Organ keyboard switching system

Claim 2

In an electronic organ which includes speaker means, a plurality of tone generator means, and a plurality of manually operable keys for selecting different tones, the improvement comprising: a first electrically conductive element and a second element spaced from said first element, said second elements positioned for deflection by a key to move towards said first element; an inteRmediate member of an electrically conductive material which is more easily deformed than the material of either of said elements; supporting means for supporting said intermediate member between said elements and spaced from each of them, so that when said second element is deflected by a key towards the said first element it engages and deforms a contact region of said intermediate member against said first element, said supporting means holding said intermediate member so it does not move with said second element until said second element is deflected and engages said contact region of said intermediate member; means for carrying electrical signals from said tone generator means to said first element; and means for carrying signals that pass between said first element, intermediate member, and said second element to said speaker means.

Claim 3

The improvement described in claim 1 including: a plurality of additional first elements; and a plurality of additional second elements, said first elements arranged in a row and said second elements arranged in another row, so that a second element lies opposite and spaced from each first element; and wherein said intermediate member includes a strip of stretchable material extending between said rows of elements; and said supporting means supports side portions of said strip so that said strip is taut.

Claim 4

An organ keyboard arrangement comprising: means defining a set of contact regions arranged in a row; a strip of stretchable conductive elastic material; spacer means holding said strip of elastic material so it extends parallel to but spaced from said row of contact regions and in a taut condition; and a plurality of moveable members positioned for individual manually controlled movement to press and stretchably deflect different preselected regions of said strip of elastic material against corresponding contact regions.

Claim 5

An organ keyboard arrangement comprising: means defining a set of contact regions arranged in a row; a strip of stretchable conductive elastic material; spacer means holding said strip of elastic material so it extends parallel to but spaced from said row of contact regions and in a taut condition; and a plurality of moveable members positioned for individual manually controlled movement to press and stretchably deflect different preselected regions of said strip of elastic material against corresponding contact regions.

Claim 6

The improvement described in claim 3 wherein: said moveable members are positioned to lie spaced from said strip of material prior to manually controllable movement, so that said members must move a distance before they engage said strip.

Claim 7

An organ keyboard comprising: a housing; a row of resilient contact members, each having a first end mounted on said housing and a second end which is free to deflect; a backing board of electrically insulative material mounted on said housing and spaced from said free ends of said resilient contact members; a plurality of electrical contacts mounted on said backing board and arranged in a row parallel to said row of resilient contact members; means defining a pair of insulative spacer strip portions on said board, said spacer strip portions extending along opposite sides of said row of electrical contacts thereon; an intermediate strip of a conductive, readily deformable material disposed on said spacer strips, so it is maintained spaced from said row of electrical contacts and spaced from said resilient contact members when they are undeflected; and a row of manually operable keys pivotally mounted on said housing for deflecting said resilient contact members against regions of said intermediate strip lying between said spacers, to deflect said regions against said contacts on said board.

Claim 8

An organ keyboard comprising: a housing; a row of resilient contact members, each having a first end mounted on said housing and a second end which is free to deflect; a backing board of electrically insulative material mounted on said housing and spaced from said free ends of said resilient contact members; a plurality of electrical contacts mounted on said backing board and arranged in a row parallel to said row of resilient contact members; means defining a pair of insulative spacer strip portions on said board, said spacer strip portions extending along opposite sides of said row of electrical contacts thereon; an intermediate strip of a conductive, readily deformable material disposed on said spacer strips, so it is maintained spaced from said row of electrical contacts and spaced from said resilient contact members when they are undeflected; and a row of manually operable keys pivotally mounted on said housing for deflecting said resilient contact members against regions of said intermediate strip lying between said spacers, to deflect said regions against said contacts on said board.

Claim 9

The organ described in claim 5 wherein: one of said spacer strips is thicker than the other.

Claim 10

In an electronic organ which includes speaker means, tone generator means which generate a predetermined direct current bias, and a manually operable key, the improvement comprising: first and second spaced electrical contacts respectively coupled to said tone generator means and to said speaker means, said second contacts positioned for deflection by a key to move towards said second contacts; an intermediate member of a material which is more easily deformed than the material of either of said contacts, positioned between said contacts and spaced from eacH of them, so that when said second contacts are deflected by a key towards said first contacts, it deforms said intermediate member against said first contacts; and a capacitor electrically connected between said intermediate member and the ground of said generators to tend to maintain it at said predetermined direct current bias after it has engaged said first contact.

Claim 11

In an electronic organ which includes speaker means, tone generator means which generate a predetermined direct current bias, and a manually operable key, the improvement comprising: first and second spaced electrical contacts respectively coupled to said tone generator means and to said speaker means, said second contacts positioned for deflection by a key to move towards said second contacts; an intermediate member of a material which is more easily deformed than the material of either of said contacts, positioned between said contacts and spaced from eacH of them, so that when said second contacts are deflected by a key towards said first contacts, it deforms said intermediate member against said first contacts; and a capacitor electrically connected between said intermediate member and the ground of said generators to tend to maintain it at said predetermined direct current bias after it has engaged said first contact.

Claim 12

In an electronic organ which includes speaker means, a plurality of tone generator means which each generate a predetermined DC bias and which each have a first terminal coupled to a source of predetermined potential and a second terminal, and a plurality of manually operable keys for selecting different tones, the improvement comprising: a first set of contact regions arranged in a row; a strip of conductive elastic material; spacer means holding said strip of elastic material so it extends parallel to but spaced from said row of contact regions; a plurality of contact members defining a second set of contact regions, said contact members positioned for individual movement by different manually operable keys, so their contact regions press and deflect different preselected regions of said strip of elastic material against corresponding contact regions of said first set; first means for coupling the contact regions of said second set of contact regions to the second terminals of different of said tone generator means; second means for coupling the contact regions of the said second set of contact regions to said speaker means; and a capacitor coupling said strip of elastic material to said source of predetermined potential.

Claim 13

In an electronic organ which includes speaker means, a plurality of tone generator means which each generate a predetermined DC bias and which each have a first terminal coupled to a source of predetermined potential and a second terminal, and a plurality of manually operable keys for selecting different tones, the improvement comprising: a first set of contact regions arranged in a row; a strip of conductive elastic material; spacer means holding said strip of elastic material so it extends parallel to but spaced from said row of contact regions; a plurality of contact members defining a second set of contact regions, said contact members positioned for individual movement by different manually operable keys, so their contact regions press and deflect different preselected regions of said strip of elastic material against corresponding contact regions of said first set; first means for coupling the contact regions of said second set of contact regions to the second terminals of different of said tone generator means; second means for coupling the contact regions of the said second set of contact regions to said speaker means; and a capacitor coupling said strip of elastic material to said source of predetermined potential.