Keyboard apparatus and method for making same

Claim 1

A method for assembling a keyboard comprising the steps of providing first and second strips of electrically conductive material, and a strip of electrically insulative material, delineating a plurality of switching areas on one of the conductive strips, removing material from the said one conductive strip leaving the switching areas and a plurality of conductive paths emanating from each switching area, the conductive paths connecting the switching areas to each other and to provide output leads, forming a plurality of apertures in the insulative layer, the apertures being spaced so that each aperture can be aligned with a respective switching area, forming the other strip of conductive material into a selected circuit configuration and disposing the insulative strip between the first and second strips and laminating the strips together with the switching areas and the conductive paths lying in the same plane and with the apertures in the insulative strip aligned with the switching areas on said one conductive strip.

Claim 2

A method for assembling a keyboard comprising the steps of providing first and second strips of electrically conductive material, and a strip of electrically insulative material, delineating a plurality of switching areas on one of the conductive strips, removing material from the said one conductive strip leaving the switching areas and a plurality of conductive paths emanating from each switching area, the conductive paths connecting the switching areas to each other and to provide output leads, forming a plurality of apertures in the insulative layer, the apertures being spaced so that each aperture can be aligned with a respective switching area, forming the other strip of conductive material into a selected circuit configuration and disposing the insulative strip between the first and second strips and laminating the strips together with the switching areas and the conductive paths lying in the same plane and with the apertures in the insulative strip aligned with the switching areas on said one conductive strip.

Claim 3

A method for assembling a keyboard comprising the steps of providing first and second strips of electrically conductive material, and a strip of electrically insulative material, delineating a plurality of switching areas on one of the conductive strips, removing material from the said one conductive strip leaving the switching areas and a plurality of conductive paths emanating from each switching area, the conductive paths connecting the switching areas to each other and to provide output leads, forming a plurality of apertures in the insulative layer, the apertures being spaced so that each aperture can be aligned with a respective switching area, forming the other strip of conductive material into a selected circuit configuration, disposing the insulative strip between the first and second strips and laminating the strips together with the apertures in the insulative strip aligned with the switching areas on said one conductive strip, and punching holes through the two conductive strips and the insulative strips severing selected conductive paths to provide a preselected circuit pattern for the keyboard.

Claim 4

A method for assembling a keyboard comprising the steps of providing first and second strips of electrically conductive material, and a strip of electrically insulative material, delineating a plurality of switching areas on one of the conductive strips, removing material from the said one conductive strip leaving the switching areas and a plurality of conductive paths emanating from each switching area, the conductive paths connecting the switching areas to each other and to provide output leads, forming a plurality of apertures in the insulative layer, the apertures being spaced so that each aperture can be aligned with a respective switching area, forming the other strip of conductive material into a selected circuit configuration, disposing the insulative strip between the first and second strips and laminating the strips together with the apertures in the insulative strip aligned with the switching areas on said one conductive strip, and punching holes through the two conductive strips and the insulative strips severing selected conductive paths to provide a preselected circuit pattern for the keyboard.

Claim 5

A method for assembling a keyboard comprising the steps of providing first and second electrically conductive strips, forming the strips into selected configurations including, in at least one strip, the formation of a plurality of switching areas and a plurality of conductive paths, a plurality of conductive paths emanating from each switching area connecting the switching areas to each other and providing output leads, providing first and second electrically insulative strips, forming a plurality of apertures in the first insulative strip, the apertures so located that an aperture can be aligned with each respective switching area, disposing the first insulative strip between the conductive strips with the apertures aligned with respective switching areas and the second insulative strip on an outer surface of one of the conductive strips, laminating the strips together and punching holes through the first and second conductive strips and first and second insulative strips severing selected conductive paths to provide a preselected circuit pattern for the keyboard.

Claim 6

A method for assembling a keyboard comprising the steps of providing first and second electrically conductive strips, forming the strips into selected configurations including, in at least one strip, the formation of a plurality of switching areas and a plurality of conductive paths, a plurality of conductive paths emanating from each switching area connecting the switching areas to each other and providing output leads, providing first and second electrically insulative strips, forming a plurality of apertures in the first insulative strip, the apertures so located that an aperture can be aligned with each respective switching area, disposing the first insulative strip between the conductive strips with the apertures aligned with respective switching areas and the second insulative strip on an outer surface of one of the conductive strips, laminating the strips together and punching holes through the first and second conductive strips and first and second insulative strips severing selected conductive paths to provide a preselected circuit pattern for the keyboard.