Abstract: Several unique features of a key switch housing and plunger are disclosed which may be employed to provide a keyboard having improved noise and feel characteristics. A system of key plunger up-stops is used to reduce the noise produced by key return while preventing removal of the plunger from the chimney of the switch housing. The system comprises a pair of relatively weak and resilient up-stops which have a relatively small contact area which act to restrict upward movement of the keycap/plunger combination during normal operation and a pair of relatively strong and rigid up-stops which do not contact the switch housing during normal keyboard use, but which prevent the pull-out of the key switch plunger from the chimney of the key switch housing. An additional feature disclosed is a unique key switch housing and plunger design which minimizes key wobble while providing smooth key action.

Abstract: A touch screen apparatus with tactile feedback is disclosed. Tactile information, such as Braille or other symbolic representations, is integrally connected to an area on the touch screen surface. This tactile information can be molded into the touch screen surface as part of its initial manufacturing process, or can be added later by making the tactile information our of epoxy or or by placing a plastic film containing the tactile information over the touch screen surface. The touch screen display can be part of a desktop or laptop computer, can be part of a computer system in a public information kiosk or automated teller machine application, or can be included as an information panel in stereo equipment, transportation equipment, etc.

Abstract: A numeral setting apparatus for setting numerals such as copy magnification, copy density, or the like includes an operating member such as up/down keys or a volume lever and a setting device to set numerals corresponding to a magnitude of force which is applied to the operating member. When a larger force is applied to the operating member, the setting device changes the numerals in larger increments than those in the case where a smaller force is applied.

Abstract: A pointing device for use in moving a cursor displayed on a display, includes a pressure sensing sheet including first through fourth pressure detection elements and a base member mounted on the pressure sensing sheet. The base member is provided with first through fourth protrusions formed on its under surface opposite to the pressure sensing sheet in facing relation to the first through fourth pressure detection elements, respectively. The base member is provided with an operation shaft formed on an upper surface of the base member which projects upwardly therefrom. The device further comprises a cap member coupled to the operation shaft of the base member.

Abstract: A computer keyboard includes a plurality of pairs of side by side keys, each pair of which is on opposite sides of a vertical plane lying between such keys. The keys are mounted for pivotal movement about respective first and second axes. The first key is located at one side of the plane and its pivotal axis is on the opposite side of such plane. The second key is located on the same side of the plane as the first axis and has its pivotal axis on the same side of the plane as the first key. The spacing between the axes is such that the keys have maximum vertical travel and minimal lateral travel. The keys have faces that are inclined toward the plane to form an upwardly concave pocket between the keys for the accommodation of a user's finger. A switch is activated by the first key and another switch is activated by the second key.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for keypads, for conveying audible, visual or tactile information to a user regarding the identity, function, proper usage or potential utility of a given key or group of keys. The information being invoked by the user through superficial or proximal manipulation of the given key without having pressed or manipulated it in a way that would invoke its normal function. The primary concern of the system is as an informational adjunct to a more traditional keypad.

Abstract: A touch button switch includes a body (10) having a conductive actuator (28) slidable from one end against a surface (62) to actuate a switch (61) on a board (52) which is held in place by hook latches (53) engaging mortises (55) in the circuit board. The surface (62) may provide conduction from the touch pad to electronic motionless switch circuitry (66) so that the touch button is usable either as a tactile switch touch button, as a motionless touch button, or both. Or, the actuator can be blocked from sliding by means of a spacer (68); and the switch (61) may be replaced by a structure (61a) holding an electrically conductive surface (62a), or not: either way, the touch button will then operate only as a motionless touch button. Or, the surface (62) can be disconnected (65) from the circuit (66), or the circuit (66) can be not installed, to operate only as a tactile switch touch button.

Abstract: A cursor movement control key and electronic keyboard for a computer having a video display incorporates a force-sensitive resistor having a junction resistance which varies inversely with pressure applied thereto. The external key cap engages an actuator which bears against the force-sensitive resistor. The actuator has a plurality of four pads which bear against respective electrode regions of the force-sensitive resistor. The pads are positioned at the 0.degree., 90.degree., 180.degree., and 270.degree. positions. The actuator mounts relative to a keyboard mounting plate. At least one of the actuator and mounting plate include opposed lateral projections which engage relative to the other of the actuator and mounting plate to both, a) retain the actuator to the mounting plate, and yet b) allow clearance for tilting movement of the actuator relative to the mounting plate.

Abstract: A switch device with two modes of operation includes at least one switch comprising, carried by a substrate, two conductive lands and an electrically conductive elastic capsule in contact with one land and, in the unoperated condition, overlying the other land so as to be capable of being urged into contact with the latter. An electrical signal from a source is applied to the capsule. A circuit measures variations of the signal due to the proximity of an electrically conductive object. The device can be used to implement matrix keyboards combining the functions of a conventional keypad and a tactile pad.

Abstract: A touch sensor array system comprises an array of sensor elements (12) each actively addressable by means of a switch device (16), for example two terminal devices such as diodes or MIMs, or TFTs, controlled by a driver circuit (22) to load a predetermined charge into a capacitor (14) of the element. Touching a sensor element dissipates this charge which is detected during a subsequent addressing stage by sensing particular charging characteristics with a monitoring circuit (24). With a row and column array, the elements (12) are addressed one row at a time at regular intervals using a row conductor (18) common to a row of elements. Each column of elements shares a column conductor (20) connected to the monitoring circuit. Various schemes are described enabling wired or isolated styli or a finger to be used as position designating means. The array is fabricated using thin film deposition techniques and high resolution arrays are easily achieved. The system can be used as a display overlay.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing signals indicative of X, Y, and Z parameter values onto a computer controlled display system having a computer and a display. A user activated input device is provided for sensing an input signal with an X value, a Y value and a Z value in the display system. The input device includes (i) a first electrically conductive sheet having a first terminal and a second terminal, (ii) a second electrically conductive sheet having a third terminal and a fourth terminal, and (iii) a separator separating the first conductive sheet and the second conductive sheet. The input signal is provided by applying a pressure at a location on the first conductive sheet of the input device. The first sheet contacts the second sheet at the location. The location on the first conductive sheet corresponds to the X position and the Y position of the input signal to the display system. The pressure at the location corresponds to the Z value of the input signal to the display system.

Abstract: Data acquisition in a multi-function keyboard system includes both acquiring typing data by conventional keyboard scanning techniques and, simultaneously, acquiring pointing data by sampling force sensors coupled to the multi-function pointing key. The keyboard system periodically samples the force sensors to determine bias values defining a null point, and updates the bias values by a moving average calculation to compensate for manufacturing tolerance and long term drift. In response to a start pointing command from the host processor, the keyboard system transmits bias values and then pointing values, the latter being responsive to forces applied to the pointing key by the user for cursor control. The sensor values are encoded so as to pass through to the host processor in a manner transparent to application software. The system scans the force sensors periodically to acquire successive pointing values, and transmits them to the host, as long as pointing mode persists.

Abstract: A touch panel generates any of a plurality of different signals that are selected by touching different specific areas of a panel member. Spaced apart supports at the edges of the touch sensitive area hold a panel member in spaced apart relationship to the underlying surface. Force sensitive circuit elements, such as strain gauges or pressure sensitive resistors, sense the force which the panel member exerts on each support when finger pressure is applied to the member. Additional circuit components compare the forces exerted on each support to determine the location on the panel that is being touched and generate the particular signal that correlates with that location. The touch panel may be used to enter instructions and other data into a computer or the like or to transmit selected control signals to other types of equipment. The panel may be transparent and be attached to the screen of a visual data display enabling entry of menu selections or other data by simply touching the screen.

Abstract: A membrane switch (10) having a top membrane (12) with a lower conductive surface (16), a bottom membrane (14) with an upper conductive surface (18), and a dielectric intermediate circuit spacer (20) disposed therebetween. The intermediate circuit spacer includes a central aperture (24) and defines upper and lower surfaces (28 and 32). First y-axis electrodes (26) are formed on the upper surface of the intermediate circuit spacer, and second x-axis (30) electrodes are formed on the lower surface of the intermediate circuit spacer. Conductive adhesive (58, 64) is applied between the intermediate circuit spacer and the top and bottom membranes to secure the intermediate spacer in place with the x- and y-axis electrodes in electrical contact with the top and bottom membranes, respectively.

Abstract: The first embodiment of a piezo electric transducer shown in this application has a housing, an actuator, piezoelectric material, a first fixed contact and a second fixed contact. The actuator overlies the piezo-electric material and is attached to the inner surface of the housing. The piezoelectric material overlies the spaced first and second fixed contacts whereby distortion of the piezoelectric material by the actuator causes a current to flow between the first and second fixed contacts. In the second embodiment the piezoelectric material is attached to the inner surface of the housing. In a variation of the first and second embodiments, the piezo electric material is sandwiched between first and second dome portions. The first dome portion is engaged to a first fixed contact and the second dome portion is engaged to a second fixed contact.

Abstract: An audio-visual book includes a plurality of pages and a text portion on the plurality of pages. The text portion includes, on each of at least two of the pages, both a plurality of lines of text and a plurality of different predetermined graphic depictions related in concept to the subject matter of the text and interposed within the lines of text. A switching mechanism is disposed in predetermined relationship to the text portion and includes a plurality of individually actuable elements, each of the switches being associated with one of the graphic depictions. A digital sound generator, responsive to actuation of one of the switches, is provided for selectively effecting generation of a sound associated with the subject of the depiction associated with the one switch.

Abstract: A touch sensor array system includes a row and column array of individual sensing elements each of which has a bistable circuit arranged to adopt one of the other of its two stable state in dependence upon whether or not a touch input, by e.g. a stylus or finger, exists at the sensing element location. The rows of sensing elements are periodically reset in sequence by a scanning address circuit and the states of their bistable circuits are determined at regular intervals related to resetting by a detection circuit using active matrix addressing of the sensing elements. Each sensing element includes a switching device. The array of sensing elements is fabricated using thin film, e.g. TFT, technology so that high resolution is possible. The system can be used as an overlay to a display device, e.g. a matrix liquid crystal display device.

Abstract: A function setting method for an audio system which is capable of changing a function of the audio system without alternation of hardware of a system controller at all and is superior in general use. The method comprises the steps of preparing, as the system controller for controlling functions incorporated in the audio system in a concentrated manner, a microcomputer which has an analog/digital conversion input port and has built therein control programs for all of a plurality of functions which can be incorporated in the audio system, and applying a selected one of a plurality of analog voltages which individually represent possible combinations of the functions including the individual functions to the analog/digital conversion input port of the microcomputer to cause the microcomputer to be prepared for one or ones of the functions represented by the analog voltage.

Abstract: A circuit for detecting user contact of one of a plurality of touch pads includes a plurality of drive lines and a plurality of sense lines coupled with the touch pads. A sense circuit responsive to the signals on the sense lines produces a pulse having a width that is proportional to the amplitude of each of the sense signals. A control circuit measures the width of the pulses produced by the sense circuit and compares each measured pulse width to a reference pulse width to distinguish between a touch and no-touch condition for each touch pad. The sense circuit is illustrated in the form of a comparator having a threshold input that is always exceeded by the sense signal to produce the variable width pulse. Separate amplifiers may be provided for each sense line.

Abstract: A method of menu selection is provided. An applied range of force by a user on a force sensitive resistor (112) selector key is calibrated (300) to a selective range of force for selecting a range of menu items. A variable press by that user is then associated (110) to a selection of a menu item.

Abstract: In the tactile effect switch and a keyboard using such a switch, the tactile effect is obtained by combining a snap acting switch and the deformation of a stud, axially deformable under compression, which is integrally formed on a membrane made from a resilient material disposed on a support plate and which provides a resilient connection between a key and the switch in the manner of a pusher.

Abstract: An omnidirectional input device comprising a circuit board and switches arranged in a directional pattern, each switch having an open and closed position. Each switch further having conductive switch components mounted in directional pattern on a surface of the circuit board and a conductive actuator operably connectable to the switch components to place the switch in either the open or closed position. The omnidirectional input device also includes a plurality of output signal lines coupled to the circuit board and a decoding matrix connected between the conductive switch components and the output signal lines. The decoding matrix determines which of the switches is in the closed position and couples the conductive switch components of a switch in the closed position to one or more of the output signal lines.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display is provided having pressure detection ability. An information input can be implemented by directly touching the display which has presented an image. The pressure detection is performed by means of the liquid crystal material which is also provided for use in a displaying operation. In the method of operation, the displaying and pressure operations are carried out alternately.

Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal touch panel includes a ferroelectric liquid crystal panel including counterposed electrodes and a ferroelectric liquid crystal positioned between the electrodes; a position detector for detecting a pushed position on the ferroelectric liquid crystal through the electrodes by means of an electromotive force generated when the ferroelectric liquid crystal is pushed; a display control circuit for controlling a display state of the ferroelectric liquid crystal through the electrodes; a sound generation control circuit for supplying a sound generation signal to the electrodes so that the ferroelectric liquid crystal panel generates a sound in correspondence thereto; and a selection circuit for selectively connecting the position detector, the display control circuit and the sound generation control circuit to the electrodes.

Abstract: An improved percussive action electronic keyboard for play as a musical instrument of the type having pivoted playing keys having camming surfaces distal from finger contact surfaces thereof, pivoted hammers having cam follower surfaces for following the playing key camming surfaces, hammer stop for stopping the swing of the hammer in response to depression of its associated key, includes an electronic sensor for generating an electrical signal for each key which is related in amplitude to the pressure with which the key is depressed during play of the keyboard, and a scanning keyboard state monitor connected to said sensor including a keyboard scanner for scanning each of the keys of the keyboard to determine if a key event has occurred, an amplitude comparator for determining when a key depression causes a said key depression signal amplitude to pass predetermined minimum and maximum amplitude threshold values, a scan counter for counting the number of scans occurring between the scans when the key depressi

Abstract: A pressure sensitive pad assembly for a brake pedal having in one embodiment a pair of plastic films with metallized surfaces spaced apart by apertured spaces and embedded in an elastomeric pad to be placed on a brake pedal. Application of a brake actuating force on the pad causes the elastomer to deform closing contact between the metallized surfaces for actuating a brake light. In another embodiment a pressure sensitive transducer pad assembly has embedded in elastomeric material, a plurality of piezoelectric strips which are deformed, upon application of a brake actuating force to the pad, for providing an electrical signal indicative of the magnitude of the brake actuating force. In another embodiment an elastomeric pad spans a shallow recess in a support with piezoelectric material provided on the spanning surface and deformation of the pad into the recess deforms the piezoelectric material to provide a brake actuating force signal.

Abstract: A hand controlled peripheral pointing device having an optional analog switch to permit the user to dynamically and continuously change the value of an attribute, for example, the width of a line or color saturation value, when the device is moved. Activation of the analog button or key permits the user to change an attribute value of graphical data input as desired depending on the depth of depression of the key. In the preferred embodiment, the device is a mouse having a numeric keypad placed thereon. This numeric key pad allows the user to directly enter data without moving the hand back and forth between the mouse and a computer key board. The numeric mouse is able to operate in two modes, including a conventional point and click mode and an analog mode. An alternate embodiment comprises a light pen having a finger actuated analog button disposed adjacent the writing tip of the pen. One manner of switching between modes (analog to click and vice versa) is program driven, i.e.

Abstract: A high-performance single-crystal silicon tactile imaging array organized in a X-Y matrix of capacitor elements. Metallic column lines are formed on a glass support substrate, while the row lines are formed from a contiguous chain of doubly-supported bridge structures, with one such structure for each sensing element. All of the bridge structures are simultaneously fabricated from a single-crystal silicon semiconductor wafer using a two-step boron diffusion process, followed by a silicon-to-glass electrostatic bonding step and subsequent unmasked wafer dissolution. Each bridge structure has a thick center plate for the sense capacitor supported by thinner beams connected to adjacent row single-crystal silicon support rails bonded to the glass substrate. The force sensitivity and maximum operating range of the tactile imager can be selected over a very wide range by appropriately setting the dimensions of these thinner support beams.

Abstract: A color display is disclosed that has on an inner display surface a periodic pattern of luminescent deposits having a smallest deposit-to-adjacent-deposit pitch "P-D". The display has on an outer surface glare reduction means in the form of an undulating periodic pattern of light-scattering elements whose smallest element-to-adjacent-element pitch "P-E" is significantly less than the pitch "P-D" to avoid moire effects, but significantly greater than the longest wavelength of visible light to minimize diffraction effects. The color display according to the invention may comprise a color cathode ray tube havbing a touch panel on its front surface.

Abstract: A touch sensing direct input data display device is described. The data display screen is directly and solely supported within a housing by stiff springs having essentially uniaxial freedom of motion. Strain gauge sensors are applied directly to the springs and are connected in a full Wheatstone bridge sensing circuit. The outputs of the sensors are fed to a calculating and processing device for calculaating the X, Y and Z coordinate information relative to the point on the face of the display which has been pushed or touched. The Z component is of total force and the X any Y components give the two dimensional location for the application of the force measured in the Z axis. The stiff springs allow very little deflection to occur under normal touch imposed fores on the display screen. They permit essentially uniaxial motion only in the Z axis.

Abstract: A musical tone control apparatus includes at least one grip device having the shape which can be held by player's hand. This grip device further includes plural push switches each having a piezoelectric element whose resistance is varied in response to depressing pressure applied thereto. Based on a combination of depressed push switches and its depressing pressures, an externally provided musical tone generating apparatus is controlled such that tone pitch, tone color, tone volume, touch response or the like of musical tone will be controlled. In addition, an angle detector for detecting a swing movement of a player's arm can be further provided. Thus, the detected swing movement of the player's arm can be additionally used for controlling the musical tone.

Abstract: A touch response device for an electronic musical instrument includes pressure detector for detecting initial-touch and after-touch of a key. The pressure detector means has two or more response stages that have different response characteristics to key pressure variation. An initial-touch-detector signal is produced when the pressure detecting means is in a first response stage among the response stages, and after-touch-detector signal is produced when the pressure detecting means is in a second response stage among the response stages. According to the invention, initial-touch signal and after-touch signal are generated by the use of one common operation-detector signal produced from the pressure detector means. As a result, the construction of the pressure detecting means is much simplified compared with a conventional touch-response device provided with two separate detectors, one of which detects initial-touch and another of which detects after-touch.

Abstract: An electromechanical gating mechanism comprises an electrical energy generating system for generating electrical energy in response to and utilizing energy derived from mechanical motion consciously generated by an intelligent agency. An electronic decision making apparatus is solely powered by the electrical energy generated by the electrical energy generating device. The decision making apparatus, which may include a non-volatile memory, is adapted to receive information, to make one of a set of possible decisions based on the information and on its logic and/or data in its memory and to generate a specific low power electrical output in response to a selected one of the set of possible decisions being made. A mechanical gate has at least two positions.

Abstract: A character input device for a computer comprised of a plurality of switches or threshold zones adapted to be activated by a disk movable with the tip of a pen in preset serial patterns.

Abstract: A piezoelectric switch including a casing for receiving an external mechanical force, a piezoelectric ceramic for sensing the external mechanical force received by the casing and converting the force to an electrical signal, the ceramic having one side connected to the casing and another side having both the positive and the negative poles, a conductive rubber connector disposed adjacent to and in contact with the ceramic for conducting the electrical signal and a printed circuit board disposed adjacent to and in contact with the conductive member for receiving and processing the conducted electrical signal received from the ceramic and for preventing any electrical signals from passing from the circuit board through the conductive member to the piezoelectric ceramic.

Abstract: A display and keyboard panel for an electronic device such as a handheld or desktop calculator, the panel having a keyboard area and an indication area located in the vicinity of the keyboard area. The indication area has a plurality of key sections each having at least two component areas each for indicating a single piece of information. Each of the key sections is typically formed by a touch sensor switch area having at least two adjacent areas corresponding respectively to the aforesaid component areas, each of the adjacent areas of the touch sensor switch area including at least one segment or plural segments of a conductor.

Abstract: A housing is constructed to define individual areas for depression to identify individual indicia such as numbers or the letters of the alphabet. A hard, electrically insulating material is attached to the housing to transmit strains produced in the housing by the depression of the individual areas on the housing. A plurality of thin sheets of an electrically insulating material are provided, each being attached to the insulating material at positions corresponding to the individual areas in the housing. A plurality of thin sheets of an electrically conductive material are also provided, each attached to an associated one of the thin sheets of insulating material. A plurality of ceramic crystals are also included, each attached to an individual one of the electrically conductive sheets. The electrically conductive sheets may be attached to the housing, which is preferably made from an electrically conductive material. This causes one surface of each ceramic crystal to be common to the adjacent area.

Abstract: Disclosed is an input device or keyboard for inputting into an electronic appliance, comprising stroke keys and touch keys disposed on a common circuit matrix of a flexible printed circuit board. Preferably, data inputting keys such as character keys are composed of stroke keys and function keys for inputting command signals are composed of touch keys. In order to judge precisely ON/OFF actions of stroke keys and touch keys, key scanning control applied commonly to these keys is provided.

Abstract: The keyboard comprises piezoelectric crystal elements arranged between laminates provided with conducting strips. A voltage is generated when pressure is applied to the elements. The keyboard is tensionless in its rest state and contains no unwanted air spaces.

Abstract: A keyboard having a series of parallel bars capable of mechanical displacement by downward thrust under the pressure of the user's fingers, and a luminous display system in which a tactile electric control screen forms the top of the bars. Circuits are used for producing control orders from at least bar data and key data, with the bar data being selected according to the bars depressed. Specific key functions are assigned electronically to screen zones disposed at intervals along each bar, and a controller provides the display system with a visual representation related to each key function in the corresponding screen zone.