United States Patent [t9J
`Piguet et al.
`
`[11]
`
`[45]
`
`4,242,676
`Dec. 30, 1980
`
`[54]
`
`[75]
`
`INTERACIIVE DEVICE FOR DATA INPUT
`INTO AN INSTRUMENT OF SMALL
`DIMENSIONS
`Inventors: Christian Piguet; Jean-Felix Perotto,
`both of Neuchatel, Switzerland
`[73] Assignee: Centre Electronique Horloger SA,
`Neuchatel, Switzerland
`[21] Appl. No.: 968,917
`Dec. 13, 1978
`[22] Filed:
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`[30]
`Dec. 29, 1977 [CH] Switzerland ....................... 16178/77
`Jul. 17, 1978 [CH] Switzerland ......................... 7690178
`Int. CI.3 ................................................ G06F 3/14
`[51]
`[52] U.S. Cl ................................. 340/711; 340/365 C;
`3401712; 340!718; 178/18
`[58] Field of Search ............... 340/712, 365 R, 365 C,
`340!711, 718; 178/18
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`Lecoart et al. ........................ 178/18
`9/1964
`Fletcher eta!. ....................... 178/18
`9/1973
`Hlady ..................................... 178/18
`10/1975
`Engdahl ................................. 178/18
`1/1977
`Eachus et a!. ......................... 178/18
`3/1977
`Laesser ............................ 340/365 R
`8/1977
`10/1977
`Turner et al ........................... 178/18
`1/1978
`Wright, Jr. et al .................... 178/18
`10/1978
`Bird ........................................ 178/18
`
`[56]
`
`3,151,239
`3,758,718
`3,916,099
`4,005,400
`4,013,835
`4,044,242
`4,055,726
`4,070,649
`4,122,438
`
`4,126,760 11/1978 Gordon .................................. 178/18
`4,149,029
`4/1979
`Pobgee ................................... 178/18
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`2505227 11/1975 Fed. Rep. of Gennany .
`2517769 10/1976 Fed. Rep. ofGennany .
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`IBM Tech. Disci. Bull.; vo1. 19, No.7; 12/76; Nieder(cid:173)
`reiter Single Key Element Data Input; pp. 2585-2586.
`
`Primary Examiner-Marshall M. Curtis
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Wender, Murase & White
`
`[57]
`ABSTRACI
`The device according to the invention comprises a
`sensor formed by a plurality of capacitive or resistive
`electrodes. The user searches the symbol to be selected
`by displacing his finger on the sensor while looking at a
`control display unit. Any position of the finger on the
`sensor causes the display of to at least one symbol
`within an alphanumeric group, these symbols appearing
`sequentially on the control display.
`The device does not require any instruction for use nor
`any indicator marked on the instrument because its
`working principle is based on permanent visual feed(cid:173)
`back. The device is compatible with the dimensional
`requirements of portable instruments of small dimen(cid:173)
`sions, e.g. timepieces.
`
`22 Claims, 16 Drawing Figures
`
`,(cid:173)
`
`I
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`UTILIZATION
`(CIRCUIT
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`U:EE===~ ___ j
`
`EXHIBIT 1003
`IPR Petition for U.S. Patent No. 8,519,973
`
`

`
`U.
`
`atant Dec. 30, 1980
`
`Sheet 1 of4
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`US. Patent
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`Dec. 30, 1980
`
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`U.» Pate nt Dec.30, 1980
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`

`
`INTERACTIVE DEVICE FOR DATA INPUT INTO
`AN INSTRUMENT OF SMALL DIMENSIONS
`
`5
`
`10
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION '
`The invention relates to an interactive device for data
`input into an instrument of small dimensions comprising
`at least one manually actuated sensor, a control display
`unit and electronic conversion, memorization and de
`coding means.
`The principal problem which is encountered with a
`manually actuated data input device intended for an
`instrument of small dimensions, e.g. for an electrode
`watch, is the small number of sensor elements (keys or
`transducers) that can be resolved or actuated individu
`ally with one ?nger only. This small number of sensor .
`elements limits the effective size of an alphanumeric
`group (hereinafter referred to as an alphabet) which is
`directly accessible.
`The prior art, as indicated below, shows that all data
`input devices need an additional element in order to be
`used practically. The additional element may be the
`instructions for use that the user must assimilate'in order
`to utilize the device ef?ciently (e.g.: written data input)
`or a set of indications associated with the input elements
`like inscriptions written on keys, for example.
`US. Pat. No. 3,803,834 discloses a wristwatch pro
`vided with a calculator having keys for data input and
`for the selection of the functions, each key being
`marked with the corresponding cipher or symbol. Such
`miniature keyboards cannot be actuated by one ?nger
`and a stylus is required to actuate the individual keys.
`US. Pat. No. 3,757,322 shows translucent keys under
`which a display is provided in order to display the sym
`bol corresponding to the key. The keys which are
`grouped in a keyboard may be considered as multifunc
`tion keys because it is foreseen to change the keyboard,
`e.g. to change from letters to ciphers, and so on.
`Swiss Pat. No. 533 332 shows 'a system provided with
`a display to sequentially display the data as it is deliv
`ered by a circuit intended to this end, the system con
`taining a control element which permits entry of the '
`desired information. Such a system requires only a small
`number of keys but is slow in operation.
`US. Pat. No. 3,309,785 shows a writing area where
`symbols may be written. The area is provided with
`sensors which react to the passage of one ?nger or one
`pencil. The order of passages being considered, the area
`produces a sequence of signals from which a circuit
`recognizes the symbol and controls the display of it.
`The user of such a device must undergo an apprentiship
`to learn how to write the symbols in the right way.
`The DAS No. 2 235 620 shows an interacting display
`having a writing area provided with 14 sensor elements
`and a display with 14 segments which are disposed
`55
`without any relation to the writing of the symbols. It .
`results from this condition that the user must learn for
`each of the 36 symbols (letters and ciphers) the con?gu
`ration prescribed by the manufacturer of the device,
`where each symbol is written on at least part of 14
`electrodes. Such a data input is impracticable for an
`average person.
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`60
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`The object of the present invention is to provide an
`interactive device for data input which does not present
`the disadvantages of the prior art, as indicated above,
`and which is compatible with the dimensional require
`
`65
`
`I
`
`4,242,676
`
`2
`ments of ‘portable instruments of small dimensions, e.g.
`timepieces.
`Another objectof the invention is to provide an inter
`active device for data input capable of being manually
`actuated and delivering information which is represen~
`tative of the position of a ?nger on a sensor, the infor
`mation being independent of the breadth of the ?nger.
`The interactive device for data input into an instru
`ment of small dimensions according to the present in
`vention comprises at least one manually actuated sen
`sor, a control display unit and electronic conversion,
`memorization and decoding means, wherein the sensor
`comprises a plurality of electrodes, each position of the
`?nger on the sensor causing the display of to at least one
`of the symbols of an alphabet in order to permit the
`searchand the selection of alphanumeric data which
`appears sequentially on the control display unit in func
`tion of the information delivered by the sensor.
`The device does not require any instructions for use
`nor indications marked on the instrument because its
`working principle is based on permanent visual feed
`back. The user searches the symbol to be selected by
`displacing his ?nger on the sensor while looking at the ‘
`control display unit. The complex man~machine is a
`servo system operating exactly like the similar situation
`wherein. a potentiometer is manually adjusted for regu
`lating the‘ acoustic level of an ampli?er-loudspeaker
`chain or the luminosity of a TV-receiver, with perma
`nent acoustic or visual feedback.
`The present invention will be described further by
`way of example, with reference to the accompanying
`drawings.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a
`device having a sensor and display panel according to
`the present invention;
`FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of the in?u
`ence of the breadth of a ?nger on a sensor with a plural
`ity of electrodes according to the present invention;
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a transcoder according
`to the present invention,
`FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an electronic circuit for
`use in association with the sensor of FIG. 1 and the
`transcoder of FIG. 3;
`FIG. 5 is a plan view of another embodiment of the
`arrangement of the sensor of FIG. 1 along a partial
`circumference on the frontal area of the device;
`FIG. 6 is a plan view of another embodiment of the
`arrangement of the sensor of FIG. 1 along a circumfer~
`ence on the frontal area of the device;
`FIG. 7 is a plan view of another embodiment of the
`sensor according to the present invention,
`FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the circuit associated
`with the sensor of FIG. 7,
`FIG. 9 is a plan view of another embodiment of the
`sensor according to the present invention,
`FIG. 10 is a block diagram of the circuit associated
`with the sensor of FIG. 9,
`FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic representation of a bidi
`mensional arrangement of the sensor according to the
`present invention,
`FIG.1_2 is a block diagram of a l-bit arrangement of
`a sensor according to the present invention,
`FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic representation of a 3-bit
`arrangement of a sensor according to the present inven
`tion,
`
`

`
`. 4,242,676
`
`3
`FIG. 14 is a diagrammatic representation of a display
`with luminous pointer associated with each symbol of
`an alphabet,
`FIG. 15 is a diagrammatic a representation of a dis
`play with luminous pointer associated with each group
`of 3 symbols of an alphabet, and
`FIG. 16 is a plan view of a display with luminous
`pointer associated with each digit of the display accord
`ing to the present invention.
`
`4
`the same code of the value of X for the three different
`breadths of the ?nger indicated in FIG. 2.
`FIG. 3 shows the block diagram of an input device,
`comprising a transcoder network 104 associated with
`the four electrodes 101, a, b, c, and d of the sensor 100.
`The transcoder 104 comprises a ?rst transcoder 105
`with 2N- l =2-4-— l=7 intermediate outputs corre
`sponding to the seven possible positions X which are
`de?ned by the four electrodes of the sensor, and a sec
`ond transcoder 106 intended to reduce the number of
`output lines of the circuit. The transcoder 106‘delivers
`information on the position among the seven possible
`positions in a three bit code, so that the number of lines
`which is required at the output 107 of the transcoder
`106 is reduced to three.
`j
`’
`The following Table 1 indicates the logic state of the
`inputs a, b, c and d of the ?rst transcoder 105 in relation
`to the seven possible positions determined by the four
`electrodes of the sensor, the logic state of the outputs
`104A-104G (intermediate outputs) of transcoder 105
`and the logic state of the outputs 1070, 107b and 1070 of
`second transcoder 106 in a code reduced to three bits.
`The outputs of transducer 106 are at the same time the
`outputs of the whole transcoder 104. The Table indi
`cates, for example, that position 3 corresponds to the
`position of the ?nger on the single electrode b as well as
`to the simultaneous activation of electrodes a, b and c
`by a ?nger of great breadth. For both cases, the inter
`mediate output indicates C= l, and the ?nal output 107
`indicates 3 in binary code indicating that the transcoder
`104 selects the true central electrode, which in our
`example is the electrode b. Table 1 shows also that to
`each position X of the ?nger on the sensor 100_corre
`sponds a particular code which is independent of the
`breadth of the ?nger at the outputs 107 of the whole
`transcoder 104.
`
`5
`
`20
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the frontal area of a
`device according to the present invention. It comprises
`a sensor panel 100 formed of a plurality of identical
`electrodes 101 placed side by side, a control display 110
`and a display 111’ of the device or instrument 111 which
`may be of any suitable type, e. g. a pocket calculator. An
`output 103 is associated with each electrode 101, the
`connections 103 being indicated by dashed line in FIG.
`1. The electrodes 101 of the sensor 100 deliver on the
`outputs 103 binary coded information which is repre
`sentative of the position X of the ?nger on the sensor.
`The sensor may be of the capacitive or resistive type.
`The N electrodes 101 of such a sensor are capable of
`de?ning 2N—l different positions of the ?nger, that is
`2N—l coded output signals which are independent of
`the breadth d of the ?nger. The 2N-l positions com
`prise the N positions corresponding to the N electrodes
`plus the N-l positions between two adjacent elec
`trodes respectively.
`The 2N—1 coded signals delivered by N bits (N
`electrodes) may be transcoded to M bits, where M<N,
`in order to simplify the associated electronic circuit and ,
`to eliminate the in?uence of the breadth of the ?nger.
`FIG. 2 diagrammatically shows, for the same position
`
`TABLE 1
`
`-
`positions d
`
`inputs
`c
`b
`
`reduced coded out
`illlcl
`“' ‘ outputs
`puts
`a G F E D C B A l07c l07b
`
`107a
`
`l
`3
`2
`S
`
`4
`3
`7
`
`6
`
`5
`4
`
`0
`0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
`l
`0 0 0
`l
`0 0 0 0
`0
`0
`0
`0 0
`l
`0
`0
`0 0 0
`l
`0
`0
`0 0
`l
`l
`0 0 0 0
`0
`l
`0
`0
`l
`0
`0 0 0
`l
`0
`0
`0
`0
`l
`0
`l
`0
`0 0 0
`0 0 0
`0
`l
`l
`O 0
`0
`0
`l
`0 0 0
`0
`l
`l
`l
`0
`0
`0 0
`l
`0 O
`l
`0 0 0
`l
`0 0
`0 0 0
`0
`l
`0
`0
`l
`0 0 0 0 0 0 0
`l
`0
`l
`0 0 0 0 0
`0 0 0
`l
`0
`l
`l
`0 0 0
`0
`0 0 0
`l
`l
`0 0 0
`l
`0
`0
`0 0 0
`l
`l
`0
`l
`0
`0
`0 0 0 0 0
`l
`l
`l
`0
`0 0
`l
`O 0
`0 0
`l
`l
`1
`l
`0 0 0
`l
`0
`0
`0
`
`0
`0
`0
`0
`' l
`0
`l
`0
`l
`0
`0
`0
`l
`0
`l
`l
`
`0
`0
`l
`l
`0
`0
`0
`l
`l
`0
`0
`0
`l
`O
`0
`0
`
`0
`l
`l
`0
`l
`0
`0
`l
`l
`0
`0
`0
`0
`0
`l
`0
`
`of the ?nger, the in?uence of the breadth of the ?nger
`in the case of a sensor comprising an exemplary group
`of eleven electrodes 101, each of breadth A. It can be
`seen that the arrangement of the electrodes which are
`activated by the ?nger depends on the position X of the
`latter and of its breadth d. It is, therefore, possible that,
`according to its breadth, the ?nger activates one or
`more adjacent electrodes. However, the only interest
`ing desired value is the position X of the ?nger. This
`means that it is necessary to ?nd the central electrode
`amongst a group of activated electrodes.
`The search of the central electrode may be done
`easily by a combinatorial transcoder which shall deliver
`
`65
`
`It is also to be seen that amongst the sixteen possible
`input states which are provided by the four electrodes
`101, a number of states, designated by * in Table 1,
`never occur. This is due to the fact that it is not possible
`with one ?nger only to activate two non-adjacent elec
`trodes. Should, however, such a combination appear,
`e.g. by accidental contact of another ?nger with the
`sensor 100, the output of transcoder 104 assumes the
`logic state 000 as indicated in the truth table, so that no
`wrong indication of position will occur.
`FIG. 4 shows the block diagram of a logic circuit 113
`associated with the sensor 100 and the transcoder 104.
`The outputs 107 of the transcoder are connected to a
`
`

`
`20
`
`25
`
`4,242,676
`6
`5
`logic circuit 109. The inputs A are directly connected to
`desired symbol appears on the display. As indicated in
`FIG. 5, the sensor may be arranged along a partial
`circuit 109 and the inputs B are connected to this circuit
`through a delay circuit 108 comprising three flip-flops
`circumference on the frontal area of the device. This
`of type D whose clock inputs 108a receive a signal with
`results in a sensor with a great useful length which tends
`to diminish the manual sensibility normally required to
`a frequency of 100 Hz, for example, delivered by a pulse
`generator not represented.
`actuate the sensor.
`The circuit 109, which may be of type 74C 181, for
`In another embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the sensor
`example, is a four bit comparator whose outputs 109a,
`may be arranged along a full circumference on the pe
`riphery of the frontal area of the device.
`1091) and 1000 are at the logic state 1 when the condi
`According to FIG. 7, the sensor 120 comprises only 6
`tions at its inputs are A>B, A=7‘=0 and AqéB, respec
`tively.
`electrodes which permits selections of the 12 symbols of
`the control display 125. If the user activates a single
`The choice of these criterions is based on the follow
`ing considerations: The logic state of input A of circuit
`electrode of the sensor 120, he selects the corresponding
`109 represents the existing position X, of the ?nger on
`symbol. In this way he can select the symbols 2, 4, 6, 8,
`0 and C. If he activates simultaneously two adjacent
`the sensor and the state of input B represents the posi
`electrodes he selects the symbol which is comprised
`tion X,_1 at the preceding clock pulse on 1080.
`Thereby:
`between these two electrodes. He can thus select the
`symbols 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and F.
`(a) When the condition A$0 is realized, the ?nger is
`FIG. 8 shows the block diagram of the circuit associ
`in contact with the sensor.
`(b) When the condition A>B is realized the ?nger
`ated with the embodiment of FIG. 7.
`has moved to the left. Otherwise it has moved to the
`The sensor 120 is associated with the transcoder 104
`right or it has not changed place. This condition deter
`from which the outputs 107 are connected on the one
`hand to a register 128 composed of ?ip-?ops of type D
`mines the direction of counting of an up-down counter
`115.
`and on the other hand to a logic circuit 113 whose
`output 114a activates the clock input of the register 128.
`(c) When the condition A$B is realized, this indi
`cates that the ?nger has changed place.
`Only the output 114a of circuit 113 is utilized, which
`If a horizontal displacement of the ?nger on the sen
`indicates that at one and the same time A¢0 and AqéB.
`sor is concerned, the ?nger has not left the sensor and
`Therefore, the user has his ?nger in contact with one or
`the condition A¢O is still realized; gate 114 transmits to
`two of the electrodes of the sensor and the output 1140
`counter 115 the clock pulse which is delivered by the
`is activated when the transcoder 104 changes of state.
`The new logic state is loaded in the register 128 when
`output A$B through a delay circuit 112. If a vertical
`displacement of the ?nger is concerned, the latter has
`the signal at 114a switches over from 0 to 1.
`When the user activates simultaneously two elec
`left the sensor and the condition A¢0 is no longer true;
`trodes, the corresponding code representing this logic
`gate 114 cannot transmit the clock pulse so that the state
`state is effectively loaded into the register 128 after the
`of the counter 115 does not change. The output 112a of
`a delay circuit 112 (e.g. 30 ms), controls through the
`delay of circuit 113. When the user raises his ?nger, he
`AND gate 114, whose other input is connected to the
`leaves necessarily one electrode before the other and if
`output 109b, the clock input of the up-down counter
`the delay circuit 113 were not present the code loaded
`115, the direction of counting of which being deter
`in the register 128 would be the one corresponding to
`mined by the output 1090 of circuit 109.
`the last single electrode activated. The signals at the
`The logic state of counter 115, which is representa
`outputs 127 of the register 128 are decoded in the de
`tive of the selected symbol, is transmitted by the outputs
`coder 117 to control the control display 125.
`According to FIG. 9 it is possible to provide two
`to the utilization circuit 111, to the decoder 117 and to
`the control display 110.
`sensors 121 and 1210 while the outputs 107 and 107a of
`The working principle of the circuit is as follows:
`the transcoders 104 and 104a (see FIG. 10) are utilized
`When the ?nger does not touch the sensor, the output
`according to the same particular code. With a control
`display 126 in the form of a table of symbols it is possible
`10% is at the logic state 0 and the counter is blocked.
`When the ?nger moves onto the sensor, to each change
`to select a symbol in two steps. A ?rst selection on the
`of state of the outputs 107 corresponds a state 1 of out
`sensor 121 lights a whole column of luminous clots
`put 10% which after the delay 112, increases or de
`(LED) associated with the symbols of this column. A
`creases the contents (according to the logic state of
`second selection of the sensor 121a switches off all
`1090) of counter 115.
`luminous dots but the one which belongs to the line
`When the ?nger leaves the sensor, e.g. when the
`selected by the transducer 121a. It is of course also
`desired symbol appears on the display 110, the output
`possible to start with the selection of the lines by the
`10912 switches to state 0 and inhibits any additional
`sensor 121a and then with the selection of the columns
`counting of counter 115 which could occur due to the
`by the sensor 121.
`fact that the ?nger leaves the sensor by generating
`FIG. 10 shows the block diagram of the circuit asso
`many undesired successive logic states.
`ciated with the embodiment of FIG. 9. The outputs of
`In summary, the combination of an N-electrode sen
`sensor 121 are transcoded by the transcoder 104 whose
`outputs 107 are connected to the inputs of the register
`sor with a decoder allows selection of one among
`128 which is synchronized by the clock signal 114a
`2N—l symbols, whereas the use of the circuit accord
`ing to FIG. 4 extends the alphabet of possible symbols
`delivered by the delay circuit 113. The outputs of the
`by means of a reversible counter. The limit in the size of
`sensor 1210 are also transcoded by the transcoder 104a
`the alphabet is set by the size of the counter. Every time
`whose outputs 107a are connected to the inputs of the
`register 128a which is synchronized by the clock signal
`the ?nger is moved in one direction, on the complete
`114b delivered by the delay circuit 113a. The outputs of
`sensor, the counter is incremented by 2N-l units. In
`this way, a rapid selection of a symbol in the group is
`the registers 128 and 128a are decoded by the decoder
`obtained by a slower movement of the ?nger until the
`117 to activate the control display 126.
`
`40
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`45
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`50
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`4,242,676
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`8
`Another embodiment of the sensor according to the
`In a second embodiment, the alphabet is alphanu
`invention is represented in FIG. 11. Here, the capacitive
`meric and a display with 35 matrix elements or dots is
`necessary.
`or resistive electrodes a-n, which are sensitive to the
`Finally, if the device for data input according to the
`?nger of the user, are disposed according to a bidimen
`sional arrangement. The search of the symbols is then
`invention is intended to control a timepiece or an instru
`ment having an analog display, the control display may
`effected along twoaxes X and Y and a symbol is deter
`be the analog display of the device itself.
`mined by the coordinate X and the coordinate Y of the
`To enter the selected symbol into the utilization cir
`?nger on the sensor 35.
`cuit of the instrument, it is necessary to give a validity
`FIG. 12 shows a 1-bit arrangement of a sensor ac
`order to this circuit when the desired symbol is dis
`cording to the invention. The sensor 23 comprises a
`played. This can be done for example by a special elec
`plurality of identical capacitive or resistive electrodes
`trode or by a key provided for that purpose which can
`which are sensitive to the ?nger of the user and where
`be actuated by the same ?nger or simultaneously by
`each electrode is connected to those which are immedi
`another ?nger.
`ately adjacent to it. The displacement of the ?nger on
`In a ?rst embodiment, it is possible to provide a delay
`such a sensor produces pulses the number n of which is
`circuit which generates the validity order a predeter
`a function of the displacement AX. These pulses are
`mined time after the last change of symbols has taken
`counted in a counter 24 and each state of the contents of
`place on the control display.
`the latter represents a symbol of the alphabet. When the
`In another embodiment, it is possible to enter the
`desired symbol, delivered by the decoder 25, appears on
`selected symbol on the basis of the detection of an
`the control display 26, the user stops the movement of
`abrupt change of the position of the ?nger on the sen
`his ?nger and gives a validity order to enter the selected
`sor, e. g. when the ?nger rapidly leaves the sensor when
`data into the instrument.
`the desired symbol is selected.
`It is possible to use the sensor of FIG. 12 in the ar
`What we claim is:
`rangement of FIG. 6. This gives the advantage that the
`1. An interactive device for the input of data into an
`search of a symbol in a great alphabet is very much
`instrument of small dimensions, comprising: at least one
`accelerated.
`manually actuated sensor having a plurality of N elec
`Another embodiment of the sensor is illustrated in
`trodes placed side by side, said N electrodes de?ning a
`FIG. 13. The sensor 34 comprises a plurality of capaci
`number greater than N of possible positions of a ?nger
`tive or resistive electrodes 29-33 which are arranged in
`on the sensor; a control display unit for displaying the
`parallel lines wherein each line represents a logic vari
`data to be entered into said instrument to permit inspec
`able, the number of lines corresponding to the number
`tion of said data; a transcoder coupling said sensor to
`of bits at the output of the sensor. The position X of the
`said control display unit for delivering output signals to
`?nger is delivered directly in the binary code at the
`said control display unit, each discrete output signal of
`output of the sensor.
`said transcoder corresponding to one of said possible
`In order to accelerate the search of the symbols it is
`positions of the ?nger on said sensor; and electronic
`possible to provide the device with a display which
`means coupled to said control display unit for process
`ing said data; said control display unit being responsive
`indicates the general situation of the selected symbol
`to output signals of said transcoder produced by the
`with regard of all or part of the alphabet. Such a partic-_
`movement and position of the ?nger on said sensor to
`40
`ular display, or pointer, may be realized in various
`cause the search and selection, respectively, of one
`ways.
`symbol to be entered into said instrument from an alpha
`FIG. 14 represents such a particular display. The
`bet of greater than N symbols.
`display comprises e.g. a set of light emitting diodes
`2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said trans
`A-Z, each diode being associated with the symbol of
`coder produces output signals corresponding to one of
`45
`the alphabet which is marked opposite to it. To each
`the possible positions of the ?nger on said sensor inde
`position of the ?nger on the sensor corresponds the
`pendent of the breadth of the ?nger.
`lighting of the diode which is representative of the
`3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor
`selected symbol. This allows the user to judge at a
`comprises a plurality of identical electrodes placed side
`glance to which distance he is from the desired symbol
`by side, said sensor delivering to its output a coded
`50
`and thus to control more rapidly the movement of his
`information signal which is representative of the posi
`?nger on the sensor. FIG. 14 illustrates the selection of
`tion of the ?nger on the sensor.
`the symbol “E”.
`4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor
`Another embodiment of the pointer of FIG. 14 is
`comprises N electrodes which de?ne (2N— 1) possible
`illustrated in FIG. 15. Here, each light emitting diode is
`positions of the ?nger, the sensor delivering at least
`associated with a group of symbols. FIG. 15 shows the
`(2N— l) coded information signals at its output.
`selection of one of the symbols of the group “JKL”.
`5. A device according to claim 4, wherein said trans
`Another embodiment of the pointer of FIG. 14 is
`coder comprises a ?rst transcoder with (2N— l) outputs
`illustrated in FIG. 16 where each light emitting diode is
`each of which corresponding to one of the (2N—l)
`associated with a digit of a display with seven segments
`possible positions of the ?nger on the sensor and being
`or with luminous dots. This allows to choose at ?rst a
`activated when the ?nger lies on that position, and a
`group of symbols in an alphabet and then to select one
`second reduction transcoder to code on M bits the
`of the symbols of this alphabet by means of the sensor.
`(2N—l) information signals at the output of the ?rst
`The type of the control display associated with the
`transcoder, the number M being smaller than the num
`device is determined by the alphabet utilized.
`ber N.
`In a ?rst embodiment, the alphabet is essentially nu
`6. A device according to claim 5, wherein said con
`merical which allows the choice of a seven segment
`trol display unit comprises an electronic circuit which
`display for the control display.
`receives said output signals of the transcoder and a
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`nected as a clock signal for the register, permitting the
`introduction of data into said register.
`13. A device according to claim 1, wherein said de
`vice comprises two sensors, each of said sensors com
`prising at least one electrode, and a control display in
`the form of a series of elements arranged to correspond
`to a table of symbols, the activation of a ?rst sensor
`causing activation of all of said elements associated with
`the symbols of one column of said table and the subse
`quent activation of the second sensor causing deactiva
`tion of all elements in said column but the one which
`belongs to the row of said table selected by said second
`sensor.
`14. A device according to claim 13, wherein each of
`said sensors is associated with a transcoding circuit
`being connected to a corresponding logic circuit and to
`a corresponding register which receives a clock signal
`delivered by the corresponding logic circuit, the out
`puts of the registers being decoded by a decoder to
`activate the control display.
`15. A device according to claim 1, wherein the elec- ‘
`trodes of the sensor are disposed according to a bidi
`mensional arrangement, the sensor delivering coded
`information output signals associated with the coordi
`nates X and Y of the ?nger on two axes.
`16. A device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor
`comprises a plurality of identical electrodes, each elec
`trode being connected to those immediately adjacent to
`it, the search of the desired symbol being executed by
`variation of the position of the ?nger on the sensor.
`17. A device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor
`comprises a plurali