Keyboard and control system

Claim 1

A keyboard and control system for use with a computer that includes a central processing unit, comprising; a keyboard including a plurality of keys organized in an array of rows and columns having a plurality of keyboard input address lines corresponding in number to the number of rows, and a plurality of keyboard output data lines corresponding in number to the number of columns, column and row conductors to interconnect the keys in the array, each key having a contact coupled to a corresponding column conductor and a contact coupled to a corresponding row conductor and arranged to provide electrical continuity between the column and row conductors when the key is depressed, a first plurality of input address lines AO-AN coupled from the central processing unit to the respective keyboard input address lines and forming first order address lines, a plurality of output data lines DO-DN coupled to the central processing unit, control circuit means for controlling data transfer between the keyboard and central processing unit, and intercoupling the keyboard output data lines to the respective output data lines DO-DN of the central processing unit and having a control input line, a second plurality of input address lines coupled from the central processing unit and forming second order address lines, decoder means responsive to predetermined second order address signals for selectively establishing a keyboard selection signal, means coupling said keyboard selection signal to the control input line of the control circuit means, and data processing circuitry for controlling the inputting of data via the keyboard to the central processing unit and comprising, first means for interrogating the keyboard by coincidentally generating said predetermined second order address signals to in turn generate said keyboard selection signal, and bringing all first order address lines AO-14 AN to an enable state, whereby an output signal being detected on one of the output data lines DO-DN corresponding to the depressed key thus indicating to the central processing unit that there has been a key depressed on the keyboard, said central processing unit having means for receiving said output signal, second means responsive to receipt of said output signal for interrogating the keyboard selectively one of said first order address line at a time in sequence until a second output signal is generated on the selected output data line, and means responsive to the output signal on one of the output data lines DO-DN corresponding to the depressed key, and responsive to one of the first order address lines AO-AN which causes the generation of said second output signal for providing a machine readable code.