Touch system coordinates input apparatus

• US 4,550,384 A
• Filed: 09/30/1982
• Issued: 10/29/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kimura, Kiyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Malzahn, David H.
• Application Number:
  US06/431,327
• Time in Patent Office: 1,125 Days
• Field of Search: 364/556, 364/508, 178/18, 367/907
• US Class Current: 700/303
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/052 Strain gauge

Abstract

An economical touch system coordinates input apparatus having high mechanical strength is disclosed. The coordinates input apparatus comprises a panel to which a push force is to be applied, a plurality of straining portions where component forces of the push force applied to the panel develop, detectors for detecting the strain developing at the straining portions, respectively, and calculation means for calculating the push point on the panel by means of the outputs of the detectors, wherein the panel is integral with the straining portions.

Claims

1. A touch panel for determining the coordinates for the point of application of pressure thereto, comprising a panel adapted to receive a pressing force applied thereto, means including a plurality of unitary straining portions formed integrally with said panel for developing component forces corresponding to said pressing force, means including respective detectors connected integrally to each said straining portion for developing signals suitable for processing to determine the point of application of said pressing force to said panel, wherein said straining portions are formed by strips of said panel formed by providing slots in marginal portions in said panel.

2. A touch panel according to claim 1, said panel being rectangular and said straining portion being formed at corner portions thereof.