CA1108718A - Resistive planar graphical entry device - Google Patents
Resistive planar graphical entry deviceInfo
- Publication number
- CA1108718A CA1108718A CA352,262A CA352262A CA1108718A CA 1108718 A CA1108718 A CA 1108718A CA 352262 A CA352262 A CA 352262A CA 1108718 A CA1108718 A CA 1108718A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- strips
- connecting means
- entry device
- edges
- pairs
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
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- Apparatuses And Processes For Manufacturing Resistors (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
In a resistive planar graphic device, conductor strips are divided into two segments and corner resistances interconnect outer ends of the conductor strips which extend in spaced relationship along the edges of a rectangular resistive area and which are connected by edge connecting and isolating resistances to the edges of the rectangular area. The corner resistances are selected to improve the linearity of voltage gradients in the rectangular area.
In a resistive planar graphic device, conductor strips are divided into two segments and corner resistances interconnect outer ends of the conductor strips which extend in spaced relationship along the edges of a rectangular resistive area and which are connected by edge connecting and isolating resistances to the edges of the rectangular area. The corner resistances are selected to improve the linearity of voltage gradients in the rectangular area.
Description
3'7~8 TEC~INI AL FLELD
This invention relates -to entry devices for entering graphical data into da-ta processing or communication systems;
and more particularly, -to such devices employing rectangular resistive planes usable with contact probes, capacitance probes, parallel conductive planes, etc. for generatiny electrical analogue signals corresponding to entered graphical data.
BACKGROUND ART
The prior art, as exemplified in U.S. Patents No.
This invention relates -to entry devices for entering graphical data into da-ta processing or communication systems;
and more particularly, -to such devices employing rectangular resistive planes usable with contact probes, capacitance probes, parallel conductive planes, etc. for generatiny electrical analogue signals corresponding to entered graphical data.
BACKGROUND ART
The prior art, as exemplified in U.S. Patents No.
2,900,446, No. 3,522,664, No. 3,591,718, No. 3,699,439 and No. 3,798,370, contains a number of graphical entry devices employing rectangular resistive sheets or planes. Voltages are alternately applied across the opposite edges of the rectangular resistive plane and the analogue value of a voltage generated on a contact probe, a capacitance probe or a depressed portion of a conductor sheet overlying the resistance plane is sensed to determine the two-dimensionàl position of the probe or depressed portion. When the rectangular resistive planes are energized by means of electrodes connected directly to the edges of the resistive plane, such as in the above-mentioned patent 2,900,446, the.....
, `I
. 1 ., .
~' ' electrodes on the non-energizec1 edges ~hunt such edyes to produce nonlinearity oE the vo].tage gradiant ~7ithin the adjacent portions of the resistance plane. In the patents 3,522,66~ and 3,699,~39, point electrode~ spaced along each oE the sides are isolated by pluralities of diodes connected to the energizing source; the use of pluralities of diodes to isol.ate the edge contact points substantially increases the cost of the graphical entry device.
Another arrangement for increasing the linearity ~-7ithin a rectangular resistlve plane as discloscd in the patents 3,591,71~
ancl 3,79~,370 includer. lot7 resis.tallce conllection~ to the edges of the rectangular area so that tlle non-energized edges are maintained linear by means of voltage gradiants in the lo~
resistance edges; t~ requires relatively large operating currents as well as producing heating and electromacJnetic inter-Eerenee which are ~enerally undesirable in devices for low-pot~er electronic circuits.
fiS~i~P~Y_OF THE INVEN~: JON
The invention is summarized in a graphical entry device inluding an electrically insulated substrate; and a patterned : 20 resistive layer on the substrate wherein the patterned resistive layer includes a rectangular graphic area with four edges and four corners, four pairs of conductor strips spaced from and extending along the respect.ive four edges oE the graphic area, each conduetor strip of the four pairs oE condùctor strips ex-: 25 tending along ~ respective one half oE a respective edge of the four ed~es from a respective corner o:E the four corners to a middle portion of the respective edge, four edge connecting means joinin~ the respective pairs of conductor strips to the respeetive edges, the four edge connecting means each having an effeetive resistance parallel to the respective edges of the . .
rectang~lar grapllic area suhstantially greater than that of the graphic area and the four pair~ o:E conductor strips, and four corner connecting means joining outer end portions of the four pairs of conductor strips adjacent to the respective four corners, each oE the four corner connecting means having an effective resistance which is substantially greater than that of the graphic area and the four pairs of conductor strips and which is selected to improve the linearity oE a voltage gradiant in the rectangular graphic area.
~n object o-E the present invention is to construct a relatively ine.~pensive graphical entry device uslng a resistive rectangular plane in which vo].tage values are substantially improved in linearity.
~nother object o~ the invention is to employ both high resistance edge connecting means for the edges of a rectangular resistive plane and high resistance corner connecting mean for providing side parallel voltages ko .substantially overcome -nonlinearity within the rectangular resistive pla.ne.
Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following descri.ption of the preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.
~LF.F Dl~ Tl.O 1_(:)F THF. D~ 1`7lMG
The drawing is a plan view of a resistive graphical entry device in accordance with the present invention.
;
DESCR.I~ 'I N~OF~ _PRF.FF.l?~ ~FF.D_ F.li~EODIr'iErl':r As illustrated in the drawing, t:he invention is embodied in a graphical entry device including a substrate 8 having an upper surface upon which is attached a patterned 7~8 resistive l~yer or plane. The central port:ion of this resis~ive plane is formed by a rectangular resis-tive graphical area 10 having four edges and four corners (the corners not necessarily being exactly square). Pairs of conducting strips 12, 14, 16 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26 of the resistive plane are spaced from and parallel to the respective edges of the rectangular area 10.
Each resistive strip of these pairs o resistive strips extends along one half of the respective edge from the middle of the edge past the respective corner of the rectangular area 10. The conducting strips 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26 are connected by respective pluralities of narrow strips or lines 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40 and 42 to the respective halves of the edges of the rectangular area 10. The edge connecting strips 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40 and 42 have an effective resistance, parallel to the respective edges to which they are connected, which is substantially greater than the resistance of the rectangular area 10 so that shunting of the edges by the conductor strips 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26 is substantially reduced. Similar high resistance connecting means for joining electrodes to the edges of a rectangular graphical resistance area are disclosed in applicants U.S. Patent No. 4,178,481, dated November 11, 1979 for Electrical Data Entry Devices and applicant's U.S. Application Serial No. 712,748 filed August 9, 1976 (now U.S. Patent No. 4,079,194 issued March 14, 1978).
The present graphical entry device differs from applicant's previously disclosed devices in that there is a pair of the conductor strips 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26 associated with each edge of the rectangular resistance area 10 and in that high resistive corner connecting means 60, 62, 64 and 66 are provicled between outer end portions of adjacent conducting strips adjacent the corners of the rectan.gular resistive area 10.
., 7~
The resistive means ~n is ~ormed by a plurality o~ narrow strips or lines of the resistive material connecting the outer end o~
resistive strip 12 to the outer end of resistive strip 26, while the resistive means 6~, 6~ and 66 are similarly formed by pluralities o~ narrow strips or lines oE conductive material interconneeting the outer ends of the conductive strips 14 and 16, strips 18 and 20, and strips 22 and 24, respeetively.
PreEerably the reetangular graphical area 10, the eonduetor strips 12, 14, 16, 1~, 20, 22, 24 and 26, the edge eonneeting strips 2~, 30, 32, 3a~, 36, 3$, 40 and D~2 and the eorner eonneeting strips 60, 62, 6~ ancl 66 are all formed from the same resistive material. The eonfic~uration or pattern of the resistive plane may be formed by screen printing the pattern from a suitable resistive material onto the substrate, by vaeuum depositing through a mask, or by e-tchin~ a layer of the resistive material through a mask.
In one applieation o~ tlle present graphieal entry deviee, the eonduetor strips 12 and 1~ are connected by respec-tive eleetronie switehes ~ and 46 to one voltage terminal while the opposite eonducting strips 20 and 22 are conneeted by respeetive electronie switehes 52 and 54 to the opposite voltage terminal; and the conduetor strips 16 and 18 are eonnected by respeetive switehes 4$ and 50 to one voltage terminal while the eonduetor strips 2D~ ancl 26 are connected by respective electronie switehes 56 and 58 to the opposite volta~e -termlnal. The switehes 4D~, 46, 52 and 5~ will be simultaneously operated while the switehes 48, 50, 56 and 58 are open and the switehes 48, 50, 56 and 58 will simult:aneously operated wllile the switches 44, D~6, 52 and 5D~ are open.
Splitting the eleetrocles or conclucting strips into pairs on eaeh edge of the graphical entry device and ~eeding corrective charges through the corner connecting strips 60, 62, 6~ and 66 res~lts in substantially improved linearity in the voltage gradiant produced in the rectang~llar area 10. Further the present graphical entry device can be produced by relatively inexpensive techniques.
In the manufacture o:E graphical entry devices, variations in the resistive material and the non-linearity produced thereby can be corrected in the present device by opening one or more of the na~row conducting strips 2~, 30, 32, ~4 ~ 36 ~ 38 r ~0 and ~2 in the edge connecting means and or by opening one or more of the connecting strips 60, 62, 64 and 66 in the corner connecting means. These strips r.lay be openecl by (1) application of a high current to the respective strip by means of a probe ~lhich causes the burning off of the strip, (2) by mechanica.lly scrapinq or breaking the respective strip or (3) by means of a laser to vaporize a respective strip. The strips forming each of the corner connecting means 60, 62, 6~ and 66 are of different resistances so that a selected strip can be opened or broken to provide a more select correction of nonlinearity.
Inasmuch as the present invention is subject to mc!n~
~ variations, modifications and changes in deta.il, it is intended - that all material in the foregoing specification and in the accompanying dra~lings be interpreted in a.n illustrative and not in.a limiting sense.
,:
, `I
. 1 ., .
~' ' electrodes on the non-energizec1 edges ~hunt such edyes to produce nonlinearity oE the vo].tage gradiant ~7ithin the adjacent portions of the resistance plane. In the patents 3,522,66~ and 3,699,~39, point electrode~ spaced along each oE the sides are isolated by pluralities of diodes connected to the energizing source; the use of pluralities of diodes to isol.ate the edge contact points substantially increases the cost of the graphical entry device.
Another arrangement for increasing the linearity ~-7ithin a rectangular resistlve plane as discloscd in the patents 3,591,71~
ancl 3,79~,370 includer. lot7 resis.tallce conllection~ to the edges of the rectangular area so that tlle non-energized edges are maintained linear by means of voltage gradiants in the lo~
resistance edges; t~ requires relatively large operating currents as well as producing heating and electromacJnetic inter-Eerenee which are ~enerally undesirable in devices for low-pot~er electronic circuits.
fiS~i~P~Y_OF THE INVEN~: JON
The invention is summarized in a graphical entry device inluding an electrically insulated substrate; and a patterned : 20 resistive layer on the substrate wherein the patterned resistive layer includes a rectangular graphic area with four edges and four corners, four pairs of conductor strips spaced from and extending along the respect.ive four edges oE the graphic area, each conduetor strip of the four pairs oE condùctor strips ex-: 25 tending along ~ respective one half oE a respective edge of the four ed~es from a respective corner o:E the four corners to a middle portion of the respective edge, four edge connecting means joinin~ the respective pairs of conductor strips to the respeetive edges, the four edge connecting means each having an effeetive resistance parallel to the respective edges of the . .
rectang~lar grapllic area suhstantially greater than that of the graphic area and the four pair~ o:E conductor strips, and four corner connecting means joining outer end portions of the four pairs of conductor strips adjacent to the respective four corners, each oE the four corner connecting means having an effective resistance which is substantially greater than that of the graphic area and the four pairs of conductor strips and which is selected to improve the linearity oE a voltage gradiant in the rectangular graphic area.
~n object o-E the present invention is to construct a relatively ine.~pensive graphical entry device uslng a resistive rectangular plane in which vo].tage values are substantially improved in linearity.
~nother object o~ the invention is to employ both high resistance edge connecting means for the edges of a rectangular resistive plane and high resistance corner connecting mean for providing side parallel voltages ko .substantially overcome -nonlinearity within the rectangular resistive pla.ne.
Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following descri.ption of the preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.
~LF.F Dl~ Tl.O 1_(:)F THF. D~ 1`7lMG
The drawing is a plan view of a resistive graphical entry device in accordance with the present invention.
;
DESCR.I~ 'I N~OF~ _PRF.FF.l?~ ~FF.D_ F.li~EODIr'iErl':r As illustrated in the drawing, t:he invention is embodied in a graphical entry device including a substrate 8 having an upper surface upon which is attached a patterned 7~8 resistive l~yer or plane. The central port:ion of this resis~ive plane is formed by a rectangular resis-tive graphical area 10 having four edges and four corners (the corners not necessarily being exactly square). Pairs of conducting strips 12, 14, 16 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26 of the resistive plane are spaced from and parallel to the respective edges of the rectangular area 10.
Each resistive strip of these pairs o resistive strips extends along one half of the respective edge from the middle of the edge past the respective corner of the rectangular area 10. The conducting strips 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26 are connected by respective pluralities of narrow strips or lines 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40 and 42 to the respective halves of the edges of the rectangular area 10. The edge connecting strips 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40 and 42 have an effective resistance, parallel to the respective edges to which they are connected, which is substantially greater than the resistance of the rectangular area 10 so that shunting of the edges by the conductor strips 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26 is substantially reduced. Similar high resistance connecting means for joining electrodes to the edges of a rectangular graphical resistance area are disclosed in applicants U.S. Patent No. 4,178,481, dated November 11, 1979 for Electrical Data Entry Devices and applicant's U.S. Application Serial No. 712,748 filed August 9, 1976 (now U.S. Patent No. 4,079,194 issued March 14, 1978).
The present graphical entry device differs from applicant's previously disclosed devices in that there is a pair of the conductor strips 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26 associated with each edge of the rectangular resistance area 10 and in that high resistive corner connecting means 60, 62, 64 and 66 are provicled between outer end portions of adjacent conducting strips adjacent the corners of the rectan.gular resistive area 10.
., 7~
The resistive means ~n is ~ormed by a plurality o~ narrow strips or lines of the resistive material connecting the outer end o~
resistive strip 12 to the outer end of resistive strip 26, while the resistive means 6~, 6~ and 66 are similarly formed by pluralities o~ narrow strips or lines oE conductive material interconneeting the outer ends of the conductive strips 14 and 16, strips 18 and 20, and strips 22 and 24, respeetively.
PreEerably the reetangular graphical area 10, the eonduetor strips 12, 14, 16, 1~, 20, 22, 24 and 26, the edge eonneeting strips 2~, 30, 32, 3a~, 36, 3$, 40 and D~2 and the eorner eonneeting strips 60, 62, 6~ ancl 66 are all formed from the same resistive material. The eonfic~uration or pattern of the resistive plane may be formed by screen printing the pattern from a suitable resistive material onto the substrate, by vaeuum depositing through a mask, or by e-tchin~ a layer of the resistive material through a mask.
In one applieation o~ tlle present graphieal entry deviee, the eonduetor strips 12 and 1~ are connected by respec-tive eleetronie switehes ~ and 46 to one voltage terminal while the opposite eonducting strips 20 and 22 are conneeted by respeetive electronie switehes 52 and 54 to the opposite voltage terminal; and the conduetor strips 16 and 18 are eonnected by respeetive switehes 4$ and 50 to one voltage terminal while the eonduetor strips 2D~ ancl 26 are connected by respective electronie switehes 56 and 58 to the opposite volta~e -termlnal. The switehes 4D~, 46, 52 and 5~ will be simultaneously operated while the switehes 48, 50, 56 and 58 are open and the switehes 48, 50, 56 and 58 will simult:aneously operated wllile the switches 44, D~6, 52 and 5D~ are open.
Splitting the eleetrocles or conclucting strips into pairs on eaeh edge of the graphical entry device and ~eeding corrective charges through the corner connecting strips 60, 62, 6~ and 66 res~lts in substantially improved linearity in the voltage gradiant produced in the rectang~llar area 10. Further the present graphical entry device can be produced by relatively inexpensive techniques.
In the manufacture o:E graphical entry devices, variations in the resistive material and the non-linearity produced thereby can be corrected in the present device by opening one or more of the na~row conducting strips 2~, 30, 32, ~4 ~ 36 ~ 38 r ~0 and ~2 in the edge connecting means and or by opening one or more of the connecting strips 60, 62, 64 and 66 in the corner connecting means. These strips r.lay be openecl by (1) application of a high current to the respective strip by means of a probe ~lhich causes the burning off of the strip, (2) by mechanica.lly scrapinq or breaking the respective strip or (3) by means of a laser to vaporize a respective strip. The strips forming each of the corner connecting means 60, 62, 6~ and 66 are of different resistances so that a selected strip can be opened or broken to provide a more select correction of nonlinearity.
Inasmuch as the present invention is subject to mc!n~
~ variations, modifications and changes in deta.il, it is intended - that all material in the foregoing specification and in the accompanying dra~lings be interpreted in a.n illustrative and not in.a limiting sense.
,:
Claims (6)
1. A graphical entry device comprising an electrically insulated substrate; and a patterned resistive layer on the substrate wherein the patterned resistive layer includes a rectangular graphic area with four edges and four corners, four pairs of conductor strips spaced from and extend-ing along the respective four edges of the graphic area, each conductor strip of the four pairs of conductor strips extending along a respective one half of a respective edge of the four edges from a respective corner of the four corners to a middle portion of the respective edge, four edge connecting means joining the respective pairs of conductor strips to the respective edges, said four edge connecting means each having an effective resistance parallel to the respective edges of the rectangular graphic area substantially greater than that of the graphic area and the four pairs of conductor strips, and four corner connecting means joining outer end portions of the four pairs of conductor strips adjacent to the respective four corners, each of said four corner connecting means having an effective resistance which is substantially greater than that of the graphic area and the four pairs of conductor strips and which is selected to improve the linearity of a voltage gradient in the rectangular graphic area.
2. A graphical entry device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the patterned resistive layer is formed from a resistive material of uniform resistance and the four edge connecting means and four corner connecting means are configured to form the substantially greater resistance.
3. A graphical entry device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the outer end portions of the four pairs of conductor strips extend past the respective corners, the four edge connecting means includes respective pluralities of parallel narrow strips of the resistive material extending between the respective conductor strips and the respective four edges of the graphic area, and the tour corner connecting means includes respective pluralities of narrow strips of the resistive material extending between the outer portions of the conductor strips adjacent the respective corners.
4. A graphical entry device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the strips of each plurality of narrow strips of the respective four connecting means have different lengths.
5. A graphical entry device as claimed in claim 3 or 4 wherein there is included one or more broken narrow strips in the narrow strips forming the four corner connecting means, said broken narrow strips having been broken to adjust the linearity of the graphical entry device.
6. A graphical entry device as claimed in claim 3 or 4 wherein there is included one or more broken narrow strips in the strips forming the edge connecting means, said broken narrow strips having been broken to adjust the linearity of the graphical entry device.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA352,262A CA1108718A (en) | 1980-05-20 | 1980-05-20 | Resistive planar graphical entry device |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA352,262A CA1108718A (en) | 1980-05-20 | 1980-05-20 | Resistive planar graphical entry device |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1108718A true CA1108718A (en) | 1981-09-08 |
Family
ID=4116992
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA352,262A Expired CA1108718A (en) | 1980-05-20 | 1980-05-20 | Resistive planar graphical entry device |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1108718A (en) |
-
1980
- 1980-05-20 CA CA352,262A patent/CA1108718A/en not_active Expired
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| MKEX | Expiry |