US3670322A - Programmable keyboard - Google Patents

Programmable keyboard Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3670322A
US3670322A US64439A US3670322DA US3670322A US 3670322 A US3670322 A US 3670322A US 64439 A US64439 A US 64439A US 3670322D A US3670322D A US 3670322DA US 3670322 A US3670322 A US 3670322A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
tube
arrangement
screen
switch means
tubes
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
US64439A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Rainer Mallebrein
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.)
Licentia Patent Verwaltungs GmbH
Original Assignee
Licentia Patent Verwaltungs GmbH
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 Licentia Patent Verwaltungs GmbH filed Critical Licentia Patent Verwaltungs GmbH
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3670322A publication Critical patent/US3670322A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
    • G06F3/02—Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
    • G06F3/023—Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
    • G06F3/0238—Programmable keyboards

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to input devices for data processing systems and particularly .to a programmable keyboard for such purpose.
  • a programmable keyboard is a device for feeding control instructions and/or data into a data processing device, such as an electronic computer, which can determine the inscription and thus the significance of each individual key.
  • a data processing device such as an electronic computer
  • Such a keyboard offers very flexible input possibilities and can have a reduced number of keys, compared with keyboards whose keys have fixed meanings, so that higher typing speeds result.
  • Such a programmable keyboard-the designation key is here to be understood in the broad sense to relate to a fingeroperated signalling means-is known in the form of a character-writing electron beam tube in whose screen there are inserted small wires which function as keys" to produce a signal when contacted by a finger which acts to detune an electric bridge.
  • the tube is able to write characters onto the screen in thevicinity of such a wire, which characters indicate the significance of the respective wire-key.
  • Another object of the invention is to improve the construction of programmable keyboards.
  • the present invention provides a programmable keyboard which has a small depth, which can be economically fabricated, and which may be so designed that an actuated key is depressed and clearly distinct from the non-depressed keys and can also be locked in this position if desired, and in which individual malfunctioning keys can be easily replaced.
  • a programmable keyboard in which the meaning of the in dividual keys is determined by a data processing device is characterized, according to the present invention, in that each of the individual keys is in the form of a cathode-ray tube.
  • each cathode-ray screen tube can be depressed, by finger pressure,
  • each cathode-ray screen tube to a mechanical memberwhich actuates a switch when the tube is depressed.
  • each cathode-ray screen tube is provided with an electrically conductive, particularly a transparent, coating which triggers a signal when the surface is contacted.
  • characterproducing beam deflection voltages are fed to all cathode-ray screen tubes in parallel while the intensity modulation voltages for the beams are individually fed to the tubes.
  • staircase voltages are fed to the cathode-ray screen tubes to produce rows and/or columns of characters.
  • FIG. 1 is partly a schematic elevation view of a portion of a programmable keyboard according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a plan view of the keyboard of FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of one embodiment of a circuit arrangement used with the keyboard of the invention.
  • FIG. 4 shows the upper part of a cathode-ray tube with a transparent, conductive coating and serving as a key, there also being shown a finger of an operator, and circuits connected to the coating.
  • FIG. 1 shows a portion of a keyboard in approximately its actual size.
  • the keyboard is composed of a plurality of small cathode-ray tubes 1 each having an associated tube socket 2 supported by a Ushaped bar 3.
  • Each bar 3 rests on a compression spring 4 which can be compressed by a few millimeters and which is fastened to the center of the bar, the other end of the spring resting on, and being immovable with respect to, a stationary U-shaped bar 5.
  • the stationary bar 5 carries, between its upper ends, a microswitch 6 disposed inside bar 3 and arranged to be actuated by means of a key peg 6a extending therefrom.
  • Each tube socket 2 bears a plug 2a for actuating the associated key peg 6a and electrical connections 2b.
  • each tube 1 which is just above the tube screen, extends slightly above a cover plate 7, the tubes being guided in circular cutouts 7a in the cover plate 7.
  • Each tube 1 can be pressed downward a few millimeters against the force of spring 4 by slight finger pressure on its front plate la, the associated plug 2a then also pressing the key peg 6a disposed therebelow downward so that the associated microswitch 6 is actuated.
  • FIG. 3 there are shown the portions of tubes 1 which contain deflection plates 1x, ly in one row and in another row those portions containing the tube beam intensity modulation grids 1h, not all the tubes of a keyboard being represented.
  • the microswitches 6, which are actuated by depressing the associated tube, are also shown schematically in a row, again less than all of the microswitches being shown.
  • a voltage is applied to one input line of coding matrix 8 which generates a preferably digital code identifying the closed microswitch 6.
  • This code is conducted through a parallel-series converter 9 and into a line 10 and through this line 10 to an electronic computer.
  • the computer determines which meaning a signal produced by each depressed key is to have and controls the inscribin g of characters on the tube screens of a desired number of keys so that the meaning of each such key is indicated to the operator by the characters appearing on the screen of the associated tube 1, whereupon the operator can depress the key whose tube screen presents the appropriate indication.
  • an image repeat memory is required for the simultaneous visual indication of a plurality of characters'on the screen of a cathode-ray tube, which memory emits the data required for writing all of the characters on the screen in a cyclic, repetitive manner to provide a flickerfree representation of the characters.
  • the image repeat memory may be a part of the computer memory, but often it is advisable to use a separate memory 11, which receives information representing data from the computer through a line 12 and an electronic coupling system 13.
  • Memory 11 may be, for example, a feedback coupled delay line memory which cyclically and repetitively emits the data for writing all of the characters for the tubes.
  • memory 11 indicates, by
  • character generator 14 delivering a code to character generator 14, which character is to be written.
  • the character generator 14 then emits a sequence of x and y deflection voltages to the deflection amplifiers Vx and Vy which effect the stylus-type writing of the character, character generator 14 also generally activating an intensity modulation control for writing the individual characters, which control is effected by an intensity modulation control circuit 15.
  • the characters to be written must furthermore be positioned on the screen. When only one line of characters is to be written, this can be accomplished by a staircase voltage fed to horizontal deflection amplifier Vx to produce a stepwise horizontal shift after each character has been written.
  • a staircase voltage generator 16 is provided for this purpose, this generator being cyclically and repetitively controlled by the signals from the image repeat memory 1 1.
  • the output voltage of the x deflection amplifier Vx are fed in parallel to the x deflection plates 1x of all of tubes 1 and the output voltage of the y deflection amplifier Vy are fed in parallel to the deflection plates 1y of all of the tubes.
  • the intensity modulation control grids 1h of tubes 1, however, are individually connected to the intensity control circuit and the intensity control circuit 15 also receives signals from the image repeat memory 11 which determine on which tube 1 a character whose code is just being emitted from memory 11 is to appear. The other tubes are then blanked by the intensity modulation circuit 15.
  • the key designations which can be represented on the screen of tubes 1 are not limited to alphanumeric characters.
  • the computer when it executes or is to begin a program needing the cooperation of a human operator, can inscribe significances in the form of characters, signs, or graphic representations on a desired number of the tube-keys by feeding corresponding data to the repeat memory, and the operator can initiate an operation according to the meaning of a tube-key by depressing it.
  • FIG. 4 shows the upper part of a cathode-ray tube serving as a key which can be actuated, instead of depressing the tube, by merely touching its upper face with a finger.
  • the head-part of the glass bulb 1 of the tube including the front plate In, is coated with a thin layer 17 of a transparent, conductive material such as zinc-oxide;
  • a metal ring 18, which surrounds and contacts the layer 17 on its cylindrical part, is connected via wire 19 to an electrode of a glow-lamp 20.
  • the other electrode of the glow-lamp 20 is connected, via a resistance 21, to the secondary winding 22 of a transformer 23-22.
  • the other end of winding 22 is connected to earth.
  • the primary winding 23 of the transformer 23-22 is connected to an a-c power supply.
  • the glow-lamp 20 is, together with a phototransistor 24, encased in a light-tight casing 25.
  • an a-c circuit is established from earth via the resistance (as symbolized by 27) of the operators body, the layer 17, ring 18, wire 19, glow-lamp 20, resistance 21, winding 22, to earth.
  • the glow-lamp 20 fires and illuminates the phototransistor 24 causing it to emit a signal to terminal 28, which is connected to one input line of coding matrix 8.
  • the said a-c circuit is interrupted, glow-lamp 20 extinguishes, and the signal of phototransistor 24 ceases.
  • another photoelectric device could be used instead of phototransistor 24.
  • each said element comprises an individual cathode-ray tube having a visible image producing screen and the system includes an electrical connection connected between said storing means and said elements to receive signals corresponding to said representations for causing an indication of the information to which said representations relate to appear on selected ones of said screens, said electrical connection comprising: an image memory connected for receiving, under control of the system, selected ones of said representations to produce image data corresponding to the indication to appear on at least one said screen; circuit means connected between said memory and said tubes for producing on said screen the indication determined by said image data produced for the respective tube; and a plurality of switch means connected in the processing system and each operatively associated with a respective one of said tubes to be actuated by an operator's finger contact on said tube for providing to the system an identification of the tube with which said
  • each said tube is mounted to be displaced by finger pressure in a direction perpendicular to the surface of its display screen.
  • An arrangement as defined in claim 2 further comprising a plurality of actuation members each mounted on a respective one of said tubes, and wherein said switch means comprise a plurality of switches each arranged to be actuated by the actuation member of a respective tube when said tube is displaced.
  • each said tube includes an electrically conductive coating disposed on a screen surface and connected to said switch means and a power source connected to the coating, said switch means being arranged to initiate an electrical signal when said coating is contacted by an operators finger which connects said coating to ground.
  • circuit means comprise beam deflection voltage means connected in parallel to all of said tubes and beam intensity control means having a plurality of individual controlled outputs each connected to a respective tube.
  • circuit means further comprise means connected to said tubes for cylindrically producing a voltage having a staircase waveform to control the tube beam deflection so as to permit each tube to produce characters at different points on its screen.
  • said switch means comprise, for each said tube, a glow-lamp, said conductive coating is connected to an electrode of said glow-lamp, the other electrode of said glow-lamp being connected to earth via a resistance and the secondary winding of a transformer, and said switch means for each said tube further comprises a photoelectric device arranged to be illuminated by said glow-lamp as long as an a-c circuit firing said glow-lamp is established by touching said conductive coating.
  • said memory is an image repetition memory which cyclically and repetitively emits the image data associated with the indication to appear on said at least one tube screen
  • said circuit means further comprise a character generator connected between said memory and said deflection voltage means.
  • An arrangement as defined in claim 1 further comprising coding means connected between said switch means and the data processing system for producing an individual signal identifiable by the system upon the actuation of each respective switch means.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Input From Keyboards Or The Like (AREA)
  • Position Input By Displaying (AREA)
US64439A 1969-08-16 1970-08-17 Programmable keyboard Expired - Lifetime US3670322A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE19691941671 DE1941671B2 (de) 1969-08-16 1969-08-16 Programmierbares Tastenfeld

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3670322A true US3670322A (en) 1972-06-13

Family

ID=5742934

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US64439A Expired - Lifetime US3670322A (en) 1969-08-16 1970-08-17 Programmable keyboard

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US3670322A (de)
DE (1) DE1941671B2 (de)
FR (1) FR2058089A5 (de)
GB (1) GB1261875A (de)

Cited By (20)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3811113A (en) * 1969-06-21 1974-05-14 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Keyboard operated pattern generating device
US3879722A (en) * 1973-12-10 1975-04-22 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Interactive input-output computer terminal with automatic relabeling of keyboard
US3934248A (en) * 1973-11-05 1976-01-20 Chevron Research Company Alphanumeric display means for computer-linked typewriter consoles using a plurality of planar gaseous discharge means within a unitary envelope containing an ionizable gas
US3988746A (en) * 1974-11-15 1976-10-26 Alphatype Corporation Photocomposing machine
US4001807A (en) * 1973-08-16 1977-01-04 Honeywell Inc. Concurrent overview and detail display system having process control capabilities
US4001814A (en) * 1975-05-21 1977-01-04 The United States Of America As Represented By The United States Secretary Of The Army Fixed format message entry device with electronic storage and editing
US4028695A (en) * 1973-07-14 1977-06-07 The Solartron Electronic Group Limited Data terminals having interactive keyboards and displays and data processing apparatus incorporating such terminals
US4078257A (en) * 1976-08-23 1978-03-07 Hewlett-Packard Company Calculator apparatus with electronically alterable key symbols
US4112429A (en) * 1976-01-30 1978-09-05 Tsuha Wallace K Multifunction sequence operated integrated switch-display device
US4185282A (en) * 1977-06-02 1980-01-22 Am International, Inc. Displayed keyboard indicia
US4238792A (en) * 1978-11-09 1980-12-09 The Singer Company System for changing alphanumeric values that are displayed on cathode ray tube screens
US4247929A (en) * 1974-05-08 1981-01-27 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Switching mechanism for electronic wristwatch
EP0046763A1 (de) * 1980-02-15 1982-03-10 Rehm Pty Ltd Sicherheitsvorrichtung mit Tastenfeld.
US4431870A (en) * 1982-02-25 1984-02-14 May George A Telephone system with computer generated dial pad and automatic dialing
USRE32040E (en) * 1976-08-23 1985-11-26 Calculator apparatus with electronically alterable key symbols
US4853888A (en) * 1984-12-31 1989-08-01 The Boeing Company Programmable multifunction keyboard
US4873662A (en) * 1976-07-20 1989-10-10 The Post Office Information handling system and terminal apparatus therefor
US5164723A (en) * 1989-07-23 1992-11-17 Nebenzahl Israel D Configurable keyboard
US5300943A (en) * 1986-10-03 1994-04-05 Goldstar Electron Co., Ltd. Multiple display workstation with conductive surface overlay control
US6805506B2 (en) 2002-03-20 2004-10-19 Lubartech Ltd. Keyboard with multiple indicia sets

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2875951A (en) * 1954-11-23 1959-03-03 Ibm Synchronization of display means to specific microsecond interval
US3187321A (en) * 1961-05-11 1965-06-01 Bunker Ramo Operator-computer communication console
US3259794A (en) * 1963-07-15 1966-07-05 Sylvania Electric Prod Electroluminescent-photoconductive triggering device
US3495232A (en) * 1966-10-07 1970-02-10 Westinghouse Electric Corp Display screen and switching matrix

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2875951A (en) * 1954-11-23 1959-03-03 Ibm Synchronization of display means to specific microsecond interval
US3187321A (en) * 1961-05-11 1965-06-01 Bunker Ramo Operator-computer communication console
US3259794A (en) * 1963-07-15 1966-07-05 Sylvania Electric Prod Electroluminescent-photoconductive triggering device
US3495232A (en) * 1966-10-07 1970-02-10 Westinghouse Electric Corp Display screen and switching matrix

Cited By (30)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3811113A (en) * 1969-06-21 1974-05-14 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Keyboard operated pattern generating device
US4028695A (en) * 1973-07-14 1977-06-07 The Solartron Electronic Group Limited Data terminals having interactive keyboards and displays and data processing apparatus incorporating such terminals
US4001807A (en) * 1973-08-16 1977-01-04 Honeywell Inc. Concurrent overview and detail display system having process control capabilities
US3934242A (en) * 1973-11-05 1976-01-20 Chevron Research Company Alphanumeric display means for computer-linked typewriter consoles using a matrix array of liquid-crystal devices
US3934244A (en) * 1973-11-05 1976-01-20 Chevron Research Company Alphanumeric display means for computer-linked typewriter consoles using fluorescent luminescent alphanumeric indicating means
US3934245A (en) * 1973-11-05 1976-01-20 Chevron Research Company Alphanumeric display means for computer-linked typewriter consoles
US3934243A (en) * 1973-11-05 1976-01-20 Chevron Research Company Alphanumeric display means for computer-linked typewriter consoles using a plurality of gaseous glow indicator tube means containing an ionizable gas
US3934246A (en) * 1973-11-05 1976-01-20 Chevron Research Company Alphanumeric display means for computer-linked typewriter consoles using light-emitting diodes (LED's) in conjunction with sets of fiber-optic matrix members
US3934247A (en) * 1973-11-05 1976-01-20 Chevron Research Company Alphanumeric display means for computer-linked typewriter consoles using a matrix array of light-emitting diodes (led's)
US3934248A (en) * 1973-11-05 1976-01-20 Chevron Research Company Alphanumeric display means for computer-linked typewriter consoles using a plurality of planar gaseous discharge means within a unitary envelope containing an ionizable gas
US3879722A (en) * 1973-12-10 1975-04-22 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Interactive input-output computer terminal with automatic relabeling of keyboard
US4247929A (en) * 1974-05-08 1981-01-27 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Switching mechanism for electronic wristwatch
US4270199A (en) * 1974-05-08 1981-05-26 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Switching mechanism for electronic wristwatch
US3988746A (en) * 1974-11-15 1976-10-26 Alphatype Corporation Photocomposing machine
US4001814A (en) * 1975-05-21 1977-01-04 The United States Of America As Represented By The United States Secretary Of The Army Fixed format message entry device with electronic storage and editing
US4112429A (en) * 1976-01-30 1978-09-05 Tsuha Wallace K Multifunction sequence operated integrated switch-display device
US4873662A (en) * 1976-07-20 1989-10-10 The Post Office Information handling system and terminal apparatus therefor
USRE32040E (en) * 1976-08-23 1985-11-26 Calculator apparatus with electronically alterable key symbols
US4078257A (en) * 1976-08-23 1978-03-07 Hewlett-Packard Company Calculator apparatus with electronically alterable key symbols
US4185282A (en) * 1977-06-02 1980-01-22 Am International, Inc. Displayed keyboard indicia
US4238792A (en) * 1978-11-09 1980-12-09 The Singer Company System for changing alphanumeric values that are displayed on cathode ray tube screens
EP0046763A1 (de) * 1980-02-15 1982-03-10 Rehm Pty Ltd Sicherheitsvorrichtung mit Tastenfeld.
US4502048A (en) * 1980-02-15 1985-02-26 Rehm Werner J Security means
EP0046763A4 (de) * 1980-02-15 1982-06-03 Rehm Pty Ltd Sicherheitsvorrichtung mit Tastenfeld.
US4431870A (en) * 1982-02-25 1984-02-14 May George A Telephone system with computer generated dial pad and automatic dialing
US4853888A (en) * 1984-12-31 1989-08-01 The Boeing Company Programmable multifunction keyboard
US5300943A (en) * 1986-10-03 1994-04-05 Goldstar Electron Co., Ltd. Multiple display workstation with conductive surface overlay control
US5892509A (en) * 1986-10-03 1999-04-06 L G Semicon Co., Ltd. Image processing apparatus having common and personal memory and capable of viewing and editing an image commonly with a remote image processing apparatus over a network
US5164723A (en) * 1989-07-23 1992-11-17 Nebenzahl Israel D Configurable keyboard
US6805506B2 (en) 2002-03-20 2004-10-19 Lubartech Ltd. Keyboard with multiple indicia sets

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1261875A (en) 1972-01-26
DE1941671B2 (de) 1970-11-19
DE1941671A1 (de) 1970-11-19
FR2058089A5 (de) 1971-05-21

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3670322A (en) Programmable keyboard
US3934243A (en) Alphanumeric display means for computer-linked typewriter consoles using a plurality of gaseous glow indicator tube means containing an ionizable gas
US4280121A (en) Keyboard assembly with controllable key legends
US4313113A (en) Cursor control
US4310839A (en) Interactive display system with touch data entry
US3732389A (en) Touch entry switch array
US3478220A (en) Electro-optic cursor manipulator with associated logic circuitry
US3627935A (en) Multiple-switch bank and keyboard
US3290439A (en) Data encoding keyboard
US3007049A (en) Apparatus for generating electrostatic images
US4786896A (en) Input mechanism for word processor
US2958009A (en) Electroluminescent device
GB1318409A (en) Multiple switch constructions
GB2000375A (en) Touch switch and flexible contact therefor
US3559307A (en) Stylus actuated gas discharge system
JPH046997B2 (de)
US4326195A (en) Multi-item data input apparatus
WO1991011764A1 (en) Character input device
GB1584479A (en) Providing electric signals in response to the writing of characters
US3278683A (en) Character beam generating systems
US4497982A (en) Input unit
US3560675A (en) Depressible diaphragm overlay switch for displays
US2735038A (en) Read-out tube
WO1988005209A1 (en) Switch matrix keyboard
US4277780A (en) Scan-controlled keyboard