Keyboard

Claim 2

A keyboard for controlling electronic data transmission in accordance with a code, comprising a base a multiplicity of magnetic core segments, each of which is mounted in said base and contains a gap, primary and secondary wiring associated with said core segments and arranged to be selectively magnetically coupled upon selective effective bridging of said gaps, and a multiplicity of individual key modules mounted in said base respectively adjacent said core segments, each said module comprising a housing independent of said base, a bar movable axially in said housing and biased with respect to said housing away from said module''s adjacent segment, a key cap mounted at one end of said bar, and a magnetic core bridging member actuatable by said bar upon depression of said key cap against said bias to bridge the gap of said module''s adjacent segment, and wherein said housing comprises a pair of interlocking molded plastic members which can be separated for access to the interior of said module.

Claim 3

A keyboard for controlling electronic data transmission in accordance with a code, comprising a base a multiplicity of magnetic core segments, each of which is mounted in said base and contains a gap, primary and secondary wire means associated with said core segments and arranged to be selectively magnetically coupled upon selective effective bridging of said gaps, a multiplicity of key operated magnetic core bridging members, each of which is selectively actuatable upon key depression to approach and effectively bridge one of said gaps, an electronic current pulse source connected to all said primary wire means, and touch control means for determining the degree to which said bridging members must approach said core segments to produce said effective bridging, said touch control means being a resistor connected between said source and said primary wire means, and which is variable to control the strengths of pulses carried on said primary wire means.

Claim 4

A keyboard for controlling electronic data transmission in accordance with a code, comprising a base a multiplicity of magnetic core segments, each of which is mounted in said base and contains a gap, primary and secondary wire means associated with said core segments and arranged to be selectively magnetically coupled upon selective effective bridging of said gaps, a multiplicity of key operated magnetic core bridging members, each of which is selectively actuatable upon key depression to approach and effectively bridge one of said gaps, an electronic current pulse source connected to all said primary wire means, and touch control means for determining the degree to which said bridging members must approach said core segments to produce said effective bridging, said touch control means being a resistor connected between said source and said primary wire means, and which is variable to control the strengths of pulses carried on said primary wire means.

Claim 5

The keyboard of claim 2 wherein said source of pulses comprises a blocking oscillator having a flyback transformer, said variable resistor being connected in series with the secondary coil of said transformer and in series with said primary wire means.

Claim 6

A keyboard for controlling electronic data transmission in accordance with a code, comprising a base a multiplicity of magnetic core segments, each of which is mounted in said base and contains a gap, primary and secondary wiring associated with said core segments and arranged to be selectively magnetically coupled upon selective effective bridging of said gaps, a multiplicity of key operated magnetic core bridging members, each of which is selectively actuatable upon key depression to effectively bridge one of said gaps, a source of electronic pulses connected to said primary wiring, a plurality of logic elements connected to receive pulses originating in said secondary wiring upon said effective bridging, strobe circuitry coupled to said core segments and to said logic elements to disable said logic elements from responding to said pulses originating in said secondary wiring except upon key depression sufficient to cause a strobe signal in said strobe circuitry, and LOCKOUT circuitry coupled to said core segments and to said strobe circuitry to cause said strobe circuitry to continue to so disable said logic elements when more than one said core segment is effectively bridged.

Claim 7

A keyboard for controlling electronic data transmission in accordance with a code, comprising a base a multiplicity of magnetic core segments, each of which is mounted in said base and contains a gap, primary and secondary wiring associated with said core segments and arranged to be selectively magnetically coupled upon selective effective bridging of said gaps, a multiplicity of key operated magnetic core bridging members, each of which is selectively actuatable upon key depression to effectively bridge one of said gaps, a source of electronic pulses connected to said primary wiring, a plurality of logic elements connected to receive pulses originating in said secondary wiring upon said effective bridging, strobe circuitry coupled to said core segments and to said logic elements to disable said logic elements from responding to said pulses originating in said secondary wiring except upon key depression sufficient to cause a strobe signal in said strobe circuitry, and LOCKOUT circuitry coupled to said core segments and to said strobe circuitry to cause said strobe circuitry to continue to so disable said logic elements when more than one said core segment is effectively bridged.

Claim 8

The keyboard of claim 4 wherein said source of electronic pulses provides pulses at a current level independent of the number of said core segments effectively bridged, and said lockout circuitry includes wiring coupled to each said core segment to receive a signal the voltage of which is dependent upon the number of said core segments effectively bridged.

Claim 9

The keyboard of claim 5 wherein said lockout circuitry is coupled to said core segments through a diode having a breakdown voltage no less than the voltage level induced in said wiring coupled to each said core segment upon effective bridging of a single said core segment.

Claim 10

A keyboard for controlling electronic data transmission in accordance with a code, comprising a base a multiplicity of magnetic core segments, each of which is mounted in said base and contains a gap, primary and secondary wiring associated with said core segments and arranged to be selectively magnetically coupled upon selective effective bridging of said gaps, and a multiplicity of individual key modules mounted in said base respectively adjacent said core segments, each said module comprising a housing independent of said base, a bar movable axially in said housing and biased with respect to said housing away from said module''s adjacent segment, a key cap mounted at one end of said bar, a magnetic core bridging member fixed to said bar and actuatable upon depression of said key cap against said bias to bridge the gap of said module''s adjacent segment, and a resilient pad located between said bar and said bridging member to provide said bridging member with pivotal freedom and cushioning when bridging said gap.

Claim 11

A keyboard for controlling electronic data transmission in accordance with a code, comprising a base a multiplicity of magnetic core segments, each of which is mounted in said base and contains a gap, primary and secondary wiring associated with said core segments and arranged to be selectively magnetically coupled upon selective effective bridging of said gaps, and a multiplicity of individual key modules mounted in said base respectively adjacent said core segments, each said module comprising a housing independent of said base, a bar movable axially in said housing and biased with respect to said housing away from said module''s adjacent segment, a key cap mounted at one end of said bar, a magnetic core bridging member fixed to said bar and actuatable upon depression of said key cap against said bias to bridge the gap of said module''s adjacent segment, and a resilient pad located between said bar and said bridging member to provide said bridging member with pivotal freedom and cushioning when bridging said gap.

Claim 12

The keyboard of claim 7 including a molded plastic holder secured to said bar and in turn carrying said bridging member.

Claim 13

A keyboard for controlling electronic data transmission in accordance with a code, comprising a base a multiplicity of magnetic core segments, each of which is mounted in said base and contains a gap, primary and secondary wiring associated with said core segments and arranged to be selectively magnetically coupled upon selective effective bridging of said gaps, and a multiplicity of individual key modules mounted in said base respectively adjacent said core segments, each said module comprising a housing independent of said base, a bar movable axially in said housing and biased with respect to said housing away from said module''s adjacent segment, a key cap mounted at one end of said bar, and a magnetic core bridging member actuatable by said bar upon depression of said key cap against said bias to bridge the gap of said adjacent segment, and wherein each said housing defines exterior wall surfaces, said surfaces of adjacent modules being in contact with each other to seal said segments against contaminants.

Claim 14

A keyboard for controlling electronic data transmission in accordance with a code, comprising a base a multiplicity of magnetic core segments, each of which is mounted in said base and contains a gap, primary and secondary wiring associated with said core segments and arranged to be selectively magnetically coupled upon selective effective bridging of said gaps, and a multiplicity of individual key modules mounted in said base respectively adjacent said core segments, each said module comprising a housing independent of said base, a bar movable axially in said housing and biased with respect to said housing away from said module''s adjacent segment, a key cap mounted at one end of said bar, and a magnetic core bridging member actuatable by said bar upon depression of said key cap against said bias to bridge the gap of said adjacent segment, and wherein each said housing defines exterior wall surfaces, said surfaces of adjacent modules being in contact with each other to seal said segments against contaminants.

Claim 15

The keyboard of claim 9 wherein each said housing defines additional exterior wall surfaces which are in contact with portions of said base to provide additional sealing for said segments.

Claim 16

A keyboard for controlling electronic data transmission in accordance with a code, comprising a base a multiplicity of magnetic core segments, each of which is mounted in said base and contains a gap, primary and secondary wiring associated with said core segments and arranged to be selectively magnetically coupled upon selective effective bridging of said gaps, and a multiplicity of individual key modules mounted in said base respectively adjacent said core segments, each said module comprising a housing independent of said base, a bar movable axially in said housing and biased with respect to said housing away from said module''s adjacent segment, a Key cap mounted at one end of said bar, and a magnetic core bridging member actuatable by said bar upon depression of said key cap against said bias to bridge the gap of said module''s adjacent segment, and said keyboard including sealing and wire-positioning blocks provided between adjacent ones of said core segments and between said wiring and said housings.

Claim 17

A keyboard for controlling electronic data transmission in accordance with a code, comprising a base a multiplicity of magnetic core segments, each of which is mounted in said base and contains a gap, primary and secondary wiring associated with said core segments and arranged to be selectively magnetically coupled upon selective effective bridging of said gaps, and a multiplicity of individual key modules mounted in said base respectively adjacent said core segments, each said module comprising a housing independent of said base, a bar movable axially in said housing and biased with respect to said housing away from said module''s adjacent segment, a Key cap mounted at one end of said bar, and a magnetic core bridging member actuatable by said bar upon depression of said key cap against said bias to bridge the gap of said module''s adjacent segment, and said keyboard including sealing and wire-positioning blocks provided between adjacent ones of said core segments and between said wiring and said housings.

Claim 18

The keyboard of claim 11 wherein said blocks are of spongy material.

Claim 19

A keyboard for controlling electronic data transmission in accordance with a code, comprising a base a multiplicity of magnetic core segments, each of which is mounted in said base and contains a gap, primary and secondary wiring associated with said core segments and arranged to be selectively magnetically coupled upon selective effective bridging of said gaps, and a multiplicity of individual key modules mounted in said base respectively adjacent said core segments, each said module comprising a housing independent of said base, a bar movable axially in said housing and biased with respect to said housing away from said module''s adjacent segment, a key cap mounted at one end of said bar, and a magnetic core bridging member actuatable by said bar upon depression of said key cap against said bias to bridge the gap of said module''s adjacent segment, said key modules being arranged in rows of abutting modules so that said modules are self-spacing within said rows.

Claim 20

A keyboard for controlling electronic data transmission in accordance with a code, comprising a base a multiplicity of magnetic core segments, each of which is mounted in said base and contains a gap, primary and secondary wiring associated with said core segments and arranged to be selectively magnetically coupled upon selective effective bridging of said gaps, and a multiplicity of individual key modules mounted in said base respectively adjacent said core segments, each said module comprising a housing independent of said base, a bar movable axially in said housing and biased with respect to said housing away from said module''s adjacent segment, a key cap mounted at one end of said bar, and a magnetic core bridging member actuatable by said bar upon depression of said key cap against said bias to bridge the gap of said module''s adjacent segment, said key modules being arranged in rows of abutting modules so that said modules are self-spacing within said rows.

Claim 21

The keyboard of claim 13 wherein said base includes a multiplicity of parallel walls defining channels therebetween, said core segments being mounted at the bottoms of said channels, said parallel walls and said module housings having mating portions to secure each row of said modules in one of said channels.

Claim 22

The keyboard of claim 14 wherein said mating portions are tracklike, so that said modules can be positioned at any desired location along their respective channel.