U.S. patent number 3,600,592 [Application Number 04/869,771] was granted by the patent office on 1971-08-17 for photosensing folio keyed keyboard.
Invention is credited to James K. Gerrie, James C. Lashbrook, Ralph E. Mahan.
United States Patent |
3,600,592 |
Mahan , et al. |
August 17, 1971 |
PHOTOSENSING FOLIO KEYED KEYBOARD
Abstract
A photosensing keyboard which is utilized in conjunction with a
folio. The folio is mounted on the face of the keyboard. The
keyboard has a first and second photosensing means therein. The
photosensing means and folio are interrelated in such a manner that
the keyboard is capable of detecting the presence of the folio
thereon and also the specific page the folio is opened to.
Inventors: |
Mahan; Ralph E. (San Jose,
CA), Gerrie; James K. (Sunnyvale, CA), Lashbrook; James
C. (San Jose, CA) |
Assignee: |
|
Family
ID: |
25354239 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/869,771 |
Filed: |
October 27, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
250/569;
250/227.22; 235/487; 250/221; 341/31 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F
3/0238 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G06F
3/023 (20060101); G01n 021/30 () |
Field of
Search: |
;250/219I,219ID,221,222,208,209 ;235/61.12,61.15,145
;35/5,6,53 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Lawrence; James W.
Assistant Examiner: Nelms; D. C.
Claims
We claim:
1. A photosensing folio keyed keyboard comprising a keyboard having
a face, a plurality of pushbuttons on said keyboard face to be
operated in accordance with instructions on a folio, a slot in said
keyboard face for receiving a portion of said folio therein, a
first photosensing means in said slot for detecting the presence
and type of folio and for producing an output in response thereto,
and a second photosensing means in said face adjacent said
pushbuttons for detecting the page said folio is opened to and for
producing an output in response thereto.
2. A photosensing folio keyed keyboard as defined in claim 1
further comprising at least one raised portion on said keyboard
face adjacent said pushbuttons, said raised portion having a
plurality of indentations therein and said second photosensing
means being located in said indentations.
3. A photosensing folio keyed keyboard as defined in claim 2
wherein said first photosensing means comprises a photocell and a
light source and said photocell being electrically connected to an
activating means.
4. A photosensing folio keyed keyboard as defined in claim 3
wherein said second photosensing means comprises another photocell
and another light source, said other photocell being electrically
connected to said activating means, whereby concurrent interrupting
of both said photocell-light source links energizes said activating
means.
5. A photosensing folio keyboard as defined in claim 4 wherein said
activating means is a flip-flop.
6. The combination of a photosensing folio keyed keyboard and a
folio, said folio having a binder and a plurality of pages attached
thereto, said keyboard having a face, a plurality of pushbuttons on
said keyboard face to be operated in accordance with instructions
on said folio, a slot in said keyboard face for receiving said
binder of said folio therein, a first photosensing means in said
slot for detecting the presence and type of folio and for producing
an output in response thereto, and a second photosensing means in
said face adjacent said pushbuttons for detecting the page said
folio is opened to and for producing an output in response
thereto.
7. The combination of a photosensing folio keyed keyboard and a
folio as defined in claim 6 wherein said binder has at least one
opening indicative of the type of folio, each of said plurality of
pages has a tab thereon indicative of the page, said keyboard face
further comprising a raised portion adjacent said pushbuttons, said
raised portion having a plurality of indentations therein for
receiving said tabs, and said second photosensing means located
within said indentations.
8. A folio adapted to be used with a pushbutton keyboard comprising
a binder, a plurality of binder elements pivotally secured to said
binder, each of said binder elements having a protruding portion
thereon, a plurality of pages, each of said pages have an
outstanding element thereon, said protruding portion of each of
said binder elements being fixedly secured to a respective
outstanding element of each of said pages, said binder having at
least one opening therein indicative of the type of folio, said
pages having at least one aperture therein to allow a pushbutton to
protrude therethrough, and a tab protruding from each of said pages
indicative of said page.
9. A folio as defined in claim 8 wherein said binder elements are
in pairs, each binder elements in said pair of binders elements
having identical protruding portions thereon, each of said pages
being of a predetermined thickness and having a pair of outstanding
elements thereon, each of said pair of outstanding elements on each
of said pages being fixedly secured to each of said identical
protruding portions on identical pairs of binder elements, and each
of said binder elements adjacent said pair of identical elements
having protruding portions thereon which allow for the mounting
thereon of another page at one page thickness difference than the
preceding page.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to a pushbutton keyboard for
computer or processing systems, and more particularly to a
pushbutton keyboard having a photoelectric sensing system which is
utilized in conjunction with a folio.
Pushbutton keyboards find use in many areas, for example, in
communication with computer systems, TV teaching systems, business
systems, or other information call up and/or processing systems.
The keyboards generally are used in conjunction with an information
card or cards. These cards when properly placed on the keyboard
give information as to the use of the particular pushbuttons
located on the keyboard. In the past the particular card used,
would be individually placed upon the keyboard with the specific
information thereon being noted and mechanically processed into the
keyboard by the operator.
The cards, besides being cumbersome, were usually held in place by
removable bars which had to be removed before the next card could
be used. As seen these type of prior art keyboard arrangements were
extremely time consuming in operation and in many instances because
of the human element involved, led to many errors in utilizing such
a keyboard. There has heretofore been no rapid and accurate method
with which these keyboard pushbuttons could be properly
identified.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The instant invention overcomes the problems set forth hereinabove.
This invention is made up of a pushbutton keyboard which houses a
photoelectric sensing system and a folio. The folio being the book
containing the desired information is used in conjunction with the
keyboard. Each folio is made up of pages and a binder. The binder
is inserted into a slot in the face of the keyboard and the pages
carry the information setting forth the operation of each of the
pushbutton keys. When inserted into the keyboard, the binder of the
folio either breaks or does not brake several light source
photocell links. In so doing, it sends a binary number to the logic
which identifies the folio. This corresponds to a certain area of
information storage or to a group of computer programs, etc.
As individual pages of a folio are turned, another group of light
source photocell links are broken or not broken. The combination of
which identifies the page of this folio being used. The open page
labels each pushbutton with a specific function within the areas or
groups mentioned hereinabove. Each page of the folio has a tab
located at its top edge, with no two pages in a folio having this
tab in the same horizontal location. It is this tab which breaks
the light source photocell links for page identification.
It is essential that the pages lay flat on the keyboard so that
little or no light reaches the photocell which is blocked by that
page tabbed. This is accomplished by a novel hinging of the folio
pages and by making the pages of a semirigid material.
The operator who utilizes the keyboard and folio of this invention
need only insert the folio binder in the keyboard face, turn to the
desired page, and because of the operation of the photocells in the
manner set forth hereinabove merely press the button designated by
the information on the folio page. The amount of information which
can be accessed through the keyboard of this invention is limited
only by the amount of information storage and folio storage
capability.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a
photosensing folio keyed keyboard which "tells" the logic of a
computer system when a folio is inserted therein, and then what
page is being used.
It is another object of this invention to provide a photosensing
folio keyed keyboard which is extremely rapid acting and
accurate.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a folio which
is to be used in conjunction with the photosensing folio keyed
keyboard of this invention. It is another object of this invention
to provide a photosensing folio keyed keyboard which utilizes
conventional, currently available components that lend themselves
to standard mass producing manufacturing techniques.
For a better understanding of the present invention together with
other and further objects thereof, reference is made to the
following description taken in connection with the accompanying
drawing and its scope will be pointed out in the appended
claims.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of the face of the pushbutton keyboard
of this invention;
FIG. 2 is a pictorial view of the face of the pushbutton keyboard
of this invention with the folio about to be inserted therein;
FIG. 3 is a pictorial view of the face of the pushbutton keyboard
of this invention with the folio in place;
FIG. 4 is a pictorial view of a portion of the folio of this
invention shown partly in cross section;
FIG. 5 is a pictorial view of the binder of the folio of this
invention;
FIG. 6 is a pictorial view of one of the photosensing elements of
the keyboard of this invention shown partly in cross section;
FIG. 7 is a pictorial view of the folio of this invention with the
binder in place;
FIG. 8 is a plan view of a portion of the top page of the folio of
this invention;
FIG. 9 is a plan view of a portion of the second page of the folio
of this invention;
FIG. 10 is a plan view of a portion of the third page of the folio
of this invention;
FIG. 11 is a plan view of a portion of the bottom page of the folio
of this invention;
FIG. 12 is a pictorial view of another of the photosensing elements
of this invention shown partly in cross section;
FIG. 13 is a pictorial view of a portion of the folio located
adjacent the photosensing element of FIG. 12 and shown partly in
cross section; and
FIG. 14 is a circuit diagram of the page sensing system of this
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Reference is now made to FIG. 1 which shows the face 12 of the
pushbutton keyboard 10 of this invention. The face 12 has a
plurality of pushbuttons 14 thereon; these pushbuttons 14 are
connected in any conventional manner with a computer system, TV
teaching system, business system, or other informational system.
The pushbuttons 14 are arranged in a pair of groups of buttons 15
and 17, although any number of groups may be used with this
invention. A pair of raised portions 16 and 18 are located adjacent
each of the groups of buttons 15 and 17, respectively, the only
restriction being that each raised portion accompany each group of
buttons. The raised portions 16 and 18 contain a plurality of
indentations 20 therein, each indentation 20 containing a suitable
photosensing means, such as photocell 22 and light source 24 (see
FIG. 6). The operation of the photosensing means will be explained
in detail hereinbelow. The face 12 of the keyboard 10 further has a
slot 26 located in the center thereof and positioned so as to
separate the groups of pushbuttons 15 and 17. This slot has a
keyway 28 located at one end thereof and any suitable photosensing
means such as photocells 30 and light source 32 located therein
(see FIGS. 12 and 13). The operation of this photosensing means
will also be described in detail hereinbelow.
Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, a folio or book 34 is shown being
inserted within the slot 26. This folio 34 is made up of a
plurality of pages 36 and a binder 38. The binder 38 contains a
plurality of binder elements 40 to which the pages 36 are fixedly
secured (see FIGS. 4 and 7). The pages 36 have a plurality of
apertures 42 therein which are positioned in such a manner as to
permit all the pushbuttons 14 to protrude therethrough as best
shown in FIG. 3. Information pertaining to each button 14 is
written adjacent the apertures 42 and 44 (only one of such
information is shown in FIG. 3). Page identification tabs 46 are
located on the upper edge of pages 36 and these tabs 46 when the
folio 34 is in position on keyboard face 12 fit into indentations
20, as shown in FIG. 3. No two pages 36 in the folio 34 have this
tab 46 in the same horizontal location. It is this tab 46 which
breaks the light source photocell 22 (FIG. 6) for page
identification. A plurality of page label and handling tabs 48 are
located on the outer page of pages 36 and are utilized for turning
the pages when the folio 34 is in place. These handling tabs 48 may
also, if desired, cover another plurality of photosensing means 50
shown in FIGS. 1--3. These photosensing means 50 may be arranged
and connected electrically to any other suitable device (not
shown).
Referring now to FIGS. 4, 5 and 7, the folio 34 is clearly shown.
This folio 34 has a binder 38 shown in FIG. 5 which is pivotally
connected at 39 by any suitable connecting means to a plurality of
binder elements 40. These binder elements 40 are fixedly secured to
outstanding elements 51 formed on pages 36 of the folio 34. The
binder 38 has a key 52 located thereon which engages the keyway 28
within slot 26 of keyboard 10 when the binder 38 is positioned
correctly within slot 26. This key 52 and keyway 28 or any other
such device prevents incorrect positioning of folio 34 within slot
26. A plurality of openings 54 are also located on binder 38, and
these openings 54 allow light from light source 32 (see FIG. 13)
from reaching photocells 30. The binder 38 with openings 54 either
breaks or does not break the several light source photocell links
(30--32). In so doing, it sends a binary number to the logic which
identifies the type and presence of folio 34.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, the pages 36 are secured in any suitable
manner to binder elements 40. Each page 36 has a pair of
outstanding elements 51 thereon, and these elements 51 are fixedly
secured to a corresponding protruding portion on the binder
elements 40. There are two binder elements 40 having identical
protruding portions (51a, 51b, 51c, 51d) for each page 36. In order
for the folio 34 to be utilized with a keyboard 10 of this
invention the folio pages 36 must be arranged in the manner shown
in FIGS. 8--11. For example, the pair of outstanding elements 51 of
the top page shown in FIG. 8 engage the top of the protruding
portions 51a of binder elements 40 as shown in FIG. 7. Each pair of
protruding portions going in the same horizontal direction away
from the first pair of portions 51a allows for the mounting of
another page 36 one page thickness t lower than the preceding page
36. For example, the second page 36 shown in FIG. 9 has outstanding
elements 51 which engage the top of protruding portions 51b shown
in FIG. 7. In FIG. 10 the third page 36 is shown and these
outstanding elements 51 engage the top of protruding portions 51c
shown in FIG. 7. The bottom page 36 shown in FIG. 11 has its
outstanding elements 51, therefore, engaging the bottom of
protruding portions 51d of binder elements 40 as shown in FIG. 7.
Although only four such pages 36 are shown, any number may be used
with this invention as long as they are arranged similar to FIGS.
7--11. In this manner when the pages 36 of the folio 34 are turned
or in the open position as shown in FIG. 13 the pages 36 lay
perfectly flat as shown in FIG. 3. The pages 36 are preferably made
of any suitable semirigid material such as thick glass reinforced
epoxy.
Referring once again to FIG. 6, one of the indentations 20 is shown
with the photocell 22 and the light source 24 in place. The light
source 24 has its light directed by means of light guide 56 so as
to direct the light onto photocell 22 when there is no obstruction
such as tab 46 in the indentation 20.
FIG. 12 represents the photocells 30 located within slot 26 and a
light source 32 shown in FIG. 13. This light source 32 is directed
by any suitable light guide 58 to shine on photocells 30 when
unobstructed. In the unobstructed position the apertures 54 are so
positioned to allow the light to shine therethrough.
FIG. 14 represents the circuit for the page sensing logic of this
invention. When a folio 34 is inserted within slot 26 a photocell
30 detects the presence of the folio 34 and conditions one input 60
of a plurality of NAND gates 60.sub.1 --60.sub.n. For simplicity,
in FIG. 14, only three such NAND gates 60.sub.1 --60.sub.n are
shown. Opening of the folio 34 causes the pages 36 to lay flat on
the face 12 of keyboard 10 so that certain tabs 46 cover photocells
22 (as shown in FIG. 3). The positive sense of any pair of
photocells 22, such as photocells 22.sub.1, photocells 22.sub.2 or
photocells 22.sub.n conditions the remaining two inputs 68a, or
68b, or 68c, respectively. It should be noted that any number of
pairs of photocells 22.sub.n may be utilized, again for simplicity
only three such pairs are shown in FIG. 14. The specific NAND gate
60.sub.1, 60.sub.2 or 60.sub.n that is enabled, sets the specific
flip-flop 70.sub.1, 70.sub.2 or 70.sub.n that is connected thereto,
causing the output of that flip-flop to indicate a page selection.
Simultaneously, the enabled NAND gate resets all other flip-flops.
Again only the three corresponding flip-flops are shown, a through
any number corresponding to the photocells and NAND gates may be
used.
Removal of the folio 34 from slot 26 is sensed once again by
photocell 30 which will then trigger one-shot multivibrator 76. The
change of state of multivibrator 76 is felt at all gates 78.sub.1
--78.sub.n and these gates reset all the flip-flops 70.sub.1
--70.sub.n.
MODE OF OPERATION
The following example illustrates a use of the pushbutton
photosensing folio keyed keyboard 10 of this invention in which it
calls up prerecorded information for, for example, TV teaching. The
operator selects a folio 34 entitled "English Grammar" and inserts
the binder 38 of folio 34 (as shown in FIG. 2) into the slot 26 in
the face 12 of the keyboard 10. In the proper position the key 52
mates with keyway 28.
Referring now to FIG. 3, the operator allows the folio 34 to lay
flat on the keyboard 10 with the pushbuttons 14 protruding through
the apertures 42 within the pages 36. The operator then selects
(via the label tabs 48 along the edges of the pages 36) the page
entitled, for example, "Verb Types," and opens the folio 34 to that
page 36. Any or all of the pushbuttons 14 now have specific labels
44 adjacent thereof (see FIG. 3) and the operator can call upon the
precise information he wants by depressing the proper button.
The logic circuit corresponding to the pushbuttons 14 on the
keyboard 10 can now be activated. When the folio 34 was inserted
within the slot 26 a photocell 30 within slot 26 detected its
presence therein and, along with properly identifying that folio 34
(in a manner not part of this invention) conditioned one input 60
of a plurality of a NAND gates 60.sub.1 --60.sub.n (see FIG. 14).
The positive sense of any pair of photocells 22.sub.1 --22.sub.n,
conditions the other two inputs 68a, 68b, or 68c, however the case
may be. The specific NAND gate 60.sub.1 --60.sub.n that is enabled
sets one of the flip-flops 70.sub.1 --70.sub.n, causing the output
of that flip-flop to indicate a page selection to the logic
associated with the keyboard 10.
Removal of the folio 34 from slot 26 is once again sensed by a
photocell 30 and in a manner described hereinabove resets all the
flip-flops 70.sub.l --70.sub.n enabling the keyboard 10 and the
logic associated therewith to be utilized with another folio
34.
With the utilization of the keyboard 10 and folio 34 of the instant
invention the operator's mechanical functions may be eliminated. It
is only necessary for the operator of the keyboard 10 of this
invention to have the ability to place the proper folio 34 onto the
keyboard 10 and push the buttons labeled by the pages 36 of that
folio 34. All other functions have been taken over by the
photosensing means of this invention.
Although the information has been described with reference to a
particular embodiment, it will be understood to those skilled in
the art that the invention is capable of a variety of alternate
embodiments within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *