US3846758A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic keyboard including program memory means and program selecting means
Assignee: Bull SAS
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Filing: 1972-06-28
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Granted: 1974-11-05
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Expires: 1992-06-28
Abstract
Abstract An electronic data entry keyboard is disclosed which provides for the local encoding of the characters appearing on the keys. The coding involves characterizing the characters as to whether they are upper case or lower case characters. This is done through the depression of certain specially assigned keys on the keyboard. These specially assigned keys can interrupt the internal data processing within the keyboard.
Inventors
- 👤 C Gosset
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 12:31
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03M; H03M11/00; H03M11/22; H03M11/02; H03M11/04; H03M11/14; H03M11/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
235 words
An electronic keyboard, comprising a plurality of character keys, each associated with a lower case character and an upper case character; character key circuit means for each character key for providing a key signal when a corresponding character key is actuated; a lower case selector key; lower case circuit means for providing a binary signal Tau of a first level when said lower case selector key is actuated and of a second level when said lower case selector key is not actuated; an upper case character selector key; upper case circuit means for providing a binary signal Tau of said first level when said upper case selector key is actuated and of said second level when said upper case selector key is not actuated; automatic control means providing a signal Pr as a string of binary signals having either said first level or said second level; means for actuating said automatic control means; and output selector circuit means for selecting said lower case character associated with said actuated character key when said signal Pr is at said second level, said signal Tau is at said second level, and said signal Tau is at said second level, and for selecting said upper case character associated with said actuated character key when said signal Pr is at said first level, said signal Tau is at said second level, and said signal Tau is at said second level.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
235 words
An electronic keyboard, comprising a plurality of character keys, each associated with a lower case character and an upper case character; character key circuit means for each character key for providing a key signal when a corresponding character key is actuated; a lower case selector key; lower case circuit means for providing a binary signal Tau of a first level when said lower case selector key is actuated and of a second level when said lower case selector key is not actuated; an upper case character selector key; upper case circuit means for providing a binary signal Tau of said first level when said upper case selector key is actuated and of said second level when said upper case selector key is not actuated; automatic control means providing a signal Pr as a string of binary signals having either said first level or said second level; means for actuating said automatic control means; and output selector circuit means for selecting said lower case character associated with said actuated character key when said signal Pr is at said second level, said signal Tau is at said second level, and said signal Tau is at said second level, and for selecting said upper case character associated with said actuated character key when said signal Pr is at said first level, said signal Tau is at said second level, and said signal Tau is at said second level.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
An electronic keyboard according to claim 1, wherein said output selector circuit means selects said upper case character when said signal Pr is at said second level, said signal Tau is at said second level and said signal Tau is at said first level.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
An electronic keyboard according to claim 1, wherein said output selector circuit means selects said lower case character when said signal Pr is at said first level, said signal Tau is at said first level, and said signal Tau is at said second level.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
An electronic keyboard according to claim 1, wherein said output selector circuit means selects said lower case character when said signal Pr is at said second level, said signal Tau is at said first level, and said signal Tau is at said first level.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
An electronic keyboard according to claim 1, wherein output selector circuit means selects said upper case character when said signal Pr is at said first level, said signal Tau is at said first level, and said signal Tau is at said first level.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
An electronic keyboard according to claim 1, wherein said character key circuit means comprises a key tranducer including in series a Hall effect semiconductor, a Schmitt trigger circuit, and a monostable circuit providing a pulse as said key signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
An electronic keyboard according to claim 1, wherein said lower case circuit means comprises a key transducer including in series a Hall effect semiconductor, a Schmitt trigger circuit, and a monostable circuit providing said binary signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
An electronic keyboard according to claim 1, wherein said upper case circuit means comprises a key tranducer including a Hall effect semiconductor, a Schmitt trigger circuit, and a monostable circuit providing said binary signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
187 words
An electronic keyboard according to claim 1, wherein said output selector circuit means comprises a first NAND gate, a second NAND gate a third NAND gate, and a fourth NAND gate, means connecting said signal Pr to an input of said first NAND gate and an input of said third NAND gate, means connecting the inverse of said signal Pr to an input of said second NAND gate, means connecting the inverse said signal Tau to an input of said first NAND gate and an input of said second NAND gate, means connecting said signal Tau to an input of said second NAND gate and an input of said third NAND gate, means connecting the inverse of said signal Tau to an input of said first NAND gate, and means connecting the outputs of said first, second and third NAND gates to respective inputs of said fourth NAND gate, said fourth NAND gate providing a selection control signal Cs on its output, said signal Cs being at said first level for selecting said upper case character and at said second level for selecting said lower case character.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
75 words
An electronic keyboard is recited in claim 9, wherein said output selector circuit means comprises an output circuit for receiving said key signal from said character key circuit means and means responsive to said signal Cs for providing upper case character signals on a first output channel when said signal Cs is at said first level and lower case character signals on a second output channel when said signal Cs is at said second level.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
89 words
An electronic keyboard as recited in claim 1, wherein said output selector circuit means comprises an output circuit for receiving said key signal from said character key circuit means, means responsive to said signals Pr, Tau and Tau providing a character selector signals Cs, and means responsive to said signal Cs for providing upper case character signals on a first output channel when said signal Cs is at a particular level end lower case character signals in a second output channel when said signal Cs is at another level.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
203 words
An electronic keyboard according to claim 1, wherein said output selector circuit means selects said lower case character when said Pr is at said second level, said signal Tau is at said first level, and said signal Tau is at said second level, for selecting said upper case character when said signal Pr is at said second level, said signal Tau is at said second level, and said signal Tau is at said first level, for selecting said lower case character when said signal Pr is at said first level, said signal Tau is at said first level, and said signal Tau is at said second level, for selecting said upper case character when said signal Pr is at said first level, said signal Tau is at said second level, and signal Tau is at said first level, for selecting said lower case character when said signal Pr is at said seond level, said signal Tau is at said first level, and said signal Tau is at said first level, and for selecting said upper case character when said signal Pr is at said first level, said signal Tau is at said first level, and said signal Tau is at said first level.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-11-04 | 1978-05-06 | 1978-11-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-04 | 1982-05-06 | 1982-11-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-04 | 1986-05-06 | 1986-11-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |