Multiple-switch bank and keyboard

Claim 2

A multiple-switch bank for producing a unique group of electric signals for each of a plurality of individual bits of intelligence, comprising operatively assembled in combination: a keyboard comprising a single sheet of flexible material having a separate movable key for each bit; each of said keys comprising an integral portion of said single sheet and separated therefrom by a looplike slot the opposite ends of which extend along the opposite sides of a hinge tang having one end integral with said sheet; and means moved by and responsive to deflection of a key of the keyboard to establish a unique pattern of electrical contacts with a plurality of conductors, each of which contacts produces an electrical signal in a conductor and which signal is isolated from said movable keys.

Claim 3

A multiple-switch bank as in claim 1 characterized in that said hinge tang includes a straight groove extending transversely thereof.

Claim 4

A multiple-switch bank as in claim 1 characterized in that said means for establishing a unique pattern of contacts comprises: a plurality of electrically isolated conductors; a contact assembly having a plurality of movable contacts each associated with one key and supported resiliently at a normal position spaced from a respective one of said conductors but movable toward and away from said conductors by movement of the associated key; and signal group control means associated with the movable contacts for each of said keys effective to establish a unique group of electrical signals in response to depression of each of said keys

Claim 5

A multiple-switch bank as in claim 3 characterized in the provision of a plurality of said signal group control means for establishing unique groups of electrical signals, and means for selectively shifting said signal group control means whereby depression of a selected key creates a peculiar group of electrical signals depending upon which of said signal control gRoup means is in use.

Claim 6

A multiple-switch bank as in claim 3 in which an area of selected conductors is coated with an insulating material to prevent electrically conductive contact; said movable contacts at selected locations in order to establish each unique pattern of electrical signals.

Claim 7

A multiple-switch bank as in claim 3 characterized in that said contact assemblies are integral with and part of a common homogenous sheet of flexible conductive material, each contact assembly having a plurality of similar flexible fingers each aligned with a respective one of said conductors and deflectable in unison by an associated one of said keys toward said conductors.

Claim 8

A multiple-switch bank as in claim 3 characterized in that each contact assembly is an articulated member comprising: a flexible strip hingedly mounted at one end and terminating at the opposite end in a plurality of integral fingers, there being one finger for each of said conductors.

Claim 9

A multiple-switch bank as in claim 1 characterized in that said movable keys are arranged in at least one row and said means to establish a unique pattern of electrical contacts comprises: a plurality of fixed conductors extending parallel to and spaced from the row of key; and a plurality of resiliently mounted movable contacts arranged between each of said keys and said conductors, there being a movable contact for each of said conductors associated with and movable by each key toward and away from engagement with said conductors.

Claim 10

A multiple-switch bank as in claim 3 characterized in the provision of a rigid guide plate supported beneath and parallel to said flexible keyboard sheet, and a plurality of transfer pins slidably mounted in said guide plate with their opposite ends bearing against associated ones of said keys and said contact assemblies and individually movable in response to movement of an associated one of said keys.

Claim 11

A multiple-switch bank as in claim 1 in which said plurality of conductors and said means for establishing a unique pattern of electrical contacts includes means for changing the pattern of electrical contacts.

Claim 12

A multiple-switch bank that comprises operatively assembled in combination: a keyboard having a plurality of independently operable resilient keys fixed to a first sheet; a second and conductive flexible sheet having a plurality of groups of movable contacts each group of which is movable in unison by an associated one of said keys, a code block operatively associated with said groups of contacts and including said plurality of conductors and means associated therewith for establishing a unique pattern of electrical signals each time a key is depressed to complete an electric circuit between certain of said movable contacts and certain of said conductors, and means for shifting said code block to an alternate position to change the pattern of conductive contacts between each of said groups of contacts and said plurality of conductors.

Claim 13

A multiple-switch bank that comprises operatively assembled in combination: a keyboard having a plurality of independently operable resilient keys fixed to a first sheet; a second and conductive flexible sheet having a plurality of groups of movable contacts each group of which is movable in unison by an associated one of said keys, a code block operatively associated with said groups of contacts and including said plurality of conductors and means associated therewith for establishing a unique pattern of electrical signals each time a key is depressed to complete an electric circuit between certain of said movable contacts and certain of said conductors, and means for shifting said code block to an alternate position to change the pattern of conductive contacts between each of said groups of contacts and said plurality of conductors.

Claim 14

A multiple-switch bank as in claim 11 characterized in that said code block is readily replaceable with a code block providing a different unique pattern of electrical signals at each key.

Claim 15

A multiple-switch bank as in claim 11 characterized in that said code block has a base of nonconducting material fixedly supporting said conductors in spaced-apart parallel relation, selected areas of certain of said conductors opposite each group of movable contacts being covered with insulating means positioned to prevent formation of an electrically conductive contact between that conductor and an associated one of said movable contacts.

Claim 16

An article of manufacture suitable for use in opening and closing an electrical circuit not in circuit with said article of manufacture, said article comprising a thin sheet of resilient material having a relatively large area key portion separated from the remainder of said sheet except for a relatively small area hinge tang confined to one lateral side of said key portion, said hinge tAng being integral with both said sheet and with said key portion and effective to restore said key portion repeatedly to the normal position thereof each time after said key portion has been deflected from said normal position to control an electric circuit not in circuit with said article of manufacture.

Claim 17

An article of manufacture suitable for use in opening and closing an electrical circuit not in circuit with said article of manufacture, said article comprising a thin sheet of resilient material having a relatively large area key portion separated from the remainder of said sheet except for a relatively small area hinge tang confined to one lateral side of said key portion, said hinge tAng being integral with both said sheet and with said key portion and effective to restore said key portion repeatedly to the normal position thereof each time after said key portion has been deflected from said normal position to control an electric circuit not in circuit with said article of manufacture.

Claim 18

An article of manufacture as defined in claim 14 characterized in that the normal position of said key portion is generally in the plane of said sheet of resilient material.

Claim 19

An article of manufacture as defined in claim 14 characterized in that said key portion has a surface area at least coextensive in size with the tip of an operator''s fingertip.

Claim 20

An article of manufacture as defined in claim 14 characterized in the provision of housing means supporting said sheet of resilient material and including said sheet as one exposed surface of said housing means.

Claim 21

An article of manufacture as defined in claim 17 characterized in the provision within said housing means of a plurality of electrical conductors normally out of conducting contact with one another and operatively associated with said key portion for movement into conducting contact so long as said key portion is held flexed out of the normal position thereof in a predetermined contact closing direction.

Claim 22

An article of manufacture as defined in claim 14 characterized in that said sheet of resilient material is provided with a plurality of said key portions each similarly integral with said sheet through similar hinge tangs.

Claim 23

An article of manufacture as defined in claim 19 characterized in that said key portions are bordered by a narrow generally C-shaped slot electroetched through said sheet and having the slot ends terminating at the lateral edges of said hinge tang.

Claim 24

An article of manufacture as defined in claim 19 characterized in that a plurality of said hinge tangs have substantially identical flexing characteristics and whereby substantially identical touch pressure applied to each by the tip of an operator''s finger suffices to bring said plurality of electrical conductors associated with the depressed one of said keys into conducting contact.

Claim 25

An article of manufacture as defined in claim 21 characterized in that each one of said key portions is effective when deflected to bring the associated conductors into conducting relationship to create a group of signals in electrical circuitry connected therewith which pulses are in predetermined time phase relationship to one another and distinctly different from the group of signals created upon the closing of other of said key portions

Claim 26

An article of manufacture as defined in claim 22 characterized in that said key portions are closely spaced to one another in rows and conveniently arranged for manipulation by the fingers of an operator''s hands without need for lateral movement of the hands.

Claim 27

An article of manufacture as defined in claim 21 characterized in that said electrical conductors lie in closely spaced side-by-side relation and extend transversely of consecutive ones of said key portions, a plurality of conductive fingers operatively associated with each of said key portions and aligned with a respective one of said conductors for simultaneous movement toward and away from said conductors in response to flexing of the associated key portion, and barrier means interposed in the path of movement of selected ones of said conductive fingers preventing contact thereof with its associated conductor.

Claim 28

An article of manufacture as defined in claim 24 characterized in that said barrier means comprises a nonconductive film.

Claim 29

An article of manufacture as defined in claim 25 characterized in that said nonconductive film is adherent to selected areas of said conductors, and adjacent areas of said conductors being exposed.

Claim 30

An article of manufacture as defined in claim 26 characterized in the provision of means for shifting said conductive fingers and said conductors relative to one another thEreby to vary the particular conductors having exposed areas and film covered areas in the path of movement of said conductive fingers.

Claim 31

An article of manufacture as defined in claim 27 characterized in that said shifting means includes manually operable means in close proximity to said key portions and manipulatable by the operator without need for moving his fingers from their normal position overlying said key portions.

Claim 32

An article of manufacture as defined in claim 27 characterized in that said shifting means includes electromechanical means controlled by flexing a selected one of said key portions.

Claim 33

An encoding device for creating a multiplicity of distinctive groups of electrical signals each group of which is representative of a unit of distinctive intelligence, said device comprising: a plurality of electrical conductors supported in side-by-side relation opposite a plurality of sets of conductive fingers, at least a majority of said sets of fingers including a separate finger positioned for movement toward and away from a related one of said conductors, a multiplicity of keys operatively associated with a respective one of said sets of fingers, said keys being operable independently of one another and mounted on a common support member, and barrier means interposed between said sets of fingers and said conductors and including more than one set of distinctively arranged barrier patterns contiguous to one another and selectively usable to bar contact of certain fingers with said conductors whereby flexing of one of said keys creates one of a plurality of distinctive bits of electrical signals representing distinctive intelligence and wherein the particular group of distinctive bit signals produced depends on which of said barrier patterns is in use.

Claim 34

An encoding device for creating a multiplicity of distinctive groups of electrical signals each group of which is representative of a unit of distinctive intelligence, said device comprising: a plurality of electrical conductors supported in side-by-side relation opposite a plurality of sets of conductive fingers, at least a majority of said sets of fingers including a separate finger positioned for movement toward and away from a related one of said conductors, a multiplicity of keys operatively associated with a respective one of said sets of fingers, said keys being operable independently of one another and mounted on a common support member, and barrier means interposed between said sets of fingers and said conductors and including more than one set of distinctively arranged barrier patterns contiguous to one another and selectively usable to bar contact of certain fingers with said conductors whereby flexing of one of said keys creates one of a plurality of distinctive bits of electrical signals representing distinctive intelligence and wherein the particular group of distinctive bit signals produced depends on which of said barrier patterns is in use.

Claim 35

An encoding device as defined in claim 30 characterized in that said barrier means comprises an insulative film applied to selected areas only of said conductors.

Claim 36

An encoding device as defined in claim 31 characterized in the provision of means for moving said conductors and said sets of fingers relative to one another thereby to interpose a different one of said plurality of distinctive barrier patterns between said sets of fingers and said conductors thereby to change the coded groups of bit signals created upon flexing a selected one of said keys.

Claim 37

An encoding device as defined in claim 30 characterized in that said groups of conductive fingers are an integral part of a common sheet of resilient conductive material.

Claim 38

An encoding device as defined in claim 30 characterized in that said keys are an integral part of a common sheet of resilient material.

Claim 39

An encoding device as defined in claim 34 characterized in that a plurality of said hinge tangs connecting said keys to the main body of said common sheet are identical as respects their resistance to flexing from their normal stable positions.

Claim 40

An encoding device as defined in claim 34 characterized in that the peripheries of said keys and the opposite lateral edges of said hinge tangs are separated from the main body of said common resilient sheet by narrow slots.

Claim 41

An encoding device as defined in claim 36 characterized in that said slots are electroetched through said sheet of resilient material.

Claim 42

In combination, a keyboard having multiple keys each operable to actuate an associated group of resilient contacts movable interconnected for movement in unison relative to a group of normally stationary contacts to produce a distinctive group of electric signals each representing an individual bit of intelligence, said stationary contacts including a pair of stop contacts spaced to either side of the center ones of said stationary contacts and each of said pairs of contacts cooperating with an associated one of said movable contacts to hold said group of resilient contacts properly positioned for positive contact with a respective one of said stationary contacts as the associated group actuating key is operated.

Claim 43

In combination, a keyboard having multiple keys each operable to actuate an associated group of resilient contacts movable interconnected for movement in unison relative to a group of normally stationary contacts to produce a distinctive group of electric signals each representing an individual bit of intelligence, said stationary contacts including a pair of stop contacts spaced to either side of the center ones of said stationary contacts and each of said pairs of contacts cooperating with an associated one of said movable contacts to hold said group of resilient contacts properly positioned for positive contact with a respective one of said stationary contacts as the associated group actuating key is operated.

Claim 44

The combination defined in claim 37 characterized in that certain of said stationary contacts have areas thereof in the path of each of said groups of resilient contacts coated with a film of nonconductive material and others thereof uncoated and wherein the pattern of coated and uncoated areas differs for each of said groups of resilient movable contacts whereby the actuation of each key produces a different pattern of bits of intelligence.

Claim 45

The combination defined in claim 38 characterized in that said pair of stop contacts are additionally effective upon one thereof engaging the juxtaposed one of said resilient contacts before the other of said stop contacts engages its juxtaposed resilient contact to tilt all of the resilient contacts of that group in a direction to counteract the tilt error thereby to assure precise and substantially uniform engagement of each resilient contact with its associated stationary contact.

Claim 46

The combination defined in claim 37 characterized in that said groups of resilient movable contacts are formed as an integral homogenous part of the same sheet of thin resilient metallic material.

Claim 47

The combination defined in claim 40 characterized in that said movable contacts comprise slender fingers lying parallel to one another with one set of adjacent ends connected to one another, and means operable by the associated one of said keys for applying pressure to the associated group of said fingers adjacent said one set of adjacent ends of said fingers thereby to actuate said group of fingers in unison.

Claim 48

The combination defined in claim 41 characterized in that each of said groups of movable contacts is formed as an integral part of a common sheet of resilient metallic material.

Claim 49

The combination defined in claim 39 characterized in that said pair of stop contacts is located outwardly of and along the opposite lateral edges of the remainder of said stationary contacts.

Claim 50

The combination defined in claim 37 characterized in that the engagement of either of said pair of stop contacts with the associated resilient contact of any of said groups of resilient contacts in advance of the other is automatically effective to tilt said group of resilient contacts in a direction to counteract the tilt error and to bring both of said pair of stop contacts into firm engagement with their respective resilient contacts.

Claim 51

The combination defined in claim 37 characterized in that said stationary contacts comprise a plurality of conductors common to and positioned in the path of the group of movable contacts associated with each of said keys.