FR2488005A1 - DATA ENTRY KEYBOARD - Google Patents

Abstract

The keyboard contains spring-mounted keys (5) which are arranged in the form of a matrix of m rows and n columns and each of which is provided with a plunger (16) which is connected with a contact pair (17), a switching means (10) with contact pairs in each one of which one of the contacts (36, 41) is movable, and a mechanism (6) for transmitting the rotary movement, which has a driveshaft (7) with a rotating member (9) and m output shafts (8) and is mechanically connected with the movable contacts (36, 41) of the switching means (10). The totality of the contact pairs (17) of all keys (5) forms the exact channel (55) for generating the codes of the symbols to be input with the aid of this keyboard, and the totality of the contact pairs of the switching means (10) form the coarse channel (63) for generating these codes. Each of the keys (5) has the form of a cylinder with edge surfaces (11) on its outside surface, on which the designations of the symbols to be input are applied, and is constructed with a capability of rotation about the axis of the cylinder. The keys (5) of each of the m rows of the matrix are arranged on one of the output shafts (8) with a capability of displacement in the direction of their plungers (16).

Description

DATA ENTRY KEYBOARD
The present invention relates to devices
digital electronic calculators and in particular, data entry keyboards.

 The invention can be used in input devices of various kinds of instructions and programs in automated information management and processing systems, such as automated systems.

management of technological processes, means of automation
experimentation research, cal systems
bottom edge, microcomputers, etc.

The present invention can advantageously be
used in data entry devices on
which, in the course of work, one is obliged to change frequently the nomenclature of the symbols to be introduced.

At present, using a cal machine
culer electronic for the solution of different tasks
ches, there is an increasing need for a flexible means of introducing relevant information from a
single workstation, as is the case of using a calculation system on a flying device, work.

with a microcomputer, etc. In such cases, the data entry keyboard must ensure the possibility of entering several different alphabets or games
symbols and formal instructions, required
individually to each of the users
the solution of tasks of a different nature. But if
for individual users the necessary symbols
to solve their specific tasks
do not partially or completely coincide with the number of
these symbols believe as much as the number of keys
in the keyboard. The present invention aims in particular to provide a universal keyboard for entering data in
a calculation system, keyboard ensuring the possibility
introduction of symbols from several alphabets and simple change of alphabets with a minimum number of keys on the keyboard.

We know a data entry keyboard in u4 calculation system (see author's certificate
USSR NO 676983 published 30 Sifilet 1979), containing a plurality of keys which are mounted in holes in a panel in rows and each of which is provided with an elastic return element and a push button associated with a pair of contacts . Each of the keys is capable of rotating around an axis mounted on one of its ends, the axes of the odd keys being mounted on the other end of the keys of the same row.

In this data entry keyboard, the number of keys is equal to that of symbols of one or more alphabets chosen and for this reason, when
is necessary to use a large number of symbols, the keyboard must have a large number of keys and becomes bulky. Besides that, in the development of the data entry device using such a keyboard, it is essential to carry out a large number of parallel and serial coupling between the pairs of contacts and the encoder of this device and it is found that a large amount of electronic equipment must be used. This lowers the reliability of the data entry device and increases its cost.

 Another data entry keyboard is known (see French patent N0-2144094 published February 9, 1973), containing a plurality of keys which are placed in rows and each of which has an elastic return element and a pusher connected to a pair of contacts. This keyboard also contains two special organs for selecting the register of the keyboard or, in other words, the alphabet of symbols imposed using this keyboard. Thanks to this arrangement, it is possible, using each key, to define two different symbols, and using the entire keyboard, to program two different alphabets of symbols.

 However, although the total number of keys in this known keyboard is almost half that of that described above, this keyboard does not allow the use of several symbol alphabets with a relatively small total number of keys.

 Another data input keyboard is contacted (see USA patent N 4005388 published January 25, 1977) which is part of a manual terminal ensuring a dialogue between the user and the computer, this keyboard containing a plurality of keys which are arranged on a panel in the form of a matrix and each of which is provided with an elastic return element and connected to a pair of contacts. In this keyboard, each of the keys provides the definition of four different symbols or, in other words, of four different levels of information, all the symbols that can be imposed using any of these information keys. being carried on its front face, on which the operator presses while working with the keyboard.

The keyboard in question is additionally equipped with a switching means which contains special members with pairs of contacts for controlling the level of offset and ensuring the selection of the alphabet, or of the keyboard register. We can say that the set of contact pairs of all the keys on the keyboard form a channel
end of formatting of the codes of symbols chosen using this keyboard, and which the set of all the pairs of contacts of the switching means constitutes.

a coarse channel for forming the codes of these symbols.

 However, although this data entry keyboard allows, thanks to the existence of said switching means, to choose several alphabets with a relatively small total number of keys and control members, it has drawbacks in certain cases d employment. The fact is that, firstly, to introduce the necessary symbols into a calculation system by means of this keyboard, the operator must simultaneously manipulate both the information keys and the selection elements of the keyboard register. Secondly, since each of the information keys has several symbols that can be chosen, the operator is obliged to continuously check that the entry of the desired symbols is correct. In doing so, the operator must, in a on the other hand, always remember in which alphabet or on which keyboard register the symbol or the instruction to be entered is located and on the other hand, it must constantly monitor the position of the selection elements of the keyboard register and / or the indications a reproduction device attached to the keyboard.

It follows that, during the entry of the symbols, the attention of the operator is divided between several keyboard working members and, since each key carries other symbols which are not entered at a given instant, the ! operator always receives superfluous information. This makes the actions of the operator working with the keyboard which has just been described difficult, so that the reliability of inputting information into the calculation system is lowered.

 It should also be noted that the existence, in this keyboard, of several separate organs for selecting the keyboard register makes its construction more difficult to carry out.

 The object of the present invention is in particular to arrange, in a data entry keyboard, the keys carrying the information symbols to be introduced and to organize the manipulation of these keys in such a way that, in addition to the possibility of using several different alphabets with a minimum number of keys in the keyboard, be assured a simple entry and denofflurvue of ambiguity of each symbol in each alphabet, thereby increasing the reliability of entering information into the calculation system.

 To this end, a data entry keyboard is proposed, containing a plurality of keys which are arranged on a panel in the form of a matrix of "m" lines and "n" columns and each of which is provided an elastic element and a push button connected to a pair of contacts, the set of contact pairs of all the keys serving as a precise channel or end of formatting of the signal codes defined using this keyboard , and a switching means comprising a plurality of pairs of contacts including a mobile in each pair, this means serving to switch a coarse channel of the codes of said symbols which is formed by the pairs of contacts of the switching means, in the keyboard according to the invention, each of the keys has the shape of a cylinder whose periphery has faces on which are carried the inscriptions of symbols to be programmed, and can rotate around the longitudinal axis of said cylinder. The keys of each of the "m" rows of the matrix are mounted on one of the output shafts of a rotation transmission mechanism, the input shaft of which is provided with a rotation member and which is in connection with the movable contacts of said switching means, each of the keys being mounted on the output shaft so as to be able to move in the direction of the associated pusher.

 Such an arrangement of the data entry keyboard makes it possible, by changing the alphabet, to synchronously switch all the pairs of contacts of the coarse channel for forming the symbol codes to be programmed and to simultaneously rotate all the keys of the keyboard to change the visible symbol inscriptions to make them conform to the chosen alphabet.

 According to an embodiment of the proposed data entry keyboard, each of the keys is in the form of a hollow cylinder and is held on a rigid output shaft by two conical helical springs arranged inside the hollow cylinder coaxially with the shaft output so that they embrace the output shaft.

The springs have their peaks directed towards each other.

Each of the springs is rigidly fixed by one of its parts to the output shaft and by another part, to the interior surface of the hollow cylinder.

 Such an arrangement of the keys of the keyboard ensures reliable operation and a long service life of these keys.

 According to another embodiment of the data entry keyboard, each of the keys is in the form of a cylinder pierced with an axial through hole and is rigidly fixed on a flexible and elastic output shaft, which serves as an elastic element and passes through the axial hole emerging from the cylinder.

 Such an arrangement of the keys of the data entry keyboard simplifies the manufacture of the keyboard. It is easy to choose a suitable flexible and elastic tree, with the required dimensions, from the available assortment of such trees existing on the market.

 The switching means of the proposed data entry keyboard can be realized in the form of a rotary multi-position switch which has "p" positions and a number of directions equal to the square root of the value of "p" rounded to the nearest whole number, where "p" is the number of faces of the key, the rotary part of the rotary multi-position switch with the moving contacts of the pairs of contacts being wedged on the input shaft of the transmission transmission mechanism rotation, and the non-rotating part of the switch, with the fixed contacts of the pairs of contacts, being fixed to the keyboard panel.

 Such an embodiment of the switching means makes it possible to simplify the construction of the keyboard, since it is possible to use, as a rotary switch with multiple positions, a device of the standard type of which numerous models are supplied by the industry in quantity.

 The keyboard switching means proposed from above.

Data entry can also be arranged so as to contain 'p "cams, each of which is mounted on one of the output shafts of the rotation transmission mechanism, with the possibility of coming into contact, by its boss, with the movable contact of one of the pairs of contacts of the switching means, said cams being mounted on the output shafts so that the bosses of two neighboring cams are angularly offset; e, relative to each other, by 360 / p degrees, where "p" is the number of faces of the key.

 Such an arrangement of the switching means makes it possible to use, in the construction of the keyboard, elements carrying pairs of contacts which are all of the same type, thereby standardizing the sub-assemblies of the keyboard.

In what follows, the proposed data entry keyboard will be described with the aid of specific embodiments with reference to the appended drawings, in which:
Figure 1 shows a simplified plan view
data entry keyboard according to
the invention;
FIG. 2 represents two adjacent keys of a
row of the matrix, mistletoe are wedged on a
rigid shaft and one of which is shown in section
longitudinal;
Figure 3 shows the same sectional arrangement
transverse along line III-III of
fig. 2;
Figure 4 shows in section the arrangement of the mechanism
rotation transmission nism;
FIG. 5 represents another mode of arrangement
keys, according to which they are locked
on a flexible and elastic shaft;
FIG. 6 represents the same arrangement, in
cross section along line VI-VI
of fig. 5;
Figure 7 shows a keyboard switching means, consisting of a rotary switch with several positions of the wafer type
FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the keyboard switching means, this means containing cams; and
FIG. 9 represents a diagram of electrical connections of the pairs of contacts of the keys and of the keyboard switching means.

 It should be noted that the appended drawings are purely schematic and serve only to illustrate the present invention, without in any way limiting the dimensions of the elements used in the composition of the proposed data entry keyboard, the relationships between these dimensions, etc.

 The data entry keyboard shown in FIG. 1, usable for example in the input device of a digital electronic computer installed on board a flying device, comprises a panel 1 comprising windows 2 which are delimited by ribs longitudinal 3 and transverse 4 and which are intended to receive keys 5. The keys 5 are arranged on the panel 1 in the form of a matrix with five rows and six columns, that is to say that there are six keys 5 in each of the rows of the matrix and that in total there are thirty keys 5 in the keyboard. The key lines 5 are separated from each other by the longitudinal ribs.

The keyboard further comprises a rotary transmission mechanism 6, represented in a conventional manner, the arrangement of which will be described in detail below. This mechanism comprises an input shaft 7 and output shafts 8. The latter are arranged in the same plane and in a number equal to that of the lines in the key matrix 5, that is to say equal to five. The input shaft 7 of the mechanism 6 carries a member 9 for rotating this shaft, for example a wheel. On each of the output shafts 8 are mounted the keys 5 of a row of the matrix. The rotation transmission mechanism 6 is associated with a switching means 10 which is also shown conventionally and whose arrangement will be described later. This switching means 10 is mounted on the input shaft 7 of this mechanism.

 Referring now to Figures 2 and 3, we see that each of the keys 5 has the shape of a cut cylinder at its periphery with four faces II and on each of these faces is marked with one of the symbols which can be programmed using the keyboard concerned. One of these symbols worn on one side 11 by the etching method is shown in fig. 2.

Of course, each key 5 may as well have a different number, not equal for all the keys, of faces 11, as a function of the dimensions to be given to the keyboard and of the total number of symbols which must be introduced into a particular calculation system. , and in particular Up to eight.

According to the mode of execution of the key 5- represented in FIGS. 2 and 3, the key 5 is produced, according to the invention, in the form of a hollow cylinder and is mounted on the output shaft 8 (fig. 2), which in this case is a rigid shaft, using two helical conical springs 12 which constitute an elastic return element of the key 5. The conical springs 12 are mounted inside said hollow cylinder so that they are arranged along the axis of the output shaft 8, turned towards each other by their vertices and each embrace the output shaft 8. By their wide "bottom" part, the conical springs 12 bear against the internal surface 13 of the hollow cylinder, while their narrow "top" part abuts against a tube 14 which has, in cross section, the shape corresponding to that of the cross section of the output shaft 8 which has longitudinal flats 15 (fig. 3), whereby said tube 14 is intimately applied against the shaft 8. At the places where the conical springs 12 (fig. 2) come to touch
the inner surface 13 and the tube 14, the corresponding turns of these springs are fixed by means of a sticky substance. In this way, the conical springs 12 are rigidly fixed to the output shaft 8 and at the same time to the interior surface 13 of the hollow cylinder of the key 5. The adjustment of the keys 5 on the output shafts 8 to the using the tubes 14 makes it easier to assemble the keyboard and, if necessary, makes it easier to replace the keys 5.

 Each button 5 has a push button 16 which can come into contact with the button and is associated with a pair of contacts 17. In a particular case, it is possible to use, as a pair of contacts 17 with button 16, a micro- protruding push button switch.

Between two adjacent keys 5 of each row of the matrix are placed separating washers 18.

the method of fixing the keys 5 on the output shaft 8, which has just been described, allows each dense key 5 to move freely in the direction of its pusher 16. the pairs of contacts 17 of all the keys 5 of the keyboard form a specific channel for formatting the symbol codes imposed using the keyboard. This channel will be described in detail later.

 The arrangement of the keys 5 according to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 is to be recommended in order to have recourse to them in the cases where it is.

necessary to make a relatively space-saving keyboard with a fairly large number of keys 5, that is to say when it is necessary that the keys 5 have relatively small dimensions. This is, for example, the case of application of keyboards with such keys in microcomputers, in input devices of on-board calculation systems, etc., where simple and short symbols of magnitudes are used. to introduce.

 The rotational transmission mechanism 6 (fig. 1) is a connecting rod and crank system which comprises a common connecting rod 19 (fig. 4) with bearings 20 in which the crank 21 of the input shaft 7 is mounted and the cranks 22 of the output shafts 8.

In this arrangement, the input shaft 7 of the mechanism 6 is mounted in a bearing 23 and the output shafts 8 are mounted in bearings 24 secured in a frame 25. Of course, it is also possible to use in the mechanism 6 rotational transmission of other kinds of mechanical connections, for example, sets of pinions, cables, steel tapes, etc. the transmission and rotation mechanism 6 also contains a locker 26 (fig. 1) for fixing the angle of orientation of the input shaft 7, which angle in this case is equal to 900. The locker 26 is executed under form of a ball 27 urged by a spring, cetb: 11 can enter one of the cells 28 provided according to a circumference on the inside end face of the member 9 of rotation. The location of the cells 28 on the member 9 for rotation is chosen so that in any fixed position of this member, only one of the faces of all the keys 5 is turned towards the operator, the locker 26 then preventing the spontaneous rotation of the keys 5.

 Due to the incorporation into the keyboard in question of the rotation mechanism 6 and thanks to the mobile fixing of the keys 5 on the output shafts 8 of this mechanism, the keys 5 can rotate around their axis jointly with the output shafts 8 and more move in translation in the radial direction relative to these trees.

 In the example of execution of the key 5 represented in FIGS. 5 and 6, the key is produced according to the invention in the form of a cylinder drilled internally right through from an axial hole 29 (FIG. 5) and it is rigidly fixed on the output shaft 8 passed through this hole. Each of the output shafts 8 is made in this case flexible and elastic and plays the rail of elastic return element of the key 5. By its construction, this flexible and elastic output shaft 8 is composed of a plurality of wires of fine steel around which are wound, in opposite directions, several wires of the same type. Such a tree made up of wires has a fairly high torsional rigidity.

The output shaft 8 passes through holes 30 provided in the transverse ribs 4 and is mounted in rings 31 press fitted into the holes 30 and acting as bearings. Under each of the keys 5, as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, there is placed a pair of contacts 17 whose mechanical connection with the key 5 is also ensured by a pusher 16. Thanks to the fact that each of the keys 5 has faces provided with conical recesses H and the output shaft 8 passes freely through the rings 31, the key 5 according to this other embodiment can also move freely in the direction of its pusher 16 .

 Each of the keys 5 is composed of two identical semi-cylindrical parts 32 (fig. 6) which have semi-cylindrical grooves forming the axial through hole 29 and lateral notches 33 with holes suitable for receiving screws 34 of screw pairs. nut which ensure the union of the semi-cylindrical parts 32 into a single assembly and a tight fit of the key 5 on the output shaft 8. On each face 71 of the keys 5 is placed a plate 35 with inscriptions engraved with symbols. For the convenience of the transition, partial or complete, from the keyboard to another alphabet system, the plates 35 can be interchangeable and are then either inserted in transverse or longitudinal mortises of section, for example, in dovetail, provided for this use on the sides II (as shown in the drawing), be fixed to the key 5. using screws.

appropriate. In this case, instead of the engraved plate 35, it is also possible to use a paper sheet placed on the key 5 under a thin blade of transparent material. In the simplest case, the plate 35 can be fixed to the face II of the key 5 using any sticky substance.

 The arrangement of the keys 5 and their attachment to the output shafts 8 according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and, 6 provides a simple technology for assembling the keyboard. It is recommended to apply such an arrangement in cases where there are no serious limitations imposed on the keyboard with regard to its size and where, in order to be able to freely dispose of a relatively long set of symbols or formal instructions, it is necessary to use keys 5 of rather elongated shape. This is the case, for example, of applying the keyboard with such keys in means of automation of technological processes.

 The switching means 10 (fig. 1) according to the mode.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 7 is a rotary multi-position switch of the wafer type, which has in the keyboard considered two directions and four positions, the number of these positions of the switch being equal to that of the points II (FIG. 3) that presents the key 5. For another number of faces II on the key 5, equal for example to "p", the number of positions of the switch will also be, consequently, equal to "p" The number of directions of the switch will be in this case equal to the square root of the value of "p", rounded to the nearest whole number. Thus, for example, for a number of faces 71 between 5 and 8, the switch must have three directions. The multi-position wafer switch envisaged here comprises, as has been shown in FIG. 7, two pancakes, each providing a direction and having fixed positions spaced from one another by 900 along the circumference.

 The pairs of contacts of the switching means 10 relating to the first direction of the switch are formed by a movable contact 36 and four fixed contacts 37, 38, 39 and 40 of a wafer; and the pairs of contacts of this means relating to the second direction are formed by a movable contact 41 and four fixed contacts 42, 43, 44 and 45 of the other wafer. The rotary parts 46 of the switch plates, carrying the movable contacts 36 and 41 of the pairs of contacts of the switching means 10, are mounted on the input shaft 7 (FIG. 1) of the rotation transmission mechanism 6 and can turn with this shaft, while the non-rotating parts 47 (fig. 7) of the switch plates, carrying the fixed contacts 37 to 40 and 42 to 45, are fixed to panel 1 (fig. 1) of the keyboard. contacts of the switching means 10 produced by said movable and fixed contacts during the rotation of the input shaft 7 form a coarse channel for forming the symbol codes programmed using the keyboard. This channel will be described in more detail later.

Of course, instead of the multiple position rotation switch of the type of wafers considered for producing the switching means 10, it is possible in this example to use rotary switches of other types as well, for example of the barrel type, screw, etc. As for
at the wafer type switch, it may be recommended for application in relatively simple and inexpensive data entry keyboards.

 The switching means 10 according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 comprises cams 48 provided with a boss 49, the number of these cams being equal to that of the faces of the keys 5 in the matrix, that is to say to say four.

A fifth cam 48 e which is found in the drawing is used to execute on the various auxiliary switches. Each of the cams 48 is mounted on one of the output shafts 8 of the rotation transmission mechanism 6; it is rigidly fixed on this shaft and is capable of coming into contact, by its boss 49, with one of the pairs of contacts 50 of the switching means 10, arranged next to these cams.

Each of the pairs of contacts 50 is arranged in a protective sheath 51 placed at the bottom 52 ′ of the keyboard cabinet. the boss 49 of each cam 48 comes into contact with a movable contact 53 of the corresponding pair of contacts 50 by means of a leaf spring 54 which transmits the pressure of the boss 49 on this contact in the strictly vertical direction.

 the cams 48 are mounted on the output shafts 8 in such a way that the bosses 49 of two neighboring cams are offset relative to each other by 900 along the circumference. the value of this angle is defined, as is the number of positions of the rotary switch in the example described above for producing the switching means 10, by the number of faces II of the key 5. For another number of faces There on key 5, equal for example to "p", this angle will therefore be equal to 360 / p degrees. As can be seen in fig. 8, the boss 49 of the cam 48b is offset by 900 both relative to the boss 49 of the cam 48a gu'au the boss 49 of the cam 48c. In turn, the boss 49 of the cam 48c is offset by 900 relative to the bosses 49 of the cams 48b and 48d. However, for the same position of the output shafts 8, the bosses 49 of the cams 48 do not all come into contact with the pairs of contacts 50. Thus, in the position shown in the drawing, it nty asque the boss 49 of the cam 48d which comes into contact with one of the pairs of contacts 50 while keeping it in the closed position.

the cams 48 can be mounted on the output shafts 8 in the keyboard either at the edges of the field of keys 5 (fig. 1), or, if the field of keys 5 is divided in the keyboard into two sub-fields, between these subfields. The particular position of the cams 48 depends on the chosen construction of the keyboard. In the proposed keyboard, the cams 48 will be arranged so
- advantageous along the left edge (depending on the
drawing) of the key field 5, and in this case, the fi
gure 8 is a view we could see if the way
switching 10 was carried out according to the mode envisaged,
looking at the arrow A in figure 1.

The data entry keyboard using the va
laughing at switching means 10 which has just been
described benefits from operational safety
raw, since in such a keyboard you can use
read, for any pair of available contacts
the same element, for example a micro-interrup
a large number of trips. For this reason
sound, we can recommend the keyboard with such a
switching means for use in IQS vital cases
where a particular reliability is essential, as for example
ple in input devices of computing systems
used on aircraft.

Figure 9 gives the diagram of the electrical connections
only pairs of contacts 17 of keys 5 and
pairs of contacts from switching means 10 to in
inside of the keyboard, as well as links of these
pairs of contacts with electronic devices
exteriors. As it appears on this diagram, the pairs
of contacts 17 commands by keys 5 and forming
a specific channel 55 for formatting the sym codes
boles imposed using the keyboard, constitute a field
matrix of numbered contact pairs in this field
from 17-1 to 17-30. In the field of contact pairs 17,
one of the contacts of each of these pairs is connected
on a common busbar 56, while the au
be contact of each of the pairs of a line of the ma
is connected to a separate output conductor, all
these separate conductors being united in a bundle 57,
conventionally represented, conductors of
keyboard output. At specific channel 55 for shaping
codes also belong to a pulse generator
58 connected to the common busbar 56 and an encoder or encryptor 59 of this channel whose inputs are connected to the output conductors of each of the pairs of contacts 17 and whose outputs 60 are connected to a binary digital register 61 storing the code to form selected symbols. More precisely, the inputs 60a to 60e of the coder 59 are respectively connected to the inputs 62a to 62e of the register 61. In other words, the outputs of the precise channel 55 are connected to the inputs of the cells of the five bits of
low register weight 61.

 As mentioned above, the pairs of contacts of the switching means 10 (fig. 1), controlled by the member 9 of rotation of the mechanism 6 for transmitting rotation, form a coarse channel for forming the codes of symbols imposed, this channel being designated in FIG. 9 by the numerical index 63. In fi.9, the switching means 10 is shown, to simplify the description. of the composition and operation of the coarse channel 63, in the form of the variant with a wafer switch comprising the movable contacts 36 and 41 and the fixed contacts 37 to 40 and 42 to 45 of the pairs of contacts of this means. The fixed contacts 37 and 39 of one direction of this switch and the fixed contacts 43 and 42 of its other direction are connected to a collecting line 64, while the fixed contacts 38 and 40 of one direction and the fixed contacts 44 and 45 from the other direction are connected to a collector line 65. Such a connection of said fixed contacts of the switching means 10 forms an encryptor 66 of the coarse channel 63. The collector lines 64 and 65 are connected to a source 67 of potentials, the line 64 being connected to the low potential terminal of this source (zero Volt) identified by the sign "minus" and line 65, to the high potential terminal (+ * Volts) identified by the sign "plus".

 The movable contact 36 of the switching means 10 is connected to the input 68 of a logic element 69 "AND" and the movable contact 41 is connected to the input 70 of a logic element 71 11ET ". these logic elements 69 and 71, and in particular the inputs 72 and 73 respectively, are connected in parallel and connected to the output of a logic circuit 74 "OR" whose inputs 75a to 75e are connected respectively to the outputs 60a to 60e of the encryptor 59 of the precise code shaping channel 55. The outputs of the logic elements 69 and 71 are connected respectively to the inputs 62f and 62g of the register 61 memorizing the code to be formed. In other words, the outputs of the channel coarse 63 are connected to the inputs of the two-order cells of the high order of the register 61.

 Thanks to the embodiment which has just been described between coarse 63 and precise channels 55 for forming the symbols of defined symbols, it is possible, in the general case, to introduce from the proposed keyboard the codes of N = mnp symbols, where N is the total number of symbols entered, m is the number of rows in the matrix, n is the number of columns in the matrix and p is the number of working faces 11 of key 5 with the inscriptions of the symbols. In our particular case where m = = 5, n = 6 and p = 4, the proposed keyboard allows the codes of 120 symbols to be entered into the calculation system.

 the operation of the data entry keyboard.

according to the present invention operates as follows.

 Before entering data into a calculation system equipped with the proposed keyboard, the operator chooses the alphabet of symbols to program, which he needs, and for this purpose, he puts the rotation 9 (fig. 1) or the corresponding position. By turning the member 9, the operator rotates the input shaft 7 of the rotation transmission mechanism 6, and the rotation of the input shaft 7 (fig. 4) is transmitted to its crank 21 which moves the common connecting rod 19 of this mechanism. From the common connecting rod 19, the movement is transmitted by the cranks 22 to the output shafts 8 each of which rotates strictly by the same angle from which the member 9 has been rotated (FIG. 1), that is to say, in our case, from 900. In synchronism with the output shafts 8, also turn the keys 5 wedged on them. As soon as the desired symbols. appear on the faces of the keys 5, visible through the windows 2, the operator stops turning the member 9, and the keyboard is then ready for the entry of symbols whose operator sees the inscriptions by the windows. very 2. At this time, the chosen position of the member 9 and, consequently, the position of the keys 5 with the required symbols is fixed securely by the locker 26.

 When the operator presses on face II (fig. 2), visible through window 2, of any key 5, the conical springs 12 are deformed in the radial direction, the body of key 5 moves downwards (according to the drawing) and transmits the movement to the pusher 16 which is conjugate to it, so that the latter closes the pair of contacts 17 associated with it. the external pressure being removed, the button 5 returns under the action of the conical springs 12, to its, starting position and the pair of contacts 17 opens. As a result of the junction and disjunction of the contact area 17, an appropriate electrical signal is produced.

 In the example of execution of the key 5 represented in FIGS. 5 and 6, when pressing on the face 11, visible to the operator, of the key 5, it is now the shaft 8, flexible and elastic, which deforms in the radial direction. This tree 8, yielding to the pressure acting on it, flexes, so that its middle part moves downwards (according to the drawing). With the shaft 8 moves. Also the body of the key 5 secured to this shaft by transmitting its movement to its pusher 16 which closes the pair of contacts 17. FIG. 5 illustrates precisely this precise moment, when the shaft 8 has bent and the key 5 has moved downwards ensuring the closing of the pair of contacts 17. The external action removed, the flexible and elastic shaft 8 straightens and the key returns in the same way to its position of start by thereby ensuring the opening of the pair of contacts 17 and the end of the formation of the electrical signal.

 the operation of the switching means 10 shown in Figure 7, containing contact wafers, does not differ in principle from the operation of this means in the version shown in Figure 8 where it contains contacts associated with cams. For this reason, a description will next be given of the process for producing electrical signals representing the codes formed by the keyboard proposed in the case of the switching means 10 produced in the form of a wafer switch and represented in FIG. 9 with the field pairs of contacts 17 and keys 5.

 The complete code of symbols defined by the keyboard is formed in two steps. At the first stage, the two high-order bits of the complete code are formed using the coarse channel 63 for forming the codes, the values of these bits then being determined by the position of the movable contacts 36 and 41 of the wafer switch. which serves as a switching means 10. In the second stage, the five low-order bits of the complete code are formed using the precise channel 55 for formatting codes. In the circuit considered, we took for "logic" the high potential or, in other words, the positive level (+5 volts), and for "logic" logic, the low potential or, otherwise, the zero level (zero volts) .

 In the first position of the wafer switch, the movable contacts 36 and 41 are closed respectively on its fixed contacts 37 and 42. it follows that the low potential coming from the source 67, passing through the collector line 64 and the pairs of contacts 57, 36 and 42, 41 is applied, respectively, to the input 68 of the logic element 69 "EU" and to the input 70 of the logic element 71 "ET".

 If in this case we close, for example, the pair of contacts 17 - 29 of the contact field of the precise channel 55, a pulse of positive polarity coming from the generator 58 arrives by the common busbar 56, through the pair of contacts 17 -29 closed and by the conductor separated from this pair, on one of the inputs of the encryptor 59 with the aid of which the position code is converted to each of the pairs of contacts 17 into binary code with five positions. For the closed pair of contacts 17-29, a code 11101 is formed at the outputs 60a to 60e of the encryptor 59 of the precise channel 55 which, being supplied to the inputs 62a to 62e of the binary register 61 with seven digits, s1 written in the cells of the five least significant bits of this register. At the same time, positive pulses representing "a logic arrive from the outputs 60 of the coder 59 on the inputs 75 of the logic circuit 74" OR "and of the output of this circuit, on the second inputs 72 and 73, connects them in parallel, of the logic elements 69 and 71. However, because the first inputs 68 and 70 of the logic elements 69 and 71 are located, as it was said above, at low potential, the positive pulses coming from the output of the logic circuit 74 will not pass through the logic elements 69 and 71 and will not reach the inputs 62f and 62g of the register 61, as a result of which the " a logic represented by these impulses will not register t not in the cells of the two high order 11 bits of this register. For this reason, in the register 61 will be stored the seven-position code 0011101 qu; represents the symbol isiosé by closing the pair of contacts 17-29.

 If the slider switch is moved to the second position, then two by two the contacts 36, 38 and 41, 43 close. As a result, the low potential of the source 67 is applied by the a collector 64 through the pair of contacts 41, 43 closed, on the input 70 of the logic element 71 "AND", while the high potential of this source is applied by the collecting line 65 and through the pair of contacts 36, 38 closed on input-68 of logic element 69 nE ".

In this way, the logic element 69 will be prepared for the passage of the positive pulse. During the junction of the same pair of contacts 17-29, it will reform, at outputs 60 from the encryptor 59 of the precise channel 55, the code 1110S which again registers in the cells of the same five bits of weight or low order of the register 61. At the same time, as in the previous case, the positive pulses representing the "one" logic will arrive from the outputs 60 of the encryptor 59, through the logic circuit 74 "OR", on the inputs 72 and 73 of the logic elements 69 and 71. But in this case, the position position pulse from the output of the logic circuit 74 on the inputs 72 and 73 of the logic elements 69 and 71 will pass through the element 69, so that the logic "one".

represented by this pulse will register in the cell of one of the high order bits of register 61.

Consequently, in this case, in the register 61 will be stored the resulting code 0111101 which corresponds to the new symbol whose inscription appears in the window 2 (fig. 1) on the key 5 cleared the setting of the member 9 of rotation and, consequently, the rotary switch in the second position.

 In the same way the training takes place.

symbol codes in third and fourth positions of the rotation member 9. Note that, if the same key 5 is pressed while closing the same pair of contacts 17, only the high order bits of the symbol codes will change in accordance with the new codes, as described above. symbol inscriptions appearing on this key, then the bits of tweaking the codes will remain invariable. But, if we leave the rotation member 9 and, consequently, the wafer switch in any position and if we successively press the different keys 5, the high order bits in the complete code of symbols to seven positions will then remain unchanged and only the five low order bits of this code will change.

 the major advantage of the data entry keyboard according to the present invention in comparison with other known keyboards of the same destination, in which there are members for changing the alphabet of symbols to be programmed and the same key is used to to impose several symbols of different alphabets, resides in that in the proposed keyboard, as soon as an alphabet of symbols to be given changed, change at the same time the inscriptions of the symbols on all.

ches, and this occurs in such a way that after establishment of any alphabet of selected symbols, it appears on the faces of all the keys visible to the operator that the inscriptions of the symbols which enter in this selected alphabet. This greatly facilitates and simplifies the work of the operator.

using this keyboard, the fact that during the programming of the symbols, he does not have to remember which alphabet of symbols he has implemented nor to controller, with the help of some auxiliary means, the kind of the symbol that it is imposing. In this way, by using the proposed keyboard, one is freed from the tedious need, distracting the attention of the operator, to constantly choose the necessary symbol among several appearing on the key, as is done on known keyboards and during the operator only has to press the key marked with the symbol he needs. Such an advantage is very important in many cases and makes it possible to significantly increase the speed and security of entering information into a calculation system.

 In the foregoing, examples of practical embodiment of the present invention have been described which, of course, admit various modifications and additions accessible to those skilled in the art. it is therefore quite obvious that the invention is in no way limited to the embodiments of the proposed keyboard and of its elements described and shown; on the contrary, it is susceptible to various variations which do not depart from the scope and the spirit of the invention, as defined by the claims which follow.

Claims (5)

 1. Data entry keyboard containing a plurality of keys (5) which are arranged on a panel in the form of a matrix of "m" rows and "n" columns and each of which is provided with an elastic element and a push button (16) connected to a pair of contacts, the set of contact pairs of all the keys serving as a precise channel for shaping the signal codes defined using this keyboard, and a means of switching comprising a plurality of pairs of contacts including a mobile in each pair, this means for switching a coarse channel of the codes of said symbols which is formed by the pairs of contacts of the switching means, characterized in that each of the keys (5) has the shape of a cylinder (11) whose periphery has faces on which the inscriptions of symbols to be programmed are carried and can rotate around the longitudinal axis of said cylinder, the keys (5) of each of the "m" lines of the matrix being mounted on one of the trees s output (8) of a rotation transmission mechanism (6), the input shaft (7) of which is provided with a rotation member (9) and which is in connection with the movable contacts (36 , 41, 53) of said switching means (lo), each of the keys (5) being mounted on the output shaft (8) so as to be able to move in the direction of the associated pusher (16).  2. data entry keyboard according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the keys (5) is in the form of a hollow cylinder and is held on a rigid output shaft (8) by two conical helical springs (12) arranged inside the hollow cylinder coaxially with the output shaft (8) so as to embrace said output shaft (8), their vertices being directed towards each other and each of the springs being rigidly fixed by a part & the output shaft (8) and by another part, to the inner surface (13) of the hollow cylinder.  3. Data entry keyboard according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the keys (5) is produced in the form of a cylinder pierced with an axial through hole (29) and rigidly fixed on a shaft. outlet (8), which is made flexible and elastic and serves as an elastic element, passing through the through axial hole (29) of the cylinder,  4. Data entry keyboard. according to any of the claims I, 2 and 3, characterized in that the switching means (10) is designed as a rotary multi-position switch which has "p" positions and a number of directions equal to the square root of the value of "p" rounded to the nearest whole number, where teepee, is the number of faces (11) of the key (5), the rotating part (46) of the switch with the contacts movable (36, 41) pairs of contacts being wedged on the input shaft (7) of the rotation transmission mechanism (6), and its non-rotating part (47) with the fixed contacts (37 to 40 and 42 to 45) pairs of contacts being fixed to the panel (1) of the keyboard.  5. Data input keyboard according to any one of claims 1, 2 and 3, characterized in that the switching means (10) contains "" cams (48) each of which is mounted on one output shafts (8) of the rotation transmission mechanism (6) and has the possibility of coming into contact, by its boss (49), with the movable contact (53) of one of the pairs of contacts (50 ) of the switching means (10), said cams (48) being mounted on the output shafts (8) so that the bosses (49) of two neighboring cams (48) are angularly offset  360 / p degrees from each other. where "p" is the number of sides (11) of the key (5).