Input device for processing system probe controlled

An input device for entering selected items of information into a processing system, comprising:

• a plurality of conductors defining a matrix having intersecting row and column lines, each intersection of a row line and a column line corresponding to one of said items of information;
• a plurality of electro-luminescent diodes each one of which is coupled to a respective row and column line at corresponding intersections wherein each diode produces a visual indication in response to energization of corresponding row and column lines;
• a counter having a counting capacity corresponding to the number of said diodes, the contents of the counter being incrementally varied in a predetermined sequence;
• matrix driving means coupled to said counter and said conductors for decoding the contents of the counter and for producing address signals operative to selectively energize said diodes;
• probe means coupled to said counter and movably disposed to detect a selected diode energized in response to one of the address signals from said matrix driving means and for producing a detection output signal;
• inhibit means coupled to said probe means and said counter for halting continued incremental variation of the contents in said counter in response to the detection output signal, wherein the count which corresponds to the selected diode is held by said counter;
• and
• means coupled to said counter for deriving the held count for entry into the processing system as the selected item of information.

An input device for entering selected information into a processing system, comprising:

• a plurality of indication signal generating means for generating respective indication signals;
• driving means coupled to each of said indication signal generating means for producing actuation signals operative to energize each of said indication signal generating means in a predetermined sequence and for storing the actuation signals;
• probe means coupled to said driving means and movably disposed to detect a selected indication signal from said signal generating means and for producing a detection output signal;
• inhibit means coupled to said probe means and said driving means for halting continued sequential variation of the actuation signals from the driving means in response to the detection output signal wherein the actuation signal which corresponds to the indication signal detected by said probe means is stored in th driving means;
• and
• means coupled to said driving means for deriving stored actuation signals for entry into the processing system as said selected information.