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Touch input device

  • US 4,761,637 A
  • Filed: 11/05/1986
  • Issued: 08/02/1988
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/18/1984
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A touch input device interactive with a host computer to convey data indicative of the interference of a passive stylus within the field of the touch input device to the host computer, the touch input device comprising:

  • a plurality of optical emitters, electrically interconnected in a first matrix, the optical emitters being linearly disposed, each optical emitter having emitter first and second terminals, each optical emitter being individually independently addressable in the matrix through the first and second terminals;

    a like plurality of optical detectors, electrically interconnected in a second matrix, the optical detectors also being linearly disposed, each optical detector having detector first and second terminals, each optical detector being individually independently addressable in the second matrix through the detector first and second terminals, corresponding emitters and detectors being oppositely disposed, each emitter emitting a light beam incident on a corresponding detector;

    a plurality of separate driver means, each driver means connected to emitter first terminals of a plurality of emitters, and first decoder means having a plurality of decoder lines, each first decoder line electrically interconnected to an emitter second terminal of a plurality of emitters, each emitter being electrically interconnected to a unique combination of driver means and first decoder lines to form the first matrix, the driver means and first decoder means comprising means for sequentially activating individual emitters within the first matrix;

    second decoder means, each second decoder means having a plurality of lines, each second decoder line being connected to detector first terminals of the plurality of detectors, and a plurality of I/O signal lines, each I/O signal line being connected to detector second terminals of the plurality of detectors, each detector being connected to a unique combination of second decoder means and I/O signal lines to form the second matrix, the second decoder means and the I/O signal lines comprising means for sequentially activating the output of individual detectors within the second matrix; and

    microcomputer means including a plurality of I/O ports electrically connected to the driver means, the first and second decoder means and the I/O signal lines, the microcomputer means comprising means for sequentially activating corresponding emitters and detectors at the same time and means for processing signals received from the detectors prior to transmission to the host computer.

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