Abstract: A key input device to be attached to an electronic apparatus includes a keyboard having a plurality of key switches, and an exchangeable connector that is connectable to a body of the electronic apparatus for enabling the keyboard to be selected so that information is inputted into the electronic apparatus by the keyboard.

Abstract: A cathode ray tube provided on the exterior of its screen with a layer of polymeric piezoelectric material, for example polyvinylidene fluoride. Localized changes in physical stress on the layer, such as by way of localized pressure of heating on the layer, create a charge region which produces alteration of a beam current of an electron beam when the beam scans over the region. This alteration is detected, as by a sensing loop, to produce a data input.

Abstract: A temperature responsive transmitter is provided in which frequency varies linearly with temperature. The transmitter includes two identically biased transistors connected in parallel. A capacitor, which reflects into the common bases to generate negative resistance effectively in parallel with the capacitor, is connected to the common emitters. A crystal is effectively in parallel with the capacitor and the negative resistance. Oscillations occur if the magnitude of the absolute value of the negative resistance is less than the positive resistive impedance of the capacitor and the inductance of the crystal. The crystal has a large linear temperature coefficient and a resonant frequency which is substantially less than the gain-bandwidth product of the transistors to ensure that the crystal primarily determines the frequency of oscillation.

Abstract: A digital keyboard interface for a keyboard operated musical instrument, such as a piano, includes at least one switch associated with each key on the keyboard and positioned therebeneath. Key actuation produces a corresponding associated switch actuation. The keyboard interface is readily installed within an acoustic or electronic piano and includes adjustments for height and side-to-side alignment to provide precise registration of keys and switches and to provide simplified installation of the interface within the piano. A switch matrix includes a plurality of rows that assign switch closure information to corresponding data byte bit positions in a digital data stream. A shift register sequentially, and on a one-at-a-time basis, actuates a series of matrix columns to read a set of swtiches associated with the column. Thus, each switch operated in an actuated column corresponds to a data byte bit position in the data stream which is further processed to generate a serial data stream for external devices.

Abstract: A device for allowing the remote-reading of a utility meter having circular dials. The device includes an array of phototransistors for each circular dial of the utility meter. The face of the dial is illuminated selectively, when the reading of the dial is desired, by a light-emitting-diode at the center of the array of phototransistors. The phototransistor which is shaded by the pointer of the dial, which transistor indicates the highest value of the reading for thoses transistors shaded by the pointer, developes a signal indicative of that reading, which is outputted to a logic circuit for the development of the signal into a usable form for generating the value at a remote display device mounted on the outside of the building. Alternatively, the output from the logic circuit may be sent over a telephone transmission line to a remote computer-center for storage and retrieval, for billing customers.

Abstract: An infrared touch input system having bezel glare compensation via power profiling is taught. Briefly stated, a touch input system is utilized having a four-sided frame and having an infrared transparent bezel along the inside thereof and having infrared emitters along the top and one side of the frame with infrared detectors along the sides opposite the emitters. The optical power used with emitter-detector pairs adjacent the corners of the bezel is reduced with respect to emitter-detector pairs approaching the center of the bezel. In this manner, light which is reflected after striking the side of the bezel adjacent the emitter-detector pair and which is received by the emitter is of low intensity or is ignored.

Abstract: A technique is provided for entering certain information into a computer without the use of hands. A touch screen system which utilizes a grid of light beams across a display surface is modified. Instead of interrupting the light beam with the operator's finger, light blocking devices are moved into position along the periphery of the surface to shield a light detector at the position where otherwise such detector would be blocked by the operator's finger. The light-blocking device is moved by motors under foot control. In another approach, indicator arrays are placed along adjacent sides of a display surface. One indicator along each side is lit by foot control to represent a selected position. In still another approach, a cursor is selectively positioned on the display surface with foot-operated control circuitry. Once a position is selected, further inputs can be made even with the use of another, hand-operated, technique in a convenient, user friendly and prompt manner.

Abstract: A keyboard assembly is disclosed in which complementary arrays of first and second switch contacts are connected in equal sets and each set of first contacts is connected to a separate set of second contacts through a diode so that the connected sets of contacts do not contain contacts from the same switch, thus permitting keyboard terminals individually associated with the connected sets of first and second contacts to be sequentially enabled while reading the unenabled terminals to determine actuated switches.

Abstract: A rear monitor system for an automotive vehicle comprises a sensor secured to a vehicle door located on one side of the vehicle and adapted to be operated by a vehicle occupant when leaving the vehicle, the sensor generating a signal indicating that the occupant is going to leave the vehicle. A control unit is responsive to the signal from the sensor for transmitting radiant energy in a rearward direction to detect a reflection from an object approaching the vehicle from behind at a speed higher than a predetermined value. Further provided is a safety device which is responsive to the detected reflection for preventing the vehicle occupant from opening the door.

Abstract: A system for guiding the blind including at least one receiver/sound generator unit having a built-in sound generator giving information on the destination of the user, and a receiver for actuating the sound generator in accordance with a control signal coming from outside, and a transmitter/control unit carried by the user for producing the control signal. As the user carrying the transmitter/control unit and approaching the destination at which the receiver/sound generator unit is installed, the user actuates the transmitter/control unit to cause it to produce a control signal which actuates the sound generator of the receiver/sound generator whereby an audio signal representing a voice, an onomatopoeic sound, a chime, etc., is produced to guide the user to the destination.

Abstract: A compact automatic signal cancelling apparatus for a direction indicator mounted on a motorcycle, engine driven bicycle or like vehicle is housed in a cylindrical member which is fixedly secured to the handlebar. A variable resistor is incorporated in the apparatus for detecting an angle of turning movement of the handlebar and its rotary shaft is connected to the body or frame of the motorcycle which serves as a reference point for the apparatus. As the handlebar is turned by the driver on the motorcycle, the apparatus in the cylindrical member is rotated while the rotary shaft of the variable resistor is kept immobable. The angle of turning movement of the handlebar is detected by the change in resistance value of the variable resistor, which is transmitted to a control circuit. The control circuit automatically turns on or off the signal on the direction indicator in response to detection of the change in resisting value of the variable resistance.

Abstract: A control handle for remotely controlling a hydraulically operated apparatus. The handle comprises a flexible foil, conductor paths comprised of a pair of independent condensor plates arranged on the foil, and an isolating sleeve surrounding the foil and conductor paths.

Abstract: A capacitive keypad (24) is scanned in such a manner that the capacitance value (C) of an individual key in a given row is multiplied by the sum of the relative capacitance values of all the other keys in the same row by means of an amplifier (32) to generate a combined pulse. The combined pulse is then compared by a comparator (28) to a threshold voltage (Vref 3) to verify whether the individual key in question is in the closed or open position. The verification can be made independently of keypad-to-keypad variations in the capacitances of the keys, since the combined pulse value does not depend upon the absolute capacitance value of the keys, but only upon their relative values. Also disclosed is a method for scanning to determine the presence of multiple key closures.

Abstract: A unit point scoring system and scoreboard for use with a series of athletic games or other contests in even or odd numbers, or a single athletic game or other contest that is divided into even or odd numbered units of play. The individual competitions in a series or the individual units in a single contest are scored in the traditional manner, but the unit point scoring system takes the scoring history into account in order to maintain the competitive urge in contestants and interest in spectators by providing for the award of points for units of play won under a formula that positions both contestants in such a way that neither can be determined the winner before the conclusion of the series or single contest.

Abstract: A membrane keyboard is provided having a first and second plurality of connectors extending therefrom. The first plurality of connectors is attached at one end to a number of switches on the keyboard and at the other end to a processing circuit apart from the keyboard. One end of the second plurality of connectors is also connected to the processing circuit. A third set of connectors is utilized to connect the ends of the second plurality of connectors on the keyboard in a manner to identify the keyboard to the processing circuit.

Abstract: A base with a keyboard for the manual generation of data combinations, e.g. of a code serving to release a lock of a door on which the keyboard is accessibly mounted, has one or more wipers impregnated with a nonvolatile film of liquid such as silicone oil. The wipers are carried on a lid which is pivotally or slidably attached to the base; movement of the lid, or of a detent holding it in closure position, causes the wipers to sweep across coplanar pressure faces of the keyboard and remove any finger marks that could be used by a would-be trespasser to help breaking down the code. The pressure faces are areas of a flexible foil having a rough outer surface for retaining part of the film of liquid spread thereover; the foil may comprise a porous layer underlain by a spongy layer storing some of that liquid.

Abstract: A control device suitable for synchros comprising three stator windings. The device comprises four circuit branches with the inputs of the first and the second branches interconnected to receive a first voltage from the ends of the stator windings of the synchro transmitter and with the inputs of the third and the fourth branches interconnected to receive a second voltage from the ends of the stator windings of the synchro transmitter. Two adder elements supply control voltages to the stator windings of the synchro receiver. Two inputs of the first adder are connected to the outputs of the first and the third branches, respectively and the two inputs of the secnd adder are connected to the outputs of the second and the fourth branches. These branches have transfer functions in the form sin (.alpha.+.phi.1), sin (.alpha.+.phi.2), sin (.alpha.+.phi.3), sin (.alpha.+.phi.4), respectively, wherein .alpha. represents the information supplied by a digital element and .phi.1, .phi.2, .phi.3, .phi.

Abstract: The invention relates to a signalling system for vehicles wherein an independent light signal is provided at both the front and rear of a vehicle for a situation wherein the vehicle is both moving and the brakes are being applied or released by the operator of the vehicle. The signal is provided by lights located at the rear and the front of the vehicle which are purple in color, for example. Actuation of the lights is dependent upon two electrical signals, one based on motion of the vehicle and the other based upon actuation of the braking system of the vehicle. The intelligence offered by the signal to an observer is that observation of the purple light indicates that the vehicle is both in motion and that a braking operation is in progress.