US3253258A - Writing platen - Google Patents

Description

y 1966 R. w. HUGHES ETAL 3,253,258

WRITING PLATEN Filed Sept. 14, 1964 2 Shets-Sheet 1 I NVENTORS ROBERT W. HUGHES BY ARTHUR FAIRCHILD W pm,/;mwm

A 'I 'TOR NE Y5 y 24, 1966 R. w. HUGHES ETAL 3,253,258

WRI TING PLATEN Filed Sept. 14.. 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS ROBERT W HUGHES ARTHUR FAIRCHILD BY M ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,253,258 WRITING PLATEN Robert W. Hughes, Mountain Lakes, and Arthur L. Fairchild, Wayne, N.J., assignors to Data Trends, Inc., Parsippany, NJ., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Sept. 14, 1964, Ser. No. 396,161 15 Claims. (Cl. 340-1465) This invention relates to apparatus for generating electrical signals in response to hand written alpha numeric characters and other special symbols and more par-.

ticularly to a writing platen for use with apparatus of this type on which platen the alpha numeric characters and symbols are to be hand written.

A platen of the type with which the present invention is concerned is shown in the US. Letters Patent to Dimond, 3,108,254, October 22, 1963.

Among the problems involved in the generation of electrically coded signals in response to the describing of an alpha numeric character on a writing surface, is that of the user writing the character in the wrong area of the writing surface or at least in writing the character of such a size that one or more portions extend beyond the intended limits of the writing area. Another problem is that of generating a signal at the end of the writing of each character in order that the apparatus into which the signals are being transmitted may know that a new. character is about to be written.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a writing platen which combines certain electrical and psychological features, the effect of which is to ensure that the user writes a character on the platen within a predetermined area.

A further object of the present invention .is to provide in a writing platen an end-of-character electrode, so positioned that the writer once having written the desired character need only continue the last movement of the stylus in describing the character to any edge of the writ ing area in order to contact a segment which signals the end-of-character to the using apparatus.

Other objects of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the attached sheet of drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a writing platen in accordance with the present invention; and

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of a masking device for use in conjunction with the platen of FIGURE 1.

In general, the objects of the present invention are achieved by adding to platens of the known double dot character recognition system, a psychological borderline surrounding the double dots and by further providing an end-of-character electrode border which in turn surround-s the psychological border.

Referring now to the drawings, the platen of the pres ent invention includes an insulating base member having a pair of spaced and raised visual indicia 12 and 14 for example, in the form of colored beads or the like. As is conventional with apparatus of this type, the signal generating conductive segments are seven in number. A first segment 16 extends between the visual indicia 12 and 14 and the remaining segments radiate outwardly from the two indicia toward the edge portions of the insulating base. Beginning at the top of the platen, these segments are identified by reference numerals 18, 20, 22, 24, 26 and 28.

The end-of-character electrode 30 comprises a substantially rectangular conductive strip having gaps 32, 34, 36, 38, 40 and 42 through which the conductive segments mentioned above may extend. It is desirable in some cases to terminate the segments 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26 adjacent the inner edge of the border 30.

3,253,258 Patented May 24, 1966 Positioned between the visual indicia beads 12 and 14 and the end-of-character border, is what is termed a psychological border identified by the reference numeral 46. This is simply a colored rectangular indicia which together with the two beads 12 and 14 defines the area within which alpha numeric characters should be written if properly coded electrical signals are to be generated which can be positively identified as corresponding to a particular character which has been written on the platen. It is important that the six segments extend across the border 46 even though they terminate short of the border 30. Since the writing on the platen is done with an electrically conductive stylus, and since erroneous results would stem from shorting with the stylus any of the conductive segments to the end-of-character border, a mask such as that shown in FIGURE 2 and generally indicated by the reference numeral 52 may be employed which surrounds the outer periphery of the end-of-character border. Such mask may include inwardly projecting tab portions 54, 56, 58, 6t), 62 and 64, which mask the portions of the end-of-character border through which the conductive segments pass. It has been found that some operators tend to hit the projecting tab portions with the writing stylus and accordingly it may be desirable to eliminate these portions as the number of errors caused by sho'rting segments to the end-of-character border may be relatively small.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the platen instead of being flat could be given a dished or bowl shape as a further aid to keeping the stylus within the desired writing area. In addition, either the psychological border or the end-of-character border or both could be raised above the surface of the platen, e.g., by 4, inch to prevent accidental touching of the end-ofcharacter border and these variations could be employed with either a flat or dished platen.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that there is herein disclosed a new and useful writing platen for use in conjunction with apparatus whereever there is the requirement for generation of or recognition of coded electrical signals corresponding to hand written alpha numeric characters or other special symbols.

We claim:

1. A writ-ing platen for the describing thereon with an electrically conductive stylus, of alpha numeric characters and other special symbols, in order to generate electrical signals to be transmitted to an identification means, said platen comprising:

(1) an insulating base;

(2) a pair of spaced visual indicia substantially centrally located on said base and with respect to'which the alpha numeric characters and special symbols are to be described;

(3) a first conductive segment on said base extending between said indicia;

(4) a plurality of conductive segments spaced from each other on said base and radiating outwardly from points closely adjacent said indicia;

(5) and an end-of-character border area of conductive-material on said base surrounding said writing area.

2. A writing platen as defined by claim 1 in which said pair of indicia extend upwardly out of the plane of said base.

3. A writing platen as defined by claim 1 in which said base is dish shaped.

4. A writing platen as defined by claim 1 in which said end-of-character border is raised above the plane of said base.

5. A writing platen as defined by claim 3 in which said end-of-character border is raised above the plane of said base.

6. A writing platen for the describing thereon with an electrically conductive styles, of alpha numeric characters and other special symbols, in order to generate electrical signals to be transmitted to an identification means, said platen comprising:

(1) an insulating base;

(2) a pair of spaced visual indicia substantially centrally located on said base and with respect to which the alpha numeric characters and special symbols are to be described;

(3) a first conductive segment on said base extending between said indicia;

(4) a plurality of conductive segments on said base spaced from each other and radiating outwardly from points closely adjacent said indicia;

(5) visual indicia means on said base surrounding and spaced outwardly from said pair of indicia and defining therewith the particular writing area on said base within which the alpha numeric character and special symbols are to be described;

(6) and an end-of-character border area of conductive material on said base spaced outwardly from and surrounding said writing area.

7. A writing platen as defined by claim 6 in which said visual indicia means is raised above the plane of said base.

8. A writing platen as defined by claim 6 in which said end-of-character border is raised above the plane of said base.

9. A writing platen as defined by claim 6 in which base is dish shaped.

10. A writing platen as defined by claim 7 in which said base is dish shaped.

11. A writing platen as defined by claim 8 in which said base is dish shaped.

12. The combination defined by claim 3 in which said end-of-character border area includes a plurality of gaps through which said plurality of conductive segments extend.

13. A platen as defined by claim 3 and further including insulating masking means surrounding said end-ofcharacter border area and including portions overlying only said gaps in said conductive border area.

14. A platen as defined by claim 3 in which said plurality of conductive segments are six in number, two being aligned with said first conductive segment, one on either end thereof, and the remaining four positioned parallel to each other and at right angles to said first conductive segment, two on each side thereof.

15. A writing platen for the describing thereon with an electrically conductive stylus, of alpha numeric characters and other special symbols in order to generate electrical signals to be transmitted to an identification means, said platen comprising:

(1) an insulating base;

(2) a pair of spaced visual indicia substantially centrally located on and extending out of the plane of said base and with respect to which the alpha numeric characters and special symbols are to be described;

(3) a first conductive segment on said base extending between said pair of indicia;

(4) six conductive segments on said base, spaced from each other, radiating outwardly from points closely adjacent said pair of indicia, two of said segments being aligned with said first conductive segment, one on either end thereof, and the remaining four positioned parallel to each other and at right angles to said first conductive segment, two on each side thereof;

(5) further visual indicia on said base surrounding and spaced outwardly from said pair of indicia and defining therewith the particular writing area on said base within which the alpha numeric characters "and special symbols are to be described;

(6) and an end-of character border area of conductive material on said base spaced outwardly from and surrounding said writing area and having gaps therein through which gaps said plurality of conductive segments extend.

No references cited.

DARYL W. COOK, Primary Examiner.

MALCOLM A. MORRISON, Examiner.

J. E. SMITH, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A WRITING PLATEN FOR THE DESCRIBING THEREON WITH AN ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE STYLUS, OF ALPHA NUMERIC CHARACTERS AND OTHER SPECIAL SYMBOLS, IN ORDER TO GENERATE ELECTRICAL SIGNALS TO BE TRANSMITTED TO AN IDENTIFICATION MEANS, SAID PLATEN COMPRISING: (1) AN INSULATING BASE; (2) A PAIR OF SPACED VISUAL INDICIA SUBSTANTIALLY CENTRALLY LOCATED ON SAID BASE AND WITH RESPECT TO WHICH THE ALPHA NUMERIC CHARACTERS AND SPECIAL SYMBOLS ARE TO BE DESCRIBED; (3) A FIRST CONDUCTIVE SEGMENT ON SAID BASE EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID INDICIA; (4) A PLURALITY OF CONDUCTIVE SEGMENTS SPACED FROM EACH OTHER ON SAID BASE AND RADIATING OUTWARDLY FROM POINTS CLOSELY ADJACENT SAID INDICIA; (5) AND AN END-OF-CHARACTER BORDER AREA OF CONDUCTIVE MATERIAL ON SAID BASE SURROUNDING SAID WRITING AREA.

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