US3653031A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Touch-sensitive position encoder
Assignee: Canadian Patents and Development Ltd
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Filing: 1970-05-25
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Granted: 1972-03-28
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Expires: 1990-05-25
Abstract
Abstract A touch-sensitive position encoder for computer input in which transducers for the propagation and reception of elastic surface waves are positioned at the edges of a sheet of transparent material preferably glass. A finger or stylus placed at a position on the sheet will reflect the surface waves. Detecting and timing circuitry connected to the transducers determine the position of the finger or stylus in geometrical co-ordinate terms.
Inventors
- 👤 Alvin M Hlady
- 👤 William C Brown
- 👤 John W Brahan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 04:37
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/03; G06F3/041; G06F3/043; G06F3/0436; G01; G01S; G01S1/00; G01S1/02; G01S15/00; G01S15/02; G01S15/06; G09; G09B; G09B19/00; G09B19/0061; G09B7/00; G09B7/02; G09B7/04; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S367/00; Y10S367/907
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
A touch-sensitive position encoder for computer input comprising: a. a sheet of a medium suitable for the propagation of elastic surface waves, b. a first transducer positioned at a first position at an edge of said sheet, c. a second transducer positioned at a second position at an edge of said sheet, said transducers being such as to act as radiators and sensors of elastic surface waves on said sheet, d. a pulsed source of energy connected to said transducers for generating surface waves on the sheet, and e. receiver and timing means connected to the transducers for detecting and timing reflected energy pulses such that the position of a human finger or other passive stylus placed on the sheet and causing reflections will be determined.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
A touch-sensitive position encoder for computer input comprising: a. a sheet of a medium suitable for the propagation of elastic surface waves, b. a first transducer positioned at a first position at an edge of said sheet, c. a second transducer positioned at a second position at an edge of said sheet, said transducers being such as to act as radiators and sensors of elastic surface waves on said sheet, d. a pulsed source of energy connected to said transducers for generating surface waves on the sheet, and e. receiver and timing means connected to the transducers for detecting and timing reflected energy pulses such that the position of a human finger or other passive stylus placed on the sheet and causing reflections will be determined.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
A touch-sensitive position encoder as in claim 1 wherein the medium is transparent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A touch-sensitive position encoder as in claim 1 wherein the medium is a glass sheet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
135 words
A touch-sensitive position encoder for computer input comprising: a. a transparent sheet of a medium suitable for the propagation of elastic surface waves, b. a first linear transducer array positioned along one edge of said sheet, c. a second linear transducer array positioned along a second edge of said sheet at a predetermined angle to the first, said arrays being such as to act as radiators and sensors of elastic surface waves on said sheet, d. a pulsed source of energy connected to said arrays for generating surface waves on said sheet, and e. receiver and timing means connected to said arrays for detecting and timing reflected energy pulses such that the position of a human finger or other passive stylus placed on the sheet and causing reflections will be determined in geometric co-ordinate terms.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
135 words
A touch-sensitive position encoder for computer input comprising: a. a transparent sheet of a medium suitable for the propagation of elastic surface waves, b. a first linear transducer array positioned along one edge of said sheet, c. a second linear transducer array positioned along a second edge of said sheet at a predetermined angle to the first, said arrays being such as to act as radiators and sensors of elastic surface waves on said sheet, d. a pulsed source of energy connected to said arrays for generating surface waves on said sheet, and e. receiver and timing means connected to said arrays for detecting and timing reflected energy pulses such that the position of a human finger or other passive stylus placed on the sheet and causing reflections will be determined in geometric co-ordinate terms.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
A touch-sensitive position encoder as in claim 4 wherein the first and second transducer arrays are positioned orthogonally and the position of the finger or stylus will be determined in x-y co-ordinate terms.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
A touch-sensitive x-y position encoder as in claim 4 wherein the medium is glass.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
A touch-sensitive position encoder as in claim 4 or claim 5 wherein third and fourth transducer arrays are positioned along the third and fourth edges of the transparent sheet and are connected to the pulsed source of energy and the receiver and timing means such that they operate in interleaved fashion with the said first and second arrays.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
A touch-sensitive position encoder as in claim 1 or claim 4 wherein the pulsed source of energy and the receiver and timing means are connected to the said arrays in a timed, sequential fashion such that said receiver is isolated from the arrays during passage of the driver pulse from the pulsed source of energy.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
59 words
A touch-sensitive x-y position encoder as in claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the pulsed source of energy and the receiver and timing means are connected to elements or sub-groups of said arrays in a timed, sequential fashion such that said receiver is isolated from said elements during passage of the driver pulse from the pulsed source of energy.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-03-28 | 1975-09-27 | 1976-03-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-03-28 | 1979-09-27 | 1980-03-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-03-28 | 1983-09-27 | 1984-03-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |