Program input system using a memory cassette

Claim 2

A memory cassette, comprising: a housing formed of a top wall, a bottom wall and a plurality of side walls joining the top and bottom walls to thereby define a cavity within said housing; and a circuit board disposed within said cavity, said circuit board having memory circuit elements and electric contacts connected to said memory circuit elements; at least one of said top and bottom walls having differently dimensioned apertures therein aligned with corresponding circuit board electric contacts so that said corresponding circuit board electric contacts are visible through said apertures and said apertures are adapted to receive external electrical connecting means that are insertable therethrough into electric contact with said corresponding circuit board electric contacts.

Claim 3

A memory cassette according to claim 1 wherein the memory circuit elements constitute a diode matrix circuit.

Claim 4

A memory cassette according to claim 1 wherein the memory circuit elements constitute a resistor matrix circuit.

Claim 5

A memory cassette as recited in claim 1, in combination with a program input apparatus comprising a plurality of electric contacts to engage with the corresponding electric contacts of the memory cassette.

Claim 6

The combination according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of electric contacts of said program input apparatus are made of elastic conductive material at least at the contact point with the corresponding electric contacts of the memory cassette.

Claim 7

A program input apparatus for receiving an electronic memory cassette of the type having a substantially flat housing, electronic circuits within the housing and electrical contacts connected to the electronic circuits and exposed in a pattern on the exterior surface of the cassette housing, the program input apparatus comprising a base plate, a frame pivoted on the base plate and rotatable between an open and a closed position, means within the frame for receiving the cassette including a cassette carrier movably mounted within the frame, and electrical contacts on the base plate arranged in a pattern corresponding to the pattern of the cassette contacts to form electrical connections between the respective base contacts and the corresponding respective cassette contacts when the frame is in its closed position.

Claim 8

A program input apparatus for receiving an electronic memory cassette of the type having a substantially flat housing, electronic circuits within the housing and electrical contacts connected to the electronic circuits and exposed in a pattern on the exterior surface of the cassette housing, the program input apparatus comprising a base plate, a frame pivoted on the base plate and rotatable between an open and a closed position, means within the frame for receiving the cassette including a cassette carrier movably mounted within the frame, and electrical contacts on the base plate arranged in a pattern corresponding to the pattern of the cassette contacts to form electrical connections between the respective base contacts and the corresponding respective cassette contacts when the frame is in its closed position.

Claim 9

A program input apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein the cassette receiving means further includes means for forcibly biasing the cassette carrier when the frame is moved from its closed position to its open position so that the cassette carried by the carrier is positioned at least partially exteriorally of the frame.

Claim 10

A program input apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein the cassette receiving means further comprises means for initially locking the cassette carrier against the force of the biasing means when the frame is moved from its open position to its closed position.

Claim 11

A program input apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein each of said electrical contacts on the base plate includes a metal body having a cavity at one end and a conductive elastomer filling said cavity and coVering the end of the metal body to engage with the corresponding cassette contacts.

Claim 12

The combination of claim 9 wherein the circuit electronic elements constitute a diode matrix circuit.

Claim 13

The combination of claim 9 wherein the circuit electronic elements constitute a resistor matrix circuit.