US3579047A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Keyboard using switches having light obstructing elements
Assignee: Diehl Verwaltungs Stiftung
•
Filing: 1969-02-13
•
Granted: 1971-05-18
•
Expires: 1989-02-13
Abstract
Abstract Keyboard apparatus for producing switch signal combinations in a code used in office machines includes a number of individual light beam producing means corresponding in number to the number of channels used in the code, and a number of individual keys, each of which carries one or more light-obstructing barriers, the number and position of the barriers on a particular key corresponding to the number and position of the channels used in the machine code system to indicate the signal combination associated with the key so that when a key is depressed the light beams will be selectively interrupted to thereby form a coded signal representing the depressed key.
Inventors
- 👤 Konrad Sturm
- 👤 Willy Becker
- 👤 Heinz Timm
- 👤 Karlheinz Rummel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 17:28
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L13/00; H04L13/16; G; G06; G06C; G06C7/00; G06C7/02; H03; H03K; H03K17/00; H03K17/94; H03K17/965; H03K17/968; H03K17/969
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
214 words
A keyboard apparatus for producing signal combinations indicative of particular keys in a multichannel office machine code system in which each channel may carry a signal, and particular keys are represented by the presence of signals on particular designated channels, the apparatus comprising, in combination: a. support means; b. means for producing a plurality of light beams equal in number to the number of channels in the machine code system; c. a like plurality of photoelectric receiving means, one for each of said light beams, arranged in designated positions on the support means for producing signals in respective ones of said channels in response to a change in the detected radiation; d. a plurality of key members larger in number than said plurality of light beams, each of said key members being mounted on said support means for movement relative thereto from a rest position to a depressed position, each of said key members including means for selectively interrupting one or more of said light beams in accordance with the machine code associated with the respective key when said respective key is depressed, whereby the combination of the signals produced by said plurality of photoelectric receiving means as a result of the depression of a key is a coded representation of the depressed key.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
214 words
A keyboard apparatus for producing signal combinations indicative of particular keys in a multichannel office machine code system in which each channel may carry a signal, and particular keys are represented by the presence of signals on particular designated channels, the apparatus comprising, in combination: a. support means; b. means for producing a plurality of light beams equal in number to the number of channels in the machine code system; c. a like plurality of photoelectric receiving means, one for each of said light beams, arranged in designated positions on the support means for producing signals in respective ones of said channels in response to a change in the detected radiation; d. a plurality of key members larger in number than said plurality of light beams, each of said key members being mounted on said support means for movement relative thereto from a rest position to a depressed position, each of said key members including means for selectively interrupting one or more of said light beams in accordance with the machine code associated with the respective key when said respective key is depressed, whereby the combination of the signals produced by said plurality of photoelectric receiving means as a result of the depression of a key is a coded representation of the depressed key.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
130 words
The keyboard apparatus as defined in claim 1 including a plurality of light ducts, one for each of said light beams, mounted on said support structure, each of said light ducts having a respective one of said light beam producing means at one end thereof and a respective one of said photoelectric receiving means at the other end thereof; and wherein said means for selectively interrupting said light beams includes a number, from one to the number of said light beams, of light-obstructing tabs mounted on each key member for movement therewith, each of said tabs being positioned relative to said ducts so that upon depression of the respective key each of said tabs will extend into a respective one of said ducts and block the light beam passing therethrough.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein each of said photoelectric receiving means is a photosensitive semiconductor device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said light ducts and their associated light beam producing means and photoelectric receiving means are so positioned that the respective light paths are substantially parallel to each other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
121 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 4 including an additional light beam producing means and an associated photoelectric receiving means mounted on said support means to provide an additional light path which is substantially parallel to the other light paths; and wherein each key member carries an additional light obstructing tab means positioned on said key member for blocking the said additional light path at a somewhat later time during the movement of the key to said depressed position than the other tabs block their respective light paths; and logic circuit means for producing an output signal only when a signal from at least one of the first-mentioned photoelectric sources and a signal from said additional photoelectric light source are simultaneously present.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus as definEd in claim 2 wherein each key member comprises a flat member having said light obstructing tabs extending from the body thereof and wherein the individual keys are mounted on said support means parallel to each other for movement in the plane defined by the flat body.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein each flat key member includes a guide member extending in the plane of the flat member and carrying two abutments for limiting its movement in opposite directions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 including means for preventing the depression of any key while another key is depressed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
87 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said means for preventing depression of any key while another key is depressed comprises: a ball cage means including a channel having stops at each end and a number of balls disposed therebetween, tongue means on each key member positioned for movement between individual balls upon movement of the key to the depressed position, the dimensions of said channel, its stop means and said balls being such that only one tongue means can fit between the balls at a time.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein each of said photosensitive semiconductor devices is a phototransistor which is a part of a respective bistable flip-flop circuit and which causes the respective flip-flop circuit to assume its set condition when the respective light beam is interrupted upon depression of a key; and wherein means are provided for generating a reset pulse for said flip-flop circuits.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as in claim 10 including means for blocking the unoperated key means in response to the output signal of the set flip-flop circuit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the machine code system uses six digits and there are six light beams and six output signal-producing means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2432527A
Cited
US3235741A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-05-17 | 1974-11-16 | 1975-05-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-17 | 1978-11-16 | 1979-05-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-17 | 1982-11-16 | 1983-05-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |