Electronic calculator with no protruding key tops

An electronic calculator having a keyboard, with keys thereon, an arithmetic processor unit, a power supply and a digital display;

• said electronic calculator comprising in combination:
• a casing means for accommodating said keyboard, said arithmetic process unit, said power supply and said digital display;
• wherein said casing corresponding to said keyboard comprises a single flexible flat sheet;
• wherein a plurality of limited regions of said flat sheet are identified by unique symbols or indicators corresponding to respective ones of said keys of said keyboard, whereby said flexible flat sheet further comprises manually operable flat top key switch actuators;
• a plurality of resilient, electrically conductive elastomeric moving contact members attached to the respective ones of said manually operable flat top key switch actuators in the provision of a like purality of key switches;
• electrically conductive fixed contact members adjacent to and registable with said key switches each further including corresponding ones of said resilient, electrically conductive elastomeric moving contact members and manually operable flat top key switch actuators;
• means responsive to actuation of said key switches for generating a power control signal;
• means responsive to said power control signal for supplying power to said processor unit;
• and
• means, responsive to the absence of key-switch actuation, for shutting off power to said processor unit.

A keyboard of an electronic calculator comprising:

• a casing means for accommodating components of said electronic calculator;
• wherein at least a portion of said casing corresponding to said keyboard comprises a single flexible flat sheet;
• wherein a plurality of limited regions of said flat sheet are identified by unique symbols or indicators corresponding to respective ones of said keys of said keyboard, wherein said flexible flat sheet further comprises manually operable flat top key switch actuators;
• and
• a plurality of pairs of key contacts adjacent to respective ones of said manually operable flat top key switch actuators;
• said manually operable flat top key switch actuators including a power supply control switch means for turning on said calculator upon initial use;
• said power supply control switch means comprising any one of the numeric or function keys on said keyboard;
• and
• said keyboard further including means for automatically turning off said calculator when not is use.

A data processor apparatus with a keyboard comprising:

• a flat keyboard means comprising:
• a plurality of digit and function keys wherein each key comprises a pair of contact means and a non-protruding key actuator, said key actuator providing means for forcing said pair of contact means into engaging relationship when said key is being depressed;
• a power supply control switch means further comprising a pair of contact means and a non-protruding key actuator, said actuator providing means for forcing said pair of contact means into engaging relationship when said key is being depressed in the provision of a power supply control switch of the self-restoring type which is identical to the other individual keys on the flat keyboard means;
• and
• a generator means for providing a power control signal output responsive to said self-restoring type power supply control switch and holding said power control signal output after the release of said actuated power supply control switch to control the supply of power to said processor apparatus.

A data processor apparatus with a keyboard comprising:

• a flat keyboard means having a plurality of digit and function keys each key including a pair of contact means and a non-protruding key actuator for forcing the said pair of contact means into engagement when a said key is being depressed;
• a power supply control switch included within said flat keyboard means also having a pair of contact means and a non-protruding key actuator forcing the pair of contact means into engagement in response to actuation of said power supply control switch, thereby providing a power supply control switch of the self-restoring type in the form of the individual digit and function keys in the flat keyboard means;
• and
• a latch means responsive to said self-restoring type power supply control switch and holding its condition after the release of the actuated power supply control switch to provide a power supply control signal for controlling the supply of power to said processor apparatus.