Abstract: An environmentally protected keyboard display and input device is provided which may be utilized in conjunction with a variety of digital control systems such as automated bank tellers or building security systems. The keyboard display and input device includes a unitary, transparent flexible keyboard having thickened portions forming keys. The keyboard forms an environmental seal including a peripheral gasket to protect an underlying, transparent, pressure sensitive switching assembly, which, in turn, overlies a corresponding visual display of alphanumeric characters which indicate the significance of the individual pressure sensitive switches and corresponding keys overlying each character. Pins are formed on the underside of the flexible keyboard, below each key, to focus and concentrate pressure exerted on each key to the corresponding pressure sensitive switch below.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 3, 1983
Date of Patent:
February 17, 1987
Assignee:
Secure Keyboards Limited
Inventors:
Luis Villalobos, Steven B. Hirsch, Steven G. Hauser, John Von Buelow
Abstract: A secure keyboard input terminal is disclosed in which a secret user identification code number or other confidential data sequence formed from a set of alpha-numeric characters (for example, the ten numerical digits 0 through 9) may be input secretly by a user, the terminal itself comprising (a) a plurality of input keys (in the case of one illustrated apparatus, 10 separate keys), (b) a corresponding plurality of character displays adapted for displaying said characters and (c) electronic circuitry for (1) apparently randomly associating selected ones of said character set to respective individual keys, (2) displaying to the user the character thus associated with each key and (3) translating a signal representing the actuation of a particular key by the user into a signal representing the particular character then associated with that key.