Pressure sensing device and transducer arrangement

Claim 2

A pressure sensing probe for producing a continuous pressure dependent signal as the probe is moved into contact with a surface, said probe comprising, an elongated flexible pressure sensing element having a surface engaging tip at one end thereof, a substantially rigid support means for carrying said pressure sensing element, first and second flexible mounting means for attaching said pressure sensing element to said rigid support member at opposite ends thereof, means for rigidly attaching the first mounting means to both the pressure sensing element and support member, means for rigidly attaching one end of the second mounting means to said support member and pivotally attaching said second mounting means to said pressure sensing element, the relative stiffness of said mounting means being such that the majority of flexure occurs in the second of said mounting means whenever the distance between same decrease due to flexure of said flexible pressure sensing element when a transverse force is applied to same, signal producing means located on said second mounting means having the greater flexibility for producing an electrical signal proportional to the degree of deflection of said mounting means.

Claim 3

A pressure sensing probe assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said flexible pressure sensing element and said rigid support means are substantially parallel.

Claim 4

A pressure sensing probe assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said second mounting means is located adjacent the surface engaging tip of said pressure sensing element and the first mounting means is located at the opposite end of said pressure sensing element, and wherein said signal producing means is located on said second mounting means adjacent to the point at which said second mounting means is rigidly attached to said rigid support means.

Claim 5

A pressure sensing probe assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said elongated flexible pressure sensing element comprises a hollow flexible tube.

Claim 6

A pressure sensing probe assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said elongated flexible tube comprises a carrier for a writing pen and wherein said surface engaging tip comprises the writing stylus of said pen.

Claim 7

A pressure sensing probe assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein the elongated flexible tube comprises the ink carrier cartridge of a ball point pen assembly and the writing stylus comprises a ball point pen tip.

Claim 8

A writing instrument for producing a continuous pressure dependent signal as the instrument is moved across a writing surface, comprising, an elongated flexible stylus member having a writing tip at one end thereof, a substantially rigid support member for carrying said elongated flexible stylus member, first and second flexible mounting means for attaching said elongated flexible stylus member to said support member at opposite ends thereof, means for rigidly attaching the first mounting means to both the elongated flexible member and support member at the end opposite from said writing tip, means for rigidly attaching one end of the second mounting means to said support member, and means for pivotally attaching said mounting means to said elongated flexible member at the end adjacent to said writing tip, the relative stiffness of said mounting means being such that the majority of flexure occurs in said second mounting means whenever the distance between same decreases due to flexure of said elongated flexible stylus member when a transverse force is applied to said writing tip, and signal producing means located on said second mounting means for producing an electrical signal proportional to the deflection of said second mounting means.

Claim 9

A writing instrument for producing a continuous pressure dependent signal as the instrument is moved across a writing surface, comprising, an elongated flexible stylus member having a writing tip at one end thereof, a substantially rigid support member for carrying said elongated flexible stylus member, first and second flexible mounting means for attaching said elongated flexible stylus member to said support member at opposite ends thereof, means for rigidly attaching the first mounting means to both the elongated flexible member and support member at the end opposite from said writing tip, means for rigidly attaching one end of the second mounting means to said support member, and means for pivotally attaching said mounting means to said elongated flexible member at the end adjacent to said writing tip, the relative stiffness of said mounting means being such that the majority of flexure occurs in said second mounting means whenever the distance between same decreases due to flexure of said elongated flexible stylus member when a transverse force is applied to said writing tip, and signal producing means located on said second mounting means for producing an electrical signal proportional to the deflection of said second mounting means.

Claim 10

A writing instrument as set forth in claim 7 including two orthogonally disposed accelerometers mounted on said support means for sensing accelerations of said writing instrument.

Claim 11

A writing instrument as set forth in claim 7 wherein said signal producing means located on said second mounting means comprises a strain gauge mounted thereon adjacent to the end of said mounting means rigidly fastened to said support means.