The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 20, 1993
Filed:
Feb. 06, 1991
James Kahkoska, Colorado Springs, CO (US);
Hewlett-Packard Company, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and method for simulating a mechanical detent in a manually operable rotary digital encoder typically used to control a display or readout in an associated electronic system. The output from the encoder to the electronic system is suspended for a predetermined time when the encoder shaft is rotated past a predetermined preset point. While the encoder output is suspended, the output signal V.sub.o to the electronic system is set at a level indicative of the preset point. The system user is thus able to quickly locate the preset point without overshooting it. If the user does, in fact, want to adjust the encoder past the preset point, the delay is of such a duration that it will have expired by the time the user repositions his hand on the encoder knob, thus allowing adjustment of the encoder to continue beyond the preset point.