US3670322A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Programmable keyboard
Assignee: Licentia Patent Verwaltungs GmbH
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Filing: 1970-08-17
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Granted: 1972-06-13
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Expires: 1990-08-17
Abstract
Abstract A programmable keyboard having a plurality of information input elements constituted by small cathode-ray tubes connected to present a display of the type of information to which they relate.
Inventors
- 👤 Rainer Mallebrein
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 19:02
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/02; G06F3/023; G06F3/0238
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
237 words
In a data processing system including a programmable keyboard composed of a plurality of individual key elements for writing information into the data processing system, which system includes means for storing a representation of the information to which each key element is to relate, the improvement wherein each said element comprises an individual cathode-ray tube having a visible image producing screen and the system includes an electrical connection connected between said storing means and said elements to receive signals corresponding to said representations for causing an indication of the information to which said representations relate to appear on selected ones of said screens, said electrical connection comprising: an image memory connected for receiving, under control of the system, selected ones of said representations to produce image data corresponding to the indication to appear on at least one said screen; circuit means connected between said memory and said tubes for producing on said screen the indication determined by said image data produced for the respective tube; and a plurality of switch means connected in the processing system and each operatively associated with a respective one of said tubes to be actuated by an operator''s finger contact on said tube for providing to the system an identification of the tube with which said switch means is associated; whereby actuation of each said switch means initiates delivery into the system of data corresponding to the identification of its associated tube.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
237 words
In a data processing system including a programmable keyboard composed of a plurality of individual key elements for writing information into the data processing system, which system includes means for storing a representation of the information to which each key element is to relate, the improvement wherein each said element comprises an individual cathode-ray tube having a visible image producing screen and the system includes an electrical connection connected between said storing means and said elements to receive signals corresponding to said representations for causing an indication of the information to which said representations relate to appear on selected ones of said screens, said electrical connection comprising: an image memory connected for receiving, under control of the system, selected ones of said representations to produce image data corresponding to the indication to appear on at least one said screen; circuit means connected between said memory and said tubes for producing on said screen the indication determined by said image data produced for the respective tube; and a plurality of switch means connected in the processing system and each operatively associated with a respective one of said tubes to be actuated by an operator''s finger contact on said tube for providing to the system an identification of the tube with which said switch means is associated; whereby actuation of each said switch means initiates delivery into the system of data corresponding to the identification of its associated tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 1 wherein each said tube is mounted to be displaced by finger pressure in a direction perpendicular to the surface of its display screen.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 2 further comprising a plurality of actuation members each mounted on a respective one of said tubes, and wherein said switch means comprise a plurality of switches each arranged to be actuated by the actuation member of a respective tube when said tube is displaced.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 1 wherein each said tube includes an electrically conductive coating disposed on a screen surface and connected to said switch means and a power source connected to the coating, said switch means being arranged to initiate an electrical signal when said coating is contacted by an operator''s finger which connects said coating to ground.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 4 wherein said coating is transparent.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 1 wherein said circuit means comprise beam deflection voltage means connected in parallel to all of said tubes and beam intensity control means having a plurality of individual controlled outputs each connected to a respective tube.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 6 wherein said circuit means further comprise means connected to said tubes for cylindrically producing a voltage having a staircase waveform to control the tube beam deflection so as to permit each tube to produce characters at Different points on its screen.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
85 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 4 wherein said switch means comprise, for each said tube, a glow-lamp, said conductive coating is connected to an electrode of said glow-lamp, the other electrode of said glow-lamp being connected to earth via a resistance and the secondary winding of a transformer, and said switch means for each said tube further comprises a photoelectric device arranged to be illuminated by said glow-lamp as long as an a-c circuit firing said glow-lamp is established by touching said conductive coating.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 7 wherein said memory is an image repetition memory which cyclically and repetitively emits the image data associated with the indication to appear on said at least one tube screen, and said circuit means further comprise a character generator connected between said memory and said deflection voltage means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 1 further comprising coding means connected between said switch means and the data processing system for producing an individual signal identifiable by the system upon the actuation of each respective switch means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-06-13 | 1975-12-13 | 1976-06-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-06-13 | 1979-12-13 | 1980-06-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-06-13 | 1983-12-13 | 1984-06-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |