Touch pad overlay driven computer system

A work pad and an overlay with a specific pattern combination adapted to be utilized as input to a data processing system operational under any one of a multitude of application programs for receiving work pad output in the form of pattern signals corresponding to the specific pattern on the overlay, which pattern signals correspond to and are a function of coordinate signals originating from actuation of a pressure sensitive work pad surface, the pattern signals corresponding to a specific application program of the multitude of application programs and registered to the coordinate locations actuated on the work pad, comprising:

• the overlay disposed above the work pad, the overlay being flexible and bearing identification indicia including a combination of opaque and non-opaque apertures disposed about the periphery of the overlay, which indicia is unique to identification of a pattern of any of a typewriter keyboard, computer keyboard, telephone pad, remote control key pad, calculator, geographical layout and game layout displayed on the overlay;
• the work pad comprising, X and Y coordinate pressure sensitive conductors disposed in a grid array disposed beyond the periphery of the pattern on the overlay disposed above the work pad for providing unique location outputs signals corresponding to each different location on the grid array within the boundary of the periphery of the pattern on the overlay and beyond the boundary of the periphery of the pattern on the overlay, and sensors for detecting the pattern of the overlay disposed above the grid array of the work pad and for providing a detection signal as a function of the opacity of the apertures on the overlay corresponding to the indicia on the overlay comprising a two part binary code, wherein the first part contains emulation information characteristic of the pattern of the overlay and the second part contains an overlay number code for use by the software of the corresponding application program;
• and
• the data processing system having the multitude of application programs and including a processor operative in 32 bit mode, memory, identification means receiving the detection signal, comparing the detection signal to respective identification data corresponding to each application program of the multitude of application programs utilized in and operational with the data processing system and matching the detection signal with the identification data of a specific application program, and configuration means responsive to the matching of the detection signal with the identification data of said specific application program programmed for generating configuration signals for each unique location work pad output signal in the form of coordinate signals corresponding to the each location within and to locations outside of the periphery of the overlay pattern for processing by the matched specific application program.