Character input/output device

• US 4,905,007 A
• Filed: 05/29/1987
• Issued: 02/27/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Samson Rohm
• Original Assignee: Samson Rohm
• Inventors: Rohm, Samson
• Primary Examiner(s): Moore, David K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FATAHI YAR, MAHMOUD
• Application Number:
  US07/055,739
• Time in Patent Office: 1,005 Days
• Field of Search: 340/345, 340/365 R, 340/365 S, 340/365 E, 340/365 L, 340/365 P, 340/709, 340/706, 250/221, 341/23-27, 341/31-34, 341/173
• US Class Current: 341/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0234 using switches operable in different directions
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus

Abstract

A character input device for a computer comprised of a plurality of switches or threshold zones adapted to be activated by a disk movable with the tip of a pen in preset serial patterns.

Claims

1. A character input/pointing and positioning device for a computer, comprising:

(a) a substantially planar centre plate;

(b) selection recognition means arranged around said centre plate;

(c) a disk centred at and slidably movable about said centre plate in a plane parallel to said centre plate such that said disk may be moved toward said selection recognition means to make a selection, said disk having a top cavity such that a tip of a pointed instrument may be inserted into said cavity and confined thereby to control the movement of said disk.

3. A character input device as defined in claim 1, wherein said selection recognition means is comprised of a plurality of switches.

4. A character input device as defined in claim 1, wherein said selection recognition means is comprised of a plurality of zones, with means for measuring the direction and threshold magnitude of movement to determine whether a selection has been made.

5. The character input device as defined in claim 1, having means for signalling to said computer the end of a transmission sequence.

6. The character input device as defined in claim 3, having one additional switch which is dedicated to signalling to said computer the end of a transmission sequence.

7. The character input device as defined in claim 4, having one additional zone which is dedicated to signalling to said computer the end of a transmission sequence.

2. A character input/pointing and positioning device for a computer, comprising:

(a) a substantially planar centre plate;

(b) selection recognition means arranged around said centre plate substantially perpendicular to said centre plate such that a tip of a pointed instrument may centered at and slidably moved about said centre plate in a plane parallel to said centre plate to move said tip of said pointed instrument toward said selection recognition means to make a selection, movement of said tip of said pointed instrument being confined by said selection recognition means.

19. A character input device as defined in claim 2, wherein said selection recognition means is comprised of a plurality of switches.

20. A character input device as defined in claim 2, wherein said selection recognition means is comprised of a plurality of zones, with means for measuring the direction and threshold magnitude of movement to determine whether a selection has been made.

21. The character input device as defined in claim 2, having means for signalling to said computer the end of a transmission sequence.

8. A character input/pointing and positioning device for a computer, comprising:

a. three or more conductive plates surrounding a substantially planar charged centre plate; and

b. a disk having a conductive bottom or side surface and an insulated top cavity, centred upon and slidably movable about said centre plate such that a tip of a pointed instrument may be inserted into said cavity to control movement of said disk in a plane parallel to that of said centre plate bringing said conductive surface of said disk into contact with one of said conductive plates to complete an electrical circuit with said centre plate.

9. A character input/pointing and positioning device for a computer, comprising:

a. three or more membrane switches, each of said membrane switches having two contact surfaces;

arranged around a substantially planar centre plate, such that each of said membrane switches may be activated by a tip of a pointed instrument slidably movable in a plane parallel to that of said centre plate by pressing on a selected membrane switch such that said contact surfaces come into contact completing an electrical circuit; and

said membrane switches being arranged substantially perpendicular to said centre plate to confine movement of said tip of said pointed instrument.

10. The character input/pointing and positioning device for a computer, comprising:

a. three or more membrane switches, each of said membrane switches having two contact surfaces arranged around a substantially planar centre plate;

b. a movable disk having a top cavity, said disk being slidable on said centre plate such that a tip of a pointed instrument may be inserted into said cavity to control movement of said disk in a plane parallel to that of said centre plate whereby each of said membrane switches may be activated by said disk by pressing on a selected membrane switch such that said contact surfaces come into contact completing an electrical circuit.

11. A character input/pointing and positioning device for a computer, comprising:

a. a support in the form of a substantially planar centre plate;

b. two strain gauges mounted to a resilient material which rests upon and is affixed to the edges of said support, said strain gauges being arranged at varying angles such that they measure forces applied in differing directions, thereby defining input zones on said resilient material;

c. means to confine placement of a tip of a pointed instrument positioned on said resilient material such that a tip of a pointed instrument may be inserted in said placement means to apply a force in a plane parallel to that of the support whereby said strain gauges measure the direction and threshold magnitude of said force to determine whether a selection has been made.

12. A character input/pointing and positioning device for a computer, comprising:

a. a base in the form of a substantially planar centre plate;

b. a cantilever beam having one end fixed to said base and an opposed end extending perpendicularly from said base;

c. two strain gauges mounted to opposed sides of said cantilever beam such that they measure forces applied in differing directions in relation to the vertical orientation of said cantilever beam, thereby defining input zones in relation to the positioning of said cantilever beam;

d. means to confine placement of a tip of a pointed instrument positioned on said opposed end of said cantilever beam, such that a tip of a pointed instrument may be inserted into said placement means to apply a force in a plane parallel to that of said base, whereby said strain gauges measure the direction and threshold magnitude of movement of said cantilever beam to determine whether a selection has been made.

13. A character input/pointing and positioning device for a computer, comprising:

a. two or more conductive plates surrounding a substantially planar charged centre plate, said conductive plates having a thin electrically insulating coating;

b. a disk having a conductive bottom surface and an insulated top cavity, centred upon and slidably movable about said centre plate such that a tip of a pointed instrument may be inserted into said cavity to control movement of said disk whereby changes in capacitance may be effected by movement of said disk in a plane parallel to said centre plate in relation to zones defined by the positioning of said conductive plates; and

c. means for measuring the threshold magnitude of changes in capacitance upon movement of said disk, in relation to a starting capacitance level when said disk is centred on said plate, to determine whether a selection has been made.

14. A character input/pointing and positioning device for a computer, comprising:

a. three or more membrane capacitors arranged around a substantially planar centre plate, each of said membrane capacitors having two contact surfaces separated by a thin electrically insulating material;

said membrane capacitors being adapted to be activated by by a tip of a pointed instrument slidably movable in a plane parallel to said centre plate by pressing on a selected membrane capacitor thereby increasing the capacitance of said capacitor;

b. means for measuring the threshold magnitude of changes in capacitance when said contact surface come closer together to determine whether a selection has been made;

said membrane capacitors being arranged substantially perpendicular to said centre plate to confine movement of said tip of said pointed instrument.

15. A character input/pointing and positioning device for a computer, comprising:

a. three or more hall effect sensors arranged around a substantially planar centre plate;

b. a movable disk having a top cavity and a magnetic bottom surface, said disk being slidably movable on said centre plate, such that a tip of a pointed instrument may be inserted into said cavity to control movement of said disk whereby changes in voltage may be effected upon movement of said disk in a plane parallel to said centre plate toward one of said sensors; and

c. means for measuring the threshold magnitude of changes in voltage upon movement of said disk, in relation to a starting voltage level, to determine whether selection has been made.

16. A character input/pointing and positioning device for a computer, comprising:

a. three or more photo-transistors surrounding a light emitting diode;

b. a disk having a top cavity and a concave reflective bottom surface, centered upon and slidably movable about said diode such that a tip of a pointed instrument may be inserted into said cavity to control movement of said disk as said disk is moved in a plane parallel to said diode toward one of said photo-transistors light is reflected by said disk from said diode to said photo-transistor thereby increasing the voltage in said photo-transistor; and

c. means for measuring the threshold magnitude of changes in voltage upon movement of said disk, in relating to a starting voltage level when said disk is centered on said diode, to determine whether a selection has been made.

17. A character input/pointing and positioning device for a computer, comprising:

a. three or more photo-transistors and light emitting diode pairs, arranged around a substantially planar centre plate said pairs being arranged such that a beam of light from each of said diodes is focused on one of said photo-transistors; and

b. a movable disk having a top cavity, slidably movable on said centre plate such that a tip of a pointed instrument may be inserted into said cavity to control movement of said disk whereby movement of said disk in a plane parallel to said centre plate results in the beam of light between one of said photo-transistor and light emitting diode pairs being disrupted.

18. A character input/pointing and positioning device for a computer, comprising:

a. three or more conductive plates surrounding a substantially planar charged centre plate;

b. a disk centred upon and slidably movable about said centre plate, said disk being encased in a thin sheet of carbon impregnated elastomer material which is bonded to said conductive plates and having a top cavity such that a tip of a pointed instrument may be inserted into said cavity to control movement of said disk whereby movement of said disk in a plane parallel to said centre plate by compression of said elastomer material within zones defined by the positioning of said conductive plates effects a change in voltage; and

c. means for measuring the threshold magnitude of changes in voltage upon movement of said disk, in relation to a starting voltage level with said disk centred on said centre plate, to determine whether a selection has been made.