Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
362 words
An input/output device in the form of a page having one or more optical fibers therein, said device being selectively codeable by an individual using the device, the one or more optical fibers being capable of being switched, after manufacture, by said individual from one informational state to another, each of said fibers having a normal light-transmissive state and a non-light-transmissive state in which the selection of the informational state of an optical fiber is selectively codeable in real time from a position readily accessible by the individual at a designated location on a surface of the page, the device comprising: a thin, planar sheet having opposed surfaces, a plurality of edges, and one or more designations on one of said surfaces at one or more predetermined locations; at least one optical fiber embedded in said thin sheet, said fiber being divided into two sections to provide two ends embedded in the sheet, said embedded ends having faces orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of said fiber, the embedded ends being spaced apart by an amount which permits light transmission therebetween such that light in one section of the fiber is transmitted to the other section of the fiber across an interface established by said embedded ends for establishing the normal light-transmissive state of said fiber; the designation-containing surface of said sheet having at least one aperture therethrough associated with a respective designation, said aperture extending through said designation-containing surface to the space defined by the corresponding spaced-apart ends, said embedded ends being disposed within said aperture; each section of said fiber extending within the plane of said thin sheet to an edge thereof; and means insertable from said apertured surface through said aperture into the space defined by the spaced-apart embedded ends for selectively changing the normal light-transmissive state of said fiber to the non-light-transmissive state by occluding the space between said embedded ends, such that the state of said optical fiber embedded in said thin planar sheet is readily changeable from one state to the other from the designation-containing surface of said device after the manufacture thereof, thereby to permit real-time coding of said device by the individual using said device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
362 words
An input/output device in the form of a page having one or more optical fibers therein, said device being selectively codeable by an individual using the device, the one or more optical fibers being capable of being switched, after manufacture, by said individual from one informational state to another, each of said fibers having a normal light-transmissive state and a non-light-transmissive state in which the selection of the informational state of an optical fiber is selectively codeable in real time from a position readily accessible by the individual at a designated location on a surface of the page, the device comprising: a thin, planar sheet having opposed surfaces, a plurality of edges, and one or more designations on one of said surfaces at one or more predetermined locations; at least one optical fiber embedded in said thin sheet, said fiber being divided into two sections to provide two ends embedded in the sheet, said embedded ends having faces orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of said fiber, the embedded ends being spaced apart by an amount which permits light transmission therebetween such that light in one section of the fiber is transmitted to the other section of the fiber across an interface established by said embedded ends for establishing the normal light-transmissive state of said fiber; the designation-containing surface of said sheet having at least one aperture therethrough associated with a respective designation, said aperture extending through said designation-containing surface to the space defined by the corresponding spaced-apart ends, said embedded ends being disposed within said aperture; each section of said fiber extending within the plane of said thin sheet to an edge thereof; and means insertable from said apertured surface through said aperture into the space defined by the spaced-apart embedded ends for selectively changing the normal light-transmissive state of said fiber to the non-light-transmissive state by occluding the space between said embedded ends, such that the state of said optical fiber embedded in said thin planar sheet is readily changeable from one state to the other from the designation-containing surface of said device after the manufacture thereof, thereby to permit real-time coding of said device by the individual using said device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The input/output device of claim 1, wherein said page includes at least two sheets laminated together with said optical fiber embedded therebetween, one of said sheets forming said designation-containing surface and having said aperture therethrough.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The input/output device of claim 1 wherein said sheet contains a plurality of said optical fibers embedded therein; the designation-containing surface of said sheet having a plurality of apertures therethrough, the spaced-apart embedded ends of each of said optical fibers being disposed within a respective aperture.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The input/output device of claim 1 wherein said means insertable from said apertured surface includes means for selectively depositing occlusive material in said aperture.