§
Luxuse
Patent Intelligence
Sign In
Patent US3596177A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US3596177A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Energy field probe of consistent attitude capable of moving with three degrees of freedom

Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
•
Filing: 1969-05-08
•
Granted: 1971-07-27
•
Expires: 1989-05-08
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract The accuracy of data obtained by coordinate determining systems associated with graphical displays is increased by an energy field probe of consistent attitude. An energy transducing device is arranged in a protruding truncated cone portion of a carrier mounted in an elongated barrel for movement in two degrees of freedom. The transducing device in the carrier then assumes a predetermined attitude with respect to the display coordinate determining system with little regard to the angle of attack of the barrel of the probe. The contact surface of the probe is slightly concave for insuring positive positioning on curved display surfaces such as the face of a cathode-ray tube. A laterally flexible switch rod member has a head of generally rectangular configuration mating in a recess in the carrier of complementary configuration restraining the carrier from rotating about the longitudinal axis of the barrel for preventing the fouling and breaking of electric conductors and centering the carrier in the barrel when the probe is idle. The switch rod operates a momentary push-pull electric switch which permits the carrier to move in a third degree of freedom and provide an indication that the probe is operative. The probe is applicable to both the sensing and the injecting of audio and radiofrequency electromagnetic and acoustic energy in correspondingly based coordinate determining systems. It is also applicable to a probe having an electrode for sensing the strength of an electrostatic field and to probes having one or more luminous energy sensors such as used in CRT display and optical projection systems. A pistol-griplike body depending from the barrel serves as a duct for electric leads to the associated apparatus and also carries electric amplifying circuit components and the like. Luminous energy pattern sensing probes have the photoresponsive devices arranged with respect to this depending body so that the probe is automatically oriented for the pattern within permissible tolerances. Combinations of luminous energy and electromagnetic energy and electrostatic energy transducers are suggested.

Inventors

  • 👤 Emanuel Victor Butera

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-02 01:47
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/03; G06F3/041

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 330 words
An energy field probe for sensing energy at a point on a surface element with respect to which a field of energy is directed, comprising an elongated barrel and a transducer carrier movably mounted within and having a portion protruding from one end of said barrel at least one energy transducer device fixed in said transducer carrier to move therewith and having at least one electric conductor running emerging from said transducer carrier and within said barrel, said barrel and said transducer carrier having complementary configurations retaining said transducer carrier in said one end of said barrel and permitting said transducer carrier to move with two degrees of freedom within said barrel, an electric circuit device fixed in place within said barrel at a location removed from said transducer carrier and having at least two electric leads and an actuating element movable in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of said barrel, an elongated laterally flexible member arranged within said barrel and coupled between said transducer carrier said electric device. said flexible member being of such length that said transducer carrier is urged in place toward said one end of said barrel, one end of said flexible member being fixed to said actuating element of said electric device for shifting the same longitudinally without rotation, said transducer carrier having a recess of substantially rectangular configuration facing the other end of said flexible member and said flexible member having a head at said other end of substantially rectangular and complementary splined configuration loosely mating with said recess for restraining said transducer carrier from rotational movement about the longitudinal axis of said barrel, 110 thereby avoiding fouling of said electric conductor and permitting said transducer Carrier when pressed against said surface element to move in a third degree of freedom for actuting said electric circuit device and for effecting the predetermined attitude of said transducing device in the use of the probe with respect to said field energy directed surface element.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 330 words
An energy field probe for sensing energy at a point on a surface element with respect to which a field of energy is directed, comprising an elongated barrel and a transducer carrier movably mounted within and having a portion protruding from one end of said barrel at least one energy transducer device fixed in said transducer carrier to move therewith and having at least one electric conductor running emerging from said transducer carrier and within said barrel, said barrel and said transducer carrier having complementary configurations retaining said transducer carrier in said one end of said barrel and permitting said transducer carrier to move with two degrees of freedom within said barrel, an electric circuit device fixed in place within said barrel at a location removed from said transducer carrier and having at least two electric leads and an actuating element movable in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of said barrel, an elongated laterally flexible member arranged within said barrel and coupled between said transducer carrier said electric device. said flexible member being of such length that said transducer carrier is urged in place toward said one end of said barrel, one end of said flexible member being fixed to said actuating element of said electric device for shifting the same longitudinally without rotation, said transducer carrier having a recess of substantially rectangular configuration facing the other end of said flexible member and said flexible member having a head at said other end of substantially rectangular and complementary splined configuration loosely mating with said recess for restraining said transducer carrier from rotational movement about the longitudinal axis of said barrel, 110 thereby avoiding fouling of said electric conductor and permitting said transducer Carrier when pressed against said surface element to move in a third degree of freedom for actuting said electric circuit device and for effecting the predetermined attitude of said transducing device in the use of the probe with respect to said field energy directed surface element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 18 words
An energy field probe as defined in claim 1 and wherein said electric circuit device is a switch.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 20 words
An energy field probe as defined in claim 1 and wherein said transducing device is a radiant electromagnetic energy transducer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 20 words
An energy field probe as defined in claim 1 and wherein said transducing device is an acoustical wave energy transducer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 19 words
An energy field probe as defined in claim 1 and wherein said transducing device is an electrostatic energy electrode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 18 words
An energy field probe as defined in claim 1 and wherein said transducing device is luminous energy sensor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 49 words
An energy field probe as defined in claim 1 and wherein a griplike body is attached to and depends from said barrel at location intermediate the ends of the barrel and electric circuit components mounted on at least one circuit board are arranged in said barrel and griplike body.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 50 words
An energy field probe as defined in claim 7 and wherein a plurality of luminous energy sensors are arranged in a predetermined pattern with respect to said one electric transducing device, and said pattern is oriented with respect to said griplike body for alignment in the operation of the probe.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

No citation records indexed.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1974-07-26 1975-01-25 1975-07-27 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1978-07-26 1979-01-25 1979-07-27 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1982-07-26 1983-01-25 1983-07-27 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag