Keyboard encoding arrangement

Claim 2

In combination in an electronic logic encoding keyboard arrangement, a. a plurality of ferrite cores each having a number of conducting wires wound thereon, b. a plurality of movable key elements each having a magnetic device attached thereto, each of said key elements arranged such that when one of said key elements is depressed said magnetic device attached thereto may be positioned adjacent one of said ferrite cores, c. means for applying electric current to selected ones of said conducting wires, d. sensing means connected to other ones of said conducting wires for ascertaining the electric current transforming capabilities of said cores to determine which of said key elements is depressed, e. means for generating a different digital signal for each of said cores, f. an output shift register, g. recording means for recording the total number of key elements depressed during a selected interval, h. blocking means for generating a first signal when the number of said key elements depressed during a selected interval is one and for generating a second signal when the number of key elements depressed during a selected interval is other than one, i. means responsive to said sensing means for selectively applying said digital signals to said output shift register, and j. transmitting means responsive to said blocking means for causing said digital information to be transmitted from said output shift register when said blocking means second signal during one interval is succeeded by said blocking means first signal during the next interval.

Claim 3

Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said recording means further includes means for changing the total number of depressed key elements recorded by said recording means in response to the depression of a first key element whereby the digital signal for a second depressed key element is repetitively transmitted by said transmitting means while said first and second key elements remain depressed.

Claim 4

Apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising a translator for translating said digital signals from said means for generating into coded signals representative of the symbol specified by a key element and ferrite core combination.

Claim 5

Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said means for applying electric current to said conducting wires comprises: a. a source of pulses, b. a first driving circuit for applying pulses of a first duration from said source of pulses to the first terminal of a first conducting wire on each of said cores, c. a second driving circuit for applying pulses of a second duration from said source of pulses of a second duration from said source of pulses to the second terminal of said first conducting wire on each of said cores, and d. means connected to a different one of said conducting wires for sensing the coincidence of pulses on said first conducting wire from said first and second driving circuits.

Claim 6

In combination in an electronic keyboard arrangement, a. an array of encapsulated ferrite core plug-in elements and a corresponding array of depressable key elements each having a magnet attached thereto, said array of key elements arranged such that the magnet attached to each key element alters the response of at least one ferrite core to electrical stimulus when said key element is depressed, b. scanning means for applying electrical stimuli to each of said ferrite cores in sequence and for sensing the response of each of said cores to said electrical stimuli, c. first coding means responsive to signals from said scanning means for generating a different digital signal for each key element, d. second coding means responsive to said first coding means for generating a still different digital signal for each digital signal generated by said first coding means, e. recording means responsive to signals from said scannIng means for recording the number of key elements depressed during a specified interval, f. a multistage shift register, g. means responsive to signals from said recording means for applying signals from said second coding means to the input of said multistage shift register and for disabling the output of said multistage shift register when said recording means signifies a transition from a recorded count of other than one key element depressed to only one key element depressed, h. means connected to the output of said multistage shift register for transmitting the digital signals in said multistage shift register, and i. means for selectively blocking the input to, and unblocking the output of, said multistage shift register regardless of the count recorded by said recording means.

Claim 7

In combination in an electronic keyboard arrangement, a. an array of encapsulated ferrite core plug-in elements and a corresponding array of depressable key elements each having a magnet attached thereto, said array of key elements arranged such that the magnet attached to each key element alters the response of at least one ferrite core to electrical stimulus when said key element is depressed, b. scanning means for applying electrical stimuli to each of said ferrite cores in sequence and for sensing the response of each of said cores to said electrical stimuli, c. first coding means responsive to signals from said scanning means for generating a different digital signal for each key element, d. second coding means responsive to said first coding means for generating a still different digital signal for each digital signal generated by said first coding means, e. recording means responsive to signals from said scannIng means for recording the number of key elements depressed during a specified interval, f. a multistage shift register, g. means responsive to signals from said recording means for applying signals from said second coding means to the input of said multistage shift register and for disabling the output of said multistage shift register when said recording means signifies a transition from a recorded count of other than one key element depressed to only one key element depressed, h. means connected to the output of said multistage shift register for transmitting the digital signals in said multistage shift register, and i. means for selectively blocking the input to, and unblocking the output of, said multistage shift register regardless of the count recorded by said recording means.