Miniature keyboard
First Claim
1. An electronic keyboard assembly for generating character and function codes indicative of the selected characters and functions, said assembly comprising a membrane panel having thereon a code generating means corresponding to characters and functions, at least one depressible keybutton overlaying said membrane panel and supported for movement in both a horizontal and vertical direction, said keybutton including means for activating a selected one of said code generating means upon depression of said keybutton.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A miniature keyboard assembly for generating code signals representative of selected characters and functions. The assembly including at least one but preferably, two glide keys, each coupled to a depressible keybutton for controlling the movement of its respective keybutton. In one embodiment, each keybutton base carries an electrically conductive layer and is slidable on a membrane panel having thereon a plurality of signal code generating switches. The keybutton being movable along orthogonal axes in response to movement of the glide key. Each keybutton extends upwardly through a longitudinal slot opening in a lateral slide support member and then through a fitted opening in an indicator panel. The indicator panel also includes an indicia marker which underlies a transparent keyboard panel and is visible therethrough. Finger movement of the glide key causes the marker to indicate the character or function on the keyboard representative of the signal code to be generated by the switch over which the keybutton is positioned. Depression of the keybutton results in the activation of the switch and the generation of the selected signal code.
28 Citations
29 Claims
- 1. An electronic keyboard assembly for generating character and function codes indicative of the selected characters and functions, said assembly comprising a membrane panel having thereon a code generating means corresponding to characters and functions, at least one depressible keybutton overlaying said membrane panel and supported for movement in both a horizontal and vertical direction, said keybutton including means for activating a selected one of said code generating means upon depression of said keybutton.
- 12. An electronic device for storing characters in memory comprising a membrane panel having a plurality of switches, such switches being associated with characters to be stored and a keybutton movable in a horizontal direction and vertical direction in relation to said membrane panel and having means thereon to selectively actuate one of said switches on said membrane panel to store the character associated with the activated switch in memory.
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29. An electronic device for storing characters in memory comprising a membrane panel having a plurality of switches associated with characters to be stored, a keyboard panel having thereon representations of said characters, a keybutton movable in a vertical and parallel direction in relation to said membrane panel, indicating means coupled to said keybutton for movement therewith for indicating the character on said keyboard panel for storing in memory and said keybutton having means thereon to selectively actuate one of said switches on said membrane panel upon depression of said keybutton to store the character associated with the activated switch in memory.
Specification