US 4,359,612 AGranted

Universal keyboard and method of producing same

AssigneeEngineering Research Applications, Inc.

InventorCraig E. Rooney

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Abstract

An extremely low cost, high speed, full stroke keyboard is disclosed which provides momentary impulse operation. N-key rollover protection and standard tactile feedback. The keyboard includes a plurality of depressible keys mounted on respective upright synthetic resin flaps designed to collapse upon key depression and engage and move an underlying, resilient, U-shaped shifting member; the member in turn engages and shifts another U-shaped resilient element which supports one or more upstanding encoding posts. When the U-shaped element reaches a cocked position it is disengaged from the shifting member and allowed to snap back toward the original rest position thereof independently of subsequent return movement of the key and shifting member. The snap back motion is sensed and a corresponding key output signal developed.

Claims28

Dependent claims

A keyboard, comprising:

a plurality of separate, depressible keys;
means for developing a keyboard output corresponding to the depressing of particular keys;
and
structure associated with each of said keys respectively for operably coupling the associated keys and said output means, including
a first, elongated, resilient, U-shaped element having a nib adjacent the free end thereof and the other end thereof secured against translatory movement;
a second, elongated, resilient, U-shaped element disposed about said first element and having a key-engaging portion beneath the associated key, a nib thereon for engaging the nib of said first element when the first and second elements are in the rest positions thereof, with the end of said second element adjacent said other end of the first element being secured against translatory movement,
said key-engaging portion being configured for, when the associated key is depressed, shifting said nib of the second element in a direction away from the secured ends of the elements such that the nib of the first element is engaged to simultaneously translate and deform the free end of the first element in the same direction;
and
a cam surface located for engagement by said nibs during said translation thereof for disengaging the nibs and permitting said first element to return to the rest position thereof,
said output means including structure for sensing the return movement of said first element back to said rest position thereof, and means operably coupled with said sensing structure for generating an electrical output signal corresponding to said sensing of return movement.

7 more elements

A keyboard, comprising:

a plurality of separate, depressible keys;
means mounting said keys for individual, selective movement thereof through respective keystroke distances;
a resilient element associated with each key respectively;
means shiftably mounting each of said elements proximal to the corresponding key, with the elements each having and being biased toward a rest position;
shifting means operably coupled with each key for engaging and shifting the associated element against said bias and during said movement through the respective keystroke distance;
disengaging means for each key for disengaging said associated element from said shifting means prior to completion of said movement of the corresponding key through the respective keystroke distance, in order that said associated element will commence return movement back toward said rest position before the corresponding key travels the full keystroke distance, and such that said associated element will overtravel the rest position thereof before returning to its rest position;
and
means for sensing said overtravel shifting of said elements, and for generating electrical output signals corresponding to said sensing, including
a plurality of selectively actuatable devices for generating electrical signals;
and
means operably coupling each of said elements, upon said overtravel shifting thereof, with at least one of said signal-generating devices for actuation of the latter, at least certain of said elements being operably coupled, upon said overtravel shifting thereof, with respective, different pluralities of said first-mentioned plurality of signal-generating devices, whereby respectively distinguishable electrical signals will be generated for each key upon depression thereof.

8 more elements

A keyboard, comprising:

a plurality of separately, manually depressible keys;
a resilient element associated with each key respectively;
means shiftably mounting each of said elements proximal to the corresponding key, with the elements each having a rest position;
shifting means operably coupled with each key for shifting the associated element in a first direction in response to manual depression of the corresponding key and using only the force developed through said manual depression thereof;
means for disengaging each of said elements from the corresponding shifting means therefor during said manual depression of the corresponding key, for permitting the disengaged element to freely travel in a second direction opposite said first direction to an extent that the disengaged element overtravels said rest position thereof before returning to its rest position, the speed of travel of each element in said second direction being substantially in excess of the speed of travel of the corresponding keys during said depression thereof;
means for sensing said overtravel shifting of said elements, and for generating electrical output signals corresponding to the sensing of said overtravel shifting of said elements, including
a plurality of selectively actuatable devices for generating electrical signals;
means for operably coupling each of said elements, upon said overtravel shifting thereof, with at least one of said signal-generating devices for actuation of the latter, at least certain of said elements being operably coupled, upon said overtravel shifting thereof, with respective different pluralities of said first-mentioned plurality of signal-generating devices, whereby respectively distinguishable electrical signals will be generated for each key upon depression thereof.

5 more elements

A keyboard, comprising:

a plurality of separate, depressible keys;
an elongated, resilient, deformable element associated with each key respectively;
means mounting each of said elements proximal to the corresponding key, each of said elements having a rest position configuration;
means operably associated with each key for deforming and thereby increasing the potential energy of the associated element, in response to depression of the corresponding key, and for thereafter releasing the deformed, associated element and allowing the same to move and expend said increased potential energy, said movement including overtravel shifting of the element past said rest position thereof;
and
means for sensing said overtravel shifting of said elements, and for generating electrical output signals corresponding to said sensing, including
a plurality of selectively actuatable devices for generating electrical signals;
means for operably coupling each of said elements, upon said overtravel shifting thereof, with at least one of said signal-generating devices for actuation of the latter, at least certain of said elements being operably coupled, upon said overtravel shifting thereof, with respective, different pluralities of said first-mentioned plurality of signal-generating devices, whereby respectively distinguishable electrical signals will be generated for each key upon depression thereof.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.