This invention is an input device that enables the user to take symbol sequences such as whole words, phrases, sentences, paragraphs, or other multi-symbol sequences from a computer's memory and have these symbol sequences printed out or displayed by some other means such as a computer monitor. This invention uses a grid of points of switch closure, where each point is identified by an alphanumeric or other code; and where each point of switch closure can be individually activated by the user. Printed sheets of material are accurately positioned over this grid of switch closure points. Printed on these sheets of material are: 1, symbol sequences; and 2, response areas adjacent to each symbol sequence. Each response area lies over one of the switch closure points. When a switch closure point is activated by the user, the electronically coded grid of coordinates for that point are sent to the computer's memory where this particular code causes the computer's memory in conjunction with other hardware to print out or display the same sequence of symbols as are printed on the sheet adjacent to the response area that was activated by the user. By input means, the user may indicate that the sequences of symbols are to be typed out, or are to be displayed on a monitor, or are to be processed in some other manner. The sequences of symbols entered by the user by this process can be mixed with symbol sequences entered by the user by other processes such as a keyboard. After the user has developed his sequences of symbols from this and other sources of input, these symbol sequences can be edited, deleted, or modified in a standard word processing manner.
A piezoelectric substrate is fixed to the movable plate or the support substrate directly or through a drive electrode of the piezoelectric substrate. When a pressure on an input operation surface is detected, a drive voltage is impressed on the drive electrodes of the piezoelectric substrate. In response, the piezoelectric substrate vibrates the movable plate or the support substrate, thereby providing tactile feedback to an operator. Because the movable plate or the support substrate directly vibrates without an independent vibrating source, there is no energy loss or transmission delay caused by transmitting the vibration, and finely control of the contraction and expansion of the piezoelectric substrate allows fine control of the vibration. In one embodiment, the drive voltage is modulated with signals dependent on the location of the pressure. In another embodiment, the drive voltage is modulated with audio frequencies to create a speaker.
In a communication system which is arranged to circulate an addressed electronic document among a plurality of terminals which are connected to one another through a transfer path and to sequentially add attest patterns indicative of the approvals of individual reviewing persons to the electronic document, a method for identifying the source of each person's approval symbol and amendments to the document. The data structure of each electronic document communicated between individual terminals is assembled in a data structure which separates the document content data from the attest patterns added to the document by the creating or reviewing person. If any reviewing person requests to amend the contents of the electronic document to which the attest patterns have been added, a display of only the content data of the above electronic document is presented to the reviewing person. The reviewing person then amends the content data of the document, the prior approval of the document is removed and the thus amended electronic document is recirculated.
In an input pen having a pen-shaped casing, a ferrite core with a coil wound thereon and a ferrite chip are placed opposed to each other via an O-ring. The ferrite chip has a projection. When the input pen is operated, the projection and the ferrite core are moved closer together. When the ferrite chip is moved closer to the ferrite core during operation, the projection is placed substantially close to the ferrite core. Therefore, high responsivity is ensured without moving the ferrite chip into the coil, and there is no need to form an opening or a cavity in the ferrite core.
A single key input system for an apparatus such as a facsimile machine having a plurality of operations. A set sequence of functions each of which would normally require the entering of a separate key may be executed by a single key. A coordinate input unit has operator designatable areas. The set sequence of operations is programmed into the apparatus and executed by indicating a designated area. Therefore, the operator can both create a set sequence of functions which are executable through a single key and can designate the location of that key.
A data processing system includes a multipurpose data input device formed by a touch screen and a digitizing tablet integrated with one another which are activatable independently of each other by proper stimuli. The input device is integrated with a flat panel display in order to establish a visual feedback to the user or to present information pertaining to the entered data after processing. The flat panel display, touch screen and digitizing tablet take a variety of forms and a variety of techniques are utilized to determine which of the touch screen and digitizing tablet is activated at any time.
