Self-encoding keyboard employing eddy current shorting

Claim 2

In apparatus for encoding information, a plurality of actuatable keys, a plurality of winding means respectively corresponding to said keys, eddy current shorting means responsive to actuation of a key for causing eddy current shorting to occur with respect to the winding means corresponding thereto, and means responsive to the occurrence of eddy current shorting in a winding means for producing an electrical output uniquely representative of the key corresponding thereto.

Claim 3

The invention in accordance with claim 1, wherein said eddy current shorting means includes an eddy current shorting element for each key operable to be moved into proximity to a respective winding means when a key is actuated.

Claim 4

The invention in accordance with claim 2, wherein each eddy current shorting element includes a metal member mechanically coupled to its respective key.

Claim 5

The invention in accordance with claim 2, wherein each of said plurality of winding means includes a corresponding plurality of windings.

Claim 6

The invention in accordance with claim 4, wherein said plurality of winding means are disposed in a plurality of adjacent planes with the plurality of windings corresponding to each winding means being distributed among said planes and located in close proximity to one another.

Claim 7

The invention in accordance with claim 4, wherein said apparatus includes driving means and sensing means, and wherein at least one of each corresponding plurality of windings is a drive winding coupled to said driving means and at least one other one is a sense winding coupled to said sensing means.

Claim 8

The invention in accordance with claim 6, wherein the windings of the plurality of winding means are interconnected so as to form at least one group of interconnected drive windings coupled to said driving means and at least one group of interconnected sense windings coupled to said sensing means.

Claim 9

The invention in accordance with claim 7, wherein the windings of said plurality of winding means are disposed in a plurality of adjacent planes with each group being disposed in one of said planes and with corresponding windings having like relative positions.

Claim 10

The invention in accordance with claim 8, wherein each plane is comprised of a sheet of insulative material having its respective group of interconnected windings provided thereon.

Claim 11

The invention in accordance with claim 8, wherein each group of interconnected drive windings has its drive windings interconnected so that each drive winding has the same relative polarity, and wherein each group of interconnected sense windings has its sense winding interconnected so that half of its sense windings have one relative polarity and the other half the opposite relative polarity.

Claim 12

The invention in accordance with claim 10, wherein the windings in each group are connected in series.

Claim 13

The invention in accordance with claim 7, wherein the windings in each group and their interconnections are chosen so that the actuation of a key results in a unique combination of signals being coupled to said sensing means.

Claim 14

The invention in accordance with claim 12, wherein a plurality of groups of interconnected sense windings are provided coupled to said sensing means, and wherein said sensing means includes a sensing means for each group of sense windings.

Claim 15

The invention in accordance with claim 12, wherein a plurality of groups of interconnected drive windings are provided, and wherein switch logic means are also provided for sequentially coupling said driving means to the groups of interconnected drive winding.

Claim 16

In apparatus for encoding information, a base structure, a plurality of rows of keys, each row comprising an integral sheet of spring metal stock shaped so as to form a planar supporting portion by which the row is secured to said base structure, said supporting portion having elongated spaced-parallel key-operating members depending substantially perpendicularly therefrom and each being individually displaceable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of said supporting portion, each key-operating member including a cap-receiving portion at one end and an eddy current shorting element at the other end, and encoding means provided adjacent the eddy current shorting elements of said rows of keys so that the actuation of a key causes its respective key-operating member to move toward said encoding means to bring its respective eddy current shorting element into proximity to a unique respective portion of said encoding means which in response to this proximity produces an electrical output signal uniquely representative of the actuated key.

Claim 17

In apparatus for encoding information, a base structure, a plurality of rows of keys, each row comprising an integral sheet of spring metal stock shaped so as to form a planar supporting portion by which the row is secured to said base structure, said supporting portion having elongated spaced-parallel key-operating members depending substantially perpendicularly therefrom and each being individually displaceable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of said supporting portion, each key-operating member including a cap-receiving portion at one end and an eddy current shorting element at the other end, and encoding means provided adjacent the eddy current shorting elements of said rows of keys so that the actuation of a key causes its respective key-operating member to move toward said encoding means to bring its respective eddy current shorting element into proximity to a unique respective portion of said encoding means which in response to this proximity produces an electrical output signal uniquely representative of the actuated key.

Claim 18

The invention in accordance with claim 15, wherein said encoding means comprises a plurality of stacked printed circuit boards each having a unique pattern of interconnected windings provided thereon and driving and sensing means cooperating therewith.

Claim 21

In apparatus for encoding information, a plurality of individually actuatable mechanical elements, a plurality of electrical winding means arranged in predetermined magnetically coupled groups, mechanical means coupled to said elements and responsive to actuation of an element for producing an eddy current effect on a unique corresponding group of winding means for causing a detectable change to occur in the magnetic coupling therebetween, and electrical means coupling said winding means and responsive to said detectable change for producing an electrical indication representative of the actuated mechanical element.

Claim 22

In apparatus for encoding information, a plurality of individually actuatable mechanical elements, a plurality of electrical winding means arranged in predetermined magnetically coupled groups, mechanical means coupled to said elements and responsive to actuation of an element for producing an eddy current effect on a unique corresponding group of winding means for causing a detectable change to occur in the magnetic coupling therebetween, and electrical means coupling said winding means and responsive to said detectable change for producing an electrical indication representative of the actuated mechanical element.

Claim 23

The invention in accordance with claim 18, wherein said mechanical means coupled to said elements comprises conductive means responsive to the actuation of an element for causing a change in the positioning of conductive material in the vicinity of its corresponding group of winding means so as to produce said detectable change.

Claim 24

The invention in accordance with claim 19, wherein said conductive means comprises a conductive element mechanically coupled to each element which upon actuation of the element is caused to move into closer proximity to the group of winding means corresponding thereto.

Claim 25

The invention in accordance with claim 19, wherein said mechanical elements comprise keys of a keyboard with each key corresponding to a respective one said groups.