US3627927A - Monolithic keyboard and method for making same - Google Patents

Monolithic keyboard and method for making same Download PDF

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Publication number
US3627927A
US3627927A US879479A US3627927DA US3627927A US 3627927 A US3627927 A US 3627927A US 879479 A US879479 A US 879479A US 3627927D A US3627927D A US 3627927DA US 3627927 A US3627927 A US 3627927A
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United States
Prior art keywords
keyboard
pads
sheet
keys
conductive
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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
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US879479A
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English (en)
Inventor
Herbert E Schmitz
Robert A Bleau
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Lockheed Corp
Original Assignee
Sanders Associates Inc
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    • 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
    • H01H13/78—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 characterised by the contacts or the contact sites
    • H01H13/807—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 characterised by the contacts or the contact sites characterised by the spatial arrangement of the contact sites, e.g. superimposed sites
    • 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
    • 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
    • H01H13/702—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 with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches
    • 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
    • H01H13/78—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 characterised by the contacts or the contact sites
    • H01H13/785—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 characterised by the contacts or the contact sites characterised by the material of the contacts, e.g. conductive polymers
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2201/00—Contacts
    • H01H2201/022—Material
    • H01H2201/026—Material non precious
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2203/00—Form of contacts
    • H01H2203/032—Metal foil
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2207/00—Connections
    • H01H2207/022—Plug
    • H01H2207/024—Plug in top layer
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2209/00—Layers
    • H01H2209/002—Materials
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2215/00—Tactile feedback
    • H01H2215/002—Longer travel
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2217/00—Facilitation of operation; Human engineering
    • H01H2217/018—Indication of switch sites
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2219/00—Legends
    • H01H2219/028—Printed information
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2221/00—Actuators
    • H01H2221/024—Transmission element
    • H01H2221/026—Guiding or lubricating nylon
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2221/00—Actuators
    • H01H2221/036—Return force
    • H01H2221/042—Foam
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2223/00—Casings
    • H01H2223/002—Casings sealed
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2223/00—Casings
    • H01H2223/034—Bezel
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2223/00—Casings
    • H01H2223/034—Bezel
    • H01H2223/036—Bezel forming chamfered apertures for keys
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2225/00—Switch site location
    • H01H2225/008—Two different sites for one circuit, e.g. for safety
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2225/00—Switch site location
    • H01H2225/022—Switch site location other then row-column disposition
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2229/00—Manufacturing
    • H01H2229/024—Packing between substrate and membrane
    • H01H2229/028—Adhesive
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2229/00—Manufacturing
    • H01H2229/034—Positioning of layers
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2239/00—Miscellaneous
    • H01H2239/05—Mode selector switch, e.g. shift, or indicator

Definitions

  • the layers include a bottom or first layer of conductive material, a second layer of spongy material with holes cut therein, and a third layer of flexible printed circuit.
  • This flexible printed circuit includes a sheet of insulating material with conductive pads placed thereunder in registration with the holes in the spongy material. Key symbols are etched on or printed over the conductive pads thereby indicating the placement of the keys. Depressing the key causes contact to be made between the respective pad and the first layer of conductive material.
  • the spongy material gives the operator the touch" of a standard typewriter keyboard.
  • PATENTEDDECMIBII 7 3527827 6 VOLTAGE )4 SUPPLY I 48 2 R 3 INVEN TONS g I 3g 13g HERBERT E. SCHMITZ l g 1 CODE ROBERT A. BLEAU l Z ii, m
  • the present invention relates generally to data entry devices and more particularly to keyboards employing a minimum of moving parts.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a keyboard which has no conventional moving parts.
  • Still another object of the invention is to provide a keyboard which is simple to manufacture and which has the touch" of a standard typewriter keyboard.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a keyboard which has the capability of shifting between uppercase and lowercase symbols.
  • Yet another object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive keyboard which is monolithic in structure and which is sealed against dirt and moisture.
  • the keyboard of the invention is monolithic in structure and has no conventional moving parts.
  • the keyboard is constructed with a minimum of inexpensive materials arranged in layers over a base.
  • the first layer placed on the base is a sheet of conductive material such as copper.
  • a flexible sheet of insulating material Over this layer of spongy material is placed a flexible sheet of insulating material.
  • On the underside of this flexible insulating material are conductive pads also in registration with the placement of the keys. Each of these conductive pads has a terminal attached thereto.
  • the pads, terminals and flexible sheet of insulating material are in combination a flexible printed circuit.
  • a rigid mask with suitably shaped holes in registration with aid key positions.
  • This mask is secured over the flexible sheet of insulating material.
  • symbols preferably printed onto the flexible sheet so that the operator may have an indication of the symbol which he types.
  • the conductive pad on the bottom side of the flexible sheet of insulating material makes a contact with the conductive sheet which is the first layer upon said base. This causes a conductive path to be created, so that, for example, a voltage applied to the first layer of conductive material will appear on the terminal of the corresponding key pad.
  • suitable encoding means a useable code will be generated to any receiving apparatus such as a CRT display.
  • the solid sheet of conducting material which was placed upon the base as a first layer might be interchanged with the conductive pads located on the bottom side of the flexible sheet of insulating material. That is, the conductive pads with terminals are rigidly secured to the base, whereas he sheet of conductive material would now have to be flexible and would be secured to the underside of the flexible sheet of insulating material.
  • a capability of depressing more than one key at a time and generating more than one conductive path may be desirable.
  • the sheet of conductive material whether it be flexible or whether it be the first layer upon said base, would have a section thereof insulated from the remaining part. Depression of the isolated key would create a special control signal. This control signal might be utilized, for example, with a shift key and would be used to invert the code of the encoded symbol. Such a shift key would have no effect upon the operation of the keyboard until one of the remaining keys on the keyboard was depressed.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the keyboard with the various layers shown cut away.
  • FIG. 2 is a cross section of the keyboard shown in FIG. 1 showing one such key depressed.
  • FIG. 3 is a cross section of a second embodiment of the keyboard showing one key depressed and in addition showing an isolated key.
  • FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram which might be used with the various embodiments of the keyboard of the invention.
  • FIG. 1 there is illustrated a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention. This view is shown in cutaway for ease of illustration.
  • a rigid base 24 Mounted to a rigid base 24 are layers of inexpensive material which comprise the keyboard of the invention.
  • Base 24 may be fabricated from any rigid insulating material such as phenolic.
  • Placed over base 24 is a first layer of material or conductive sheet 20 which might be made of copper for example.
  • Placed over conductive material 20 is a layer of spongy material 18 with holes 22 cut therein. The holes 22 are cut so that they are in registration with the placement of the keys on keyboard 10.
  • Spongy material 18 might be formed from foam rubber or any other compressible material.
  • the thickness and density which contributes to the compression factor of the spongy material 18 are selected to give an operator the touch" found on a standard typewriter keyboard, that is, the operator must push down with a certain uniform force in order to cause entry of the symbol designated by the pushed key. This force is the socalled standard touch" referred to.
  • Spongy material 18 may be simply placed over conductive sheet 20 so long as some means is devised to hold spongy material 18 from sliding. Such a holding device might be base 24. Spongy material 18 might also be bonded to sheet 20, in order to insure there is no movement laterally of material 18. Conductive material 20 might also be adhered to base 24 but this is not absolutely necessary.
  • spongy material 18 Placed over spongy material 18 is flexible insulating material 14 with conductive pads 16 and terminals 32 adhered on the underside thereof. More particularly, flexible insulating material 14 along with conductive pads 16 and terminals 32 are in combination a flexible printed circuit. Pads 16 as well as terminals 32 are conductive and may be made from copper or any other conductive material. The flexible insulating material 14 might be made from mylar, etc. Flexible insulating material 14 is adhered to spongy material 18 in order that the pads 16 will remain in registration with the holes 22.
  • Pads 16 as well as holes 22 do not have to be circular in shape. They may in fact by any shape, such as a square. a rectangle, oval, etc., so long as the pads 16 and holes 22 are in substantial registration with each other.
  • Terminals 32 may be brought out from the keyboard at any side or end and may be connected to a receiving device by a connector which may be included as part of base 24. The terminals 32 do not necessarily have to come out on the same side of the keyboard 10.
  • the dimension of pads 16 is approximately the same as the dimensions of the holes 22 in spongy material 18. There is a wide tolerance for these dimensions which, of course, decreases the expense of the keyboard; that is, no great care is required in assuring 100 percent registration.
  • Symbol designators 28 are placed over the center of pads 16. Such designators 28 may be either printed on flexible material 14 or adhered thereto in any conventional manner. Symbol designations 28 may also be etched in the pad 16, preferably near the perimeter thereof so as not to interfere with the contact area at the center of the pad. By etching the designations 28 therein, a further fabrication step will be eliminated. The placement of symbol designators 28 is, of course, the placement of keys.
  • Mask 12 may be made out of any type of rigid material and includes holes cut therein in a convenient shape to accept a person's finger. The holes might be beveled and could be oval in shape as well as circular in shape, etc. Mask 12 is then securedto base 24 so that the keyboard will now be sealed to prevent dirt and moisture from entering therein.
  • FIG. 2 there is illustrated for added clarity a cross section of the keyboard illustrated in FIG. 1.
  • Over base 24 is shown the conductive sheet 20.
  • Placed over sheet 20 is left-handmost spongy material 18 with the holes 22 cut therein.
  • the flexible insulating material 14 with conductive pads 16 in registration with holes 22 is adhered over the spongy material 18.
  • the symbol designator 28 is shown above the respective pads.
  • Over the flexible printed circuit is the mask 12 with the holes 26, with bevels 27 cut therein. These holes 26 are in substantial registration with the pads 16 and holes 22.
  • FIG. 2 is the configuration of the keyboard when a key is depressed. Contact is made at point or area 30 on the left-handmost key on FIG. 2. A finger, not shown, is pushing on designator 28 so that flexible insulating material 14 as well as conductive pads 16 take the shape shown. Pads 16 therefore is in contact with sheet at point 30 to cause a circuit path. The operation of this circuit will be discussed hereinafter.
  • FIG. 3 there is shown a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the invention.
  • the sheet of conductive material is now flexible and adhered to the underside of flexible insulating material 14 whereas the conductive pads and terminals connnected thereto are now adhered to the base 24.
  • the pads 42 as well as the terminals, not shown, are adhered to the base 24.
  • These pads 42 must be securely positioned so that they will be in registration with the key positions.
  • the spongy material 18 is placed over the base 24 and pads 42.
  • the holes 22 in the spongy material 18 are as before in registration with the pads 42.
  • a flexible sheet of conductive material 40 which sheet 40 may be adhered to the underside of the flexible insulating material 14.
  • the insulating material 14 in this case would only be used to prevent any possibility of electrical shock to the operator.
  • the symbol designators 28 and mask 12 would be shaped and placed in the same manner as previously discussed for keyboard of FIGS. 1 and 2. Of course, the symbol designators 28 may be etched into sheet 40 as mentioned in regard to FIG. 2.
  • One of the keys . is shown in the depressed position so that the sheet 40 makes contact with a pad 42 at point or area 44.
  • FIG. 3 Another embodiment of the invention is also shown in FIG. 3 wherein the sheet 40 is disconnected at gap 39 and continues on as sheet 38. In this manner, key 36 is isolated from the remaining keys on keyboard 34. The contact between sheet 38 and pad 42 of key 36 would now be completely electrically isolated from the contacts of the other keys on keyboard 34.
  • This configuration could be used in order that the keyboard have a shift capability, for example, i.e., capability of selecting between uppercase and lowercase symbols, Normally, when the operator is typing he will type the lowercase symbols or, in the alternative, the keyboard may be set up so that he is always typing the uppercase symbols.
  • the keyboard configuration as described in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 may be constructed in various ways.
  • the conductor pads of these keyboards may be eliminated and replaced by conductive strips.
  • each strip might encompass eight keys and in combination with this the conductive sheet might be broken up into eight such sheets, each sheet also encompassing eight particular keys.
  • the keyboard of the invention may have its keys placed thereon in any desired arrangement.
  • the base holding the layers of material comprising the keyboard may be sloped upward so that the top row of keys is higher than the bottom row of keys.
  • the base may be designed in a staircase configuration so as to more nearly resemble a standard keyboard design.
  • the layers of the keyboard could be flat but made flexible and held in the staircase form over the staircase base by means of a rigid mask preformed in the staircase configuration.
  • the respective layer levels may be inserted independently in strips on each level of the staircase and then held in place by a rigid, staircase mask.
  • an extended key 19 may be adhered to the flexible sheet 14 in order to provide more positive placement of the keys to an operator.
  • Such key 19 might be made from plastic.
  • the mask 12 would not then be required except for possibly adding side support to prevent key 19 from moving sideways.
  • the symbol indicator could be printed on the top side of key 19.
  • Such keys 19 could, of course, be used with the embodiment of FIG. 2. Also, but
  • the staircase design discussed above could be devised simply by making the extended keys 19 used in the back row of a standard keyboard design longer or taller than the preceding row of keys, with the front row having the lowest extending keys 19.
  • FIG. 4 there is illustrated a schematic block diagram of a circuit which may be used with the apparatus of this invention.
  • the apparatus of the invention is generally shown as keyboard 52 as well as shift key 54.
  • the conductive pad terminals of keyboard 52 are shown as lines 1 through N which outputs are connected to an encoder 48.
  • Encoder 48 functions to convert the respective N inputs, each into its particular seven-bit ASCII code. This code may then be utilized by a receiving device which is adapted to work with the ASCII code. If another code is desired, then encoder 48 would be designed to convert the N-inputs to that other code.
  • the conductive sheet of keyboard 52 is connected to a voltage supply 46 so that when a particular key is depressed, the voltage from supply 46 is coupled to a particular one of the N-outputs of keyboard 52. The presence of this voltage is then encoded by encoder 48.
  • the keyboard of the invention has associated therewith a matrix encoder in an array having N-inputs and 7 output lines, then the addition of the shift key feature would not require complete electrical isolation of the shift key contacts.
  • the shift key output would be prewired to shift logic 50 whose function would be to invert particular bits in the encoder 48 output when both the shift key 54 and another key were depressed at substantially the same time.
  • the keyboard of the invention has associated therewith a scanning keyboard encoder then the addition of the shift key feature might require complete isolation of the shift key circuit. Then the voltage supply 46 would be connected to the conductive sheet for the shift key. The scanning input voltages, not shown, would be connected in a scanning arrangement to the keyboard 52. Upon depressing the shift key 54, the voltage from supply 46 will be coupled to the input of shift logic 50 whose output is coupled to encoder 48. The function of shift logic 50 is to invert particular bits of the seven-bit ASCII output code so that the particular code will now be recognized as the same symbol but in the uppercase or, in the alternative, lowercase.
  • the encoder 48 would be arranged so that the output from shift logic 50 would not be accepted. If more than one key on keyboard 52 were depressed at the same time, independent of the shift key feature, then the encoder 48 might be designed to accept the first key pushed or not accept any input.
  • a keyboard a defined in claim 1, further including a mask of rigid material placed over said flexible sheet, said mask including holes in registration with said conductive pads.
  • a keyboard as defined in claim 3 further including a base to which the bottom side of said sheet of conductive material is secured and to which the edges of said mask are secured, whereby said keyboard is sealed from the surrounding environment.
  • a keyboard as defined in claim 5 wherein a section of said sheet of conductive material is electrically isolated from the remainder of said sheet of conductive material and wherein said section is substantially the same size as and is in registration with one of said keys, whereby a depression of said of keys in registration with said section causes a respective pad to make contact with said section.
  • a keyboard as defined in claim 1 further including external keys adhered to the uppermost side of said flexible sheet of insulating material in registration with said pads whereby a depression of one of said extended keys causes a respective pad to make contact with said sheet of conductive material.
  • a keyboard as defined in claim 10 further including a mask of rigid material placed over said flexible insulating material, said mask including holes in registration with said conductive pads.
  • a method for constructing a keyboard comprising the steps of:
  • a method as defined in claim 14 including the additional steps of:
  • a method for constructing a keyboard comprising the steps of:

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  • Push-Button Switches (AREA)
  • Input From Keyboards Or The Like (AREA)
US879479A 1969-11-24 1969-11-24 Monolithic keyboard and method for making same Expired - Lifetime US3627927A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

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US87947969A 1969-11-24 1969-11-24

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US3627927A true US3627927A (en) 1971-12-14

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US (1) US3627927A (fr)
BE (1) BE758202A (fr)
CA (1) CA926453A (fr)
CH (1) CH540530A (fr)
DE (1) DE2041498A1 (fr)
FR (1) FR2066529A5 (fr)
GB (1) GB1272165A (fr)
IL (1) IL35075A (fr)
NL (1) NL7017168A (fr)
SE (1) SE362971B (fr)

Cited By (19)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3725907A (en) * 1971-06-01 1973-04-03 Texas Instruments Inc Pushbutton keyboard system
US3811025A (en) * 1973-05-17 1974-05-14 Lockheed Electronics Co Touch panel switch assembly
US3886335A (en) * 1973-01-26 1975-05-27 Ind Electronics Engineers Inc Collated cable matrix switch
US4035593A (en) * 1975-10-09 1977-07-12 Northern Engraving Company, Inc. Flexible pressure sensitive switch actuator module adaptable to a keyboard surface having fixed contact array
US4057710A (en) * 1976-03-29 1977-11-08 Willmott Arthur S Keyboard assembly
US4060163A (en) * 1976-02-12 1977-11-29 Willingham James S Keyboard Guard
US4065649A (en) * 1975-06-30 1977-12-27 Lake Center Industries Pressure sensitive matrix switch having apertured spacer with flexible double sided adhesive intermediate and channels optionally interposed between apertures
US4066860A (en) * 1974-09-26 1978-01-03 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Pushbutton switch key arrangement for keyboards having indicia
US4090045A (en) * 1975-12-15 1978-05-16 Marsh Products, Inc. Keyboard strip switch assembly having multifurcated conductive screen contact with contact cleaning wiping-action
US4158230A (en) * 1976-10-15 1979-06-12 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Electronic calculator with no protruding key tops
US4194099A (en) * 1977-10-25 1980-03-18 W. H. Brady Co. Control panel overlay
US4228329A (en) * 1978-06-26 1980-10-14 Hitachi, Ltd. Compact keyboard structure
US4338502A (en) * 1978-04-27 1982-07-06 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Metallic housing for an electronic apparatus with a flat keyboard
US4375018A (en) * 1980-06-16 1983-02-22 Sheldahl, Inc. Membrane switch having adhesive label as edge seal
US4376239A (en) * 1980-10-03 1983-03-08 Allen-Bradley Company Industrial membrane switch
US4421958A (en) * 1980-06-10 1983-12-20 Nippon Mektron Co., Ltd. Panel keyboard with air permeable spacer
US4671688A (en) * 1985-10-02 1987-06-09 Honeywell Inc. Shielded keyboard
US4862166A (en) * 1986-10-06 1989-08-29 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Combination keyboard including plural stroke keys and plural touch keys
US5286125A (en) * 1992-11-16 1994-02-15 Digiosia Antonio G Keyboard and key guide frame arrangement

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5024770A (fr) * 1973-07-05 1975-03-17
US4017697A (en) * 1975-09-15 1977-04-12 Globe-Union Inc. Keyboard membrane switch having threshold force structure
JPS5813757Y2 (ja) * 1977-11-09 1983-03-17 セイコーインスツルメンツ株式会社 キ−ボ−ド付電子時計
JPS54142573A (en) * 1978-04-27 1979-11-06 Nikkan Ind Method of producing key switch compound conductive sheet employing insulating plastic film

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US3290439A (en) * 1963-04-29 1966-12-06 Willcox Data encoding keyboard
US3382338A (en) * 1966-04-26 1968-05-07 Ibm Pushbutton actuator for elastomeric switch

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3290439A (en) * 1963-04-29 1966-12-06 Willcox Data encoding keyboard
US3382338A (en) * 1966-04-26 1968-05-07 Ibm Pushbutton actuator for elastomeric switch

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
Non-Mechanical Keyboard, Vol. 5, No. 12, IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, May 1963 *

Cited By (20)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3725907A (en) * 1971-06-01 1973-04-03 Texas Instruments Inc Pushbutton keyboard system
US3886335A (en) * 1973-01-26 1975-05-27 Ind Electronics Engineers Inc Collated cable matrix switch
US3811025A (en) * 1973-05-17 1974-05-14 Lockheed Electronics Co Touch panel switch assembly
US4066860A (en) * 1974-09-26 1978-01-03 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Pushbutton switch key arrangement for keyboards having indicia
US4065649A (en) * 1975-06-30 1977-12-27 Lake Center Industries Pressure sensitive matrix switch having apertured spacer with flexible double sided adhesive intermediate and channels optionally interposed between apertures
US4035593A (en) * 1975-10-09 1977-07-12 Northern Engraving Company, Inc. Flexible pressure sensitive switch actuator module adaptable to a keyboard surface having fixed contact array
US4131991A (en) * 1975-10-09 1979-01-02 Northern Engraving Company, Inc. Method of making flexible pressure sensitive switch
US4090045A (en) * 1975-12-15 1978-05-16 Marsh Products, Inc. Keyboard strip switch assembly having multifurcated conductive screen contact with contact cleaning wiping-action
US4060163A (en) * 1976-02-12 1977-11-29 Willingham James S Keyboard Guard
US4057710A (en) * 1976-03-29 1977-11-08 Willmott Arthur S Keyboard assembly
US4158230A (en) * 1976-10-15 1979-06-12 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Electronic calculator with no protruding key tops
US4194099A (en) * 1977-10-25 1980-03-18 W. H. Brady Co. Control panel overlay
US4338502A (en) * 1978-04-27 1982-07-06 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Metallic housing for an electronic apparatus with a flat keyboard
US4228329A (en) * 1978-06-26 1980-10-14 Hitachi, Ltd. Compact keyboard structure
US4421958A (en) * 1980-06-10 1983-12-20 Nippon Mektron Co., Ltd. Panel keyboard with air permeable spacer
US4375018A (en) * 1980-06-16 1983-02-22 Sheldahl, Inc. Membrane switch having adhesive label as edge seal
US4376239A (en) * 1980-10-03 1983-03-08 Allen-Bradley Company Industrial membrane switch
US4671688A (en) * 1985-10-02 1987-06-09 Honeywell Inc. Shielded keyboard
US4862166A (en) * 1986-10-06 1989-08-29 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Combination keyboard including plural stroke keys and plural touch keys
US5286125A (en) * 1992-11-16 1994-02-15 Digiosia Antonio G Keyboard and key guide frame arrangement

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
IL35075A (en) 1973-08-29
SE362971B (fr) 1973-12-27
CH540530A (it) 1973-08-15
GB1272165A (en) 1972-04-26
NL7017168A (fr) 1971-05-26
IL35075A0 (en) 1970-10-30
DE2041498A1 (de) 1972-02-17
FR2066529A5 (fr) 1971-08-06
CA926453A (en) 1973-05-15
BE758202A (fr) 1971-04-01

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