Optical keyboard having a plurality of pivotal light obstructing code bars

Claim 1

Apparatus for generating digital coded signals comprising: (A) detector means including a plurality of light sensitive areas, each said light sensitive area being adapted to generate an output signal whenever radiant energy incident thereon exceeds a threshold value; (B) light source means for generating radiant energy of a value greater than said threshold value; (C) a housing including a plurality of optical transmission tracks formed therein, each of said optical transmission tracks for directing radiant energy generated by said light source means to a different one of said light sensitive areas; (D) first, second, third and fourth code bars pivotally coupled to said housing, each said code bar comprising first, second and third sections, said first section including a plurality of radiant energy interrupting code projections depending therefrom, the number and location of said projections being determined by the character code associated with the code bar from which they depend, said second and third sections extending from opposite ends of said first section and being pivotally connected to opposite sides of said housing; (E) means for pivotally connecting said second and third sections of each of said code bars to opposite ends of said housing, said coupling means coupling said code bars in such a manner that: (1) said first code bar is pivotable in a clockwise direction from a first position wherein its radiant energy interrupting code projections do not block the transmission of said radiant energy from said light source to said light sensitive areas to a second position wherein its radiant energy interrupting code projections are located between said optical transmission tracks and said light sensitive areas and block the transmission of said radiant energy from said light source means to at least some of said light sensitive areas; (2) said second code bar is pivotable in a counterclockwise direction from a first position wherein its radiant energy interrupting code projections do not block transmission of said radiant energy from said light source to said light sensitive areas to a second position wherein its radiant energy interrupting code projections are located between at least some of said optical transmission tracks and said light sensitive areas and block the transmission of said radiant energy from said light source to at least some of said light sensitive areas; (3) said third code bar is pivotable in a clockwise direction from a first position wherein its radiant energy interrupting code projections do not block transmission of said radiant energy from said light source to said light sensitivity areas to a second position wherein its radiant energy interrupting code projections are located between said light source and at least some of said optical transmission tracks and block the transmission of said radiant energy from said light source to at least some of said light sensitive areas; and (4) said fourth code bar is pivotable in a counterclockwise direction from a first position wherein its radiant energy interrupting code projections do not block transmission of said radiant energy from said light source to said sensitive areas to a second position wherein its radiant energy interrupting code projections are located between said light source means and at least some of said optical transmission tracks and block the transmission of said radiant energy from said light source to at least some of said light sensitive areas; and (F) four keys, each key associated with a different said code bar and movable between a first position wherein its associated code bar is in its first position and a second position wherein its associated code bar is in its second position.