Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US6476733?dq=7,403,220
Timestamp: 2014-09-23 14:47:21
Document Index: 792057198

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 58', 'art 56', 'art 58', 'art 56', 'art 56', 'art 54', 'arts 58', 'art 54', 'art 52', 'art 52', 'art 44', 'art 44', 'art 46', 'art 46', 'art 48', 'art 48', 'art 50', 'art 50', 'art 42', 'art 42', 'art 40', 'art 40', 'art 38', 'art 38', 'art 36']

Patent US6476733 - Thin electronic data input device - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign in<nobr>Advanced Patent Search</nobr>PatentsThis invention relates to a thin electronic data input device. Some versions of the input device may be foldable, and some versions are capable of being rolled up. Still other versions are capable of being disintegrated into smaller sub-parts. Other versions have one or more of these properties. In the...http://www.google.com/patents/US6476733?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US6476733 - Thin electronic data input deviceAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS6476733 B1Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 09/179,550Publication dateNov 5, 2002Filing dateOct 28, 1998Priority dateOct 28, 1998Fee statusLapsedPublication number09179550, 179550, US 6476733 B1, US 6476733B1, US-B1-6476733, US6476733 B1, US6476733B1InventorsAhmad AmiriOriginal AssigneeAhmad AmiriExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (15), Referenced by (8), Classifications (18), Legal Events (6) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetThin electronic data input deviceUS 6476733 B1Abstract This invention relates to a thin electronic data input device. Some versions of the input device may be foldable, and some versions are capable of being rolled up. Still other versions are capable of being disintegrated into smaller sub-parts. Other versions have one or more of these properties. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a thin electronic data input device for generating electrical signals for transmission to an electronic device, such as a computer, in response to an operator's finger strokes is provided. The data input device comprises a thin circuit board made of a material on which thin electronic circuitry can be affixed. The electronic circuitry includes at least one node, electrically coupled to the circuit board, so that when touched by a finger, a unique signal associated with that node is transmitted to the electronic device. The data input device can be in one piece or comprised of two or more sub-parts connected together by hinges or flexible joints along a common side or edge between adjacent sub-parts. The data input device can comprise more than two sub-parts that may fold on each other longitudinally and latitudinally.
RELATED APPLICATIONS The following is a continuation-in-part application to U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 08/894,675, that was filed on Aug. 27, 1997, entitled THIN ELECTRONIC DATA INPUT DEVICE, abandoned, which application was a National Phase entry of PCT international application, No. PCT/CA96/00111, that was filed Feb. 26, 1996, entitled THIN ELECTRONIC DATA INPUT DEVICE.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a device for data entry into data processing machines, in particular computers. Currently, conventional keyboards perform this task.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Prior art (existing keyboards or their conventional variations) comprise an electronic circuit board, underneath a set of alphanumeric keys kept apart from the circuit board by a spring or similar device. Pressing a key down causes the electronic contact that will eventually translate into input data.
Another disadvantage of prior art keyboards is that to reduce the width and length, the keys must become smaller and the distances between the keys and the underlying circuit board reduced. Shrinking a keyboard to small or pocket size dimensions sacrifices convenience and speed of operation�especially for operators with large fingers and hands. In fact, beyond some point, a shrunken keyboard becomes impossible to operate.
Another disadvantage of prior art keyboards is that since the keys have to be light and easy to press, they are generally not firm and bulky, and therefore are vulnerable to breakage. In other words, for transportation and use, keyboards should be treated as �fragile�, which is not very convenient considering their extensive daily use.
Some of the above disadvantages do not apply to a type of keyboard currently used in, for example, fast food restaurant order entry and on some hand held calculators. In these keyboards the circuit board is separated from the keys by a bubble gap that is closed by pressing the keys surface. This surface is generally constructed of a material with spring-like properties that keep the key surface and circuit board separate (until pressure is applied to the key surface). The problem with this kind of keyboard is that the pressure needed to cause contact between the keys and the circuit board is relatively �high� making data entry slow and laborious.
There are other methods of data entry that when advanced and perfected in the future may reduce the need for keyboards, such as �voice recognition� and �handwriting recognition�. Currently, however, these methods are slower than finger operated data entry.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The present invention relates to a thin electronic data input device. Some versions of the input device may be foldable, and some versions are capable of being rolled up. Still other versions are capable of being disintegrated into smaller sub-parts. Other versions have one or more of these properties.
In another version of the invention, the data input device can be comprised of two or more sub-parts connected together by a hinge, or flexible joint along a common side or edge between adjacent sub-parts. Similarly the data input device can comprise more than two sub-parts that may fold on each other longitudinally and latitudinally, i.e., along one edge of a given sub-part, and along a subsequent edge�usually at 90� to the first edge. A typical data input device may comprise multiple sub-parts folding longitudinally within each row and latitudinally along the edge of an extreme sub-part in each row.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES The invention is better illustrated with reference to drawings in which:
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, a simple data input device 10 comprises a thin circuit board 12 on which thin electronic circuitry 14 is affixed using, for example, printed circuit technology, as is well known to those skilled in the art, and covered by a thin non-conducting protective layer 16. The application of a thin non-conductive protective layer to a circuit board is well known to those skilled in the art. Layer 16 can have openings 18, 20 exposing nodes 22, 24and their associated gaps 26, 28. When a finger is placed over both portions�which in the preferred embodiment comprise an anode and cathode�of a node, the gap is bridged, and electronic current flows through the circuitry generating a signal associated with the symbol touched. The signal is eventually transmitted to a computer or other receiving device (not illustrated) via connection cord 30 and plug 32.
Thicker elements of the electronic circuitry are housed in an external detachable chip 114 that is connected to the rest of the assembly via a flexible cable 116.The electronic circuitry of the data input device is connectable to the computer or other receiving device via cable set 118 and plug 120. In a typical data input device of this invention, the preferred folding sequence first comprises folding sub-part 58 into overlying relation with sub-part 56�face to face, or top to top. While maintaining sub-part 58 and sub-part 56 in this overlying relationship, the back face or bottom of sub-part 56 folds into overlying relation with the back face or bottom of sub-part 54. Then while sub-parts 58, 56, and 54 are kept in their folded relationship, the top of sub-part 54 is folded into overlying relation with the top of sub-part 52. This pattern is repeated with sub-part 52 and sub-part 44 folded bottom to bottom; sub-part 44 and sub-part 46 folded top to top; sub-part 46 and sub-part 48 folded bottom to bottom; sub-part 48 and sub-part 50 folded top to top; sub-part 50 and sub-part 42 folded bottom to bottom; sub-part 42 and sub-part 40 folded top to top; sub-part 40 and sub-part 38 folded bottom to bottom; and sub-part 38 and sub-part 36 folded top to top.
In another version of the invention the sub-parts of the data input device may be made of thin pressure sensitive electronic screen�also known as touchscreens�and currently in use for a variety of applications, as is well known to those skilled in the art. Such flat screens convert pressure (usually from a finger) into variation in electric current or voltage that signals a symbol as represented on the keyboard. Such screens can also be programmed to register desired pressure so that even a light touch can be registered or a touch less than some pre-selected pressure level is ignored. These screens can be programmed to signal different symbols when a different part of the screen is touched. A map of which location to touch for each symbol can be electronically imposed on the screen. Such electronic maps are re-programmable for various sets of symbols. For example it can be programmed to map the English alphabet on the screen for one application, and then reprogrammed to map the Greek alphabet on the screen for another application. In short, conversion of a touch screen data input device from one set of symbols to another set of symbols could be achieved by internal programming. In another version of the invention, the thin circuit board of the data input device might be made of a thin flexible material, such as rubber, on which the electronic circuitry is affixed. Again, a thin layer of flexible non-conducting material may cover the electronic circuitry, leaving only the nodes exposed, where desirable. This kind of data input device could be folded or rolled, for transport and storage, and shaped for further versatility. Also, this flexibility can be in more than one sub-part of the data input device and can be attached or detached from the assembly, as explained for the rigid version.
The lock, for example, can be a removable or fixed clasp 150 holding two adjacent sub-parts at a desired angle to one another�even if an underlying surface or desk does not support the assembly of sub-parts.
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