Optical switching for keyboard encoder

Claim 2

An optical keyboard encoder system comprising in combination: a. light generating means for generating a preselected optical field; b. an optically coded member having first and second portions, said first portion comprised of a material with optical blocking characteristics within said preselected optical field and said second portion comprised of said material with optical blocking characteristics and additionally having selectively positioned, optically transmissive areas in conjunction with selective areas of said material with optical blocking characteristics defining a selected code for modulating said optical field in accordance with the selected code; c. key operative means coupled to said optically coded member for selectively positioning said first portion of said optically coded member within said preselected optical field to completely block said optical field whereby the transmission of a coded signal is indicated and then selectively positioning said second portion of said optically coded member within said preselected optical field in accordance with the code defined by said optically transmissive areas and optical blocking areas as a key is depressed and then again selectively positioning said first portion of said optically coded member within said preselected optical field to again completely block said optical field for a finite period of time whereby the completion of the transmission of a coded signal is indicated as said key is released; and d. detecting means positioned to receive said optical field for generating modulated coded output signals indicative of the selected code defined by the optically transmissive areas and optical blocking areas of the second portion of said optically coded member.

Claim 3

The optical encoder system of claim 1 wherein said detecting means is comprised of a plurality of light detectors within the optical range of said optical field positioned in a row.

Claim 4

The optical encoder system of claim 2 wherein said optically transmissive areas and optical blocking areas of the second portion of said optically coded member are selectively positioned in a row substantially parallel to the row of detector means with each area having a corresponding detector means whereby said modulated selected code is received by said detecting means.

Claim 5

The optical encoder system of claim 1 wherein said optically coded member comprises a thin, substantially rectangular opaque member having small, transparent areas selectively formed in the second portion thereof.

Claim 6

The optical encoder system of claim 1 wherein said optically coded member comprises a thin, substantially rectangular opaque member having apertures selectively positioned in the second portion thereof to provide said optically transmissive areas of said optically coded member.

Claim 7

An optical keyboard encoder system comprising in combination: a. lIght generating means for generating a preselected optical field; b. an optically coded member having first, second and third portions, said first portion comprised of a material with optical blocking characteristics within said preselected optical field, said second portion comprised of said material with optical blocking characteristics and additionally having a selectively positioned optically transmissive area for modulating said optical field to provide control signals and said third portion comprised of said material with optical blocking characteristics and additionally having selectively positioned optically transmissive areas in conjunction with selective areas of said material with optical blocking characteristics defining a selected code for modulating said optical field in accordance with the selected code; c. key operative means coupled to said optically coded member for selectively positioning said first portion of said optically coded member within said preselected optical field to completely block said optical field and then selectively positioning said second portion of said optically coded member with said preselected optical field to selectively modulate said optical field to provide a control signal indicative of the transmission of a modulated optical code and then selectively positioning said third portion of said optically coded member within said preselected optical field to selectively modulate said optical field in accordance with the code defined by said optically transmissive areas and optical blocking areas of said third portion as a key is depressed and then again selectively positioning said second portion of said optically coded member within said preselected optical field to selectively modulate said optical field to provide a control signal indicative of the completion of a transmitted code signal and then again selectively positioning said first portion of said optically coded member within said preselected optical field to again completely block said optical field for a finite period of time as said key is released; and d. detecting means positioned to receive said optical field for generating modulated coded output signals indicative of said control signals and of said selected code defined by the optically transmissive areas and optical blocking areas provided by the second and third portions of said optically coded member, respectively.

Claim 8

An optical keyboard encoder system comprising in combination: a. lIght generating means for generating a preselected optical field; b. an optically coded member having first, second and third portions, said first portion comprised of a material with optical blocking characteristics within said preselected optical field, said second portion comprised of said material with optical blocking characteristics and additionally having a selectively positioned optically transmissive area for modulating said optical field to provide control signals and said third portion comprised of said material with optical blocking characteristics and additionally having selectively positioned optically transmissive areas in conjunction with selective areas of said material with optical blocking characteristics defining a selected code for modulating said optical field in accordance with the selected code; c. key operative means coupled to said optically coded member for selectively positioning said first portion of said optically coded member within said preselected optical field to completely block said optical field and then selectively positioning said second portion of said optically coded member with said preselected optical field to selectively modulate said optical field to provide a control signal indicative of the transmission of a modulated optical code and then selectively positioning said third portion of said optically coded member within said preselected optical field to selectively modulate said optical field in accordance with the code defined by said optically transmissive areas and optical blocking areas of said third portion as a key is depressed and then again selectively positioning said second portion of said optically coded member within said preselected optical field to selectively modulate said optical field to provide a control signal indicative of the completion of a transmitted code signal and then again selectively positioning said first portion of said optically coded member within said preselected optical field to again completely block said optical field for a finite period of time as said key is released; and d. detecting means positioned to receive said optical field for generating modulated coded output signals indicative of said control signals and of said selected code defined by the optically transmissive areas and optical blocking areas provided by the second and third portions of said optically coded member, respectively.

Claim 9

An optical keyboard encoder system comprising in combination: a. light generating means for generating a preselected optical field; b. an optically coded member having first, second and third portions, said first portion comprised of a material with optical blocking characteristics within said preselected optical field and additionally having a selectively positioned optically transmissive area for modulating said optical field to provide control signals, said second portion comprised of said material with optical blocking characteristics within said preselected optical field and said third portion comprised of said material with optical blocking characteristics and additionally having selectively positioned optically transmissive areas in conjunction with selective areas of said material with optical blocking characteristics defining a selected code for modulating said optical field in accordance with the selected code; c. key operative means coupled to said optically coded member for selectively positioning said first portion of said optically coded member within said preselected optical field to selectively modulate said optical field to provide a control signal indicative of the transmission of a modulated optical code and then selectively positioning said second portion of said optically coded member within said preselected optical field to completely block said optical field and then selectively positioning said third portion of said optically coded member within said preselected optical field to selectively modulate said optical field in accordance with the code defined by said optically transmissive areas and optical blocking areas of said third portion as a key is depressed and then again selectively positioning said second portion of said optically coded member within said preselected optical field to again completely block said optical field and then again selectively positioning said first portion of said optically coded member within said preselected optical field to selectively modulate said optical field to provide a control signal indicative of the completion of a transmitted code signal as said key is released; and d. detecting means positioned to receive said optical field for generating modulated coded output signals indicative of sad control signals and of said selected code defined by the optically transmissive areas and optical blocking areas provided by the first and third portions of said optically coded member, respectively.

Claim 10

An optical keyboard encoder system comprising in combination: a. light generating means for generating a preselected optical field; b. an optically coded member having first, second and third portions, said first portion comprised of a material with optical blocking characteristics within said preselected optical field and additionally having a selectively positioned optically transmissive area for modulating said optical field to provide control signals, said second portion comprised of said material with optical blocking characteristics within said preselected optical field and said third portion comprised of said material with optical blocking characteristics and additionally having selectively positioned optically transmissive areas in conjunction with selective areas of said material with optical blocking characteristics defining a selected code for modulating said optical field in accordance with the selected code; c. key operative means coupled to said optically coded member for selectively positioning said first portion of said optically coded member within said preselected optical field to selectively modulate said optical field to provide a control signal indicative of the transmission of a modulated optical code and then selectively positioning said second portion of said optically coded member within said preselected optical field to completely block said optical field and then selectively positioning said third portion of said optically coded member within said preselected optical field to selectively modulate said optical field in accordance with the code defined by said optically transmissive areas and optical blocking areas of said third portion as a key is depressed and then again selectively positioning said second portion of said optically coded member within said preselected optical field to again completely block said optical field and then again selectively positioning said first portion of said optically coded member within said preselected optical field to selectively modulate said optical field to provide a control signal indicative of the completion of a transmitted code signal as said key is released; and d. detecting means positioned to receive said optical field for generating modulated coded output signals indicative of sad control signals and of said selected code defined by the optically transmissive areas and optical blocking areas provided by the first and third portions of said optically coded member, respectively.

Claim 11

An optical keyboard encoder system comprising in combination: a. light generating means for generating a preselected optical field; b. an optically coded member having first, second, third, fourth and fifth portions, said first portion comprised of a material with optical blocking characteristics within said preselected optical field, said second portion comprised of said material with optical blocking characteristics and additionally having a selectively positioned optically transmissive area for modulating said optical field to provide a first control signal, said third portion comprised of said material with optical blocking characteristics and additionally having selectively positioned optically transmissive areas in conjunction with selective areas of said material with optical blocking characteristics defining a first selected code for modulating said optical field in accordance with the first selected code, said fourth portion comprised of said material with optical blocking characteristics and additionally having a selectively positioned optically transmissive area for modulating said optical field to provide a second control signal and said fifth portion comprised of said material with optical blocking characteristics and additionally having selectively positioned optically transmissive areas in conjunction with selective areas of said material with optical blocking characteristics defining a second selected code for modulating said optical field in accordance with the second selected code; c. key operative means coupled to said optically coded member for selectively positioning said first portion of said optically coded member within said preselected optical field to completely block said optical field and then selectively positioning said second portion of said optically coded member within said preselected optical field to selectively modulate said optical field to provide a control signal indicative of the transmission of a first modulated optical code and then selectively positioning said third portion of said optically coded member within said preselected optical field to selectively modulate said optical field in accordance with the first selected code defined by said optically transmissive areas and optical blocking areas of sad third portion and then selectively positioning said fourth portion of said optically coded member within said preselected optical field to selectively modulate said optical field to provide a second control signal indicative of the transmission of a second modulated optical code and then selectively positioning said fifth portion of said optically coded member within said preselected optical field to selectively modulate said optical field in accordance with the second selected code defined by said optically transmissive areas and optical blocking areas of said fifth portion as a key is depressed and then again selectively positioning said fourth portion of said optically coded member within said preselected optical field to selectively modulate said optical field to provide a control signal indicative of the completion of thE transmission of coded signals from said third and fifth portions and then again selectively positioning said first portion of said optically coded member within said preselected optical field to again completely block said optical field for a finite period of time as said key is released; and d. detecting means positioned to receive said optical field for generating modulated coded output signals indicative of said control signals and of said first and second selective codes defined by the optically transmissive areas and optical blocking areas provided by the second and fourth, and the third and fifth portions of said optically coded member, respectively.

Claim 12

An optical keyboard encoder system comprising in combination: a. light generating means for generating a preselected optical field; b. an optically coded member having first, second, third, fourth and fifth portions, said first portion comprised of a material with optical blocking characteristics within said preselected optical field, said second portion comprised of said material with optical blocking characteristics and additionally having a selectively positioned optically transmissive area for modulating said optical field to provide a first control signal, said third portion comprised of said material with optical blocking characteristics and additionally having selectively positioned optically transmissive areas in conjunction with selective areas of said material with optical blocking characteristics defining a first selected code for modulating said optical field in accordance with the first selected code, said fourth portion comprised of said material with optical blocking characteristics and additionally having a selectively positioned optically transmissive area for modulating said optical field to provide a second control signal and said fifth portion comprised of said material with optical blocking characteristics and additionally having selectively positioned optically transmissive areas in conjunction with selective areas of said material with optical blocking characteristics defining a second selected code for modulating said optical field in accordance with the second selected code; c. key operative means coupled to said optically coded member for selectively positioning said first portion of said optically coded member within said preselected optical field to completely block said optical field and then selectively positioning said second portion of said optically coded member within said preselected optical field to selectively modulate said optical field to provide a control signal indicative of the transmission of a first modulated optical code and then selectively positioning said third portion of said optically coded member within said preselected optical field to selectively modulate said optical field in accordance with the first selected code defined by said optically transmissive areas and optical blocking areas of sad third portion and then selectively positioning said fourth portion of said optically coded member within said preselected optical field to selectively modulate said optical field to provide a second control signal indicative of the transmission of a second modulated optical code and then selectively positioning said fifth portion of said optically coded member within said preselected optical field to selectively modulate said optical field in accordance with the second selected code defined by said optically transmissive areas and optical blocking areas of said fifth portion as a key is depressed and then again selectively positioning said fourth portion of said optically coded member within said preselected optical field to selectively modulate said optical field to provide a control signal indicative of the completion of thE transmission of coded signals from said third and fifth portions and then again selectively positioning said first portion of said optically coded member within said preselected optical field to again completely block said optical field for a finite period of time as said key is released; and d. detecting means positioned to receive said optical field for generating modulated coded output signals indicative of said control signals and of said first and second selective codes defined by the optically transmissive areas and optical blocking areas provided by the second and fourth, and the third and fifth portions of said optically coded member, respectively.