprising a perpendicular component of the localized force (F) applied to the exposed surface of the first rigid body.

7. Apparatus for mechanically coupling a first rigid body having a surface associated therewith which is subject to the application of a localized force, a force sensing member and a second rigid body, the force sensing member being positioned between the first and second rigid bodies;

characterized in that

the apparatus comprises;

a pointed element (503);

a receiving element (502) for accommodating the point of the pointed element;

biasing means (707) for maintaining the pointed element in engagement with the receiving element;

the force sensing member (504) being joined to one of the elements and adapted to be positioned between the element to which it is joined and either the first or the second rigid body, the other of the elements being associated with the other rigid body;

the application of a force (F) to the surface associated with the first rigid body resulting in the force sensing member (504) detecting a change in the component force (F₁) at the point of action (510) of the pointed element and the receiving element, the change (R) in the component force detected being a perpendicular component of the applied forced (F).

9. Apparatus for mechanically coupling a first rigid body having a surface associated therewith which is exposed to the application of a localized force, a plurality of force sensing members, and a second rigid body,

characterized in that

the coupling apparatus is associated with each force sensing member (504) such that each force sensing member (504) detects a perpendicular component force (F₁) comprising a perpendicular component of the applied localized force (F) at a predetermined point of action (510), the coupling apparatus providing support to the first rigid body (501).

10. Apparatus for mechanically coupling a first rigid body having a surface associated therewith which is subject to the application of a localized force, a plurality of force sensing members and a second rigid body,

characterized in that

associated with each force sensing member is either

a pointed element (503) or

an element (502) for receiving the point of the pointed element,

the force sensing member (504) and the associated element forming a rigid, laminated structure adapted to be positioned between the first and second rigid bodies, the first rigid body being urged toward the second rigid body by a biasing means (707) for maintaining the pointed element individually in engagement with its complementary receiving element.

11. Apparatus as presented in claim 10

further characterized in that

the rigid, laminated structure comprises:

a first layer comprising the associated element consisting of a conducting material for providing a first means of electrical access (1001) to the force sensing member (504)

a second layer comprising the force sensing member and

a third layer consisting of a conducting material for providing a second means of electrical access (1002) to the force sensing member.

12. Apparatus for mechanically coupling a first rigid body having a surface associated therewith which is subject to the application of a localized force, a plurality of force sensing members, and a second rigid body, the force sensing members being positioned between the first and second rigid bodies

characterized in that

associated with each force sensing member is either

a pointed element (503) or

a receiving element (502) for accommodating the point of the pointed element,

the other element being associated with either the first or the second rigid bodies;

the application of a force (F) to the surface associated with the first rigid body resulting in the force sensing member detecting a change in the (F₁) component force at the point of action (510) of each pointed element (503) and complementary receiving element (502), the component force detected (F₁) comprising a perpendicular component of the applied force (F).

13. Apparatus as presented in claims 9 or 12

further characterized in that

the predetermined points of action (510) are in substantially the same plane as the exposed surface of the first rigid body.

14. Apparatus for mechanically coupling a first rigid body having a surface associated therewith which is exposed to the application of a localized force, a force sensing member and a second rigid body,

the force sensing member being positioned between the first and second rigid bodies

characterized in that

the apparatus comprises:

A. a rigid laminated structure associated with either the first or second rigid body comprising

a first layer (505) consisting of a conducting material for providing a first means of electrical access (1001) to the force sensing member (504),

a second layer (504) comprising the force sensing member, and

a third layer (503) comprising either a pointed element or an element for receiving the pointed element consisting of a conducting material for providing a second means of electrical access (1002) to the force sensing member and

B. the other element which is associated with the other rigid body,

the rigid, laminated structure and the other element being held in engagement between the first and second rigid bodies by a biasing means (707).

15. Apparatus for mounting a visual display to its supporting structure, the visual display having a surface associated therewith which is exposed to the application of a localized force and upon which surface may be presented a visual image and the mounting apparatus comprising a plurality of force sensing members positioned between the visual display and the supporting structure

characterized in that

the mounting apparatus is

associated with each force sensing member (504)

such that each force sensing member (504) detects a perpendicular component force (F₁) comprising a perpendicular component of the applied localized force (F) at a predetermined point of action (510), the mounting apparatus providing support to the visual display.

16. Mounting apparatus as presented in claim 15

further characterized in that

the predetermined points of action (510) are in substantially the same plane as the exposed surface of the visual display.

17. A touch-sensitive position locating system comprising arrangements for mechanically coupling a first rigid body, having a surface associated therewith which is exposed to the application of a localized force, a second rigid body, and a plurality of force sensing members positioned between the first and second rigid bodies

characterized by

coupling apparatus, associated with each force sensing member (504) and adapted to provide support to the first rigid body, the force sensing members detecting a perpendicular component force (F₁) comprising a perpendicular component of the applied localized force (F) at a predetermined point of action (510) of the coupling apparatus, the predetermined point of action being in the same plane as the surface (708a) exposed to the application of the localized force (F),

the touch surface (708a) being transparent so that a visual image may be seen therethrough, and

the second rigid body (506) adapted to be attached to a rigid visual display so that the combination is fixed in relation to the first rigid body.

18. A touch-sensitive position locating system comprising an arrangement for mechanically coupling a rigid visual display having a surface associated therewith which is exposed to the application of a localized force, a rigid structure which is fixed in relation to the rigid visual display, and a plurality of force sensing members positioned between the rigid visual display and the fixed rigid structure

characterized in that

the surface (708a) of the rigid visual display (708) which is exposed to the application of the localized force (F) is the viewing surface of the rigid visual display (708).

19. A touch-sensitive position locating system as recited in claim 18

further characterized in that

associated with each force sensing member (504) is coupling apparatus adapted to provide support to the rigid visual display (708),

each force sensing member detecting a perpendicular component of the applied localized force (F) at a predetermined point of action (510) of the coupling apparatus.

20. A touch-sensitive position locating system as recited in claim 19

further characterized in that

the point of action (510) of each coupling apparatus is in the same plane as the viewing surface (708a) except that,

should the viewing surface be curved, the plane of the points of action is adapted to cut the curved viewing surface defining a viewing area (1408b), within which area the probability of a localized force (F) impinging thereupon is approximately equal to the probability of a localized force impinging outside the area.

21. A touch-sensitive position locating system for calculating the coordinates of the point of application of a localized force presented to an exposed surface of the system

characterized by

a cathode ray tube having a viewing surface (708b) which is exposed to the application of the localized force (F), and at least three coupling arrangements (502, 503, and 505), each comprising a force sensing member (504) for detecting a perpendicular component force (F₁) comprising a perpendicular component of the applied localized force (F) at a predetermined point of action (510) of the coupling arrangment,

the predetermined points of action of all coupling arrangements being in substantially the same plane as the viewing surface of the cathode ray tube screen and

the coupling arrangements providing support to the cathode ray tube.