High density programming means for programmable sewing machine

In a sewing machine having stitch forming means operative to form successive stitches including mechanism for influencing the stitch position coordinates of said successive stitches in the formation of a pattern of stitches, logic means responsive to input data representative of stitch position coordinates for producing stitch position coordinate electrical signals, actuating means responsive to signals from said logic means for controlling the position of said stitch forming means in accordance with input data fed to said logic means, and programming means operably connected with said sewing machine, said programming means including static read-write memory means operative for storing digital input data corresponding to a stitch pattern selected by the operator and for transmitting electrical digital output signals to said logic means such that an operator may select a stitch pattern program for entry into the sewing machine for automatic reproduction of the stitch pattern by the sewing machine, said programming means further including operator manipulating means for inserting a stitch pattern selected by the operator into said memory means and encoder means for encoding positional information derived from said operator manipulating means to digital input data for said memory means, said operator manipulating means comprising:

• a flexible printed circuit sheet having first conductors spaced from and parallel to each other;
• a printed circuit board having second conductors spaced from and parallel to each other, said printed circuit board being arranged with respect to said flexible printed circuit sheet so that the conductors of one are substantially perpendicular and in facing relationship to the conductors of the other;
• and means for establishing discrete conductive paths between a selected conductor on said printed circuit sheet and a selected second conductor on said printed circuit board, said means including a first and a second insulating sheets between said printed circuit sheet and said printed circuit board, said insulating sheets each having an array of apertures in registry with each other and aligned with said first conductors of said flexible printed circuit sheet and said second conductors of said printed circuit board, and a flexible sheet of conductive material separating said first and second insulating sheets;
• whereby depression of said flexible printed circuit sheet through an aperture of said first insulating sheet adjacent thereto will establish a discrete conductive path between a first conductor on said printed circuit sheet and said flexible conducting sheet and will deflect said flexible conducting sheet through an aperture in said second insulating sheet adjacent said printed circuit board in spaced registry with said aperture in said first insulating sheet to establish a discrete conductive path between said flexible conducting sheet and a second conductor on said printed circuit board.