Coordinate sensing device

• US 4,442,317 A
• Filed: 09/14/1981
• Issued: 04/10/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sun-Flex Company
• Original Assignee: Sun-Flex Company
• Inventors: Jandrell, Louis H. M.
• Primary Examiner(s): SCHREYER, STAFFORD
• Application Number:
  US06/300,687
• Time in Patent Office: 939 Days
• Field of Search: 178/18, 428/255, 340/712, 340/365 UL, 340/709, 358/83, 358/93
• US Class Current: 178/18.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact

Abstract

A coordinate sensing device uses electric currents to energize a conducting member which has a major surface and preferably is made of mesh material. Electrical currents are sequentially applied to create alternate noncoincident electrical fields so that when a probe is applied to the surface, the obtained electrical potentials can be compared to a reference potential. The resulting potential differences may then be conveniently converted to appropriate signals. The conducting member is not limited as to shape or construction; hence, it may also act as an anti-glare device for a cathode-ray tube. The fields created by the electrical currents need not be uniform.

Claims

1. A coordinate sensing device comprising:

a fine meshed fabric screen having electrical conductive properties and defining a major surface;

first current source means for selectively establishing a first electrical current between a first injection point and first sink point on said major surface, said first injection and sink points defining a first electrical field across the said major surface;

second current source means for selectively establishing a second electrical current between a second injectionand a second sink point on said major surface, said second injection point and sink points defining a second electric field across the said major surface, the two electric fields related so that the position of the equipotential lines from each field intersect at unique points;

probe means for selectively sensing a first electrical potential on the first electric field at a physical point on the surface between the first injection and sink points and a second electrical potential on the second electric field at the same physical point on the surface between the second injection and sink points;

means for converting said sensed first or second potentials to an intelligent signal representing the coordinates of the physical point indicated in any chosen coordinate system.

2. The coordinate sensing device as set forth in claim 1 further including switching means for alternately energizing said first and second current source means.

3. The coordinate sensing device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said fine meshed fabric screen is generally rectangular with said first injection and sink points located respectively on first and second opposite sides thereof and said second injection and sink points located respectively on third and fourth opposite sides thereof;

the first current means further including additional injection and sink points interconnected with said first current source for selectively establishing the first electrical current between said first and second opposite sides, said additional injection points spaced apart from said first injection point and said additional sink points spaced apart from said first sink point.

4. The coordinate sensing device of claim 3 wherein the second current means further includes additional injection and sink points on the third and fourth opposite sides of the rectangular fine meshed fabric screen for selectively establishing the second electrical current between the third and fourth side.

5. The current sensing device of claim 4 wherein each of the injection points on the third side are separated one from another by a distance D while the end injection points on said third side are spaced apart from the first and second sides a distance C where D=2C.

6. The current sensing device of claim 3 wherein each of the injection points on the first side are separated one from another by a distance A while the end injection points on said first side are spaced apart from the third and fourth sides respectively a distance B where A=2B.

7. The coordinate sensing device of claim 1 wherein the converting means includes reference means for determining an electrical reference potential at a fixed reference point on the major surface of the fine meshed fabric screen and means for determining the algebraic difference between the electrical reference potential and the first or second sensed electrical potential.

8. The coordinate sensing device of claim 7 wherein the converting means further includes first means for varying the determined algebraic difference.

9. The coordinate sensing device of claim 8 wherein the converting means includes second means for varying the determined algebraic difference, said second means in parallel with said first means.

10. The coordinate sensing device of claim 9 wherein a switching means further includes timing means for selecting the output of said first or said second varying means corresponding with said first or second current means.

11. The coordinate sensing device of claim 1 wherein at least some of the warp and woof fibers of the meshed fabric are of a nylon material having incorporated therewith an electrically conducting material.

12. The coordinate sensing device of claim 11 wherein the meshed fabric is dyed with a non-reflective color.

13. The current sensing device of claim 1 wherein the warp and weft fibers of the meshed fabric screen are of nylon, at least some of the fibers having an outer coating of an electrical conducting material.

14. The current sensing device of claim 13 wherein the meshed material is transparent.

15. A coordinate sensing device comprising:

an electrical conducting member formed of fine mesh material defining a major surface;

first current source means for selectively establishing a first electrical current between at least one injection point and at least one sink point on said major surface, said injection and sink points defining a first electrical field across the said major surface;

second current source means for selectively establishing a second electrical current between at least one second injection point and at least one second sink point on said major surface, said second injection and sink points defining a second electric field across the said major surface, the two electrical fields related so that the position of the equipotential lines from each field intersect at unique points;

probe means for selectively sensing a first electrical potential on the first electrical field at a physical point on the surface and a second electrical potential on the second field at the same physical point;

means for converting said sensed first or second potentials to an intelligent signal representing the coordinates of the physical point indicated in any chosen coordinate system.

16. The coordinate sensing device of claim 15 further including switching means for alternately energizing said first and second current source means.

17. A coordinate sensing device in combination with a video display device comprising:

a fine meshed fabric screen having electrical conductive properties and defining a major surface, said fine meshed fabric screen fixable to the picture-generating surface of the video display device;

first current source means for selectivity establishing a first electrical current between a first injection point and a first sink point on said major surface, said first injection and sink points defining a first electrical field across said major surface;

second current source means for selectivity establishing a second electrical current between a second injection point and a second sink point on said major surface, said second injection and sink points defining a second electrical field, the two electric fields related so that the position of the equipotential lines from each field intersect at unique points;

switching means for alternately energizing said first and second current source means;

probe means for selectively sensing a first electrical potential on the first electrical field at a physical point on the major surface and a second electrical potential on the second electrical field at the same physical point;

means for converting said sensed first or second potential to an intelligent signal;

computer means for imposing the intelligent signal on the surface of the video display device at the point selected by the probe means.

18. The combination as set forth in claim 17 wherein the converting means includes reference means for determining an electrical reference potential at a fixed reference point on the major surface of the fine meshed fabric screen;

and means for determining the algebraic difference between the electrical reference potential and the first or second sensed electrical potential.

19. The combination set forth in claim 17 wherein the converting means includes first means for varying the determined algebraic difference.

20. The combination set forth in claim 19 wherein the converting means includes second means for varying the determined algebraic difference, said second means in parallel to said first means for determining the algebraic difference.

21. The combination as set forth in claim 19 wherein the switching means further includes timing means for selecting the output of said first or second varying means corresponding with said first or second current means.

22. A relatively flexibe electrical conducting member for a curved video display screen comprising:

a thin portable frame of a flexible material;

a microweave mesh of black filaments stretched across the inner surface of said frame, said frame having electrical conductive properties, at least some of said black filaments capable of conducting electrical current, and affixed to said frame;

said frame sufficiently wide enough that it resists bending in all directions in the plane of the mesh but being flexible in all directions transverse thereto so that said frame and stretched mesh will conform to the curvature of a video display device to which the frame is attached;

means for attaching said frame to a terminal display scope so that said mesh conforms to contact said scope over the surface thereof.