Arrangement for the input and processing of characters and/or graphic patterns
First Claim
1. An apparatus for the selective input of characters and graphic patterns for processing in an electronic data processing system, comprising:
- a graphics tablet having an input layer, and a plurality of sensor elements disposed on said input layer which are each actuable to produce electrical signals corresponding to the location of the respective actuated sensor element;
a keyboard which is movable relative to said graphics tablet to a keyboard operating position for keyboard entry of characters and to a second operating position to permit direct entry of information to said input layer, said keyboard having a plurality of movable keys, in said keyboard operating position, each of said movable keys overlying a corresponding predetermined group of sensor elements; and
operating mode detecting means for detecting whether said keyboard is in said keyboard operating position or in said second position for signalling the data processing system to respectively interpret information from said graphics tablet either as characters corresponding to keys on said keyboard, or to graphic patterns corresponding to actuated ones of said plurality of sensor elements.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for the input and processing of characters and/or graphic patterns for use with electronic data processing systems includes an input unit and a control unit which transmits the input characters and/or graphic patterns to an output unit, a graphics tablet having an input layer, a plurality of sensor elements disposed on the input layer for converting pressure signals into electrical signals which are adapted for transmission to the control unit, a keyboard which is movable relative to the input layer from a keyboard operating position adjacent to the input layer to expose the input layer to enable direct entry thereto, and an operating mode detector for detecting whether the keyboard is in the operating position.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An apparatus for the selective input of characters and graphic patterns for processing in an electronic data processing system, comprising:
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a graphics tablet having an input layer, and a plurality of sensor elements disposed on said input layer which are each actuable to produce electrical signals corresponding to the location of the respective actuated sensor element; a keyboard which is movable relative to said graphics tablet to a keyboard operating position for keyboard entry of characters and to a second operating position to permit direct entry of information to said input layer, said keyboard having a plurality of movable keys, in said keyboard operating position, each of said movable keys overlying a corresponding predetermined group of sensor elements; and operating mode detecting means for detecting whether said keyboard is in said keyboard operating position or in said second position for signalling the data processing system to respectively interpret information from said graphics tablet either as characters corresponding to keys on said keyboard, or to graphic patterns corresponding to actuated ones of said plurality of sensor elements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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4. An apparatus for the selective input of characters and graphic patterns for processing in an electronic data processing system, comprising:
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a graphics tablet having an input layer, a plurality of sensor elements being disposed on said input layer which are each actuable to produce electrical signals corresponding to the location of the actuated sensor element; a keyboard which is movable relative to said graphics tablet to a keyboard operating position for keyboard entry of characters and to another operating position for direct entry of information to said input layer; and operating mode detecting means for detecting whether said keyboard is in said keyboard operating position, said operating mode detecting means including a switch which is automatically actuated when said keyboard tablet is moved to said keyboard operating position, thereby switching said graphics tablet from a tablet mode to a keyboard mode. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8)
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11. An apparatus for the selective input of characters and graphic patterns for processing in an electronic data processing system, comprising:
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a graphics tablet having an input layer, and a plurality of sensor elements disposed on said input layer which are each actuable to produce electrical signals corresponding to the location of the actuated sensor element; a keyboard which is movable relative to said graphics tablet to a keyboard operating position for keyboard entry of characters and to another operating position for direct entry of information to said input layer;
said keyboard having a first key field configured to correspond to a typewriter keyboard and a second key field configured to correspond to a keyboard of a calculator, said first and second key fields being separately pivotably connected to said keyboard such that pivoting of either of said first and second keyboards to an open position exposes said input layer of said graphics tablet;operating mode detecting means for detecting whether said keyboard is in said keyboard operating position; and a switch disposed adjacent to said input layer which is automatically actuated by movement of one of said first and second pivotable key fields to a closed position. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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Specification