Device for encoding and inputting to computer alphabetic and topologically represented graphic data that describes, in particular, structural formulae of chemical compounds

Claim 1

A device for encoding and inputting to a computer via a computer communication line alphabetic and topologically represented graphic data that describes, in particular, structural formulae of chemical compounds, said device comprising: an encoding tablet incorporating coordinate buses made in the form of linearly extended induction coils, arranged as a rectangular grid for establishing a flux of electromagnetic energy so as to generate the coordinates of input data; a coordinate counter having outputs, a counting input and a reset input; two coordinate decoders each having data inputs and an output; said outputs of said coordinate counter, coupled to a computer communcation line and to said data inputs of said coordinate decoders; said outputs of said coordinate decoders, coupled to said coordinate buses of said encoding tablet; a coordinate pickup having a housing for converting said flux of electromagnetic energy from said coordinate buses of said encoding tablet into electrical signals; an amplifier disposed within said housing of said coordinate pickup and having an input and an output; said coordinate pickup coupled to said input of said amplifier; a pressure sensor disposed in said housing of said coordinate pickup, said pressure sensor having an output; a pulse generator having a trigger input, a blocking input and an output; said trigger input of said pulse generator, coupled to said output of said pressure sensor; a changeable encoding form divided into two zones as follows: a zone in which the topological patterns of graphic input data, of the type including topological patterns of structural formulae of chemical compounds, are encoded, and another zone in which randomly selected data, of the type including names of atoms, structural fragments and various types of interatomic chemical bonds, is encoded; said changeable encoding form having a coordinate grid formed with a preselected spacing interval selected such that there is a sufficient area to accommodate at the adjacent nodal points of said coordinate grid the representations of the elements of graphic input data, which may be the adjacent tie points of structural formulae; a pulse distributor having an input and a plurality of outputs, said input of said pulse distributor being coupled to said output of said pulse generator to produce successive pulses at three of said plurality of outputs of said pulse distributor, said pulses being time-shifted with respect to one another by a time interval equal to the oscillation period of said pulse generator; first and second outputs of said three outputs of said pulse distributor, coupled to said inputs of said coordinate decoders which operate to strobe in a given succession the signals from said two outputs of said outputs of said pulse distributor and to excite in a pulsed manner respectively coordinate buses of said coordinate buses of said encoding tablet; the third output of said three outputs of said pulse distributor, coupled to said counting input of said coordinate counter; said reset input of said coordinate counter, coupled to said output of said pressure sensor; a code-pulse decoder for selecting a pair of pulses from a train of input signals, which follow each other with a delay equal to the oscillation period of said pulse generator, and to form a control signal; an input and an output of said code-pulse decoder, said input being coupled to said output of said amplifier, and said output being coupled to a blocking input of said pulse generator and to said computer communication line; a beginning-of-line symbol generator disposed within said housing of said coordinate pickup for generating interrelation symbols concerned with the elements of graphic input data, one of said symbols representing a relationship between the tie points of structural formulae of chemical compounds; a data output and a reset input of said beginning-of-line symbol generator, said data output and said reset input being coupled to said computer communication line; a changeable writing member arranged as part of said pressure sensor and of said beginning-of-line symbol generator and disposed within said housing of said coordinate pickup; said amplifier, said changeable writing member, said beginning-of-line symbol generator which registers the displacement of said changeable writing member along its longitudinal axis, and said pressure sensor form altogether an electronic writing means which exercises control over the operation of the entire device so that the encoding and inputting to a computer of graphic data is performed concurrently with the representation of this data on said changeable encoding tablet.

Claim 2

A device for encoding and inputting to a computer via a computer communication line alphabetic and topologically represented graphic data that describes, in particular, structural formulae of chemical compounds, said device comprising: an encoding tablet incorporating coordinate buses made in the form of linearly extended induction coils, arranged as a rectangular grid for establishing a flux of electromagnetic energy so as to generate the coordinates of input data; a coordinate counter having outputs, a counting input and a reset input; two coordinate decoders each having data inputs and an output; said outputs of said coordinate counter, coupled to a computer communcation line and to said data inputs of said coordinate decoders; said outputs of said coordinate decoders, coupled to said coordinate buses of said encoding tablet; a coordinate pickup having a housing for converting said flux of electromagnetic energy from said coordinate buses of said encoding tablet into electrical signals; an amplifier disposed within said housing of said coordinate pickup and having an input and an output; said coordinate pickup coupled to said input of said amplifier; a pressure sensor disposed in said housing of said coordinate pickup, said pressure sensor having an output; a pulse generator having a trigger input, a blocking input and an output; said trigger input of said pulse generator, coupled to said output of said pressure sensor; a changeable encoding form divided into two zones as follows: a zone in which the topological patterns of graphic input data, of the type including topological patterns of structural formulae of chemical compounds, are encoded, and another zone in which randomly selected data, of the type including names of atoms, structural fragments and various types of interatomic chemical bonds, is encoded; said changeable encoding form having a coordinate grid formed with a preselected spacing interval selected such that there is a sufficient area to accommodate at the adjacent nodal points of said coordinate grid the representations of the elements of graphic input data, which may be the adjacent tie points of structural formulae; a pulse distributor having an input and a plurality of outputs, said input of said pulse distributor being coupled to said output of said pulse generator to produce successive pulses at three of said plurality of outputs of said pulse distributor, said pulses being time-shifted with respect to one another by a time interval equal to the oscillation period of said pulse generator; first and second outputs of said three outputs of said pulse distributor, coupled to said inputs of said coordinate decoders which operate to strobe in a given succession the signals from said two outputs of said outputs of said pulse distributor and to excite in a pulsed manner respectively coordinate buses of said coordinate buses of said encoding tablet; the third output of said three outputs of said pulse distributor, coupled to said counting input of said coordinate counter; said reset input of said coordinate counter, coupled to said output of said pressure sensor; a code-pulse decoder for selecting a pair of pulses from a train of input signals, which follow each other with a delay equal to the oscillation period of said pulse generator, and to form a control signal; an input and an output of said code-pulse decoder, said input being coupled to said output of said amplifier, and said output being coupled to a blocking input of said pulse generator and to said computer communication line; a beginning-of-line symbol generator disposed within said housing of said coordinate pickup for generating interrelation symbols concerned with the elements of graphic input data, one of said symbols representing a relationship between the tie points of structural formulae of chemical compounds; a data output and a reset input of said beginning-of-line symbol generator, said data output and said reset input being coupled to said computer communication line; a changeable writing member arranged as part of said pressure sensor and of said beginning-of-line symbol generator and disposed within said housing of said coordinate pickup; said amplifier, said changeable writing member, said beginning-of-line symbol generator which registers the displacement of said changeable writing member along its longitudinal axis, and said pressure sensor form altogether an electronic writing means which exercises control over the operation of the entire device so that the encoding and inputting to a computer of graphic data is performed concurrently with the representation of this data on said changeable encoding tablet.