Switch device

Claim 2

A switch device comprising a saturable magnetic core, first conducting means disposed in relation to said core to produce magnetic flux in the latter in response to current flow in said conducting means, means for supplying to said first conducting means an AC exciting current of a predetermined frequency and a DC bias current, second conducting means wound on said core and positioned to be influenced by the magnetic flux produced in said core by said current flow in the first conducting means, resonant circuit means including said second conducting means and having a resonant frequency which is one-half said predetermined frequency of the AC exciting current, said resonant circuit means being operative to generate a current therein at said resonant frequency only when the total direct magnetic flux influencing said second conducting means is within predetermined limits, an additional magnetic flux source actuable to selectively apply direct magnetic flux therefrom to said second conducting means for coaction with the direct magnetic flux in said core resulting from said DC bias current in determining said total direct magnetic flux influencing said second conducting means, whereby the generation of current in said resonant circuit means is controlled by selective actuation of said additional magnetic flux source; and output means connected with said resonant circuit means to provide an output signal in response to said generation of current in said circuit means.

Claim 3

A switch devicE according to claim 1, in which said output means includes rectifying means so that said output signal is a DC voltage.

Claim 4

A switch device according to claim 2, in which said rectifying means includes transistor means by which said output signal is also amplified.

Claim 5

A switch device according to claim 1, in which said additional magnetic flux source is a magnet and is actuable by movement of said magnet relative to said core.

Claim 6

A switch device according to claim 1, in which said core, first and second conducting means, resonant circuit means and means for supplying the AC and DC currents to said first conducting means comprise a parametron.

Claim 7

A switch device according to claim 1, in which said core and first and second conducting means are parts of a dual-gap, magnetic flux responsive head.

Claim 8

A switch device according to claim 1, in which said resonant circuit means includes a capacitor connected with said second conducting means.

Claim 9

In combination: Means constituting a source of an AC exciting current of predetermined frequency and of a DC bias current; A plurality of switch devices each comprising a saturable magnetic core, first conducting means connected with said source means and disposed in relation to said core to produce magnetic flux in the latter in response to current flow in said conducting means, second conducting means wound on said core and positioned to be influenced by said magnetic flux produced in said core, resonant circuit means including said second conducting means and having a resonant frequency which is one-half said predetermined frequency, said resonant circuit means being operative to generate a current therein at said resonant frequency only when the total direct magnetic flux influencing said second conducting means is within predetermined limits, and a magnet movable relative to said core to selectively apply direct magnetic flux therefrom to said second conducting means for coaction with the direct magnetic flux resulting from said DC bias current in determining said total direct magnetic flux influencing said second conducting means, whereby the generation of current in said resonant circuit means is controlled by selective movement of said magnet; a manually actuable control member for each of said switch devices connected to the respective magnet for moving the latter between first and second positions where the respective resonant circuit means is inoperative and operative, respectively, to generate said current at the resonant frequency; and signal producing means for each of said switch devices connected with said resonant circuit means of the respective switch device and responding to the generation of said current at the resonant frequency in the resonant circuit means to provide a distinctive output signal.

Claim 10

In combination: Means constituting a source of an AC exciting current of predetermined frequency and of a DC bias current; A plurality of switch devices each comprising a saturable magnetic core, first conducting means connected with said source means and disposed in relation to said core to produce magnetic flux in the latter in response to current flow in said conducting means, second conducting means wound on said core and positioned to be influenced by said magnetic flux produced in said core, resonant circuit means including said second conducting means and having a resonant frequency which is one-half said predetermined frequency, said resonant circuit means being operative to generate a current therein at said resonant frequency only when the total direct magnetic flux influencing said second conducting means is within predetermined limits, and a magnet movable relative to said core to selectively apply direct magnetic flux therefrom to said second conducting means for coaction with the direct magnetic flux resulting from said DC bias current in determining said total direct magnetic flux influencing said second conducting means, whereby the generation of current in said resonant circuit means is controlled by selective movement of said magnet; a manually actuable control member for each of said switch devices connected to the respective magnet for moving the latter between first and second positions where the respective resonant circuit means is inoperative and operative, respectively, to generate said current at the resonant frequency; and signal producing means for each of said switch devices connected with said resonant circuit means of the respective switch device and responding to the generation of said current at the resonant frequency in the resonant circuit means to provide a distinctive output signal.

Claim 11

The combination according to claim 8, in which each of said signal producing means has an output signal of a respective frequency, and further comprising electroacoustic transducer means connected with said signal producing means so that musical sounds will issue from said transducer means in response to the selective actuation of the control members.