Combinatorial data entry system having multi-position switches, each switch having tiltable control knob
First Claim
1. A combinatorial data entry system useful with a computing apparatus and comprising a plurality of multi-position switches, each multi-position switch including(a) a base,(b) a control knob mounted on the base so as to be manually tiltable between a rest position and any of a specific number of tilted positions and biased to the rest position,(c) switchable devices mounted on the base in a number equal to the specific number of tilted positions, each switchable device having a deactivated state and an activated state and corresponding uniquely to one the tilted positions of the control knob, each switchable device having an active output when switched from the deactivated state into the activated state, and(d) means for switching a selected one of the switchable devices from the deactivated state into the activated state when the control knob is tilted from the rest position into a selected one of the tilted positions, each tilted position corresponding uniquely to one of the switchable devices,the multi-position switches being arranged in said system so that each possible combination of active outputs from the switchable devices of the multi-position switches, when each of at least two of the control knobs is tilted to one of the tilted positions of said control knob, represents a unique output of the data entry system.
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Abstract
A combinatorial data entry system useful with a computing apparatus comprises two multi-position switches. A data entry system useful with a telephone comprises one multi-position switch. Each multi-position switch includes a control knob, which can be manually tilted between a rest position and any of twelve tilted positions and is biased to the rest position, and twelve switchable devices, which may be electrical, opto-electronic, capacitive, or magnetically activated. Electrical switching devices having stationary and movable contacts are preferred. In each multi-position switch, each switchable device has a deactivated state and an activated state and corresponds uniquely to one of the tilted positions of the control knob. Each switchable device has an active output when switched from the deactivated state into the activated state. Thus, as the control knob of each multi-position switch is tilted from the rest position into selected ones of the tilted positions, a selected one of the switchable devices is switched from the deactivated state into the activated state. Each possible combination of active outputs from all of the switchable devices of the multi-position switches represents a unique output of the combinatorial data entry system.
100 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A combinatorial data entry system useful with a computing apparatus and comprising a plurality of multi-position switches, each multi-position switch including
(a) a base, (b) a control knob mounted on the base so as to be manually tiltable between a rest position and any of a specific number of tilted positions and biased to the rest position, (c) switchable devices mounted on the base in a number equal to the specific number of tilted positions, each switchable device having a deactivated state and an activated state and corresponding uniquely to one the tilted positions of the control knob, each switchable device having an active output when switched from the deactivated state into the activated state, and (d) means for switching a selected one of the switchable devices from the deactivated state into the activated state when the control knob is tilted from the rest position into a selected one of the tilted positions, each tilted position corresponding uniquely to one of the switchable devices, the multi-position switches being arranged in said system so that each possible combination of active outputs from the switchable devices of the multi-position switches, when each of at least two of the control knobs is tilted to one of the tilted positions of said control knob, represents a unique output of the data entry system.
Specification