Optomechanical information entry device
US5677688A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 13, 1992 |
| Grant date | Oct 14, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 13, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03K17/969
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A full N-key rollover capability information entry device includes first and second sets of intersecting light guides oriented at an angle to one another which may comprise a mesh of waveguides that together form a self-supporting planar sheet of a substantially transparent material at the wavelength of light introduced into one end of at least one of the first and second sets of light guides. This permits each intersection to comprise a common portion of both a light guide of the first set and a light guide of the second set that intersect at that intersection. Detection of changes in the intensity of the light in at least one of the sets of light guides in response to key actuation that blocks a portion of the light at a certain intersection is indicative of that actuated key.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.