US3673327A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Touch actuable data input panel assembly
Assignee: United States Atomic Energy Commission
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Filing: 1970-11-02
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Granted: 1972-06-27
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Expires: 1990-11-02
Abstract
Abstract A panel positioned over the face of a cathode-ray tube with transmitters mounted along two adjacent edges of the panel to generate beams, either Rayleigh wave beams or light beams, that propagate through the panel to detectors mounted along opposite panel edges. The beams are directed to intersect in an X-Y matrix pattern. Interruption of intersecting beams by touching the panel at the intersection with a beam interrupting object, such as with a finger, develops discrete output signals at the two detectors that define the intersection. The output signals may be applied to a computer which may also be used to control the CRT to display various successive control panel patterns which have correspondence with the beam matrix intersections and are congruent with the intersections.
Inventors
- 👤 Ralph G Johnson
- 👤 David Fryberger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:04
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/03; G06F3/041; G06F3/043; G06F3/042; G06F3/0421; H; H03; H03K; H03K17/00; H03K17/94; H03K17/96; H03K17/9627; H03K17/9629; H03K17/9638; G06F2203/00; G06F2203/041; G06F2203/04109; H03K2217/00; H03K2217/94; H03K2217/96; H03K2217/96003; H03K2217/96011
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
296 words
A touch actuable data input panel assembly for controlling a machine to function in accordance with the area of the panel that is touched, comprising: a panel; means for displaying a machine control pattern on said panel, said pattern comprising a plurality of discrete areas each corresponding to a machine function; a first plurality of Rayleigh wave beam generating means positioned along a first edge of said panel for simultaneously generating a first plurality of Rayleigh wave beams for propagation through said panel along paths that correspond to and traverse the discrete areas of said pattern; a first plurality of Rayleigh wave beam detectors positioned along an edge of said panel opposite said first edge, each detector corresponding to one of said first Plurality of beam generating means and each being positioned to receive a corresponding one of said beams, each of said beams being interruptable upon the pressing of a beam interrupting object against the panel in one of said discrete areas along the path of each beam to thereby effect an output signal at the corresponding detector; said panel being solid and each of said plurality of beam generating means and beam detectors including a piezoelectric crystal, and a Lucite wedge having a first planar surface in contact with said crystal, said wedge having a second planar surface that is at an acute angle with said first surface, said second surface being acoustically coupled to said panel; means for electrically driving each of said plurality of beam generating means; and means coupled to each of said beam detectors for generating an output signal in the absence of a beam to a detector for controlling the machine to function in accordance with the function represented by the discrete area of the panel that is touched.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
296 words
A touch actuable data input panel assembly for controlling a machine to function in accordance with the area of the panel that is touched, comprising: a panel; means for displaying a machine control pattern on said panel, said pattern comprising a plurality of discrete areas each corresponding to a machine function; a first plurality of Rayleigh wave beam generating means positioned along a first edge of said panel for simultaneously generating a first plurality of Rayleigh wave beams for propagation through said panel along paths that correspond to and traverse the discrete areas of said pattern; a first plurality of Rayleigh wave beam detectors positioned along an edge of said panel opposite said first edge, each detector corresponding to one of said first Plurality of beam generating means and each being positioned to receive a corresponding one of said beams, each of said beams being interruptable upon the pressing of a beam interrupting object against the panel in one of said discrete areas along the path of each beam to thereby effect an output signal at the corresponding detector; said panel being solid and each of said plurality of beam generating means and beam detectors including a piezoelectric crystal, and a Lucite wedge having a first planar surface in contact with said crystal, said wedge having a second planar surface that is at an acute angle with said first surface, said second surface being acoustically coupled to said panel; means for electrically driving each of said plurality of beam generating means; and means coupled to each of said beam detectors for generating an output signal in the absence of a beam to a detector for controlling the machine to function in accordance with the function represented by the discrete area of the panel that is touched.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
142 words
The panel assembly of claim 1, further including a second plurality of Rayleigh beam generating means positioned along a third edge of said panel for simultaneously generating a second plurality of Rayleigh wave beams for propagation through said panel along paths that are at right angles to said first plurality of beams and that correspond to said pattern; and a second plurality of Rayleigh wave beam detectors each corresponding to one of said second plurality of beam generating means and each positioned along an edge of said panel opposite said third edge, each of said second detectors being positioned to receive a corresponding one of said second beams, each of said second beams being interruptable upon the pressing of a finger against the panel along the path of each second beam to thereby effect an output signal at the corresponding second detector.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The panel assembly of claim 1, wherein said displaying means includes means for displaying successive different patterns on said panel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The panel assembly of claim 3, wherein said displaying means includes a cathode-ray tube for projecting a pattern on said panel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The panel assembly of claim 4, further including a computer for controlling the pattern to be displayed by said cathode-ray tube, said computer being coupled to said panel assembly and responsive to actuation thereof for functioning in accordance with the actuation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
231 words
A touch actuable data input panel assembly, comprising: a transparent panel of the internal light reflecting type; means for displaying a pattern on said panel; a first plurality of beam generating means positioned along a first edge of said panel for simultaneously generating a first plurality of parallel ray beams for propagation through said panel along paths that correspond to said pattern, each of said beam generating means including a light source, a lens for focusing light from said source into a parallel ray beam and a coupling prism for coupling said parallel ray beam into said panel at an acute angle; and a first plurality of beam detectors positioned along an edge of said panel opposite said first edge, each detector corresponding to one of said first plurality of beam generating means and each being positioned to receive a corresponding one of said beams, each of said beams being interruptable upon the pressing of a beam interrupting object against the panel along the path of each beam to thereby effect an output signal at the corresponding detector, each of said beam detectors including a decoupling prism for bringing said beam of light rays out of said panel at an acute angle, a lens for focusing said beam from said decoupling prism to a point, and a light detector at said point that is normally energized by said light ray beam.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
231 words
A touch actuable data input panel assembly, comprising: a transparent panel of the internal light reflecting type; means for displaying a pattern on said panel; a first plurality of beam generating means positioned along a first edge of said panel for simultaneously generating a first plurality of parallel ray beams for propagation through said panel along paths that correspond to said pattern, each of said beam generating means including a light source, a lens for focusing light from said source into a parallel ray beam and a coupling prism for coupling said parallel ray beam into said panel at an acute angle; and a first plurality of beam detectors positioned along an edge of said panel opposite said first edge, each detector corresponding to one of said first plurality of beam generating means and each being positioned to receive a corresponding one of said beams, each of said beams being interruptable upon the pressing of a beam interrupting object against the panel along the path of each beam to thereby effect an output signal at the corresponding detector, each of said beam detectors including a decoupling prism for bringing said beam of light rays out of said panel at an acute angle, a lens for focusing said beam from said decoupling prism to a point, and a light detector at said point that is normally energized by said light ray beam.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The panel assembly of claim 6, wherein said displaying means includes means for displaying successive different patterns on said panel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The panel assembly oF claim 7, wherein said displaying means includes a cathode-ray tube for projecting a pattern on said panel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
208 words
A touch actuable data input panel assembly, comprising: a compressible panel including a stiff transparent sheet, a layer of partially hardened transparent silicone rubber over one side of said sheet, and a layer of fully hardened transparent silicone rubber over said partially hardened layer; means for displaying a pattern on said panel; a first plurality of beam generating means positioned along a first edge of said panel for simultaneously generating a first plurality of beams for propagation through said panel along paths that correspond to said pattern, each of said plurality of beam generating means being a collimated light source for transmitting a collimated light beam directly through said panel; and a first plurality of beam detectors positioned along an edge of said panel opposite said first edge, each detector corresponding to one of said first plurality of beam generating means and each being positioned to receive a corresponding one of said beams, each of said beams being interruptable upon compression of said panel by the pressing of a beam interrupting object against the panel along the path of each beam to thereby effect an output signal at the corresponding detector, each of said detecting means being a light detector that is normally energized by a collimated beam.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
208 words
A touch actuable data input panel assembly, comprising: a compressible panel including a stiff transparent sheet, a layer of partially hardened transparent silicone rubber over one side of said sheet, and a layer of fully hardened transparent silicone rubber over said partially hardened layer; means for displaying a pattern on said panel; a first plurality of beam generating means positioned along a first edge of said panel for simultaneously generating a first plurality of beams for propagation through said panel along paths that correspond to said pattern, each of said plurality of beam generating means being a collimated light source for transmitting a collimated light beam directly through said panel; and a first plurality of beam detectors positioned along an edge of said panel opposite said first edge, each detector corresponding to one of said first plurality of beam generating means and each being positioned to receive a corresponding one of said beams, each of said beams being interruptable upon compression of said panel by the pressing of a beam interrupting object against the panel along the path of each beam to thereby effect an output signal at the corresponding detector, each of said detecting means being a light detector that is normally energized by a collimated beam.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The panel assembly of claim 9, wherein said displaying means includes a cathode-ray tube for projecting a pattern on said panel.
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) | 1975-06-27 | 1975-12-27 | 1976-06-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-06-27 | 1979-12-27 | 1980-06-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-06-27 | 1983-12-27 | 1984-06-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |