Touch strip input for display terminal
First Claim
1. A terminal comprising a rectangular display screen, display means for displaying an image on the screen, a position sensitive touch strip spaced from the screen, mounted along one side thereof and extending the length of the screen, voltage generating means for generating a voltage level in response to the touch strip being touched, the voltage level corresponding to the position at which the strip is touched, a selector for selecting one of a plurality of possible display modes, an input interface unit having inputs from said voltage generating means and from said selector, a microprocessing unit having an input from the input interface unit and an output to an output interface unit, the output interface unit having an output controlling said display means, the microprocessing unit having stored therein a control program which determines the display mode in response to an input from the selector and determines image detail in response to an input from the voltage generating means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The screen of a display terminal has touch strips extending adjacent horizontal and vertical edges. The touch strips have electrical outputs dependent on the position along the strips at which they are touched. Using microprocessor control the touch strips can be made to manipulate a displayed image and control the rate or level or other terminal functions. By selecting an appropriate programming mode the touch strips can be made to present a series of programmable or soft keys. Also the touch strips can be used to provide a menu selection, scrolling and cursor generation and movement for word processing. The use of two touch strips requires less complex circuitry than a known transparent input overlay for the display screen. Moreover, it is a cleaner technique resulting in reduced image attenuation and distortion.
72 Citations
18 Claims
- 1. A terminal comprising a rectangular display screen, display means for displaying an image on the screen, a position sensitive touch strip spaced from the screen, mounted along one side thereof and extending the length of the screen, voltage generating means for generating a voltage level in response to the touch strip being touched, the voltage level corresponding to the position at which the strip is touched, a selector for selecting one of a plurality of possible display modes, an input interface unit having inputs from said voltage generating means and from said selector, a microprocessing unit having an input from the input interface unit and an output to an output interface unit, the output interface unit having an output controlling said display means, the microprocessing unit having stored therein a control program which determines the display mode in response to an input from the selector and determines image detail in response to an input from the voltage generating means.
Specification