Input device

• US 4,529,959 A
• Filed: 01/31/1984
• Issued: 07/16/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ito, Kazuhiko, Utagawa, Ikuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Mayewsky, Volodymyr Y.
• Application Number:
  US06/575,525
• Time in Patent Office: 532 Days
• Field of Search: 200/250, 200/264, 200/265, 200/260, 200/261, 200/5 A, 200/86 R, 338/69, 338/111, 338/114, 338/295, 338/314, 338/99, 338/308, 338/309, 338/100, 338/119, 178/18, 178/19, 219/528, 219/549, 219/552, 219/553
• US Class Current: 338/295
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/205 using distributed sensing elements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact

Abstract

An input device for use in a display unit serving as a terminal of a computer has first and second insulating sheets and an insulating spacer sandwiched between the first and second sheets. The first sheet has first terminal leads on its both ends, while the second sheet has second terminal leads which extend in perpendicular relation to the first terminal leads. The upper surface is covered with a flexible, insulating, protective sheet. The spacer includes lattice-like conductors and consists of a material having cells of gas and elasticity and flexibility such as silicone foam. A fixed voltage is alternately applied across both ends of the first sheet and across both ends of the second sheet. When the protective sheet is depressed at a point P as by a depression pen, the position of the point is measured and represented by means of X- and Y-coordinates.

Claims

1. An input device for developing signals corresponding to the position of the application of pressure thereon, including first and second electrically insulating sheets each having respective resistance layers formed thereon to face one another, means for impressing a voltage across each of said resistance layers with the direction of the impressed voltage of one resistance layer being perpendicular to the direction of the voltage impressed across the other resistance layer, a compressible spacer of open-cell, electrically insulating material being held between said resistance layers, and means including a layer of electrically conductive material embedded within said spacer for mutually contacting said resistance layers upon application of pressure to one of said insulating sheets to deflect said one insulating sheet and associated resistance layer inwardly to compress said spacer and expose portions of the embedded conductive material to said resistance layers.

2. An input device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said conductive layer consists of lattice-like conductors.

3. An input device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said lattice-like conductors are formed by braiding thin metal wires into a lattice-like configuration.

4. An input device as set forth in claim 3, wherein said thin metal wires are plated with a noble metal having a good conductivity.

5. An input device as set forth in claim 3, wherein said thin metal wires are coated with a carbon paint of low resistance.

6. An input device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said conductive layer is made of one thin film conductor.

7. An input device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said conductive layer is a combination of a number of conductive strip members.

8. An input device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the open-cell material of the compressible spacer is made of silicone foam.

9. An input device as set forth in claim 1, including terminal leads for the first and second resistance layers and means for impressing a voltage across said first terminal leads alternately with impressing a voltage across said second terminal leads.

10. An input device according to claim 1, said conductive material being a mesh of interwoven conductors.

11. An input device according to claim 1, said conductive material being in the form of a sheet.

12. An input device according to claim 1, said voltage impressing means applying voltage to one resistance layer alternately with the application of voltage to the other resistance layer.