Data entry system

Claim 2

A data entry system of capable of operating in either a processing state or a watching state comprising: a keyboard having a plurality of keys, each capable of being in either a depressed or a released state; means for monitoring and detecting the depressed or released state of each of said plurality of keys; means responsive to said monitoring and detecting means for causing said dat entry system to enter its watching state from its processing state for a period of predetermined initial duration whenever one of said keys is found to be in its depressed state; means for extending said duration of said period each time another one of said plurality of keys becomes depressed, so long as said other key becomes depressed before the expiration of said period and said other key was not previously in its depressed state during said period; and means responsive to the expiration of said period for providing a data or control signal corresponding to the key or keys found depressed during said period, independent of when said key or keys were placed in the depressed state, and causing said data entry system to revert to its processing state from which it can again enter the watching state upon detection of a depressed key.

Claim 3

A system according to claim 1 comprising a keyboard having a plurality of keys and means for repeatedly providing data or control signals corresponding to individual ones of said keys or a plurality of said keys held in a depressed state for an extended period of time.

Claim 4

A system according to claim 2 comprising means for adjusting said predetermined initial duration and said predetermined interval.

Claim 5

A system according to claim 1 comprising means for providing a first number of different ones of said data or control signals in response to a second number of keystrokes, wherein said second number of keystrokes is less than twice said first number of data or control signals and wherein each of said keystrokes comprises either the depression of a single one of said keys or a plurality of said keys during said period, or the release of a single one of said keys or a plurality of said keys during a predetermined time interval.

Claim 6

A system according to claim 1 comprising means for providing a number of different ones of said data or control signals at an average rate of fewer than two keystrokes per said data or control signal, wherein each of said keystrokes comprises either the depression of a single one of said keys or a plurality of said keys during said period, or the release of a single one of said keys or a plurality of said keys during a predetermined time interval.

Claim 7

A system according to claim 1 wherein said keys comprise data keys and control keys and comprising means responsive to a first predetermined control key entry for placing said keyboard in a first operating state, a second occurrence of said predetermined control key entry for placing the keyboard in a second operating state and a third occurrence of said predetermined control key entry for placing the keyboard in a third operating state such that: when said keyboard is in its first operating state, a sequence of data key entries will provide signals corresponding to data characters from a first set; when said keyboard is in its second operating state, a single occurrence of a data key entry will provide a signal corresponding to a data character from a second set after which said keyboard will revert to its first operating state; and when said keyboard is in its third operating state, a sequence of data key entries will provide signals corresponding to data characters from said second set; wherein said control key entry is comprised of the depression of a single control key or a plurality of control keys during said period followed by their release, and said data key entry is comprised of the depression of a single data key or a plurality of data keys during said period followed by their release.

Claim 8

A system according to claim 2 comprising means for providing said data and control signals serially and in parallel.