US3387693A - Keyboard with keys of transparent material - Google Patents

Keyboard with keys of transparent material Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3387693A
US3387693A US603308A US60330866A US3387693A US 3387693 A US3387693 A US 3387693A US 603308 A US603308 A US 603308A US 60330866 A US60330866 A US 60330866A US 3387693 A US3387693 A US 3387693A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
keys
key
keyboard
depressed
transparent material
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US603308A
Inventor
Wirth Johannes
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Wirth Gallo and Co
Original Assignee
Wirth Gallo and Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Wirth Gallo and Co filed Critical Wirth Gallo and Co
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3387693A publication Critical patent/US3387693A/en
Assigned to WIRTH GALLO PATENT AG, A SWISS CORP. reassignment WIRTH GALLO PATENT AG, A SWISS CORP. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: WIRTH, GALLO AND COMPANY
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/02—Constructional features of telephone sets
    • H04M1/22—Illumination; Arrangements for improving the visibility of characters on dials
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J5/00—Devices or arrangements for controlling character selection
    • B41J5/08—Character or syllable selected by means of keys or keyboards of the typewriter type
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J5/00—Devices or arrangements for controlling character selection
    • B41J5/08—Character or syllable selected by means of keys or keyboards of the typewriter type
    • B41J5/12—Construction of key buttons
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01G—WEIGHING
    • G01G23/00—Auxiliary devices for weighing apparatus
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06C—DIGITAL COMPUTERS IN WHICH ALL THE COMPUTATION IS EFFECTED MECHANICALLY
    • G06C7/00—Input mechanisms
    • G06C7/02—Keyboards
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H13/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
    • H01H13/02—Details
    • H01H13/023—Light-emitting indicators
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H13/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
    • H01H13/70—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T74/00—Machine element or mechanism
    • Y10T74/20—Control lever and linkage systems
    • Y10T74/20396—Hand operated
    • Y10T74/20468—Sliding rod

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to 'a keyboard with keys made of a transparent material, for instance in indicating, writing or calculating devices to be used in association with instruments, weighing machines or digital control means.
  • the proposed keyboard overcomes this drawback by disposing keys constituting optical systems in spaced relationship to a mounting plate above the plate at a distance which is at least substantially equal to the focal length of the optical sysem, in such manner that, when depressed, the keys move substantially into contact with the mounting plate.
  • FIG. 1 is an elevational section of part of a keyboard
  • FIG. 2 is a side elevation of FIG. 1,
  • FIG. 3 is a plan view of FIG. 1,
  • FIG. 4 shows the path of the light rays when the key is not depressed
  • FIG. 5 shows the path of the rays when the key is depressed
  • FIG. 6 is a plan view of a key in the position according to FIG. 4,
  • FIG. 7 is a plan View of a key in the position according to FIG. 5, and
  • FIG. 8 is a vertical section of the head of a key.
  • FIG. 1 shows only the first four keys of a decade.
  • Each key 8 is mounted on a rod 4 which is vertically slidably guided in two plates 5 and 9.
  • Each key 8 is held in its upper position by a spring 7.
  • a key such as 3,387,693 Patented June 11, 1968 key 3
  • a character e.g., a numeral identifying the key is provided on plate 9 below each key.
  • the keys 8 themselves constitute optical lens systems which have a focal length roughly equal to the distance between the plate 9 and the underside of the depressed key.
  • the identifying numeral 0, l and 2 of the depressed keys are only indistinctly seen excessively magnified through the top of the keys, whereas the numeral identifying the key 3 that has been depressed appears sharp and normally magnified.
  • FIG. 4 illustrates the path of the rays when the key is not depressed.
  • the underside 10 of the key 8 is fiat.
  • the numeral which is to be imaged is located on the plate 9 near the focus of the lens which forms the key. Consequently, the numeral 3, as shown in FIG. 6, will be greatly magnified and only part of it will be visible (rays m).
  • the underside 10 of the key 8 as shown in FIG. 8 may be provided with a fine prismatic or pynamdial ribbing, for instance in the form of ribs spaced only 0.1 mm. apart. The same effect can be achieved by providing the underside 10 with a matt surface.
  • the ribbed or matt surface results in the numeral being seen clearly and sharply defined only when the numeral is closed to or in contact with the underside of the key, whereas the image will be excessively magnified and blurred by the ribbing when the key is spaced away from plate 9 (rays S, image indistinct, as illustrated in FIG. 6).
  • FIGS. 5 and 7 show the path of the rays and the image when the key has been depressed.
  • FIG. 8 is a key composed of two elements of organic glass.
  • An upper lens 11 may be concave-convex, whereas a lower lens 12 is plano-convex with the plane surface 10 facing downwards.
  • This plane surface 10 may likewise be mad or ribbed.
  • the rod 4 carrying the key is only schematically shown. According to the application of the keyboard, means are connected to these rods for the generation of mechanical, electrical, optical or like signals. The nature of these means and of the signals that are transmitted may be of conventional kind.
  • a keyboard comprising mounting plate means having on one face thereof a plurality of reference characters, a plurality of keys having a head portion formed from transparent material to constitute an optical lens system and a rod portion depending therefrom, said rod portion operatively mounting said keys on said mounting plate means, spring means normally biasing said keys to a spaced relationship with said mounting plate means at a distance at least substantially equal to the focal length of said optical system at which position said reference characters are normally over-magnified and therefore indistinct, said reference characters being normally magnified, readable and distinct when said keys are depressed substantially into contact with said mounting plate means.
  • a keyboard according to claim 1 in which said head portion is a solid element having a substantially convex upper surface and a substantially planar undersurface, the ratio of the radius of the upper surface to the thickness of said element being in the range of 1 to 1.7.
  • a keyboard according to claim 1 in which the un- 1 derside of said lens system has a matt formed thereon to effect light dispersion.
  • a keyboard according to claim 1 in which the underside to said lens system has fine ribbing formed thereon to eifect light dispersion.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
  • Computing Systems (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Push-Button Switches (AREA)
  • Input From Keyboards Or The Like (AREA)

Description

June 11, 1968 J. WIRTH 3,387,693
KEYBOARD WITH KEYS 0F TRANSPARENT MATERIAL Filed Dec. 20. 1966 INVENTOR. (JOHN/MES WIRTH United States Patent 3,387,693 KEYBOARD WITH KEYS 0F TRANSPARENT MATERIAL Johannes Wirth, Zurich, Switzerland, assignor to Wirth, Gallo & Co., Zurich, Switzerland Filed Dec. 20, 1966, Ser. No. 603,308
Claims priority, application Switzerland, Jan. 31, 1966,
1,407/ 66 7 Claims. (Cl. 197-98) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A key formed of transparent material and use together with a keyboard to form an optical system. The keys are disposed above a mounting plate in spaced relation therefrom at a distance substantially equal to the focal length of the optical system. In a normal condition, a reference character image seen through the key is indistinct but when the key is depressed the reference character image is clear and sharp.
The present invention relates to 'a keyboard with keys made of a transparent material, for instance in indicating, writing or calculating devices to be used in association with instruments, weighing machines or digital control means.
It is desirable in keyboards in which the operated keys are not pushed far below the general level of the other keys, that the depressed keys should be readily recognizable as having been operated and their value should be clearly readable. When the operated keys of a keyboard are not far below the general level of the rest of the keys it is sometimes difiicult to see which keys have been depressed when the keyboard is viewed from above, as is convenient. It has already been proposed to render the keyed value easily discernible by internally illuminating those keys that have been depressed. It is still a drawback of this arrangement that in bright light, particularly in direct sunlight, it is still difficult to identify the keys that have been depressed, unless a disproportionately large amuont of power is used for their illumination. If this were done the keyboard would also be unduly heated should the keys remain in an operated position for any length of time.
The proposed keyboard overcomes this drawback by disposing keys constituting optical systems in spaced relationship to a mounting plate above the plate at a distance which is at least substantially equal to the focal length of the optical sysem, in such manner that, when depressed, the keys move substantially into contact with the mounting plate.
An embodiment of the invention is schematically shown in the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is an elevational section of part of a keyboard,
FIG. 2 is a side elevation of FIG. 1,
FIG. 3 is a plan view of FIG. 1,
FIG. 4 shows the path of the light rays when the key is not depressed,
FIG. 5 shows the path of the rays when the key is depressed,
FIG. 6 is a plan view of a key in the position according to FIG. 4,
FIG. 7 is a plan View of a key in the position according to FIG. 5, and
FIG. 8 is a vertical section of the head of a key.
FIG. 1 shows only the first four keys of a decade. Each key 8 is mounted on a rod 4 which is vertically slidably guided in two plates 5 and 9. Each key 8 is held in its upper position by a spring 7. When a key, such as 3,387,693 Patented June 11, 1968 key 3, is depressed it is retained in conventional manner in its depressed position until another key is depressed. When this is the case the first key 3 is released and its spring 7 returns it into its former position. A character, e.g., a numeral identifying the key is provided on plate 9 below each key. The keys 8 themselves constitute optical lens systems which have a focal length roughly equal to the distance between the plate 9 and the underside of the depressed key.
As shown in FIG. 3 the identifying numeral 0, l and 2 of the depressed keys are only indistinctly seen excessively magnified through the top of the keys, whereas the numeral identifying the key 3 that has been depressed appears sharp and normally magnified.
FIG. 4 illustrates the path of the rays when the key is not depressed. In this illustration it is assumed that the underside 10 of the key 8 is fiat. The numeral which is to be imaged is located on the plate 9 near the focus of the lens which forms the key. Consequently, the numeral 3, as shown in FIG. 6, will be greatly magnified and only part of it will be visible (rays m). For accentuating this effect the underside 10 of the key 8, as shown in FIG. 8 may be provided with a fine prismatic or pynamdial ribbing, for instance in the form of ribs spaced only 0.1 mm. apart. The same effect can be achieved by providing the underside 10 with a matt surface. The ribbed or matt surface results in the numeral being seen clearly and sharply defined only when the numeral is closed to or in contact with the underside of the key, whereas the image will be excessively magnified and blurred by the ribbing when the key is spaced away from plate 9 (rays S, image indistinct, as illustrated in FIG. 6).
FIGS. 5 and 7 show the path of the rays and the image when the key has been depressed.
FIG. 8 is a key composed of two elements of organic glass. An upper lens 11 may be concave-convex, whereas a lower lens 12 is plano-convex with the plane surface 10 facing downwards. This plane surface 10 may likewise be mad or ribbed.
The rod 4 carrying the key is only schematically shown. According to the application of the keyboard, means are connected to these rods for the generation of mechanical, electrical, optical or like signals. The nature of these means and of the signals that are transmitted may be of conventional kind.
I claim:
1. A keyboard comprising mounting plate means having on one face thereof a plurality of reference characters, a plurality of keys having a head portion formed from transparent material to constitute an optical lens system and a rod portion depending therefrom, said rod portion operatively mounting said keys on said mounting plate means, spring means normally biasing said keys to a spaced relationship with said mounting plate means at a distance at least substantially equal to the focal length of said optical system at which position said reference characters are normally over-magnified and therefore indistinct, said reference characters being normally magnified, readable and distinct when said keys are depressed substantially into contact with said mounting plate means.
2. A keyboard according to claim 1 in which said head portion is a solid element having a substantially convex upper surface and a substantially planar undersurface, the ratio of the radius of the upper surface to the thickness of said element being in the range of 1 to 1.7.
3. A keyboard according to claim 1 in which said head portion comprises a twin-lens optical system, the lower of said lenses having a substantially planar undersurface and :a convex upper surface, and the upper of said lenses being biconvex.
4. A keyboard according to claim 1 in which said head portion comprises a twin-lens optical system, the lower of said lenses having a substantially planar undersurface and a substantially convex upper surface, and the upper of said lenses being piano-convex.
5. A keyboard according to claim 1 in which said head portion comprises :a twin-lens optical system, the lower of said lenses having a substantially planar undersurface and a substantially convex upper surface, and the upper of said lenses being concave-convex.
6. A keyboard according to claim 1 in which the un- 1 derside of said lens system has a matt formed thereon to effect light dispersion.
7. A keyboard according to claim 1 in which the underside to said lens system has fine ribbing formed thereon to eifect light dispersion.
References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 430,774- 6/1890 Hamilton 197-102 867,868 10/1908 Beais 197-102 1,286,769 12/1918 Quentell 235-145 1,575,784 3/1926 OMeara 350-115 2,228,780 1/19 41 Roberts 197-98 2,234,954- 3/1941 Bergman 235-145 2,265,626 12/1941 Butler 235-145 3,237,591 3/1966 Pichel 235-145 2,642,226 5/1953 Luhn 35-145 OTHER REFERENCES IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, v01. 6, No. 1, June 1963, Article by E. V. Weber entitled Changeable Keyboard Labeling and Coding, p. 39.
IBM Tech. Disclosure Bulletin, vol. 3, No. 6, Novem- 15 ber 1960, Article by D. E. Eastwood entitled Key Top,
ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner.
0 E. S. BURR, Examiner.
US603308A 1966-01-31 1966-12-20 Keyboard with keys of transparent material Expired - Lifetime US3387693A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH140766A CH450461A (en) 1966-01-31 1966-01-31 Keyboard with key tops made of transparent material

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3387693A true US3387693A (en) 1968-06-11

Family

ID=4209712

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US603308A Expired - Lifetime US3387693A (en) 1966-01-31 1966-12-20 Keyboard with keys of transparent material

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US3387693A (en)
AT (1) AT267212B (en)
CH (1) CH450461A (en)
DE (1) DE1547547B2 (en)
FR (1) FR1506033A (en)
GB (1) GB1169457A (en)
NL (1) NL6700483A (en)

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3464532A (en) * 1967-08-30 1969-09-02 Burroughs Corp Keyboard pushbutton with character visible in depressed position
US3507378A (en) * 1968-06-10 1970-04-21 Ibm Keyboard for displaying one of a plurality of symbolic sets stored therein
US3731988A (en) * 1971-08-27 1973-05-08 R Lynch Magnifying lens devices
US3871506A (en) * 1973-08-08 1975-03-18 Luders Kirill Von Exchangeable keyboard for ball typewriters
US4565460A (en) * 1984-03-05 1986-01-21 Kline Alva C Convex key top configurations
US5145270A (en) * 1991-07-22 1992-09-08 Darden Jody J Reverse slope keyboard
DE19844249A1 (en) * 1998-09-26 2000-03-30 Audi Ag Legend plate, especially for vehicle gear knob, has display symbol formed on rear by mouldings/colored coatings, and is similar to lens with different front and rear radii of curvature
US6953096B2 (en) 2002-12-31 2005-10-11 Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. Expandable bit with secondary release device
US7004264B2 (en) 2002-03-16 2006-02-28 Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. Bore lining and drilling
US20160161105A1 (en) * 2013-08-30 2016-06-09 Hong Yang Operating button

Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US430774A (en) * 1890-06-24 Emery m
US867868A (en) * 1901-04-18 1907-10-08 Erl V Beals Type-writer.
US1286769A (en) * 1918-09-10 1918-12-03 William P Quentell Adding-machine.
US1575784A (en) * 1924-07-16 1926-03-09 American Optical Corp Magnifier
US2228780A (en) * 1941-01-14 System of light control for
US2234954A (en) * 1938-10-03 1941-03-18 Paul R Bergman Illuminated push button
US2265626A (en) * 1937-10-01 1941-12-09 Burroughs Adding Machine Co Calculating machine
US2642226A (en) * 1953-06-16 Keyboard
US3237591A (en) * 1963-03-01 1966-03-01 Hewlett Packard Co Pushbuttons

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US430774A (en) * 1890-06-24 Emery m
US2228780A (en) * 1941-01-14 System of light control for
US2642226A (en) * 1953-06-16 Keyboard
US867868A (en) * 1901-04-18 1907-10-08 Erl V Beals Type-writer.
US1286769A (en) * 1918-09-10 1918-12-03 William P Quentell Adding-machine.
US1575784A (en) * 1924-07-16 1926-03-09 American Optical Corp Magnifier
US2265626A (en) * 1937-10-01 1941-12-09 Burroughs Adding Machine Co Calculating machine
US2234954A (en) * 1938-10-03 1941-03-18 Paul R Bergman Illuminated push button
US3237591A (en) * 1963-03-01 1966-03-01 Hewlett Packard Co Pushbuttons

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3464532A (en) * 1967-08-30 1969-09-02 Burroughs Corp Keyboard pushbutton with character visible in depressed position
US3507378A (en) * 1968-06-10 1970-04-21 Ibm Keyboard for displaying one of a plurality of symbolic sets stored therein
US3731988A (en) * 1971-08-27 1973-05-08 R Lynch Magnifying lens devices
US3871506A (en) * 1973-08-08 1975-03-18 Luders Kirill Von Exchangeable keyboard for ball typewriters
US4565460A (en) * 1984-03-05 1986-01-21 Kline Alva C Convex key top configurations
US5145270A (en) * 1991-07-22 1992-09-08 Darden Jody J Reverse slope keyboard
DE19844249A1 (en) * 1998-09-26 2000-03-30 Audi Ag Legend plate, especially for vehicle gear knob, has display symbol formed on rear by mouldings/colored coatings, and is similar to lens with different front and rear radii of curvature
US7004264B2 (en) 2002-03-16 2006-02-28 Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. Bore lining and drilling
US6953096B2 (en) 2002-12-31 2005-10-11 Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. Expandable bit with secondary release device
US20160161105A1 (en) * 2013-08-30 2016-06-09 Hong Yang Operating button
US10253968B2 (en) * 2013-08-30 2019-04-09 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Push-button switch operating portion with diverging and converging lens

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE1547547B2 (en) 1971-04-22
DE1547547A1 (en) 1970-03-05
AT267212B (en) 1968-12-27
NL6700483A (en) 1967-08-01
CH450461A (en) 1968-01-31
GB1169457A (en) 1969-11-05
FR1506033A (en) 1967-12-15

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3387693A (en) Keyboard with keys of transparent material
US3235741A (en) Switch
US3937952A (en) Keyboard and switches for keyboards
US3584162A (en) Electrical keyboard switch mechanism with improved resilient diaphragm contact actuator
US4059737A (en) Keyboard
ES351223A1 (en) Drawing and design apparatus or instrument
US3670322A (en) Programmable keyboard
US2794977A (en) Optical transposer
US20180197701A1 (en) Luminous keyboard
US3042912A (en) Decoding apparatus
US20170338065A1 (en) Illuminated keyboard
DE102017117467A1 (en) Light-controlled keyboard device
CN105245217B (en) With the keyboard and keyboard of area source
US3761919A (en) Radiation sensitive keyboard
GB900328A (en) Indicating push button type signal light assembly for electric switches
GB1138774A (en) Optical programming apparatus
US3226712A (en) Multiple repertory encoding keypanel
US3507378A (en) Keyboard for displaying one of a plurality of symbolic sets stored therein
US3737898A (en) Console for random access filing equipment or the like having push button display
GB1108147A (en) Illuminable sliding-contact switch
GB2053574A (en) Illuminated keyboard
US2354779A (en) Keying mechanism
TWI269331B (en) Light pervious keyboard switch structure and light pervious keyboard made thereof
US2985873A (en) Luminous character display unit
SU419995A1 (en) BUTTON SWITCH

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: WIRTH GALLO PATENT AG, SONNENBERGSTRASSE 55, ZURCH

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:WIRTH, GALLO AND COMPANY;REEL/FRAME:004185/0949

Effective date: 19831014