Keyboard apparatus

Claim 2

Keyboard apparatus of the type for providing coded electrical signals corresponding to information represented by the keys of said keyboard in response to the selective depression of said keys, said apparatus comprising: a. a light enclosing housing defined by first and second end cap means spaced from one another in a longitudinal direction and a plurality of adjacently disposed matrix panels in face-engaging relationship disposed between said first and second end caps, each of said matrix panels having a major disposed in a position transverse to said longitudinal direction, b. light source means disposed at said first end cap for directing light toward said second cap through said housing, c. a matrix of photodetectors disposed at said second end cap means, said photodetector matrix having aligned rows of photodetectors, d. each of said matrix panels having a matrix of apertures in said major face corresponding to the photodetector matrix for forming said light into a plurality of collimated beams which, when uninterrupted, respectively impinge on different ones of said photodetectors, corresponding apertures in each of said matrix panels being aligned with one another in said longitudinal direction, e. each of said matrix panels also having a recess disposed in said major face and a plurality of notches communicating with said recess and laterally disposed along said panel, the distance between each of the notches of one panel being equal to the distance between the notches of the other panels, f. a keyboard disposed at the top of said housing, and g. light masks respectively disposed between adjacent ones of said matrix panels and respectively translatably mounted within said recesses, each of said light masks having extension means respectively coupled to the keys of said keyboard, said masks further having transparent and opaque portions arranged in a manner to uniquely define a characteristic code pattern corresponding to the key to which it is coupled, whereby the depression of selected ones of said keys correspondingly translates the coupled mask to position selected ones of said transparent and opaque portions between different sets of aligned apertures to selectively interrupt said collimated beams, h. the extension means of adjacent light masks being respectively slidably received within non-corresponding ones of said notches in adjacent matrix panels.

Claim 3

The apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein said photodetector matrix is disposed within a first area on a circuit board extending in said longitudinal direction, and means are provided at said second end cap for reflecting said beams toward said photodetectors.

Claim 4

The apparatus as defined by claim 2 wherein each of said matrix panels has a laterally extending opening for receiving said circuit board.

Claim 5

The apparatus as defined by claim 3 wherein said laterally extending opening has a pair of opposed notch portions for maintaining said photodetector matrix in fixed relationshiP with said matrix of apertures.

Claim 6

The apparatus as defined by claim 2 wherein said circuit board includes a second area disposed in a longitudinal direction from said first area, and logic network means is disposed within said second area electrically coupled to the outputs from said photodetectors.

Claim 7

The apparatus as defined by claim 4 wherein said circuit board includes a second area disposed in a longitudinal direction from said first area, and logic network means is disposed within said second area electrically coupled to the outputs from said photodetectors.

Claim 8

The apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein the apertures of said matrix panels are tapered in the direction of the collimated light beams.

Claim 9

The apparatus as defined by claim 5 wherein the apertures of said matrix panels are tapered in the direction of the collimated light beams.

Claim 10

Optical switching keyboard apparatus, comprising: a. a light enclosing housing defined by first and second end cap means longitudinally spaced from one another and a plurality of adjacently disposed matrix panels in face-engaging relationship disposed between said first and second end caps, each of said matrix panels being disposed in a position transverse to said longitudinal direction, b. light source means including a parabolic reflector disposed within said first end cap for directing light toward said second cap through said housing, c. a matrix of photodetectors in aligned rows and columns disposed within a first area within the confines of said second end cap upon a circuit board extending in said longitudinal direction, d. mirror means provided at said second cap for redirecting said light at said photodetectors, e. each of said matrix panels having aligned rows of apertures therein corresponding to the aligned rows of said photodetector matrix for forming said light into a plurality of collimated beams which, when uninterrupted, respectively impinge on different ones of said photodetectors, corresponding apertures in each of said matrix panels being aligned with one another in said longitudinal direction, f. each of said matrix panels having a laterally extending opening with opposed notch portions for receiving said circuit board and maintaining selected ones of said photodetectors in alignment with said matrix panel apertures, each said panels furthermore having a recess disposed in a transverse face thereof, and a plurality of notches communicating with said recess and laterally disposed along said panel, the distance between each of the notches of one panel being equal to the distance between the notches of the other panels, g. a keyboard disposed at the top of said housing, and h. light masks respectively disposed between adjacent ones of said matrix panels and translatably mounted within said recesses, each of said light masks having extension means respectively coupled to the keys of said keyboard, said masks further having transparent and opaque portions arranged in a manner to uniquely define a characteristic code pattern corresponding to the key to which it is coupled, whereby the depression of selected ones of said keys correspondingly translates the coupled mask to position selected ones of said transparent and opaque portions between said aligned apertures to selectively interrupt said collinated beams, i. the extension means of adjacent light masks being respectively slidably received within non-corresponding ones of said notches in adjacent matrix panels.

Claim 11

Optical switching keyboard apparatus, comprising: a. a light enclosing housing defined by first and second end cap means longitudinally spaced from one another and a plurality of adjacently disposed matrix panels in face-engaging relationship disposed between said first and second end caps, each of said matrix panels being disposed in a position transverse to said longitudinal direction, b. light source means including a parabolic reflector disposed within said first end cap for directing light toward said second cap through said housing, c. a matrix of photodetectors in aligned rows and columns disposed within a first area within the confines of said second end cap upon a circuit board extending in said longitudinal direction, d. mirror means provided at said second cap for redirecting said light at said photodetectors, e. each of said matrix panels having aligned rows of apertures therein corresponding to the aligned rows of said photodetector matrix for forming said light into a plurality of collimated beams which, when uninterrupted, respectively impinge on different ones of said photodetectors, corresponding apertures in each of said matrix panels being aligned with one another in said longitudinal direction, f. each of said matrix panels having a laterally extending opening with opposed notch portions for receiving said circuit board and maintaining selected ones of said photodetectors in alignment with said matrix panel apertures, each said panels furthermore having a recess disposed in a transverse face thereof, and a plurality of notches communicating with said recess and laterally disposed along said panel, the distance between each of the notches of one panel being equal to the distance between the notches of the other panels, g. a keyboard disposed at the top of said housing, and h. light masks respectively disposed between adjacent ones of said matrix panels and translatably mounted within said recesses, each of said light masks having extension means respectively coupled to the keys of said keyboard, said masks further having transparent and opaque portions arranged in a manner to uniquely define a characteristic code pattern corresponding to the key to which it is coupled, whereby the depression of selected ones of said keys correspondingly translates the coupled mask to position selected ones of said transparent and opaque portions between said aligned apertures to selectively interrupt said collinated beams, i. the extension means of adjacent light masks being respectively slidably received within non-corresponding ones of said notches in adjacent matrix panels.

Claim 12

The apparatus as defined by claim 9 further including longitudinally extending rods passing through aligned openings in said matrix panels to hold said panels and said end caps in assembled relationship.

Claim 13

The apparatus as defined by claim 9 wherein the apertures of said matrix panels are tapered in the direction of the collimated light beams.

Claim 14

The apparatus as defined by claim 11 wherein selected ones of said apertures of said panels are of different configuration than other onEs of said apertures.

Claim 15

Apparatus of the type for providing encoded signals indicative of information associated with the keys of a keyboard in response to the selective depression of said keys, said apparatus comprising: a. a light enclosing housing comprising, in assembled relationship, longitudinally opposed end cap means between which are disposed a plurality of adjacently situated matrix panels having major faces thereof positioned transverse to said longitudinal direction, said matrix panels having a construction wherein: i. light transmitting portions are disposed along the major face of said panels and mutually aligned with corresponding light transmitting portions of adjacent matrix panels so that light longitudinally directed through said housing at said panels, when uninterrupted, is formed into a plurality of collimated beams, and ii. recesses are respectively disposed in said major faces thereof with notches in said panels corresponding to the placement of said keys of said keyboard communicating with said recesses; b. light source means located at one of said end cap means for directing light through said light transmitting portions toward said opposed end cap means, thereby to form said collimated beams; c. photodetecting means disposed at said opposed end cap means comprising a plurality of photodetectors for producing said encoded signals in response to the selective impingement of said collimated beams on said photodetectors; and d. light maskes respectively disposed between adjacent ones of said matrix panels and respectively translatably mounted within said recesses, each of said light masks respectively coupled by coupling means with the keys of said keyboard, said masks further having transparent and opaque portions arranged in a manner to uniquely define a characteristic code pattern corresponding to the key to which it is coupled, whereby the depression of selected ones of said keys correspondingly translates the coupled mask to position selected ones of said transparent and opaque portions between different sets of said aligned light transmitting portions to selectively interrupt said collimated beams, the coupling means associated with the light masks being respectively translatably received within different ones of said notches.

Claim 16

Apparatus of the type for providing encoded signals indicative of information associated with the keys of a keyboard in response to the selective depression of said keys, said apparatus comprising: a. a light enclosing housing comprising, in assembled relationship, longitudinally opposed end cap means between which are disposed a plurality of adjacently situated matrix panels having major faces thereof positioned transverse to said longitudinal direction, said matrix panels having a construction wherein: i. light transmitting portions are disposed along the major face of said panels and mutually aligned with corresponding light transmitting portions of adjacent matrix panels so that light longitudinally directed through said housing at said panels, when uninterrupted, is formed into a plurality of collimated beams, and ii. recesses are respectively disposed in said major faces thereof with notches in said panels corresponding to the placement of said keys of said keyboard communicating with said recesses; b. light source means located at one of said end cap means for directing light through said light transmitting portions toward said opposed end cap means, thereby to form said collimated beams; c. photodetecting means disposed at said opposed end cap means comprising a plurality of photodetectors for producing said encoded signals in response to the selective impingement of said collimated beams on said photodetectors; and d. light maskes respectively disposed between adjacent ones of said matrix panels and respectively translatably mounted within said recesses, each of said light masks respectively coupled by coupling means with the keys of said keyboard, said masks further having transparent and opaque portions arranged in a manner to uniquely define a characteristic code pattern corresponding to the key to which it is coupled, whereby the depression of selected ones of said keys correspondingly translates the coupled mask to position selected ones of said transparent and opaque portions between different sets of said aligned light transmitting portions to selectively interrupt said collimated beams, the coupling means associated with the light masks being respectively translatably received within different ones of said notches.