US3581003A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Keyboard
Assignee: SEYMOUR ELECTRONICS AND AUTOMATION Inc A KA CORP
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Filing: 1968-03-15
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Granted: 1971-05-25
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Expires: 1988-03-15
Abstract
Abstract A keyboard for providing electrical output indications encoded in a preselected code in response to the operation of a key. Each key of the keyboard providing a light signal-transmitting path for transmitting light rays from a light source to an optical encoding element for transmission to a photoelectric means to provide the electrical output indications in accordance with a preselected code representative of an operated key. The keyboard includes gating circuit means for controlling the correct pattern of electrical output indications to be produced from the encoding element.
Inventors
- 👤 William C Leone
- 👤 Robert Lee Malone
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 10:03
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L17/00; H04L17/02; H04L17/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
233 words
In a keyboard for providing electrical output indications encoded in a preselected code in response to the operation of a key on the keyboard including a keyboard having a plurality of movable keys thereon, one key for each character to be encoded, each key being further characterized aS providing a light signal transmitting path therethrough, a light source, individual light-transmitting elements for transmitting light rays from said source to and from an individual key be means thereof upon operation of the key, means for mounting the dark ends of the individual lighttransmitting elements in a preselected configuration, a rotatable optical encoding element having the characters of each key for the keyboard recorded thereon in accordance with the preselected code, a key distribution light-coupling means, means for rotatably mounting the optical encoding element and the light-coupling means to allow them to continuously rotate in unison, means for distributing light from said source onto the optical encoding element, photoelectric means for providing electrical output indications in accordance with the light rays transmitted through the optical encoding element, said photoelectric means being arranged to be responsive to the light transmitted from said source through the keys and the light-coupling means, and gating circuit means connected to be responsive to the output indications from the photoelectric means for controlling the correct pattern of binary characters to be produced in accordance with the operated key of the keyboard.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
233 words
In a keyboard for providing electrical output indications encoded in a preselected code in response to the operation of a key on the keyboard including a keyboard having a plurality of movable keys thereon, one key for each character to be encoded, each key being further characterized aS providing a light signal transmitting path therethrough, a light source, individual light-transmitting elements for transmitting light rays from said source to and from an individual key be means thereof upon operation of the key, means for mounting the dark ends of the individual lighttransmitting elements in a preselected configuration, a rotatable optical encoding element having the characters of each key for the keyboard recorded thereon in accordance with the preselected code, a key distribution light-coupling means, means for rotatably mounting the optical encoding element and the light-coupling means to allow them to continuously rotate in unison, means for distributing light from said source onto the optical encoding element, photoelectric means for providing electrical output indications in accordance with the light rays transmitted through the optical encoding element, said photoelectric means being arranged to be responsive to the light transmitted from said source through the keys and the light-coupling means, and gating circuit means connected to be responsive to the output indications from the photoelectric means for controlling the correct pattern of binary characters to be produced in accordance with the operated key of the keyboard.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
In a keyboard as defined in claim 1 wherein the optical encoding element records readout control information for each group of encoded binary characters and the gating circuit means is responsive to the corresponding readout control information and the signals from the light coupler.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
In a keyboard as defined in claim 2 wherein the means for mounting the dark ends of the light-transmitting elements comprises a ring having the elements located thereon in positions correlated to the recorded group of information on the encoding element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
96 words
In a keyboard as defined in claim 3 wherein the keyboard includes bivalued keys and control keys constructed and defined for providing a light signal transmitting path therethrough, individual light-transmitting elements for transmitting light rays from said source to and from the control keys upon operation thereof, said photoelectric means being responsive to the operation of the control keys for providing a corresponding electrical output signal and said gating means comprising ''''logical'''' control circuits for defining control signals for controlling the readout of the correct pattern of binary characters including when the bivalued keys are operated.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
In a keyboard as defined in claim 4 wherein the control keys include a shift key and a control key and the optical encoding element includes a clock track for providing a clock signal on readout with each group of encoded characters and control and shift signals for preselected groups of characters correlated to the bivalued keys.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
In a keyboard as defined in claim 5 wherein the gating means comprises three ''''AND'''' circuits for signalling the operation of a shift key, a control key or neither key for combination with the clock signals and the signals from the light coupler.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
In a keyboard as defined in claim 6 wherein the light-transmitting elements are fiber optic elements.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
In a keyboard as defined in claim 7 including storage circuit means for storing the encoded signals from the photoelectric means and the signal from the gating circuit means being applied thereto for reading out the correct group of signals.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-05-24 | 1974-11-23 | 1975-05-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-24 | 1978-11-23 | 1979-05-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-24 | 1982-11-23 | 1983-05-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |