Programmable keyboard arrangements

• US 3,956,745 A
• Filed: 06/12/1974
• Issued: 05/11/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Marconi Co Ltd (BAE Systems Plc)
• Original Assignee: Marconi Co Ltd (BAE Systems Plc)
• Inventors: Ellis, Alfred Brian Edwin
• Primary Examiner(s): Trafton, David L.
• Application Number:
  US05/478,612
• Time in Patent Office: 699 Days
• Field of Search: 340/337, 340/365 R, 340/365 P, 340/166 R, 340/166 EL, 350/160 LC
• US Class Current: 341/23
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0386 for light pen
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/18 using liquid crystals
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/012 programmable
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/969 having a plurality of control members, e.g. keyboard

Abstract

A programmable keyboard of the kind in which a member presents a plurality of discrete areas to a co-operating probe, each of which areas produces a unique signal when addressed by the probe, is provided with a liquid crystal display to identify the current function of a particular area. Separate additional addressable areas are provided by means of which one of a number of alternative display functions can be selected as desired.

Claims

1. A programmable keyboard assembly comprising, in combination:

a first member presenting an array of discrete electrically conductive areas at least some of which are transparent and at least two other discrete areas;

a second member underlying said first member and presenting a second array of discrete areas which are aligned with those discrete areas of the first member which are transparent, said discrete areas of the second array thereof being in the form of liquid crystal effect labels;

a third member underlying said second member and presenting a third array of discrete areas which are aligned with said discrete areas of the first member which are transparent, said discrete areas of the third array thereof being in the form of liquid crystal effect labels;

means for energizing liquid crystal effect labels to render them visible to an observer;

switch means for selectively connecting said means for energizing to the liquid crystal effect labels of said second and third members;

actuator means connected to said two other discrete areas of said first member and to said switch means for actuating said switch means; and

probe means selectively engageable with a chosen one of said two other discrete areas for relaying a signal to said actuator means so as to actuate said switch means and to cause it to energize the liquid crystal effect label array of that member associated with said chosen one of said two other discrete areas whereby a selected one of said second and third arrays is available for observation through said transparent areas.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 and wherein said other discrete areas of said first mentioned member are opaque.

3. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 and wherein the members are provided as a sandwich construction, one on another.

4. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 and wherein means are provided for illuminating said members from the rear.

5. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 and wherein said discrete areas are rectangular and arranged in rows and columns.

6. A keyboard system for selectively displaying a selected one of a plurality of keyboard formats and for producing a coded output corresponding to a selected plurality of liquid crystal effect areas, comprising in combination:

a sandwich construction including a keyboard member having a plurality of discrete light transparent areas, and at least two keyboard format members successively underlying said keyboard member, each of said keyboard format members comprising a plurality of liquid crystal effect areas aligned with said discrete areas of the keyboard member, each liquid crystal effect area being transparent in the absence of energization thereof, the liquid crystal effect areas associated with a given keyboard format member displaying a corresponding keyboard format when such liquid crystal effect areas are energized;

switch means for selectively energizing the liquid crystal effect areas of said keyboard format member associated with said selected one of said keyboard formats whereby to display said selected one of said keyboard formats;

read only memory means connected with said keyboard member for storing coded outputs corresponding to said liquid crystal effect areas of each of said keyboard format members;

sensing means connected to said switch means for actuating said switch means selectively to energize the liquid crystal effect areas of said keyboard format member associated with said selected one of said keyboard formats, and connected to said read only memory means for producing a coded output corresponding to said liquid crystal effect areas selectively energized; and

means for controlling said sensing means according to operator selection of said selected one of said keyboard formats and of a selected plurality of liquid crystal effect areas, whereby said selected one of said keyboard formats is displayed and a coded output corresponding to said selected plurality of liquid crystal effect areas is produced.

7. A keyboard system as defined in claim 6 wherein said means last mentioned comprises a pair of areas on said keyboard member adapted for selection by an operator.

8. A keyboard system as defined in claim 7 including an operator'"'"'s probe for making selections at said keyboard member.