Patent US4497982A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4497982A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Input unit
Assignee: ITT Inc
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Filing: 1979-10-17
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Granted: 1985-02-05
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Expires: 1999-10-17
Abstract
Abstract Input unit for electronic equipment, consisting of a body of insulating material with finger guides in which sensor contacts and pushbutton switches are arranged. By moving the finger along the guides characters can be written and the sensor contacts produce corresponding electrical signals. By operating a corresponding pushbutton it is indicated that the writing-in operation is completed.
Inventors
- 👤 Dieter Michalski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 09:53
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K17/00; H03K17/94; H03K17/96; H01; H01H; H01H13/00; H01H13/70; H01H2217/00; H01H2217/032; H01H2217/04; H03K2017/9602; H03K2017/9604; H03K2017/9613; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S200/00; Y10S200/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
An input unit for translating human hand movements into electrical signals indicative of alpha-numeric symbols comprising, in combination: a generally flat block of insulating material; a plurality of guide grooves in the upper surface of said block said grooves being arranged in a pattern indicative of the segments of an alpha-numeric character; a plurality of contact elements respectively provided in each of said grooves and being responsive to physical contact stimulus provided by the human hand; and means for coupling each of said contact elements to an external electrical circuit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
90 words
An input unit for translating human hand movements into electrical signals indicative of alpha-numeric symbols comprising, in combination: a generally flat block of insulating material; a plurality of guide grooves in the upper surface of said block said grooves being arranged in a pattern indicative of the segments of an alpha-numeric character; a plurality of contact elements respectively provided in each of said grooves and being responsive to physical contact stimulus provided by the human hand; and means for coupling each of said contact elements to an external electrical circuit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
The input unit according to claim 1, further including at least one push button switch mounted in a given groove and being responsive to physical contact stimulus and being coupled to an external electrical circuit to indicate a predetermined point in the hand movement sequence corresponding to the alpha-numeric character.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The input unit according to claim 2, further including a plurality of lamp devices respectively provided in each of said grooves and being coupled to the corresponding contact element so that said lamp device is activated by said corresponding element in response to human hand stimulation.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-02-05 | 1988-08-06 | 1989-02-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-02-05 | 1992-08-06 | 1993-02-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-02-05 | 1996-08-06 | 1997-02-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |