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Signal input device

  • US 5,717,432 A
  • Filed: 01/20/1995
  • Issued: 02/10/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/06/1990
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A signal input device for use in a copying machine for copying an original document, the device comprising:

  • an operation panel including an input area in which data are input by touching a point on the operation panel, the operation panel also functioning as an original table of the copying machine on which the original document is placed;

    plural pairs of sensors, located at different places on the operation panel, for receiving vibrations propagated from a touched point on the operation panel, respectively, the plural pairs of sensors being arranged so that a line connecting the sensors of one of the plural pairs intersects a line connecting the sensors of another one of the plural pairs at right angles;

    a time counting means which starts to count time when one of the sensors receives a respective vibration;

    a detection means for detecting times at which the sensors receive the vibrations and for obtaining a time difference between the detected times by each pair of sensors by using the time counting means;

    an arithmetic means for identifying the position of the touched point on the basis of the time difference;

    a memory means for storing numerical values whereby the input area is divided into a plurality of minor areas;

    a means for judging, to which one of the plurality of minor areas the touched point belongs, on the basis of the arithmetic results indicating the position of the touched point and data of the numerical values;

    means for adjusting a copiable area defined within some of said minor areas to define a copying region for copying the original document, said copying region being defined based on said arithmetic results indicating the position of the touched point and data of the numerical values; and

    means for starting the arithmetic operation by treating the detected times as effective only when the copying machine is in a ready state in which the apparatus is ready for starting a copying operation.

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