Finger operated switching device

A finger operated switching device comprising:

• an elongated biasing magnet having a first pole with a first magnetic polarity and a second pole with a second and opposite magnetic polarity, said poles being spaced from each other along a give axis whereby a first magnetic centerline is established with said biasing magnet;
• a first key assemblage, said first key assemblage having a key and a key magnet connected thereto, said key magnet having a first pole with said first polarity and a second pole with said second polarity, said poles being spaced from each other along a first line parallel to said given axis whereby a second magnetic centerline is established within said key magnet;
• first guiding means for guiding said first key assemblage to move along a first path adjacent said biasing magnet and parallel to said given axis between a first end position wherein the second magnetic centerline is above and displaced by a first distance from the first magnetic centerline and a second end position wherein the second magnetic centerline is above and displaced by a second and shorter distance from said magnetic centerline;
• first electrical circuit means which is switchable between transmissive and non-transmissive states;
• first controlling means connected to said first key assemblage for changing the state of the said first electrical circuit means as said first key assemblage moves from one to the other of the end positions of said first path;
• a second key assemblage which is the same as said first key assemblage;
• second guiding means for guiding said second key assemblage to move along a second path adjacent said biasing magnet and parallel to said given axis between a first end position wherein the magnetic centerline of said key magnet of said second key assemblage is above and displaced by said first distance from the first magnetic centerline, a second end position wherein the magnetic centerline assemblage is above and displaced by said second distance from the first magnetic centerline;
• second electrical circuit means switchable between transmissive and non-transmissive states;
• second controlling means connected to said second key assemblage for changing the state of said second electrical circuit means as said second key assemblage moves from one to the other of the end positions of said second path;
• and means for simultaneously adjusting the magnet forces between said biasing magnet and said key magnets.

A finger operated switching device comprising a biasing magnet having a first pole with a first magnet polarity and a second pole with a second and opposite magnetic polarity, said poles being spaced from each other along a given axis whereby a first magnetic centerline is established within the said biasing magnet;

• a first key assemblage, said first key assemblage having a key and a key magnet connected thereto, said key magnet having a first pole with said first polarity and a second pole with said second polarity, said poles being spaced from each other along a first line parallel to said given axis whereby a second magnetic centerline is established within said key magnet, said biasing magnet and said key magnet being magnetically polarized in the same direction;
• first guiding means for guiding said first key assemblage to move along a path adjacent said biasing magnet and parallel to said given axis between a first end position wherein the second magnetic centerline is above and displaced from the first magnetic centerline by a first distance and a second end position wherein the second magnetic centerline is below and displaced from the first magnetic centerline;
• electrical circuit means which is switchable between transmissive and non-transmissive states;
• controlling means connected to said first key assemblage for changing the state of said electrical circuit means as said key assemblage is moved from one to the other of the end positions of said first path;
• and finger operated restoring means for selectively returning said key assemblage from said second end position to said first end position.