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US3916099A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Touch sensitive position encoder using a layered sheet

Assignee: National Research Council Canada
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Filing: 1974-06-21
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Granted: 1975-10-28
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Expires: 1994-06-21
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Abstract

Abstract A touch-sensitive position encoder which provides the position co-ordinates of the location at which a human finger or passive stylus makes contact with the surface of a transparent sheet or plate comprising an extensive transparent sheet, a first transducer positioned at a first position on an edge of said sheet, a second transducer positioned at a second position on an edge of said sheet, a pulsed source of energy connected to said transducers for generating surface waves on said sheet, receiver and timing means connected to said transducers for detecting and timing reflected energy pulses such that the position of the finger of stylus placed on the sheet and causing reflections will be determined in geometric co-ordinate terms, the said extensive transparent sheet being formed of a sheet of material capable of propagating elastic surface waves over its surface and a second sheet or layer bonded to or acoustically coupled to the surface of the first sheet away from that on which the elastic surface waves are to be propagated, said second sheet or layer being of a material capable of absorbing ''''bulk'''' waves entering therein. In the preferred embodiment, the extensive transparent sheet is formed of two sheets of glass with a plastic layer sandwiched between them.

Inventors

  • 👤 Alvin M Hlady

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 18:26
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/03; G06F3/041; G06F3/043; G06F3/0436

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 164 words
A touch-sensitive position encoder for computer input comprising: a. an extensive sheet having a surface 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 determined, f. said extensive sheet having a layered construction formed of a sheet of glass capable of propagating elastic surface waves and a sheet or layer of plastic material capable of absorbing bulk acoustic waves bonded or attached thereto.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 164 words
A touch-sensitive position encoder for computer input comprising: a. an extensive sheet having a surface 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 determined, f. said extensive sheet having a layered construction formed of a sheet of glass capable of propagating elastic surface waves and a sheet or layer of plastic material capable of absorbing bulk acoustic waves bonded or attached thereto.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 154 words
A touch-sensitive position encoder for computer input comprising: a. an extensive sheet having a surface 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 determined, f. said extensive sheet having a layered construction formed of two sheets of glass separated by a sheet or layer of material capable of absorbing bulk acoustic waves.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 154 words
A touch-sensitive position encoder for computer input comprising: a. an extensive sheet having a surface 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 determined, f. said extensive sheet having a layered construction formed of two sheets of glass separated by a sheet or layer of material capable of absorbing bulk acoustic waves.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 129 words
A tablet for a touch-sensitive position encoder of the type having an extensive sheet having a surface suitable for the propagation of elastic surface waves, transducers positioned at edges of the sheet and connected to pulsing, receiving and timing circuitry for generating and sensing surface waves on the sheet such that the position of a human finger or other passive stylus placed on the sheet and causing reflections will be determined comprising a layered sheet formed of a first sheet of material capable of propagating elastic surface waves, a second sheet or layer of material capable of absorbing bulk acoustic waves bonded or acoustically coupled thereto, and a third sheet of solid material bonded or affixed to the sheet or layer of material capable of absorbing bulk acoustic waves.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 129 words
A tablet for a touch-sensitive position encoder of the type having an extensive sheet having a surface suitable for the propagation of elastic surface waves, transducers positioned at edges of the sheet and connected to pulsing, receiving and timing circuitry for generating and sensing surface waves on the sheet such that the position of a human finger or other passive stylus placed on the sheet and causing reflections will be determined comprising a layered sheet formed of a first sheet of material capable of propagating elastic surface waves, a second sheet or layer of material capable of absorbing bulk acoustic waves bonded or acoustically coupled thereto, and a third sheet of solid material bonded or affixed to the sheet or layer of material capable of absorbing bulk acoustic waves.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 34 words
A tablet for a touch-sensitive position encoder as in claim 3 wherein the layered sheet has a sandwich construction formed of two sheets of glass with a layer or sheet of plastic material therebetween.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 108 words
A tablet for a touch-sensitive position encoder of the type having an extensive sheet having a surface suitable for the propagation of elastic surface waves, transducers positioned at edges of the sheet and connected to pulsing, receiving and timing circuitry for generating and sensing surface waves on the sheet such that the position of a human finger or other passive stylus placed on the sheet and causing reflections will be determined comprising a layered sheet formed of a first sheet of glass capable of propagating elastic surfaces waves, and a second sheet or layer of plastic material capable of absorbing bulk acoustic waves bonded or acoustically coupled thereto.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 108 words
A tablet for a touch-sensitive position encoder of the type having an extensive sheet having a surface suitable for the propagation of elastic surface waves, transducers positioned at edges of the sheet and connected to pulsing, receiving and timing circuitry for generating and sensing surface waves on the sheet such that the position of a human finger or other passive stylus placed on the sheet and causing reflections will be determined comprising a layered sheet formed of a first sheet of glass capable of propagating elastic surfaces waves, and a second sheet or layer of plastic material capable of absorbing bulk acoustic waves bonded or acoustically coupled thereto.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3653031A Cited
US3673327A Cited
US3808364A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1978-10-27 1979-04-28 1979-10-28 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1982-10-27 1983-04-28 1983-10-28 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1986-10-27 1987-04-28 1987-10-28 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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