Key switch

Claim 2

A key switch comprising: a support having a coil thereon, said coil adapted to define a part of a tuned circuit for use with an oscillator; an actuator shiftably mounted on the support for movement relative to the coil into and out of a predetermined operative position; means biasing said actuator in one direction; and a conductive ring carried by the actuator and movable therewith, said ring defining a short-circuit turn for said coil to thereby effect minimization of the Q of said tuned circuit when said actuator is in said operative position and as said coil forms a part of said tuned circuit, said ring being operable to effect an increase in the Q of said tuned circuit as the actuator moves out of and away from said operative position.

Claim 3

A key switch comprising: a support having a coil thereon, said coil adapted to define a part of a tuned circuit for use with an oscillator; an actuator shiftably mounted on the support for movement relative to the coil into and out of a predetermined operative position; means biasing said actuator in one direction; and a conductive ring carried by the actuator and movable therewith, said ring defining a short-circuit turn for said coil to thereby effect minimization of the Q of said tuned circuit when said actuator is in said operative position and as said coil forms a part of said tuned circuit, said ring being operable to effect an increase in the Q of said tuned circuit as the actuator moves out of and away from said operative position.

Claim 4

A key switch comprising: a support having a coil thereon, said coil adapted to define a part of a tuned circuit for use with an oscillator; an actuator shiftably mounted on the support for movement relative to the coil into and out of a predetermined operative position; means biasing said actuator in one direction; and a conductive ring carried by the actuator and movable therewith, said ring defining a short-circuit turn for said coil to thereby effect minimization of the Q of said tuned circuit when said actuator is in said operative position and as said coil forms a part of said tuned circuit, said ring being operable to effect an increase in the Q of said tuned circuit as the actuator moves out of and away from said operative position.

Claim 5

A key switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein said ring has a transverse dimension permitting it to surround said coil.

Claim 6

A key switch comprising: a base; a support carried by the base; a pair of coils wound on the support and capable of being magnetically coupled with each other; a conductive ring; means mounting said ring on said base for movement axially of the coils from a first location at which said ring defines a short-circuit turn for one of the coils to a second location at which the ring is sufficiently spaced from said one coil to avoid defining a short-circuit turn therefor; and means biasing said ring toward one of said locations.

Claim 7

A key switch comprising: a base; a support carried by the base; a pair of coils wound on the support and capable of being magnetically coupled with each other; a conductive ring; means mounting said ring on said base for movement axially of the coils from a first location at which said ring defines a short-circuit turn for one of the coils to a second location at which the ring is sufficiently spaced from said one coil to avoid defining a short-circuit turn therefor; and means biasing said ring toward one of said locations.

Claim 8

A key switch as set forth in claim 3, wherein said ring is metallic and has a transverse dimension permitting it to surround the coils.

Claim 9

A key switch as set forth in claim 3, wherein said mounting means includes a tubular member having a central recess for surrounding the coils, said ring being within said recess, said biasing means including a coil spring externally of said central recess and abutting the base and the member.

Claim 10

A key switch as set forth in claim 5, wherein said member has a cylindrical recess spaced from and surrounding said central recess, said coil spring being disposed in said cylindrical recess.

Claim 11

A key switch as set forth in claim 5, wherein said member has a cylindrical outer surface, and wherein is included a housing carried by said base in surrounding relationship to said member, said housing having an inner surface complemental to said outer surface and in proximity thereto to provide a guide therefor.

Claim 12

A key switch as set forth in claim 3, wherein is included a magnetic core within said coils.

Claim 13

A key switch as set forth in claim 3, wherein is included an amplifier carried by the base and coupled with said coils.

Claim 14

A key switch comprising: a base; a housing mounted on the base and extending upwardly therefrom, the housing having an opening in the upper end thereof; a shiftable member mounted within the housing for movement longitudinally thereof and having a stem extending through said opening; means biasing the member toward said opening; a pair of coils; means mounting the coils on the base and in proximity to each other to permit the coils to be inductively coupled with each other when an electrical current flows through one of the coils, said member having a central recess for receiving the coils and at least a portion of said coil mounting means, one of the coils adapted to define a part of a tuned circuit of an oscillator; and an electrically conductive ring carried by the member and movable therewith, the ring being disposed for movement into and out of a location at which it defines a short-circuit turn for said one coil when said member moves toward and away from said opening, said ring being operable to minimize the Q of said tuned circuit when said one coil forms a part of the same and as said member is adjacent to said opening and being operable to optimize the Q of said circuit as said member moves away from said opening.

Claim 15

A key switch comprising: a base; a housing mounted on the base and extending upwardly therefrom, the housing having an opening in the upper end thereof; a shiftable member mounted within the housing for movement longitudinally thereof and having a stem extending through said opening; means biasing the member toward said opening; a pair of coils; means mounting the coils on the base and in proximity to each other to permit the coils to be inductively coupled with each other when an electrical current flows through one of the coils, said member having a central recess for receiving the coils and at least a portion of said coil mounting means, one of the coils adapted to define a part of a tuned circuit of an oscillator; and an electrically conductive ring carried by the member and movable therewith, the ring being disposed for movement into and out of a location at which it defines a short-circuit turn for said one coil when said member moves toward and away from said opening, said ring being operable to minimize the Q of said tuned circuit when said one coil forms a part of the same and as said member is adjacent to said opening and being operable to optimize the Q of said circuit as said member moves away from said opening.

Claim 16

A key switch comprising; a support; an electronic oscillator having a tuned circuit and a coil defining a part of said tuned circuit; an actuator shiftably mounted on the support for movement relative to the coil into and out of a predetermined operative position; means biasing said actuator in one direction; and a conductive ring carried by the actuator and movable therewith, said ring linking closely with the magnetic flux in said coil and approximating a short-circuited turn for said coil to thereby effect minimization of the Q of said tuned circuit when said actuator is in said operative position, said ring being operable to link a smaller amount of magnetic flux of the coil to thereby effect an increase in the Q of said tuned circuit as the actuator moves out of and away from said operative position.

Claim 17

A key switch comprising; a support; an electronic oscillator having a tuned circuit and a coil defining a part of said tuned circuit; an actuator shiftably mounted on the support for movement relative to the coil into and out of a predetermined operative position; means biasing said actuator in one direction; and a conductive ring carried by the actuator and movable therewith, said ring linking closely with the magnetic flux in said coil and approximating a short-circuited turn for said coil to thereby effect minimization of the Q of said tuned circuit when said actuator is in said operative position, said ring being operable to link a smaller amount of magnetic flux of the coil to thereby effect an increase in the Q of said tuned circuit as the actuator moves out of and away from said operative position.