Device for producing x-y coordinate addresses for a picture screen

• US 4,697,049 A
• Filed: 07/16/1986
• Issued: 09/29/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: US Philips Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: US Philips Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Svensson, Heino, Peemoller, Horst
• Primary Examiner(s): Schreyer, Stafford D.
• Application Number:
  US06/886,572
• Time in Patent Office: 440 Days
• Field of Search: 178/18, 178/19, 178/20, 177/210 R, 177/211, 177/199, 364/521, 73/862.64, 338/2, 340/718, 340/706
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0414 using force sensing means to determine a position

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for producing x-y coordinate addresses for a picture screen comprising a force-sensitive operating plate (3) influencing force measuring sensors (13a, 13b, 15a, 15b). The coordinates of points on the plate surface (23) are converted, when a force is exerted on these points, by the force measuring sensors (13a, 13b, 15a, 15b) into electrical signals, which correspond to an x-y coordinate address, which is accurately identical to the geographical place of the pressure point of the picture screen. The operating plate (3) has first side edges (17, 17b) arranged approximately parallel and opposite to each other and second side edges (19a, 19b) shifted by about 90° with respect to the first side edges and also arranged parallel and opposite to each other. Auxiliary plates (103, 203) are arranged behind the opeating plate (3) in planes parallel to it. The plates (3, 103, 203) are interconnected by means of resilient edge supports, the resilient edge supports (9a, 9b, 11a, 11b) being obtained from plate to plate longitudinally in the same direction between side edges (17a, 17b, 117a, 117b, 217a, 217b) extending parallel to and over each other and being shifted from plate to plate always alternately by each time about 90° from the first to the second side edges and conversely. The force measuring sensors (13a, 13b and 15a, 15b, respectively) are arranged halfway between the resilient edge supports (9a, 9b and 11a, 11b, reslectively) adjacent the plate edges.

Claims

1. A device for producing x-y coordinate addresses for a picture screen, comprising

a plurality of force measuring sensors,

an operating plate having a force-sensitive transparent surface which influences said force measuring sensors, so that when a force is exerted at a pressure point on said surface of said operating plate, said force measuring sensors produce pressure point electrical signals, and

an electronic system for converting said signals into digital x-y coordinate addresses which accurately correspond to a geographical place of said pressure point on said picture screen,

said operating plate having first side edges arranged approximately parallel and opposite to each other and second side edges shifted by about 90°

with respect to the first side edges and also arranged approximately parallel and opposite to each other, said operating plate being arranged on resilient supports; and

characterized by comprising

(a) a plurality of auxiliary plates arranged behind said operating plate in planes parallel to it, said operating plate and said auxiliary plates forming respective pairs of plates;

(b) a pair of resilient edge supports disposed between each pair of said plates, each of said pair of resilient edge supports being arranged between said respective pairs of said plates longitudinally in the same direction between said side edges extending parallel to and over each other, and further being shifted for said respective pairs of said plates alternately about 90°

from said first to said second side edges and conversely; and

(c) further characterized in that said force measuring sensors are arranged halfway between each pair of said resilient edge supports, each of said force measuring sensors being adjacent said side edges of said plates.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that each of said resilient supports consists of a beam, which each extends between two side edges disposed one above the other, each one of its ends being pivotally connected to said edge of said plate arranged before it, and the other of its ends being pivotally connected to said edge of said plate arranged behind it.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that each of said auxiliary plates has a central recess, which approximately corresponds to said picture screen of a picture tube arranged behind it.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that each of said auxiliary plates has a central recess, which approximately corresponds to said picture screen of a picture tube arranged behind it.

5. A device for producing X-Y coordinate signals for picture screen comprising:

(a) a first, a second and a third operating plate, each plate respectively having a first side edge opposite a third side edge and a second side edge opposite a fourth side edge said plates being arranged in substantially successive parallel planes, said first operating plate having a force-sensitive transparent surface;

(b) a first pair of resilient edge supports being disposed between said first and second operating plates, each of said first pair of edge supports being arranged longitudinally alongside said second and fourth side edges respectively, each of said edge supports having one of its ends flexibly coupled to said first side edge of said first operating plate, and the other of its ends flexibly coupled to said third side edge of said second operating plate;

(c) a second pair of resilient edge supports being disposed between said second and third operating plates, each of said second pair of edge supports being arranged longitudinally alongside said first and third side edges respectively, each of said edge supports having one of its ends flexibly coupled to said second side edge of said second operating plate, and the other of its ends flexibly coupled to said fourth side edge of said third operating plate;

(d) a first pair of force measuring sensors having electrical parameters corresponding to forces exerted on said first operating plate, each of said sensors being disposed between said first and second operating plates, one of said sensors being arranged adjacent said first side edge of said second operating plate, the other of said sensors being arranged adjacent said third side edge of said second operating plate, each of said sensors being further arranged substantially halfway between said resilient edge supports; and

(e) a second pair of force measuring sensors having electrical parameters corresponding to forces exerted on said first operating plate, each of said sensors being disposed between said second and third operating plates, one of said sensors being arranged adjacent said second side edge of said third operating plate, the other of said sensors being arranged adjacent respective said fourth side edge of said third operating plate, each of said sensors being further arranged substantially halfway between said resilient edge supports;

whereby when a force is exerted at a pressure point on said surface of said first operating plate, said force measuring sensor electrical parameters accurately correspond to a geographical place of said pressure point on said picture screen.