Electronic keyboard

Claim 2

In a keyboard, a plurality of accessing keys, each of said keys comprising key entry and detecting means, means for generating a controlled duration signal preventing an overrun of said key when accessed in substantially the same time period of any other of said keys, and means responsive to said controlled duration signal for providing a unique encoded manifestation for said key.

Claim 3

In the keyboard of claim 1, and further comprising a plural line buss coupled to the encoding means of each of said keys, and an output buss, and buffer register means between said busses for accepting the unique manifestations from a predetermined number of a plurality of said keys accessed sequentially within substantially the same time period and for providing said manifestations to said output buss.

Claim 4

In the keyboard of claim 2, and further comprising character code memory means connected in said output buss for storing plural bit messages and responsive to the respective unique manifestations in sequence to provide a plural bit message to said output buss for each manifestation.

Claim 5

In the keyboard of claim 3, wherein the memory means comprises next address means coupling the output of said memory means to its input, so that a portion of said message for each manifestation is provided to said output buss as data and the remaining portion of said message is provided to said memory means as the next address of data in the memory means.

Claim 6

A key for an electronic keyboard, comprising entry and detecting means, means for generating a controlled duration signal in response to the depression of said key, and means responsive to said signal for providing a unique encoded manifestation for said key in said keyboard.

Claim 7

A key for an electronic keyboard, comprising entry and detecting means, means for generating a controlled duration signal in response to the depression of said key, and means responsive to said signal for providing a unique encoded manifestation for said key in said keyboard.

Claim 8

An electronic keyboard for accessing utilization apparatus through input-output means, comprising information storage apparatus for storing data in at least one character code, a first plural line buss for accessing said apparatus, a plurality of accessing keys, each key being uniquely connected to said first buss, and a second plural line buss for bidirectionally coupling said apparatus to said input-output means, said apparatus comprising a read-write memory accessible through said first buss for reading of a message to said second buss and writeable through said second buss, so that the character code of the messages read from said apparatus are changeable from said utilization apparatus through said input-output means.

Claim 9

An electronic keyboard for accessing utilization apparatus through input-output means, comprising information storage apparatus for storing data in at least one character code, a first plural line buss for accessing said apparatus, a plurality of accessing keys, each key being uniquely connected to said first buss, and a second plural line buss for bidirectionally coupling said apparatus to said input-output means, said apparatus comprising a read-write memory accessible through said first buss for reading of a message to said second buss and writeable through said second buss, so that the character code of the messages read from said apparatus are changeable from said utilization apparatus through said input-output means.

Claim 10

A keyboard for accessing a utilization apparatus through input/output means, comprising: a plurality of accessing keys; a signal bit-pulse source for each of said keys; a plural line bus coupled to said input/output means; encoding means coupling said signal-pulse source for each of said keys, to predetermined lines of said bus; said encodinG means comprising a coded circuit connection pattern in said bus for connection of said signal-pulse source for each of said keys, to said bus, said signal-pulse source generating and transmitting along said first bus, to said input/output means, predetermined messages, each having a bit content equivalent to the number of lines in said bus.

Claim 11

A keyboard for accessing a utilization apparatus through input/output means, comprising: a plurality of accessing keys; a signal bit-pulse source for each of said keys; a plural line bus coupled to said input/output means; encoding means coupling said signal-pulse source for each of said keys, to predetermined lines of said bus; said encodinG means comprising a coded circuit connection pattern in said bus for connection of said signal-pulse source for each of said keys, to said bus, said signal-pulse source generating and transmitting along said first bus, to said input/output means, predetermined messages, each having a bit content equivalent to the number of lines in said bus.

Claim 12

A keyboard for accessing a utilization apparatus through input/output means comprising: a plurality of accessing keys; a signal-pulse source for each of said keys; a first plural line bus; encoding means coupling said signal-pulse source for each of said keys, to predetermined lines of said first bus; said encoding means comprising a coded circuit connection pattern in said first bus for connection of said signal-pulse source for each of said keys, to said first bus, said signal-pulse source generating and transmitting along said first bus, predetermined, plural bit addresses, each of said addresses having a bit content equivalent to the number of lines in said first bus; a read only storage means located in said keyboard and coupled to said first bus after its coupling to said encoding means, for storing a plurality of coded words, each corresponding to a plural bit character; a second plural line bus coupling said storage means, after its coupling to said first bus, to said input/output means; said signal-pulse source generating a pulse when said corresponding key is accessed, said pulse being encoded by said encoding means into an address to a storage location in said read only storage means, said plural bit, address signal causing said storage means to generate a coded, plural bit, character and to transmit same in a single step, parallel-by-bit mode on said second bus to said input/output means, said character having a bit content equal to the number of lines of said second bus.

Claim 13

A keyboard for accessing a utilization apparatus through input/output means comprising: a plurality of accessing keys; a signal-pulse source for each of said keys; a first plural line bus; encoding means coupling said signal-pulse source for each of said keys, to predetermined lines of said first bus; said encoding means comprising a coded circuit connection pattern in said first bus for connection of said signal-pulse source for each of said keys, to said first bus, said signal-pulse source generating and transmitting along said first bus, predetermined, plural bit addresses, each of said addresses having a bit content equivalent to the number of lines in said first bus; a read only storage means located in said keyboard and coupled to said first bus after its coupling to said encoding means, for storing a plurality of coded words, each corresponding to a plural bit character; a second plural line bus coupling said storage means, after its coupling to said first bus, to said input/output means; said signal-pulse source generating a pulse when said corresponding key is accessed, said pulse being encoded by said encoding means into an address to a storage location in said read only storage means, said plural bit, address signal causing said storage means to generate a coded, plural bit, character and to transmit same in a single step, parallel-by-bit mode on said second bus to said input/output means, said character having a bit content equal to the number of lines of said second bus.

Claim 14

In the keyboard of claim 13, wherein said storage means further comprises addressing means coupled to said first buss, memory means coupled to said addressing means for storing a plurality of words of data, each of said words being comprised of coded character and next address information, and means for coupling the next address portion of the message from said memory means to the addressing means as the next address for said memory means, said coupling generating a multiple cycling of the read operation of said memory upon accessing a predetermined one of said keys, whereby a message of a plurality of words is transmitted to said input/output means.

Claim 15

In the keyboard of claim 8, wherein said storage means has information stored therein in the form of a plurality of discrete codes, said first buss comprises additional code accessing lines accessed through predetermined ones of said keys and said keyboard comprises means connected to said additional lines for selecting the code of the message provided from said storage means to said input-output means.